Sun | Jun 16, 2024

Wolmer’s Group of Schools celebrates 295 years

Published:Friday | May 24, 2024 | 12:09 AM
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On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
Antoine Lodge
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
Antoine Lodge
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
Antoine Lodge
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
Antoine Lodge
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
Contributed
On Tuesday, The Wolmer’s Trust celebrated Wolmer’s Day, with students from across all three schools gathered on the playing field of the Wolmer’s High School for Girls to participate in the activities for the day.
Participants at Tuesday’s Wolmer’s Day in a coordinated recognition of the Wolmer’s Trust Group of Schools 295th anniversary on the Wolmer’s Girl’s playing field in Kingston.
Contributed
Participants at Tuesday’s Wolmer’s Day in a coordinated recognition of the Wolmer’s Trust Group of Schools 295th anniversary on the Wolmer’s Girl’s playing field in Kingston.
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On Tuesday, the Wolmer’s Trust Group of Schools celebrated 295 years as one of the premier educational institutions in Jamaica. This was the day John Wolmer made his last will and testament, leaving 2,360 pounds sterling, the bulk of his estate, for the foundation of a free school in the parish of his death.

Wolmer’s consists of Wolmer’s Pre-School, Wolmer’s Preparatory School, and two high schools – Wolmer’s Trust High School For Girls and Wolmer’s Trust High School for Boys.

While acknowledged as separate institutions, each school carries the same crest and motto, ‘Age Quod Agis,’ a Latin phrase that translates to ‘whatever you do, do it to the best of your abilities’.

On May 17, 2019, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen made a proclamation at King’s House in honour of the Wolmer’s Trust Schools’ 290th anniversary. This proclamation has jointly made the Wolmer’s schools the only Jamaican institution with a day named in its honour.

The proclamation also applauded the school for producing “outstanding sons and daughters of Jamaica in many fields”, including former head of state, Sir Florizel Glasspole – the third and longest-serving governor general of Jamaica and a former minister of education; former Prime Minister Edward Seaga – Jamaica’s longest-serving parliamentarian; Amy Jacques Garvey, journalist, publisher and activist; Avis Henriques, a noted figure in business and voluntarism; and Dr Phyllis McPherson Russell, recognised for her contributions to public service and the teaching of mathematics.

The school’s contribution to the creative arts was not ignored, as alumni such as actor Harry Belafonte, entertainer Sean Paul, and novelists Kei Miller and Marlon James were mentioned.

The Wolmer’s Trust Group of Schools owns the title of the oldest school in the English-speaking Caribbean, with Wolmer’s Boys and Wolmer’s Girls schools having consistently ranked in the top 10 performers in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations. At the same time, the preparatory school has done consistently well in the Common Entrance, Grade Six Achievement Test and the Primary Exit Profile.