Fatima College

Fatima College

Nitendo Vinces
(By striving we shall conquer)
Location
Mucurapo Road
Port of Spain
Trinidad and Tobago
Information
Type Male secondary school
Established 1945
Principal Fr Gregory Augustine
Enrollment 895 (in 2006)
Color(s) Royal blue, Yellow
Affiliation Roman Catholic Church
Website http://www.fatima-college.com/

Fatima College is a government-assisted, highly 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. Because of its academic reputation, consistent historical performance in national exams, and notable alumni, Fatima is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious secondary institutions in the nation.

History

1945 - 2009

The College of Our Lady of Fatima began under humble circumstances on the compound of St. Theresa's Intermediate School on 1 January 1945. The pioneering members of staff were Fr John Byrne, Michael McCarthy (prefect) and Andy Cockburn (a layman who is now a priest). The association with St Theresa's began with Parish Priest Fr Francis Flavin, OP. who first recognized the need for an additional Catholic college in North Trinidad. Work on the present site began in February under the supervision of Fr Byrne. In September 1945 classes shifted from St Theresa's, and on 1 December 1945, Archbishop Ryan formally blessed and opened this new College dedicated to our Lady of Fatima.

Fr Byrne retired in 1955 after overseeing the building of the Eastern and Western wings, the diversion of the Maraval River to 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. He guided Fatima through the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1960s Fatima designed its own uniform, held its own sports meeting, defeated C.I.C. to win its first InterCol final in 1965 with the inspirational Gally Cummings and launched its own Old Boys Union. Fr Gevias Girod joined Fatima in 1965, took charge of the Scouts and organized the first May Fair (or May Fayre) in 1966.

The 1970s witnessed many social changes in the country. Fatima led the way with the almost inevitable transfer from clerical to lay control with the appointment of Clive Pantin as principal in 1972. Fr Farfan, local Holy Ghost Father, was appointed Vice Principal and these two dynamic individuals directed Fatima through the 1970s with many innovative changes. The production of a well-rounded individual dominated Fatima's philosophy. The periods were characterized by the building of the Audio-Visual Center, Library, new classrooms, Cafeteria, Workshops and curriculum and class changes. Streaming was abandoned in the lower 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, the first women in the traditionally male-dominated institution. Fatima won InterCol for the second time in 1979 while Eugene Joseph and Roger Hernandez became our first Island Scholars in 1976. Fatima was now one of the leading institution in the country, a model of academic and sporting prowess, catering to 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 Moore who joined the staff in 1959. He recognized the worth of his staff and 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, the rise 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 felt that 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 DeFour. In 1988, the new Science Wing was constructed, the Library extended and a new classroom built. This was funded by Robert Amar in memory of his businessman father, Boland Amar (Amar Group of Companies). In the 1980s 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. Vice-Principal Anne Gomes-Phillips, a layperson, assumed responsibility for Religion Education (R.E.) to develop the Catholic identity of the school.

The nineties saw the addition of two new faces to the administration of the school, Bernard Tappin as Vice Principal in 1991 and Fr Gregory Augustine, a Fatima alumnus, 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.

Sports include Football, Rugby, Swimming, Basketball, Table Tennis, Hockey, and Cricket. Fatima boys are now excelling in a wide range 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, excelling repeatedly at the biennial T&T Music Festival, whilst our Form Six boys undertake social projects with the Credo Center and the Princess Elizabeth Home. Our Scout Troop is on its way to being ranked once more as one of the best in the country. The leadership mantle has been handed over to Mr Anthony Garcia. He is working very closely with Vice-Principal, Anne Gomes-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.

Mr Garcia took pre-retirement leave on 12 December 2008 and officially retired on 26 March 2009.

2009 to present

While Mr. Garcia was on pre-retirement leave, the College's Manager, Fr Gregory Augustine was appointed to act as Principal on January 5, 2009. Six years later, in January, 2015, Mrs. Annie Gomes-Phillips was promoted to Principal of St. Benedict's College in San Fernando. Mrs. Gillian Ramdass then assumed the role of Vice Principal.

Notable alumni

Fatima College House System

In the 2009-2010 academic year, Fr. Gregory Augustine introduced a new House System. On the premise of emphasizing the strong Roman Catholic identity on which the college is founded, the six houses (Ryan, Byrne, Corcoran, Stewart, Craigwell and Archbishop) were disbanded and four new houses introduced based on the four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The membership of the houses is based on one's class assignment at the Form 1 level. As a result on entry into Fatima College, the students of 1-1 are placed in St. Matthew; 1-2, St. Mark; 1-3, St. Luke and 1-4, St. John. A student remains in his house for the duration of his stay at the college. When the new house system began, in order to avoid any confusion in the then Upper School (as there are 5 groups of Forms 4 and 5 and 2 groups of Lower 6 and Upper 6) the boys were placed in the houses based on the class to which they were assigned in Form 3. The signature colour of each House is as follows:

The House Leaders

As Fr. Gregory and the Sports Co-ordinators, Mr. Greene and Mr. Mc Master prepared to launch the New House System in September 2009, on the premise of having strong male figures as role-models for the students, four younger, male staff members took on the task of House Leaders: St. Matthew- Mr. Stefan de Gale St. Mark - Mr. Arthur Thompson St. Luke - Mr. Maurice White St. John - Mr. Kwasi Noel

Over the years, there were minor changes to the House Leadership. Mr. Richard Mason joined the coordinating team in 2013 and Mr. Kevin Wells replaced Mr. Laurence Mc Master in September, 2015.

House Leadership Timeline

September 2009 - July 2012:

September 2012 - May 2013:

At the start of the 2012-2013 academic year, it was revealed that Mr. Shad Seaton would replace Mr. Thompson as leader of St. Mark. In addition, Mr. Noel, having requested a brief sabbatical owing to further studies, was replaced by Ms. Kelly-Ann Bedase who would act as leader of St. John for the school year. She remains the only female teacher to be asked and/or permitted to hold the title of House Leader as at the time, no other male teacher was in a position to replace Mr. Noel. By the end of May 2013, Mr. Kwasi Noel officially resumed duties as House Leader of St. John.

June 2013 to July 2015:

At the start of the 2015 - 2016 academic year, the House System Leadership saw another change with the replacement of Mr. Maurice White with Mr. Nicholas Reece as the Leader of St. Luke.

September 2015 to present:

House Captains

The position of House Captain is possibly even more critical and important to the house system than the House Leaders. The House Captain is a prestigious appointment being the 3rd highest rank among the Fatima College Prefect Body. The House Captains form part of the Prefect Council which is composed of the head prefect, three deputy prefects, the four house captains and seniors prefects.

The position of House Captain was not created until the 2010-2011 academic year. The very first house captains were as follows:

The Annual 5K & Sports Day (the first FOUR years)

Under the coordination of Mr. Joel Greene and Mr. Laurence Mc Master, the college has hosted four successful 5K runs and Sports Day meetings. The results of these events are as follows:

5K

Sports Day

Sports Season 2013-2014

The 2013-2014 academic year saw the addition of Mr. Richard Mason as Fatima College's new Physical Education teacher and the third addition to Sports/House System Management Team. On Saturday 16 November, the college hosted its extremely successful 5th Annual 5K. After its four-year winning streak, St. John was defeated in the 5K. The final results were:

Following the 5K, the Sports Season 2013-2014 continued with the Pre-Sports events in Term II. Along with the points earned at the 5K, the places before the Sports Day were as follows:

Sports Day 2014 was held on Friday 21 February 2014. In a fiercely contested competition, the places based on the events of the day's events were as follows:

The Tug-of-War final was held on the Sports Day, which saw St. John taking the Junior category as well as the Senior category although, especially in the Senior category, St. Matthew valiantly held its ground, which resulted in a true stand-off between the two houses. In the end, however, the final results saw St. John losing its 2012–13 title and earning 4th (last) place; St. Mark retaining its place as 3rd; St. Luke retaining its place as 2nd and in a history-making performance, St. Matthew winning the Sports Season for the first time.

New House System 5K Results

New House System Sports Day Results

The Prefect System

Following the appointment of Fr. Gregory Augustine as (Acting) Principal on January 5, 2009, he re-structured the Prefect System of Fatima College. Prefects are installed into office at the start of the Third Term of the Academic Year and remain in the position until the end of the Second Term of the following Academic Year. The Prefect Body is led by the Head Prefect (or Head Boy) and is made up of the Three Deputy Head Prefects, the Four House Captains, the Senior Prefects and the Prefects. During the Easter Vacation, Fr. Gregory organizes training and team-building sessions for the new prefects. At these sessions, a specially invited guest works with the incoming Prefect Body and the out-going Prefect Body is invited to offer words of wisdom.

Head Prefects

Deputy Head Prefects

House Captains

As was previously stated, the position of House Captain was not created until the Prefect Body of April 2010 - March 2011 was preparing to go into office. The following is a list of the various House Captains by House.

St. Matthew

St. Mark

St. Luke

St. John

Valedictorians of the Form 5 Graduating Class

Gifts of Blue & Gold

Although a relatively new tradition at Fatima College, Gifts of Blue & Gold, often called GOBAG for short, has grown into a significant event on the College’s school calendar. Originating in November 2009, the concert was organized as a fundraiser for the Form 5 Graduation of the class of 2010. In addition, it was an opportunity to showcase the talented students of the college, creating a space to celebrate those "gifted" in the various performing arts of music, dance and drama. The production’s title is of course metaphorical. Given the fact that blue and gold are the primordial colours of the college, the concert seeks to highlight that the boys of Fatima College are gifted and more so, are themselves "gifts" to the community. Over the years the students, teachers and parents of Fatima College witnessed the growth of a production which year after year seems not only to maintain a high standard, but also surprises the audience. An important aspect of the Gifts of Blue & Gold concert series is the "guest star" role played by the girls of the Holy Name Convent Choir. It is hoped that this production will be staged for many years to come. It represents the work and dedication of many stakeholders of our great institution and without a doubt, it is a source of pride for anyone associated with Fatima College.

Notable faculty

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!

References

  1. ↑ "Journalist Raoul Pantin, 71, dies". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. 2015-01-15. Retrieved 2015-02-14.

Sources

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