Berkeley Institute's board of governors are hoping that construction work to convert the school to a senior secondary school will begin this summer.

Chairman of the board Calvin White yesterday told The Royal Gazette that several members of the board and officials from the Works and Engineering Ministry had formed a committee to work on the new school design.

"They're looking at designing the footprint work which they will present to us for review,'' Mr. White said.

The school, which is celebrating its centenary year, will be one of two senior secondary schools in the Island's restructured public school system.

Berkeley is scheduled to become a senior school for up to 750 teenagers -- between the ages of 14 and 18 -- in September, 1999. The other senior school, at Prospect, will open in September this year with a maximum of 950 students.

"We're supposed to be breaking ground later this year,'' Mr. White said. "I would like to see that happen in July. We're working very hard to pull together some plans.

"We have basically agreed as to what will go inside the school.'' While admitting that the school had suffered set backs caused by delays in Government's decision on the number of senior schools and arbitration over selecting applicants for top teaching posts, he said: "The committee is working through the process. I would hope that by the end of this month we should have some kind of conceptual design to present to the public.

Meanwhile, Berkeley is moving into high gear with its centenary celebrations.

The high school will kick off its centenary celebrations on Sunday with an ecumenical thanksgiving service at St. Paul AME Church.

Anglican Bishop the Rt. Rev. Ewen Ratteray, a Berkeley graduate, will be the speaker at the service which is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.

Special guests will include Governor Lord Waddington and Parliamentarians.

"Berkeleyites, teachers, former teachers and friends of the Berkeley Institute are expected to fill the church to overflowing as we give God thanks for blessings of the pasts, present, and for blessings to come,'' Berkeley's Centenary Committee spokesman Charles Jeffers said.

The Centenary Committee have also released a 1997 calendar, which contains full colour prints by well-known artists, all of whom are Berkeleyites.

"It also contains information on the centenary events to be held throughout the year,'' Mr. Jeffers pointed out. "Special features are the pictures and biographical sketches of all former principals, some founding members and other notable Berkeleyites.'' The calendars, priced at $15, can be obtained from the school's office or by calling 292-7450.

Calvin White