Sharell Lockhart, FN News Reporter, [email protected]

President of the FAHS/BMES Alumni Association David Wallace along with alumni members and BMES principal Anita Doherty, announced plans and activities currently underway for the 49th Anniversary Reunion celebrations.

“For Warriors who would have attended Freeport High School 1965-1975, Freeport Anglican High School 1976-2005 and Bishop Michael Eldon School 2006 to present the journey continues on the road to the school’s 50th Golden Jubilee celebration.

“The alumni association is pleased to announce that next year we will embark on a 49th anniversary reunion cruise aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Victory sailing out of Miami, Florida to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands beginning Saturday, May 17 – Thursday, May 22, 2014.

“We expect 1,000 old scholars and their spouses to register for the cruise,” said Wallace, noting that an additional $50.00 will be added to the cruise package.

“We are hoping to raise $50,000.00 to donate to the school hence the $50.00 will gladly be given directly to the school to assist with some much needed repairs that must urgently be carried out.

“We have aimed to raise $100,000.00 for the school over the next three years and hope to successfully achieve this goal,” Wallace revealed.

According to the alumni president, a Warriors Fun Day Walkathon will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 beginning at 6:00 a.m. leaving the school grounds and heading south to Williams/Russell Town Beach or to Port Lucaya Marketplace returning to the school.

Wallace noted the alumni hopes to raise $25,000 during the walkathon event with 50 percent of the proceeds being donated to the school to further assist in improving its overall aesthetics, mainly the re-tiling of the auditorium.

The remaining proceeds will be used to create a Memorial Rose Garden in honor of both the late Rozena Nesbitt, a former student, teacher and Bahamas athletic champion and other fallen Warriors.

Old scholars of the school are said to be in for a fantastic time during the 2014 celebrations and are guaranteed the level of excitement will arrived at a new plateau during the 2015 celebrations, which will begin in the month of February and include a massive ‘Warriors Week’ Celebration, parade and essay competition to be hosted by the school.

“In August 2015 we will celebrate our 50th Golden Jubilee Celebration with a cultural night show to be held in the Port Lucaya Marketplace, a walkathon and banquet where as many as 25 persons will be honored.

“One of the persons to be honored will be principal Anita Doherty, who has been the longest serving principal of the school. In fact, she has been here for all three changes in the school’s name.

“There will also be a church service held at Christ the King Anglican Pro-Cathedral with a mass parade following the service and celebrations are set to conclude with a Warriors Family Fun Day to be held in Deadman’s Reef at Paradise Cove,” Wallace said.

He further notes the association expects to raise $25,000.00 from the banquet, $15,000.00 as a result of the walkathon coupled with the $50,000.00 to be raised during the cruise and in addition to $8,000.00 already donated to the school, the $100,000.00 goal would have been met.

All Warriors are urged to contact their class captains and to take a vested interest in the upcoming celebrations planned. Wallace revealed old scholars and former teachers now residing in England, Canada, Australia, the United States of America and the Turks and Caicos Islands have already committed to being a part of the festivities.

Principal Doherty’s elation was uncontainable and she too hopes all Warriors with be a part of the scheduled events.

“I would like to thank David, all the members of the alumni association and all those persons who would be representing all three eras of the schools history for uniting to ensure these wonderful plans become a reality.

“I have been around for all three eras and I am grateful to share this time with all those who will be in attendance at each event,”?said Doherty.

“More than that I am thankful to have taught some of my former students’ children and now their grandchildren … these activities mark a significant time for all Warriors.

“I thank the association for all it has done both in the forefront and behind the scenes and for the donations they have raised on behalf of the school to ensure much needed maintenance repairs occur, so the school can continue to be an educational haven for future Warriors.

“Again I appeal to all Warriors out there to get onboard, contact your captain or members of the alumni and let us make the 49th and 50th anniversary celebrations the best we have ever seen or been blessed to be apart of,” said Doherty.

She noted donations previously made to the school would have helped to replace chairs in the schools auditorium and help with some minor maintenance work around the school.

Both Wallace and principal Doherty noted the once a Warrior always a Warrior in fact, “you area Warrior for life!” so to learn more about the upcoming celebrations and how you can be apart of it contact Tiffany smith Class of 1986 at the school or email [email protected].

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