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Book Written by Wolmer’s Alumnae Added to School Curriculum

September 18, 2012

The Full Story

The Wolmer's Girls' School on September 17 officially received 50 copies of a book on the institution’s history, which has been added to the school curriculum.

The book, In the Light of the Sun: The Story of Wolmer's Girls' School, was written by five past students – Marguerite Curtin, Penelope Budhall, Karen Findlay, Marlene Hamilton and Sonia Mills. It captures the institution’s long and colourful history since its inception some 283 years ago.

The publication, which will be taught to students in first form, was handed over to the school’s administration by representatives of the Wolmer's Girls’ Alumnae, during a special devotion exercise in the School Hall.

Principal of the institution, Colleen Montague, said the school administration decided last year to introduce In the Light of the Sun to the school’s curriculum as a vehicle to impart the school’s history to the students.

“Every girl walking through these halls should understand that there is a legacy and that there is something that counts for being a Wolmerian, and so, the history of our school must be taught and it must be learned by all girls, who come to this institution,” Mrs. Montague said.

Education Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, who attended today’s handing over, told the students that knowledge of their history is important as they look towards the future.

"I hope that this written version of the history of the school will have the effect of inspiring each one of you – where you are coming from and what a tremendous benefit it is for you to be students here at Wolmer's Girls’,” he stated.

He further told the girls that they were “among the most privileged in the Jamaican society and you must relish this – enjoy it and cherish it. The opportunities that you have here are unparalleled anywhere else in Jamaica”.

Meanwhile, co-author of the book, Marguerite Curtin, who graduated from the institution in 1953, said the team of writers “came with various skills, training and expertise, and with very different personalities, but what we had in common was a shared Wolmer’s experience.”

Mrs. Curtin, an historian and teacher, wrote the first chapters of the book, outlining the school’s early history from its inception in 1729. Communications Consultants, Mrs. Budhall and Miss Findlay, co-wrote the second phase of the book, examining the modernisation of Wolmer’s Girls’ school in the second half of the 20th century.

Editor and writer, Mrs. Mills, in her chapter, looked at hostel life as a Wolmer’s boarder, while Professor Hamilton, a former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and deputy Principal at UWI, Mona, examined current strategies in the school’s fulfillment of its mission.

Mrs. Curtin noted that the book was a gift to the students “because you all are so important to us".

Head Girl, Alicia Vermont, who spoke on behalf of the student body, expressed gratitude to the Alumni body for the books.

“We, as a school, are profoundly grateful to the Wolmer’s Girls’ Alumnae for the gift of this wonderful book. We know that reading and thinking about its contents will uplift us and provide for us insights into our history, our society and our culture,” she stated.

Last Updated: July 29, 2013

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