Charlemont High School, Jamaica

History

Charlemont High School was "conceived" by the late John Bernard Stephenson, a former Member of Parliament for North St Catherine. The idea came about as a result of concerns expressed by parents in the area whose children had to attend schools outside the area, as far as Kingston and Claremont in St Ann. The land was bought from the late Custos McGrath. The funds for the building and infrastructure came from businesses and service clubs in North St Catherine including Alcan Jamaica Limited, the Lions Club, the United States and the Jamaica Citrus Growers Association. The St Catherine Garden Club landscaped for the school grounds.

The school admitted its first students on September 11, 1978. There were three first forms and three second forms accommodating a total of two hundred and forty students. There were twelve teachers including the principal, Mr. Ruel Forsythe.

Mr. Forsythe left at the end of 1979 and was succeeded by Mr. Donaldson Bernard in September of the same year.

In 1981 the school was expanded with funds from the Norwegian Government. This was the start of phase two of the building program. Several classrooms and laboratories were built and the home economics center was expanded.

Proposal to change the school's name

In November 2009 a proposal was made by the Asafa Powell Foundation to the government to rename the school to the Asafa Powell High School, after the former 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell, a past student of the institution. In a statement at the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston on November 26 2010, Chairman of the Asafa Powell Foundation, Delano Franklyn, stated "...and I am absolutely sure that every category of persons and groups relating to that particular school, based on our, our own investigation is in support of such a proposal." However, this announcement was met with opposition from the Charlemont High School Past Students. According to the Charlemont High School Past Students' Association Public Relations Officer Judith Wilson, the past students were not made aware of the proposal. Franklyn later admitted that neither the school board nor the principal was consulted about the name change, since it was just a recommendation. Since the announcement many persons have voiced their opposition of such a proposal on radio talk-shows and on Facebook.

School song

Come let's lift our voices to the father Oh valiant youth arise With hearts and souls and voices Let's magnify his holy name For in this day he has given to us A gift, a crown a school An eagle flies in bright new glory Praise His holy name Chorus Charlemont, Charlemont Striving always for excellence Charlemont, Charlemont Great eagles of the sky. God's blessings are always on his children Students, teachers, friends Together with caring parents We work to glorify His name For surely the time of harvest shall come When the victors shall hear "well done" When young eagles fly in bright new glory Praise His holy name Repeat Chorus