Christmas at 85 - St Andrew High School celebrates anniversary with 'Light of The World'

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

On a wind-chilled Wednesday evening the Light of The World warmed the hearts of a fair-size audience which had shown up for the 19th staging of the St Andrew High School Old Girls' Association (SOGA) Carol Service.

The service was held at the Garden Theatre, located on the grounds of the Cecelio Avenue-based institution.

The occasion, with its theme 'Light of the World', was one of a number of activities used to mark the St Andrew High School's (SAHS) 85th anniversary.

The service was punctuated with scripture, and poetry readings and ministry in songs and dance.

A number of future (in some students of St Andrew Preparatory School) current and past students or (as they like to be addressed) old girls were in attendance.

Yvette Smith, old girl and principal of St Hughes High School, was one of the attendees. After the service, she shared her thoughts with The Gleaner.

"It was inspiring. The items were short and very nice. The dancers (SAHS dance troupe) were very elegant, the costume was great, every thing about it was good," she said.

Students' performance

Smith also stated her liking for the the St Andrew Preparatory school students, who performed A Ray of Hope and an African version of the Christmas carol Oh Come All ye Faithful.

Similar sentiments were shared by Laura Levy, president of SOGA. She spoke in particular of the SAHS choir's renditions of Mary Did You Know and Jesus Was A Wonderful Child.

"Overall, I think the service went well. We started a little late but we wanted to give people a little more time to come. I think the weather has kept more people away, but eventually we developed a fair-size crowd," she said.

Levy also thought that the theme of the carol service 'The Light of the World' was uplifting.

Leader of the service was the Reverend Astor Gayle and the message was delivered by the Reverend Dr Marjorie Lewis, an old girl.

Another old girl, Nicola Rickards-Karesh, read three of her original poems titled 'To God Be the Glory', 'Call of the Heart' and 'Time to Shine' from her book titled Morning Glory.

Subsequently she made a presentation of a copy to the institution's librarian Joan Brown for the SAHS library.

SOGA has played an integral part in the development of their alma mater and Levy shared some of the ways that her organisation will celebrate the school's 85th anniversary.

Collaboration with stakeholders

"Our concentration is to work in collaboration with the other stakeholders."

This includes a stakeholders' forum to plan the way forward for the institution, a cocktail party to be held during homecoming week, while the major event will be the Valentine's dinner to be held in February at the Terra Nova Hotel.

SAHS principal Sharon Reid, in giving the greetings, took the opportunity to thank the members of the old girls' association for their contribution over the years.

After the service, Reid expounded on some of the good works performed by SOGA.

"The old girls contribute annually to the students' welfare, scholarships for children, and not just the old girls in Jamaica but the five chapters: Toronto, Washington, the United Kingdom, New York and Florida.

Other SOGA planned events for SAHS 85th anniversary include a service for the class of 59 in January, and in the homecoming week, several class reunions are scheduled to take place and a grand gala dinner at the end of the week.