The newly-appointed Principal of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Mrs. Rita Celestine Carty, told the 1200-odd students, and the some 100 teachers, that the ALHCS is an awesome school and that it can become better as the years go by.
She was at the time reflecting on the institution’s motto “Decus Est Servire (It’s an Honour To Serve) adopted since its establishment as The Valley Secondary School in 1953 to its renaming as the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School in 1984. The Principal made the statement on Thursday, September 20, when the staff and pupils pledged their support for her on her 50th birthday, and on the third week of her assumption of the leadership of the school.
It was a huge celebration of the milestone in her life with the leading organiser being the Deputy Principal of Campus B, Mrs. Melsadis Fleming, who chaired the proceedings at the refurbished Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium. “I am not going to tell you how old she is, but she is half a century and we have a special programme for her,” Mrs. Fleming told the students and teachers. “I misled her to think that we are having an assembly, and I was inviting her to that assembly, but the truth is it is all about her.”
Replying towards the end of the programme, Mrs. Carty told the students and the teachers: “Some of the best times of my life had been at this school, and I want the same for you, and I am prepared to work towards that. With us is the Editor of The Anguillian newspaper who, about a month and a half ago, had an editorial entitled ‘Everyone Is A Leader’ so it isn’t up to one person to make things happen; and in his prayer today Pastor Daniel spoke about all of us working together harmoniously.
“What I am saying is that although I want to make the school a better place for you, I cannot do that without all members of the staff and the students. I firmly believe that I belong to an awesome school and every time I get the chance to say it, I do. It can get better but it is an awesome school and it should be ‘a place of honour in the land’. All of you – students, teachers and I – will make it such a place. I am happy to have shared this day with you and I want you to take away all the messages from it.”
Mrs. Carty, noting the motto of the school, added: “It is an honour to serve. All of us as teachers come to serve – and teaching is a noble profession – and you, the students, come to prepare yourselves for the future.”
The extensive programme comprised the following: a performance of the school song by the school choir; the opening prayer, Pastor Dwayne Adams; a poem on behalf of Orange House by Mrs. Sarah Francis; the presentation of flowers to the Principal; a performance by From Within Dance (FWD); songs by Mr. Vere Connor, Junior Calypsonian Champion, Linga; and the staff of the school; a musical performance by Mr. Lennox Vanterpool and Mr. Michael (Dumpa) Martin; congratulatory remarks by Ms. Michelle Queeley; and the blessing of Principal by Pastors Samuel Daniel, Dwayne Adams, Rondie Isles-Carty and Ivan Francis (all teachers at the school).
The above programme items were followed by the Principal’s response, refreshments and the presentation of gifts to the Principal. Among the gifts were a bedroom set and other donations.
