Over the years, Rusea’s Old Students Association (ROSA) members from all walks of life but especially those who have achieved have exhibited a strong desire to give back to the school. Often times this does not materialise as there are not enough avenues available to them given the location of the school. As a matter of fact, at the moment, the only organized meeting of the old students at the school is the International Reunion which is held every two years. The reunion is usually held in August and at that time the students are on holidays. Further to this on any given day old students can be seen walking around the campuses especially at the old school. They are not usually allowed access due to classes and security concerns, so apart from viewing from the outside these visits could be considered wasteful and sometimes even disruptive.
It is the belief of the “old students association” that more organized interaction between the current students and the old students is desirable and could provide significant benefits to the current students especially, as a motivational tool. It would also provide opportunities for old students to give of their time, in the areas of teaching, career guidance, mentoring and the accessing of scholarships. To satisfy this need the “Old Students on Campus Programme” has been developed and is now ready for implementation.
The Programme
Old students express their wish through the ROSA secretariat to visit the school to interact with students in their area of interest and expertise. This can be done by phone, email, website, fax or personal contact.
ROSA Secretariat: Co-ordinate with the school and set up visits and confirm with old student.
Visit takes place and old student generates visit report outlining activities covered and follow up areas if any. These will be posted on the website.
ROSA: follow up on each visit
Accommodation
To ensure that this programme works ROSA has constructed a building to house the Mentorship Centre which was formally opened on February 20, 2010. It stands on the site of the old refectory building on the old campus and has been named the “Seymour Panton Mentorship Centre”.
The building is separated into two areas. One area is to host classes and the other area to be the base for mentoring by old students on campus. This Mentorship Centre contains an office, a lounge area, private bathrooms and a kitchenette. It will be adequately furnished with at least two desks, and two chairs and at least two computers with wireless connectivity
Consideration is being given to operating a branch of the ROSA secretariat from the building staffed by a clerk to help with administering the programme and also to facilitate better interaction between ROSA, the school, the PTA and the local community. We intend to seek sponsorship for the monthly cost of operation and maintenance which is estimated at about Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000).
DEDICATION SERVICE AND LAUNCH OF THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME -- Old Student on Campus
On Saturday morning, March 20. 2010, Rev. Glenroy Clarke, the Chaplain of his alma mater, Rusea’s High School (RHS), conducted the service of dedication in the Seymour Panton Mentorship Centre on the Fort Charlotte Campus. In attendance were members and friends of the Rusea’s Old Students’ Association (ROSA), RHS students, teachers, Mrs. Kelly-Heath, Mrs. N. Clarke, Mrs. M. Coleman, Miss D. Chang and Mr. J. Francis.
The programme began with the introduction by Miss Pauline McKenzie, 2nd Vice President of ROSA, following which Rev. Clarke made a motivating appeal emphasizing the importance of mentoring, of giving back to help those in need of a little extra attention or a timely word of encouragement which ROSA is working to provide at RHS. He recalled a personal experience during his studies in Scotland which demonstrated that “when one door is closed, many more are opened”. He prayed for God’s blessings on the building and encouraged the audience to continue their selfless efforts of which the Mentorship Centre was tangible evidence.
Next, Mr. Justice Seymour Panton, President of the Court of Appeal, expressed his appreciation for the recognition accorded him by ROSA in naming the centre in his honour. He reminded the gathering pointedly, that coming from humble circumstances was not an obstacle to being a success in life or in any worthwhile career. He thanked his wife, Maxine; brother Noel, and his friends for their years of support, now being shown by the group present, namely; Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Pearson, Mr.& Mrs. Kingsley Lowe, Mr. Dan Richards, Mr. Mark Alexander, Dr. & Mrs. Eric Norton, Mrs. Stephanie Mair. They had journeyed from Kingston that very morning, some having made a similar trip on the 20th February to attend the ceremony formally opening and naming the centre.
Mrs. June Thompson, Principal of RHS, then emphasized the benefits of mentoring and lauded the ROSA international community for providing a centre for conducting the sessions and an area for musical pursuits at the campus.
Mr. Lloyd Tomlinson, President of ROSA, thanked the audience and Rev. Clarke and urged them to continue their support of the Centre financially and by volunteering their time regularly. He introduced the members of ROSA from Kingston, namely, Miss Pauline McKenzie, 2nd Vice President; Mrs. Evelyn Calvert-Frazer; Immediate Past President; Mrs. Evadney Wilson, Secretary; Mr. Canute Grant, Asst. Treasurer; and Mrs. Margaret Morris, former Secretary. Mr. Albert Morris, a prominent member of the Credit Union movement in Kingston was also present. Mr. Tomlinson then announced the launching of the Old Student on Campus Mentorship Programme.
Justice Panton commenced the first mentoring session at the centre with ten students. A second group of nine was led by Mr. Anthony Pearson, Attorney at Law.
At the successful completion of the sessions a student from each group moved a vote of thanks. Mr. Oshane Robinson, Head Boy, and Miss Melonie Taylor expressed the groups’ appreciation for the words of wisdom received from the mentors, for the interest shown by ROSA and for its contribution to school life.
The event ended with the serving of refreshments.
Mentorship Centre
The establishment of the Mentorship Centre at Rusea’s High School RHS is an initiative of ROSA to further present a positive influence on the lives of the current students. Through interaction with Rusea’s Old Students who will help to inform them of the options and opportunities available, students will be advised of the possibilities that exist in choosing and shaping a career and their lives. We are reminded that RHS had one of the island’s first Guidance Counsellors in place in the early Sixties.
Following year-long celebrations of the 180th anniversary of RHS in 1957, ROSA was launched in 1958. Consequently ROSA marked its 50th anniversary in December, 2008, celebrated with the first ROSA president, Dr. Leo March, cutting the ceremonial cake.
The 1977 celebration of the 200th anniversary was led by a former Head Boy who was the second president of ROSA, The Most Honorable Errald Miller. About two years ago, during discussions between Mr. Miller and the current president, Mr. Lloyd Tomlinson, it was recognized that a Mentorship Centre could serve as a vehicle which would go a far way in helping students. ROSA embraced this project on which work commenced in earnest in 2008. A plague on the building acknowledges by name those persons who contributed significantly to the construction of the facility. They are The Most Honourable Prof. Sir Kenneth Hall, ON, GCMG, OJ; The Most Honourable Percival Patterson, ON, PC, QC; The Most Honourable Errald Miller, Mrs. Jenneth Wong Chew Onn, Mr Warrington Williams, DR. Lloyd Quarrie and Mrs Vinnette Quarrie, Elva Mullings/Tools Hardware.
While the sequence of the names would suggest a protocol list this is not so, nor does it show the level or timing of contributions. ROSA is grateful to each of these contributors who chose to subscribe generously to RHS, through ROSA, by their support for this project. However, we wish to highlight that at a critical stage in the construction of the building, it was the intervention of the Most Honourable Errald Miller and the proven organisational input of Mr. Lloyd Tomlinson which merged to identify and access the various resources required for achieving the timely completion of the structure.
A plaque also records that ROSA Jamaica, with overall responsibility, and the chapters in New York and Canada, along with other old students and friends of ROSA, erected the building. Together we will continue to achieve more for Rusea’s High School.
