Don't
ever dare to take your college as a matter of course - because, like
democracy and freedom, many people you'll never know have broken
their hearts to get it for you.
Alice Duer
Miller
Mr
Chairman
Principal
of Hillview College, Mr Leslie Mahase
Representation
of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago
Representative
of the Ministry of Education
Students
and Staff of Hillview College
Specially
invited Guests
Ladies
and gentlemen
It
is indeed a pleasure to be with you today as you celebrate the
fifty-sixth anniversary of the Founding of this great institution,
Hillview College. I wish to thank your principal, Mr Mahase for his
kind invitation to deliver the feature address on this auspicious
occasion. On behalf of my husband, himself a past student and myself
sincere congratulations to the entire Hillview Community on achieving
this milestone in your history. The Staff and students of SAGHS also
extend their love and best wishes.
Hillview
College opened its doors on the 15th
January 1955, at Sheriff Street in Tunapuna under the principalship
of Rev Dr HF Swann. The staff consisted of Mr Effle Mohammed and Mr
Stephen Alisharan who later served as Principal of the college.
Forty-five young men made up the student body. (Their names are
imortalised on the wall just south of this auditorium.) Its name was
Naparima College (Tunapuna Branch).
Dr
Allan McKenzie, Principal of Naparima College, in his greetings to
the Hillview College community on their 25th
anniversary stated, “At the time we felt the need to bring to the
community of Nothern Trinidad the rich traditions and quality of
Education which Naparima College tried to nuture among its own
student.” Today HIllview College can boast of not only living up
to these expectations but building a valued reputation as a beacon of
quality education in its own right.
Here
are some milestones in the life of the College .
- 1951 – Official Board of the Aramalaya Church wrote to Presbytery urging the opening of a Boys Secondary School in Tunapuna. Of Interest is the Founding of SAGHS on September 17th 1950 on the initiative of the same church.
- 1953 – Naparima College was instructed by Presbytery to proceed with plans for Secondary School Expansion which including Naps North.
- 1954 - A committee of members of the Aramalaya Congregation met with Rev Swann and Rev Gallagher of the Board of Overseas Missions to identify lands and buildings to accommodate the college. Sherrif Street was chosen as a good location since the church hall could serve as a class room and the grounds and the cowshed could be used for games.
- 15th January 1955 classes began with 45 students a staff of 2 under the principalship of Rev Swann.
- 2nd March 1956, 5 acres of land at El Dorado Rd was leased for 99 years at a peppercorn rental of 24c per annum.
- November 1956, work started on the new site.
- 20th August 1957, the College was formally opened by Rt. Rev JS Thompson, Moderator of the United Church of Canada
- November 1957, the College received recognition as a Government Assisted Secondary School
As
we celebrate 56 years of existence we must remember persons whose
names are an integral part of our history.
- Earle Kalloo and Clarence Darsan who together with George Jitman, Harold Sukhbir, Charles Kalloo and CM Chatee who worked with Rev Dr Swann to make Naps North a reality.
- Mrs Swann, Mrs Kirkpatrick, Rev Alcorn and Rev Paul Sharma who assisted the staff of two with the teaching of Music, Religious studies and Mathematics.
- Lewis Campbell, Robert Moosai-Maharaj and Sydney Martin who freely gave of their knowledge and skill in the construction of the first permanent building at El Dorado Road in Tunapuna.
- And of course past principals Rev Swann, Rev Kirkpatrick, Mr Stephan Moosai-Maharaj, Mr Stephen Alisharan, Mr Stephen Seepersad, Mr Richard Kokaram and Mr Jeremiah Seepersad who all contribution to the Hillview College we know and love.
- I also wish to remember the many persons who I have not named who also worked to make Hillview College the school that it is today
What
makes Hillview College the unique institution that it is?
This
quote from an article by Mr Stephen Alisharan, member of the original
staff of Hillview College and Principal from 1968 to 1975 gives a
good picture of the vision of the Founders for Hillview College.
“This
is a church-inspired and God-centered institution. The College is
interested in imparting knowledge to the students and enabling them
to acquire and develop certain skills to make them useful members of
the community. But we are much more interested in deeper and basic
things. Education is not merely the giving or acquiring knowledge.
Education has the more difficult function of guiding the learner in
the best development of his capacities for the efficient living in
the most revolutionized society that Trinidad and the West Indies
Federation are becoming. Education is essentially interested in
producing a socially useful person”. He goes on to say “In this
College be believe that God’s Holy Spirit pervades our whole lives,
every moment of it, a constant guide and help, and the source of all
goodness and love. In the final analysis the concerns of the Spirit
and more important that the concerns of the intellect or mind.”
The
Motto “Humani Nihil Alienum” – “I am interested in everything
concerning mankind.” guides all matters concerning the school. Not
only have students of Hillview College made a name for themselves in
the Academic arena winning numerous awards and scholarships including
several president medals but Hillview continues to excel in Cricket,
Football, Astronomy, Scrabble and numerous other fields. The
Principal and staff must be commended for the emphasis placed on the
all-round development of their students. The College Song written by
Dr Stephen Moosai-Maharaj and sung to the tune of a well-loved hymn
proudly proclaims “All things concerning Human Ken are ours to
Champion, Hillview Men”.
Here
are just a few Hillview Men who have made their mark on the Landscape
of Trinidad & Tobago and the world. (These are all graduates that
I know personally and are just a few of many who have made us proud.)
- Vijay Naraynsing ,World renown vascular surgeon
- Satanand Sharma, Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago
- Mark Mohammed, Director of Public prosecution
- Stephen Kangal, member of Diplomatic Corps, Deputy High Commissioner to Canada
- Rawle Sukhu, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Trinidad and Tobago
- Anthony Garcia, President of T&TUTA, Principal of Fatima College
- Satanand Sharma (son of Rev Paul Sharma) Head of the Creative Arts Centre UWI.
- Dyer Narinesingh & Anderson Maxwell, Head of Chemistry Department UWI
- Roger Boynes & Rudy Indarsingh, Ministers of Government and members of parliament
- Anil Kokaram, Academy Award winner.
- Tyron Rudolfo & Ekatma Mooleedhar, Officers in the protective Services
- Dennis Puckerin, National Footballer
- Anil Rajah, National cricketer
A
most impressive list that is far from complete.
In
“The Hillviewer “ - 25th
Anniversary yearbook we read.
“We
are not just buildings and blackboards and books. We are people”
It
would be remiss of me if I did not mention three qualities that I
admire about Hillview College Graduates.
- Hillview Graduates love their school.
During
my 19 years as a teacher at this esteemed institution and in the 15
years since I have kept in touch with many of my students (close to
500 with the help of facebook) and a common thread are their fond
memories of their days at Hillview.
- Hillview Graduates “Stay in touch”.
Muhammad
Ali once said “Friendship...
is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the
meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.”
Hillview
College teaches the meaning of friendship
It
never ceases to amaze me that the same groups who used to “get in
scrapes” at school now meet for their children’s weddings, their
kids birthday parties, birthdays, to lend supports at funerals and
other difficult times. What a wonderful legacy.
- Hillview Graduates are committed to their families.
Hillview
has always been family and this has influenced the lives of its
graduates. My experience has been that Hillview graduates have a
strong sense of commitment to their families be it their wives, their
children or their parents. The anecdotes are too numerous to share
with you today but I believe that the example set by the adults in
their lives certainly influence Hillview Men and their relationships
later in life.
And
finally a few thoughts as we look to the future,
Hillview
College as any well-established, successful institutions is guided by
policies, practices and traditions that have served it well. I humbly
wish to make a few observations to the members of the Hillview
Family.
To
the Principal and Vice-principal,
congratulations on a job well done. Remember the dream that led to
Hillview College. Continue to be anchored in the vision of the
Founders of providing quality all-round education for young men in
Northern Trinidad.
To
the staff of Hillview,
you have been role models for your students. Continue to treat your
students with love and kindness so they will be kind and loving
adults.
To
the students of Hillview,
You are part of a proud family. Everything you do and say reflects on
you school. Be role models in society. Keep the flag of Hillview
flying high.
Remember
that your background and circumstances may have influenced who you
are, but, you are responsible for who you become.
Best
wishes to you all.
I
now wish to ask you all to stand and salute our Founders, “those we
know and many we will never know” with a hearty round of applause.
Principal
St Augustine Girls’ High School (1996 – present)
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