GHS holds Global Summit of past students

A grand reunion to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Girls’ High School (GHS) will be held in St. Vincent some time in 2011. This decision was taken at the Global Summit of past students of this nation’s premier girls’ school held last Sunday, August 6 in Toronto, Canada.

Under the theme: “We are all in this together. Together we can do more”, representatives of graduating classes from 1933 to 2002 interspersed the serious discussions surrounding the future of their alma mater with precious moments of laughter, tears and memories.{{more}}

Feature speaker, Pastor Trudy Nanton-White set the tone for the summit by reminding the alumnae to place God at the centre of their deliberations and their lives. In her report, Headmistress of the GHS Andrea Bowman spoke of the achievements of the school as well as the challenges faced by today’s students. Collette Charles, a 2006/2007 5th form student gave her perspective as a student of the school and informed the gathering of the changes her schoolmates indicated that they would like to see.

Ten committees were formed to lead projects geared at celebrating the school’s centenary. Ynolde Mulraine-Adams will lead the committee to oversee the writing of the school history; the auditorium committee will be led by Marjorie Williams Cuffy; Paula Nanton Cox will spearhead efforts to compile a directory of the alumnae, while Rosalind Marshall Carew will head the fundraising committee.

Marcia King-Gambell chairs the Essay Competition committee while Lynette Norris Glasgow will coordinate efforts to publish a cookbook and have a mural painted in addition to other beautification projects at the school. Cheryl Phills King heads the endowment committee; Marguerite Rose will coordinate the lecture series and Janet Smith will organize a series of Arts nights.

During the course of 2007, an official Girls’ High School website, which will play a pivotal role in disseminating information and galvanizing alumnae into action will be launched. Hayden Duncan chairs the website committee.

The plenary session was chaired by Dr. Joyce Providence Toney and was attended by some 100 members of the GHS Alumnae from throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean.

The event, which was hosted by the Toronto Chapter of the Alumnae was one of the activities held in St. Vincent and overseas to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the founding of the school on May 8, 1911.

The Toronto Alumnae, whose president is Sharon Cato Hypolite, also hosted a welcome reception at the home of Dawn Fraser-England and her husband Raymond, on Friday August 4, as well as a brunch just prior to the summit. The summit was followed by a very well – attended Caribana Fete at the Scarborough Masonic Temple on Sunday night.