In celebration of the distinguished service of the former pricipal of Sandy Bank Primary School, Mrs. Norma Moxam an Appreciation Function was held on Saturday, December 12.

We were all treated to a lovely service where several speakers outlined Mrs. Moxam's 37 years of service to the Sandy Bank Primary School and paid their respects to her. Pastor Campbell started the service with a prayer and our MC for the evening, Margaret Humes, led us through the service.

Among the speakers were Mr. Norman Elliott, Chairman of the School Board; Mr. Horace Burnett, Education Officer; Mrs. J. Jones, South Principal Cluster; Mr. Earl Moxam, past student and distinguished journalist; Mr. Jason Henzell, BREDS; Mrs. Lerlaine James, Treasure Beach Women's Group, Mr. George Deleon, Treasure Beach Citizen's Alert Group; and the guest speaker, Mr. Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College.

Throughout the program we were treated to special items including dance and songs from students of the Sandy Bank Primary School led by Mrs. Baker-Swaby, the sweet trio of Sashan, Sashain, and Shantol, and a wonderful song (which brought tears to many eyes) sung by Suzette Campbell.

Mrs. Moxam was the recipient of:

National Council in Education School Management Award.
St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation St. Bess Teachers' Award for Service in Education.
The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission in Collaboration with the St. Elizabeth Parish Council for Voluntary Service.
Ministry of Education Region 5 recognization in the field of Education.

Graduate of the Church Teachers' College Shortwood Teachers' College and Western Carolina University.

37 years of service in the teaching profession.
Principal of Sandy Bank Primary School.
BREDS - Director.
Treasure Beach Youth Club.
Women's Group Association.
J.T.A. Pedro Plains D.A.
Treasure Beaach Citizen Association

Thank you for all you have done for so many of us Mrs. Moxam and may your retirement mean you finally get to do all the things you never had time to do before now.

You can view photos of the day here or by the link in the Photo Gallery

Great Photos and looked like a lovely day/evening.

Let me add my words of thanks for what Mrs. Moxam has done for Treasure Beach Foundation. When I came to her with the idea for the scholarships, she wholeheartedly embraced it and worked hand in hand with me to develop and refine it into a very successful program.

This required a lot of her valuable time--which she gave very willingly. We have awarded scholarships to 22 exceptional Sandy Bank students--some now in their fourth year of high school.

Thank you for all your assistance and dedication, Mrs. Moxam.

Congratulations, Teach. It was so nice to see you (And Mass Vinnie!) in the pictures being recognized for all your efforts.

I have very fond memories of working with you, Miss Ditty, Miss Zane, and Miss Jennifer back in 1998 when we set up the computer lab at Sandy Bank.

Just remember to not play too much solitaire!

All my Respect,
Eric

Congratulations to Miss Norma on her 37 years of service! I remember her teaching me too at Sandy Bank Primary. She has had a positive impact on my foundation years, and I salute her wholeheartedly for being an excellent teacher and going on later to be the Principal.
All the best on your retirement, and I am sure the community has benefitted tremendously by the work that you have done both at the school and in other capacities as well.
God bless you.

Why do they call it retirement?

Why do they call it retirement?
Are you going to bed?
Are just having a rest?
Receding into the distance?
Or will work truly stop?

Stop work? How silly.

Will your feet be forever in slippers?
Will you be glued to daytime TV,
Unable to shift from your chair?
Does your brain turn to jelly
The second you leave?

Stop work. I don't think so.

Now the work truly begins
Mountains to climb
Rivers to swim
Oceans to sail
Roads to follow

Dreams to turn to reality

EDITED VERSION OF ONE OF THE TRIBUTES

I was but a small boy at Sandy Bank Primary when news came that we would be having a new teacher… someone from outside the community… someone who had recently taken my own family name via marriage!She was Norma Beverly Young Moxam, but to us, her students, she was known simply as “Miss Bev.”

In this community… at this school we didn’t address our teachers by their surnames. So, it was Miss P.T, Miss Madge, Miss Dittie, and now, Miss Bev. In one major exception to this rule, however, it was always, “Teacher Thompson” for our principal, Z.C!

I recall that there was quite a bit of curiosity on the part of the students about this new teacher. Would she be nice? Would she be strict? Could we play tricks on her?

She and I hit it off well, virtually from the beginning. This was helped in part, by the fact that my best friend, Jerry, was her neighbour and he made sure that they were on good terms, even before her first day at school.

We got up to several tricks, but somehow we were able to remain on good terms with her, in part because we always made sure that we were on top of our schoolwork!

And that relationship remained intact after we left Sandy Bank and for me and her it matured and grew with time, so much so that it was not long before we were confiding in each other as adults… and Miss Bev became my friend, Norms.
So, from wherever I was, I remained in close contact with her and kept abreast of her progress and saw her growth as a teacher.

She might have entered the teaching profession at a time when some of the “old school” methods of teaching and discipline were still in vogue.
But she was young enough to recognize the need for change and adapted to changing circumstances and the requirements of her students.

So those of us “in the know” were not surprised when, eventually, she was appointed principal.
It was the right choice at the right time and it was a move for which she had been preparing; because she was never one to remain static and comfortable. She was always in search of new knowledge and experience, in the interest of her students.

And what a difference she made, along with her motivated team of teachers!New emphasis was placed on the students’ reading skills and that has made a vast difference to the outcomes for the majority of them.

Sandy Bank Primary was always good at producing outstanding graduates… but not so good at making sure that the average student left school equipped for life beyond the most rudimentary job experience. But times were changing and the teachers recognized that! The sea, which for generations, had provided a reliable source of income for the fishermen of the village and their families, was no longer reliable as stocks dried up due to overfishing. That meant that the boys in particular needed to focus more on their lessons and that the school needed to respond to their needs.

So she reached deep inside and challenged herself and her staff and reached out to others who could help. And help did come, in many forms… a new computer lab and classrooms and playing facilities with the support of one foundation; scholarships for a growing list of students going on to high schools and annual visits from university students to help coach the students courtesy of another foundation; just some of initiatives that were pursued during her tenure and which continue under her successor, Miss Zane.

Student performance has gone up significantly, much to the benefit and pride of the students, their families and the community.

But Norma Moxam’s role in Treasure Beach has never been confined to Sandy Bank Primary School. She brought with her an awareness of the importance of people living in a community contributing to the development of that community.

Very early in her new life in Treasure Beach she was one of the pioneers in the establishment of the first police youth club in this community (along with our friend, the late Arden Abrahams, who also did not grow up in this community). She led by example in that regard and inspired others, like me, to take an interest in the welfare of their community. In semi-retirement she continues to make a significant contribution to the community.

Life always has some hard knocks for us, but some more than others, it would sometimes appear. For Miss Norma and her family one of the hardest knocks came a few years ago with the loss of her dear son, her last born, Stevie.
Despite this unspeakable pain, however, she has not lost her zest for life and her caring spirit. She has been in overcoming mode and has continued to reach out to others with an unquenchable love and grace.

So it is only fitting that we in turn should reach out to her and reassure her of our own unrelenting love and undying respect.

Earl

She has been strong in all areas, she stood up for what she believed in.