Russea's old students' reunion on August 2

Claudia Gardner, Assignment Coordinator

WESTERN BUREAU:The Russea's Old Students' Association (ROSA) will celebrate its 10th Biennial International Reunion during Independence Week in August with a slew of activities across the town of Lucea and other sections of the parish.

According to president of ROSA Jamaica, Pauline McKenzie, past students of the Lucea-based Russea's High School from ROSA chapters in Florida, Canada, New York, Atlanta, the United Kingdom, western Jamaica, and Kingston will be in attendance. She said proceeds from all activities would go towards the further development of the 236-year-old institution.

"One of the main highlights of the reunion will be the celebration of the contribution of current principal, June Thompson, who is also a Russea's old girl, as well as Denton Campbell, who served as chairman of the Russea's School Board for more than 12 years," McKenzie, who is also an attorney-at-law, told Western Focus during an interview.

The reunion will commence on Thursday, August 1, with a football festival at the Colin Miller Sports Complex at the school. The event, which will feature two matches, will see the school's current DaCosta Cup squad squaring off with another DaCosta Cup schoolboy football team, while a Russea's masters team will square off against an invitational team.

On Friday, August 2, there will be a reception at the Russea's auditorium at 7:30 p.m., with a live performance by DRUMS (Russea's school band from the 1970s), a fashion show featuring styles and trends through the decades, music for dancing by a popular disco, and drink and traditional Jamaican foods on sale.

LIBRARY NAMING

On Saturday, August 3, there will be a function to mark the naming of the school's library in honour of past headmaster Eric Frater, and a general meeting of all ROSA chapters at the Russea's Auditorium at Campus One at 11 a.m.

That same day, one of the main highlights, the ROSA Awards Dinner and Dance, will be staged at the Tryall Club at 6:30 p.m. and will feature, among other things, a multi-course banquet and entertainment by Montego Bay vocalist A.J. Brown.

The activities will culminate on Sunday, August 4, with an ecumenical thanksgiving service at the Russea's Auditorium (Campus One). The sermon will be given by past students who are ministers of religion. There will be performances by the Russea's school choir. The service will be followed by the final event, which will be a farewell luncheon on the school grounds featuring a fancy hat contest for ladies and best tie competition for men.