The Ministry of Education Ministry has activated its trauma and grief counselling teams to provide immediate support to the students and staff of Jesse Ripoll Primary School beginning today, January 6.
Students are expected to return to school on Tuesday, during which time, a larger counselling team is expected to be on hand to support the students.
This follows the tragic passing of the school’s principal O’Neil Stevens on Friday in the United States. Stevens and his wife Camesha Lindsay-Stevens succumbed to injuries they sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Friday.
Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, extended heartfelt condolences on behalf of the ministry to the family and friends of Stevens, as well as to the entire Jesse Ripoll Primary School community.
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"The news of Mr Stevens’ untimely passing is a profound loss to the education fraternity and the nation. He was more than an exemplary leader; he was a beacon of inspiration and dedication. His vision for excellence in education and his steadfast commitment to the holistic development of our students left an indelible mark on the Jesse Ripoll Primary School community.”
Alongside the principal, his wife Camesha was described as a “supportive partner and a cherished presence to the extended school family, always contributing with grace and generosity.”
“On behalf of the ministry, I express our deepest condolences to the Stevens family, friends, and the Jesse Ripoll school family. This is a tragic start to the new Easter school term, and our hearts are heavy with grief,” Morris Dixon said.
In the meantime, the ministry urges the public to keep the family and school community in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
