Presentation College-San Fernando is a selective, government-assisted Roman Catholic secondary school located in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. It claims to be the first Catholic secondary school in South Trinidad, having been established circa 1930 in the basement of San Fernando Presbytery. It relocated to the Colony Buildings at La Pique in 1931. Originally, the College was named Saint Benedict's College. However, the name was changed in the 1940s when management of the school was assumed by the Presentation Brothers[1]. Presentation College can refer to Presentation College, a Roman Catholic secondary school in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago Presentation College Chaguanas, a Roman Catholic secondary school in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Secondary school is a term used to describe an institution where the final stage of compulsory schooling, known as secondary education, takes place. ... The City of San Fernando is the larger of the two cities, and the second largest municipality in Trinidad and Tobago. ... This article is about Saint Benedict of Nursia, for other uses of the name Benedict see Benedict (disambiguation) Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. ... The Congregation of Presentation Brothers is an international Catholic congregation of laymen founded in 1802 in Waterford, Ireland, by a local business man, Edmund Ignatius Rice. ...

Present Day

Based on the academic achievements of its graduates, Presentation College-San Fernando is considered to be one of the premier secondary schools in Trinidad & Tobago.^[1] Every year, several students are awarded National Scholarships, which are essentially highly selective merit-based grants earned by students who have attained the highest grades in the Advanced Level Examinations taken by students upon the completion of a seven (7) year secondary education curriculum. The top scholarship in Trinidad & Tobago, known as the "President's Medal", has been won on several occasions by Presentation College-San Fernando students.

Several graduates of the College have continued their studies at Cambridge, Oxford, the London School of Economics, MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Toronto, McGill and other of the world's finest tertiary institutions.

Typically, students matriculate at age 11 and pursue the curriculum through either the age of 16 or 18.It is important to note that a rigrous academic exam must be passed by a student in Trinidad and Tobago and then they are placed in relevat high schools of there five choices.Presentation is a ' first choice school' and is highly regarded as having the nations top five percentile of academics attending it. They have produced two prime ministers to show for it.

Beyond academics, 'Pres' has established a legacy of producing grounded, well-rounded, civic-minded citizens who go on to make impressive local, regional and global contributions spanning several spheres of achievement and endeavour.

Principals

The current Principal of Presentation College-San Fernando is Errol Jaikeransingh. Mr. Jaikeransingh replaced Brother Michael Samuel as Principal.

Brother Michael Samuel took over the mantle of Principal from Brother Matthew Feheney in 1975. Brother Matthew (1971-75) was a fierce-looking character who rarely smiled (at least not in front of students), yet upheld the wonderful academic tradition of the College. A veritable giant of a man with forearms the size of hams, no student dared offend him. It was unlucky for Presentation that his term as Principal was not longer than it was. Brother Michael, on the other hand, is considered by some not to have maintained the rigorous standards set by his Irish predecessors, yet actively supported the College's cultural and sporting endeavours. He could be found walking the College grounds in his white robes, a tradition he continued from Brother Anselm O'Callaghan (1969-71) who included the distinguished touch of a fat cigar. Known as ghost by the boys, he was a solitary figure with an enquiring expression on his face. Brother Michael retired as Principal at the age of 65, and later unfortunately renounced his vows as a Presentation Brother.

Prior to Brother Michael and Brother Matthew, several other Presentation Brothers held the position of Principal, with Brother Jerome Kelly (1957-69) being perhaps the most famous of them all.[2]

Former Principals listed chronologically:

Bro. Livinus Kelly (1948-52)

Bro. Liam Dromey (1952-53)

Bro. Bartholomew Browne (1953-56)

Bro. Macartan Sheehy (1956-57)

Bro. Jerome Kelly (1957-69)

Bro. Anselm O'Callaghan (1969-71)

Bro. Matthew Feheney (1971-75)

Bro. Michael Samuel (1975- )

The Spirit of Presentation

Presentation College-San Fernando prides itself on the presence of a special spirit that thrives within the College walls. Teamwork, discipline and cohesiveness are stressed as an integral part of college life. Every morning, the school assembles in the general auditorium, after being summoned by the "First Bell", where the Principal or chosen staff member leads the school in song, prayer or reflection followed by announcements curricular and extra-curricular in nature. It is interesting to note that prior to 1971 Presentation boys did not sing at Assembly, and with the arrival of the new Principal Brother Matthew Feheney who was an avid music lover, everyone was presented with a hymn sheet and told to sing; and the response of the boys was to stare at one another in absolute bewilderment. Every "Presman" can recall these daily meetings, as they add to the institution's cohesiveness and general feeling of Brotherhood. At its core, the Presentation experience instilled egalitarian values insulated from class, race, religion or politics.

The "Pres Spirit" is most evident during the football season, when secondary schools in Trinidad & Tobago compete across the country. Presentation College-San Fernando usually has an exceptionally talented football team, and has produced several players who would later represent Trinidad and Tobago Football at national level (senior or junior age group), as well as collegiate and professional teams throughout the United States and Europe. Notable players include Avery John, who played with the Soca Warriors in Germany at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In the 1980s and early 1990s, "Pres Spirit" was high as the College's football team played several prominent matches now documented in the annals of interscholastic sport in Trinidad & Tobago. Members of the College's 2007-08 squad had the honour of meeting Cafu, the former Brazilian captain and current AC Milan player, on November 16, 2007 during the RBTT InterCol South Zone Secondary Schools final at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium. [3] Marcos Evangelista de Moraes (born June 7, 1970 in São Paulo), better known as Cafu, is a two-times Fifa World Cup winning Brazilian footballer, currently a defender for Italian club A.C. Milan. ...

The school's "Riddim Section" comprising of members of the school's Band would beat catchy rhythms as school supporters chanted encouragement to the team. The Riddim Section would play at football matches for the school, stimulate fan support and school pride. The Section has won the riddim section competition on many occasions.

Organization of the College

In academic structure the College is organized into three (3) discrete blocks.

Lower School: Form 1 through Form 3. Students range in age from 11 to 14. Each Form represents a 'year of entry' group that pursues a uniform curriculum. The Form 'year of entry' groups are sub-divided into classes bearing the designations 'P', 'R', 'E' which represent the first three letters of the school's name. As such, in the Lower School, there are nine (9) Forms or classgroups ranging from Forms 1P, 1R and 1E to Forms 3P, 3R and 3E.

Middle School: Form 4 and Form 5. Students range in age from 15-16.

Upper School: Form 6, which is sub-divided into a first-year group referred to as 'Six-One' and a second and final year group referred to as 'Six-Two'. 'Six-One' and 'Six-Two' are the nominal equivalent of 'Lower Six' and 'Upper Six' at similar institutions. Students range in age from 17-19.

The College is also organized along intra-mural lines. Upon entry to the College, students are assigned to one of several Houses and maintain allegiance to the assigned House though their tenure at the school.

The House System serves as an organizational basis for intra-College sporting competition as well as for participation in other aspects of College life. The system was introduced during the years of Br. Livinus Kelly's principalship.

Among the Houses are Andrew, Augustine, Barnabas, Bede, and Winifred.

The Prefect System provides a supplemental basis for the administration and promotion of a disciplined, structured College environment. Prefects exist in two forms.

The first variety, College Prefects, come exclusively from the Upper School or senior rank of students. These sixth formers are chosen by the Principal for the esteem and respect acquired and commanded from their peers and tutors during five years at the College, and for their personal diligence and commitment to the institution. They enforce adherence to the College's code of conduct systemwide and are accountable to the Principal.

Among College Prefects there is a prefect primus_inter_pares known as the Head Prefect. The position of Head Prefect is emblematic of the consummate Presman. First among equals redirects here. ...

The other variety of prefects are referred to as Class Prefects. Class Prefects monitor conduct within their particular Form or classroom and are accountable to the Form Master or Mistress - the tutor responsible for the particular class' integration into the academic and cultural life of the College.

One other College organizational tool merits mention. To announce and punctuate the beginning and end of daily instruction, as well as the start and finish of each clas period, and the call for Assembly, a Bell Boy is chosen from the Lower School. This student is understood to be a model of discipline, reliability and punctuality.

College Hymn

"Oh Lady of Presentation"

Oh Lady of Presentation,
For us we bid thee pray, thee pray;
That college days may be of worth,
While we our time abide on Earth,
And trials face each day.

As students of Presentation,
We pledge to ever be, to be;
Brave soldiers in the bitter strife,
For self assertion in this life,
And men of dignity.

It matters little where we go,
In the years that lie ahead, ahead.
The knowledge which we here acquire,
Shall help our nation to aspire,
For we are men sincere.

Majestic on its verdant Hill,
Our school o'er looks the sea, the sea.
It stands a monument to those,
Who all their lives to serve it chose,
That it fore'er may be.

Famous alumni

These are some of the most outstanding men to have passed through Presentation College and it shows by where have reached in society.There are many others that aren't listed here though :

• Patrick Manning^[1] - Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
• Basdeo Panday^[1] - Former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
• Denis Singh - General Manager of Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission
• Machel Montano - internationally acclaimed soca artiste
• Kees Dieffenthaller - prominent soca artiste
• Avery John - professional football/soccer player
• Henry Ian Cusick - Emmy-nominated actor versed in TV, motion picture and stage performance
• Dr Euric Bobb - former Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago (1984-88)

For other persons named Patrick Manning, see Patrick Manning (disambiguation). ... Basdeo Panday- (born May 25, 1933) was Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2006. ... Avery John (born June 18, 1975 in Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago) is a Trinidadian football (soccer) player, who currently plays as a defender for the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer. ... Henry Ian Cusick (born April 17, 1967) is an Emmy nominated actor of stage, television, and motion pictures. ...

Contraversial alumni

These are people that came from families that are considered by many to be upperclass and influencial in Trinidad and most of all attended Presentation College due to exception intelligence for there ages.Many were also quite well like by the general student population.They broke the ice between teacher student relationships, these are not the people that would become the prime ministers but they are equally important and especially for those that went to school with them.

• Raymond Yawching [1972 - 1977]: A well known artist that is said to have spear headed Socialist Movement of Bel Air founder.

• Lee Polonaise [1985 - 1990]:Cheif General Of Bel Air Socialist Movement Trinidad & Tobago and has ruined many a school and general public gatherings.

• Brad Boyce [1988 - 1991]: Removed from full duration at Presentation College also a member of Bel Air Socialist Movement [Later departed to quiet life due to a run in with the law {manslaughter charge} later aquitted. The Entire pop... of Trinidad looked on his court trial.

• Alexander Boyd [1995 - 2000]: Member of Bel Air Socialist Movement [is said by many to be highly intelligent an almost trade union like leader at 14 yrs. but misused it, known for stirring up most things to gain student attention, hanging another students clothes at half mask to comemorate the beginning of C.X.C. in the school to overlook San- Fernando], since disapeared.

• Stefan Hart [1994 - 1999]: Started and featured in Trinidad Express race altrications[ Nazzi swashsticker on shirt] for Presentation Hirachy amongst south Trinidad schools.

Facilities

Facilities of Presentation College San Fernando include the Football Field, Tennis Court, Squash Court and Basketball Court. The swimming pool is not owned by the school and can be accessed by the public.

See also

• Naparima College
• List of schools in Trinidad and Tobago

Naparima College is a prestigious secondary school for boys in Trinidad and Tobago. ... // This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ...

References

External links

• Presentation College Official Website
• Pres Old Boys Website
• Graduates.com