Hillview College

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Hillview College
Hillview College monogram
Principal Mr. Leslie Mahase
School type Public
Motto Humani Nihil Alienum
Religious affiliation Presbyterian
Founded 1955
Location Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago
Enrollment 800
Faculty 42
Campus surroundings Rural/suburban
School color(s) Maroon and Gold

Hillview College is a Government assisted Presbyterian secondary school situated on the foothills of the Northern Range at the top of El Dorado Road in Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago. The motto Humani Nihil Alienum is a Latin phrase that when translated means 'Nothing concerning humanity is alien to me'. Expressed in a positive way it means, 'I am interested in everything concerning mankind.' It is an all-boys school (girls have been admitted to 6th Form since 1992, however) and is a seven year school that prepares students for CXC/O-Level examinations at 5th Form and A-Level Examinations at 6th Form. It offers education in the areas of the sciences, business studies and modern studies. It is considered by alumni to be a prestigious school and on occasion wins National Scholarships from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, which are awarded based on outstanding A-Level results.

Contents

[edit] Faculty

As a denominational school, Hillview College is under the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education. The Board is appointed every two years and has the responsibility of overseeing the progress and development of the currently 5 Presbyterian schools in the country. Hillview College also has its own Board of Management which is responsible for the day to day management of the school. It approves the school budget, looks after other financial matters and the maintenance of grounds and buildings.

Members of Staff are appointed on the recommendation of the Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education.

There are 6 Deans, a Dean of Studies, and ten Heads of Department who assist the Principal and Vice Principal in the administration of the school.

A Librarian and Library Assistant, four Laboratory Assistants, a Bursar, a secretary, an Office Assistant, ten Ancillary Staff and 4 security guards complete the quota of staffing at Hillview College.

[edit] History

In July 1951 the Official Board of the Aramalaya Presbyterian Church appealed to the Presbyterian of the Canadian Mission Church for a Boys' Secondary School to be sited on Sheriff Street, Tunapuna.

Two years later the Naparima College Board, which was governing only the Canadian missionary Secondary Boys' School in the country at the time, was instructed by the Presbytery to proceed with plans for a programme of secondary school expansion, giving priority to the oilfield area and the area in the vicinity of Tunapuna.

A committee of missionaries agreed to release buildings on Sheriff Street for use and on 27th September, 1954 application was made to the Colonial Government for the recognition of a Provisional Assisted Secondary School in Tunapuna.

On Monday, 17th January, 1955 the school was opened under the principalship of Rev. H. F. Swann. It was originally called Naparima College, Tunapuna Branch, with an enrollment of 44 students and two teachers. The church hall on Sheriff Street was used as the classroom and the portion of the grounds and cow-she were used for games.

Naparima College, Tunapuna Branch remained on this site until September 1957. In this year the Principal, Staff and Students entered the present site at the top of El Dorado Road. In November 1957 the Government granted the college Permanent Status as a Government Assisted Secondary School and in 1962 the next principal Dr. Stephen Moosai-Maharaj renamed the school to Hillview College and gave it its motto and composed the words for the college song.

In 1959 the science laboratories were built and the number of classrooms increased. In 1967 the main hall was extended to accommodate the increased number staff, and a further extension was made in 1996 to create offices for the administration and clerical staff. In 1986 a library was built and named in honour of Mr. Stephen R. Seepersad (Principal 1975-1988). In 1993 a separate 6th Form block was built, and in 1999 a pavilion was constructed and named in honour of Mr. Richard Kokaram (Principal 1989-1999) was constructed. Mr. Kokaram was also instrumental in getting new furniture (metal desks and chairs) for the school. Mr Kokaram was also an avid supporter of the School's Cricket side.

Hillview College, together with Naparima Girls' High School, now comprise the leading secondary schools in Trinidad & Tobago and the wider Caribbean. In 2005 Hillview College copped the coveted President's Gold Medal for the fourth time. Hillview also consistently obtains places in CXC CSEC examinations.

An RE teacher, originally from SAGHS, Jeremiah Seepersad, was appointed as the Principal of the college. Following the retirement of Mr Bedoor Maharaj, a sterling alumnus of the college, Seepersad has also gone into retirement. The indefatigable, ever-optimistic Leslie Mahase became the first alumnus to hold the confirmed post of Vice-Principal. He is currently the Ag. Principal at the College.

Lift up your voice and sing

Across the campus clear

Let the name Hillview ring

From Classrooms year by year...

[edit] Noted Hillview College alumni

  • Justice Larry Lalla, Acting Judge of the Supreme Court, February 2006 - present
  • Justice Mark Mohammed, former Director of Public Prosecutions
  • Satnarine Sharma, current Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago
  • Lawyer Ravi Rajcumar, and President of the HOBA from 2000-2002
  • Farouke Warris, committed for trial in 1988 on two counts of forgery, contrary to section 7 of the Forgery Act, Ch. 11:13, and two counts of uttering forged documents contrary to section 9(1) of the Forgery Act.
  • Mr. R. Indalsingh, union leader for Caroni Sugar workers
  • Richard Kelly, West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago allrounder
  • William Perkins, West Indies Under-19 and Trinidad and Tobago opening batsman
  • Kern Ramlochan, Sports Journalist
  • Aneil Rajah, Former Trinidad and Tobago batsman
  • Darryl Ramoutar, Presidents Medal Winner
  • Amrik Singh Kochhar, Presidents Medal Winner
  • Gary Moreno, Journalist

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  • Hillview College Student Manual
  • Old Boys' Association : Dinesh Martin (for providing the image)

Current revision Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillview_College"