Happy Grove High School is located in the parish of Portland close to the community of Hector’s River.

The school, which was founded by the Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) in 1898, has a current student population of 1,308. Quakers are members of a group with Christian roots that was founded in England circa 1650 by George Fox. The formal title of the movement is the Society of Friends or the Religious Society of Friends.

“Happy Grove is over 118 years this year, and it was established by the Quakers and has transitioned from an all-girls institution to co-education school. It was also a boarding school; presently we no longer offer boarding,” Principal Monique Grant-Facey informed.

The Happy Grove principal further explained the involvement of the Quakers in the life of Happy Grove.

“The Quakers are our founding fathers and are still very much involved with the school, not only at the board level, but they give very practical support to the school.

“We have a very active board of management, and several members are actually Quakers and they play a major role in the life of the school. They might not be here every day, but their influence is always felt.

“We get assistance from the International Quaker body, and we know they are there and we listen to them, and the reverse is true.

“I report to them on a yearly basis when they have their half-yearly meeting, and they want to know what is happening and what they can do so that we remain true to the core values and the greater society.”