Friday, November 2, 2007

  Hon. Andrew Holness, Minister of Education, Speaking at the Sixth Form Reinstitution ceremony

In 1974, the last students retired their badges and took off their ties as the school bade the last set of sixth form students goodbye. Fast-forward more than 30 years later and the school community at 137 Mountain View Avenue, Kingston is overjoyed to welcome back students to the newly reinstituted sixth form whose presence was sorely missed.

Such was the general feeling of jubilation recently at Excelsior High School as 56 sixth form students, 29 males and 26 females, formed a processional at the back of the school hall and marched in to be greeted by proud parents, past students, school executives and government officials at a thanksgiving service for the reinstitution of the school’s 6th form program.

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Principal Beverley Wilson in her remarks said that it was a combined effort of many individuals and agencies that led to the reinstitution.

“In 2005, a telephone call from the Ministry of Education to reintroduce the sixth form got a resounding ‘yes’. Today we gather to give thanks for God’s working that after all these years we are proud to have these students who will carry our torch and make us proud.”

The 56 students hail from different institutions — rural and urban, traditional and non-traditional schools. Twenty-five of these are from the Excelsior family. The 6th form uniform competition facilitated members of the school community designing the new uniform of khaki a-line skirt and white jacket trimmed with green for the girls while the boys wear traditional khaki pants, white shirt and the old student council tie.

The designer team of four is all from the lower school and includes Ackeina Davidson, Sherene Spence, Odell Marsh and Tariq Smith......... (continued)