Capturing C.C. at 70.

Name: Kamesha Beecher Form: 6A1

Capturing C.C. at 70.

Reverend Lester Davy has always been a significant figure in the history of Clarendon College. Lester Davys most famous words I shall light a candle in Chapelton whose flames shall never be put out are known by almost all Clarendon College students. We are on a mission and today is the day to make our next step towards more accomplishments. On the morning of Thursday February 2, 2012, more than one thousand students trod up the rocky road to Rose Bank, the birth place of the prestigious Clarendon College to celebrate the schools 70th anniversary. Personally, being at this same place for the past five years I reflected on where Clarendon College has been, starting with only ten students and two teachers right there in Rose bank. Well, it is only the foundation of the building that can be seen at this point in time since the building has been run down due to its many years of existence coupled with the intense pressures that it faced during the passing of many natural disasters. Not surprisingly though, Clarendon College is still standing strong and has continued to prestare et praestare (Persevere and excel). Presently, the school comprises over one thousand six hundred students and approximately eighty five teachers. Clarendon College also has one of the largest and most beautiful campuses in the country. How lovely? We have come a far way, a marvelous transformation if I might say. With all this being said It can definitely been seen that Lester Davys candle is still burning, having been turned into a flame which glows brighter as the years go by. The restlessness and anticipation of the students filled the atmosphere as the sun was blazing hot. Standing at the same place looking out of space for a period of time, some students and I developed a method of exchange between us and the many vendors who hitched their stalls on the sidewalks. Being observant I realized that some students were buzzing at each other, taking pictures and the more studious ones were busy taking notes. Form teachers were also there as they walked around to ensure that their students were present on that day. In a couple of flashing minutes the sun got even hotter and

resulting in the students becoming much more restless, some popped out their umbrellas while some others were moving towards trees to seek shade. Nevertheless we had to wait until the march was ready to get underway. The sounding of the cadets drum rolls signified that the march was about to start. Students started shuffling into their various form lines to get ready for an approximate 30 minutes march. At the front of the extremely long line were the cadets dressed in their army green and brown uniforms standing with their coordinator looking neat, flawless and impressive as always. Preceding them were the principal and vice principals; they always took the time out to walk with us on founders day and I found this really heartwarming. Various clubs and societies were next in line, dressed in their club uniforms looking well organized. Following them were the many form lines starting from the first formers to the small group of sixth formers. The drum rolls must have fooled us because it seemed like it took forever before the march started. Checking the time I later realized that it was an approximate fifteen minutes after the drum rolls. The march finally began and we could hear the cadets parade and soon after, the lines began to move, slowly but surely. Being a sixth former and at the back of the line I could hardly see what was being taking place. I almost fell a couple of times from tripping over stones on the rocky road and bouncing into other students from overtaking them to get away from the chaos at the back of the line. Resulting from the white shirts those as sixth formers and prefects wore on that day I arrived at the brilliant idea of acting as a prefect, getting the lower school students in line and having a much free passage to trod along, in the blink of an eye I was very close to the front, just behind the uniformed groups. At last! I could now be caught in the action. On both sides of the street I could see many onlookers, I felt famous for the sixth time in six years. There were cameras and video personnel all over capturing a part of our honored celebration. When I saw this I looked down to see if I was looking good enough to be captured

in the cameras and I was surprised when I looked down and saw how dusty my shoes were. They looked like a three year old child coming home from basic school. I had to look to see if I was alone in the dusty shoes category. I said oh yes! When I realized I was not alone. Upon reaching the Chapelton Adventist Church I turned to look how far my fellow school mates were, all I could say was Wow!, the latter of the students were far behind extending to as far as Cross Roads. Some were running to catch up; others were overtaking while the remaining ones were just strolling along. It was an amazing sight! Seeing this I remembered my first form years when I was right here, right at the front. It seemed like it was just yesterday. Time really flies fast. We made a quick stop in the square of Chapelton. The cadet coordinator ordered us to stop as the cadets were performing a march of respect in the Chapelton Park. Here, the spectators were multiplied by about five times the amount seen coming from Rose Bank. The children and teachers from various schools in Chapelton along with business personnel and other persons of the community came out to be a part of our annual celebration. In approximately ten minutes most of us were finally at the school gate. It was a relief to have reached thus far. I observed that there was another honourable march by the cadets in the school yard paying tribute to our founding father Rev. Lester Davy. We were finally trodding up the hill. To me, it felt like a destiny was laid ahead, because I could not wait to finally have a seat. I shouted Praise God! When I finally got a chance to sit in the hall, my body seemed `to have crashed to a mode of shutting down as I felt much more relieved. The service for the 2012 Founders Day celebration began ten minutes later. The days service was followed throughout by the use of a programme. The schools band gave an awakening session as they woke our spirits with their melodious selection. We were then asked to stand while the platform party arrived to take to their respective seats. Some of the same faces that I saw

during my year at Clarendon College for example, the president of the new York Chapter, past students and Mr. Radley Reid, however, there were some new faces. The cadets once again sent a thrill up my spine as they delivered a wonderful performance. Hats off to Mrs.Bachelor for her dedication and hard work with the cadets over the many years. A service of praise followed the cadets performance and this was led by Rev. Hyacinth Edwards, the school chaplain. The choir received a rapturous applause following their performance of hymns. OH YES! They can sing. The Bible lesson was delivered by the head girl Chantelle Richardson. Other greetings, introductions and message took place in sequence leading quickly to the guest speaker Mrs. Donna Scott Mottley, an attorney at law. Mrs. Scott Mottleys message was short and spicy. Just the way I liked it, not only me but the majority of the schools population, as I later learned. I also admired the way Mrs. Mottley was dressed as her red heels were shockingly beautiful and her outfit showed that she took care of herself. Her message was well organized and one of her highlights that I definitely admired was the fact that we should respect our parents and respect whatever they do for us, whether it be assisting us with achieving the best in life or having a good education. I must admit, I was tired from the extensive walking so I did not hear as much of her speech as I wanted to. She empowered us to take care of ourselves as we only live once. I believe that it was an overall excellent speech as she related to us easily. Following this was numerous awards and presentation. These awardees must have felt super special as they were celebrating with their school. One such awarded was the teacher o f the year, Ms Tyndale who had no idea of her wonderful work and dedication for the past year. Her expression showed that she was flabbergasted. I was not awarded but I told myself that the next year Clarendon Colleges 71st Anniversary, my final year at the school I will be collecting an award and celebrating with my school.

The hymn We Build Our School marked the closing of Clarendon Colleges 70th Anniversary celebration. We then sang the National Anthem. The Benediction was followed and led by Rev Edwards. The principal then addressed us and the platform party took their leave as we were standing. The idea of going to the tuck shop was all that was going through my mind as the platform party walked the isle. My growling stomach was getting out of control and I could not wait to have a meal. After a sumptuous meal at the tuck shop we proceeded to our form rooms to have our names marked. This day once again marked an awesome, tiring day as we celebrated our 70th Anniversary.