Montego Bay High School

A special touch of Montego Bay in the Capital City As we celebrate the 85th Anniversary of the establishment of our cherished alma mater, Montego Bay High School, the Kingston Chapter joins the extended school family, in celebrating this special anniversary, giving thanks to all who have contributed to the successes over the years. We say a special thank you to past and current members of the Board, Teachers, Administrative and Ancillary staff who have shaped our school, and kept up the high standards for which we have come to be known. The Kingston PSA represents Montego Bay High School in the capital, and we consider this a special privilege which we execute with sheer pleasure and pride The story of the current Kingston chapter is one of perseverance and togetherness. It all started on a bright Saturday morning on February 20, 2016, when a group of past students from the Montego Bay Chapter set out for Kingston with the sole objective of re-establishing the Kingston chapter which had been dormant for over 20 years!! The mission was successful. Some 40 MBHS past students , who now reside in Kingston and neighbouring parishes heeded the call to get the Kingston chapter restarted. An Executive Team was established to guide the process and the rest is history. The Group dubbed the Montego Bay High School Past Students Association, Kingston Chapter, “MBHS PSA Kgn.” for short, got to the business of reuniting long lost schoolmates and friends. The MBHS PSA Kgn. has come a long way since that special Saturday morning. Each year the Group organise events including our Annual Thanksgiving Church Services, Fund Raising Brunches, Retro Fetes and Family Fun Days. Our membership comprises past students of the MBHS who are now residing in Kingston and immediate environs. At each meeting it is a pleasure to see participation from members representing decades ranging from the nineteen fifties to the two thousands , decked in house colours. Our periodic introspective review, reflect tangible achievements for the benefit of our school, all accomplished in an environment of togetherness, thoughtfulness and high spirits. In fact we take pleasure in referring to ourselves as a fun group that also gets business done. Some of our main contributions to the school include :- A programme of special welcome , continued assistance and mentoring to new past students attending tertiary institutions in Kingston; Welcome and donations in cash , kind and very loud voices, to our younger sisters that come to Kingston to participate in Champs , Swim meets and Tennis tournaments; ad hoc contributions to the school’s building fund and welfare programme as well as the overall upkeep of the school’s plant; and general assistance to anything Montego Bay High School in Kingston. Each year we undertake a special project which benefits the school and provides us with pride and accomplishment. Past successfulprojectshavebeen:-thepaintingoftheBarbaraSmithbuildingtoa“brilliantyellow”;donation of J$500,000 to the building fund; and furnishing a number of gazebos with well needed benches. As with everything else, our activities for 2020 have been curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has however presented the opportunity for our dedicated team to come up with ways and means of deliveringmoreservicestoourdearschoolintheformofCovidcompliantsanitationfacilitiesandservices. We are celebrating our 85th anniversary at one of the most difficult times the world has experienced in recent memory, namely under the cloud of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its associated economic and social fallout. This has given us reason to pause and reset our minds and lifestyles to what is popularly referred to as the ‘new norm.” We at the Kingston PSA are pleased to note that the new norm includes our continued commitment to working towards not only to the up-liftment of our cherished alma mater through provision of physical support to the infrastructure , but also with emotional support to all who call themselves present or past student, and or employee of the Montego Bay High School for girls as we remain true to our motto, Esse non Videri, to be and not to seem. NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2020 5 MONTEGO BAY HIGH SCHOOL 85TH ANNIVERSARY