Ignatius Byer Primary

A BRIEF HISTORY OF IGNATIUS BYER PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Ignatius Byer Primary School represents the amalgamation of two schools: the Clement’s Infants School and the St. Clement’s Junior School both of which were located at the St. Clement’s St. Lucy.

The St. Clement’s Infant School was opened in 1891 with Mr. W. Byer as Head Teacher and Rev. G. Elkins as Supervising Minister.  In 1902, the school was converted into an all age girls school with Ms. Florence Miller as Head Teacher.

During 1954 the school was changed from as all girls into a Junior School, with the Infants and Seniors going to the former St. Clement’s Boy’s School.

Further re-organization occurred in 1957 when the Infants returned and the school catered to children from 5-9 years of age.

With the establishment of the St. Lucy Secondary School, the school once again became an Infant School and the Juniors attended the sister school.

The St. Clement’s Junior School was founded by Reverend H. Skeete who served as priest from 1840- 1889.  He opened the school in the carriage house of the St. Clement’s Vicarage.  The first Head Teacher was Mr. B. Hurley.  He was succeeded by Mr. Robert Johnson who was at the time Sexton of the St. Clement’s chapel.  It was during his leadership that the school was moved to the St. Clement’s location.  The school was then a Mixed Primary School.

In 1902, the school was converted to an all-aged Boys School.  Sometime afterwards the school became an all-aged Girls School.

In 1954 the school was again re-organized into a Mixed School for Infants and Seniors.

All of the other pupils were housed at the St. Clement’s Infant School.  In 1957 the school was again re-organized as a Senior Mixed School.

In September 1971 the school; underwent a further change – this time becoming a Junior School for children 7 to 11 years old.

In April 1996 the St. Clement’s Infant and Junior School’s were amalgamated in a spacious new building on its present site at Lowlands, St Lucy under the leadership of Mrs. Wavanie Clarke.  The school was officially opened on May 10, 1996 by the Honourable Mia Mottley, Minister of Education.

It was called Ignatius Byer. Catering to students from ages 3 to 11.

THE SCHOOL CREST

The school’s crest is comprised of four symbols contained in individual squares.

They are:

1. A pair of clasped hands
2. An opened book
3. The broken-trident, and
4. Two figures in motion

Each symbol represents an aspect of man’s being:

spiritual (hands), intellectual (book), social/emotional (Trident) and physical (figures in motion).

All of the symbols are then embodied in a complete circle which represents a holistic approach to the pursuit of excellence.

The crest was designed by staff member, Mrs. Angela M. Smith, and officially drawn by Mrs. Eunice Trotman, a teacher of Christ Church Boy’s School.

SCHOOL MOTTO

Striving for Excellence at All Times

MISSION STATEMENT

The school is committed to providing quality education for all of its students.