In 2020 when Father Carl Clarke was appointed principal of the central Kingston-based Holy Trinity High School, he promised the students that those who made it to the school’s ‘Gold Club’ by achieving an 80 per cent or more average each term, would be rewarded in luxury.

With that promise from the new principal, several students, many who live in the gritty communities close to the school in tough socio-economic conditions, put themselves to the test and landed in the bronze, silver or gold academic clubs which the principal created.

Though what materialised was slightly different from the initial plan, the students who made it to the Gold Club pressured Clarke to keep his promise.

On Wednesday it was promise kept as an arrangement with a transportation company saw 18 dedicated students ride on a luxury bus to a special celebratory luncheon at Courtyard by Marriott in New Kingston.

They were also given a tour of the hotel, which mostly caters to business travellers, before being treated a sumptuous meal.

“As the new principal, I looked at the performance of students and I said that we are going to be turning around the school by way of academic excellence. I introduced the three clubs and I also told you that anyone who made it to the Gold Club, a luxury bus would drive unto the campus and we would take you out for a day to Ocho Rios at no cost to you. That was the promise I made to you but shortly thereafter, COVID-19 came.

“Once we started bringing children back to school, I said to one young man, ‘how are you doing?’. He said he was OK and that he was waiting for the luxury bus. I had made the promise, meant it, but didn’t know if the students were listening,” Clarke said in his address to the students.

“I am a man of my word and I want you to be able to trust me when I speak to you. I made you a promise that we would have this day and I started feeling guilty that it wasn’t happening. Not only am I a priest, but I am your principal. We are an inner-city school and we don’t have any money but thank God for Proven Wealth, who sponsored us to be here. We got the bus from Tropical Tours, based in Montego Bay and when that bus drove onto the campus that was a statement,” added Clarke.

He argued that those students who did not make it on the bus this time around would be inspired to push harder in academics.

“Those who were on the bus would have been elated to be on the bus and also to recommit themselves to academic excellence. We also believe that those who were not on the bus will aspire to get on the bus. I am overwhelmed as I watch how happy they are interacting at the Marriott. This exposed them to a different menu and they enjoyed their three-course meal,“ declared Clarke.

According to Clarke, because Wednesday was the first outing for Gold Club members, some of the 18 students, who received exposure to a different ambiance than they were accustomed to, were included for achieving good grades in external examinations, while Omarianho Gibson was included in the treat, because he was the sole representative of the school at the last two Issa/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships.

“This function is primarily about the gold clubbers. But what we sought to do was widen it to include academic excellence and excellence of any kind. There are two fifth formers, one is in the gold club but we wanted you to understand is that all study and no extra curricular activities makes you dull.

“We celebrate excellence and dedication. When all of you were at home in the height of the pandemic, Omarianho and his track and field coach, everyday they were training at UTech (University of Technology, Jamaica) or at the Holy Trinity High School. In 2021 only one student represented the Holy Trinity High School. He never got a medal but reached the final,” noted Clarke.

For consistency in academics, fourth form student Raazique Grace made it to the Gold Club for a second time in a row. He told the Observer that his parents, especially his mother, are his biggest motivation.

“I got an average of above 80 per cent in all subjects, by studying hard and having a dedication towards the work. I got my mindset from my mom. She is always working to ensure I get lunch money and my dad is a motivation as well.

“It is great to be among the stars of Holy Trinity High School. I am the president of the Key Club and I am a class monitor as well,” said the aspiring accountant.

Eight grade student Shanae Parkins said she was proud of her achievements and plans to continue working at that level and higher.

“I plan to stay in the Gold Club because it helps me to motivate my friends and let me know that I am worthy of something,” said Shanae.