Meadowbrook Prep celebrating half-century

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

On Sunday, April 25, Meadowbrook Preparatory School officially launched its 50th-anniversary programme at the Meadowbrook United Church. The school's community - present and past students, staff and board members - will return to the church on January 11, 2011, for the official 50th-anniversary service, but for all practical purposes, the landmark celebration is on.

Also on the slate of activities is a benefit performance by the University Singers on June 4, a Family Fun Day in November, reflections by past students on April 21, 2011, and the calendar-closing awards banquet on July 8, 2011.

Principal Gloria Francis tells The Sunday Gleaner that the launch service was well attended, the Reverend Norbert Stevens, deputy general secretary of The United Church in Jamaica and The Cayman Islands conducting the service, and the students doing speech and dance items.

The anniversary theme is directly related to Meadowbrook Prep's motto, 'Preparing to Serve', and Francis says that the preparation and service goes two ways: the school is preparing to serve its students and in turn, is preparing them to be of service to the society.

The preparation started on a small scale at the home of the Reverend Madge Saunders on Meadowbrook Avenue with 28 children. That is the same number as the present teacher complement - 25 full time and three part time, Pauline Steel being the longest serving current staff member.

Francis says Saunders started Meadowbrook Prep "out of her love for children, and she was a firm believer in education".

'We have grown'

The school was home based for a year, moving to its present 10 Flemington Drive, Kingston 19, location in 1962. Francis says, "We have grown over the years. That growth has been physical - a new administrative block, which also houses the library, has been added, there are certainly more students, and the curriculum has been expanded. This is in line with the Meadowbrook Prep's mission statement: 'To prepare students academically, spiritually, socially and culturally for entry into secondary level learning institutions in Jamaica by offering adequate instruction, counselling, guidance and Christian nurture to the end that they become useful citizens of Jamaica'."

Francis is the fifth principal - all women - as Meadowbrook Prep enters its fifth decade. The first was M.F. Gartshore (1961-1967), and immediately preceding Francis was Ruth Coke (1985-2000). However, she points out that "the board of management is integrally involved in the school, as is the Meadowbrook United Church. The minister is our chaplain". The school community worships at Meadowbrook United on Wednesdays.

"The spiritual aspect of the children is looked after. This is a Christian school," Francis emphasises. Meadowbrook Prep is affiliated with the United Church in Jamaica and The Cayman Islands.

There is also a very strong parent-teachers' association, regular parent-teacher conferences, a part of the school's operations, and a special month specifically for parents.