About Our Association
The St. Andrew Technical High School, Alumni Association North East Chapter Inc, (STATHSNE) was established on December 13, 2003, by ten past students: Courtney Richards, Ron Ingleton, Leo Bailey, Violet DaCosta Clarke, Leroy Brown, Vernon Clarke, Eldon Napier, Anthony Salmon, Horace Campbell and Alton Lewis. It was registered as a non-profit organization, IRS Code 501(C)(3) and was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York in 2005.
STATHSNE comprised of a group of Past Students and Friends of STATHS who were dedicated to helping their Alma Mater provide "An all-round education to the Total Child". From the humble beginnings of ten past students who were committed to the establishment of a Chapter in North Eastern USA to cover New York, New Jersey Pennsylvania Connecticut and Maryland, we have grown to a network of friends and past students over 250 strong. Our Motto, "Through Honor Diligence and Service, we will make a difference at STATHS" is a clear indication of the Association's commitment to the future of STATHS and its students. STATHSNE is committed to the sharing of knowledge, service and providing financial support for the betterment of the school and its students. We will help STATHS deliver quality education to all the students that pass through its doors.
The affairs of the Chapter are managed by an Executive Committee elected by the membership at an Annual General Meeting, all of whom work voluntarily. The Committee meets on the 2nd Saturday of every month. During its inception between 2003 and 2004, the members of the Association met every month. They cautiously worked out how the Executive Committee would structure the Association, what would be its Stand and what programs and services would be provided to STATHS. The STATHSNE Membership also worked out the source of funding for these programs and services that would be provided to STATHS. STATHSNE launched its inaugural annual fundraising banquet in New York on November 11, 2005, where several Invited Speakers delivered various Messages and Well Wishes. The then Principal of STATHS, Mrs. Curline Christie gave the Keynote Address. STATHSNE presented the school with a Laptop Computer and US$1,000 to help with the refurbishing of several classrooms. Over 200 Alumni, Friends and Sponsors attended the event.
In the summer of 2005, the Association also held its first annual "STATHS Drive" picnic in the park. Alumni provided books, pencils, pens stationery and other school-related sundries for donation to the school. Many items were donated and shipped to the school with the assistance of the STATHS Alumni Florida Chapter. There were over 100 people in attendance with Alumni attending from as far away as Canada and Georgia. While 2005 was the STATHSNE "Coming Out" year, 2006 could be described as a year of growth and action for the Association. The Association expanded its membership and provided academic scholarships for eight STATHS students and provided over US$2,200 to the school for the reconstruction of the two playfields and donated five computers were to the reading laboratory.
History of STATHS
The History of St Andrew Technical High School
St. Andrew Technical High School was founded on April 10, 1961 by the
Most Honourable Sir Florizel Augustus Glasspole, a former Governor
General
of Jamaica. He selected the site - fifteen acres
of land located at 64 Spanish Town Road and laid the
Foundation for its development. In his then capacity
as Minister of Education he acquired financial assistance
from overseas sponsors to construct the first buildings at the site of
St. Andrew Technical.
The First Decade 1961-1971
The school started as a co-educational institution with a student
population of one hundred and twenty and an academic staff of
eight. Mr. E.G. Roper acted as Principal from April and was succeeded by Mr.
Austin John Holmes in September 1961. The school grounds only had one block of
classrooms, an Engineering and Building Workshop and
an unequipped Home Economics and Science Laboratories. The honour
of seeing the school through its formative years goes to Mr. Holmes.
He was not only responsible for the physical layout of the grounds
but also for the model of the school's organizational structure. His
engineering training benefited the fledgling school in that he made
additions to the existing buildings, sometimes without any financial
assistance of the Ministry of Education.
In 1968 when Mr. Holmes retired from the school the new principal
Mr. R. Copeland found an excellent foundation on which to continue
to build. He did not remain long however, and in September 1969.
The St. Andrew Trade Training Centre, STATHS closest neighbor was
built in 1961 with funds provided by the United States of America
as part of a co-operative programme in education. It was the largest
and most equipped vocational institution in Jamaica and the English-speaking
Caribbean.
The first Principal of the Trade Training Centre was Mr. Steadley
Webster. The institution was geared to train young men in a one year
programme, in Building Construction, Plumbing, Electricity, Welding,
Machine Shop, Auto Mechanics and Technical Drawing to enable them to
find ready employment.
The Years of Expansion 1971-1986
In 1971, ten years after the birth of the school it was felt that a
merger of the St. Andrew Technical High School and the Trade
Training Centre could prove to be more economical and would
broaden the scope for training. The amalgamation took place and
both institutions came under one administration. The duration of the
courses in the Trade Training Centre was extended from one to two
years and the curriculum enriched with the introduction of Physical
Education and Science. The student body rose to eight hundred and
sixty. Most of the credit for the concept of modern St. Andrew
Technical goes to the late principal S.W. Isaac-Henry O.D., J.P., and
a group of efficient teachers. In 1972 a Commercial Practice course
was introduced in the Vocational Stream to enable girls who were
older than average to be trained in business skills.
1974 saw the introduction of the Combined Trades Form - CT3. This
class provided vocational stream students pursuing two year courses
with an opportunity to do further studies for an additional year in
Building and Mechanical Engineering Studies. Outstanding students
in all trade groups are selected based on high academic
performance. To date the class has been a model of success.
In 1977 an Advanced Level Programme was started with the
introduction of a fifth year. The objective of this programme was to
enable qualified students from STATHS and neighboring schools to
attempt two subjects at the Advanced Level in one year. This was
moderately successful. Four years later the A-Level programme had
to be terminated due to budgetary constraints. In 1979 the school's
sports programme was enriched with the introduction of rugby. In the
same year the team won the Mandeville Seven-A-Side trophy and in
1980 the junior rugby team won the Pepsi trophy. The school has
also excelled in basketball winning the Berger Paints Basketball
Competition in 1979.
In 1981 a Catering and Food Services course was introduced in the
Home Economics Department. A Basic Electronics Course came on
stream in 1983 with emphasis on repairs and servicing. The school
celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary in 1986 and in the same year
lost its first chairman of the Board Mr. Owen Alexander Roberts J.P.
who contributed twenty-five years of unbroken and dedicated service
to this institution.
The administration and teaching staff of STATHS have always sought
to cater to the needs of all students entrusted to them. To this end
in 1984 Computer Assisted Education and Competency Based
Education were introduced and a Learning Centre established. The
project was aimed at assisting students in remediation, continuation,
review and enrichment.
The Modern Era 1986 - 2005
In 1987 STATHS won for the first time the prestigious Manning Cup
Competition and Oliver Shield, coveted symbol of schoolboy football
supremacy. On September 12, 1988 Hurricane Gilbert struck and some
buildings were damaged. With the hard work of the new Chairman
Dennis Fletcher and the Principal S.W. Isaac-Henry, infra-structural
repairs were completed within the year.
The school population had by this time increased and a second Vice
Principal was needed. Mr. Conrad Brown, Head of the Building
Department was appointed Vice Principal in charge of Industrial
Education and Projects.
In 1988 the Ministry of Education Youth and Culture added two new
courses to the curriculum, Electronics Servicing Technology and
Entrepreneurship. A Baking Technology was introduced in 1989 with
the aim of providing certified bakers for the industry. The Bakery
started as a small laboratory to facilitate practical exercises for the
students. Under the sponsorship of the Past Students Association
Local Chapter, the Bakery expanded into a viable commercial
venture employing staff and expanding its market and productive
capacity.
The STATHS Junior Achievement Company, which was formed in 1985,
was adjudged the top company among high schools in 1988 and was
awarded the Seprod Trophy. In 1989 the school continued on this oath
of excellence when the Home Economics Department won the ICD
Group of Companies Home Electrix Home Management Competition.
The Carreras Group of Companies through its subsidiary the Jamaica
Biscuit Company established a special relationship with the school in
1989 under the Ministry of Education's Adopt-A-School Programme. The
school has benefited tremendously from this programme.
In July 1990 S.W. Isaac-Henry Principal for twenty-one years died. He
was succeeded by Mrs. Carole Powell, the school's first female principal,
who continued to build on the excellent foundation that had been laid.
Mr. Conrad Brown the Vice Principal retired. Mr. Vincent Rhoden, Head
of the Electrical Department was appointed Vice Principal of Industrial
Educations and Projects. In 1992 the Learning Centre was upgraded to
a Computer Laboratory. Additional computers were acquired and
students were now being trained in information technology.
In the 1990s the school continued to excel in academics, the arts and
sports. In 1999, Evening School student Patrick Williams placed second
in the world in the City and Guilds Electronics Examination. In 1994 the
Drama Club won a gold medal in the JCDC Speech and Drama Festival.
In 1995 the Athletics team won overall champions at the Jambisco
Development Meet.
Mrs. Powell resigned in 1996 after giving over thirty years of dedicated
service to STATHS. The mantle was passed on to the Reverend Ronald
Walters. Reverend Walters headed the institution for two years. In
September 1998, Mrs. Curline Christie was promoted to the position of
Acting Principal. Mrs. Christie and the hardworking staff at the
institution have ensured the continued growth and success of the
school.
In 1997 the school was selected to benefit from the HEART/NTA
Technical High Schools Development Project. Under this project the
Library has been upgraded and provided with four computers through
which staff and students have been able to access the Internet. The
Home Economics Department and the Science and Computer
Laboratories have also been upgraded. The Teacher of The Year
Competition was also introduced as a part of the project. Mrs. Violet
McCalla, Head of the Language Department was selected as Teacher of
the Year for STATHS in 2000. In 1998 through the hard work of
teachers, present and past students a school bus was purchased.
The St Andrew Technical High School is now poised to surpass its great
achievements of the past forty years. During the first four months of
the twenty-first century the school has won the Technical High School
Science and Technology Quiz Competition, the rugby team won the
Corporate Area Under-19 Rugby League and the Spanish Club won
several medals at the National Spanish Festival. Also worthy of
mention, STATHS Basketball team was National Champion in 2001.
STATHS will continue to guide its students into becoming well-rounded
individuals with a sense of personal, social and moral responsibility,
empowered to make the transition into further education and
employment.
Our Future Goals
We are dedicated to assist in improving the infrastructure, teaching aids, classroom furniture and equipment throught the school campus.
