The year is 1953 and this school
opened its doors for the first time to welcome the
children of Cap de Ville
to an education at home. What relief to many boys and girls
who had to wend
their way daily and on foot through forested and lonely
roads, through rain and sun, to nearby villages to access an
education. They journeyed to Buenos Ayres, to
Chatham and to Point Fortin as these were the nearest schools they could
have attended.
Yes. there
was a need to bring "distant" education nearer home for the
village children;
and the
land on which the school now stands was presented by the
Fraser family, as the
ideal one
for it's purpose Monday 20th April 1953, ushered
in a new era for the children of
Cap de
Ville. Mr. Winston Harper assumed the role of first
Principal of the school with
a staff
of four (4). Members of staff were: Mr. Ackbar Ghani, Ms Una
Gopeesingh, Mr.
Charles
Dublin and Mr. Bhuilal Jackdeo.
The first
student to be enrolled was Roy Alexander who was twelve
years and one
month old
at the time. He was transferred from the Point Fortin
Anglican Primary School.
His
father was a carpenter. Other students to be enrolled at the
time were Edith Bullock,
Malcolm Fraser, Vernice Me Guire, Israel Gabriel, Latiff
Mohammed and Prince
Solomon. The formal opening was held Thursday 17th
September, 1953. At this function the School's Motto was
chosen: Onward and Upward!
Among the early families enlisted
here were : The Ashby's, the Goolcharan's, the
Singh's, the Eraser's and
the Bridgelalsingh's whose names has become household
names even up to today
as many of their siblings are still enrolled at this
institution.
Many memorable and outstanding
events come to mind as we turn the pages of this school's
history. For example, during the 80's, this school formed
part of the Vance River
Village Council, and on many occasions entered the Best
Village Competition in
the category of Maypole
Dancing. Another popular feature too, was Bermudez Biscuit
Talent Programme
with Auntie Kay, who visited the Cap de Ville Government
several times with
her radio programme.
School
life here has always been full of meaningful activity and
enjoyment. Experiences
at this
school have always been remarkably different. Social and
cultural problems are
many and
varied, and teachers even though new to the institution
learn to cope with these
rare and
unique situations.
The school's enrollment in that
opening era rose suddenly to four hundred and eight
(408) in 1955. At that
time a school with a designated capacity for two hundred
(200), become very overcrowded and it was time to expand. The annex was the
built to accommodate the over-flow of children who
were housed in the gallery of the main
building. These children
were exposed to the elements of sun, rain and even dust.
These conditions have since been improved as a result
of the additions of two (2) smaller
buildings, making study
and school life comfortable and enjoyable.
Our
school is now fifty-two (52) years old and is housed in the
original structure to which
was added
a classroom (Computer Science Lab) in 1995. Prior to this
addition another
building
(wooden) containing five (5) rooms was erected in 1970. This
houses the Infant
Department
and Lower Juniors. The present enrollment now stands at two
hundred and
eighty
seven (287), with an academic staff of Principal and twenty
(20) teachers. Complimenting this are four (4) ancillary
workers.
1.
STAFF: -
2.
MARIA STRAKER (P.I)
3.
PEARL
LUCAS (T.I)
4.
LYNDA SAMAROO-RAMDHANIE (T.I)
5.
MICHAEL
ADAMS (T.I)
6.
JOYCELYN SANCHO (T.I)
7.
LILLAWATIE GOPAUL (T.I)
8.
REYNOLD PORTER-LEE
(T.I)
9.
JANICE
JOSEPH
(T.l)
10.
ARTHURSON LOGIE
(T.I)
11.
CHARMAINE BREWSTER
(T.I)
12.
ANTHONY LEE FOON
(T.I)
13.
MARLENE
LEWIS
(T.I)
14.
BEVERLY SOOKRAM
(T.I)
15.
JASMINE
CYRUS (T.l)
16.
SALLY SOOMAI
(T.I)
17.
JEANEL YOUNG-DAVIS
(T.I)
18.
SHERRYLANN JOSHUA
(T.I)
19.
CAM1LLEMAHARAJ-S1NGH
(T.I)
20.
VICTORIA GHOURALAL-KHAN
(T.I)
21.
MELINDA MUNGROO
(AT.II)
22.
NIKISHA LUTCHMAN
(AT.ll)
ANCILLARY
STAFF:-
Mrs. A.
HYSON, Ms ANN-MARIE PIERRE and Mr. S. JAGGERNATH
We pause
for a while in retrospect and reminisce on the eras and on
the Principals under
whose
guidance the school has progressed, attaining excellence in
the academics, as well
as
extra-curricular activities.
PRINCIPALS:
Mr.
Winston Harper 1953-1955
Mr. Oscar Walker 1955-1960
Mr.
D. Imam 25/04/60 (one day)
Mr. Francis J. Fortune 1960-1963
Ms. Audrey Fortune (Ag) 1963-1964
Mr. Hugh Anthony 1964-1967
Mr. RicaTdo Sucre (Ag) 1967-1968
Mr. Radcliffe Redhead 1968-1970
Mr.
Valentine Huggins (Ag) 1970-1971
Mr. Rudolph Edwards 1971-1986
Mr. Carlton Cato
1986-1989 Mr. Ulric
Alleyne 1990-1997
Mrs. Maria Straker 1997-present
Over the
years, the school gained many successes in Education, in
Sports and in Culture.
Our
students have been reckoned to be as good as any and better
than many throughout our
Republic and in foreign lands. Some past students of
prominence in the world of
work in Sports and in
Education are:-
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