Flashback Friday - NAPS Alumni

What was Naps like back in 1962?

Kyron Ramoo — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 17:26:00 +0000

As Trinidad & Tobago celebrates 60 years of being an independent nation, we ask on this Independence edition of #FlashbackFriday…

What was Naps like back in 1962?

By this time, Naparima College was 63 years old and was under the leadership of the newly minted Principal, Revered James Seunarine. 680 students were enrolled, and infrastructure had already been modernised to what we know today. Academic excellence increased, sporting records continued to be broken, and a decade old football rivalry with Presentation College became personal. It seems some things never change.

Take some time to read this comprehensive list below to gain a better understanding of life at Naps in 1962:

Students began entering Naparima College after sitting the Common Entrance Examinations.
The retirement of James Sammy after 50 years of service.
The College was in mourning after the passing of Edward T. Lute who retired as principal one year earlier.
New members were added to the teaching staff: Jennifer Gregson (Mathematics), Jean Springer (Physics), Clyde DeBoug (Geography and French), Victor Cowan (Spanish and Sports), Edward Henry (Music) and Wylla Mulchansingh (Art).
Music was introduced into the curriculum.
The “Naparima College Choral Society” was inaugurated.
Rosie K. Mohammed was the first girl in college history to win a full Science Certificate.
Krishna Gooriesingh was the first student to attain a distinction in Health Sciences, a subject that was introduced into the curriculum a year prior.
Twenty-One Full Certificates awarded with distinctions in Mathematics, English, Chemistry and Geography.
Twenty Distinctions in the Cambridge School Certificate examinations in English Language, Literature, Geography, Elementary Mathematics and Health Sciences.
Inter-form/Inter-class football was re-introduced – Class 3A won middle school while Class 2C won lower school.
Naparima was defeated by Presentation College in both College League and Intercol football finals.
Naparima defeated Presentation College – Chaguanas in the Junior Cricket finals
Junior Intercol Team defeated Presentation College and won the Herde Shield for the first time.
Carl McClashie broke the College 100-yard record in eleven seconds.
Jerome Ramanth was awarded Best All-Round Student
Roy Jagroopsingh was awarded Best All-Round Performer in Sports
Clarence Harnanan was awarded the Prefect’s Prize in general proficiency.
Lennox Boodoo was awarded the “A.R Sinanan” prize for most progressive student
Grant House won the Inter-House Football Trophy
Sammy House won the Inter-House Cricket Championship
Flemington House became Sports Day Athletic Champions
Walls House was awarded the “L. Jaggernauth” Shield for Inter-House All Round Proficiency
Victor Albert became the Class A Table Tennis champion.
Naparima College was the only school in the country to contribute to the United Nations “Freedom from Hunger Week”.
The building of the Walls Pavilion by the then “Old Boys’ Association”

The BCN (Blue Circle Network) is on the air

The Swan Pose by Patel & Warner

Naparima College on Parade and Independence Celebrations, Skinner Park

NAPS 1962

Mr. Emmanuel Ramesar, Bursar with janitors Samaroo and Hamid

Carl Mc Clashie

NAPS 1962

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Be it our existence as a colony or when we gained the status of an independent nation, one fact remained the same, the spirit of Naps was alive and well. According to Rabindranath Maharaj, Assistant Chief Prefect of the Student Council:

“Naparima is better and its students are being taught not only to be responsible citizens, but also to identify themselves as proud Naparimans in an Independent Trinidad.”

Sources: The Olympian 1962, 1963.

The post What was Naps like back in 1962? first appeared on NAPS Alumni.

First Female Islandwide Scholar was a NAPS Alumni

naps — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:12:47 +0000

Did you know that the first female student to win an Islandwide Scholarship was from Naparima College? In today’s edition of #flashbackfriday we remember Journalist and News Editor, Kathleen Wilsa Smith (also known as Kathlyn Smith)

Born in San Fernando on February 9th 1927, Kathleen first entered Naparima Girls High School in 1938, and then the Higher School Certificate “HSC” form (now known as Sixth Form) of Naparima College in 1943 excelling in English, French and Geography. With aspirations to be a journalist, it wasn’t surprising in 1944 that she was part of the editorial committee in the first edition of The Olympian which was released in 1945.

In that same year, Kathleen broke the glass ceiling in Cambridge Examinations as the first Naparima student and the first girl to win an Islandwide Colonial Scholarship in Modern Studies. The news not only brought shock and joy to Naparima College, but also to the San Fernando Borough Corporation (now City Corporation) who expected rare achievements like this being attained at renowned prestigious schools located in “the North” of Trinidad. Beaming with pride and with much deserved fanfare, the Corporation in June 1946 awarded Kathleen who was now nicknamed the “Heroine of the South” the Borough Council Gold Medal where Naparima College was awarded the “Kathleen Smith Shield” to encourage continued competition and excellence.

Kathleen went on to study Arts at the University of Toronto, Canada with further studies at Oxford University in England. She then emigrated to the United States in 1954 where she married an American, Ross Russell. In 1963, she became the medical writer, arts writer and critic for the Times Advocate Newspapers in San Diego, California. After twenty years at the Advocate, Kathleen returned to Trinidad in 1983 and worked as an Editor for the Trinidad Express Newspapers. In 1985, she returned to California but this time, as a reporter for the San Diego Union Tribune. Kathleen lived a rich life until her untimely passing in October 1987 at the age of 60. She is survived by her two children Allan and Maureen.

The 1940’s was a time when females attaining secondary school education was becoming a new normal. Kathleen showed girls that attending University and pursuing a career in your dream profession were achievable goals. We are proud that Kathleen was able to achieve her dreams and we are eternally grateful for her contributions at Naparima College and to the community and country at large.

The Association would like to especially thank Kathleen’s sister, Serena Smith for assisting in this contribution.

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Sources: The Olympian 1945, 1946 & 1947.

The post First Female Islandwide Scholar was a NAPS Alumni first appeared on NAPS Alumni.

79th Memorial Anniversary – Flying Officer Flemington

naps — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 13:00:27 +0000

In today’s edition of #FlashbackFriday, we remember Naps Professor and Flying Officer Arthur Allen Styles Flemington. Today marks exactly seventy-nine years since his memorial was held at Naparima College.

Born in 1911 at New Brunswick Canada, Flemington was the son of Reverend Charles Flemington and Heartie M.B Flemington (née Bate). Flemington graduated from Mount Allison University, New Brunswick, Canada with further studies in French at Paris, the capital of France.

In 1938, Flemington was called to do missionary work in Trinidad where he began serving in 1939 as a Professor of both French and English at Naparima College. He also devoted his full time at the schools’ chapel (now St. Andrew’s Theological College) and at the Susamachar Presbyterian Church in San Fernando where he was an active participant in the Church’s choir and the Path Finders Club.

With the German invasion of Poland in 1939 triggering World War II, Flemington as a true patriot left Trinidad to fight against the evils of Nazism which threatened the West including his homeland of Canada. He joined the 407 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force earning the rank of Flight Officer – service number J/7788. On the morning of April 29th 1943, Flemington and five other squadron members were on patrol off the south coast of England when their Vickers Wellington MP618 aircraft encountered engine trouble. After an hour, contact was lost where the aircraft was witnessed to crash in Morte Bay off the south coast of England. All squadron members lost their lives, Flemington was just 31 years young.

In his honor, the school’s house “Flemington” designated with the color Gold was institutionalized at the College at or about 1956. In a response letter to Frank Bascoe Styles Flemington, Allen’s twin brother from Revered Lawrence Purdy, then Chaplain of Naparima College and himself a former member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Purdy stated in 1961:

“From what I have learned since coming to Trinidad, Allen probably did more in his short years here than many men would accomplish in a lifetime. Even those of us who never knew him personally, are in his debt. The boys of Flemington House will be proud to view Allen’s picture before them on the Student Center.”

Professor Flemington represents all that is noble about our hallowed institution. He was a living testament to the dedication and sacrifice on which this institution was built and he lives on as a symbol of our humanity and our history.

Sources: The Olympian, Naparima.org, veterans.gc.ca, presbyterianchurchtt.org

The post 79th Memorial Anniversary – Flying Officer Flemington first appeared on NAPS Alumni.

Legendary SportsMaster – Roy Jagroopsingh

naps — Fri, 06 May 2022 13:29:16 +0000

On today’s edition of #FlashbackFriday we ask the question: Who is this handsome heart-throb? Well, it’s none other than the legendary Naps Master Roy Jagroopsingh. While many remember him in the latter years as a sports master, teacher, dean and a mentor, in 1961 he was crowned Naparima’s Sports Boy of the Year excelling in Cricket, Football and Table Tennis. The following was written by Mahadeo Omar Dubay in the Olympian 1962:

“Roy Jagroopsingh entered Naparima College in January, 1957, and immediately distinguished himself in the field of sports. In the Inter-house athletics competition, he emerged champion of the Class IV group and his stage for a very colorful career in sports was set.

From 1958 – 1960 he represented the College in the Junior Intercol fixtures. In 1958-1959 he also played cricket for the junior team. His promotion to both the senior football and cricket teams came in 1960 and since then he has maintained his place and proved himself to be of exceptional ability.

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Roy’s prowess has not been only on the cricket and football field, but it also extends to Table Tennis. In 1961 he was both the ‘A’ class and singles champion of the college.

This year his career rose to new heights as he led the College Cricket XI to victory in the ‘A’ division of the Senior Inter-College Cricket League. This had been a personal victory for Roy, whose determination has pulled out his team from many a difficult situation.

There is no more fitting person, to whom the award for the best all-round performance in sports could be given, than Roy Jagroopsingh – a dogged fighter and a graceful loser.”

We salute you Roy!

The post Legendary SportsMaster – Roy Jagroopsingh first appeared on NAPS Alumni.

The production that started it all – Tears in the Gayelle

naps — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:26:37 +0000

50 years ago, Naps won best production in the National Drama Festival as well as eight prizes in the 1972 production “Tears in the Gayelle” by Dennis Noel and produced by Rosemarie Wyze. The eight prizes were in Best Production, Best Original Play, Best Serious Play, Best Supporting Actor (David Sammy as John), Outstanding Performance (Colin Wiseman as Rosie), Stage Design (Randy Mohammed), Stage Management (Herbert Sukhu) and Lighting (Vishan Maharaj).

According to Noel who played the male lead as Roy, “the story was gripping- a young son of a prominent stick-fighting family seeking to revenge the death of a family member killed in the ring by an unscrupulous opponent.” (Noel, Dennis. Mea Culpa: A Way Out of Hell: Land of the Hummingbird. Archway Publishing, 2017.)

So successful was “Tears in the Gayelle” that it was picked up by the then lone television station Trinidad & Tobago Television (TTT) and made into a movie. “Tears” was virtually in every school curriculum back then, and with the marketing skill of the legendary and our very own James Lee Wah, “Tears” was published in England by McMillan in the book titled “West Indian Plays of Secondary Schools”. The play is still taught in secondary schools to this day as it is contained in the essential drama text of this generation, Lee Wah’s “Carray”.

Naparima College has played a vital role in the realm of Trinbagonian theatre history. Follow us for more highlights of these golden achievements in the arts as we continue to celebrate our artistic heritage.

“And, the curtain is drawn!”

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