Spring Edition Vol.

1 Issue 1 March 2021

St. James High School Languages Department

NEWSLETTER

Striving for a better living!

Welcome!
There’s a Chinese Proverb: To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.
When you have the ability to learn a new language you have the ability to see the world through the eyes
of another culture--hence, you are viewing through another “window”. This proverb encourages the study
of languages, for as we learn other cultures we gain a better understanding of human relationships. It
also teaches us that learning a language will give us new lives, as we can travel literally and figuratively to
other places.

Welcome to the Languages Department!

In this newsletter, you will find news on what’s happening in the world of the linguists and beyond. We
hope you enjoy the buffet that is spread before you. If you do, please send us your feedback.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome! 1
Greetings from the Head of the Department of Languages 3
From the Editor: 3
How Words Cast Their Spell 3
60 Years And The Journey Continues… 4
Spanish is Alive at St James High! 5
Spanish in Action! 5
Spanish and Technology 5
Television Time! 6
Students’ Corner… 7
The Tech Gospel According To Mr. Pusey: 11
What’s Happening... 12
Global Warming Crossword 15
St. James High School Mission Statement 16
Vision Statement 16

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Greetings from the Head of the Department of Languages
“Language is wine upon the lips”. – Virginia Woolf

The St James High School community, like all the other secondary schools in
Jamaica, has been impacted by the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19). It has
seen a reduction in class attendance both face-to-face and online, due to a myriad
of factors, including low to no Internet access. However, through it all, our motto
"Towards Better Living" has been our mainstay.

No one can deny the importance of language. It is, after all, how we communicate
with each other locally and globally. The Department of Languages strives to
receive high passes in CSEC examinations despite the challenges as we intend to
maintain excellence.

Covid-19 may have disrupted our lives, but it has also taught us how to be more
resilient, more creative and more disciplined as we navigate uncharted waters and keep our school flag
soaring high. It is my hope that you enjoy reading this newsletter and continue to support future editions.
Ubuntu! ~ M. Tahal

📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎📎
From the Editor:
How Words Cast Their Spell
When I was teaching students Medical Terminologies as part of a course, I taught
them about prefixes, suffixes and roots. I showed them how they can “guess” the
meaning of words just by knowing their roots. Before long they were able to not
only give the meaning of words, but they were able to spell even compound
words. As they progressed through the course, another by-product of these
exercises was that the students focused on the syntax, meaning, spelling, punctuation and even sounds
of sentences and individual words even outside of the medical field.

During the last school term, I taught homonyms and homophones as I discovered many students had a
problem differentiating between their and there and your and you’re during their discourses with me. It is
still too early to tell how effective my method has been, however, my students keep amazing me with
their enthusiasm to spell words every time we enter the classroom.

Spelling is a major part of learning the English language; you could even call it the building block of
language. However, many teachers have difficulties getting their students to spell. I believe new methods
must be used to assist our high school students to spell words--because they really want to. It is my
pleasure to be a part of the Languages Department, where even spelling words is a big thing!

-J. J. Gumbs, MFA, BA.

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 ST. JAMES HIGH SCHOOL:

60 Years And The Journey Continues…

Indeed, St. James is 60 years old this year, and the Languages Department is only too happy to

be sharing in the Diamond celebration.

St. James High School, as we know it, blossomed in 2000 when the school received high school

status from the Ministry of Education. However, its metamorphosis started way before then on June 1,

1961. At that time, it was called Montego Bay Senior School -- a name that stuck even after several other

changes, including Montego Bay Secondary School, Junior High School and Montego Bay

Comprehensive.

During the week of September 5 - 11, 2021, the school will culminate its year long celebration

with a week of fun-filled activities to mark the occasion; starting with a Church service on Sunday,

September 5, 2021 and ending with a banquet on Saturday, September 11, 2021.

Other activities slated to commemorate this joyous occasion include a Maths & English race--no

surprise there, a domino competition, a Health & Wellness fair and a concert, among other things.

The school continues to exceed expectations, hiring the best and brightest teachers to help mold

the minds of our young stewards who continue to excel in all their endeavours.

The Languages Department congratulates Mr. Joseph Williams, principal of St. James High School

since 2004, and Ms. Georgia Green -- the longest serving employee.

Here’s to another 60 years! Prost!

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 Spanish is Alive at St James High!
(Contributed)

As you are about to enter the compound, you are welcomed in Spanish and in English, as pictured below
on the gate.

Spanish in Action!
There is an active Spanish club where students are exposed to the language in authentic settings. The
motto of the club is, “Rompiendo las barreras del idioma”, which translates to, “Breaking language
barriers”. These students (pictured below) have represented our institution at the national level on
numerous occasions. Most recently (January 2020), Shaiquan Hastings and Tianna Kay Whittaker
participated in the National Spanish Festival competition, where they were awarded a Gold Medal for their
performance of the poem, “Me Gritaron Negro” by Victoria Santa Cruz. They were coached by our very
own Ms. Hibbert and Ms. Foster for this competition.

Tianna Kay Whittaker (left) and Shaiquan Hastings (right) getting ready to perform at the National Spanish Festival held at St. Hilda's
Diocesan High in Brown’s Town, St. Ann, on January 24, 2020. They were awarded a gold medal for the performance.

Spanish and Technology

If you go to Youtube and ‘search’ for Symonette Hibbert, you will find a channel dedicated to Spanish,
Technology, Teaching and other tools that can help you in the teaching-learning process.

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Ms. Hibbert established her self-titled YouTube channel on March 24, 2019. Her fundamental goal was to
target disadvantaged children who needed extra Spanish lessons to maximise their comprehensible input in
the language. They would then visit her channel to view the content at a time convenient to them.

This promoted asynchronous learning, a learner-centred methodology that allows students to access
content or participate in learning outside of the classroom, even before the Covid19 pandemic. This channel
is beneficial to students of St. James High but, as seen in the comments on YouTube, students from various
schools in Jamaica and the Caribbean are also benefiting from this initiative.

The channel has grown significantly, as Ms. Hibbert saw the need to enhance the target population.
Therefore, she has now included content for teachers who also have questions about technology and
teaching, among other things; as well as parents and other stakeholders in Education. If you want to
improve your Spanish, learn more about technology, or just have fun, please check out this channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJhkT9jpTunGyquKgfBguyQ

Television Time!
During the heights of the pandemic, there were many changes. One such change was the mode of teaching.
Teaching is now done online for most schools. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, through its
Emergencies in Education initiative, has done lessons on television, radio and in the Gleaner.

On November 16, 2020, Ms. Hibbert along with Ms. Yaliet De la Cruz Poll–Morgan taught their session
lesson on TVJ on the CLASS TIME programme. What made this one extra special was the fact that two of our
students also participated. Shemar Fray and Tianna Kay Whittaker can be seen speaking in Spanish on the
programme.

Please watch the lesson on TVJ’s Youtube page. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao9cCLfHGWg&t=302s

Shemar Fray Tianna Kay Whittaker Señorita Hibbert

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STUDENTS’ CORNER…

How Do We Stop This Global Warming?

By R. Kerr

Yesterday was hot

Today is hotter
Global warming is moving faster
Than we think
And soon we won’t have any
Clean water to drink.

In a way
Back then was better
No cars, factories or computer

Today we are too shallow

To think about tomorrow

We cut down trees every minute

It’s like there is no limit.

Greenhouse gases are increasing

The sun is rejoicing
Because she is winning.
Still after knowing this
We sit back and do nothing.

What is the solution to this polluting?

How do we stop this global warming?

Sit back and listen to the facts.

Restoration, conservation and transportation.

I believe we can achieve this with effort and care.

Make mother earth proud and build a better place for our future which is near.

⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜

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Bright Sparks
By J. Williams

My eyes hardly opened when I felt a wave of weakness in my body. My head felt like a thousand
drums were beating all at once and muscles ached. Memories in shambles, nausea, dizziness and
a harsh dryness in my throat. What was this?

Laying on my back, with blurry vision and eyelids blinking every two seconds, I tried to make out
where I was. When my eyes finally focused, it became clear I was staring at a ceiling, but an
unfamiliar one. It was higher than the one at home, with way too many dirt marks, spider webs and
white paint peeling.

"This isn't my room," I thought, closing my heavy eyelids. "My room is painted in orange, not white.
It's also nowhere near this dirty".

Confused, I dug through my recent memories, recalling playing on a grassy football field with a
mini-goal--my friends and a dirty, beaten down and somewhat deflated football. In that memory, I
was dodging, crossing and dribbling past my friends during a best-of-five, first-to-five points game
of football. As I was dribbling with the ball to make the winning shot, I suddenly collapsed.

Now here I was awake in this strange place.

"Yow! Young youth. You nuh dead yet, so stop behave so."

The voice sounded like that of a man in his 50's. I dared not turn my head.

"Wah happened to you?"

The loud voice of this old man was ringing like a school bell in my already pounding head.

"Sugar yuh have or pressure, young bwoy?" he continued.

"No, nothing like that," I answered lazily, just so he would stop talking to me.

"Greg! Leave di bwoy alone mek him get likkle rest". This, from a short, plump black woman
dressed in a nurse’s suit as she entered the room carrying what looked like two water bottles.

"You always look company fi chat yuh nonsense wid", she said, adjusting her glasses.

Greg grinned and sat up straight in the bed.

"A nuh dat Misha, a you mi wah keep mi company tonight, but yuh love run weh."

Misha laughed out loud as she walked towards me.

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"Yuh know yuh too hard fi deal wid, Greg!"

"Mi know."

Misha put her hand atop my forehead, checking my temperature.

"Yuh fever gone down. That's good".

She popped open a bottle of water, placed two tablets in my hand and tilted my head.

"Tek dis and tek yuh time an sip the water", she said.

The water returned my strength -- slightly.

"Gwaan sip the water while yuh rest", she said, leaving the other bottle next to me and exiting the
room.

Greg turned to me and said, "So wah happen to you?"

With my regained strength and headache gone, I felt more charitable.

"Mi drop down from heatstroke", I explained.

"Heatstroke? Likkle sun ketch yuh an yuh drop dung! Yuh weak den young bwoy," Greg said,
hissing his teeth loudly.

"Fi yuh generation too weak”, he continued. “Oonuh inna house all day pan phone and tablet.
Remember back when mi a young bwoy, mi chop cane inna hot sun every day. A likkle 'blen up,
blen up' you need fi strengthen your body".

I was irritated by his words. I was not the type of person to laze around. I played football or
basketball every day of the week, whenever I could.

"Time get hotter yah now, versus back then. Nowadays the temperature is 40 degrees almost
every day," I said, assertively.

"But a coulda how dat happen?” Greg asked. “Di sun come closer to Earth? Mek dat mek sense."

"Ah! Listen yah now to mi good!" I sat up in the bed, fully engaged in the conversation.

"Every day yuh see car and truck a burn gas, factory let out this one heap a black smoke and forest
a light a fire. Yuh following?"

"Yah man! Gwan talk mi a listen", Greg said.

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"Like mi a seh. All that smoke and carbon dioxide that get let out have to go somewhere. That
'somewhere' is the atmosphere. All the greenhouse gas, as dem call it, pack up inna the sky and
help heat up the planet", I gestured with my hands.

"But how di planet heat up?" Greg asked, rubbing his chin.

"Ketch dis yah now!” I was on fire.

“The sun rays get trap on the earth surface, instead of going back into space by the greenhouse
gases. Since we as people keep on burning fossil fuels, the more heat stays on the planet surface”.

"My word! A so it work", Greg exclaimed. His eyes widen in amazement. "So weh yuh a tell me is…
the burning of fossil fuels, increase in carbon dioxide help heat up the planet, causing global
warming?"

"Ah! Exactly! You ketch dat quick though”, I grudgingly admired his quick wit. “Him ole but him nuh
cole’”.

"Weh you a try seh?" Greg furrowed his brow. "Back inna school, a me name Bright Sparks, young
bwoy!"
⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜

Climate Change and its Effects on Jamaica

By D. Findlayson

Climate and weather are sometimes mistaken by people who use the words
interchangeably. However, they are both different in their aspects. Both climate and
weather have to do with the atmosphere, but climate refers to long-term atmospheric
conditions of a country, region or distinct part of the earth. Weather relates to the
atmosphere as well, but the weather occurs only for a short period of time and in a local
setting; referring to the temperature, humidity, and rainfall patterns. With the distinction
between climate and weather out of the way, I would like to discuss climate change and its
effects on Jamaica.

But before the effects are discussed, let’s define climate change. Climate change is the
extended change in the weather patterns over a country or region that defines the climate
condition. Today’s climate change is referred to as the greenhouse effect; the atmosphere
is filled with harmful gases released from the earth. This is so because of human activities.
People ask, “Why are these times so hot” when people are the ones causing it. These
gases are not only detrimental to our health but also play the most significant role in
climate change.

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The greenhouse effect occurs when gases like carbon dioxide, methane, carbon
monoxide, et cetera, get released into the air by the burning of fossil fuels from motor
vehicles, factories, etc. These pollutants stay in the air and receive the heat from the sun,
but don't let it back out. Because of this, the temperatures are more strenuous in the
atmosphere. It is named the greenhouse effect because it acts as a greenhouse for plants;
trapping the heat from the sun inside the greenhouse once it enters. Since the industrial
revolution, the carbon dioxide in the air has increased rapidly in years.

Furthermore, the dense temperatures have made the weather patterns harder for
meteorologists to read and the weather more severe. Thus, more natural disasters like:
droughts, heavy rains, floods and hurricanes are likely to occur. These are all
consequences of the heat climate change is causing, which is caused by the greenhouse
effect.

If we don’t act now, these calamities will escalate. Because of these calamities, other
aspects of life are being affected. Floods cause loss of crops from the farmers; food will no
longer be available like always. Health resources will be pressured if climate change is to
get worse. When fossil fuels are burnt, a lot of gases are released. One seriously harmful
gas is sulfur dioxide, which goes up in the air and combines with water vapour and other
gases to form smog. The smog is very harmful, and can cause respiratory problems like
asthma, lung cancer and bronchitis. Therefore, with the air pollution increasing, these
health problems will be inevitable.
⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜

The Languages Department has relaunched the Writing club to engage young writers in the art of writing.
We encourage our students to express themselves through the written word, via poems, essays or flash
fiction. By joining the Writing club, you will be able to have your pieces “workshopped” by your peers, and
possibly published in our newsletter. You can join by visiting Google Classroom and entering the class code:
y2m33a5

The Tech Gospel According To Mr. Pusey:

★ Don’t share your login credentials with anyone.
★ Ensure there is a security feature enabled on your devices. E.g. pins, passwords, biometrics, etc.
★ Blur your background when on video calls such as Google Meet and Zoom.
★ Keep track of your digital footprint.
★ Don’t forward Phishing emails or links on WhatsApp or via your email address.
★ Regularly backup your data.

Food for Thought:

Clicking Without Thinking Is Reckless!

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What’s Happening...
The second/EASTER TERM of the school year commenced on Monday,
January 4, 2021, and will end on Wednesday, March 31, 2021.

Easter Holidays will begin on Thursday, April 01, 2021, and end on Friday,
April 09, 2021. School will officially resume from Easter holidays on
Monday, April 12, 2021.

SUMMER TERM (Labour Day Mid-term) – May 20 - 24, 2021. School resumes Tuesday,
May 25, 2021.

The third/SUMMER TERM of the school year will commence on Monday,

April 12, 2021, and will end on Friday, July 02, 2021. Summer holidays start
Monday, July 5, 2021 and end Friday, September 03, 2021.

The 2021/2022 School Year begins Monday, September 6, 2021.

CXC Registration & Examinations – 2021

EXAMINATION DATES

CSEC (January 2021) Registration: August 17, 2020 to October 03,

2020

Examination Dates: January 04, 2021 to

January 20, 2021

CSEC (June 2021) Registration: October 01, 2020 to

December 03, 2020 Examination Dates:

April 16, 2021, to June 04, 2021

CAPE (June 2021) Registration: October 01, 2020 to

December 03, 2020 Examination Dates:

April 16, 2021 to June 11, 2021

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 CVQ (June 2021) Registration: September 01, 2020 to January
20, 2021

Examination Dates: Coursework to be

uploaded May 01, 2021 to June 10, 2021

Online Registration System opens for

submission of completed units.

City and Guilds Workshops and Examination Dates

CATEGORY EVENTS DATE

Exam Date Practice Exam Day Thursday, March 18, 2021

Exam Date Examination Date for Monday, April 19 -

Speaking & Listening in 2021 Friday, April 23, 2021

Assessments Skills Proficiency Awards Monday, May 10, 2021

(across all ten disciplines) through Friday, June 4, 2021

Exam Date: Thursday, June 10, 2021 Exam sittings: Maths 9 am & English 1 pm

Exam Date Exam sitting: Customer Friday, June 11, 2021

Service 9:00 am

The following outlines the NCTVET registration, assessment and certification

timelines:
Assessment Manual Verification of Submission Assessment Release of Issuance of
Period Application Candidacy of Dates Assessment Certificates
Deadline CA Results
2nd Friday Scores

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November June Verification Oct. 16, Nov. 16 - Assessment 1 month
of 2020 30, 2020 results are after the
candidacy released 8 release of
February September must be Jan. 18, Feb. 15 - weeks after the
done by 2021 27, 2021 the last assessment
the sitting of results
institution the exam
June January May 15, June 2 months
within 5 period
2021 2021 after the
days of
release of
receipt
the
assessment
results

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
National Monday, October 19, 2020 Good Friday Friday, April 2, 2021
Heroes Day

Christmas Friday, December 25, 2020 Easter Monday Monday, April 5, 2021
Day

Boxing Day Saturday, December 26, 2020 Labour Day Sunday, May 23,
2021

Observed Monday,
May 24, 2021

New Year's Friday, January 1, 2021 Emancipation Sunday , August 1,

Day Day 2021

Observed Monday,
August 2, 2021

Ash Wednesday, February 17, Independence Friday, August 6,

Wednesday 2021 Day 2021

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 Global Warming Crossword

Across
2. One of the main sources of carbon dioxide is _______.
4. One of the main sources of methane is ______.
5. The polar ice caps are ______ because of global warming.
6. Sunlight is _______ by pollution, like carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere.
7. Global warming means that the atmosphere gets ______ and heats the earth.

Down
1. _______ instead of driving is one of the main ways we can stop global warming.
2. ______ enters and leaves the atmosphere.

THE LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT NEEDS YOU!

We are looking for a bright, forward-thinking professional to join our team as a:

✽✽✽ Literacy Specialist ✽✽✽

If you feel this might be you, and you are certified, please contact the Head of the Dept., Ms. Tahal,
as soon as possible.

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 ST. JAMES HIGH SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of St. James High School is to establish and manage an atmosphere conducive to the
holistic development of each child, teacher and all other members of the school community;
embracing the fact that discipline is the essence of education, while preparing students at all times
through caring and sharing -- we strive “towards better living”.

VISION STATEMENT
Achieving Better Living For All

“Every Child Can Learn… Every Child Must Learn”

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