"From good to great in 2008 - none left behind in 2009" is the theme of the current school year at Elliot Primary School, which is marking its 160th anniversary this year. In celebration of 160 years of preparing young people for life, former student Ken Burch presented the school with a painting he completed entitled "Old Elliot School House".

The first of the two school houses on Parson's Lane in Devonshire was built in 1848 by twelve black men keen to see Devonshire children receive an education. The twelve men were William Thomas Robinson, Thomas Smith, Richard Tuzo, Thomas Burch, Richard Thomas Zuill, Daniel James Johnson, William Butterfield Jennings, Aesrael Smith, Thomas Robinson, Richard James Jennings, John Williams and William Robinson.

Beginning humbly with one room in which 33 students of different ages were taught, the school has out-grown two campuses and is presently located on Hermitage Road, further east. The subjects taught in the one-room school house included reading, arithmetic, spelling, the Bible and sewing. Students generally walked to school and carried books in tin pails.

Today students access information on a wide variety of subjects in a well-equipped library, via the Internet and through a range of textbooks.

The need to keep current is constant, however, and this year the school invites all ex-scholars, former teachers, principals and friends of Elliot to donate funds towards its 160th Academic Jubilee Enhancement Fund so that students can be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and materials to enhance learning.

Cheques can be mailed to Elliot Primary School, 12 Hermitage Road, Devonshire FL01 or brought directly to the school between 8am and 6pm. For further information contact the school office 236-3091 or email mpaynter@moed.bm.