The St. Michael School

The St. Michael School is a secondary school in Barbados. It stands on Martindales Road in the parish of Saint Michael, Barbados. The school has over 800 pupils.

Some of the school's famous alumni include the Late Dame Nita Barrow, who was the first and only female Governor General of Barbados, and parliamentarian Elizabeth Thompson. The school's current headmaster is Shelton Perkins and the deputy is Noel Gittens.

The school's motto is "NISI AUXILIO DEI NIHIL", Latin for "Nothing Without Help From God".

Contents

The School's Pledge

My School expects me to remember:

That at all times and in all places i am its representative.

To refrain from any word or deed which may bring discredit upon it.

To be loyal to all Staff and my school fellows.

To try by hard work, Cheerful obedience and good sportsmanship

To leave it for the better of my membership of it.

History and achievements

The school was founded by the St. Michael's Vestry and officially opened on 7 May 1928. It was originally a girls' school.In 1979 the first class of boys were admitted to the School

In 2007, the two year renovation program in place had finally come to an end. During this construction phase, school was regularly interrupted by industrial action by teachers, after several complaints regarding the conditions in which the Ministry of Education approved of for students to attend classes. Also in 2007, Matthew Wright won a Gold Medal at the Caribbean CARIFTA games.

In 2008, the school became the only on the island to place three students in one sitting to two campuses of the United World Colleges (the UWC Movement). Two students went to the United World College Costa Rica (Santa Ana, Costa Rica) and one to the United World College-USA (Montezuma, USA) ". It was the largest placement by a single secondary school in Barbados. However, in 2009, history was not repeated, as the school did not place any of its students into the UWC Movement.

School Structure

Like most secondary schools in Barbados, The St. Michael School is divided into four competitive houses. These are named after queens: Boadicea, Victoria, Anne and Elizabeth and the colours are blue,red,yellow and purple respectively

Discipline

The school has a Prefect System, under which selected students help with disciplinary matters, among other things, run by a Head Boy & Head Girl with their respective Deputies, and five Senior Prefects.

The Head Boy for 2011–2012 is Jason Cummings. The Head Girl for 2011-2012 is Jelissa Lane.

Principal Mr Shelton Perkins is a believer in using the strap, a form of corporal punishment, when other methods to instil discipline have failed.[1]

Notable alumni

M.P. Elizabeth Thompson

The Late Dame Nita Barrow (Former Govern General)

Leah Martaindale (Swimmer)

Kirk Brown (DJ)

The School's song

In this school we learn to live

For truth and knowledge are our quest

In this place we learn to give

Always of our very best

To our motto we'll adhere

And follow where past pupils trod

For to us the way is clear

'Nothing without help from God'

St. Michael through the years ahead

Loyally we'll play the game

Always striving hard to bring

Honour to your cherished name

To our motto we'll adhere

And follow where past pupils trod

For to us the way is clear

'Nothing without help from God'

As to school so to our land

Ever will we faithful be

Striving with our brain and hand

Now and for posterity

To our motto we'll adhere

And follow where past pupils trod

For to us the way is clear

'Nothing without help from God

The school recently added a 6 form/a-level courses from 2011

References

  1. ^ "Heads say: No, No, Mr Minister, don't banish the belt!", Sunday Sun, Bridgetown, 6 July 2008.