Warwick Academy celebrates 350 year anniversary

FRIDAY, JAN. 20: Warwick Academy has begun a series of celebratory events to mark its 350th anniversary.

Throughout the year there will be jazz, theatre, a fundraising gala, an annual fair and much more to mark the momentous occasion.

The celebrations began with a special opening ceremony at the school followed by a tree planting by the oldest alumni who could attend, 92-year-old Jack Osborn who flew over especially from New Jersey, as well as the school’s youngest student five-year-old Master Luke Foster (both pictured right). 

On February 4 there is a fundraising Jazz Gala Dinner which will feature not only the academy’s student band but also Vince Gardener of the Lincoln Center Orchestra. He will join the student jazz band for the 6:30pm concert in the The Phoebe Purvis Memorial Hall, Warwick Academy.

Gardner was part of a world tour with Grammy Award winning Hip Hop singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. Later in 2000 he joined The Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, with which he continues to perform. He has contributed many arrangements for various performances of that ensemble. In 2009 he was commissioned by Jazz At Lincoln Center to compose a work entitled The Jesse B. Semple Suite which featured his original compositions intertwined with the short stories of author Langston Hughes featuring his character Jesse B. Semple.  Dinner will be provided by the Fairmont Southampton and tickets are $100. They can be purchased by contacting Susan Fitzsimmons at the school, 239-9465 or [email protected]

The Primary Play which is open to the public on the evening of February 9 is called The Key Master. It is about a supply teacher who makes the children’s lessons far from boring, as by transforms into the Keymaster who takes them on a colorful journey through English and Warwick Academy History.

The 32nd annual fair takes place on December 1 at the PPMH and sports hall and is a highlight for the students with games, a bake table, food and cotton candy.

The gala weekend is the highlight of the year on November 9 through 11. Saturday will be a “whirlwind of activities” ranging from alumni softball and football games to be held at the school  to a friendly golf tournament to be held at The Fairmont Hotel. For information on the event contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Other celebratory events include the “Wear Blue For Warwick Day” on June 27, the “Walk and Run for Warwick” on October 7, a Charity Golf Tournament at Riddells Bay Golf and Country Club on September 21 and the Secondary Schools drama production on November 21 to the 24.

Director of Development at Warwick Academy Jane Vickers told the Bermuda Sun: “We believe Warwick Academy is the oldest school in the Western hemisphere that has continuously operated at the same site.

“There are so many wonderful Warwick Academy alumni out there in Bermuda and spread across the world that unfortunately we don’t have current contact details for them. 

“We would love to be able to be in touch with everyone and let them know what we are doing this year to celebrate  and keep them informed of what their old school is up to these days.We would love to hear from you.”

Any alumni interested in contacting Warwick Academy should visit the Warwick Academy web site at www.warwickacad.bm, go to Alumni tab and complete the update sheet or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. Also see the Bermuda Sun supplement to be published in March.