St Andrew High sets $100m fundraising goal for centenary celebration

For a century, St Andrew High School for Girls (SAHS) has shaped generations of trailblazing Jamaican women—scientists, civic leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and academics—who have transformed Jamaica and the world.

With the theme ‘Honouring Our Legacy, Inspiring Our Future’, the year-long celebration will spotlight the school’s illustrious past while charting a bold course for the next 100 years of its contribution to nation-building.

Delivering remarks during a media launch last week, to officially announce the institution’s centenary celebrations, Principal Keeva Ingram, herself an alumna, reflected on the school’s enduring impact and its vision for the future.

“As a SAHS Old Girl, I stand with great pride in commemorating a century of God’s abundance, excellence, and empowering young women to live more abundantly,” Ingram said. “This school is a movement rooted in purpose, grounded in faith, and driven by unshakable belief in the potential of young women. Our centenary is not just a celebration of our legacy but a reaffirmation of our commitment to excellence, service and sisterhood. As we honour our past, we are also embracing the future with bold vision and purpose.”

The media launch also included tributes, reflections and the presentation of five of six legacy projects by Radley Reid, chairman of the board of management. Of special significance was the announcement of the SAHS Centenary Fundraising Goal of $100 million, which will support several centenary legacy projects. These include improved campus digitisation, campus-wide solarisation, upgrade and expansion of the garden theatre and both campus entrances, and the purchase of a dedicated school bus to aid student mobility and safety.

The sixth announcement was the gift of a creative arts centre, donated by the Lake Family to honour the memory of their late matriarch, Lois Lake-Sherwood, a past student of SAHS.

Lake-Sherwood’s daughter, Ann Ventura, shared a heartfelt commemoration as part of the official presentation.

She remarked, “Lois Lake-Sherwood was a proud daughter of St Andrew High School. She was fiercely independent, a disciplinarian with a kind and generous heart, an adventurous global traveller with a passion for art. Her message to you today would bem believe in God, always set goals for yourself, be ambitious, be respectful and be determined, work hard and never give up. The Lake family is very happy and extremely proud to make this contribution to St Andrew High School in her honour. May those creatives who walk through the doors of the Lois Lake-Sherwood Creative Arts Centre be inspired to achieve greatness.”

HIGHLIGHTS

The centenary calendar includes several signature events. One of the highlights will be the centenary commemoration service on the school’s official anniversary date, Saturday, September 21, 2025, followed by the Centenary Garden Affair Brunch on the school grounds.

Representing the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information and bringing greetings on behalf of Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, Ottis Brown, regional director for Region 1 (Kingston & St Andrew), commended the institution for its century-long commitment to excellence and its profound impact on national development.

“It is with immense joy and pride that I extend heartfelt congratulations to SAHS on your 100th anniversary. One hundred years of steadfast commitment to excellence is no small feat. This extraordinary milestone is a testament to the strength of your vision, the power of your Christian foundation and the indelible mark you continue to make on the Jamaican society. St Andrew has championed the fourfold development of young women, shaping healthy bodies, disciplined minds, resilient spirits and strong community leaders. I commend the school’s leadership, past and present, for your enduring guidance and the centenary committee for creating what is proposed to be an unforgettable celebration. May the legacy of this great institution continue to blossom, and may the next century be even more impactful.”

The Centenary Celebrations Committee has planned a series of events throughout the year to engage students, alumnae, stakeholders, and the wider Jamaican community. These include legacy projects, student showcases, and philanthropic initiatives, all aimed at reinforcing the school’s core values of discipline, integrity, and service.

Maxine Henry-Wilson, chair of the centenary committee, shared, “St Andrew High School for Girls has, for the past 100 years, stood as a beacon of excellence, nurturing generations of women who have gone on to lead, to serve, and to shape the world around them.”

POWERFUL REMINDER

Henry-Wilson added, “As both an alumna and the chair of the centenary committee, I am deeply honoured to be part of this historic moment. The values instilled in us at St Andrew’s—discipline, service, and sisterhood—have left an indelible mark on my life and the lives of countless others. This centenary is a powerful reminder of what we have achieved and an inspiration for what’s still to come. I am thrilled that we now have the opportunity to honour our past while investing in the future of this remarkable institution.”

St Andrew High School for Girls has invited the public, especially its network of alumnae, to join in commemorating this remarkable milestone in Jamaican education.