Cedar School Breaks Ground For New Facility
Cedar School is poised to play a great role in the educational development of the territory, according to Chief Minister the Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal. He made the comments on Friday November 24th at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Cedar School in Kingston, Tortola.
Chief Minister O'Neal noted that the national tree of the BVI is also the cedar. "I will hope that when the school is completed, I will see dozens of cedar trees around it." He congratulated the parents and those who had been involved in this project of building a permanent home for Cedar School. Mr. O'Neal reflected on the competitive spirit among students during his Grammar School days in St. Kitts. He said he was happy to have Cedar School in the BVI, adding that it would help to create a friendly atmosphere and environment between the schools. He noted their participation, along with St. George's and Seventh Day Adventist (other private schools) in the recent activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the sitting of the Legislative Council of the Virgin Islands.
"I am one of those, I favour very much the Primary Schools. They have a place in our society and they can do quite a lot to help us, especially where our public schools are crowded and sometimes you have difficulty finding space for the children," the territory's leader declared. "I look forward anxiously to having the building completed and to be hear when you dedicate the building." The Chief Minister announced that hopefully, by the end of the year, the Legislative Council would have passed legislation exempting all computers imported into the territory from duty. "We realize that computers are now just as important as books were 50/60 years ago." Cedar School had its modest beginnings in 1987 when three couples set out to find an alternative form of education for their young children. Starting off as a private tutoring group accommodating less than ten children, the school was housed in a breezy one-room building with a large yard in Meyer's. Known as the Rainbow School, they hired one teacher to instruct students ranging in age from pre-kindergarten to early Primary. In 1989, a Board of Trustees was formed, made up of parents and prominent community members, including Mr. Audley Maduro, Mr. Gerard Farara and the late Henry Creque. They renamed it Cedar School and applied to government for a school license, which was granted in 1990.
They hired a Principal and expanded the facility by building additional classrooms. With the help of an active parent body and a dedicated staff, the school continued to grow rapidly. In 1993, the school took over the premises of the Pasea Kindergarten, adding a second campus and 20 additional students. The Primary and Secondary also continued to grow and by 1994, Cedar had outgrown its premises at Meyer's. The school leased a former supermarket building in Baugher's Bay and renovated it into classroom and offices. In 1996, the school rented the entire second storey of the building in order to accommodate additional classrooms, spaces for a computer lab, a dedicated library as well as a Science lab. Additional playground space was also leased and equipment installed. "Today, the school is a far cry from a one-room school-house, with a student population of approximately 135, with 19 highly qualified staff members to fulfil the educational needs of the students of the British Virgin Islands," according to Mrs. Lin Crook, Chair, Facilities Committee. This committee was set up eight years ago to investigate the possibility of constructing a purpose-built facility. Longstanding member of the BVI community Mr. Kem Ketcham bought the property at Kingston for Cedar School four years ago from landowner Mr. Ashley Ritter. The dream is to build a 17,000 square foot state-of-the-art building, the largest by a private non-profit organization in the BVI. The new school is designed by architects Onions Bouchard & McCulloch and will be built by Meridian Construction. It's financed by Scotia Bank (BVI) Ltd.
Mr. John Krampf, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cedar School singled out several persons for their guidance and wisdom in seeing the project thus far. These individuals include the Cedar School Parent Teacher Student Association, Head of School Linda Phillips and staff, past and present Board members, parents and other community members. Minister of Education the Honourable Andrew Fahie and Chief Minister Hon. Ralph T. O'Neal braved the inclement weather to attend the ceremony. "As they break ground today, we can see that they take pride in the fact that the building, which will soon rise from this spot, will incorporate fairly advanced facilities for the furtherance of elementary and secondary education," said Hon. Fahie. However, he noted that these factors are not the measures of a school's success. He said what really matters in the educational experience that the young and eager minds will receive within its walls. The Minister extended best wishes to the principal, staff and students and to all the supporters of this project. "I trust the school will continue to collaborate and cooperate with the Ministry as they strive to provide a rich learning environment and a rewarding learning experience for all of the children who are currently attending and those who will attend this educational institution in the future," Hon. Fahie stated.
His Excellency the Governor Mr. Frank Savage, Chief Minister O'Neal and Mrs. Crook did the groundbreaking and planting of the cedar tree on the property. Closing remarks were delivered by Ms. Tyrah Hodge, President of the Middle School Student Council at Cedar School and Mrs. Linda Phillips, Cedar Head of School. Ms. Hodge noted that Cedar has come a long way over the past ten years she has been attending the school. "For example, the increase in computers, the amount and variety of books in the library and now we have special subjects such as Art, Sign Language and Movie-making." She was impressed with the massive expansion of the playing field, big enough for all types of sports and will be fenced off from animals. A secondary common room would also be established for middle and high schoolers and the building will be air-conditioned. "I am very glad to be here, and I can't wait for the new school to be built." Mrs. Phillips also acknowledged that as exciting as this event is, it was only a part of a programme of educational excellence. "The building is but a shell; but as an educator, it's what in the shell and what the shell houses and what the shell will facilitate that really excites me." She announced another great bit of news, in that Cedar School is now recognized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools as providing an educational programme worthy of accreditation. The report will make a number of recommendations for the school's continued growth and development. "The future for us includes not just a new building, but also advancing our programmes for upper secondary students, expanding course offerings to include advanced placement and honours courses, adding to the ever mushrooming list of extra-curricula activities and providing more opportunities to participate in competitive sports and music," Mrs. Phillips pointed out.
She said these things would happen as the student body increases in size and they continue to provide students with small class size, a highly qualified staff, a computer and science lab and a curriculum that borrows the best from the European, Caribbean and American systems.