EDWIN ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL, Clarendon — The campus of Edwin Allen High School stood in solemn silence on Monday as students and faculty collectively mourned the tragic passing of 14-year-old Jaydon Smith, a ninth-grade student who lost his life in a devastating single-vehicle collision.
The fatal incident occurred Sunday evening along the Chapelton main road in Clarendon, where Smith was traveling with a relative. Despite being rushed to medical facilities, the young student succumbed to his injuries. School authorities have explicitly clarified that this tragedy is unrelated to the disappearance of another Jamaican student, 14-year-old Jayden Smith from Manchester High School, who remains missing since late September.
In response to the profound loss, the school’s behavioral management and student services team mobilized comprehensive support measures. Guidance counselors, the dean of discipline, Health and Family Life Education instructors, and the school nurse conducted specialized grief-counseling sessions through devotional gatherings for all present students.
The school’s current rotational attendance system, implemented due to infrastructure damage from Hurricane Melissa, meant only upper-level students were physically present for the counseling sessions. Principal Jermaine Harris confirmed to Observer Online that the institution is providing ongoing psychosocial support for both students and staff members affected by the tragedy.
The educational community continues to navigate the emotional aftermath while maintaining academic operations, demonstrating resilience in the face of sudden loss and the ongoing challenges posed by recent natural disasters.