THE last academic year, this school in rural Clarendon had much to celebrate.

In fact it was a year of celebration all round, as not only was were they commemorating their 35th anniversary; the school did exceptionally well in the Jamaica Cultural Develpment Commission festivals; and a set of students called Di Krew won the TEENage Expression Tours finals at the Little Theatre.

Di Krew of Claude McKay High beat out 15 other student representatives from Cedric Titus High, Fair Prospect High, Oracabessa High, Thompson Town High, Tacky High, Cambridge High, Manchester High, Central High, Herbert Morrison Technical High, Green Pond High; Petersfield High, Rhodes Hall High, York Castle High, Knockalva High, and May Pen High to be crowned the fourth winner of the national high school talent competition.

“We were so happy, when the results were announced. In fact, our principal (Glennor Wilson) called us just as the winners were being announced and I was able to tell her that we won,” said their teacher Paulette Hall, who also trained the young dub talent.

The young men Orane Corney, Malik McPherson, Shemaldo Robinson, Rasheed Smith, and Travis Stoner all told TEENage that they came to win and that’s exactly what they did.

“We closed the show with a bang,” said Corney. “We showed them what we (Claude McKay) is a force to be reckoned with.”

Hall told TEENage that Di Krew offered the full package.

“We incorporated dub, dance, deejaying, acting, facial expressions into the piece. It was an weell-rounded performance,” Hall said.

At the finals, their supporters came equipped for the occasion with horns and high spirits in their numbers. The Clarendonians clad in Jamaica’s black, green and gold and performed their Jamaica 50 inspired story about the nation’s history from colonial times to present.

Second place winners the May Pen Choir, who delivered their rendition of the Jamaican folk song Tief Tek Ova Town and Evroy Williams from Petersfield High School placed third.

Other winners on the day were Williams for the Most Creative Piece; Best Tour Experience went to Herbert Morrison Technical Highand Highest TEENage Distribution went to Manchester High.

See more details about Di Krew, what the name Claude McKay means to them amd how they are carrying on his legacy on our website https://jamaicaobserver.com or https://YouTube.com/TEENageObserver.