Montego Bay High School

HISTORY OF MONTEGO BAY HIGH SCHOOL

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MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND CULTURE MISSION STATEMENT

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PROVIDING QUALITY CARE AND EDUCATION IN AN INNOVATIVE, INCLUSIVE AND ENABLING ENVIRONMENT THEREBY CREATING SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS AND PRODUC TIVE JAMAICANS.

LAW: EXTRACT FROM THE EDUCATION ACT
 

The Education Act –THE EDUCATION REGULATIONS, 1980, Section 29 (I) titled “Student Behaviour” states: “A student shall obey the rules of the school he/she is attending”. 
 

SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT 
 

TO ESTABLISH AND MANAGE AN EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM; TO ENABLE THE STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SO THAT THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND AMBITIOUS ARE FULFILLED, POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF BEHAVIOR ARE ENCOURAGED AND THE MORAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOP MENT IS GUARANTEED. SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT 
FOSTERING STUDENTS’ HOLISTIC EDUCATION IN ORDER TO EMPOWER THEM TO TAKE THEIR PLACE AS PRODUCTIVE GLOBAL CITIZENS.
 

MOTTO 
 

“ESSE NON VIDERI” - TO BE AND NOT TO SEEM….
 

CORE VALUES 
 

Integrity 
Respect 
Accountability 
Excellence 
Teamwork
Faith 
 

HISTORY 
 

The Montego Bay High School for Girls was established in 1935 by the Government of Jamaica because the parish of St. James had no high school for girls. It was, therefore, the first Government owned high school for girls to be established on the island. (Cornwall College was the first for boys).  The school is supervised by the Ministry of Education with a local Board of Management. 

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In the 1930’s, St. Helena’s High School, which was a private school run by the Anglican Church and situated at 46 Market Street had been closed due to the lack of funding. It was said that things got so bad financially that the then Custos of St. James, Sir Francis Kerr-Jarrett, had to take money from his pocket to pay the teachers. He, along with Archdeacon E. S. Harrison of the Anglican Church, and the Hon. Phillip Lightbody, the sitting member of the Legislative Council, petitioned the Government to start a school for girls. In response to that plea, a property named Beaconsfield at 51 Union Street was bought. It consisted of a two storey house and outbuildings situated on approximately two acres of land. As the name of the property was Beaconsfield, the school became known as Beaconsfield School and the girls were affectionately called “Beacs” girls.

 

On September 16, 1935, the Department of Education (Ministry of Education) took possession of the premises at Beaconsfield. The renovation work to the property was completed by the Public Works Department to repurpose it for use as a high school for girls. Classes were to have started on September 30, 1935, and boarding facilities would be available at the school. Students from St.  Helena’s High School were relocated to this new school, which was officially named Montego Bay High School for Girls by the Government. The link with the Anglican Church was maintained and Archdeacon Harrison was appointed the first Board Chairman. The student body consequently attended the church service at the St. James Parish Church on the first Sunday of each term. 
 

Under the competent leadership of Miss Blanche Jeffrey-Smith, the school began with forty students (40) and three teachers. This high school was established with the aim of developing in all its students mental alertness, physical health, spiritual consciousness, and a sense of responsibility, so that they would grow up to be self-reliant individuals capable of earning their own livelihood while serving the community to the best of their ability. The school also aimed to help students achieve a high level of academic performance and discipline.  Both the curriculum of the school and its extra-curricular activities were geared towards achieving these aims. 
 

At the inception of the school, students were prepared for two English-based examinations, the Junior and Senior Cambridge Examinations. The Junior Cambridge was taken at the end of the upper fourth year and Senior at the end of the upper fifth year. As the school did not have enough candidates to have its own centre, the girls wrote their examinations in the dining room at Corn wall College along with the boys from that institution. The Higher School Certificate was introduced in 1949, and the first set of students sat their examinations in 1950. At that time, some of the sixth form students had classes for some subjects with the boys at Cornwall College and some of the boys came to Montego Bay High School for Girls. The school had no laboratories, so it was fortunate that at that time, the practical work for the Cambridge Examinations was minimal. Most of the school’s graduate teachers were from the United Kingdom, as the University of the West Indies did not come into being until the 1950’s.  
 

The 1940’s were on the whole, uncertain. There was indecision as to whether the school would continue its independent existence or be amalgamated with Cornwall College. During that decade, the leadership of the school kept changing. There was Miss Ritchie, who later became Mrs. Croskery. There were also Mrs. Marjorie Grahame, and Mrs. Janet Morrison, who kept changing places for a while; each later held the post of Headmistress for extended periods.  
 

The School Uniform
 

In the 1930’s, the students wore navy- blue tunics with white blouses and navy-blue socks. At one point in the school’s history, the students wore green and white pin striped blouses with gray six – panel tunics, gray socks and black shoes. The use of the green and white pin striped blouse was aborted in the late 1970’s, (1976 was the last year it was worn) due to unavailability of the fabric). The students, since then have resumed wearing white blouses. The school badge with the school motto became a vital part of the school uniform. Students could be punished if they were seen without their badges attached to the upper left region of their tunics or blouses. 
The House System  

In the early 1930’s, a House system was implemented. There were initially three Houses namely: Jeffrey- Smith (Red) – named after the first Headmistress- Mrs. Blanche Jeffrey-Smith, Harrison (Purple)- named after Archdeacon Harrison who was the first Board Chairman Denham (Blue) - named after the Governor of Jamaica who was in office when the school was founded. As the population increased there was a need for more Houses so the following were created: Lightbody (Yellow) - this House was named after a Member of the Legislative Council, who was one of the founding fathers. He was very concerned about the affairs of the community and had contributed money for the development of the school.  Holness (Green) – this House was named after Florence Holness, (later to become Mrs. Commissiong), who was outstanding both as a student and an athlete. She obtained her degree in Science at the University of the West Indies and was later awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom. She taught at the school before attending University and also on completing her course. Lindsay (Orange) - this House was named after Miss Helen Lindsay, Past Principal and extra- ordinary teacher of Mathematics.  
 

Philanthropists 
 

Dr. Herbert Morrison, a medical doctor, was well known to all students up to the early eighties. He medically examined every student at the beginning of each term and provided medication for minor illnesses, free of cost. He also provided lunch money, shoes, books, and bus fares for needy students. 

 

Mr. Clifford DeLisser, who was at one time a member of the School Board, donated a bus to the school. This bus was affectionately called Daisy. The contribution of this bus was a boom to the poorer students living in the out-lying districts of Montego Bay as they could be transported to school at no cost. Mr. DeLisser also contributed heavily to the school’s lunch programme in the sixties. A second bus was donated to the school by Mr. Fred Smith, a parent. This bus was named Fredrica in his honour. There was the need for another bus as Fredrica was no longer able to provide the services required. The members of the academic staff subsequently staged fundraising Harvests and with donations from Past students (Local and abroad) and other stakeholders, the school purchased a Toyota Coaster bus in 2014. 
 

Expansion 
 

The student body increased and so the need arose for new buildings to be erected. The present Needlework Room/Clothing & Textiles Laboratory was erected in the 1940’s and provided two classrooms. The present Second Form (Grade 8) block was erected soon after. Later, an outdoor stage made way for the teachers’ hostel and two classrooms on the ground floor. In 1955, two temporary buildings were erected: one of bamboo and the other of aluminum. The former was called “Tattoo” and the latter the “Oasis.” The “Tattoo” was pulled down in the late fifties to make way for what is now known as the Main Building which contains Administrative Offices, Staff Room and Lounge, Chemistry, Biology and Food & Nutrition Laboratories, Art Room, twelve classrooms, sanitary facilities and a large auditorium which seats approximately one thousand when the balconies are used. Mrs. Janet Morrison was the incumbent Headmistress when this building was constructed. 
 

In the decade of the eighties, the Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) and Past Students Associations (PSA) spearheaded the erection of another building. Consequently, the aluminum structure (‘‘Oasis’’) gave way to the building named in honour of Mrs. Barbara Smith (former Headmistress).  The Barbara Smith Building currently houses a library (The Patricia Lemonias Library named in honour of Mrs. Patricia Lemonias, past Vice Principal), the Physics and Computer Laboratories, a Cafeteria, phone/ printing room, along with sanitary facilities. The Ministry of Education added two classrooms to make room for a large number of Grade Nine students that was admitted to the school at that time. 
 

In November 2018, the Thora Levy and Dahlia Hewling-Robinson Building was erected in partnership with Food for the Poor near the multi-purpose court. It is primarily used as the Clothing Lab. In November 2021 four classrooms were added to the roof of the main building.  The building that was used as the Clothing Lab is now used as the Theatre Arts/Performing Arts Room 
 

Academics 
 

The school has maintained a record of academic excellence and the results in external examinations regularly exceed the national average. On several occasions, students have been awarded for outstanding performance in the General Certificate of Education (GCE) and the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations.  
 

The students who attended Sixth Form and the Commercial Sixth were transferred to the Montego Bay Community College as schools discontinued their Sixth Form programmes with the opening of the community college in 1978.  
In September 2014, the Sixth Form/Grade 12 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Programme (CAPE) was reinstated.  

 

Co-Curricular Activities 
 

The school boasts an exceptionally strong programme of co-curricular activities spearheaded by some the most dedicated teachers in Jamaica. The programmes have developed leadership qualities in the students, many of whom have been elected to positions of leadership in the Sixth Form and other Secondary educational institutions or at Colleges or Universities.  
 

The following clubs and society are presently active in the school

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• Art Club

• Books, Magazine and Movies Club 

• Business Club 

• Cadet Core

• Badminton/Sports Club

• Debating Society 

• Environmental Club 

• Emerging Global Leaders Club

• Girl Guides 

• Health and Wellness Club 

• Heritage Club 

• Interact Club 

• ISCF 

• Key Club 

• Mathematics Club 

• Modern Languages Club

• Music Club

• Peer Counsel Society

• Performing Arts Society 

• Photography Club 

• Quiz Club 

• Red Cross Society 

• Robotics/Computer Club 

• Science Club 

• Sign Language Club 

• Students’ Council Society

• Tourism Action Club 

• 4-H Club 

• Girls for Change Society

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Enrollment 

The school has the capacity to house eight hundred and fifty (850) students. There is a staff complement of sixty (60) including the Principal, Vice-Principal, Guidance Counsellor, a Teacher Librarian, a School Nurse and Administrative and Ancillary staff.  

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Patricia Lemonias Library  
 

The Patricia Lemonias Library at the Montego Bay High School for Girls has the vision of developing “confident, connected, actively involved lifelong learners” through its services, collections, and programs. The students are at the centre of learning in the library. We give every student the opportunity to learn, to enjoy reading, and to create new knowledge and understanding. The library is a fundamental resource for supporting stu dents’ learning, and a key support for the academic staff. It provides access to a wide variety of quality fiction, non-fiction and reference materials that caters for a wide range of reading abilities and interests, to support and extend students as engaged and motivated readers. The school library facilitates the learning of how libraries work and how to use them. The teacher librarian collaborates and regularly liaisons with the public library.  Visits by students are encouraged as part of the library’s reading programme is to enrich students’ reading and build their confidence as library users.  

The Patricia Lemonias Library is always open during school hours with both fixed and flexible timetable options for classes (small groups and individuals), along with teacher supervision. The library’s resources are available for loan to students and teachers for use within the school and at home, according to the borrowing guidelines of the library. Library membership is free and students can become members of the library by completing a membership form that is available at the library. This form requires the signature of a Parent or Guardian.  

Membership to the Library provides automatic connection to the school’s Books, Magazines and Movies Club; however, only after consistent and regular meeting attendance at the Books, Magazines and Movies Club will students’ receive full membership via email 

Email: patricialemoniaslibrary@gmail.com 

Headmistresses/Principals: 

Miss Blanch Jeffrey- Smith 1935- 1944

Mrs. Millicent Croskery (Nee Ritchie) 1944-1947

Mrs. Janet Morrison 1947-1962

Mrs. Marjorie Graham 1962-1970

Miss Helen Lindsay 1970-1978

Mrs. Muriel Crick 1978-1979 (Acting)

Mrs. Barbara Smith 1979-1996  

Mrs. Patricia Lemonias 1996-1997 (Acting)

Mrs. Faith Clemmings 1997-2009

Mrs. Julian Myers 2009 (Acting)

Mrs. Donna-Marie Redway 2010– 2017 
Mr. Gairy Powell 2017-2020(Acting)

Mr. Gairy Powell 2020-Present 
 

History updated April 2023

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