School Milestones Investment in Sports Centre produces champions
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t has been ten years since a leadership gift from former BHS Head Girl Jessie Vesey, combined with a capital campaign, produced the Jessie Vesey Sports Centre (JVSC). The gym helped bring sports at BHS into the modern era, and today stands as a symbol of athletic pride and achievement for the school. Head of P.E., Julie Downey, has been at the school for 37 years and can attest to the impact of the new gym.
“I started teaching at BHS straight out of college in 1972,” she says. “Back then, the P.E. programme was dictated by the facilities with most of the sports being outdoor sports including netball (played on grass courts), cross country, track and field and softball. Mrs Downey says that the JVSC changed all that allowing the school to offer other popular sports like basketball, volleyball and badminton as part of the curriculum. “However, the greatest impact of the gym has been the availability of teaching space,” continues Ms Downey. “Before the new gym was built, we had a situation where there were 4 P.E./Dance teachers and only 2 indoor teaching spaces. “There were many times when the weather was bad and students would be forced into classrooms or corridors for their P.E. lesson.” And the space is clearly paying off with BHS students earning a commendable 93 national championships and 75 runners-up, in all sports in the ten years since the JVSC opened. These include: 40 national championships and 22 runners-up in swimming; 11 national titles, including three undefeated seasons, and 17 runners-up in netball; 24 national championships and 14 runners-up in cross- country; the school’s first national championship in track and field, with two subsequent championships, 10 runners-up and the top female track athlete three times; and an additional 13 national titles and 10 runners-up spread across the sports of volleyball, hockey, softball and basketball. “Having a nice gym improves the standard of sports that come out of BHS as students can excel with the latest equipment and facilities,” says IB2 student JayLynn Hines, who has been part of championship teams in netball, softball, and track and field. “The gym also allows for
the community to see how BHS takes pride in its athletic and physical education programmes as well as its academic programme. “I also believe that sports allow students to become more well-
rounded people as they learn to balance enjoyable hobbies with academic requirements.” In January, 2013, BHS held a special ceremony to mark the 10th Anniversary of the gym. Speaking at the event Head of School, Linda Parker, noted the important role sports can play in the development of BHS students.
“Whether sport is played as an individual or as a team, at a competitive level, or just for fun, it has important lessons to teach our students which will carry over into the rest of their lives, and which apply to business, politics, teamwork and leadership,” she said. “Sport teaches us tenacity, focus, perseverance, patience, strength, concentration, timing, courage, adaptability and skill. Sport teaches both mental and physical agility. Sport also teaches us sportsmanship; how to handle ourselves with grace, dignity and humility in victory and defeat.”
The health of the BHS athletics programme does not rest solely on the purpose-built Jessie Vesey Sports Centre. The athletics department is staffed by a strong team led by Mrs Downey and also consists of Kath Davis, Val Young and Mary Faulkenberry. In addition to the athletics staff, BHS has many volunteer coaches who are staff members, parents and friends in the community who have donated countless hours to help students achieve the aforementioned victories. The Bermuda High School wishes to thank the donors who made this building happen and the architects, Cooper and Gardner, who designed a facility that meets the needs of our students and fits in well with the campus.
*Jessie Vesey was Head Girl of BHS in 1918, graduating in 1919. She always kept in touch with and enjoyed being engaged with the school, whether it was observing Math and Science Week, visiting with a Year 2 class or saying grace at a Torch Ceremony Luncheon. Her contributions to the school, both as a student and alumna, ensure that BHS will forever be grateful to Jessie Vesey.
Torchbearer Spring 2013 7
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