Westwood High School in Stewart Town, Trelawny, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and is marking the occasion with a series of activities, beginning with a service of thanksgiving Sunday at the school’s auditorium.

Other activities planned, according to a release from principal Eileen Piggott, include a pilgrimage to the school’s original location at Manchester Pen, about a mile outside Stewart Town; a barbecue and an awards dinner.

Westwood has been a beacon in Jamaica’s education system since it was founded in January 1882 by Reverend William Menzie Webb, with six girls and one teacher, using the name Manchester School.

After a successful first year, the name was changed to Trelawny Girls’ School.

The school was moved to its present location in 1891 and its present main building erected. Today, Westwood has 745 students and a staff of 33 teachers, and has been served by 11 principals over the period.

Over the years, Westwood has developed a reputation as an outstanding school based on the performance of its students, academically and otherwise.

Rankings of high schools by various persons over time have consistently placed Westwood in the top 10 of the top high schools in Jamaica.

Performance in the CXC exams have matched or sometimes surpassed such rankings.

It is not uncommon for the school to record 100 per cent CXC passes in subjects such as French, Principles of Business, Spanish, Social Studies, Integrated Science and Chemistry. Mathematics passes generally fall into the 80-odd per cent range and English in the 90s.

Students have also excelled in various activities. For example, last year they copped several awards at the Trelawny Yam Festival in the culinary section.

They placed first, second and third in the culinary section and won top prizes (in the schools category) for main dish, beverage, appetiser, and dessert.

They also placed first in the category Song 13-15 years.

In the JCDC performing arts the girls also won several gold medals under the guidance of teacher Simone Dillon-Gilchrist.

Recently the school won the FirstCaribbean International Bank trophy for first place (national winners) in the Jamaica Environmental Trust’s Schools Environmental Programme. They were also awarded the prize for being the most environmentally aware.

A few seasons ago a student, Bianca Fidele, then 13, represented Jamaica in the World Challenge Children Dressage finals in Hagen, Germany and performed creditably.