School Motto: "STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE"
Standing conmfortably on White Church Street in
Spanish Town, the old capital of Jamaica, is an institution of learning,
bosting the yellow color of the sunshine juxtaposed with the deep
blue hue of the sea. This is Jonathan Grant High School, proudly
displaying its official colours.
Jonathan Grant High School was named after the
late parlimentarian, The Honourabale Jonathan Grant, who was the
Minister of Labour in 1957. The School was named after him in recognition
of his invaluable service in Spanish Town.
On October 6, 1980, Jonathan Grant Secondary School
opened its doors to six hundred and thirty students. The school
was first advertised as Spanish Town Secondary 2, but later became
Jonathan Grant Secondary School.
With Mr. Courtney Brown as Principal, and Mrs.
Myrtle Parkes as Vice Principal, along with eighteen teachers, the
stage was set for educating the eager students. Students were selected
from pimary and all age schools in the Spanish Town environs, and
even as far as Point Hill, Kitson Town and Sligoville.
The school started with fourteen classes, gradees
(71 to 714) and offered courses in the academic and practical subjects
- Agriculture, Industrial Arts, Home Economics, and Art and Craft.
As the years went by, the school populatioin grew,
so in 1984 the shift system was introduced and Mrs. Cortis Nolan
became the second Vice Principal. Other Vice Principals that served
were Mr. Alfred Ives, Mr. Solvalyn Eccles, Mr. Noel Cameron, Mrs.
Beryl Cameron, Mrs. Edith Forbes, Mr. Leslie Mair, and Mrs. Welzoline
Alleyne. Today, the school is administered by the following: Mrs.
Cortis Nolan (Principal), Mrs. Beryl Cameron (Vice Principal), Mr.
Garret Bucknor (Vice Principal), Miss Cheryll Shippey (Vice
Pricipal) and Mrs. Mary Frank (Vice Principal).
The first set of graduates left the intstitution
in July 1985. They sat examinations in Secondary School Certificate
(SSC), ULCI, and the CXC.
The school suffered much from the 'stigma' attached
to the Junior Secondary Schools. We soon overcame these challenges
as our CXC results coupled with our outstanding performance in cricket
and football outshone the performance of many traditional high
schools.
Jonathan Grant High School has grown over the years. The population of the school grew from
637 students in 1980 to 2450 in 2005. There are 103 members of the academic staff including 2
Guidance Counselors and 3 Vice-Principals.
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