Hundreds Expected for Merl Grove’s Homecoming & Reunion

Hundreds of Merl Grove High School alumni are expected to converge on the school grounds in Kingston during the week of November 13 to 19, for a grand programme of activities to mark the institution’s 80th anniversary.
Member of the organizing committee, Claudette Cameron-Stewart, told JIS News that a contingent of past students from around the world, including Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, will join with former students in Jamaica, in a bid to give back to their alma mater.
“We have never done anything like this before and it will be an amazing week,” said Mrs. Cameron-Stewart, who is also the president of the Toronto chapter of the alumni association. “Past students are coming from everywhere. We have even received enquiries from a former student who is with the United States army stationed in Afghanistan,” she added.
Mrs. Cameron-Stewart said the homecoming and reunion was an expression of love for the past students, many of whom have thanked Merl Grove for laying the foundation for them to become productive members of society.
“Many of us can truthfully say: ‘I am the better for having attended Merl Grove’, so we thank Merl Grove for who we are today and when we give back to our old school, we do so with love and much joy,” she stated.
The week of activities will begin on Sunday (Nov. 13) with a service of thanksgiving at the Karram-Speid Auditorium, led by Pastor Fay Williams, a former head girl. Monday (Nov. 14) will be teacher appreciation and enrichment day and the former students will hold meetings with teachers to find out what they could do for the school.
On Tuesday (Nov. 15) the past students will journey to Ocho Rios for a fun day and on Wednesday (Nov. 16), a prize giving ceremony will take place, which will see the presentations of several scholarships.
The Jamaican chapter of the past students association will present the annual Miriam Speid Scholarship in honour of the institution’s founder; the J. Barbara Martin scholarship, in honour of former teacher and principal, who died in 2004, will be presented by the Canadian chapter; while the Northeastern United States chapter will present the first Shakara Harris Scholarship, named for the 13-year-old first form student, who was killed in a traffic accident in front of the school in January 2004.
Activities continue on Thursday (Nov. 17) with a sports day and Friday (Nov.18) will be observed as career day, with past students giving career advice to current students. The week ends on Saturday (Nov. 19), with a gala at the Karram-Speid Auditorium, which will include an awards presentation, a Hall of Fame induction, and a concert by Norma Fraser, a past student.