MONTEGO BAY, St James — There will be no pomp and pageantry to mark Hemmingay Preparatory School’s 50th anniversary this September 7 but there is a quiet pride in recognition of all that has been accomplished in its half-century of existence.

Last year, for the first time ever since former student-turned-principal Dr Heather Piccott-Bryan took the helm of the school nestled in Norwood, St James, there was an award ceremony to recognise the hard work done by staff and students. The goal was to repeat that event this year, but Hurricane Melissa derailed those plans.

“Nothing this year; Melissa wash it out,” Piccott-Bryan lamented.

The roof of one of the school’s two buildings was destroyed, and two classrooms, a storage area and the auditorium were severely impacted by the Category 5 storm that wreaked havoc on sections of southern and western parishes on October 28, 2025.

“We lost all the books, all the desks, everything over there. There was flooding, and the flooding came down to the auditorium where we had the piano and everything, so if it rains right now we’re going to be flooded out over there,” Piccott-Bryan told the Jamaica Observer.

She explained that they’ve managed to put up tarpaulins to limit exposure to the elements but they know there is work to do to get the building functional again.

“Right now we’re trying to tighten our belts to fix the roof,” she said.

Hemmingay Preparatory School started in 1976 with just eight students; but they were from prominent families whose names carried a lot of weight in the western city.

“The Whittinghams, the Jarretts, the Nembhards, those are the individuals who started Hemmingay and [have] grow[n] with us over the years,” Piccott-Bryan revealed.

The first location was in the nearby community of Paradise, then they moved to Hillview Baptist Church.

“We were at Hillview for a while until we got a piece of land in Norwood and put a one room on it, and we built Hemmingay in Norwood from then,” she said.

It has evolved into one of the most well known private institutions in Montego Bay, churning out scores of students for the nation’s secondary school system. But Melissa’s trail of destruction has been a hard pill to swallow.

“The parents are saddened. Some have been impacted by Melissa where some have lost houses, some have had to relocate to other parishes, some have gone overseas and taken their children with them,” Piccott-Bryan said.

However, many who remain are determined to keep the school going.

“The school’s community, including parents, students and staff, have rallied together to support each other,” the school administrator said.

“We are resilient, we have been around for 50 years through the work of my mother, and I will see what I can do to move it to another 50,” Piccott-Bryan told the Sunday Observer.

Her parents, Nneute and Pansy Piccott, built the school, and her mother was principal until she took over the role four years ago.

“I was a student, I was a teacher, and I am now the principal of the institution. It’s awesome to know that you have taken over something your parents have built,” Piccott-Bryan said.

She proudly pointed out that the school, the first in Montego Bay to be certified by the Early Childhood Commission, has been making significant strides over the years, as reflected in its enrolment numbers.

“I can remember back in the days when we had individuals coming to register, they came from all over: Falmouth, Negril, anywhere in Jamaica, I have registered children,” the school principal reminisced.

“I know people in Hanover who’ve had their children board with us. I’m an only child but they had people board with us in the house, just to come to Hemmingay Prep,” she added.

Piccott-Bryan is particularly proud of the impact the school has had on Norwood.

“We have put our stamp on the community. And yes, it was volatile but it has never affected the school,” she said.

“Having a private school within the area is good and exemplary because some of these individuals, we have them now, they look at Hemmingay as a school they could have never entered into. Now that they are capable of doing so, the community is saying that the students are being impacted by the teaching going on,” she added.

However, she admits that, in recent times, most students admitted to the institution have been from neighbouring communities. She wants that to change.

“We would want more students from outside of the community. I want them to interact with students to show them how others live and carry themselves,” she explained.

“Back in the day, we had mostly people outside of the community because then, [community members] thought they couldn’t afford it. Now they can, but we still need other people outside of the community to come in. No man can live alone; we have to bring in others to change us and impress us,” declared Piccott-Bryan.

She said the focus is now on guiding another batch of students towards success in the upcoming Primary Exit Profile (PEP) assessments. Piccott-Bryan and her team intend to build on the successes they had in 2025.

“Last year made me buss! I couldn’t believe we got such good passes last year, because I had to fight. It’s hard to keep teachers in a private school today. Retention of teachers is an issue but the students are still progressing,” she said.

“Last year I had great passes with Munro, Cornwall College, Mount Alvernia, Montego Bay High, William Knibb Memorial, Rusea’s,” Piccott-Bryan added.

She is confident they can do it again.

Former student-turned-principal of Hemmingay Prep School, Dr Heather Piccott-Bryan stands just outside the school. 

Principal of Hemmingay Preparatory School Dr Heather Piccott-Bryan says the school is looking forward to another 50 years.