School doors opened for the 2008-2009 school year on September and, as expected, a great number of new faces were on hand, both teachers and students alike. It was a wonderful and refreshing experience being at Charlestown Primary School to witness what could very well be the last time the Veteran Primary School head mistress, the great Alice Swanston, conducted her open-year rituals. Her success story will be told in due course.

This school year could very well be the year for the record number of new educators as quite a number who served left voluntarily or otherwise. The number of teachers transferred has also been quite evident. Concerns during the 2007-2008 school year raised serious questions as to whether or not our government was trying to frustrate by strategies they implemented, or if some sinister plan was in place.

Alas! Results for CXC 2008 saw record breaking performances as Gingerland Secondary School topped them all in the Federation. Special and sincere congratulations must go out to Earline Pemberton, Careve Williams and Kirtsiyn Herbert. Earline was the #1 student in the Federation with 12 subjects passed and with 9 distinctions. The two others, Careve and Kirtsiyn also did 12 subjects and passed them all, first time such a feat has been accomplished by the Gingerland Secondary School.

As if this was not enough, ten students took a total of 10 subjects and passed them all. A total of 95 distinctions were recorded which surpassed the 68 highest that was achieved in 2004.

Gingerland Secondary School that is presently experiencing a positive high has in fact recorded 81.9% of students passing their CXC Exams. In the 20 years history between 1987 and 2007, only 5 students passed 10 subjects or more. For the school to achieve such remarkable success, special kudos must be given to the Gingerland Secondary School staff and faculty, and especially all the successful students. Parents, of course, must automatically be credited for the performance of their children.

In all this, however, the school has suffered a tremendous loss. No praise can be too high for any principal who has achieved such great success, especially working under difficult and trying circumstances, and without due support and assistance.

Mr. Keith Glasgow, former principal of Gingerland Secondary School and the one at the helm of this phenomenal accomplishment is a proud young man who is delighted that his last working year at GSS brought great success to so many students.

Having been in the teaching profession and spending 21 of his 22 years at Gingerland Secondary, the last four as principal, Mr. Glasgow feels he has made a huge difference and knows that the timing could not have been better for him to walk away from the job he loves, leaving on a morale high.

Being at GSS for the last two years without an assistant principal was very challenging. As worthy recommendations of individuals for the assistant position at the school was denied him, Mr. Glasgow took the bull by the horns and charged. The extra efforts to ensure students maximized every possible opportunity, the ability to push them to the limit for their own personal benefits, the goal to see the Gingerland Secondary School top the Federation’s CXC list all were on his shoulders. Thank God he succeeded.

Mr. Glasgow now heads the Lyn Jeffers School and great things lie in store for this positive and ambitious young former headmaster of the Gingerland Secondary School. His goal is to continue teaching, continue to render invaluable service to students with an aim of taking economic standards on Nevis to new heights. His evening institute on Fridays is yet another avenue to ensure that Mr. Keith Glasgow continue to be of service to all who are interested. Congratulations to Mr. Keith Glasgow, yet another humble and proud Nevisian.