HISTORY OF GOLDEN GROVE SECONDARY

Golden Grove Secondary School, formerly Golden Grove Educational Institute aka Sancho High School began as a privately-run fee-paying institution headed by Cde. U. Leebert Sancho. This school moved from strength to strength and numbers kept growing and soon accommodation had to be found in another building.

Because of the demand to attend this school it was proposed for it to be changed to a government school to enable more students to benefit from secondary education.

Our location by the sea-side, in an atmosphere conducive to study, was no accident but was chosen as school-worthy after careful deliberation by self-helpers and village leaders.

On Monday 7th November, 1966 at 16:00hrs the corner stone on the North Eastern side of this building was laid. After a year of strenuous toil, the building was officially handed over to the people in August, 1967, time for the academic year 1967-1968.

Five years later, in 1972, the annex building which houses the Home Economics and formerly the Industrial Arts and Ceramics Department was constructed. Today, this building continues to house the Industrial Arts Department and partially the Home economics Department with the exception of the Ceramics Department. However, with the introduction of Visual Arts on the school’s curriculum in October 2017, a Visual Arts Department has replaced the Ceramics Department in the annex building.

After the establishment of these buildings, other minor projects were carried out in the school’s building or its environment. These included the extension of the annex, establishment of the computer room, renovations to the windows of the building and tiling of the lower flat.

Over the years the school has become a force to reckon with in relation to academics, sports and co-curricular activities. Many were the times when we won championships and trophies too numerous to mention.

Today the school has its own motto which inspiring words remind all that ‘Fortune favours the prepared mind’.

Since1986 the school has its own song, which was composed and put to music by an ex-student/teacher, Mr. David Richmond.

This school also now has a school flag which was designed by the Head teacher (Dolores Dublin-Benjamin) and Ms. Dahlia Peters (teacher) in 2019. The school’s emblem and the colours representing the houses for athletics sports are evident on this flag.

The construction of a new Golden Grove Secondary School commenced in January 2017 and came to completion in June of 2019. The handing over ceremony of the keys to the newly constructed Golden Grove Secondary School was done in June of 2018.

This school was funded by the Government of Guyana and built by the Ivor Allen construction Company. The new building has the capacity to accommodate eight hundred and five students. It is equipped with an Information Technology Laboratory, Science Laboratory, Home Economics Laboratory, Staffroom, Smart Room, Welfare Office, Sickbay and a Canteen. It is also built with a lift to aid in the transport of heavy materials and equipment to the upper flat. A large tarmac has also been constructed in the school’s compound to comfortably hold the students populace and is also used as a recreational area for students as well as for other activities. However, the benab, bicycle shed and flagpole were constructed by the PTA in 2019.

On September 3rd, 2018 the school opened its new doors to teachers and students of Golden Grove Secondary. Several of the new students (Grades 7-10) came from two other schools within this catchment area, many of whom are residents of the Golden Grove and its environs.   

There is a trend which shows that many families are upholding a tradition of attending this institution. In some cases, Golden Grove Secondary is nurturing grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition, it must also be noted that ex-students are becoming teachers of their alma mater.

Between the period of 1966 to present, the school has progressed under the leadership of the following individuals;

1966 – 1967                   U.L Sancho

1967 -1968                     A.A Charles

1968 -1969                     J. Bernard

1969 -1970                     W. Edwards

1970 – 1971                   J. Bernard

1971 – 1973                   W. Phoenix

1974 -1975                     S. Ally

1975 -1977                     C. Sylvester

1977 -1984                     R. Pillay

1984 -1988                     S.K.Singh

1989 – 1992                   Cleopatra Barlow

1992-1994                      Raymond Reis

1994 – 1999                   Yvonne Abrams

1999 – 2009                   Raymond Reis

2009 – 2014                   Loreen Lynch

2014 – Present               Dolores Dublin-Benjamin

We are proud of this institution and of the heritage it has brought us. We have learnt that working together is a strong bond and it can forge a community together when the cause is worthy enough.