GLOWELL Preparatory School kick-started its 18th anniversary celebration at worship on Sunday at the Portmore New Testament Church of God.

The privately operated co-educational school, which opened its doors on September 6, 1996 at premises in Independence City, Portmore, with an enrolment of six students, long outgrew that space and is now located at much bigger premises in Cedar Grove.

Glowell, founded by former education officer Gloria Jack, who is also the school’s principal, is now considered one of the preferred private schools in the municipality, offering classes from early childhood through to the primary grades.

“The past 18 years have been challenging but rewarding; for God’s grace and mercy have kept us. We have had our successes and disappointments, but we have survived and will continue to survive. For with God as our leader, and with wonderful parents, teachers and students, there is no limit. For nothing could have been achieved without these invaluable stakeholders,” Jack said in her greetings at Sunday’s church service.

Jack reported that the 2013/14 academic year was a very good one for her institution. She reported that:

* The school placed in the 100 top-performing schools in Jamaica and in the top 10 in the parish of St Catherine.

* The school received two scholarships following the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) results — the head girl, who was placed at Campion College, got the Jamaica National Building Society Scholarship and a book grant from National Commercial Bank,, while a male student, placed at Kingston College, won the Bank of Jamaica Credit Union Scholarship.

* Glowell was invited to the Samsung League as one of the top-performing teams in the Prep School League.

* Its team won the Spirit of Cricket Award and an award for Best Bowler in the Scotiabank Cricket Competition.

In addition, Glowell’s dance troupe won a national gold as well as a silver and bronze in the JCDC Dance Competition.

“The choir was awarded a silver medal, missing the gold by one point, and were commended for their outstanding performance by a first-time entrant,” Jack reported.

“In continuation of our celebration, we will be launching our Past Students’ Association and our Performing Arts Association, among other activities,” Jack said.

“With wonderful parents, teachers, students and the master teacher, the sky is the limit as we look forward to even greater achievements.

“We will remain committed to our motto ‘Discipline, faith and hard work’, as we strive to holistically develop our students as well as helping them to make excellence a habit,” the Glowell principal told the service.