Oct 4 belatedly proclaimed ‘Mount Alvernia Chetwood Day’ in MoBay
Published:Friday | October 17, 2025 | 12:05 AMJanet Silvera/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay was the backdrop for a poignant moment on Wednesday as Mayor Richard Vernon proclaimed October 4 as Mount Alvernia Chetwood Day.
The occasion, part of the centennial legacy of three of Montego Bay’s most influential educational institutions, was originally scheduled for October 4 but was delayed due to logistical issues.
Going forward, the day will be celebrated annually to honour Chetwood Memorial Primary School, Mount Alvernia Preparatory and Kindergarten, and Mount Alvernia High schools, neighbouring institutions that have shaped generations and laid the educational and moral foundation of the city for 100 years.
Addressing the gathering before the statue of National Hero Sam Sharpe, the mayor described the ceremony as “a spiritual homecoming”, held in a place symbolising Jamaica’s enduring fight for freedom and justice.
“We assemble in the hallowed grounds of Sam Sharpe Square – a crucible of freedom, faith, and fortitude – to enshrine a centennial legacy that has shaped the very soul of Montego Bay,” he said. “From these three schools emerged not just scholars but citizens of conscience.”
Tracing their roots to 1925, Vernon praised the arrival of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany – the founding force behind the schools – as an act of “divine foresight and moral courage”.
“The Sisters arrived with little more than conviction and compassion,” Vernon stated. “They saw in our children the promise of a better Jamaica. They built not just schools but sanctuaries, where the underserved were dignified, the gifted were nurtured, and the faithful were fortified.”
Vernon noted that Chetwood Memorial, Mount Alvernia Prep, and Mount Alvernia High began as small, timber-framed facilities and have grown into academic fortresses that continue to serve as moral compasses for the region. Their Latin mottos – ‘Semper Fidelis’, ‘Laboris Sui Praemium Recepit’, and ‘ Ad Astra per Aspera’” – “remain living philosophies etched into the hearts of thousands who now serve across the globe”, he said.
The proclamation also formalised the partnership between the schools and the St James Municipal Corporation, highlighting their influence on civic responsibility, public service, and community engagement.
“Their graduates have carried the torch of excellence and service far beyond these shores,” he said. “Wherever they go, they represent the virtues of discipline, humility, and scholarship that define the best of Montego Bay.”
He described the schools as “pillars of identity” that have anchored the city’s growth and civic pride, hosting cultural events, interschool debates, charity drives, and faith-based initiatives that strengthen the social fabric of the parish.
Vernon announced that representatives from the three schools would be officially presented with the proclamations during a special ceremony on National Heroes Day in Sam Sharpe Square next Monday.
The event ended with a symbolic procession from Sam Sharpe Square to Mount Alvernia High, led by a marching band, teachers, and student leaders carrying the Jamaican flag. Along the route, passersby paused to applaud, many capturing the moment on their phones.
Garvin Atkinson, the principal at Chetwood Memorial Primary, who spoke on behalf of the three institutions, described the day as “a moment of pride that will live on for generations”.
“What a wonderful day it was,” said Atkinson . “The proclamation meant so much. It recognised our hard work and our worth as schools that have been trailblazers in education. Long after we are gone, this day will be etched in the minds of all, reminding them of the quality service offered on the hill by Chetwood, Mount Alvernia High, and Mount Alvernia Prep. It is a day of excellence, a day of history, and a day that will forever inspire us to continue moulding young minds for the future.”