MERL GROVE HIGH SCHOOL IS NO LONGER THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF KINGSTON
Merl Grove High School, an institution of the Associated Gospel Assemblies is in its finest days and the best is yet to come. This was demonstrated on Sunday, October 29, 2017 at our Graduation Ceremony. Guest Speaker for the ceremony was Ms. Sharon Hay Webster, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education Youth and Information who spoke on women empowerment. She encouraged the girls to read at least two (2) paragraphs per day instead of spending time on the cell phones and also to be strong in their beliefs and never allow their backgrounds to limit their ambitions. She also illustrated to them the paths of self reliance and independence.
The students consistently perform well academically, and continue to strive for consistent excellence in sports, the performing arts and other extra-curricular activities. Currently our school is ranked among the best performing high schools in Jamaica. We are steadfast in our theme ʻExcellence is achievable, make every moment count” through its motto: ʻHard Work Overcomes all difficultiesʼ.
With a passionate, self driven, motivated and innovative educator at its helm, it is no surprise that this all girls school continues to outperform some of the countryʼs other institutions. Dr. Marjorie Fullerton, who has been Principal for the past one and a half years, shares that her vision is to ensure that the school is the “number one high school of choice for girls”. “Over the years, we have been doing extremely well in academics. Our class of 2017 graduates has earned a 100% pass rate for Agricultural Science, Electronic Document Preparation Management, Family Resource Management, Office Administration, Principle of Business, Religious Education, Technical Drawing, Textile, Clothing and Fashion. In our 2017 CAPE results our girls earned 100% pass rate for Accounting Units 1 and 2, Entrepreneurship, Management of Business Units1 and 2, Communication Studies, Literatures in English Units 1 & 2, Geography, Mathematics Unit 2, Law Unit 2, Caribbean Studies, Sociology Unit 2, Biology Unit 2, Chemistry Unit 2, and Physics Units1 and 2 with 92% of subjects scored a pass rate of 80% or above.
To ensure that the school continues to rise to the top, Dr. Fullerton has innovative ways including an attractive incentive program to keep students as well as teachers motivated and, most importantly, she has earned the support of parents, past students and community sponsors in her endeavours. The Principal addressed the graduates of 2017 as stars, and her charge to them was to remember that their choices matter so make them wisely; to use their talents; never fear the judgment of critics who watch from the sidelines; work hard at something they love; act courageously and never sacrifice their integrity because once lost is hard to regain; and to create their own destiny so that success will follow them on their journey.
One major strategy the principal employs to keep motivation high is allowing students to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) or Caribbean
Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects of their choice, and graduating students are classified as diploma or certificate based on the number of range ones they receive in CSEC and CAPE. She operates the school, by having all students sit the core CSEC subjects without restrictions. The objective is to give every student an opportunity in those subjects. We also provide top students with lucrative rewards.
Shaquina Davis was the top performing CAPE Unit 1 student for 2017 with all distinctions and straight ʻAʼ profile while Tiana Myers was the top student for Unit 2 with all distinctions. The top CSEC student was Tatyana Hamilton who was also the Valedictorian for the ceremony.
She is presently enrolled at the University of Technology. Shaquina Davis was also awarded the J. Barbara Martin Scholarship for her outstanding performance in CAPE. Merl Grove High School is bursting with great potential, we intend to continue to exceed expectations and to produce learners and leaders who refuse to be average, and blazing trails that leaves indelible footprints in our home communities and beyond. Merl Grove High School is an institution of academic excellence and has made significant and unparalleled contribution to society in terms of producing numerous dignitaries, scholars and intellectuals who have served and are serving different domains in Jamaica and abroad. The aim is to transform shy and uninformed girls into enlightened and liberated ladies and make each student a torchbearer of the values of rationality, truth, equality and equanimity with God's help.
No longer will we be the best kept secret in the country. We can and we will rise to the top because of our commitment to join forces as a united school family, declaring that our students will receive the best education possible. We are in our finest days and the best is yet to come! We wish the Class of 2017 all successes and urge them all not to settle for mediocrity but to strive for greater heights of success and take their rightful place in the Society.