Fatima College
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Fatima College | |
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Nitendo Vinces
(By striving you shall conquer) |
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| Location | |
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| Mucurapo Road Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago |
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| Information | |
| Affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic Church |
| Principal | Anthony Garcia |
| Enrollment |
895 (in 2006) |
| Type | Male secondary school |
| Color(s) | Royal blue, Yellow |
| Established | 1945 |
| Homepage | http://www.fatima-college.com/ |
Fatima College is a government-assisted, selective Roman Catholic boys' secondary school in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It was established in 1945 and had an enrollment of 895 students as of 2006. The school was established and is run by the Holy Ghost Fathers, an international Roman Catholic religious community.
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[edit] History
The College of Our Lady of Fatima began under very humble circumstances on the compound of St. Theresa's Intermediate School on January 1st, 1945. The pioneering members of staff were Fr. John Byrne, Michael Mc Carthy (prefect) and Mr. Andy Cockburn, layman now a priest. The association with St. Theresa began with Parish Priest Fr.Francis Flavin, OP. who first recognized the need for an additional catholic College in North Trinidad. His immense foresight led to the establishment of this great educational institution.
Work on the present site began in February under the astute supervision of Fr. Byrne. He even recruited labour from theislands as many locals toiled for the Yankee dollar. In Septemberclasses shifted from St. Theresa and on December 1 st, Archbishop Ryan formally blessed and opened this new College dedicated to our Lady of Fatima. The College was designed to create an atmosphere of intimacy and community.
Fr. Byrne retired in 1955 after overseeing the building of theEastern and Western wings, the diversion of the Maraval Riverto accommodate the Assembly Hall, the construction of the chapel and three classrooms.
Fr. James Ryan succeeded him and developed the academic structures and systems of the College. Quietly and efficiently,he guided Fatima through the fifties and sixties when a new government came into power with revolutionary plans for education.
In the sixties, Fatima got its own uniform, held its own sportsmeeting, defeated C.I.C. to win its first InterCol final in 1965 with the inspirational GaIly Cummings and launched its own Old Boys Union. Fr. Girod joined Fatima in 1965, took charge of the Scouts and organized the first Mayfair in 1966. Fatima Collegehad come of age.
The seventies witnessed may social changes in the country. Fatima led the way with the almost inevitable transfer from clericalto lay control with the appointment of Clive Pantin as principal in1972. Fr. Farfan, local Holy Ghost Father, was appointed Vice Principal and these two dynamic individuals directed Fatima through the seventies with many novel changes. The production of a well-rounded individual dominated Fatima's philosophy. The period was characterized by the building of the Audio - VisualCentre, Library, New Classrooms, Cafeteria, Workshops and curriculum and class changes. Streaming was abandoned in thelower forms and students were now placed in alphabetical order. The concept of free choice of subjects was introduced from Form Four. The curriculum was diversified to include Art, Physical Education, Industrial Art, Technical Drawing, Accounts and Commerce.
Daphne Heywood and Jeanette Zakour joined the staff in 1973,heralding the entrance of women in a male dominated institution. Fatima won Inter Col for the second time in 1979 whilst Eugene Joseph and Roger Hernandez became our first Island Scholarsin 1976. Fatima was now definitely ranked as one of the leading institution in the country, a model of academic and sporting prowess, catering for the needs of every pupil.
Clive Pantin retired in 1981, having served Fatima as Dean, Senior Dean, Senior Lay Master, Cricket and Football Coach,Vice Principal and Principal. He was succeeded by Mervyn Moorewho joined the staff in 1959. He recognized the worth of his staffand allowed them the freedom to use their initiative. Just about every individual was assigned some responsibility and brought into the organizational structure of the school.
At the function to welcome him as the new Principal, Mr. Moore declared his priorities - the Catholic identity of the school, therise in academic standards, the fostering of the family spirit and the continued production of well-rounded individuals. A Monday assembly was started to set the right tone for the week. A streamed class was introduced in Form Three as it was feltthat Fatima did not adequately encourage the more gifted pupils to excel. Music was introduced to the curriculum with the arrival of Myrtle Cumberbatch.
Fatima published its first Annual in 1982; Kieron James won the President's Medal in the same year, a first for Fatima. Kyle Rudden repeated the feat in 1984.In 1984, thanks to Republic Bank, the Computer Lab was officially opened under the direction of Fr. De Four. In 1988, the New Science wing was constructed, the Library extended and a newclassroom built. This was funded by Robert Amar in memory ofhis father Boland Amar, founder of the Amar Group of Companies.In the eighties, the lay teachers got more involved in the teaching of Religion with the departure of many priests who has served Fatima faithfully throughout the years. A lay person, Anne Gomes-Phillips, assumed responsibility for the Religion department and has been doing an excellent job of developing the Catholic character of the school.
The nineties saw the addition of two new faces to the administration of the school - Bernard Tappin as Vice Principalin 1991 and Fr. Gregory Augustine, a Fatima product, as manager in 1992. The dress uniform was reintroduced in 1995 to coincide with our fiftieth Anniversary celebrations. The Support Group,Fatima and Friends 2000 was formed to give way to a more broad based Parent Support Group a few years later.
Our football fortunes have declined over the years to the dismay of our loyal supporters. However, we are now a force in Rugby,Swimming, Basketball and Athletics. Table Tennis has been revived. There is a renewed interest in Hockey and our Cricket teams have performed very well. We glory in the exploits of Ato Boldon and Brian Lara. Fatima boys are now excelling in a widerange of activities - Chess, Scrabble, Math Olympiad, Public Speaking, Essay Writing Competitions, Poetry, Model United Nations, Junior Soca Monarch, RBTT Young Leaders and Swimming. Our choir is a source of pride whilst our Form Six boys undertake social projects with the Credo Centre and the Princess Elizabeth Home. Our Scout Troop is on its way to beingranked once more as one of the best in the country.The leadership mantle has been handed over to Mr. AnthonyGarcia. He is working very closely with Vice-Principal, Mrs. AnneGomes-Phillips and the Manager Fr. Gregory Augustine in the shaping of Fatima's future. They have inherited a highly professional staff, very committed to Fatima. They have sought to build on Fatima's strength and improve on any areas of weaknesses.
Fatima's future is indeed very bright. All the ingredients are there for Fatima to remain a foremost educational institution - solid foundation, visionary leadership, committed staff, meaningful structures, supportive parents and Old Boys, rich culture and traditions and most of all, the spiritual at the core of all our activities.
[edit] Notable Alumni
Ato Boldon - Olympic sprinter
Brian Lara - West Indies Cricketer
Darryl Roberts - Professional Footballer
Etienne Charles - Juilliard Scholar & Trumpet artist
r'kardo (Ricardo Mendoza) - NY jazz singer/ songwriter
[edit] Notable Faculty
The late Most Rev. Anthony Pantin (1959 - 1964) - Former Archbishop of Trinidad & Tobago
Clive Pantin
Ray Holman - Renowned steelbandsman
Maurice Brash - Television/radio personality
[edit] College Song
Fatima Boys, Come answer to the call, From far and wide.
Shoulder to shoulder, Ever marching on, God be our guide.
Fearless and true, Loyal to You.
O Alma Mater, Firmly One.
Strive On Fatima Boys, Strive On!
