An important point in time

INDEED, IT is my distinct pleasure to present this message on behalf of the school’s board of management. This board, along with its stakeholder representatives, will continue to ensure that proper governance practices are obtained. We are resolute in delivering quality education be delivered to our students and, therefore, endeavour to ensure that high quality teachers are attracted and retained. While our five year strategic plan presents details of our activities, it is of paramount importance that the recommendation of the National Education Inspectorate be implemented in a timely manner to remove the shift system.

Our 50th anniversary theme, ‘Success is a dream waiting to be achieved: Learning from the past … Impacting the future’, is most fitting as 50 years is an important period of time. For the Israelites, the 50th year was marked by grand celebrations as the year of jubilee. It symbolises gold, which always holds its value, and fittingly, so must we.

As the board of management, we pledge our lawful support to the principal and staff in their drive to rebrand this school by building on the great legacy of the past in making it a greater school of choice. It was Marcus Mosiah Garvey who said, “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Today, we hail those who have contributed to making Bellefield High a success. We express gratitude to founding principal the Rev Caswell Burton and all the leaders after him. We welcome Paul Grant, our new principal, as he leads with dignity and pride, fuelling the torchlight of achievement.

Although the school continues to produce successful students who are making positive strides in all walks of life, it still faces the challenge of overcoming the hurdles of preparing young people who are fit to live and operate productively in the 21st century. Our vision, as educators and members of the moral majority, is to advance the enlightenment of young minds for good to counter the elements of evil in our world.

I leave with you the words of Barack Obama, who said “We respect the past, but we don’t pine for it. We don’t fear the future. We grab for it.”

Rev ULIT W BRACKETT, JP Chairman

1969-2019