Front of Belair School circa 1972
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When
Alcan established its alumina plant at Kirkvine, Manchester in the 1950's, many of
the company's employees took up residence in and near the town of
Mandeville, creating a strain on the existing educational
institutions. To remedy this, Alcan donated funds to facilitate
the expansion of the existing Manchester Preparatory
School. These new buildings, now known as Manchester Early Childhood, were
constructed on land owned by the Manchester Trust adjacent to the Jamaican government-owned Manchester High School.
Aerial View of Belair School circa 1972
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In 1969, Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART) began operations at Nain in St. Elizabeth, and
Mandeville became the favored residential area for many Alpart
employees. As there was much concern about providing good educational
facilities for the children of these employees, there was a big thrust to upgrade the
Manchester Preparatory School beyond what Alcan had already
achieved. With funding and help from Alpart, the school was
enlarged and refurbished, and new teaching materials were made available.
Alpart accepted all responsibility for the salary and accommodation of a headmaster from the United States. Science and History teachers were also recruited from the U.S. by International School Services (ISS).
The first American headmaster, Mr. Perry Bendicksen, was given the responsibility
to plan and direct a U.S. oriented educational program, as the employees
from the U.S.A. who were contracted to work in Jamaica for only a few years
were concerned that the college aspirations of their children would be
jeopardized if they had to switch to a Jamaican/British high school
educational system, then possibly back again to a U.S.
system. Mr. Bendicksen was charged with the responsibility of
planning and directing the construction of an Alpart-funded Secondary
School. The site chosen was the one that is now known as the
Belair Campus on deCarteret Road, and the Belair Secondary School opened its doors in September 1968.
Dr. O.C. Davis, who succeeded Mr. Bendicksen, initiated several changes to
the school:
- The curriculum was modified so that students could explore the practical and fine arts.
- The Early Childhood division was expanded.
- Additional Prep School classrooms were built on the Belair Campus.
- New emphasis was placed on the Jamaican Common Entrance Examination.
- Community students were admitted to the high school.
- British G.C.E. 'O' Level courses were added to the high school curriculum.
The transition from an Alpart high school to a Mandeville
community school had begun.
At the Elementary level, Mrs. Sylvan Shields succeeded
Mrs. Pat Young as Assistant Headmistress.
Mr. Steve Bogden, the next headmaster, continued
the Jamaicanization of the school.
In 1975, he was succeeded by Dr. Cadby, who was Belair's
longest serving US Headmaster. Under his administration the
school was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(S.A.C.S.) in the USA.
Successive
headmasters were Dr. Perrelli, Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Donaldson.
By 1984 there was an almost total Jamaicanization of Belair School and the
first Jamaican Headmaster, Dr. Dudley Stokes, was
appointed. Prep School Common Entrance awardees could now go
into the High School to continue their education in the 'O' Level
curriculum, and the 'A' Level program was added to the High School.
Other
leaders of the administrative team over the years have included Mrs. Dorothy
Thompson and Mrs. Juliet Robertson. Mr. Burton succeeded Dr. Stokes as
headmaster and served Belair School for ten years.
Auditorium circa 1998
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In September
1998, Belair opened its Pre-Kinder Department.
Today, as before, the school's administration is supported by a
highly-trained and professional teaching staff and a full complement of
clerical and custodial staff.
Over the years, Belair has been fortunate to have a band of devoted and
hardworking members of the Board of Governors and a very alert and vibrant
P.T.A.
Belair School offers a wide range of academic subjects to Kindergarten,
Preparatory and High School students, preparing them for the Common
Entrance, N.A.P., C.X.C., G.C.E. 'O' and 'A' levels, and S.A.T. examinations.
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Belair
School prepares its students for life - not just for passing examinations. This
is demonstrated in the self-confidence and versatility of its
graduates. The school has produced government scholars at the Common
Entrance level and its first Rhodes scholar - Dr. David Panton. The
school's graduates have attended colleges and universities all over the
world, and they are excelling in their chosen fields. Many graduates serve as Lawyers, Farmers,
Doctors, Teachers, Engineers, and Managers.
Belair School continues to endeavor to produce self-motivated students, persons
capable of assuming responsibilities and to prepare each child for a world
of rapid and continuing changes and unforeseeable demands - the challenge
of the 21st Century.
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