Charlemont High School, Jamaica
Encyclopedia
Charlemont High School is a secondary school in St Catherine, Jamaica
.
, 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.
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.
Mr. Forsythe left at the end of 1979 and was succeeded by Mr. Donaldson Bernard in September of the same year.
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.
, a past student of the institution. 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." 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. Since the announcement many persons have voiced their opposition of such a proposal on radio talk-shows and on Facebook
.
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
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History
Charlemont High School was "conceived" by the late John Bernard StephensonJohn Bernard Stephenson
John Bernard Stephenson , also called Jack Stephenson was a Jamaican lawyer and Member of Parliament for North West St. Catherine and founder of the Charlemont High School, Jamaica....
, a former Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
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
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
and Claremont
Claremont, Jamaica
Claremont is a settlement in Jamaica....
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Jamaica Citrus Growers Association. The St Catherine Garden Club landscaped for the school grounds.
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.
Mr. Forsythe left at the end of 1979 and was succeeded by Mr. Donaldson Bernard in September of the same year.
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.
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 PowellAsafa Powell
Asafa Powell C.D is a Jamaican sprinter who specialises in the 100 metres. He held the 100 m world record between June 2005 and May 2008, with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds respectively. Powell has consistently broken the 10-second barrier in competition, with his personal best of...
, a past student of the institution. In a statement at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston on November 26 2010, Chairman of the Asafa Powell Foundation, Delano Franklyn
Delano Franklyn
Delano Franklyn is a practicing Attorney-at-Law and is one of the founding partners of the law firm Wilson Franklyn Barnes. His area of legal work includes, civil and criminal litigation, conveyancing, land, labour, intellectual property, entertainment and sports law...
, 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." 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. Since the announcement many persons have voiced their opposition of such a proposal on radio talk-shows and on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
.
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