Kemps Hill High stands tall

After 52 years, Kemps Hill High School in Clarendon is not merely commemorating longevity; it is celebrating survival, growth, and a quiet, but determined rise.

This year’s anniversary is being observed under the theme, ‘Resilient and Shining’, a message Principal Karen Charlton-Boothe believes captures the very soul of the institution, and the story of a rural school that has endured storms, yet continues to stand tall.

“The theme speaks to our ability to endure, adapt and rise despite challenges. It reflects strength in the face of hardship and the determination to keep moving no matter the circumstances,’’ Charlton-Boothe told The Gleaner.

She added that the school’s journey has not been smooth, but its persistence has shaped its identity.

“We were able to endure storms through these 52 years while still standing tall and bright. The journey has been fraught with challenges, and we have overcome to the point where we are seeing the value of focus and perseverance.”

Charlton-Boothe, who assumed leadership in November 2022, said the school remains deeply committed to ensuring students thrive, even when many are battling serious social and personal realities.

“The institution remains a beacon of hope and learning as we serve the community with pride and purpose,’’ the principal said.

Historical milestones

While the school has evolved significantly since its founding, Charlton-Boothe pointed to several historical milestones that signal both development and ambition. Among them, she highlighted the school’s transition from secondary status to high school, the expansion of the physical plant, and the introduction of technical and vocational programmes.

The institution has added major classroom infrastructure over the years, including the L.C. Wright Block, named for former principal Lebert Wright, under whose tenure it was constructed.

In keeping with the Ministry of Education’s security and safety thrust, the school has also benefitted from the construction of a six-foot concrete wall along multiple sections of the compound.

However, perhaps one of the most celebrated achievements in recent times has been the school’s football breakthrough. In the 2025 daCosta Cup season, Kemps Hill reached the semi-finals for the first time, and ended the season in third place, a feat that gave the southwestern Clarendon community reason to erupt in pride.

Charlton-Boothe, who made history as the institution’s first female principal, has pursued a leadership style rooted in student and staff welfare, alongside strategic rebranding, and programme expansion.

“I am proud of making the staff and student population comfortable in every way,” she told The Gleaner, noting that her focus has extended beyond academics to include basic needs and school climate.

Among the initiatives she has spearheaded are a breakfast programme, improvements to PATH meal offerings, and an adjustment to the timetable to expand English and mathematics hours, while creating dedicated planning time for teachers.

She has also pushed a deliberate identity shift, positioning the school as a “beacon on the plains of Vere”, and cultivating a stronger school culture through clubs, societies, and student-centred engagement.

One of the most significant interventions under her tenure has been the BEACON BRIGHT Reading Programme, launched in 2024 to target non-readers and struggling students in first form.

Charlton-Boothe said she is particularly proud of the progress being made in reading levels, especially given the post-pandemic reality of lower literacy among incoming students.

“Post-pandemic saw a decline in student population, and a serious decrease in the literacy level we have been receiving from the PEP (Primary Exit Profile) intake. Despite that, we have seen an increase in the math and English passes in exit exams.”

The school’s improving academic performance was recently highlighted in national media, including a feature in The Gleaner.

For the June 2025 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations, Kemps Hill recorded 100 per cent passes in agricultural science, electronic document preparation and management and physical education, while passes in information technology, office administration, and food and nutrition ranged between 83 and 89 per cent.

Foundation of progress

Charlton-Boothe said too that, at Kemps Hill, discipline is not treated as an afterthought, it is viewed as the foundation of progress.

“Without discipline, very little progress can be made in a school. We first insist on respect for all,’’ she said.

The school’s impact is perhaps most powerfully reflected in the voices of those it serves.

One parent, Johnthy Williams, told The Gleaner she was pleased with the school’s advancement, and credited teachers for transforming her son’s performance.

“I have two children at the school and must commend the principal and teaching staff for their wonderful work that they are doing with the children. My son went to the school as a slow learner and now, he’s on top.”

Head Boy Kemoy Miller also credited the institution with shaping his character and confidence.

Head Girl Kaycia Cole described the school as a “game changer”, telling The Gleaner that she entered as a shy student, and emerged motivated and driven.

However, despite measurable strides forward, the school continues to navigate significant challenges tied to its surrounding community.

Carlton-Boothe acknowledged that the school continues to face serious socio-economic challenges, worsened by the closure of the New Yarmouth and Monymusk factories, which she said contributed to job losses, migration, and reduced student attendance.

Still, she insists the institution has refused to be defined by limitation.

“We assess. We dream. We plan and we execute solutions through targetted activities, effective communication to stakeholders and fundraising,” she said.

Looking ahead, Charlton-Boothe said the mission is clear: to strengthen infrastructure, deepen academic gains, expand sporting excellence, and make Kemps Hill the school of choice.

“We will work quietly on some projects and let the results speak for themselves,” she said.

olivia.brown@gleanerjm.com