Valley Primary School emerged from the integration of the Valley Boys School and the Valley Girls School in 1971, after the individual systems proved inadequate. The school, built by the Royal Engineers became popularly known as the Cosely School because of the characteristics of their structure. The buildings spanned the plot of land east of where the Landsome House (already burnt to the ground) once stood and were constructed of steel framed asbestos material.

The school comprised of a main building, which housed the Auditorium, the office block, the Kindergarten block, the Lower Juniors block and the Home Economics and Wood work centres block. Several of the waiters, waitresses, bartenders, carpenters, cabinet makers etc, in the hotel industry and other areas in the 1980’s were the graduates of those Centers.

The first Principal was the late Hon. Mrs. Albena Lake-Hodge of Tanglewood/ The Quarter. Some of the teachers included the late Tr. Iris Hodge, Tr. Stephanie Hodge, Tr Donice Hodge, Tr. Beryl Hodge, and Mrs Authurton. Tr. Iris taught handwork among other things while Mrs. Authurton taught music. Tr.Roland Hodge was the first Wood work teacher and Tr.Bernice Fahie (now Richardson), the first Home Economics Teacher.

In those early years parents who had children who misbehaved came to the class teacher and asked them to discipline (lash) those children or even trim the boys’ hair. The teacher was in total control of the children in her class and punished them as he or she saw fit without parental interference. Tr. Albena formulated the rules by which she would like her school to be governed as well as dress code for the teachers.

Mr. Edison Hughes (deceased) and Tr. Albena were the two teachers in charge of Teacher Training. Both of them always made their cohort believe that the other group was ahead thus creating competition among the groups to complete assignments on time. She was always up to date with the education methods and would constantly search for magazines and books that would giver her teachers’ new ideas to try.

One thing we all admired about her was the discrete but adept manner in which she would take over a lesson when she found that a teacher failed to do justice to the subject being taught. Later in her office, she would indicate what she considered to be your shortcomings but would never neglect to emphasize your strong points.

Did You Know???

Valley Primary School Principal Tr. Alison Hughes was a grade 4 teacher at VPS in 1989.

 

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