On Tuesday March 19th 2019, our school commemorated its 60th anniversary in existence. Having been officially opened in March 19th 1959, throughout the years PCC have progressed greatly from its humble beginnings. Here is a brief history of our school:
Presentation College as we know it today started off as a vision of the late Canon Max Murphy, a man moved by compassion and understanding for the underprivileged youths of Caroni. Concerned for their welfare, he saw the need for some form of secondary education to be made available to them and with the permission and encouragement from the late Archbishop Count Finbar Ryan; a foundation was laid to pave the way to Presentation College, Chaguanas.
At that time, it was known as the Parish school but this was later changed to Pamphilian High School and a later still, to the college of St. Phillip and St. James.
As time progressed it became clear that the school had exceeded its target of producing merely ‘educated’ citizens of Chaguanas and county Caroni. The government, having realized the wealth of potential, initiated assistance to the college in 1949. During that time the college was under the direction of the Catholic Board of Management of Trinidad with Mr. John Burns as principal. The formal commissioning of the new college, PCC as it is known today was held in March 1959 by the Presentation Brothers (an international Catholic congregation) with the mission to “promote and provide a total Christian formation, permeated with the spirit of love, where the academic, physical social and moral dimensions of every pupil’s human and religious development are valued and nurtured.”
Although the architectural design of the school is based on those of the 1950’s, over the years there has been great improvement in the infrastructure and physical development of the classrooms and other areas. The science and computer labs are state of the art and one of the best in all of the secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago. Each and every department and classroom has a functional surveillance camera and is fully air-conditioned, which is maintained regularly. The teachers and staff at PCC are dedicated to the creation of a safe, stimulating environment of hope and expectation where the highest standards are demanded and achieved of all our students.
On Tuesday March 19th 2019 the 60th Anniversary of PCC, the entire student population was treated with Domino’s Pizza! There was also a staff gathering after school with past and present Staff Members to commemorate the milestone of 60 years of dedication and service that made PCC to what it is today.
Article written by : Ms. Satira Khan
PCC Students – Javon Escayg, Justin Khan- Ali, Lucas Subnaik, Luke Padmore and Darrin Sawh with students of Pres San Fernando and Archbishop Father Charles Jason Gordon.
