Lacovia High School
Encyclopedia
Lacovia High School is a government-owned, co-educational, first-to-fifth form, non-traditional, secondary school located in Lacovia
in the parish of St Elizabeth, Jamaica
. According to Go-Local Jamaica, an online branch of the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, Lacovia High has recently been noticed by the upper echelons of society. The school has out performed a number of other well known similar institutions with some students sitting CXC and CSEC exams passing in as many as ten subjects.
Many changes and additions have been made to the school building during its nearly 40 years of existence with the most recent block of classrooms completed in 2006. The construction of the new block was financed by the Ministry of Education Youth and Culture at a cost of $JA
14,931,030.75.
Prior to its upgrade to high school status, Lacona was a relatively unknown entrant in high school competitions. The school now takes part in several inter-school competitions at parish, regional and national levels.
Lacovia High school has modern science, food and nutrition and computer laboratories funded by the Jamaican government.
Despite achievements in sports and academics, one of the most valued qualities of the school is its comparatively high standard of discipline.
The school topped Zone E match tables in the 2008 DaCosta Cup, ahead of former champions St. Elizabeth Technical High School
and Munro College
. The Lacovia team earned a place in the semi-finals and finished third nation-wide.
In 2008, Lacovia High advanced to the third round (top 16 schools) in the TVJ’s Schools Challenge Quiz competition. The Lacovia team's performance in the quiz matches augmented the nation's positive view of the school.
That same year, the school won the national art competition sponsored by the Scientific Research Council of Jamaica (SRC).
In recent times, the school has repeatedly won several competitions including: the Associations of Science Teachers of Jamaica (ASTJ) quiz and Exhibition, the 4-H
Achievement Day parish competitions, the St. Elizabeth Credit Union Debate and the St. Elizabeth Heritage quiz.
Mr. Williams is credited with improving the school's science program, while his successor and current principal, Mrs. Whyte has improved the image of the school in the parish and the country at large by encouraging entry to as many inter-school competitions as possible. She has also increased staff motivation resulting in higher CSEC passes and other benefits.
Lacovia
Lacovia is a town in Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica, located on the Black River between the Upper Morass and the Lower Morrass.-History:The name derives from La Caoban, the name of the place during the Spanish occupation. Following the English invasion it was called Coby...
in the parish of St Elizabeth, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. According to Go-Local Jamaica, an online branch of the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, Lacovia High has recently been noticed by the upper echelons of society. The school has out performed a number of other well known similar institutions with some students sitting CXC and CSEC exams passing in as many as ten subjects.
History
Founded in 1970, when the Hon. Edwin Allen was minister of education, the then Lacovia Junior Secondary, was built by the Jamaican government on eight acres of land to accommodate 650 students from Lacovia and surrounding communities. Over the years the school has changed its name several times as it gradually aligned with traditional high schools.Many changes and additions have been made to the school building during its nearly 40 years of existence with the most recent block of classrooms completed in 2006. The construction of the new block was financed by the Ministry of Education Youth and Culture at a cost of $JA
Jamaican dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Jamaica since 1969. It is often abbreviated "J$", the J serving to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents.-History:...
14,931,030.75.
Prior to its upgrade to high school status, Lacona was a relatively unknown entrant in high school competitions. The school now takes part in several inter-school competitions at parish, regional and national levels.
Today
The school accepts students from the parish of St. Elizabeth and from areas within the borders of neighbouring parishes. Almost all CSEC subjects are offered by the school plus other recognized certificates such as NCTVET with Spanish is offered to CSEC level. Over 1600 students attend the school, taught by a staff of over 74 teachers working two shifts.Lacovia High school has modern science, food and nutrition and computer laboratories funded by the Jamaican government.
Despite achievements in sports and academics, one of the most valued qualities of the school is its comparatively high standard of discipline.
Curriculum
The school offers a broad educational curriculum encompassing academic subjecta, vocational training, sports, and various extramural clubs and societies. In its early years, the school provided vocational training in subjects such as auto mechanics, cosmetology, home economics and plumbing. Today, after undergoing several government driven changes, Lacovia High School operates as a traditional high school, focusing on all subject areas of secondary education, while still offering training in vocational subjects.Extracurricular activities
Students at Lacovia High have access to clubs and societies that include: 4-H Club, DaCosta Cup, Cadet, Red Cross, ISCF, Netball, debate, Girl Guides, Headley Cup, and a quiz club (Schools’ Challenge Quiz, Food and Nutrition, Science, and Heritage).The school topped Zone E match tables in the 2008 DaCosta Cup, ahead of former champions St. Elizabeth Technical High School
St. Elizabeth Technical High School
St. Elizabeth Technical High School is a secondary school in the Santa Cruz plains in the parish of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, West Indies.-History:...
and Munro College
Munro College, Jamaica
Munro College is a prominent boarding school for boys in St Elizabeth, Jamaica. It was founded in 1856 as a free school for poor boys in St. Elizabeth as stipulated in the will of plantation owners Robert Hugh Munro and Caleb Dickenson...
. The Lacovia team earned a place in the semi-finals and finished third nation-wide.
In 2008, Lacovia High advanced to the third round (top 16 schools) in the TVJ’s Schools Challenge Quiz competition. The Lacovia team's performance in the quiz matches augmented the nation's positive view of the school.
That same year, the school won the national art competition sponsored by the Scientific Research Council of Jamaica (SRC).
In recent times, the school has repeatedly won several competitions including: the Associations of Science Teachers of Jamaica (ASTJ) quiz and Exhibition, the 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
Achievement Day parish competitions, the St. Elizabeth Credit Union Debate and the St. Elizabeth Heritage quiz.
Emblems
| Colour | Aquamarine Aquamarine (color) Aquamarine is a color that is a pale bright tint of spring green toned toward cyan. It is named after the mineral aquamarine, a gemstone mainly found in granite rocks... |
| Motto | Per Ardua Ad Astra Per ardua ad astra Per ardua ad astra is the motto of the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces such as the RAAF, RCAF, and RNZAF. It dates from 1912 and was used by the newly formed Royal Flying Corps.-Origin:The first Commanding Officer of the Royal Flying Corps was Colonel Frederick Sykes... (Through Toil to the Stars) |
| Uniform | Girls at the school wear a blouse and tunic in the lower grades) or a blouse and skirt in the upper grades. The blouse of one school shift is blue plaid, while the other is plain white. Tunics and skirts are plain blue. In the past, senior girls wore a yellow skirt and white blouse. Boys on both shifts wear khaki with epaulettes (grades 7–9) or ties (grades 10 and 11). The epaulette or tie is either plaid or plain blue and corresponds with the girls uniform to differentiate the two shifts. |
Principals
From its inception to date, Lacovia High has had six principals:| Mrs V M Falkner | 1970–1977 |
| Mr A J Farquharson | 1977–1985 |
| Mr M L Dodd | 1985–1994 |
| Mrs M L Samuel | 1994–1996 |
| Mr Curlew Williams | 1996–2003 |
| Mrs Ruby Whyte | 2003–2010 |
| Mrs. Hope Morgan | 2010-present |
Mr. Williams is credited with improving the school's science program, while his successor and current principal, Mrs. Whyte has improved the image of the school in the parish and the country at large by encouraging entry to as many inter-school competitions as possible. She has also increased staff motivation resulting in higher CSEC passes and other benefits.