History
History is not always totally precise as the strides taken to reach this present stage can be easily forgotten, untold or unregistered. However, the Wesley Methodist School has a piquant history supported by evidence and today we can boast of what we are now and where we first started. Perhaps one would remember the huge sign on the Wesleyan Methodist Church: “Wesley Methodist Pre-School”. Today, some people still question: Is there a school at the church? No, but this is where it all started.
April 12th, 1999 marked the birth of the Wesley Methodist School in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. The initiative to provide quality education for young people in a healthy, Christian environment was pioneered by Mr and Mrs Samuel Ghartey, missionaries originally from Ghana sent to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The arrival of the Gharteys was a blessing for the Wesley Methodist Church, and as such they have left an indelible mark on the Wesleyan Methodist Church and school. With the arrival of the Ghartey's the work of starting the school took on special and significant meaning. Mrs. Mary Ghartey, a trained infant teacher, was a blessing for the Circuit with its plans to start a school. The Turks and Caicos Islands Circuit of the Methodist Church, recognizing the significance of education met and discussed a proposal to develop a Church School in the Islands. A number of recommendations and proposals were taken to the Circuit Council where they were discussed, agreed and subsequently submitted to Conference. Under the leadership of Rev Kenneth Huggins, the proposals were moved from stage to stage through the various church courts where approval was granted.
Finding a building to accommodate the school was a challenge. However, when the Wesleyan Congregation in Providenciales made a proposal to the Circuit Council to build a church hall, it was the ideal opportunity to house the school in the hall. A request was made to the Wesleyan Congregation, through the Circuit Council, to house the school that was to begin as a pre-school. Rev. Horace Hector began to put the recommendations and committees in place to move the process forward. Rev. Carl Campbell, Rev. Livingstone Malcolm and Rev. Patmore Henry all took a special interest in seeing that the school was started. It was then that doors were opened to the public to register their children at the Wesley Methodist Pre School. The Church Board appointed Mrs Ghartey as principal, Ms Tammy Whilly and Mr George Essilfie as teachers. With these positions filled, the school opened its doors on April 12th, 1999, with a small ceremony which included the President of the Conference, Rev. Livingston Malcolm; The Minister of Education, Hon. Clarence Selver; Dignitaries from the Education Department; all members of the School Board and specially invited guests.
The Wesley Methodist Pre-School was started in partial fulfillment of the vision to reach out and minister to others and help meet the educational needs of the Turks & Caicos Islands at Pre-school and Primary School levels, especially as the population in Providenciales increased rapidly. The school started out with Kindergarten 3 (Nursery), Kindergarten 4, and Kindergarten 5, and a total of thirty-six (36) children. For the first five (5) years the school grew steadily from thirty-six (36) children to one hundred and fourteen (114), spread across Kindergarten through Grade 3, having to turn away children each year for lack of space. The staff of three (3) in 1999 grew to nine (9) in 2004. With the Ghartey's departure from the Turks & Caicos Islands, Mrs. Judymae Knowles became the principal and another classroom was added taking the school into primary school and every year one more class had to be added.
The school began to outgrow the present facility at Blue Hills. A ground breaking ceremony took place as part of the activities of the Conference of 2002 held in Grand Turk. The journey of erecting the first phase of building began. In September of 2004, the school employed its third principal, Ms. Edna Cottoy as the school developed further into its Primary Department. The name also changed to reflect this development to Wesley Methodist School. In January 2005, the new ten (10) classroom block was dedicated during the Conference which was held in Providenciales. Bishop Dr. Raymond R. Neilly did the honors. This was a very proud moment for all Methodists throughout the Conference and for the Turks & Caicos Islands.
The school continued to grow and there was a need for additional classrooms. Phase II began with very little funds with a view to providing additional class rooms and administrative offices. It was then that parents began requesting that the school move forward to offer secondary education. Some adjustments were made to accommodate the rapid growth of the school to include a computer lab, day care center, tuck shop, classrooms for high school, temporary science lab and Home Economics room, and staff room. September 2007 witnessed the opening of the Wesley Methodist High School with twenty eight (28) students in Forms 1, 2, & 3.
During the Conference of January 2008, the Ministerial Staff of the Conference, along with other specially invited guests, were on hand to share in the impressive dedication ceremony of Block II. Next up was nothing short of a miracle! With the visionary leadership of the Superintendent Minister and Chairman of the School Board- Rev. Derek C. O. Browne, the commitment, hard work and supervisory skills of contractor Princie Harris, and of course money from TCI Bank LTD, Block III was completed. It must be noted however, that work on Block III started on June 1st , 2008 and was completed by the start of September 2008 with the exception of some electrical fixtures and the roof sheeting which were not yet on island. This was nothing short of a miracle!
This Block houses our Hospitality Center, Science Lab, Wood work Shop, library and four class rooms. To God Be The Glory! The Wesley Methodist School is growing rapidly, and there is no telling how far we may reach. Like the phoenix we rise and explore our full potential. Every success is measured and celebrated. Every challenge is embraced. Every opportunity is seized and every threat is a testament of our posture and ambition. We are committed to excellence and will produce the same.
April 12th, 1999 marked the birth of the Wesley Methodist School in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. The initiative to provide quality education for young people in a healthy, Christian environment was pioneered by Mr and Mrs Samuel Ghartey, missionaries originally from Ghana sent to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The arrival of the Gharteys was a blessing for the Wesley Methodist Church, and as such they have left an indelible mark on the Wesleyan Methodist Church and school. With the arrival of the Ghartey's the work of starting the school took on special and significant meaning. Mrs. Mary Ghartey, a trained infant teacher, was a blessing for the Circuit with its plans to start a school. The Turks and Caicos Islands Circuit of the Methodist Church, recognizing the significance of education met and discussed a proposal to develop a Church School in the Islands. A number of recommendations and proposals were taken to the Circuit Council where they were discussed, agreed and subsequently submitted to Conference. Under the leadership of Rev Kenneth Huggins, the proposals were moved from stage to stage through the various church courts where approval was granted.
Finding a building to accommodate the school was a challenge. However, when the Wesleyan Congregation in Providenciales made a proposal to the Circuit Council to build a church hall, it was the ideal opportunity to house the school in the hall. A request was made to the Wesleyan Congregation, through the Circuit Council, to house the school that was to begin as a pre-school. Rev. Horace Hector began to put the recommendations and committees in place to move the process forward. Rev. Carl Campbell, Rev. Livingstone Malcolm and Rev. Patmore Henry all took a special interest in seeing that the school was started. It was then that doors were opened to the public to register their children at the Wesley Methodist Pre School. The Church Board appointed Mrs Ghartey as principal, Ms Tammy Whilly and Mr George Essilfie as teachers. With these positions filled, the school opened its doors on April 12th, 1999, with a small ceremony which included the President of the Conference, Rev. Livingston Malcolm; The Minister of Education, Hon. Clarence Selver; Dignitaries from the Education Department; all members of the School Board and specially invited guests.
The Wesley Methodist Pre-School was started in partial fulfillment of the vision to reach out and minister to others and help meet the educational needs of the Turks & Caicos Islands at Pre-school and Primary School levels, especially as the population in Providenciales increased rapidly. The school started out with Kindergarten 3 (Nursery), Kindergarten 4, and Kindergarten 5, and a total of thirty-six (36) children. For the first five (5) years the school grew steadily from thirty-six (36) children to one hundred and fourteen (114), spread across Kindergarten through Grade 3, having to turn away children each year for lack of space. The staff of three (3) in 1999 grew to nine (9) in 2004. With the Ghartey's departure from the Turks & Caicos Islands, Mrs. Judymae Knowles became the principal and another classroom was added taking the school into primary school and every year one more class had to be added.
The school began to outgrow the present facility at Blue Hills. A ground breaking ceremony took place as part of the activities of the Conference of 2002 held in Grand Turk. The journey of erecting the first phase of building began. In September of 2004, the school employed its third principal, Ms. Edna Cottoy as the school developed further into its Primary Department. The name also changed to reflect this development to Wesley Methodist School. In January 2005, the new ten (10) classroom block was dedicated during the Conference which was held in Providenciales. Bishop Dr. Raymond R. Neilly did the honors. This was a very proud moment for all Methodists throughout the Conference and for the Turks & Caicos Islands.
The school continued to grow and there was a need for additional classrooms. Phase II began with very little funds with a view to providing additional class rooms and administrative offices. It was then that parents began requesting that the school move forward to offer secondary education. Some adjustments were made to accommodate the rapid growth of the school to include a computer lab, day care center, tuck shop, classrooms for high school, temporary science lab and Home Economics room, and staff room. September 2007 witnessed the opening of the Wesley Methodist High School with twenty eight (28) students in Forms 1, 2, & 3.
During the Conference of January 2008, the Ministerial Staff of the Conference, along with other specially invited guests, were on hand to share in the impressive dedication ceremony of Block II. Next up was nothing short of a miracle! With the visionary leadership of the Superintendent Minister and Chairman of the School Board- Rev. Derek C. O. Browne, the commitment, hard work and supervisory skills of contractor Princie Harris, and of course money from TCI Bank LTD, Block III was completed. It must be noted however, that work on Block III started on June 1st , 2008 and was completed by the start of September 2008 with the exception of some electrical fixtures and the roof sheeting which were not yet on island. This was nothing short of a miracle!
This Block houses our Hospitality Center, Science Lab, Wood work Shop, library and four class rooms. To God Be The Glory! The Wesley Methodist School is growing rapidly, and there is no telling how far we may reach. Like the phoenix we rise and explore our full potential. Every success is measured and celebrated. Every challenge is embraced. Every opportunity is seized and every threat is a testament of our posture and ambition. We are committed to excellence and will produce the same.