Dominica Grammar School
Encyclopedia
The Dominica Grammar School is a public co-education secondary school
in Roseau
, Dominica
, established in 1893. Contrary to its name the school no longer functions as a 'grammar school' as it has expanded its curriculum beyond its historical scope.
. It was in the building known as No. 66 Queen Mary Street, now occupied by Mr. Ashton Piper, Barrister-at-Law and Solicitor. Up to 1877, the plot of land measuring just over 5000 square feet (464.5 m²), at the corner of what was then Marlborough Street and Grandby Street, was vacant. It was purchased at public auction
by a merchant named Henry Hamilton on behalf of his friend Alexander Robinson. The latter started to build on the plot of land in 1878.
The story goes that Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, and his younger brother, Prince George, who later became King George V
of Great Britain, visited Dominica in 1879 as naval cadets on the HMS Bacchante
and were entertained at the Robinson house which was afterwards named "Clarence Hall", in honor of the royal visitor. The name, however, appears to have fallen into disuse with the passage of time. Robinson probably occupied to building as a dwelling but when Government decided to open the Dominica Grammar School on January 16, 1893, the spacious stone building on Grandby Street was rented for school purposes. The property has been in the possession of the Piper family since 1924 when it was purchased by public auction
by Mr. Augustus Piper. The building is said to have been extensively damaged by fire before it passed on to Mr. Augustus Piper.
Mens Sana Incorpore Sano (A Sound Mind in a Healthy Body)
Pledge:
I pledge allegiance to the Dominica Grammar School,
I promise to co-operate in promoting a healthy learning environment,
I will strive for success and uphold the standards of the school,
And under God persevere with a sound mind in a healthy body.
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in Roseau
Roseau
-Architecture:The central district of Roseau is tightly packed with small and large houses and even larger modern concrete structures. There is little green or open space situated within the city, and this is even more so today, as many of the courtyards which was once commonplace within the city...
, Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
, established in 1893. Contrary to its name the school no longer functions as a 'grammar school' as it has expanded its curriculum beyond its historical scope.
History
The birth-place of the Dominica Grammar School was in "Lagon", RoseauRoseau
-Architecture:The central district of Roseau is tightly packed with small and large houses and even larger modern concrete structures. There is little green or open space situated within the city, and this is even more so today, as many of the courtyards which was once commonplace within the city...
. It was in the building known as No. 66 Queen Mary Street, now occupied by Mr. Ashton Piper, Barrister-at-Law and Solicitor. Up to 1877, the plot of land measuring just over 5000 square feet (464.5 m²), at the corner of what was then Marlborough Street and Grandby Street, was vacant. It was purchased at public auction
Public auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
by a merchant named Henry Hamilton on behalf of his friend Alexander Robinson. The latter started to build on the plot of land in 1878.
The story goes that Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, and his younger brother, Prince George, who later became King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
of Great Britain, visited Dominica in 1879 as naval cadets on the HMS Bacchante
HMS Bacchante
Six ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Bacchante, from "Bacchante" - the name for a priestess of the Roman god Bacchus. Yet another ship of this name was ordered but later cancelled. *HMS Bacchante - 20 gun French sixth rate, captured by HMS Endymion in 1803...
and were entertained at the Robinson house which was afterwards named "Clarence Hall", in honor of the royal visitor. The name, however, appears to have fallen into disuse with the passage of time. Robinson probably occupied to building as a dwelling but when Government decided to open the Dominica Grammar School on January 16, 1893, the spacious stone building on Grandby Street was rented for school purposes. The property has been in the possession of the Piper family since 1924 when it was purchased by public auction
Public auction
A public auction is an auction held on behalf of a government in which the property to be auctioned is either property owned by the government, or property which is sold under the authority of a court of law or a government agency with similar authority....
by Mr. Augustus Piper. The building is said to have been extensively damaged by fire before it passed on to Mr. Augustus Piper.
Curriculum
The school offers a range of academic and technical subjects aimed at catering to the increasing demands of its in excess of 1,000 student population. these include but are not limited to agricultural science, auto mechanics, home economics and management in addition to its traditional natural and social science offeringsDistinguished alumni
- Pierre CharlesPierre CharlesPierre Charles was Prime Minister of Dominica from 2000 to 2004 as well as Member of Parliament for Grand Bay, Dominica from 1985 until his death. He was born in Grand Bay in Saint Patrick parish. He began his high school education at the Dominica Grammar School and completed it at the St...
- 6th Prime Minister of DominicaPrime Minister of DominicaThe Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Nominally, the position was created on November 3, 1978 when Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom...
, attended 1967-1970 before transferring to the Saint Mary's Academy. - Roosevelt Douglas - 5th Prime Minister of DominicaPrime Minister of DominicaThe Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Nominally, the position was created on November 3, 1978 when Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom...
- Edison JamesEdison JamesEdison Chenfil James was the prime minister of Dominica from June 14, 1995 to February 3, 2000 as well as the Member of Parliament for the Marigot constituency from 1990. He graduated from the Dominica Grammar School...
- 4th Prime Minister of DominicaPrime Minister of DominicaThe Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Nominally, the position was created on November 3, 1978 when Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom... - Liam SebastienLiam SebastienLiam Andrew Shannon Sebastien, born 9 September 1984 in Roseau, Dominica, is a cricketer who plays first-class and List A cricket for the Windward Islands. He is the son of former Windward Islands and Combined Islands cricketer Lockhart Sebastien...
- Windward IslandsWindward Islands cricket teamThe Windward Islands cricket team is a cricket team representing the member countries of the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control. The team plays in the West Indies regional tournament....
cricketer. - Clarence SeignoretClarence SeignoretSir Clarence Henry Augustus Seignoret, GCB, COL, KtM, OSJ, OBE was the third President of Dominica....
- former President of Dominica - Vernon ShawVernon ShawVernon Lorden Shaw was the fifth President of Dominica. He is an alumnus of the Dominica Grammar School and Trinity College, Oxford. He was a career civil servant, rising to the post of Cabinet Secretary in 1977, and retiring in 1990. He was elected to a five-year term by the House of Assembly on...
- former President of Dominica - Roosevelt SkerritRoosevelt SkerritRoosevelt Skerrit is a Dominican politician who has been Prime Minister of Dominica since 2004; he has also been the Member of Parliament for the Vieille Case constituency since 2000...
- 7th Prime Minister of DominicaPrime Minister of DominicaThe Prime Minister of Dominica is the head of government in the Commonwealth of Dominica. Nominally, the position was created on November 3, 1978 when Dominica gained independence from the United Kingdom... - Crispin SorhaindoCrispin SorhaindoCrispin Anselm Sorhaindo OBE was the fourth President of Dominica. He served from October 25, 1993 until October 5, 1998....
- former President of Dominica - ((Delmance Ras Mo Moses (Poet, Musician, Performing Artist))
Dominica Grammar School Symbols
Motto:Mens Sana Incorpore Sano (A Sound Mind in a Healthy Body)
Pledge:
I pledge allegiance to the Dominica Grammar School,
I promise to co-operate in promoting a healthy learning environment,
I will strive for success and uphold the standards of the school,
And under God persevere with a sound mind in a healthy body.