Iona High - rising from little
St Mary institution marks 70 years with many achievements
Named after an island in Scotland called the Isle of Iona, where it is said the missionaries who first went there burnt their ships upon arrival, pledging never to return from whence they came, the Iona High School in Tower Isle, St mary, has established itself as a burgeoning institution, rising from humble origins.
This year the school community celebrates the 70th anniversary of the institution’s founding in 1949 by Gwendolyn Swaby and her husband, Dr Herbert Swaby.
Giving some of the school’s history, veteran teacher and member of the planning board for a year-long celebration, Joyce Williams told the Jamaica Observer that Iona High was originally called the Folk High School and was first located at Lucky Hill, otherwise known as Goshen, in the hills of western St Mary.
Williams, who first went to the school in 1955 as a Home Economics teacher, and who worked under the tutelage of the Swabys, said the school has lived up to the purpose of its founding and continues to grow.
“I think it is wonderful that the school after 70 years, has continued, and is not only continuing but is also growing and keeps adhering to what the founder, Mr Swaby intended for this school, which is to provide an education for the poor; persons who could not afford an education at the time. He wanted to see poor, people rise above where they were and prepare them to live a life that was comfortable and in the end, make a contribution to society. The school continues to do that,” Williams said.
Having started with just four students, three girls and a boy, Iona High School is now 840 students strong, with pupils who are brimming with their own potential and achievements, also aiming to overcome the challenges.
Principal Melva HumesJohnson, who has been at the institution for 19 years, described the milestone as “a major feat”.
“According to the word of God, 70 is really significant, and the founders had such a vision that anywhere they are now, they must be feeling very good to know that we have continued and we are growing,” said Humes-johnson, listing some of the school’s achievements over the years.
“We have seen marked academic improvement. For example, the last set of students we sent up for CSEC, we have seen 65 per cent of those students gaining certification in CSEC. In some subjects, there have been 100 per cent pass, and 80 per cent pass in other areas.
“We do extremely well in business subjects. We have also seen over 70 per cent pass in English language. We are still working on mathematics, and we have put in many things to improve it and we have made our adjustments,” HumesJohnson said.
The school also has a thriving extra-curricular programme, offering a chess and math club as well as a debating society that has gone up against the prominent Wolmer’s Gilrs’ School,