Hosanna Preparatory School’s history
HOSANNA PREPARATORY School opened its doors in September 1999 as Horizon Preparatory School but was asked by the Ministry of Education to change its name since there was already a school in Kingston registered as such. Linette Redway (‘Grandma’, now deceased,) principal at the time, had a vision. She woke up at 3 a.m. and shared it with her husband, the Reverend H. Redway (Dada). She asked him what ‘Hosanna’ meant in the Bible, he told her ‘praise to God’. She went to the school and told us about the vision she had, and that was how the school got its current name. At
Hosanna Preparatory School, we put God first.
Hosanna started with 13 children; a principal, Redway; a trained teacher, Amy Clark; and a teacher’s assistant, Streete. We started the second school year with 75 children and ended it with 147 children. Our population now is 295 children, with principal Doreth Chambers, an administrator/ bursar, 12 teachers, six assistant teachers, a secretary, and six ancillary staff. We offer, along with the curriculum from the Ministry of Education, Spanish, music, and computer classes. There is a strong focus on students mastering literacy and numeracy while developing their skills. Our motto is ‘Preparing for Today and the Future’.
In 2003, our first batch of 10 students sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). They all went to the school of their choice. We have won 12 scholarships in 20 years. In 2010, Anye Chuck was the top girl in Jamaica in GSAT, with an average of 99.8 percentage. Domonique Ramsay was the top girl for the county of Cornwall in 2011, with an average of 99 per cent and in 2015, Jonathan Morgan
was the top boy in Jamaica, with an average of 100 per cent. They were all awarded the Scotiabank Scholarship, including Victoria Mutual and Sagicor.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Our students have entered the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s Festival competitions in both speech and choir and have taken home gold, silver, and bronze medals in different areas.
History shows that we have produced several champion spellers for St James. These include Joshua Rowe, who placed first in the parish of St James in 2013 and ninth at the national level. Craig Duhaney placed second in St James in 2002. Andrew Stone, Javanghn Parkins, and Joanne Grey were champion boys and girl, respectively.
Little Hallie McCallum of Kindergarten three, a five-year-old, continues the tradition of excellent spelling. She was crowned champion of the Kiwanis Club of Province Kiddle Bee Spelling Competition in 2015. Teneisa Mowatt was placed third in 2018 - 2019.
In 2003, we went down in history as the year of change, when we moved from a rented building to our own location across the road. It is a more modern building with improved facilities and an atmosphere that is more conducive to learning. Some facilities that have been put in place are a reading lab, a computer room, an auditorium, a library, a sick bay, a canteen and tuck shop, a multipurpose room with a smart board and 50 tablets, and a culture room.
Ramps and rails are in place for physically challenged students. There are nine grades, ranging from Kindergarten one to grade six.
It is said that one drop can start an ocean and one seed a forest; well, one vision can start a nation. Hosanna Preparatory School has grown from strength to strength. This has been propelled by dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and community members. We are fortunate to have had vibrant parent teacher association bodies over the years.
Hosanna is celebrating 20 years this year. Among other activities, we will be having an awards banquet, where eight teachers will be honoured for giving 10 years or more of exemplary service to the institution. Among the group are two who have served for over 18 years.
I use this opportunity to express gratitude to all and ask for God’s continued guidance and blessings in whatever we do.
CARLENE DUHANEY Administrator