St. Michael's School 85th Anniversary

MIDWEEK NATION. WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2013. 31A

FIVE-PAGE SPECIAL

SHELTON PERKINS, PRINCIPAL (RC) ON THE OCCASION of its 85th anniversary, acting head teacher Linda Bowen, on behalf of principal Shelton Perkins, extends appreciation to all who have contributed to the institution in any way: • Past and present teachers and other staff.

• Former and current students (and a welcome to those coming in this year).

• Successive governments and ministers of education.

• Donors, sponsors and those advertising in this feature.

• Everyone who is part of The St Michael family.

(Stories by Senior Reporter Dawn Morgan. Pictures by Rawle Culbard.)

PRINCIPAL OF THE ST MICHAEL SCHOOL, opportunity to assist these young adults to shape Shelton Perkins, is on leave at this time, but their further education and career paths. He recorded his satisfaction with the high results wished for better accommodation for the sixth of students who took the CXC examinations formers and urged students to come to grips with last year. the rigorous demands of advanced level study.

The 91 per cent rate was remarkable, with Perkins, the first male principal, is known for 100 per cent passes in 12 out of the 26 subjects his adherence to discipline as were his offered. He mentioned that all but one student predecessors and the school has an invaluable involved in the accelerated fourth form reputation for producing students who have mathematics gained Grade 1 results. a strong sense of values and who live by the The then 62 students in sixth form had a 79 per institution’s motto Nisi Auxilio Dei Nihil – cent rate for Nothing Without Help From God. CAPE (Unit 1).

The school was founded by the St Michael’s Perkins disclosed vestry through the inspiration of Nathaniel Bullen that the presence and Washington Harper who are celebrated of 18-year-olds annually on Founders’ Day. It officially opened brought some on May 7, 1928, as an institution for girls, challenges but especially for those with families who were unable also gave the to pay high fees. It started out with 79 pupils and 1928-30 Helen Catlow 1930-40 Lucy Brown THE TEACHING STAFF 1940-41 Norah Burton of St Michael School. Inset 1941-44 Evelyn Cowper right, administrative 1944-55 Norah Burton and ancillary staff. (RC) 1955-57 Margaret Forder 1957-58 Helana Taitt 1958-63 Johanna Sutherland 1963-76 Constance Inniss 1976-85 Patricia Symmonds 1985-89 Sheila Sealy 1989-94 Carrol Bourne 1994-96 Wendey GriffithWatson 1996-2001 Grace Smith 2001-present Shelton Perkins

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grew to the present roll of 980 students, including males, as boys were accepted from 1979.

The institution’s reputation for excellence in all areas, academic, artistic, sporting and a strong character building focus, continues to attract many parents to select it. Even before this year’s Common Entrance Examination, 85 applications for transfers were received, a coincidence of numbers as The St Michael School celebrates 85 years.

Continuous growth led to expansion of the physical plant in 1937, and it is once more in need of greater building space, on existing land, and would welcome assistance from Government and donors, including alumni.

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“THE ST MICHAEL SCHOOL is the school of choice” for many parents – and has been so for the past 85 years – so said acting principal Linda Bowen, at the Founders’ Day service at St Michael and All Angels Cathedral on May 6.

Bowen said: “By 1937 the school had outgrown its physical plant and the same MEMBERS of the much sought-after St Michael School choir. situation is present Inset, acting principal Linda Bowen. (Pictures by Rawle Culbard.) today.” She called on Government, past students and benefactors to assist in expanding the property.

She later explained: “There have been 14 principals, however, the ethos of the school and its focus on discipline remained the same as it grew in size and expanded in subjects and activities.

“From its humble “We work to encourage the full potential IN THIS SCHOOL beginnings, it developed into an educational we learn to live of our students in ways beyond the academics For truth and knowledge colosus, not only academically but in other and there is enthusiastic participation are our quest, ways. We are the secondary in our projects, programmes and groups.”

In this place we learn to give Always of our very best. school cricket champions; Manchester United Bowen has enjoyed a 34-year career as representatives visited us and were very a teacher and deputy principal, now acting for – Excerpt from the school song impressed with our footballers. Our relay written by Dame Patricia principal Shelton Perkins who is on leave. She Symmonds. teams in the Penn games in the United States is greatly appreciative of all the staff – some saw our girls coming 23rd out of 300-plus are former students – who she said “go well teams and all of them have been offered beyond duty in doing all they can for students, athletic scholarships. The boy’s team placed not just the teachers, but support staff in the third in the 4x100 metres relay, also against office and ancillary workers as well”.

300-plus teams.

She summed up her satisfaction with the “Our school choir, who performed so school by saying: “To our motto Nothing beautifully during the Founders’ Day service Without Help From God, I would add is often asked to sing at churches. The Everything With Help From God. We have environmental club works with the guidance come from a firm foundation and established of the Future Centre Trust in local campaigns a proud legacy. We have a large extended and will be going on an environmental tour St Michael family, including our Parentto the Everglades in Florida, United States, Teacher Association and alumni groups, in July. here and abroad.”

DAME PATRICIA SYMMONDS

DAME PATRICIA SYMMONDS is a living legend of all that is excellent in education.

She attended Queen’s College and achieved A level Cambridge certificates in English, history and Latin. She then taught at St Michael School from 1945, managed to get study leave in 1951, and gained her BA in English with upper second class honours at Reading, England; followed by the postgraduate certificate in education at the Institute of Education.

She decided to become a teacher after toying with the idea of pursuing careers in medicine or music, the latter skill serving her well when she taught singing. She shared an anecdote: “When the pianist was not there one morning, I sat at the piano and began playing the hymn. The students did not expect this and started to murmur, but I silenced them with one of my looks.” One of her heritage gifts to the school was changing that hymn into The St Michael School song, writing the lyrics “while watching school sports”.

Dame Patricia returned to Barbados and continued to teach, becoming principal of the school in 1976 until her retirement in 1985. She enjoyed her role, saying, “I never had any difficulties with staff.”

One of the highlights of her tenure was the admission of boys, which began in 1979. She remembered: “We had discussions about the differences in educating boys and girls but had few disciplinary problems and the boys did well.

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TO PROVIDE high quality secondary education in the moral, social, academic, technical, vocational and physical areas for all students, equipping them with the resources to function successfully in a changing, technology-driven environment.

YVONNE KNIGHT attended The St Michael Girls School (The St Michael School) from 1951 to 1958 – as a paying student – and has many happy memories of those days.

“One of the teachers who inspired me was Doreen Mapp, my form mistress, who talked about Keys For Living. The information was so interesting that we would tell our friends and it spread to the wider community. The examinations we did in those days were the GCE and I was good at most subjects. I am very proud of the school and I still have my affirmation card on which students write their aims and, you, the teacher and principal sign.”

Knight so loved the school that she became a teacher, armed with a BA in English, French and history from the University of the West Indies (Mona, Jamaica) and a diploma

MY SCHOOL expects me to remember: That at all times and in all places I am its representative.

To refrain from any work or deed which may bring discredit upon it.

To be loyal to all staff and my school fellows.

To try by hard work, cheerful obedience and good sportsmanship.

To leave it for the better of my membership of it.

in education from the Cave Hill Campus in Barbados.

She welcomed the establishment of sixth forms as she observed “it opened the university doors for you.

“I liked teaching French and think it is important to learn one or more foreign languages. I have travelled to Montreal, Canada; taken students to Martinique, and personally toured France and Spain. I know that learning languages opens interest in travel and the culture of different peoples, and came across a past student who chose Paris as a honeymoon destination. Sometimes when I was off duty and encountered students in Bridgetown, they would greet me in French and that was delightful!”

After retiring, Knight worked in real estate and assisted her mother who operated a small shop.

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THE CADET CORPS is among the many extra-curricular activites that makes for a well rounded student at The St Michael School. (RC) PATRICK ESTWICK was among the first group of boys to enter The St Michael School in 1979.

Looking back, he challenges you to imagine “being one of 35 boys in a school with 795 girls”. That amazing ratio might have intimidated some boys – and they certainly received a lot of jibes and teasing from their friends – but Estwick kept a positive frame of mind and that attitude worked well for him.

PATRICK “I appreciated the experience. You ESTWICK (FP) could say I preferred being in a co-ed school rather than with just boys only. I benefitted tremendously from being around many girls.

“I became conscious of the different ways of thinking of girls as opposed to boys. The understanding I gained helped me in all areas of life, in relationships, in being a parent to girls and in my career.” Having first worked as an immigration officer, he then entered the field of insurance 23 years ago and remains devoted to that career.

Estwick may be known to some readers as Pee Wee, the calypso singer, who showed a definite sense of humour in his performances. His cheerfulness is still very apparent, but he changed his tune and now sings gospel music and hymns.

His love of music was apparent from his school days, “when I was the DJ for school events and also loved to dance”.

He enjoyed sports such as lawn tennis and track and field, sports day was lots of fun for him.

One of the unique features of The St Michael School is well remembered by this past pupil. “It was when you filled in a card with your aims and ambitions. The teachers and principal took it seriously and we took it seriously. It was a promise to yourself that served as a guide to your development.”

SAUNJEAN CUTTING is the president of St Michael School’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

A former student of the school (1976-1981) she is very proud of that institution, saying, “The discipline was such that you knew that there were things that St Michael students just did not do, based on the value system.” She recalled being in the Debating Society, and cheerfully

admitting: “I love a good argument and can speak from both sides of the issue.”

Her interest in the school was reignited by having a child there now, hence her PTA involvement. The group “raises funds for sending a team to the Penn Relays in the United States, hosts bingo and had a recent car boot sale which was very successful”.