Basic Schools Win Top Prize at JET's Earth Day 2007

Jade Edwards of Wilbert Stewart Basic School walked away with the first place prize in the Jamaica Environment Trust’s (JET) Jamaican Endemic Bird Costume for her Jamaican Woodpecker costume.  The costume competition was one of the many activities coordinated by JET under the theme “Birds in a Changing Climate” in observance of this year’s Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (CEBF).  The festival was held as part of JET’s Earth Day activities on Friday, April 20^th. 

Second and third place went to Norliyah Lewis of Adastra Gardens Basic School and Deanna Whitely of Holy Childhood Prep School respectively.  Norliyah modelled a Red-billed Streamertail/Doctor Bird costume, and Deanna modelled a Black-billed Parrot costume. 

Students participating in the Endemic Bird Costume Competition - CEBF, April 20th, 2007

“We were ecstatic when we won, especially since we also won last year.” said Halima Jackson-Wilkins, Class 3 Teacher at Wilbert Stewart Basic School.  “Our school joined JET’s Schools’ Environment Programme (SEP) in 2005 and we have benefited greatly from it. The children are very excited to learn about our endemic birds and their habitats. I am also very proud of Adastra Gardens Basic which placed second, as we have been working together since last year on developing lesson plans on birds for the classroom.” 

Approximately 300 teachers and students from 24 schools in Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine attended the festival.  Other activities included a simulated bird watching trail, art and craft activities, performances by the students, and bird games.  Teachers were also given curriculum infusion guides to assist them with introducing topics on birds in their classrooms. The students also viewed exhibits by BirdLife Jamaica, Forestry Department, Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust, Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, National Environment and Planning Agency, Natural History Division of the Institute of Jamaica, United Nations Environment Programme, Windsor Research Centre, New Providence Primary, Green Energy Technologies Ltd. and Earthbound. 

Curious onlookers listen as the representative from Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (JSPCA) spoke about the Barn Owl - CEBF, April 20th, 2007

CEBF was coordinated by the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB). Jamaica was one of 18 countries that participated in this year’s festival, which is celebrated throughout the Caribbean from April 22^nd (Earth Day) to May 22^nd (International Biodiversity Day). 

The sponsors for this year’s festival were Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB), West Indian Whistling Duck and Wetlands Conservation Project, Jamaica Energy Partners, Green Energy Technologies Ltd., National Outdoor Advertising Ltd, US Embassy, Juici Patties, Homestyle Juices, Consolidated Bakeries and Lan Integrators, Spike Industries, H.D. Hopwood & Co. Ltd., Chippies Snacks, Yummy Bakery, Cable and Wireless Jamaican Ltd., Citigroup, First Caribbean International Bank, Earthbound, and Sandals Resorts International.