AfterSchool & Saturday Programmes

Drumming

The Junior Centres’ AfterSchool Programme was initiated by Mr. Robert Verity (founder and instigator of the ‘Junior Centre dream’) in 1940. The AfterSchool Programme is largely dedicated to the Mission of acquiring knowledge and developing skills in the various Visual and Performing Art forms; so as to foster the intellectual, aesthetic and cultural growth of the students whose life we are given a chance to be involved in. Workshops include sessions in Art, Craft, Papermaking, Music, Speech, Drama, Dance, Needlecraft, Sign Language and Drumming. In addition to the Arts Programme; Personal Development, Reading (for adults and children alike), Computer Skills, and Heritage Studies are offered.

Student Production - Entered in JCDC Festival

Participation in the Arts is necessary as it teaches discipline, provides a route for a possible career/skill, as well as it provides therapeutic advantages for our young minds.


East Street Drummers
Children's social
Roneil Brown Posing With Passion of Dancing

In a Nutshell

  • 6-17 year olds
  •  September –June (Academic Year)
  •  Mondays-Thursdays (3:00-5:00 p.m.; Fridays 2:00-4:00 p.m.; Saturdays 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)
  • Visual and Performing Arts activities—eg. Art & Craft, Creative Needlecraft & Puppetry, Dance, Drumming, Music, Papermaking, Speech & Drama
  • Enrichment Activities—Computer Skills/ Animation, Personal Development & Guidance Counselling, Reading, Sign Language
  • Special Features
  • Stimulating Potential in Youth (S.P.Y.) Factor Programme, Heritage Fun Time (Kids’ Stage, Touch Tours, Afternoon with a Scientist), Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Festival of the Visual and Performing Arts, Christmas Extravaganza (December), Achievement Awards Ceremony (June), Socials (Teen Social and Children Social)

Please note: Activities may differ from Centre to Centre. Please click here for the contact details of the Centre of your choice

Special Features

– Stimulating Potential in Youth (S.P.Y.) Factor Programme—various individuals from different walks of life are invited to make interactive presentations to the students in order to expand their horizons where career options are concerned and to enhance their general knowledge of the world around them.

– Heritage Fun Time—partnering particularly with the other Divisions of the Institute of Jamaica, our colleagues make interactive presentations to our students exposing them to various aspects of Jamaica’s history. The exposure may include tours of the mounted exhibitions.

This partnership with the Divisions embraces aspects of programming content originating from them. These include:

Kids’ Stage—partnering with the National Museum Jamaica, elements of our nation’s history are brought to life in the dramatic form, with the use of artefacts from the collection. This activity takes place in February, which is observed as Black History/ Reggae Month

Touch Tours—partnering still with the National Museum Jamaica, the children get an opportunity to do a tactile tour with select objects from the collection.

Afternoon with a Scientist—is facilitated by the Natural History Museum of Jamaica. Scientists, across various disciplines, make interactive and sensory presentations to the children.

– Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Festival of the Visual and Performing Arts—students are entered to vie for medals, trophies, and bragging rights in their chosen expressive area.

– Christmas Extravaganza (December)—a showcase of what they would have learned in the September-December term

– Achievement Awards Ceremony (June)—highlighting the accomplishment of the students in their various classes and in internal and external competitions.

– Socials—Teen Social (March) and Children Social (November). Students are taught social and dining etiquette, which culminates in a semi-formal dining affaire where they put these skills into practice.