A long history of excellence

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS have always played an important role in the development of education in Jamaica. Inspired by this fact, Father James H. Barry SJ saw the need for a school to be connected to the Roman Catholic Church in Kingston.

On the evening of Monday, September 7, 1953, St Theresa Preparatory School in Vineyard Town was officially opened. There was a representative gathering of clergy, parishioners, friends and civic leaders, including the Chief Minister of Jamaica Alexander Bustamante. Classes began on Tuesday, September 8 (the Feast Day of Our Lady’s Nativity), with 220 pupils. The school then was a long, low building with five classrooms.

Father Barry SJ, was instrumental in staffing the school, having invited the Dominican Sisters to Jamaica, with the permission of Mother Geraldine, to be the first teachers. Sister Marcella Hickey was the first principal and Una Hendricks, the vice-principal. Sister Timothy and three lay teachers completed the initial staff. During the period 1953-1969, the school expanded and the numbers increased to 750 students in 17 classrooms. A library, a staffroom, and curriculum rooms were added to the main school building. An additional block (upstairs), which houses the computer laboratory and administrative offices, was erected in 2002, and in 2003, another block was built to accommodate the canteen, tuck shop, storerooms, and the accounts and maintenance departments.

The present school population stands at approximately 300 students. The high standard St Theresa has achieved through providing top-quality educational opportunities can be attributed to stability among its academic staff and the dedication and commitment of its past and present administrators, members of the school board, academic and ancillary staff and a concerned and vibrant parent-teacher association.

The students are well rounded by the various co-curricular activities offered by the school. These include chess, swimming, karate, K-Kids, Brownies, Cub Scouts, training in football, netball, track and field and cricket, and the Computer, Spanish, Wellness, Debating and Environmental Clubs. Of greater importance, however, is the emphasis that has always been placed on the value of a Christian education. Students participate in daily worship.

ACHIEVEMENTS

St Theresa Prep has a long history of excellence in academic achievements and has a deep appreciation for the Jamaican culture. The school participates in the annual Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s Festival in music, speech and dance. The school is naturally proud of its successes and academic achievements with regard to the Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy Test, the Grade Six Achievement Test, and the number of scholarships it has been awarded over the years.

Many past students have demonstrated their abilities by becoming outstanding citizens in the business community and in the field of sports. Every year, the students who graduate and move on to high school are highly recognised for the standard of their work, high measure of discipline, and well-rounded knowledge of academics, sports, and aesthetics.