Mt Alvernia unveils impressive centenary open house
Published:Saturday | May 17, 2025 | 12:05 AMAshley Anguin/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
As the Montego Bay-based Mount Alvernia Preparatory & Kindergarten School moves deeper into its centennial celebrations, it is currently staging an open house exhibition, which is designed to give the public an insight into what the school is doing.
The school, which is one of the most sought-after educational institutions in Montego Bay, is one of three schools – Mount Alvernia Preparatory & Kindergarten, Chetwood Primary School and Mount Alvernia High School, which fall under the same umbrella in celebrating their centenaries.
The open house, which was unveiled in the school’s auditorium on Thursday, will last for two weeks, which is believed to be enough time to get as many people as possible to come in for a viewing.
On the first day of the exhibition, Therisa Cherian, the principal at Mount Alvernia Preparatory & Kindergarten School, told The Gleaner that the institution is known for its excellence, so the significance of the open house is to highlight the achievements of the students past and present.
“We want to let others know that we are still maintaining our high standards. We want people to come and see the work of our children. Not only are we doing academically well in the public exams, but we are also doing other things apart from the bookwork,” said Cherian, in noting that the open house is something the school has been looking forward to.
“It is through doing these things that they understand better, and the concepts are concretised more deeply. Whenever a project is given, it is always these three stakeholders that work for it – teachers, parents and students,” she added.
Among the items on display were replicas of local communities, photographs of presentations made at the school, and a wall of fame with photographs of past graduates.
SHOWCASING TALENT
A’Naiyah Williams, a grade-five student, said the idea of an open house to showcase the achievements and talent of the artistic students is a brilliant one.
“I think acknowledging the different classes’ achievements is a very good decision that the school board has made. Everybody at the school “has a talent, so we all put in the work,” said Williams, whose winning essay was on display.
“When people or schools turn 100 years old, it is a very big accomplishment. From 1925, the school has really worked its way up. Having the open day as a part of the centennial celebration, it is a very prestigious acknowledgement,” she added.
If the attendance on the first day were anything to go by, the open house should generate a great deal of support as many parents, guardians and past students were on hand to view the various achievements on display.
Past student Lexford Earle was quite pleased with what he saw, and said it demonstrated how the institution has been shaping the lives of students in their formative years, creating a perfect platform for future success.
“A sound base and structure withstand the test of time, and those achievements on display are a testament to the basics implemented by the school and administrators,” Earle said.
Beverly Hall, a senior teacher for more than 27 years, echoed similar sentiments, while highlighting the range of activities at the school.
“This is our first open house. We never usually talk about and put ourselves out there. People don’t know what is happening here, so this is one way to show some of what has been happening over the years. We have been involved in a lot of things at a very high level. Most times we come out on top or very close,” said Hall, who introduced Spanish to the school in the early 1990s.
“You cannot get to 100 years unless you have some kind of standard…. . I think we have done a good job, and I hope we continue,” she added.
Founded in 1925 by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in the United States, the Catholic school shares its legacy with Chetwood Memorial Primary School and Mt Alvernia High School, a symbol of resilience excellence. The year-long celebration is being staged under the theme, ‘A Century of Stars: Illuminating the Future’.