Principal :Amy Allen

Chairman of the board MGHS: Dr. Alfred Sangster

Vice principal Veta Rowe

Vice principal Norma Palmer

Message from Principal Amy Allen

Congratulations on your anniversary. We continue to applaud your efforts to help your younger sisters, especially those whose families are beset by financial constraints, to realize their dream of a good education and a worthwhile future. Your award of the Shakara Harris Scholarships each year is very commendable as academic excellence continues to be one of our emphases at Merl Grove. We never fail to stress the need for moral and spiritual values which are indelible in the Merl Grove tradition.

Our focus this school year was on extra-curricular activities which play a great role in the selection of students for some courses in tertiary level institutions and even the work place. You will remember the great effort made by our School’s Challenge Quiz Team against Glenmuir. We were undoubtedly the best girls’ school in the competition and although we did not go beyond round two many more girls are showing interest in training for the team. The girls continue to get the opportunity for a rounded education as we expose and involve them in activities outside of school. Those who represent the school acquit themselves well and are a credit to our institution.

Some achievements of note are:

Three awards for CXC-CAPE Law for the 2006 examinations.

JCDC awards for Music and Dance

Placing first in the Senior Division of the Bible Society of the West Indies quiz competition.

First place in the National Career Expo Essay Competition for 2007.

A group of athletes represented the school at the VMBS Boys’ and Girls’

Athletics Championships.

The cadets placed second in their battalion for the yearly inspections.

Involvement in oratorical and debating competitions First in the HIV/AIDS/Abstinence Drama Competition for Region 1.

One of our girls achieved a gold medal in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme.

ABC singers came first in the ensemble section of the National Children’s Gospel Festival

Our own in-house activities continue to add to school life:

Sixth Form concert, Grade 11 Executive Day, Grade 10 Talent Exposition

Grade 9 Relays, Grades 7 and 8 Netball Competitions, And much more

School continues to be a challenging place. Without the hard work and care of teachers no achievement would be possible. We must commend our teaching staff for sticking to the task of educating our girls, many of whom are spending too much time on their own because of the breakdown of family life in our society. We continue to see ours as a blessed school and give thanks to God for what He enables us to achieve and for the vision which He is giving us for the future.

Continue to hold the flags of Merl Grove and Jamaica high.

Amy Allen

Principal     

Dr. Alfred Sangster

MESSAGE to NEAC

Dear Merl Grovians,

I have sent pictures of scholarship presentations being made by Overseas chapter members to Merl Grove present girls. This facet of your support for the school is very critical and is one of the major items of support that your presence will give to the annual reunion event.

I am happy to report that two of the three  major projects of the school has been completed.

The first was to repair the library roof and make it leak proof. This has now been done.

The second was the restoration of the wall on the Western boundary that had been broken by the floodwaters from Hurricane Ivan. This has been completed in a tri-partite programme with funds form the Ministry of Education, funds raised by the school and the final third from the MP for the area. This has been

The other project that is on the cards is the proposed resurfacing of the netball court

Our tree-planting programme continues with the objective of planting at least another 50 trees in this school year. The avenue of palms and lignum vitae trees between the library and the auditorium is coming up nicely and the trees that we planted in memory of Shakara Harris’ death are at least 6 feet tall.

You will also be pleased to know that one of our girls topped the Law CXC exams

There are several challenges for any school these days and Merl Grove is no exception.

The first is the increasing culture of violence in the society that makes its way into the schools.

The second is the challenge of resources so that many parents and guardians are finding it difficult to pay the fees that are a part of the school’s operating budget

As you celebrate your special reunion event this year my good wishes goes out to you for a happy and successful event with good fun happy memories of days at Merl Grove.

Support your chapter’s scholarship programme and prepare for the next reunion in 2010.

With deep appreciation for your support for the school and its programmes.

Alfred Sangster Chairman
Merl Grove High School Board