This school year’s Berkeley Institute Founder’s Day was held on Friday, October 21, 2011 in the courtyard of the school.This was the first time that it was held at the school, and all in all it was an informative and an entertaining morning.Every year, The Berkeley Institute has a Founders’ Day Service to celebrate the establishment, the history and the legacy of The Berkeley Institute.This event is one of the highlights of the school calendar and is normally a grand occasion where current and former Berkeleyites gather to honour the school.It is an occasion that inspires new students about the legacy that they are now a part of and reminds the older students of the men and women whose shoulders they are now standing upon.The guest speaker this year was Levette Brangman, an old scholar of the school.The messages that Mrs Brangman had for the audience were that people will try to help us become more than we think we can be and we need to listen to our studious, challenging, loud, persuading, fearful voices.Our voices bring conflict and dare us. We must know our inner voice as we know our parents.Our voice warns us, opens doors, creates opportunities, and places persons in our lives to assist us.She drew the illustration of Joseph in the Bible. Joseph became a target by his brothers. They threw him in a pit but some strangers rescued him.He fell into some trouble dealing with the King’s wife and was put into jail. However, Joseph conquered all these obstacles and went on to become a ruler in Egypt.He went from being a shepherd to a ruler. So Joseph went from shepherd to slave to convict to ruler.Mrs Brangman ended by reminded us of the motto of the Berkeley Institute ‘Respice Finem’ keep the end in view.In addition to Mrs. Brangman’s speech, students were treated to a dramatic depiction of the very first day of school when the Berkeley opened its doors to students in 1897.Students that participated were a prefect who shared the founding of Berkeley, other students who portrayed the founders.The head boy shared other chronological milestones. In addition, the names of several prominent Berkeleyites were listed. This long list included the current and former Premiers, politicians, lawyers, doctors, businessmen, educators and many other professionals.The village keeper award, an award that is bestowed every year on someone who continues to contribute to the school, was jointly bestowed on Lynn Phillips, Veronica Todd and Edwena Smith.There was also an exciting musical interlude; the group Unique made up of S1 students Arianna Smith, Malaiya Jackson and Reh’ma Webb-Hollis, sang a medley of songs that included the song World’s Greatest by R. Kelly.Some of the songs played were All of the Lights, Lazy Song, Don’t Stop Believing, Party Rock Anthem, I’m Coming Home, Man In the Mirror, Black & Yellow, and Take a Bow.The service began at nine forty (9.40) and lasted for three hours. It was a long morning!After the assembly, lunch was extended until one thirty-seven and then the students went to their period 5 and 6 classes.