Jerome Teelucksingh
ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1950, a secondary school accommodating 59 girls in north Trinidad began at the Practice College of the Archibald Institute building on Austin Street in St Augustine. Subsequently, in January 1951, the school moved to a two-storey house at the corner of the Eastern Main Road and Austin Street.
The Presbyterian Church of TT (PCTT) was fortunate to later obtain 14 acres of leased land from Caroni Ltd. The land was located to the north of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway. This would be the future site of the iconic St Augustine Girls' High School (SAGHS), which would later become one of the jewels of the PCTT.
Miss Beattie was principal but vice-principal Constance Wagar unofficially took over leadership duties in January 1952. This strategy was to allow Beattie to be involved in the construction of a new school. On May 12, 1953, newly installed acting principal Wagar, the staff and school population dedicated the new building on its present site. Part of the dedication ceremony was a prayer offered by the moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rev James Sieunarine.
A few months later in the year, in September, Wagar was appointed principal and Undine Giuseppi was vice-principal. Giuseppi, one of the first teachers at SAGHS, briefly served as music teacher and trained the school's choir. In December 1951, the choir was invited to Radio Trinidad where its carols and choral readings were broadcast to the nation. Soon SAGHS was a regular contestant in the annual Music Festivals. In 1953, Giuseppi also supervised the publication of the school's first magazine, The Augustinian.
By 1962, Rev J Seunarine had been appointed to Naparima College and Anna Mahase to SAGHS. Earlier, in 1953, Mahase had been awarded a Women's Missionary Society (WMS) scholarship to pursue a degree at Mt Allison University in Canada. Mahase, a graduate of Naparima Girls' High School (NGHS), holds the unique distinction of being the youngest person to serve as principal of a denominational secondary school in TT.
At SAGHS during the 1950s, a reformation in music was also unfolding. On February 1, 1956, Lenore Mahase, a graduate of NGHS and McGill University, joined the staff of SAGHS as a music teacher. Mahase continued the work of Giuseppi who was now able to concentrate on other areas such as public speaking, choral speaking and recitation. Additionally, Giuseppi was instrumental in training students for the Junior Arts Festival.
One of the early features of SAGHS was the dormitory for girls who did not reside nearby. This residence, which no longer exists, was known as "The Dorm" and provided a comfortable living environment.
Deidre Prabha Nancoo, a former dorm girl, who attended SAGHS during 1956-1961, reflected on the significance of the residence: 'The demographic diversity of The Dorm impelled us to become more tolerant, accepting and, indeed, appreciative of each other's individuality. Growing up in this, one might say, embryonic global village gave us the skills and confidence to flou
