School reopening at Jessie Ripoll filled with sorrow

Instead of the usual excitement marking the start of a new year and academic term at Jessie Ripoll Primary School, the atmosphere was filled with sorrow and mourning as the school community gathered to grieve the tragic loss of their principal, O’Neil Stevens, who passed away last Friday.

Stevens and his wife, Camesha Lindsay-Stevens, tragically lost their lives in a car accident on a highway in South Carolina, USA, when a vehicle struck them after they stopped to change a flat tyre. The couple had just wrapped up a vacation with their two daughters and were en route to the airport to return to Jamaica.

As the sun rose, school administrators, staff members, Ministry of Education representatives, Roman Catholic community members, parents, alumni, and well-wishers all converged at the Kingston-based school to offer support and comfort each another.

The air was thick with grief as they reflected on the heartbreaking loss of two precious lives and the impact on their two daughters, who were suddenly left orphaned.

“The loss of Mr Stevens and his wife is a profound tragedy that has deeply affected everyone at Jessie Ripoll and beyond. The support from the public indicates that he was an exceptional leader. We will continue to honour Mr Stevens’ legacy as a compassionate and dedicated leader who touched countless lives. Today, the ministry ensured that staff received the care and resources they need to cope, and tomorrow, we will turn our focus to supporting the students. The ministry will stand with this school community, providing ongoing support, and helping everyone to heal together,” Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon said.

Several other representatives were also out to support the Jessie Ripoll family, including the chief executive officer, the regional director, the conveners of all 11 Quality Education Circles, 30 guidance counsellors, 17 principals, and a nurse from Region 1.

The ministry began the day with professional grief counselling sessions, which are part of a comprehensive plan to offer support during this challenging period.

Later in the day, a prayer meeting was held by Roman Catholic clergy to honour the school’s Mercy tradition.

Reverend Ronald Thaites, the national coordinator for education for Catholic schools in Jamaica and a former minister of education, hailed Stevens as one of the most promising educators in Jamaica.

“This man had far to go. Circumstances have taken him away from us and we’re just mourning. We’re not mourning as people without hope. We don’t understand God’s plan, but we have no one else to rely on but Him,” said Thwaites, whose wife, Marcia, is the school’s chairman.

“He was a very engaging and popular principal, and we are here to prepare for the children who will be bewildered and emotionally upset,” Thwaites told The Gleaner.

Nicole-Ann Bromfield Lundy, president of the school’s parent-teacher association, said she was shocked by the news on the weekend, adding that she had a great friendship with the principal.

“When I look back in my phone, the messages are there, the conversations are there. How do you prepare, because you also are feeling that pain, so it’s a heavy task,” Bromfield said.

“Mrs Stevens, I would have sent her messages because she’s a banker,” she said.

Yesterday, Ian Forbes, custos of St Andrew, also paid tribute to Lindsay-Stevens, whom he met through doing business with Scotiabank, where she worked for years.

“Primarily, she had a wonderful personality – always very pleasant, always accommodating, no matter how busy she may have been. She would always make the time to ensure that one was comfortable, their needs were being addressed, and of course, she made you feel special. Always with a smile,” Forbes said.

Forbes said the last time he saw her was in December at the funeral for Glen Bromfield, former hotelier and owner of Medallion Hall hotel, where O’Neil was also present, and they both greeted him as he left.

The trauma and grief counselling teams will return today as the students report to school for the first day of the Easter term.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com