81 years of St George’s success
Popular Bay preparatory school’s celebrations reflected upon past, present and bright future
AS St George’s Preparatory school celebrates its 81st anniversary, the school’s core values – respect, integrity, commitment and kindness – have not changed, according to principal Alex Hall. The celebrations took place on April 21. Hall said: “We usually celebrate our birthday on the Friday which is closest to Founders Day. This year Founders Day was on April 23, so we commenced with celebrations on April 21.”
St George’s Preparatory, which was first founded in 1936 as an all-boys boarding school, started accepting girls in 1986.
By the ’90s, the school was growing and various new classrooms and the school hall was built.
A decade later, a pre-school, situated at the back of the school, was also built and in 2001 a music school was added.
The music school initially housed the college side of the school, later becoming the music block.
A swimming pool – which is now a fully heated indoor aquatics centre – was introduced the same year.
Over the next 15 years, an art and media centre, laboratories, a drama studio and library were added.
The latest project, due to be completed in the next two weeks with the official opening to take place next month, consists of a multipurpose sports facility that contains an astro turf, three tennis courts, three netball courts, an official five-a-side football field and a hockey field.
“Last year, we celebrated our 80th and during each celebration we are always celebrating our forefathers, our founders and all those who came before us who we so humbly respect,” Hall said.
“It is very much a time of reflection for us where we look at the previous principal, previous staff members and all who made this school what it is today.
“We have a very special St George’s assembly where we invite the ladies of the World Society of St George to come and have tea with us and they spend part of the morning with us. There we reflect on our heritage, who we are and where we come from,” Hall explained.
He said while the school grew from humble beginnings much has been achieved at the Christian faith-based school.
“Over the years our school has seen the slow but gradual development of its premises in such a way that our children will be able to reach their full potential. In a nutshell, we’ve grown, which will ultimately allow for them to grow,” Hall said.
He added that he believes when people from outside the school see the pupils, they see happy, well-rounded children who have been exposed to varied experiences.
“We help them find themselves and find in them what they have been given by God.
“St George’s Prep is equipped in such a way that each child has no choice but to reach their fullest potential here.
“Through our celebrations we also hope to come across as something special to the parents who trust us with their children,” Hall said.
Hall finished off by saying that each year’s celebration as well as the Founders Day was a reminder of how far the school had come.