The St. Michael School
Encyclopedia
The St. Michael School is a secondary school
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 Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...

. It stands on Martindales Road in the parish of Saint Michael, Barbados. The school has over 800 pupils.

Some of the school's famous alumni include the Late Dame Nita Barrow, who was the first and only female Governor General of Barbados, and parliamentarian Elizabeth Thompson. The school's current headmaster is Shelton Perkins and the deputy is Noel Gittens.

The school's motto is "NISI AUXILIO DEI NIHIL", Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

 for "Nothing Without Help From God".

The School's Pledge

My School expects me to remember:

That at all times and in all places i am its representative.

To refrain from any word 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.

History and achievements

The school was founded by the St. Michael's Vestry and officially opened on 7 May 1928. It was originally a girls' school.In 1979 the first class of boys were admitted to the School
In 2007, the two year renovation program in place had finally come to an end. During this construction phase, school was regularly interrupted by industrial action by teachers, after several complaints regarding the conditions in which the Ministry of Education approved of for students to attend classes.
Also in 2007, Matthew Wright won a Gold Medal at the Caribbean CARIFTA games.

In 2008, the school became the only on the island to place three students in one sitting to two campuses of the United World Colleges
United World Colleges
UWC is an education movement comprising thirteen international schools and colleges, national committees in over 130 countries and a series of short educational programmes. The UWC movement aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future...

 (the UWC Movement). Two students went to the United World College Costa Rica
United World College of Costa Rica
The United World College Costa Rica , located in the Santa Ana suburb of San José, is the 11th United World College and the first to offer instruction in both English and Spanish...

 (Santa Ana
Santa Ana, Costa Rica
Santa Ana is a city in the Central District of Santa Ana, Santa Ana Canton, San José Province, Costa Rica. It is located at around . The city acts as seat to the municipal government of the Santa Ana Canton...

, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....

) and one to the United World College-USA
Armand Hammer United World College of the American West
The United World College-USA is a United World College founded in 1982 by industrialist and philanthropist Armand Hammer. It is a two-year, independent, coeducational boarding school with about 200 students representing 80-90 countries at any time...

 (Montezuma
Montezuma, New Mexico
Montezuma is an unincorporated community in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. It is located about five miles northwest of the city of Las Vegas, New Mexico....

, USA) ". It was the largest placement by a single secondary school in Barbados. However, in 2009, history was not repeated, as the school did not place any of its students into the UWC Movement.

School Structure

Like most secondary schools in Barbados, The St. Michael School is divided into four competitive houses. These are named after queens: Boadicea
Boudica
Boudica , also known as Boadicea and known in Welsh as "Buddug" was queen of the British Iceni tribe who led an uprising against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire....

, Victoria, Anne and Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Elizabeth or Elisabeth is the Greek translation of the Hebrew name Elisheva, meaning "God's promise," "oath of God," or "I am God’s daughter." Elizabeth and Elisabeth are the parent unit names of Lisa, Lilly, Beth, Betty, and Ella; Elsa, Isabel, and Isabella are etymologically related...

 and the colours are blue,red,yellow and purple respectively

Discipline

The school has a Prefect System, under which selected students help with disciplinary matters, among other things, run by a Head Boy & Head Girl with their respective Deputies, and five Senior Prefects.

The Head Boy for 2011–2012 is Jason Cummings.
The Head Girl for 2011-2012 is Jelissa Lane.

Principal Mr Shelton Perkins is a believer in using the strap
Strapping (punishment)
Strapping refers to the use of a strap as an implement of corporal punishment. It is typically a broad and heavy strip of leather, often with a hard handle, the more flexible 'blade' being applied to the offender....

, a form of corporal punishment, when other methods to instil discipline have failed.

Notable alumni

M.P. Elizabeth Thompson

The Late Dame Nita Barrow (Former Govern General)

Leah Martaindale (Swimmer)

Kirk Brown (DJ)

The School's song

In this school we learn to live

For truth and knowledge are our quest

In this place we learn to give

Always of our very best

To our motto we'll adhere

And follow where past pupils trod

For to us the way is clear

'Nothing without help from God'

St. Michael through the years ahead

Loyally we'll play the game

Always striving hard to bring

Honour to your cherished name

To our motto we'll adhere

And follow where past pupils trod

For to us the way is clear

'Nothing without help from God'

As to school so to our land

Ever will we faithful be

Striving with our brain and hand

Now and for posterity

To our motto we'll adhere

And follow where past pupils trod

For to us the way is clear

'Nothing without help from God

The school recently added a 6 form/a-level courses from 2011
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