GBSS Alumni International Foundation

April 6, 2023: A group of former students of the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (GBSS) has reaffirmed their commitment to helping the school, which recently retained its men’s Intercol track and field title.

Members of the GBSS Alumni International Foundation (AIF), which was established about three years ago, have been involved mentoring students and have made other contributions to the school, including the donation of 54 Covid-relief and Christmas food hampers to GBSS families across the island.

In the latest donation from the foundation, GBSS is about to receive five first-aid kits for strategic locations at the school. Each kit is valued at US$70.

“Keep working hard at your schoolwork and at play, and be assured of the unflinching support of the GBSS AIF,’’ the foundation said in a letter to the school, in which it also complimented staff and students on their 2023 Inter-house “Mini-Olympic’’ sports meet and on winning this year’s Intercol for a second consecutive time.

“As part of our mission of assisting GBSS, we are delighted that one of the recipients of our help was an athlete who performed exceedingly well at the Intercol championships,’’ the AIF letter said.

“As athletes, you are continuing the tradition of many past students who have performed outstandingly at home and abroad. Among them is a GBSS-AIF member, Val Adams, who was a multiple-sport national athlete and a former Intercol Victor Ludorum,’’ it added. “Other brilliant GBSS alumni in sports include Olympic and World Championship 400m gold medalist Kirani James; Lindon Victor, a Commonwealth Games’ gold medalist; West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Junior Murray; and G.C. “Jackie” Grant, a former school principal, who captained the West Indies cricket team.’’

The AIF, which comprises former GBSS students living in Grenada and in the Diaspora, held an in-person gathering and reunion in Grenada, from August 10 – 14, last year.

As part of its 2023 program of activities, the AIF is organizing the second version of a writing competition. The contest was first held last year with sponsorship from foundation member Everod Samuel, an engineer based in the United States.

More than 500 students participated in the 2022 Samuel-sponsored essay-writing competition.

The 2023 edition is being called a “Most Improved Student Project’’. The aim, according to the GBSS AIF, will be to incentivise students through reward of their efforts, to perform to the best of their ability, irrespective of their academic standard or socio-economic status.

The top performers, from Forms 1 to 4, will receive books and cash awards ranging from $200 to $350. Among the criteria for judging are attendance, extracurricular activity involvement, homework effort and promoting positivity.

The AIF is accepting donations and sponsorship offers to help with all its 2023 planned programs for GBSS.

The mission of the foundation is to assist in the growth and development of current GBSS students to become productive, well-rounded citizens and also to equip them to get involved in the social and economic transformation of Grenada.

GBSS, which recently elected new members to its Students’ Council, celebrated its 138^th anniversary on February 2.