GHS enjoys the third night of celebrating its centennial

The evening of Thursday, July 8, was a special one for the Girls’ High School, as the institution hosted its third lecture {{more}} in a series to commemorate the school’s centenary.

Minister of Urban Development and Culture René Baptiste delivered the feature speaker.

Baptiste’s presentation, titled ‘The role of culture and the creative arts in society – the Vincentian reality’, touched on the importance of developing our cultural heritage in order to benefit economic development.

“We have not yet built a sufficient awareness of the transforming power of culture in generating economic development,” she said.

Baptiste also highlighted the role that cultural heritage plays in helping Vincentian youths to express themselves and develop their self esteem, in the face of negative influences coming in from North America and other regions.

Dr.Rosalind Ambrose, vice president of the GHS Alumnae Association, delivered an update of the centenary celebrations that are scheduled to take place from now until May 8, 2011 -the official date of the school’s 100th anniversary.

Ambrose announced that Cabinet has approved the declaration of GHS’s Grimble Hall as a protected national heritage site, which means it is legally protected from being torn down.

Cabinet has also approved the special issue of ten commemorative stamps which will feature the Grimble Hall, GHS Steel Orchestra, West Indies Netball Team, past student Collette Charles, Norma Keizer (past headmistress) and Andrea Bowman (present headmistress and daughter of Norma Keizer), Laura Smith-Moffett (4th GHS headmistress), Beryl Baptiste MBE, Betty Boyea-King, Dame Monica Dacon (deputy Governor General and first Vincentian female to be knighted), and Cabinet Secretary Susan Dougan (past headmistress).

The event, which was hosted by Educational Psychologist and past student Alisa Alvis, included dance and modelling presentations by current GHS students, and a sterling performance by the GHS Steel Orchestra.

The fourth lecture will take place on August 5, 2010, featuring Rhoda Reddock, who will speak about gender and achievement in higher education. (JV)