HappyGrove Alumni Website

Happy Grove 110th Anniversary - Contribution Letter

February 22, 2008

Dear Alumnus,

The organizing committee of “Happy Grove 110th Anniversary Reunion 2008, is requesting a contribution from you, which will be used to defray costs associated with the following:

1. Food and drink at the Brunch

2. Transportation to all functions

3. Food for the Cook-out at Innes Bay

4. Disco for music at all functions

5. Material for decoration at the Church and the Gala.

The committee has recommended a minimum contribution in the range of US$100 or Jamaica $6,000.

Pledges can be sent to the reunion e-mail happy_grove08@yahoo.com. Please make your pledge by March 20, 2008. You will be contacted after that is done to make arrangements for collection.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Regards.

Sincerely yours

HAPPY GROVE 110TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION COMMITTEE

Clement Burnett

Chairman

Herman Alvin Pitter

Herman Alvin Pitter


Herman Alvin Pitter Herman Alvin Pitter, 72, a loving husband, father and friend, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 5, 2008, at Margaret Dozier Hospice House. A memorial service in the manner of the Society of Friends (Quakers) will be at 5:30 p.m. EDT Monday, March 10, at First Presbyterian Church. Fellowship and a meal for guests will follow the service at the church. Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Boys Choir of Tallahassee, c/o Earl Lee Jr., Director, P.O. Box 1182, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1182, or to Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104. Herman was born April 3, 1935, in Kingston, Jamaica, to Josiah Constantine Pitter and Estella Marie Smith Pitter. He was educated at Happy Grove High School, a Quaker school, after which he attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, as well as graduate school at Kansas City, Mo., and Florida State University. His professional life included employment as an English professor in St. Joe, Mo., an adviser at Florida State University, a training manager at the Florida Department of Labor and a senior management analyst at the Florida Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Retired in 2003, Herman was always involved in movements and work with individuals involved in peaceful solutions to conflicts, domestic or international, as well as being a consistent supporter of Quaker educational institutions. Always a sports fan, he was a stellar force in the Jamaican soccer scene before moving to the states and continued to play with the Tallahassee Soccer Association upon moving to town. He married his loving and lifetime partner, Gita Wijesinghe, in 1978 in a Quaker wedding and showed continuous commitment to family and friends. He was a devoted father who relished the successes of his beautiful and talented daughters, Sharmini, now pursuing a graduate degree at Stanford University, and Viveka, a sophomore at Lawton Chiles High School. The many friends who knew Herman will sorely miss his camaraderie, laughter, insight and warm friendship. In addition to his wife Gita and daughters Sharmini and Viveka Pitter, he is survived by his sister-in-law, Yvonne Pitter; his brother-in-law, Geoffrey Wijesinghe (and wife Leela); cousins Vincent Thompson and his wife Beryl, Beatrice Crutchley, Beryl Thompson Perry, Joyce St. Marie, Dryden Evans, Dawn Anderson, Stephanie Henley, and Lorna Charles. Mr. Pitter also had nieces Pat Fleury and Audrey Pitter, nephew Michael Pitter and other cousins, grandnieces and grandnephews. His brother, Leslie Pitter preceded him in death. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat from 3/7/2008 - 3/8/2008.

Happy Grove High School 110th Anniversary Church Service

THE   110th   ANNIVERSARY   CHURCH   SERVICE

SEASIDE FRIENDS CHURCH, APRIL 27, 2008.

An exhortation to praise the Lord; an admonition to become a Caleb; a prayer of praise and gratitude to the Almighty; a wide selection of musical treats. These were some of the highlights at the 110th anniversary church service which launched the week of celebrations on Sunday April 27, 2008.

The cradle of Happy Grove High School, Seaside Friends Church, was filled to capacity as a turn-out of about four hundred persons attended the service.

The front of the church displayed the horticultural skills of alumnus, Ann Ramsay. This  was the   beautiful setting in which the strains of the Happy Grove School band filled the chapel. A soul -- soothing musical prelude, with Marilyn Nugent-Dunbar and Jacqueline Anderson-Morgan on piano, permeated the atmosphere until the horticultural genius herself gave the call to worship

The Opening Hymn, “We Build Our School on Thee, O Lord”,   brought back feelings of nostalgia as alumni and friends poured out their hearts and lifted their voices as they sang in praise. Loverne George was a prayerful inspiration as she expressed gratitude to God for having preserved Happy Grove as a great institution for 110 years and asked His blessing on the school for many more years to come.

Tedroy McNabb, President of the Jamaica Chapter of Alumni, delivered the welcome address. He expressed his gratitude to his executive committee, in particular to Monica Bigby-Milloy, whose responsibility it was to co-ordinate the church   service. He reminded alumni that they are the   beneficiaries of the past, the trustees of the present and the architects of the future. He had special words of gratitude to some alumni, both local and abroad, who have constantly given exceptional support to the efforts of the Jamaica Chapter.

The   first   lesson,   Psalm   150,   was   read   by  Maudlyn Mason. This   was   followed   by   greetings   from the Chairman of the Happy Grove Board of Governors, Mrs Joan Brown. The ever-faithful Pastor Eugene Wolfley brought greetings from the Friends United Meeting in The United States. Pastor Wolfley reminded the congregation of his special love for Happy Grove and said that although he now resides in The United States, his heart still resides in Jamaica.

More greetings followed from Lydia Grappine, Deputy- Clerk from the Jamaica Yearly and from Mr Lauriston Lindsay, Principal of Happy Grove High School.   Mr. Lindsay prefaced his greeting with the announcement that on that day, Sunday April 27th, the positions of Principal and Vice Principal   for September 2008, were advertised in the newspapers. He added that he knew that there was a thinking among some that he has not been a good Principal. To those persons, he offered his apology. In his greeting   he expressed his gratitude to be serving as principal and wished the institution   many more years of continued success.

More items of musical praise continued with renditions from Dave Williams, who sang his heart out to a very appreciative audience. A representative from the Worthington Friends Meeting, Donna McLean, gave a soul-stirring performance through song. But, it was the three members from the original six of the Ivy Chapel Sextet - Trevor Falloon, Rixon Richards and Randolph Gordon who took alumni back into the decade of the sixties with the lively, catchy singing of Negro Spirituals.

The second lesson   from 2nd Chronicles, Chapter 7, verses 1 – 10, was read by Devon Nelson—Phillips.   Alumnus Keith Goldson invited all alumni present to rock the cradle as alumni moved to the singing of lively, reggae-beat chorouses   which   were sung by the representative from The Worthington Church. As alumni moved around the church in a meet and greet session, it was a joy to reconnect with people not seen in many, many years.

Rev Goldson then delivered his message under the theme, “Another Milestone, Time for Celebration“. He too offered thanks to the Almighty for preserving Happy Grove over the years and spoke about the many successes of the school. He urged his congregation to become like the biblical Caleb and to emulate Solomon in all his wisdom.

After the singing of the hymn, “All Things Bright And Beautiful”, there was a period of quiet meditation in keeping with the tradition of the Friends Church.   This was followed by the offering and the closing prayer by Pastor Eugene Wolfley.

The final act of celebration at the church was   the symbolic ringing of the bell one hundred and ten times, each in recognition of a year of Happy Grove’s existence. This was done by alumni who volunteered to participate.

The festive, homecoming atmosphere of meeting and greeting continued in the church yard as the Happy Grove family moved towards the dining room for Sunday brunch. This was provided by alumni and local businesses who contributed in cash and kind.

A sumptuous, delicious meal was served by members of the executive of The Jamaica Chapter of Alumni. Alumnus Devon Nelson-- Phillips had the responsibility for catering to this spread, a wide variety from which to choose -- the ever familiar curried goat, fried, jerked and baked chicken, rice and peas, white rice, macaroni salad, tossed salad, fruit punch and sodas among other favourites. Dessert provided more variety -- potato pudding, gizzadas, fruit salad, different cakes and other sweet treats.

Sunday was an overall excellent   day, the result of the hard work, planning and co-ordinating of the executive of the Jamaica Chapter.

Alumni to Whom President, Tedroy McNabb, Offered Special Thanks:--
The Executive of the Jamaica Chapter ( Elaine Neufville, Lorna Allen-Lowe, Pearline Carr, Rosemarie Lammie-Shirley, Clement Burnett, Glen Warren, Wavel Dale, Phillipia Phillips, Monica Bigby-Milloy, Joan Mason-Thomas, Devon Nelson-Phillips, Eileen Thompson), Ernest Ho, Patricia Hunter, Sonia Gray, Hugh Gray, Dr Lilieth Johnson-- Whittaker, Maurice Mason, Maudlyn Mason: Dr Shirley Bailey, Ann Ramsay, Maulyn McNabb, Neil Glasgow, Denver Drysdale, Linston Lawrence, Andrea Wilkie, Jean Wilson-Stewart, Veena Nichols—McDonald, Carlton Brown.

Written by:   Maudlyn Mason

Citation to Stanlie Parkins � Patricia Hunter

Happy Grove School

Hector''s River, Portland , Jamaica W.I.

110th Anniversary Celebrations

May 2, 2008

Citation to Stanlie Parkins – Patricia Hunter

Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to pay tribute to Stanlie Parkins, a former student, teacher and Acting Principal at Happy Grove School.

Mr. Parkins was a student at Happy Grove during the years 1939 to 1943. In January, 1946, he was appointed a History teacher at Happy Grove. Joining the school staff at the same time, was a Miss Fay Powell, an instructor in the Languages, especially Latin. Miss Powell would later become Mrs. Faye Parkins.

In 1951, he left to study at Wilmington College, Ohio, (a Quaker institution). His decision to study at Wilmington may have been influenced by Dr. Wendell G. Farr, former Registrar of Wilmington College, who also joined the staff at Happy Grove in 1946. Dr. Farr was also the minister at Seaside Church, and Superintendent of the Jamaica Yearly Meeting of Friends.

While at Wilmington College, Mr. Parkins majored in English and earned a Bachelor of Art degree. He returned to Happy Grove in 1953 as an English teacher. He would continue to work at his alma mater until 1961. His teaching career continued at York Castle High School, while his wife, Faye molded young female leaders at St. Hilda''s High School.

Mr. Parkins, I was too young to have had your influence as a teacher at Happy Grove, for as fate would have it, you departed prior to my enrollment there, yet I am one of the recipients of your stellar legacy.

Nonetheless, I have enjoyed a certain silent pride, just knowing that a noble and true son of my alma mater is among the illustrious pioneers that steered a school in its infancy to a place of pride among Jamaica ''s educational institutions. Ladies and gentlemen, I refer to his 1965 appointment as Principal of Morant Bay High School.

Mr. Parkins, not only were you a “Grovian” taking charge, but history will record that you were the first Jamaican to be appointed principal at that institution; as William Haydn Middleton, who you succeeded was a Welshman. By the time you left, (some 21 years after) you had taken that institution to one of high academic standards and good moral standing.

Despite attending universities in the United States and the United Kingdom, you always returned to your homeland to make your contribution. Happy Grove, York Castle , Morant Bay and St. Thomas Technical are the benefactors of your touch. You entered the teaching profession at a time when there was a severe shortage of teachers, due to the war, and I am sure there was little monetary compensation. I would like to think that your sterling dedication is based on the patriotic zeal infused in the education you received at Happy Grove.

Undoubtedly, one of your greatest pleasures in life has been to do the job you loved – teaching, and teaching in a place you love, your hometown of Morant Bay. That was an exciting time as you seized the opportunity to make secondary education available to many children in the Parish of St. Thomas.

In an important way, teachers set the tone for society. I am certain that all of us gathered here, can recall a teacher who made a difference in our lives, one who steered us in the right direction or showed faith in us early on, or encouraged us when things weren''t going well. I can remember so many.

To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, a great American poet and philosopher, life is but the angle of vision, and as such a man is measured by the angle at which he looks at objects. Life is but what a man thinks of all day. That is his fate and his employer. Knowing is the measure of the man. By how much we know, so are we. Mr. Parkins, you have been measured by your principled approach to education and your contribution to humanity.

You hold a critically important place in the life of our nation, not just because of the skills you imparted, though that would be sufficient, but because you shaped the students into the citizens they have become. …And you did this by being the kind of person that we would want our children to become. Calm, co-operative, conscientious and congenial, are among your finest attributes. You toiled with quiet confidence and little fanfare, not always receiving the praise you deserved. For the love of education, you gave up your first retirement to serve as Acting Principal of Stokes Hall Secondary, now (St. Thomas Technical).

Your kindness and the values you live by have echoed down the decades. To quote Henry Adams, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” In May, 1998, our own, Dr. Hugh Norton Duhaney expressed similar sentiments at the Centennial Anniversary celebrations. In reflecting on his high school years, Dr. Duhaney, proudly pointed out that it was under the tutelage of Dr. Kenneth B.M. Crooks (deceased Headmaster) and Mr. Stanlie Parkins, English teacher extraordinaire that he had an introduction to English Literature of the Masters.

Your commitment to service was not confined to the classroom, but to the community at large. You served as a member of the Hospital Management Board, the Jamaica Teachers'' Association, Justice of the Peace, Chairman of the St. Thomas Festival Committee and the Principals of High Schools group.

Throughout all your many contributions to society you have had the constant support of your elegant wife, Faye, a highly respected Latin teacher among “Grovians,” and the love of your children, Charles, Helen and Robert.

Mr. Parkins, you have been an exemplary Jamaican, of whom we all can be proud. I am proud to say, “Hail the man,” he is an alumnus of my alma mater. I now present this award in recognition of your contribution.

Patricia C. Hunter

Mrs Retinella Jangalee

Mrs. Retinella Jangalee

Mrs. Retinella Jangalee (Ms. Rety) mother of Happy Grove Alumni Barbara (McCalla) Lee and Desmon Jangalee, passed away November 4, 2008.

A Thanksgiving service for her life will be held at the Medowvale Seventh Day Adventist Church on November 19, 2008.

The church is located on Chancery St, Medowbrook.

Mr Israel Guiness

Mr. Israel Guiness

Mr Israel Guiness former teacher and alumnus left us on Saturday August 2nd , 2008

Thanksgiving service was held at The Swallowfield Chapel on Wednesday 13th August 2008, at 2:00 pm.

Mr. Guiness had been a faithful Alumnus. He even attended The 110th Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Errol Flynn Marina in Port Antonio on Friday 2nd May 2008.

Mr. Guiness taught Chemistry and Biology at Happy Grove from 1963 to 1966.

May his soul rest in peace.

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