WHEN award-winning spoken-word poet Derron Sandy worked as a teacher at Bates Memorial High School, he encouraged students to get involved in the arts.
On December 3 he will be lending his talents to Bates Memorial for yet another time as host of the fundraising Christmas concert, The Gift of Light and Truth, which is part of the school's 75th-anniversary celebrations.
Sandy, who worked as a teacher at the Sangre Grande school from 2011-2013, told Newsday in a text message that he always likes to give back to the school.
"So, when I can and I'm available I always make the effort to contribute to the development of the students by using the arts.
"And it's a great opportunity to host the concert and just give them that kind of forward. Pull the event together."
The concert is being held at the Guaico Secondary School Auditorium and the special guest artists are musician Bj'orn Pierre, Tobagonian gospel singer Blessed Messenger and gospel band MRC (Michael Ron Christopher) & Chosen Generation.
Principal Jacqueline Jones told Newsday in a phone interview the guest artists are popular in the gospel arena and are great performers. She said there are also other excellent performers, including Luenda Moore, University of the Southern Caribbean (USC) graduate, pannist Cadiann Caraballo, USC University Choir and Orchestra member Jael-Marie Jones-Blackman (violinist) and her brother Zemariah Jones-Blackman (cellist), and the Bates Memorial Alumni Choir.
The choir was assembled for the 75th anniversary Thanksgiving Service held on September 9, at Sangre Grande SDA Church, entitled Inspired by God, Fuelled by Faith. Jones said the choir has been practising every Friday evening for Sunday's concert, the title of which is inspired by the school's motto, Light and Truth.
[caption id="attachment_1048028" align="alignnone" width="684"] Bates Memorial High School principal Jacqueline Jones. -[/caption]
School journey
Jones, who has been principal since May 16, said when she took up the position, one of her plans was to celebrate the school's 75th anniversary.
"Build on the legacy. It has been around for so long and gone through all the trials and tribulations of moving and back and forth, but survived."
The school began in 1948, when the Sangre Grande Seventh Day Adventist Church realised that it needed a school for its children. It was built at the back of the church and began as an intermediate school catering to both primary and secondary students. It officially became a high school in 1951.
The school, in its early years, moved from one rented building to another, from Tranquillity Hall to Brotherhood Lodge, to Ojoe Road and River Street, to Court Hasan on Foster Road, just before the civic centre.
The primary school eventually moved to its present and original location on Adventist Street, neighbouring the Sangre Grande Seventh Day Adventist Church, opposite the hospital. The school long faced issues of fluctuating enrolment and at one point there were talks about closing it down.
Jones atten
