Cascade Primary First To Achieve 100% Compliance With National School Nutrition Policy
PRINCIPAL STRESSES HEALTHY MEALS, HABITS ARE PART OF COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
PT ANTONIO, Portland, June 13, 2026
Cascade Primary and Infant School, Portland, is the first school in Jamaica to achieve 100 per cent compliance with the National School Nutrition Policy.
The Policy is a comprehensive, multi-sectoral framework that lays out clear principles and actions to promote healthy eating and active living in all Jamaican schools, JIS reports..
Speaking during a recognition ceremony at the school on Thursday, June 11, Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton, said: “Over a one-year period, we inspected 202 schools with the Ministry of Education, and Cascade Primary and Infant School… is the number-one school that has complied 100 per cent with feeding their children a balanced meal, cutting out the sugary drink, giving them a fruit a day, and doing it in a community-based way with parents and teachers and leadership.”
According to JIS, Dr Tufton said that the school’s achievement shows the rest of Jamaica that it is possible to provide children with good nutrition while they are in school, while also ensuring play and physical activity.
(Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Christopher Tufton (right), presents Principal of Cascade Primary and Infant School, Icylyn Bailey, with a certificate of recognition for the institution achieving 100 per cent compliance with the National School Nutrition Policy. The presentation was made at the school on June 11. At left is State Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Rhoda Moy Crawford.)
Principal of Cascade Primary and Infant School, Icylyn Bailey Said, “This award is not just a certificate on our wall. It represents daily meals that fuel learning, healthy habits being formed in our children, and a partnership between school, parents and community.”
She commended the parents who have been packing healthy snacks for their children, especially on fruit-and-water Wednesdays, and the school’s cook, who “serves with care”.
“To our teachers, who reinforce the lessons, this is our victory we celebrate today. Healthy children are the foundation of a strong Jamaica. We pledge to continue this work with excellence so that every child who passes through our gate will live healthier,
smarter, and be ready for the global village,” the Principal said.
State Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information,
Rhoda-Moy Crawford pointed to the value of good nutrition to the development of students.
“We know that a child who is hungry, poorly nourished, or tired cannot concentrate fully in classes. The right nutrients are needed for energy, attention, attendance and performance.”
“Our national school nutrition policy is important because it gives structure and direction to this work. It supports healthier eating habits and [a] more physically active lifestyle among students. It helps to address malnutrition and reduce the risk of lifestyle-related illnesses later in life,” she added.
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