THE St Andrew High School for Girls (SAHS), guided by the theme for its 90th anniversary celebrations — “Enriched, Empowered, Abounding in God’s Favour” — yesterday held its commemoration day and subsequent 90th anniversary service and naming of buildings at the school’s Garden Theatre.

The commemoration day and naming service is the second on the list of events that are a part of the school’s 90th anniversary celebrations being held under the patronage of alumna Elsa-Leo Ryhnie.

“Today is indeed a historic moment in the annals of St Andrew High School, in fact, of the nation. For 90 years St Andrew High School for Girls has molded young ladies who have taken their place in society and made a tremendous contribution in whatever sphere they have chosen,” said Majorie Hart, chairman of the board of management for the school in her welcome.

Hart added that as a country too much time is spent talking about what is wrong and not enough time celebrating the nation’s accomplishments.

“As the governor general recently said, ‘there is nothing wrong with Jamaica that what is right with Jamaica cannot fix’. As a premier example of what is right with Jamaica, we’re here today to celebrate 90 years of accomplishment,” Hart said.

The service saw performances in song by the school’s choir, as well as items from the drama club that also required the audience’s participation. The participatory reminiscence allowed the audience to relive the experiences of the school’s 90-year tenure, not only by voiced recollections but also visually by way of the different uniforms worn in years past.

“St Andrew High School for Girls is 90 years old I beg everyone to think of the progress of education that has been made in many years. Ninety years ago there was little space in high school for young ladies or boys,” said Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites in his greetings.

He said that the students would not have fit into any of the existing educational establishments very comfortably, even at independence time, as it was only about 15 per cent of the secondary school cohort that had a place in a five-year educational institution.

Thwaites said one of the many important characteristics that has helped to mold the school’s foundation is that of the joint influences of the United and Methodist churches, came together to support the school since its inception and continues to do so. The minister also encouraged students not to become complacent in academic performance or good character, and that they as current students should not forget about the impact the school has had on them even after they have left.

“It remains a time for you to strengthen yourselves and to recommit yourselves to the nation that has committed so much that you can be here along with your families and teachers and the good company that has come here today. So I wish you well and I pray for you life more abundant,” Thwaites said.

According to the school’s principal, Sharon Reid, the practice of naming buildings/facilities on the campus began in 1968 when the school’s newly built swimming pool was named after the institution’s third principal, Mary Dawson.

In the 2013-2014 academic year, the SAHS Foundation requested of the board of management that on completion of the refurbishing exercise being undertaken by them, the Old Science Block be named for Mary Dawson, who played a significant role in promoting the teaching of science in the institution. Afterwards, an idea was borne from Reid to name some of the other buildings on campus as a commemorative feature for the 90th anniversary celebrations.

The recommendation was accepted by the committee and it was later agreed that for the first round the trend of naming buildings for the school’s past principals would continue, but inclusions were to be made for earlier vice-principals who had served the institution for a number of years.

The school library is now the Founder’s Memorial Library in honour of the men and women who established the institution, while the Grade 11 block is now the Ashmeade Darlington Block, in honour of the school’s fourth vice-principal, Dahlia Ashmeade, who served the school for 17 years, and the fifth vice-principal who served for 10 years, Norma Darlington.

The old science block has been re-christened as the Mary Dawson Science Block, in honour of the school’s third principal, Mary Dawson who served the school 11 years as a member of the teaching staff and an additional 11 as principal.

The Janet Gartshore Administrative Building is the new name for the office building in honour of SAHS first principal, Janet Gartshore, who served for one term.

The main building is now the Doris Stockhausen Building in honour of the first and longest-serving vice-principal, Doris Stockhausen, who served the school for 37 years.

The sixth and final building that was officially named was the Margaret Gartshore Hall, formerly acknowledged as the school hall, in honour of the second and longest-serving principal, Margaret Gartshore, who served the institution for 31 years.