Bethel High School celebrates 40 years

Set goals, try extremely hard and do not get involved in drugs was some of the advice given to students of the Bethel High School (BHS) yesterday.

The words of wisdom were spoken by BHS past student Duane Holder during a church service, held to mark the schools’ 40th anniversary.{{more}}

Speaking at the Apostolic Faith Mission in Campden Park, Holder told students that they must strive towards their goals and to set at least one, if they have not already done so.

“If you want to be excellent in anything that you do, there will be hardship,” Holder said, urging students to discipline themselves.

Additionally, Holder disclosed that he was not initially successful in acquiring all his subjects at CSEC; however, he tried until he did.

Holder urged students not to become involved in narcotics, revealing that four of his “brilliant” classmates are now “messed up” because of drugs.

“If you don’t know how valuable you are, then it would be easy for you to succumb to peer pressure,” he said, reiterating that students must have their own personal goals if they want to achieve great things.

Minister of Education St Clair ‘Jimmy’ Prince and chief education officer Lou-Ann Gilchrist, during congratulatory remarks, both commended the school on the 40th anniversary milestone and their accomplishments.

The Past Student Association’s representative Sylvanie Lyttle and president of the Parent Teachers’ Association Brenton Smith also joined in congratulatory remarks.

Background information reveals that the BHS was the brainchild of Cornelius Anderson and his wife Nita Anderson, who returned to St Vincent and the Grenadines in March of 1976, having resided in the United States of America (USA) for nine years.

Nita, a retired teacher, became very concerned about primary school children who were unable to read, write or spell.

In order to assist in their development in literacy and numeracy skills, Nita brought the matter to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which in turn started a school in 1976 at Old Montrose in the church’s presbytery.

Because of the increase in the student population, the Andersons sold their private property and purchased 15,000 square feet of land behind the Victoria Park, where they started a new school building.

Unfortunately, Nita died on April 24, 1979 and shortly after problems arose within the administration of the school, forcing the Ministry of Education to take full administrative control of the institution, and staffing it with several qualified teachers.

Orman Williams was appointed principal in 1989 (the same year he composed the school song), a position he held until 1992.

Irwin ‘FI’ Jack, who served until 1999, succeeded Williams and it was under Jack’s leadership that the school was in 1995 relocated to its present location at Campden Park.

Georgina Williams then served as principal until 2001, when Sylvia Findlay was placed in command up until her retirement in 2008. Wendel Williams assumed duty and was at the helm until 2012. Miriam Pompey was then appointed as principal and is currently serving.

The BHS produced the first student to write physical education as a subject and is the first secondary school in SVG to acquire 100 per cent Grade One passes in the subject.

In 2009, the award for most outstanding performance at the CSEC level after remediation was awarded to a BHS student, who secured nine subjects passes. It must be noted that the BHS has gone from five subjects being attempted at CXC to having over 25 subjects being offered at the CSEC level. The school has also gone from 35 per cent passes to over 74 per cent passes overall and over the 40 years Bethel has had 100 per cent passes in over 10 specified subject areas.

The institution secured the first place in the Inter Secondary School Athletics Championship in 2007 and 2011 and placed third in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2016.

The BHS is also the Alma Mater of international footballer Myron Samuel, who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC 2 in the United States.

“I am proud to say that this school, the Bethel High School, is one of the top leading schools in St Vincent and the Grenadines” principal Pompey told reporters in an interview yesterday Monday, April 18th.

Pompey said she is hoping that the school will continue to strive for excellence, although they have concerns in the academic department.

The 40th anniversary is being celebrated under the theme: Pursuing Excellence through Self-Discipline and Dedication. (AS)