spending his final high school year at St. George's Secondary.

St. George's head boy Tyrone Wales was hoping to graduate with only those like him who spent the past five years at the east end.

But after a year of studying, athletically competing, and socialising together, the two young men have become the best of friends and cannot wait to receive diplomas together.

Their story is similar to those of many former Devonshire Academy and St.

George's students who, a year ago, strongly feared the closure of Devonshire Academy would disrupt their high school education.

Some parents of the 150 affected Devonshire Academy students also strongly objected to the Education Ministry's decision to close the school and took out a court injunction, which was later quashed, against the Ministry.

Many of them feared that their children would be at an academic disadvantage at some schools, while deprived at other schools of programmes in which they excelled at Devonshire Academy like performing arts, electrical work, woodwork, and motor mechanics.

But St. George's principal Mr. Dale Butler, and some of the 80 students who made the transition from Devonshire Academy assured The Royal Gazette that all was well at the east end.

"It was not an easy transition for teachers and students to leave what was their home,'' Mr. Butler said.

And 14-year-old Nea-Cherri Talbot could attest to that.

"Teachers had to stop classes because children used to be arguing about which school is better,'' she said, adding that sometimes blows were exchanged.

"They don't realise that since we came down here, things have improved.'' Nea-Cherri, who was separated from her best friend due to the closure, said at times she still feels like a Devonshire Academy student at St. George's.

But she and the other students agreed that teachers at St. George's try their best to make every student feel like they belong there.

"Teachers push me harder at St. George's,'' said fifth-year-student Paulette Baker who initially resented the closure.

The 17-year-old, who spent four years of high school at Devonshire Academy, said: "It took a long time for me to get along with students at St. George's.

"I heard a lot of things about St. George's Secondary children, like they will put you down, so I didn't want to come.'' Paulette said she realised her fears were unfounded when she arrived at St.

George's. And she said by November, students were friendly and helpful toward her.

Paulette, however, found it more difficult to adjust to St. George's strict dress code.

"You can't even wear black hair clips,'' she said. "You can only wear blue and white (the school colours). If you don't have the right colours on, they will make you take your hair out or go home. I'm just getting adjusted to these rules.'' But she said her grades have improved at St. George's and its teachers are partly responsible.

"I guess I just really thought hard about it and realised I needed to settle down,'' Paulette said. "I have no regrets now that I've been here a year. I like it down here.'' Second-year student Danyon Trott and 17-year-old Shandon Fox, both formerly of Devonshire Academy, agreed.

"I believe my grades have improved at St. George's because I'm feeling better about myself,'' Shandon said, adding that teachers at St. George's are just as helpful as those who were at Devonshire Academy.

Amer Shakir, who has attended St. George's for the past five years, said he was forced to change his perception about Devonshire Academy after meeting its teachers and students.

"I did not want children from Devonshire Academy down here because I heard people saying it was a bad school,'' Amer said.

"When Mr. Butler told us that Devonshire Academy students would be coming here, it was an uproar. We knew it was going to be trouble and everybody pleaded with Mr. Butler not to let them come.

"But when they came here, it was different. They were friendly and it was like we knew them all along.'' Shakir, who plays the saxophone in St. George's school band, said now he views former Devonshire Academy students as other St. George's Secondary peers.

Tyrone echoed Amer's comments, saying: "I found out the first day that they were just like us. They were scared and we were scared and now we have blended like we've known each other all along.'' And Mr. Butler confirmed this, saying: "Even though we have gone through the stormy seas, we're now working together as a team.

"I commend my teachers for a job well done, and the Ministry because I said if you cannot pull off this small change, the public will not have faith in you with major education reforms. They pulled it off in a limited time.

"Our major concern was to ensure that what the students were given here was what they had at Devonshire Academy. And in every regard that has happened.'' WORKING WELL TOGETHER -- Former Devonshire Academy students Paulette Baker (front left), Nea-Cherri Talbot (front right), Shandon Fox (middle right) and Danyon Trott (top right) have settled in at St. George's Secondary after a year, with school peers Amer Shakir (top left) and head boy Tyrone Wales (middle left).