In our journey from 21 scholars in 1925, SAHS has produced hundreds of outstanding women who have made their mark in a wide range of disciplines – medicine, law, education, international affairs, finance, religion, politics, culture and the arts and sports – with many achieving firsts in their respective fields.“ said comments Principal Sharon Reid. “Our theme, Enriched, Empowered, Abounding in God’s Favour, encapsulates all of our success.
“We are privileged to have the support of the JN Group as our title sponsor for Homecoming Week,” comments Maxine Henry-Wilson, chair of the 90th Anniversary Committee. With their help, we are presenting some nine events across the week, including a public half-day conference on education titled, Maintaining the Legacy: Impacting the Future, on Thursday April 14. Jamaica National has a sterling reputation of supporting national development through education, and this conference fulfills that philosophy as it seeks to begin the discussion around the creation of a strategic vision to ensure that future graduates meet the demands of the 21st Century”.
High school principals and boards from across the island, as well as key players in the Ministry of Education have been invited to attend the conference, which will explore some of the experiences, which have produced distinguished alumnae, in a variety of fields over 90 years. “We hope,” explains Dr Deanna Ashley, SAHS Foundation Chair and member of the organising team “that by exploring the experiences of SAHS and successful alumnae, we will be able to contemplate the measures needed to empower and enrich the lives of new generations of young students to enable them to continue to have a positive impact on the nation, the Caribbean region and the world”.
Esteemed alumna and patron of the year-long 90th Anniversary, Professor the Honourable Elsa Leo-Rhynie, OJ, CD, extends her patronage to Homecoming Week and the launch of a fundraising drive to build a residence for students to ensure the completion of their education at St Andrew High.
26 distinguished alumnae will be honoured at the all-inclusive Gala in the Garden which will close the celebrations on Saturday, April 16 in the Devon House Formal Garden. These include the SAOGA’s annual SAINT Awards to Ambassador Pat Durrant and Sybil Thompson; the SAHS Foundation’s 90th Anniversary Legacy Awards, and the SAHS Trailblazer Awards which will honour the achievements of 20 remarkable women who have distinguished themselves as the first woman to have made an impact in a particular field of her professional endeavours. A Trailblazer is the first woman to do something or go somewhere: an innovator: a pioneer who shows that it is possible for others.”
Other 90th Anniversary Homecoming events include a St Andrew Old Girls Association (SAOGA) Cocktail Party on Wednesday, April 13 and a Literary Evening on Tuesday, April 12.
Homecoming attendees including alumnae from six overseas chapters – New York, Washington DC, UK, Toronto, south Florida, Georgia – will witness many changes at the School – a changed learning environment, a WiFi enabled campus, new and improved buildings. On Open Day on Friday, April 15 attendees will see an impressive display of student work and achievements featuring Technology Immersion, Environmental Awareness and Social & Emotional Health. On Tuesday, April 12, parents and alumnae are invited to join the celebratory Maintain the Legacy March in the SAHS community to mark a drive to raise funds for building and capital improvements.