students 100 years ago, the school has only seen half a dozen leaders at its helm. A rare occurrence, it is one which present principal Michelle Gabisi attributes to the school's stability. "I think it's extraordinary that Berkeley has had only six principles even though it is 100 years old,'' she said. "It shows the school's stability and a continuity in the programme. In my opinion, it's something which has helped the school to succeed. It enabled each of the principals to design programmes, implement them and see them to fruition.'' Ms Gabisi, herself a former student of the Berkeley Institute, said the school's founders were fortunate to have a first-rate principal to establish the school in 1897 -- a feat achieved through co-incidence. "The Berkeley Educational Society was very fortunate to get its first principal, George DaCosta. They were only able to hire him just as he was due to return to his native Jamaica, as a result of the closure of a school that the St.

Paul's A.M.E. Church opened. "The Berkeley Educational Society was planning to open a school and seized the opportunity to have Mr. DaCosta as its principal. He was persuaded to stay on and the school opened Monday, September 6, 1897 -- 100 years ago tomorrow. There are still some people alive who remember him, such as Dame Marjorie Bean who studied at the Berkeley Institute while he was principal.' Douglas Innis took over from Mr. DaCosta in 1934, said Ms Gabisi. His tenure, the shortest of all principals at the Berkeley Institute, ended with the hiring of R.A.N. James in January of 1937. It was in 1943 that the first Bermudian headmaster took over the running of the high school. Frederick Shirley (F.S.) Furbert took over and continued in that post until 1971 when he handed over the reins to Clifford Maxwell. Dr. Maxwell, a former student at the Berkeley Institute, had already been teaching at the school for two years. He remained in that post until 1991 at which time Patricia Holder served as the school's acting head until 1993 when Ms Gabisi was hired to fill the position. "I started my teaching career at the Berkeley Institute in 1975 and remained here for three years before going to live in England and Nigeria,'' she said. "On returning to Bermuda in 1982, I taught at the Bermuda High School for Girls for ten years, during which time I became head of the secondary school.'' It was at that time, she said, that she learned that the position of principal at the Berkeley Institute was being advertised, and applied for it. "So I became the principal here and have been here for four years now . I am really thrilled that I have been able to be a part of the Centenary celebrations. I think they have been really important as Celebrations abound for Centenary year! year's activities have strengthened our resolve to ensure that the Berkeley Institute continues to serve this community in educating our young people to lead full and productive lives.'' Thus far, the Berkeley Educational Society has organised a celebratory event for each month of 1997. A thanksgiving service was held in January, a drama production in March, a musical concert in April; the annual fair in May was accompanied by alumni events; a concert in the park conducted by bandmaster Barrett Dill in June; alumni events in July and August . "The climax of the Centenary celebrations will be tomorrow evening -- exactly 100 years after the school first opened with its first 27 students,'' said Ms Gabisi. "We will be having a gala banquet at the Southampton Princess Hotel. Our honoured patrons will be former Berkeleyites, the Premier, Pamela Gordon and leader of the Opposition, Jennifer Smith. We've also been very fortunate to seconder as a guest speaker, Patricia Richards Dangor. A former Berkeleyite, a barrister, a part-time UK recorder (circuit judge), and also an occasional puisne judge here in Bermuda. There will also be lots of special surprises for all those who attend the banquet.'' Other events planned as part of the commemorative events include a showing of student talent at the Bermuda Society of Arts in October; the school's annual Founders' Day observance on October 24; a special event for the student body in November and, closing the celebrations will be a special wreath-laying ceremony in the graveyard at St. John's Church. "We have some close ties with (the church) as Canon Mark Jones , a former Rector of St. John's and Devonshire churches, was the first constitutional chairman of the Berkeley Educational Society. We intend to have (the ceremony) as our grand finale at the end of November.'' The aim now, explained Ms Gabisi, is to ready the Berkeley Institute for the future."Of course the entire Government educational system is in the process of restructuring and there are some very exciting plans for the Berkeley Institute which will become a full-fledged senior school over the next few years,'' she said. "When people get the details of those plans, they'll understand why we are very excited and why we are looking forward to moving into the next stage of our history, in a sense.

The future is looking very bright for this school. I think the founders of the school always wanted us to be a school which would provide the best education for all and that's what we will be doing.'' PHOTO First principal of the Berkeley Institute, George A. DaCosta The Berkeley Institute's third principal, R.A.N. James Present headmaster at the Berkeley Institute, Michelle Gabisi MINI SUPPLEMENT SUP