MGHS PSA NEWSLETTER - Merl Grove High School

MGHS PSA NEWSLETTER
Merl Grove High School Past Students’ Association
77 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 10
Volume 1 Issue 1: March 2014
MGHS 6th Form Beautification Project (2014)
We are three months in the year 2014. The members of the Merl Grove High School Past Students’ Association give God thanks for life, His love, provision and protection and the enabling
to fulfill the Association’s Mission, To provide support and guidance to the school community
to fulfill its Mission.
MGHS PSA Jamaica Executive
Members are:
Dr. Elizabeth Watson – President, Ms.
Tishawa Gallimore – 1st Vice President, Ms. Shelly-Ann Morgan – 2nd
Vice President, Mrs. June CowardFearon – Public Relations Officer,
Mrs. Barbara Dunkley – Treasurer,
Ms. Fiona Brooks—Asst. Treasurer,
Ms. Paula Gordon – Secretary, Ms.
Anique McKie– Asst. Secretary and
Mrs. Norma Lattibeaudiere-Dixon,
Auditor.
The Association is governed by its Constitution and continues to uphold its
Mission and Purpose.
Executive members share camera lens with other members
Breakfast Programme
LASCO continues to partner with us in the above. Students received vouchers for complimentary
breakfast for the months January to March of this year.
Quiz Team
The Association gives its full support to the school’s quiz team. Members of the executive accompanied the team as they battled through the first and second round of the TVJ Schools’
Challenge Quiz. We congratulate the team for raising the MGHS flag high, defeating
STATHS in a closely contested match in the first round: 31:22 but going down in round two to
Cornwall College: 16:24. The team led in the first two segments of the contest. Better luck next
year!
Our heartfelt appreciation to these girls who have sacrificed so much time in preparation for
the Quiz. A special thanks to Captain Naomi Edwards and Jamila Beckford who have represented us for three (3) consecutive years. We wish them every success as they pursue
their respective careers. Thanks also to team members Jahan Myrie and Moesha Cameron.
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MERL GROVE HIGH SCHOOL
DISTINGUISHED PAST STUDENT
HIGH COMMISSIONER ALOUN NdOMBET- ASSAMBA
Early Life
Aloun Wood was born in the garden parish of St. Ann to parents James and Gloria Wood. She
has eight (8) siblings: four brothers and four sisters. She attended the Moneague Primary School
and Fern Court High prior to migrating to Kingston.
The Merlgrovian
Aloun Wood entered Merl Grove High School at the third form
level during the tenure of Headmistress Miss Muriel Lynch.
Aloun has fond memories of her alma mater and recalls the
bond formed with Denise Sweeney and Sheila Stewart who
were head girls in 1991 and 1992 respectively. In her three (3)
year stay at Merl Grove she was Prefect and House Captain for
Speid. Aloun graduated from Merl Grove in the year 1971. She
pursued sixth form studies at the Convent of Mercy (Alpha)
and was their deputy head girl.
This distinguished Merl Grovian has served the Merl Grove family in the capacity of President of
the Past Students’ Association and member of the Board of Management.
Attorney-at-Law
Aloun’s exposure as volunteer at the Kingston Legal Aid Clinic propelled her into the Law Faculty.
Aloun the Attorney-at-Law was ‘called to the Bar’ in 1981 after completing studies at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus then Norman Manley Law School. Aloun served as Managing Partner and Mediator in her private law practice, Ndombet-Assamba & Company. She was
part time lecturer at the Mona School of Business and Mediator and trainer in Mediation at the
Disputes Resolution Foundation.
Work
Aloun’s entrance into Corporate Jamaica saw her being employed at the Jamaica Development
Corporation as Corporate Secretary and Legal Advisor. In the private sector, Mrs. NdombetAssamba had an illustrious career at the City of Kingston Co-operative Credit Union Limited (COK)
rising to the level of General Manager in 1994. This assignment lasted until 2002 when she demitted office. Mrs. Assamba flexed her professional muscles providing valuable service as General Council and Chief Corporate Officer at Paymaster Jamaica Limited.
Volunteer
Aloun is known for her work as a volunteer, providing well required professional service to the
Jamaica Cancer Society, the United Way of Jamaica, Jamaica Bar Association, Lions Club and Kiwanis Club of New Kingston, Women’s Leadership Initiative and the Caribbean Community of
Retired Persons, to name a few.
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The Politician
Aloun the consummate politician entered politics and served in various capacities: Government
Senator in 1980 and in 2002 representational politics as Member of Parliament for the south eastern
section of her home town, St. Ann on the Peoples National Party ticket. She was appointed a Cabinet
Minister; Minister of Industry & Tourism in 2002 and then Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture during the period
2002 - 2007.
The Performer
Aloun has graced the stage of the Professional
Women in Concert, an outreach programme
established to raise funds to assist charitable
organizations. She has also shared stage
with Oliver Samuels and Audrey Reid .
The Diplomat
Her Excellency Aloun Ndombet-Assamba became Jamaica’s
12th High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in May 2012.
She is also non-resident Ambassador to five countries namely: Ireland, the Republic of Finland, and
the Kingdoms of Denmark,
Norway and Sweden
Jamaican High
Commissioner
Assamba attends
Freedom of the
Borough Ceremony
Family
High Commissioner Assamba is the proud mother and grandmother of son Dominic and grandson
Aiden. Fondly called HC, Commissioner Assamba loves all forms of music, loves to dance, read, travel
and spend time with friends. She likes baking pies and sewing in her spare time. Commissioner
Assamba is a ‘colourful’ writer who provides social media, in particular her Facebook friends with a
‘ball by ball’ commentary on events in the United Kingdom and
her work carried out as Jamaica’s Ambassador. You get the feeling that you are actually there.
Clockwise: Commissioner Assamba,
son Dominic, mom Gloria and grandson Aiden
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Left to right: Captain Naomi,
Jamila, coach Oneilya, PSA 2nd VP
Shelly-Ann, Coach Austin, Jahan
and Moesha
Sports Development
Sports development is high on the Association’s agenda
(local/Diaspora). Fifteen (15) pairs of shin guard were
handed-over to Ms. Dawson, Head of the P.E. Department on February 11. The hockey team participated in
the 2014 Issa under 19 Schools’ Hockey Competition.
Sixth Form Beautification Programme
A contribution was made by the Association to the above programme. We applaud all the
Grades for their effort in beautifying the campus. Keep up the good work!
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Death of a Distinguished
Alumunus
A Thanksgiving Service for the
late MGHS alumunus Dorritt
Annette Bent, O.D., J.P was
held at the Webster Memorial
United Church on Friday, February 21. Dorritt died at the
age of 90. Past Students’ Association President, Elizabeth
Watson represented the Merl
Grove family.
LR: President Watson, Principal Alexander, Chairman Cole
A feature of the life and work of this stalwart was published by the Association in February.
A framed-photo was presented by Ms. Bent’s niece Paulette Morgan to Dr. Elizabeth Watson,
president of the Merl Grove High School Past Student Association. Here Dr. Watson is seen
making a presentation to the school’s administrators at the Board of Management’s meeting
held February 26. Dr. Alfred Sangster, past Chairman of The Board of Management was present to pay his last respect to Ms. Bent
PSA Events Calendar
Easter Term
Mentorship Programme
Sixth Form Workshop
Contact Day
Breakfast treat
General meeting/Social
-
Friday, March 21 10:40-11:20 am
Friday, March 21, 2014 at 10:00 am
Friday, March 28, at 10:40-11:20 am
Friday, March 28 - 6:45-7:30 am
Saturday, March 22, 2014—4::00 pm
MGHS Social Come out and participate in our SOCIAL this Saturday, March 22 at 4:00 pm. In
the Enid Kerr Library. Let’s meet and greet… and reminisce. We invite you to join us!!!!!!
MGHS Calendar
Mock examinations (Grade 11)
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March 24-April 11
NATIONAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME
The Merl Grove High School is participating in the pilot project of the Jamaica Resocialiation/
Respect Agenda Programme in schools. The main element of the Respect Agenda Programme is To
promote good civil values, good attitudes and good civil behavior of students among their peers in
school and the wider society towards making Jamaica “the place of choice to live, work, raise
families and do business’.
MGHS PSA Mentors Dr. Elizabeth Watson, Mrs. June Coward-Fearon, Mrs. Jacinth Hall-Tracey,
Mrs. Sharon Dookie, Mrs. Pauline Bain, Mrs. Norma Lattibeaudiere-Dixon, Ms. Shawn Ashman,
Ms. Hortense Rose and Mrs. Margaret Khaleel pose for the camera lens with Principal, Mrs. Alexander and Programme Co-ordinator Reginald Budhan They were introduced to their Mentees,
(Grade eleven sisters) on Monday, March 10. Co-ordinator of the project Mr. Reginald Budhan
gave a brief overview of the programme while Mentor Pauline Bain presented a motivational talk
on ‘stress management’. The MGHS Respect Agenda Programme is now underway. The first session held Friday, March 14 was an inspiring and fruitful one. The Mentors have committed to giving back to their alma mater.
Mentors will be officially installed as National Mentors by The Governor General, His Excellency
the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Linton Allen at an installation ceremony at Kings House on
March 28.
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Membership Drive and Pledge Forms
The Association solicits your generous contribution to assist in funding the various programmes and projects. We are endeavouring to increase our membership this year and
hereby request your execution of the attached forms.
MGHS Alumni Form (1).zip
Double click on the Icon
Please return to: mghspsaja24@gmail.com
Champs 2014
Are you ready for this!!!! Come out and cheer on the MGHS Contingent at the National Stadium at the 104th staging of the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championship, March 2629. See our girls blaze the track as they fly our flag with pride and dignity. Wear your buttons.
Please contact Mrs. Williams-Bennett at 296-5543 to purchase your buttons.
CONTACT US:
EMAIL:
mghspsaja24@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.mghspsaja.com
FACEBOOK: Merl Grove High School Past Students’ Association Jamaica
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Mentors meet MGHS Board Chairman, Pastor Donovan Cole on Friday, March 21, 2014
LR: Board Chairman Pastor
Donovan Cole, Principal Mrs.
Carol Alexander and Mentor
Rose along with the other
Mentors listen attentively to
Mentor Watson’s update on
the Mentorship Programme.
(Mentor Ashman is missing
from photo)
All 9 Mentors were present
LR: Mentors CowanFearon, Khaleel,
Lattibeaudiere-Dixon and
Bain
LR: Mentor Hall-Tracey,
Ms. Danielle-Beverley
Phillps and Mentor
Coward-Fearon
Sixth Form Seminar
Sixth form students attending seminar entitled ‘Outclassing the Competition’ on Friday, March 21
conducted by Ms. Danielle-Beverley Phillips Etiquette Consultant, Cover letter, CV and Resume
Writer.
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