Girls’ High School starts final countdown to 100 years

The countdown to the climax of the Girls’ High School (GHS) centenary celebrations starts tomorrow with the staging of the first event in a week of activities.{{more}}

GHS turns 100 on Sunday, May 8.

Tomorrow at 3 p.m., a Netball tournament, among the School’s houses, will be held at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex to begin the final set of anniversary activities. The teams will vie for honours in varying age groups.

The netball tournament will be followed on Sunday, May 1, by a radio call-in programme between 11a.m. and 1p.m., which will be aired on the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and WeFM, and a Tea Party later that afternoon at the GHS compound. At the Tea, which begins at 3:30 p.m., the special Centenary Magazine, featuring the school’s rich heritage, will be launched. The launch will be followed by a Light Up Ceremony.

Although tickets for the Tea Party are sold out, interested persons are still invited to attend the magazine launch and Light Up Ceremony, which begin at about 6:00 p.m.

On Tuesday, May 3, at 9:00 a.m., students, teachers, alumnae as well as well wishers will process from the GHS to the Victoria Park for a Sports Day. This event will feature traditional games such as skipping, relays, etc. Persons attending the event are asked to wear the colour of the house they support, which will enable their houses to get points.

On May 4 and 5, the institution will stage an event dubbed ‘100 Years, 100 Careers’, at the Methodist Church Hall. This activity will focus on several occupations that many of its alumnae have held over the years. Booths, featuring the various professions, will be set up on the top floor of the Hall, while on the ground floor, an arts and craft exhibition will be held, highlighting the artistic, cultural tradition of the school.

On May 5, also on the ground floor of the Methodist Church Hall, several former students of the GHS who were beneficiaries of the school’s Home Economics and Food and Nutrition programmes will host an exhibition and sale of baked goods.

On Wednesday, May 4, the Centenary Anniversary quilt will be handed over to the National Public Library. Smaller quilts made by students were stitched together to form a large one. On that day, 10 different stamps featuring aspects of the school will be launched.

The school will also stage a cultural extravaganza at the Faith Temple Church, at New Montrose, on Wednesday, May 4, featuring a choir of 100 voices and the numerous talent expressions of the alumnae of the GHS. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

The final lecture will take place on May 5, with featured speaker Dr. Joyce Toney, a retired professor. At that event, Norma Keizer, the GHS’ longest serving headmistress, will be honoured.

On May 6, the GHS will hold its Gala Awards Dinner at the Aquatic Club. At this event, 10 persons will be awarded and another five will be recognized for their service to the GHS.

The countdown ceremony begins in earnest on May 7, with the staging of the Blue & White Affair. A march, beginning at 8:00 p.m. will take place from the GHS to the Victoria Park, where a ceremony will be held. Persons wishing to take part in the march must register at the school. Just before midnight, an actual count down will take place to usher in the 100th anniversary.

The curtains will come down on the year’s centenary activities with an Ecumenical Service at the Kingstown Methodist Church, starting at 4 p.m., on May 8.

The GHS Centenary activities were launched in May 2010, with events such as the National Torch Relay, the Inaugural Lecture, the Anniversary Tea and the Mother-Daughter Pageant.

The institution then allowed the monthly lecture series to drive the celebration. During the past year, the institution also made a series of visits to senior alumnae.

“We have tried in this week of activities to ensure that we capture as much as we can of what GHS is about. So, there is the intellectual as well as the sporting and cultural aspects of our existence,” said Joye Browne, President of the GHS Alumnae Association.

She appealed to the public to recognize the GHS as an important institution, not only in the lives of women, but also in the nation as a whole.

“In a big way, Girls’ High School has impacted the lives of the whole nation, and, therefore, we ask the entire nation to stand with us as we celebrate these events,” said Browne.

She said the events are not only for the past and current students or persons who have been associated with the GHS. “They are for everyone,” said Browne.