Rose Hall Government School celebrates

Fifty years ago the Rose Hall Government School opened its doors for the first time with six classes and just over 100 students.{{more}}

The school’s current Headteacher Gosnel Williams was one of the first students of the school.

Five decades later, Williams is one of the organizers of a year-long series activities being planned to commemorate the milestone.

On Monday January 11, 2010, fifty years to the day, a march and motorcade saw past and present students, educators, community members and well wishers trekking from the vicinity of the Troumaca Primary School to the Rose Hall Government School.

Before the opening of the school in Rose Hall, children from that community were taught at the Troumaca Primary School.

At the end of the march, some past students and teachers of the school who were visiting especially for the occasion reflected on their experiences at the institution.

Headteacher Williams recounted his experiences as a student at the school.

“I was born in the village of Rose Hall and attended school from day one.”

“It was a very challenging experience at the time, but at the same instance, it was rewarding.”

Retired educator Hugh Wyllie added that three of his children are past students of the school, of which he was headteacher from 1992 to 2002.

“We were very happy to have our very own school in our community,” said another past student.

“This school at first was supposed to be for the infants, but I remember the parents saying that they wanted all of us to attend the Rose Hall Government school, because it was our very own school.”

The trip down memory lane was followed by a number of cultural pieces, which included song, dance and poetry by students and adults.

Headteacher Williams indicated that the march and rally constituted one of the activities scheduled for the year.

At the end of January, the school will host a dinner and awards ceremony, with other events to take place throughout the year.

The celebrations will wrap up with the publication of a magazine.

The year of activities opened with a church service on Sunday, January 10.

Williams said that he hoped that the events wouldbring the school to national focus, and with the attention will come much needed resources that will be of benefit to the institution.