Wesley College Bahamas

Denton Gay wins two National awards in the 2009 E Clement Bethel National Arts Festival!

The results are in, and the Wesley College Family has every reason to be proud. Denton Gay led his colleagues to capture recognition in the 2009 festival by winning Natonal Awards (first place) in instrumental solo and popular dance solo.

This was Wesley College's first entry in the competition and the results are encouraging indeed. In fact, the judges arrived a week earlier than expected.

Here is how we performed:

• Denton Gay - National Winner, Instrumental solo (woodwind);
• Boys' and Girls' Brigade Band - second place - Marching Band;
• Wesley College Band - Third Place, Marching Band;
• Wesley College Band, Second Place - Concert Band;
• Denton Gay - National Winner - Popular Dances (Solo)

 Reverend Charles Carey, Principal of Wesley College and band director says this was a great achievement for our talented students, and with more thorough preparation for next year's festival even better results are expected. He said, "This puts in the National spotlight, and makes all our hard work worthwhile. I extend my congratulations to all of the students, and to Denton Gay, in particular."

Wesley College Marks Twentieth Anniversary.

February 27 marked the Twentieth Anniversary of Wesley College, the first private High School to be established in Abaco.

The school  began several months of celebration as it marks this important milestone, with a concert in Green Turtle Cay.

On Friday, February 13, the Band presented a live broadcast on Radio Abaco, featuring several pieces from our repertoire. 

On Sunday, Fenruary 15, The Band presented a programme consisting of fifteen pieces of music representing five genres. The highlight of the programme was when One Moment In Time was played and dedicated to Mrs. Jenny Reckley, grandmother of three former students of the school.  Mrs. Reckley is also the Congregational Steward of Charles Curry Methodist Church. Charles Carey lll made a presention to Mrs. Reckley on behalf of the school.  Reverend Charles Carey announced that the school would soon be offering music lessons for the young people of Green Turtle Cay.

A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at Aldersgate Methodist Church, Marsh Harbour at 7:00 p.m on Saturday, Marsh 21.

The people who have been pivotal in making this Anniversary possible will also be honoured. The school will produce a souvenir booklet to record its journey over these years.

Join us in our celebrations!

Wesley College Band joined Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band In Concert

Nine members of the Wesley College Band  appeared on stage with The Royal Bahamas Deforce Band in Concert at Abaco Beach Resorts on Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 7:00 P.M.

The concert was under the distinguished patronage of the Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham, Minister of National Security, the Honourable Tommy Turnquest, Mr. Edison Key. M.P. for South A and Commodore Butch Scavella and Mrs Scavella.

Participating from Wesley College were: Jarrod Smith, Denton Gay, Charles Carey. Paige Archer, Vashon Robins, Alicia Simms, Chistopher Smith, Thomas Reitsma and O'Ryan Johnson-Bethel.

The concert featured a wide range of musical genre, including classical, military, spiritual, rock and contemporary. The students performed One Moment In Time and My Heart Will Go On. There were impressive pieces composed by RBDF members.

The music was provided two weeks before the concert for preparation, and a rehearsal was held the previous evening. Sub-Lieutenant Bertram Bowleg, Director of the Defence Force Band noted that the founder of the band was Mr. Charles Carey, a relative of Reverend Charles Carey. Two members of the Defence Force Band were trained by Reverend Carey prior to entering the Defence Force.

Two students from Abaco Central High School,under the direction of Mr. Jamal McIntosh, also participated.

Wesley College celebrated its nineteenth anniversary with a concert at Aldersgate Methodist Church Friday night.

Denton Gay, Grade 11 student, extended a warm welcome to everyone, and introduced the band’s Director, The Reverend Charles Carey.

The concert featured music by the Wesley College Band and selections from students in the Primary School. The band performed classical selections including The Austrian Hymn by Franz Joseph Haydn and Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven. Sacred music included Amazing Grace and Down by the Riverside. The band also commemorated the Passion season with scripture readings and hymns for Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. Members of the audience were obviously moved by this presentation.

Contemporary selections were Colours of the Wind from Walt Disney’s Pocahontas, I will follow Him from the movie Sister Act, and Wind beneath my Wings.

The School also recognized the academic achievement of its students by presenting certificates for students on the mid-year Dean’s List and Academic Honour Roll.

According to Principal, the Reverend Charles Carey, students with a Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher are placed on the Dean’s List. This represents an average of 81% in all subjects. Students with a Grade Point Average of 3.0 to 3.49 are placed on the Academic Honour Roll.

Topping the Dean’s List is Adam Cooper with a GPA of 3.75. Other students making the list are:

• Michael Wilmore (3.5), Denton Gay (3.5), Vashon Robins (3.5), Charles Carey (3.5), Sinclair King (3.5), Thomas Reitsma (3.5), and Senario Bethel (3.5).

Students making the Academic Honour Roll are:

• Brittany McDonald (3.25), Laticha Reckley (3.25), Darien Reece (3.25), Nichole Rolle (3.25), Christopher Smith (3.25), Jarrod Smith (3.0), Cliffinique Stuart (3.0), Felicia Wilmore (3.0).

In congratulating the students Reverend Carey pointed out that the percentage of students receiving these academic honours is high. He noted that every student in Grade Eight made the list, and that the school’s lowest GPA is 2.50, while the average GPA is 3:17.

Students in the Primary School received certificates for Academic merit.

Dr. Colin Archer, Dean of Wesley College expressed satisfaction with the level of the band’s performance, noting that that there has been continued development. He commended Director, Reverend Charles Carey for his unrecognized commitment to the development of the band members and youth in the country generally. He affirmed that this achievement reflects an effective partnership between the students, teachers and parents.

Jarrod Smith gave the vote of thanks.

Student News

Ensemble Plays for GTC  Island Roots Heritage Festival

By Paige Archer, Sinclair King and Oryan Johnson                                                                            

Photo: Reverend Carey preaching at Green Turtle Cay

On Sunday, May 6^th   Aldersgate Brass band played in Green Turtle Cay to the closing of Heritage Festival. It was a church service out on the park. At the beginning of the service we played the American National Anthem and Bahamas National Anthem.

Before the service begin the band set up and sat like ladies and gentlemen. During service there was preaching, singing, praying and offering.

After it was all over people congratulated the band on a good performance. The band also received money for a being ladies and gentlemen and playing well.

 We also played a few of our junkanoo pieces. Then later on we walked to Mrs Susan Jones’ house for Sunday dinner. Mrs. Jones’ three sons, Jarrod, Dwight and Daniel attended Wesley College. The food was delicious .We sat with her and talked until it was time for us to head back to the ferry. After a job well done and a good dinner it was time for us to go.

Band presents Concert for National Youth Month

The Wesley College Band presented a free lunchtime concert for National Youth Month in May, 2007.

ROYAL BAHAMAS POLICE FORCE AWARDS CEREMONY

from The Abaco Journal, July 2001.

While celebrating Police Awareness Month in March the Royal Bahamas Police Force Abaco District held a spelling bee for primary schools and an essay competition for secondary schools on the island. On 8th June an awards ceremony was held with Deputy Prime Minister Hon Frank Watson and Acting Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson in attendance.

The winner of the essay competition was Raquel Smith of Wesley College. Mr Farquharson invited Raquel to read her essay to the public present and was so impressed that he handed Raquel his scrambled eggs hat and baton and made her Acting Commissioner for the remainder of the programme.

The results were:

Primary Spelling Bee - 1st Raine Sands, St Francis de Sales School; 2nd Eltisha Grant, Treasure Cay School; 3rd Petra Gaitor, James A Pinder School, Sandy Point.

Secondary Essay Competition: 1st Raquel Smith, Wesley College; 2nd Teresa Pinder, Forest Heights Academy; 3rd Sherise Simms, Abaco Central High School.

Here is Raquel Smith's essay on "What Will it Take to Effectively Police Abaco in this New Millennium?"

For some time now, crime has been a persistent problem in The Bahamas. It has only most recently been evident that it is becoming a problem in the Abacos. In the Abacos there was once a time when it was possible to leave keys in the ignition or leave the house unlocked at night. But oh - no more! Today, it is impossible to leave the doors of the house unlocked without fear of it being burgled.

Why do we now have to fear dark? Where have we failed? Where have we failed in the society that was once so pure and untainted?

The fact that these questions must be asked proves that something has, in fact, gone wrong. There must be something, something that has gone wrong over the course of time and went unnoticed, causing all of these question to rise. What have we overlooked? What have we let slip past us without the thought of a second glance?

Today there is truly a lack of discipline. More than ever, people are getting away with what was unheard of 20 years ago. We have forgotten principles and the common trust that we and our neighbours once shared.

With the present topic, one might feel that in order to police Abaco we may need to bring in more policemen. This is not so. Abaco has the number of policemen needed for its population. In order to police Abaco we must enforce discipline right from the start. It is not enough that we let matters slide. Discipline should be instilled before there is a need for the previously asked question to arise.

If you were to spend half of the resources that we have to combat crime on Abaco on services that help prevent them, the entire island of Abaco would not be in the state it is now. It is not enough that we allow this disruptive behaviour to continue. We must stand together in the fight against crime. We must lend a helping hand to our neighbour when the need arises.

We must not allow our neighbour to be robbed and gladly stand aside in praise that it is not us. We must not say that this problem is not ours because, yes it is! If we allow this to continue, somewhere down the road it will be us that will have fallen victim to our own selfish ways. Where it should have been us to call in the necessary authorities on that criminal, it shall be the same criminal to rob us. It is our responsibility to look after our own neighbour. When have we gone from peaceful, caring neighbours to cold, hardened strangers?

We have fallen captive to the protection that shielded us once before. We have abused the bond that once held this country together and now the evidence of this is obvious. We have stripped Abaco of her purity and now without the much-needed help of our own people, we will be no better than those countries where "people get away with murder".

It is not right that we allow our country to be torn to shreds because of our own unwillingness to help correct the situation. What will we be subjecting our children to? What kind of world will they grow up in when they can't even walk down the street without some persistent fear of being robbed or taken advantage of?

On order for us to police crime we must fight it not at its peak but at its source. We must offer programmes that help to mould decent citizens that will help to build up rather than destroy the island of Abaco. There is no doubt there are ,in fact, programmes that already do this, such as the Abaco Brigade and the Boys and Girls Scouts, but there is so much more that we as a society can do.

We must not sit by and hope that the problem will correct itself because in that case we will be sitting by for the rest of our lives. We must take affirmative action now! When we see something we know is wrong, call the police! We must not be prisoners in our own home. This is our land and no criminal should be given the power to take it away from us. It may be our brother, sister, cousin or friend, but if when the need arises for crime to be taken care of, let us do it! We must not wait for tomorrow but strive for the betterment of Abaco today. It is us, and only us, that will become the necessary forces to police Abaco in this new millennium.

2009 Summer School expanded to include Dance.

The Wesley Annual Summer School was held in Abaco, July 05 – July 12, 2009

.

The purpose of the summer school is to provide young people with an interest in music:

·                an opportunity to interact with other young persons and skilled musicians;

·                an experience which will foster the development of their skills;

·                a greater appreciation of the cultural expressions of the Bahamas.

Activities will include: Devotions, Music instruction (practical & theory), Recreational activities, and public performance by the combined band.

A special feature of summer school this year was the collaboration with the Abaco Foundation's Band and Dance Camp. Some 25 students and staff of The Bahamas Dance Theatre, Nassau, led by Mrs. Sonjia Roberts, and Georgia's Dance School, Freeport, participated.

Campers learned traditional Bahamian dances including heel and toe, and quadrille, and staged a one hour performance for the Abaco Independence Celebrations in Marsh Harbour, in conjunction with the Wesley College Summer School Band, performing Bahamian music.

The groups also visited Green Turtle Cay, interacting with young pwoplw there.

Please click on Summer School.

• Parents'/Teacher's Meeting postponed (Please see Bulletin) 

• Miss Brianna Smith and Wesley Church Dance Troupe conduct Dance Workshop.

• Staff & Students begin beautifying "Wensil's Mile", in memory of Wensil Laroda. please see Tribute to Wensil Laroda

• Band plays for Senior Citizens Luncheon. 

• Classes resume on Monday, September 8. Please pray for the victims of hurricane Ike.

• Four graduate, June 14, 2008 

• Colin Archer Day - May 23, 2008. Happy Birthday Dr. Archer! 

• 19th Anniversary Concert held at Aldersgate, 7 PM, Friday, March 14, 2008 

• Topping the Dean’s List is Adam Cooper with a GPA of 3.75. Other students making the list are:

  Michael Wilmore (3.5), Denton Gay (3.5), Vashon Robins (3.5), Charles Carey (3.5), Sinclair King (3.5), Thomas Reitsma (3.5), and Senario Bethel (3.5).

   

  Students making the Academic Honour Roll are:

  Brittany McDonald (3.25), Laticha Reckley (3.25), Darien Reece (3.25), Nichole Rolle (3.25), Christopher Smith (3.25), Jarrod Smith (3.0), Cliffinique Stuart (3.0), Felicia Wilmore (3.0).

  Senario Bethel nominated for National Primary Student of the year

• Students recieve District Awards  or Academic Achievement

• Annual Christmas Programme "A great production" says Principal Charles Carey. 

• Band participates in Green Turtle Cay Candlelighting Service, December 12. 

• Band  participates in Christmas Festival, Memorial Plaza, Marsh Harbour, December 8, 2007. 

• Band participates in Festival of Carols, December 4, 2007. 

• Band gave live performance on Radio Abaco Thursday, November 29, 2007.

   

• Band performs for the Hon. Hubert Minnis, Minister of Health. 

• School presented Harvest/Thanksgiving Concert in Memorial Plaza, Marsh Harbour, noon Thursday, November 22, 2007. Please see Harvest/Thanksgiving.

• Band gave live performance on Radio Abaco Wednesday, November 21, 2007.

• Band to perform at Bakers Bay, November10. Please see: Harvest/Thanksgiving, 2007.

• Wesley College celebrates National Youth Month with series of Band Concerts National Youth Month 2007

• Kevin Archer plays at Special Olympics (please see News page) 
• Anniversary of Wensil's death 
• Staff and students participate in environmental cleanup
• Government officials visit farm

• Vandal breaks into church and school

• Music Summer School

  July 02 – 10, 2007.

• Class of 2007

• Ensemble Plays for GTC  Heritage Festival

• Jamal McIntosh receives BA (Mus Ed) from Florida Southern College

• Junior Jukanoo

• Mrs. Jane Adderley,  awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Years honours.