April 10, 2000: Lanchaster Henry, past governor of the Optimist CLub of Norbrook Springs in St. Andrew, conducts the swearing in of the executive officers of the Junior Optimist Club of Immaculate Conception High School. - File photo
In their long white uniform, the girls of Immaculate Conception High School look like angels. But don't be fooled, this is no paradise, says Principal Sister Mary Catherine.
"If you don't like challenges, do not think of being part of Immaculate's constituents...laziness will not be upheld," she said.
It's not just tough talk. The principal added that "if students do not perform, we have no alternative but to invite their parents in and issue a strong warning...If the poor showing continues, those students will have to withdraw."
For 144 years, Immaculate, one of the island's most prestigious high schools, has been turning out young women to face the challenges of the world. At the turn of the 20th century well-heeled Colombians entrusted their daughters to Immaculate to study English and to round out their education, said Alfonso Munera, the Colombian Ambassador to Jamaica. They perceived that the education was better here, he said.
Today local girl clamour to get through its doors while some still come from beyond the boundaries of the island, mainly from North America, to this school which was founded by the Franciscan Sisters as a preparatory and secondary school. "When I was preparing for Common Entrance I just wanted to know that when I leave primary school I would be attending a good traditional high school where the educational programmes are firing on all cylinders, therefore I chose Immaculate," said one sixth former.
Immaculate notes
Student body: 1,418
Uniform: White, with blue tie. Sixth form, blue jacket with white piping and white skirt
Once housed on the land now
occupied by St. Aloysius Primary School on Duke Street in downtown Kingston
In 1941 the school moved to its
present location (the former Constant Spring Hotel), almost 20 acres off Constant Spring Road, just below Manor Park
Douglas Robinson
