Charlemont High School, Jamaica

Charlemont High School
Entrance to the main building of Charlemont High School
Location

Linstead, Saint Catherine
Jamaica

Charlemont High School
Coordinates 18°10′19″N 77°02′44″W / 18.1719064°N 77.0454428°W / 18.1719064; -77.0454428Coordinates: 18°10′19″N 77°02′44″W / 18.1719064°N 77.0454428°W / 18.1719064; -77.0454428
Information
School type Government Public
Motto Striving For Excellence
Religious affiliation(s) Christianity
Denomination Open bible
Founded 1978
Founder John Bernard Stephenson
Status Open
School district Byndloss
School number 1876-985-3307
Chairperson Collin Gyles
Dean Mr. Weir
Principal Mr. Garth Gayle
Chaplain Reverend Franklyn King
Grades 7-13
Gender Male and Female
Age 11+
Medium of language English French Mangling
Language English, Jamaican English
Hours in school day 8
Campus Blocks
Campus type Rural
Houses Drummond, Grant,Powell, Stephenson,Whitehead
School colour(s) Red and White
Slogan THE EAGLE
Song

"Come let's lift our voices to the father oh valiant youths arise, with hearts and souls and voices let's magnify is holy name. For in this day he has given to us a gift, a crown a school an eagle flies in bright new glory praise his holy name. Charlemont, Charlemont Striving always for excellence Charlemont, Charlemont

Great eagles of the sky
Athletics Track and Fields
Sports Football, Cricket, Netball, [ Table tennis] Basketball
Nickname C'Mont
Accreditation CSEC, CAPE
National ranking Aspiring Ivy League
School roll 1400
Communities served White House, Ewarton, Byndloss, Linstead, Treadways
Affiliation Seventh day adventist

Charlemont High School is a co-educational traditional High school located in St Catherine, Jamaica. Charlemont High School is one of the most outstanding school in ST. Catherine, and the number one school in the linstead area, overall it continues to be the second best in ST. Catherine behind its rival ST. Jago high school and ranked on the national aspiring ivy league. Charlemont High School's mission is to provide students with the right attitude and skills so that they contribute positively to their community, nation and the world.

History

Charlemont High School was "conceived" by the late John Bernard Stephenson, a former Member of Parliament for North St Catherine. The idea came about as a result of concerns expressed by parents in the area whose children had to attend schools outside the area, as far as Kingston and Claremont in St Ann. The land was bought from the late Custos McGrath. The funds for the building and infrastructure came from businesses and service clubs in North St Catherine including Alcan Jamaica Limited, the Lions Club, the United States and the Jamaica Citrus Growers Association. The St Catherine Garden Club landscaped for the school grounds.[1]

The school admitted its first students on September 11, 1978. There were three first forms and three second forms accommodating a total of two hundred and forty students. There were twelve teachers including the principal, Mr. Ruel Forsythe.[1]

Mr. Forsythe left at the end of 1979 and was succeeded by Mr. Donaldson Bernard in September of the same year.[1]

In 1981 the school was expanded with funds from the Norwegian Government. This was the start of phase two of the building program. Several classrooms and laboratories were built and the home economics center was expanded.[1]

Proposal to change the school's name

In November 2009 a proposal was made by the Asafa Powell Foundation to the government to rename the school to the Asafa Powell High School, after the former 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell, a past student of the institution.[2] In a statement at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston on November 26 2010, Chairman of the Asafa Powell Foundation, Delano Franklyn, stated "...and I am absolutely sure that every category of persons and groups relating to that particular school, based on our, our own investigation is in support of such a proposal."[3] However, this announcement was met with opposition from the Charlemont High School Past Students. According to the Charlemont High School Past Students' Association Public Relations Officer Judith Wilson, the past students were not made aware of the proposal. Franklyn later admitted that neither the school board nor the principal was consulted about the name change, since it was just a recommendation.[4] Since the announcement many persons have voiced their opposition to such a proposal on radio talk-shows and on Facebook.

School song

Come let's lift our voices to the father
Oh valiant youth arise
With hearts and souls and voices
Let's magnify his holy name
For in this day he has given to us
A gift, a crown a school
An eagle flies in bright new glory
Praise His holy name
Chorus
Charlemont, Charlemont
Striving always for excellence
Charlemont, Charlemont
Great eagles of the sky.
God's blessings are always on his children
Students, teachers, friends
Together with caring parents
We work to glorify His name
For surely the time of harvest shall come
When the victors shall hear "well done"
When young eagles fly in bright new glory
Praise His holy name
Repeat Chorus

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Charlemont High Year Book
  2. ↑ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/Charlemont-to-be-renamed-Asafa-Powell-High_8189501
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL3-W3AKLWM&feature=player_embedded
  4. ↑ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/No-to-Asafa-Powell-High_8203549
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