Holmwood frenzy
Published:Tuesday | April 5, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer
CHRISTIANA, Manchester:
IT WAS an off day from the rigours of academics yesterday as Holmwood Technical High students, teachers, vendors and alumni crammed into the main auditorium to celebrate their latest triumph at Championships.
Prayers were merely the calm before the storm as the gathering was easily whipped in a frenzy.
A teacher playing the role of disc jockey further excited the audience, recalling moments from their ninth Championships title at the National Stadium on Saturday. He received his loudest cheers when he taunted Edwin Allen High School - the team which narrowly lost and was expected by many pundits to break Holmwood's impressive string of wins.
In earlier years, when the euphoria was higher, as the school had not settled into the mode of creating a dynasty, the scenes of celebration would be on show from early morning in the bus park in Mandeville. Yesterday, the first flag was not seen until our news team got to the entrance of the school. Vendor Anthony Powell, who hails from the nearby Spring Ground district, sold flags bearing the gold and maroon colours of the school.
The full weight of the celebrations began inside the auditorium. Others including principal Paul Bailey, ushered students into an area, having the ambience of a Roman colosseum.
Quite noticeably joining the celebrations was past student Dalton Wint, a 1984 graduate and president of the Manchester Football Association. He said he had come to witness the scenes at the devotional assembly.
"When I used to come here, devotion was where (the then principal) used to announce achievements of the school. There was where all the excitement was. I remember him using it as motivational speech, so I understand how they must be feeling now. I am close to the programme, but I am just here to offer my support."
pleased with performance
Bailey said he was pleased with the school's performance.
"It is very important. First and foremost, you have to use it (assembly for devotion) as a motivational tool. The students now feel good for the school, and themselves hence you can get them to conduct themselves at a higher level."
Angella Davidson, the school's newly appointed dean of discipline who was also seen busily getting the students assembled, said she has placed importance on students getting involved in sports.
"There is a sense of discipline in that it calls them to train and dress a certain way, and to be on time. It keeps them grounded, and the child is occupied and less available for distractions and negative influences."