Celebrating a remarkable history
AS WE mark this centennial milestone of contribution to education in this salubrious climate of Mandeville, it is indeed a pleasure to bring this congratulatory message as president of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of deCarteret College.
I took up this fulfilling position in 2016 and thought it fitting to give back to this institution, in which I first set foot in 1980, when I was enrolled as a student who was successful in my Common Entrance Exam at the time.
deCarteret College, which was established on January 19, 1919, by Lord Bishop deCarteret under the name Diocesan College as an onlyboys institution, received its first cohort of girls in 1976. The name was changed to deCarteret College in 1931 to honour the founder, Lord Bishop deCarteret.
The parents and friends of the school have contributed to make it what it is today. This was seen in their collaborative efforts to build a new school in one year, which was to be officially opened on February 4, 1961, to accommodate the rapidly growing population.
With the continued support of the PTA and friends of the school, we have been able to assist in numerous projects in the school to allow it to be a successful institution in terms of academic and other achievements of the school as it celebrates its Platinum Jubilee. This includes assisting the deCarteret College to go to South Africa in July 2018 to the World Choir Games, where they got a silver award. The PTA has also helped to build the new staffroom, teacher’s lounge, and the cafeteria upstairs.
The PTA’s annual fundraiser barbeque, held in December of each year, has been successful due to the dedication of the parents, teachers, and the hard-working team of the executive of the PTA. I must use this occasion to extend my gratitude and thanks to them for their continued dedication to the PTA as we continue to build the legacy of deCarteret College under the motto Aedificamus, which means ‘We are Building’.
NORMAN LEWIS President of the daCarteret College Parent-Teacher Association