AL M C TA D O D N A LT PE TIM A S US
50
Years of Excellence in Education...
it. He began his tenure in November 1982 just months after completing his second year as a fifth form student at Mac Donald College. His presence here is owed to Mr. Martin Harvey who was the sports master at the time. Recalling how excellent a footballer Mr. Nicholas was, he suggested that he return to Mac Donald College to assist him with coaching. According to Mr. Nicholas, the then principal Ralston Adams actually wrote his letter of application and he was asked to report to work the next day.
Qualifications of Teachers at Mac Donald College 35
Percentage of Teachers
30 25 20 15 10 5 0
Trained Graduate Trained Graduate Level 1 Level 2
Graduate
Qualified
Certified Level 1
Certified Level 2
Qualification
Ras, as he is affectionately called, takes care of the plants and animals and also guards the farm. When students come on the farm to complete activities related to their SBA’s, he demonstrates some of the techniques utilised in farming. Additionally, he sometimes teaches students when their teachers are not available to do so. Ras is outgoing and is a faithful and dedicated worker who takes pride in his work. It is evident that he enjoys what he is doing. Ras declares, “I would have settled for no other job.” (by Peron Paul)
Mrs. Margaret Glean returned to her alma mater as its secretary in September 1980, when her predecessor Miss Majorie Perrotte migrated. When Miss Perrotte offered the position to her, Mrs. Glean recalls, “I was unsure, but told her I would give it a try.” Mrs. Glean had attended secretarial classes with Miss Perrotte and whenever the school was closed for vacation or Miss Perrotte had a lot of work to do, she assisted her with secretarial tasks. When Mrs. Glean became the secretary of Mac Donald College, Mr. George Boldeau was its principal. Mrs. Glean has worked with 9 principals and because of her versatility was able to cope. Of former principal, James Alexander, whom she has worked with the longest, Mrs. Glean says this: “I learnt a lot from Chief, he has increased my vocabulary immensely and he always had a story to share.”
Apart from coaching, when Mr. Nicholas began his tenure at Mac Donald College, he taught mathematics in form two. After Mr. Harvey left and Mr. Neville Glean joined the staff, he also assisted Mr. Glean with the coaching of the footballers and athletes. Six years after joining the staff of Mac Donald College, Mr. Nicholas received a scholarship from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to study Agricultural Science in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago which earned him a diploma. Presently, he is the form teacher of form 2BN and teaches Agricultural Science throughout the school. He has taught Integrated Science and History. In the 1990’s, he also taught Pittman Mathematics in form 5 for several
A graduate of the St. John’s Christian Secondary School, Leslie Nicholas is the only teacher on staff that has had the privilege to see every other teacher “come in” as James Alexander puts Alister “Ras” Peters 26
Leslie Nicholas