BACKGROUND
The Operation Restoration Centre has been playing a significant role in helping to meet the educational, social and economic needs of hundreds of residents in the community of Trench Town and its environs for 25 years.
The impetus for starting a school began when it was observed throughout the community that a high percentage of children, young people and even students attending traditional high school were unable to read and write. So moved by these conditions on a visit to Jamaica in early 1994, Lorna Stanley returned to the United States and sold her belongings in order to co-found the Joy Town Learning Centre later that year. Without a clear understanding of what it meant to be "called by God", she bravely responded to a persistent, inexplicable urge to return to Jamaica with a vision to embark upon the seemingly impossible mandate of "Changing Trench Town to impact the nation, the Caribbean and the world".
The basic school literally started off with "BANG" as ironically, a war that would last four years, broke out the very morning the school opened on Collie Smith Drive in September 1994. Unable to cross “borders,” many older children were forced to remain home; so Mrs. Stanley started the Operation Restoration Centre after-school programme, for those children whose schooling was disrupted by the violence and for “out-of-school” children.
The after-school program started with four 15-17 year old male youth who were unable to spell their names or say the alphabet. Within three months, the school had 48 students, 35 males and 13 females.
In 1998, the British High Commission constructed a block of classrooms which enabled a growth in attendance which had peaked to 130 students but had to be curtailed because of staffing restrictions due to financial constraints.
By 1999, the school began to see tremendous progress after three older students, two of whom had initially been unable to read, sat and passed the Grade Nine Achievement Test and were placed in secondary schools.
Our former Principal, Lorna Stanley recently received recognition from the School of Education, University of the West Indies for the work and impact of the school. The award was presented by Professor Stafford Griffiths at a Symposium befittingly entitled, "Changing the Landscape of Education in Under-Resourced Urban Schools and Communities".
The impetus for starting a school began when it was observed throughout the community that a high percentage of children, young people and even students attending traditional high school were unable to read and write. So moved by these conditions on a visit to Jamaica in early 1994, Lorna Stanley returned to the United States and sold her belongings in order to co-found the Joy Town Learning Centre later that year. Without a clear understanding of what it meant to be "called by God", she bravely responded to a persistent, inexplicable urge to return to Jamaica with a vision to embark upon the seemingly impossible mandate of "Changing Trench Town to impact the nation, the Caribbean and the world".
The basic school literally started off with "BANG" as ironically, a war that would last four years, broke out the very morning the school opened on Collie Smith Drive in September 1994. Unable to cross “borders,” many older children were forced to remain home; so Mrs. Stanley started the Operation Restoration Centre after-school programme, for those children whose schooling was disrupted by the violence and for “out-of-school” children.
The after-school program started with four 15-17 year old male youth who were unable to spell their names or say the alphabet. Within three months, the school had 48 students, 35 males and 13 females.
In 1998, the British High Commission constructed a block of classrooms which enabled a growth in attendance which had peaked to 130 students but had to be curtailed because of staffing restrictions due to financial constraints.
By 1999, the school began to see tremendous progress after three older students, two of whom had initially been unable to read, sat and passed the Grade Nine Achievement Test and were placed in secondary schools.
Our former Principal, Lorna Stanley recently received recognition from the School of Education, University of the West Indies for the work and impact of the school. The award was presented by Professor Stafford Griffiths at a Symposium befittingly entitled, "Changing the Landscape of Education in Under-Resourced Urban Schools and Communities".
VALUES
1. HONOUR FOR GOD
God is first in all we do and say!
2. INTEGRITY
Walking what we’re talking!
3. RESPECT
Treating others as we would want to be treated!
4. EXCELLENCE
Striving for the best everyday!
5. DETERMINATION
Never giving up until the task is completed!
God is first in all we do and say!
2. INTEGRITY
Walking what we’re talking!
3. RESPECT
Treating others as we would want to be treated!
4. EXCELLENCE
Striving for the best everyday!
5. DETERMINATION
Never giving up until the task is completed!
OBJECTIVES
The primary objectives of Operation Restoration are to:
- Provide Christian education and counseling for children and adults, particularly those already engaged in, or falling into criminal activity.
- Provide a “safe Haven” of nurturing activities for young people at the end of the school day.
- Operate a full-time day school offering literacy and numeracy through remedial and after-school activities and social enrichment.
- Promote a more positive image of the community
- Offer vocational skills and training leading to self-employment
- Create a successful pilot project that can be replicated in other inner-city communities.
- Identify and train young adults for leadership.
