PAST students and present teachers and students of the Mackenzie High School (MHS) joined in a march last Sunday to celebrate the institution’s 70th Anniversary. The march, which started from the Linden Technical Institute compound and ended at the Mackenzie High School saw participation from scores of persons who donned the school’s colours, blue and white, as they cheerfully gyrated through the streets of Linden in celebration of the school’s achievements over the past 70 years.
Former Head Teacher of the school Mr. Clifton Mc Donald, 94, who lives overseas, returned home to participate in the anniversary’s procceedings. The march was led by former Head Mistress and Guidance Counsellor Gloria Britton, Mayor of Linden Carwyn Holland, who is also a former student and Deputy Head Teacher Miss Dion David. Miss Gloria Britton, who gave the inspirational charge, encouraged the students to remain disciplined as this would lead to success. Vanessa Kisoon, a teacher of the school, said the march also served as a reunion of former teachers and students. “They all sang the school song, repeated the school prayers, the school creed and it was really nice that even the head teachers remembered after so many years, it was a really nice atmosphere,” she said.

This march is only one of the many events on the calendar of activities for the 70th Anniversary celebration. Also held were a church service and an inter-house debating competition a concert and an Evening of Elegance. A student’s symposium will be held on November 15th followed by the debate finals and basketball competition on November 16th. Wrapping up the calendar of activities will be the annual Thanksgiving Exercise on November 17th, followed by a teachers’ retreat on the18th.
Mackenzie High has carried the education flag for years for Linden. Though the school for the last two years has been challenged for the top spot by other secondary schools such as Chistianburg Wismar Secondary School(CWSS), this year MHS did exceptionally well at both the Caribbean Secondary Examination Council (CSEC)and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). The overall pass rate was 84%, and the analysis of the results shows that MHS has done very well despite facing several challenges. A total of 25 students received grade ones in Mathemtics, while the overall past pass rate stands above 70%. English A raked in a total of 39 grade ones with an overall pass rate of 90%. The school also raked in 100% passes for Agricultural Science, Building Technology, Clothing and Textile, EDPM and Food and Nutrition. Over 90% of the students in the 2016 batch passed Economics and English A, while 80% passed Biology, Caribbean History and Geography. The school has also copped 8 of the 10 spots for the region’s top 10, with the top business student gaining seven grade ones. The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), also saw noticeable success with 100% overall passes in several subjects. These include Agricultural Science, Caribbean Studies, Chemistry, Communication Studies, Environmental Science, Geography, Law Unit 1, Management of Business, Mathematics Unit 1 and 2, Physics and Sociology Units 1 and 2.
Given this exceptional performance, MHS was honoured with the 2016 Most Improved School award. The school also retained this year’s Inter-Secondary Track and Field Championships. According to Head Teacher Collete Nurse, Mackenzie High will continue to strive for excellence not only academically, but in sports . The Mackenzie High School, formerly known as Echols High, was opened in 1945 to give students living up the Demerara River an opportunity to attend secondary school in their district as they were forced to attend schools in Georgetown. The first principal was Mr. E. U. Wilson. On September 11, 1959, the school was renamed the Mackenzie High School after coming under the stewardship of the Ministry of Education.