"Not for school but for life we learn"

All About Us

The Watermount All-Age School is located in the community of
Watermount, a rural farming community in the constituency of West Central St. Catherine. About forty per cent (40%) of the community is
unemployed thus affecting the attendance and enrolment of the school.

The community of Watermount, established in the 1950’s, has an
approximate adult population of four thousand (4 000) citizens. The
community is bounded by Point Hill District to the north, Bartons District to
the south, Brown’s Hall District to the west and Eleven Miles to the east.

The Watermount Community Development Committee (WATCDC), which
meets on the third Sunday of the month, plans the organized development
of the community and is supervised by one of the Community Development
Officers of the St. Catherine Regional Office of the Social Development
Commission (SDC).

The nearest town of Spanish Town, the capital of the parish of St. Catherine,
is roughly thirteen (13) miles away. Most of the adult population is farmers
and market vendors.

The school community serves Watermount proper and several surrounding
communities including Mendez, Pedro, Macca Tree, Cudjoe’s Hill, Back
Pasture, Brown’s Town, Old Works, St. Faith’s, Store Hill and Burke Hill.

Watermount is located north of Spanish Town and is accessible. The school was established at its present location in 1951 after hurricane destroyed the Government-owned School at Old Works. The first principal was the late Dudley Ransford Brandyce (D. R. B.) Grant. This Grade II School has a whole day shift with a student population of approximately 265 consisting of Grades 1 – 6 with 101 boys and 90 girls at the primary level where general teaching is done. There are 62 boys and 12 girls at the secondary level where Grades 7 – 10 Special students study various subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies/Civics and General Science. All students in the Secondary Department are exposed to five (5) Resource and Technology (R & T) courses – Home Economics, Textile and Clothing, Business Basic, Agriculture and the Environment and Industrial Techniques in addition to Computer Education, Physical Education and Sports and Guidance and Counselling.

At the Primary Level, the students pursued courses leading to National Examinations in the National Assessment Programme (NAP). These include the Grade One Readiness Inventory (GRI), Grade Three Diagnostic, Grade Four Literacy and Grade Six Achievement Tests (GSAT).

There has been improvement to the physical plant in terms of repairs effected by the Ministry of Education and the Office of National Reconstruction (ONR) after Hurricane Ivan. A new bathroom wing for students has been approved with funding from the Office of National Reconstruction. However, bathroom facilities for staff need improvement as well as a staff room, Science and Computer Laboratories, Industrial Arts Workshop and an expanded Tuck Shop and Canteen are urgently needed. Other priority needs include improved Library space, Guidance Counselling Room/Office, Reading Resource Centre, more classroom space with proper partitioning, improved playfield and court, more furniture and other equipment as well as proper fencing of the school compound. Assistance is being sought from the Lift Up Jamaica Project and the CHASE Fund.

Co-curricular activities include Clubs and Societies – Girl Guides, Cultural, 4-H and Environmental Clubs, Sports – Cricket, Football and Athletics, JCDC Festival of Arts Competition and Interhouse Competitions. All these activities serve to provide opportunities for students to strive to succeed and assist in developing their self-esteem and good positive attitudes.

There is a fairly active Parent-Teachers’ Association.

HISTORY OF THE WATERMOUNT GOVERNMENT SCHOOL

The Watermount Government School was opened in 1951. Up until then, this geographic area was served by the Old Works School in the Anglican Church and the Point Hill Church School. In earlier days of elementary education, or education in general was carried out chiefly by the churches, who used their buildings and extended them for schools – the church looked after the gaining of souls, and the extended building was used for education.

Up until 1951 every child in the Old Works School knew the word DELAPIDATED. In the Middle and Upper Divisions, when written work was to be done it started with “The school is in a dilapidated condition, the floor is lifting, the roof is leaking, etc.” During a three year period when it was known that the Government of Jamaica was listening favourably to our cry for a new school, there was extreme competition and rivalry between the Old Works and Watermount communities as to where the new school should be built. Of course, the Watermount community won the competition!

In 1951 the school was shifted to this Watermount Government School. You can well imagine the pride and joy of the students coming in this brand new edifice; desks, chairs, benches, blackboards, with most of the staff also new. The school body, teacher and children who lived closer to Watermount were especially elated!

There were eight (8) teachers, most of whom were new to the school and parish, bedecked in smart new uniforms, and a new principal – Mr. D.R.B. Grant. The Principal and his staff made an indelible impression on the student body. For the first time in our school life, we were divided into three HOUSES, namely FORTITUDE, FIDELITY and FELICITY. Our vocabulary grew by three words and our behaviour was influenced by the meanings and connotations implicit in these words. The school elected a Head Boy, a Head Girl, and Prefects. Your humble servant was that Head Boy. Mr. D.R.B. Grant was a disciplinarian and together with himself, the staff, the Head Boy, the Head Girl and the Prefects, we ran a disciplined school, in a modern environment.

Young people from all over the adjoining districts, and some parishes, came to this school for their elementary education and private lessons. We did well in Jamaica Local Examinations, and for the first time, an awareness to seek higher education was rampant among us. I could tell you many nostalgic events of this historic period, but time limits me.

Many teachers have served this school over the years. I will try to recall some of the Principals: D.R.B. Grant, J.S. Laing, Charles Brown, Hyacinth Thompson (actg.), Stanley Scott, Hazel Scott (actg.), F.I. Sinclair, Myrtle Bennett (actg.), Lister Linton, John Russell (actg.), Gretel Walters, Beverly Mason (actg.), Marion Maxwell-Nesbeth, and repeating presently John Russell.

Let us commend all the teachers who have worked so hard for the betterment of this community. Mr. John Russell and Staff, we salute you for continuing to carry the torch of education. Let us recognize that this school has produced many sons and daughters who are successful across Jamaica and the Globe! Watermount Government School, our Alma mater, we are very pleased and happy to have been initiated here! Changes have been made throughout the years but the school continues to be a vibrant force in the community.

This historic interchange would not be complete if we did not include the present students; you have a tradition to uphold. Continue to work hard, persevere and let education be a burning ambition, and with God’s help you will be successful. There are a lot of opportunities for the trained individual, so what ever the choice you make, do it to the best of your ability. Your HOUSE PATRONS are looking on; Morgan House in particular is proud of you, so put your shoulders to the wheel and let us build Jamaica – land we love.

(Prepared by Holmer Harrington Morgan – First Head Boy - 06/12/02)

DUDLEY RANSFORD BRANDYCE (D.R.B.) GRANT
(Founding Principal of the Watermount All-Age School)


Dudley Ransford Brandyce Grant was born on September 15, 1915 in Santa Maria, Columbia and came to Jamaica with his parents – James and Annie Grant – at a young age. He went to Maldon Primary School in St. James and Mico Teachers College in St. Andrew. D.R.B. Grant did very well at school and gained several degrees at universities in the United States of America and England.

He was the Founding Principal of the Watermount All-Age School (then Government School) in 1951.

D.R.B. Grant joined the staff of the University of the West Indies in 1963. He is dubbed “the Father of Early Childhood Education” and officially retired from the Government Service in 1978 but continued to work until his death on August 25, 1988 at the age of 73 years.