GRADUATES COME TOGETHER FOR 4 DAYS OF FUN, MEMORIES
Ocho Rios, April 9, 2024:
More than 50 of the first set of graduates at Ocho Rios High School, St Ann, came together in March for four days of partying, formal celebrations and just getting to remember ‘the good ole school days’.
It’s more than 30 years since that class of 1993 graduated from Ocho Rios High.
The graduates consider themselves special, as they were the first to enter Ocho Rios High School, following the upgrading of Ocho Rios Secondary, into a high school. That was more than 20 years after Ocho Rios Junior Secondary was built on Milford Road in the resort town.
(Ocho Rios High Class of ’93, celebrating at the all-white event)
They told the North Coast Times that the kernel of the idea for the coming together of the first graduates came almost by accident. This event celebrating life, graduation and coming of age, was born out of the death of one of their classmates Keron Green. He died suddenly on June 16, 2023.
(Remember how we used to play)
As they explain it, about five of the 1993 graduates attended the funeral service of Mr Green at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church, across the road from where they went to school.
The idea came up: “Why don’t we do a get-together or a link-up.” The possibilities and the potential were seen right away and a WhatsApp group was formed by Dwain Bailey, Green’s Cousin.
And then, they started talking and a link-up was conceived. The number in the group kept growing to now, nearly 100. Graduates said there was great excitement, curiosity and longing to get beyond the regular communication on the WhatsApp group. They wanted to look again into the faces of people whom they had not seen for years and some of whom they didn’t even remember.
(Hmmm, smoke gets in your eyes. Food can’t be better, Askel)
Genevor Gordon Bailey explains the special feel of that class of students who entered in 1988, “The fact that we were the first cohort to go to Ocho Rios High, through the Common Entrance made us so special.” Now a second-term councillor in the St Ann Municipal Corporation, Bailey said the idea of coming together was exciting. “Some persons I had not seen for over 30 years since we left that high school. It was surreal.”
PLANNING STARTS
The planning started in earnest with committee members being: Simone Mesquita aka Ms Versatile, Simone Solomon, Anthony Swaby, aka Skelly, Naddia Murray, Selvin Murray, Damian Murray, Wayne Mitchell, Keisha Clarke, and Kevin Peterkin aka Askel.
And they pulled it off, with a lot of cooperation and help. The four days of activities were quite varied and took place in different locations across three parishes – St Ann, St Mary and Portland –with different degrees of formality.
DAY 1-FAMILY FUN DAY
They kicked off the festivities with a day of fun for the whole family at Thatch Hill River, near Blue Hole, just outside Ocho Rios, St Ann. More than 100 people were in attendance. At this event, the graduates were allowed to take family members along – siblings, spouses, parents, and anyone they loved. Introductions were many. Memories flooded back. Faces and bodies had changed. Spirits were high.
Everybody brought along something to the breakfast. Those with cooking skills got around the fire.
The fruit outlay was impressive –jackfruit, citrus, apples, guava, papaya, star apples, banana — a lot of anything you could think of.
Then, there was authentic Jamaican breakfast, Askel and the devotion team (Ina, Bonicea, Tracey and Donnette) satisfied palates with ackee and saltfish and top chef Ovran took over the kitchen and made great jerk chicken and pork.
It was all fun as the ladies played games from their childhood. Games such as Chinese skip, Dandy Shandy and baseball. The men played dominoes and some had a swim.
DAY 2 WAS MARCH 22, for the All White affair at Marley’s Place (Beach) near Huddersfield/Boscobel in St Mary. The ladies and gents turned out in their finery for an all-inclusive evening of party and celebration. This exclusive event was only for graduates and their spouses or significant others.
Day 3, MARCH 23
Day three was indoors for a formal dinner and Thanksgiving, recognizing some of the teachers from the time of their wonderful school years. The event took place at Holiday Haven, in Runaway Bay, St Ann.
The occasion was also used to pay tribute to those who have gone ahead. There were also some special awards..
(Same soh, Donnette and Ina)
Many expressed regret that the first Principal of the high school Mavis Irwin had passed on.
Eight teachers were honoured for the impact they had on the lives of the graduates: Christina Wellington, Etta Campbell, Mercella Francis, Faithlin Campbell, Phyllis Bailey, Delrose Monahan-Parker Mr. Geoffrey Brown and Leo Dacosta. Ms Francis was unable to attend.
DAY 4 MARCH 24 It was hitting the road, with a bus trip to Winnifred Beach, Portland, and just relaxing. They also went on a short boat ride to the exotic Monkey Island and went by road for a stop at Boston Jerk Centre.
(Genevor Gordon Bailey, 4th left, a graduate stands with seven of the eight teachers honoured for their work with the batch)
For Simone Mesquita, one of the key organizers, the link-up was a fine celebration that exceeded the expectations of the nine-member committee who worked to bring it off. She said: “Even better was the vibes, the trust we built up. For example, people took others around who didn’t have vehicles, people brought things and contributed to every event.” She said even those who did not come contributed. “It was definitely love and respect among us all.”
Ms Mesquita says with the successful link up and the word getting out that it all took place and went well, some of the doubts and scepticism have melted. She says others from the class and not even part of the group of nearly 100 are already asking when will be the repeat.
Ms Mesquita has had a long-standing relationship with her alma mater, contributing to the sports and some academic programmes, through the Ocho Rios Friends for Life Foundation. However, she says there are conversations taking place about how the Class of ’93 can help the students at the school who face financial difficulties. “We have to help keep them in school. We don’t know how and what yet but we are determined.”
(Well dressed and together again, Vinola Smith, Naddia Murray, Donnette Thomas and Loy Edwards stooping)
Naddia Murray agrees. She says: “The link up turned out really, really well, better than anticipated.” She said she, like many others, felt special being among the first set of graduates of the high school. “I feel special. We were privileged to be among the first batch going through the gates of the Ocho Rios High School.”
(Not to be outdone. As sharp as the ladies)
She said many of those attending the days of celebration noted that they hadn’t done anything for the school and action in that regard was now needed. “We want to help. We don’t know how yet. But we want to help,” the consultant recruiter said.
There were ten classes for Grade 11 with each class, on the two shifts, having roughly 30 students, meaning that more than 300 graduated in 1993, 31 years ago.
Head boy was Kevin Marriott, and Janice Traille was the head girl.
Their year of entry to Ocho Rios High was itself dramatic, as school started September 4 and just days later came Hurricane Gilbert devastated the country and disrupted the School Year.
(On the road, Day 4)
Just about half the more than fifty graduates who attended the link-up came from the US, and the others from Jamaica.
They included people who have done well in their vocations and professions as registered nurses, teachers, recruitment consultant, parish councillor, inspector of police, engineers, investment banker, contractor, recording artiste, entrepreneurs, accountant and persons in supervisory and managerial positions.
Both evening events had over 70 people in attendance and about 30 were on the road trip. They say the journey has not been completed and celebrating Ocho Rios High has just started.
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