ST. CATHERINE, JAMAICA (CONGRATULATIONS) : Waterford High's innovators quickly becoming recognised for is its interesting array of natural products, made from scratch, by the eager hands of the enthusiastic students of the Science and Environmental Club...."We are right up there with the Ardenne and the Campion; we are in that top group.

BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Observer senior reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, May 25, 2015   

WATERFORD High School may not be known for too many major non-academic achievements, but what the St Catherine institution is quickly becoming recognised for is its interesting array of natural products, made from scratch, by the eager hands of the enthusiastic students of the Science and Environmental Club.

(L) A display of some of the natural soap bars that have put
the spotlight on the Waterford High School Science and
Environmental Club. (R) Proud teacher Tera Rankine
(standing right) and principal Cecile Bernard (standing centre)
with members of the school’s Science and Environmental
Club (seated from left): Tiana Prendergast, Sasha Daley,
Shanique Gyles, Mackayla Lawrence, and Kemo
Anderson (standing left). (PHOTOS: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

The club's flagship products are facial cleansing soap bars, which it makes in a variety of essences, including garlic and lemongrass, orange, and aloe. The students and their teacher Tera Rankine all visibly light up as they speak of the success and the attention that the initiative has so far attracted.

Rankine explained that the club entered the soaps in the Katalyxt's Youth Innovation Competition held earlier this month, where they placed seventh, beating out even traditional high schools.

"We are right up there with the Ardenne and the Campion; we are in that top group. It shows the students that they can do it, it doesn't matter which school they are from. That's the impact I wanted to make, that's why I came back to this school to teach," the past student said.

The competition, which was created by Mint Management and Finance Services Limited, engages young innovators from third to sixth form to participate and develop an appetite for innovation. It instils in the students the business acumen to be future business leaders.

The Science and Environmental Club also makes shampoo,
conditioner and body wash from natural ingredients.

Science club member Kemo Anderson explained that the soaps, which go under the company name Nature's Drop, are different because of the emphasis on natural ingredients in their production and the absence of harsh preservatives and other chemicals.

"The thing with our soaps is that we don't remove the glycerin like what they would normally do with other soaps, because the glycerin is good for the skin for moisture. So that helps to make our soaps more special than the others," he stated.

Principal Cecile Bernard also gushed about the soaps, noting the hard work and dedication which went into pulling it all together for the competition.more