Berbice High School kicks off 107th anniversary with fitness walk
A fitness walk was held on Friday around the township of New Amsterdam to kick off the 107th anniversary of the Berbice High School (BHS).
The educational institution was established on September 5, 1916, initially as a boys’ school with nine registered on the first day. By 1920, the school started accommodating girls but they were being accommodated in a separate building.
This continued until 1924. The school was officially handed over to the Government of Guyana in 1966, when the enrolment had soared to 741.
On Friday, the walk, referred to as “refreshing the mind” saw current and past students, along with teachers and parents taking to the streets.
Berbice High School, New Amsterdam
Sports Coordinator, Allied Arts Department, Shenelly Kendall explained that the school’s alma mater has given much-needed support for the 107th anniversary celebrations.
However, she noted that the walk was decided upon after taking into consideration that the school needed to up its game in the physical department.
“So we thought that a walk would be a very good way to start the morning and to get the mind and body engaged and also to explore the town.”
She pointed out that the school currently has many students who are from out of the town, including those from the West Coast of Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). “This is also a way for them to explore the town of New Amsterdam where Berbice High School is located.”
Students gathered for the anniversary celebrations
In addition, the inter-house cricket competition also bowled off Friday. In the new week, the students will be engaged in circle tennis.
“We have found out during research that circle tennis originated in Region Five and it is almost a dying sport here in Guyana; many of us don’t know how to play circle tennis – our children, many of them don’t know about the game. So, this is a way for us to bring a bit of our athletic culture back to Berbice High School and maybe to the region at large.”
The inter-house circle tennis competition will be held on Wednesday. During the school term, students will also be involved in athletics, football, basketball, and other sports.
