21 May · each year · 297 years
Wolmer’s Day
Age Quod Agis
On 17 May 2019, a few days before the schools’ 290th anniversary, the Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, proclaimed 21 May as Wolmer’s Day at King’s House. The day is observed each year. Wolmer’s is the only Jamaican school so recognised.
The Governor-General hailed the Wolmer’s Trust schools — Wolmer’s Trust High School for Boys, Wolmer’s Trust High School for Girls, and Wolmer’s Preparatory, Learning and Enrichment Centre — as being
among the most distinguished educational institutions in the island, recognised not only for longevity but also for sustained excellence in academics, sports and creative arts.
The proclamation also applauded the schools for producing
outstanding sons and daughters of Jamaica in many fields.
They include former head of state Sir Florizel Glasspole, the third and longest-serving Governor-General of Jamaica and a former minister of education; former Prime Minister Edward Seaga; Amy Jacques Garvey, journalist, publisher and activist; Avis Henriques in business and voluntarism; and Dr Phyllis McPherson Russell in public service and the teaching of mathematics.
Press of the day, on this site: Jamaica Gleaner, 20 May 2019 · 22 May 2019 · Jamaica Observer, 19 May 2019 · Loop News. Photographs: JIS.
The years since
Thanksgiving, a road march, a lecture, and — at 297 — the torch for 300. The official films are on @WolmersGroup.
King’s House. The day is named.
Thanksgiving on YouTube. The first filmed observance.
The Trust invited the schools to church. No official film survives on the channel.
Heroes’ Park. Wynter announces the 300 programme.
Thanksgiving, then the Class of ’85 lecture series.
Douglas Orane Auditorium. The road to 300 is set in motion.
The films
The 2020 service is the first official film of the day. The later streams are the thanksgiving services of 2024 and 2025, a 295 highlight cut, and the 2025 lecture. There is no finished @WolmersGroup film of 2026.
295 · the road march
On 21 May 2024 the three schools marched maroon and gold around National Heroes’ Park. Thanksgiving was at 8 a.m. in the Girls’ Lower School Hall. Courtney Wynter, chairman of the joint board of management, announced the Wolmer’s 300 Technology and Multimedia Expansion Programme — sixteen rooms, a lecture hall, ICT laboratories, a studio, a STEAM centre. He called it the largest single investment in the schools’ infrastructure.
The Jamaica Observer filmed the march and printed the announcement the next day.
Maroon and gold pride
The 295th anniversary, the road march, and the 300 programme. Reprint on this site. Observer film: Proud Wolmerians celebrate 295 years.
296 · thanksgiving and a lecture
Wolmer’s Week ran 20–25 May 2025. Thanksgiving was streamed on 20 May. On Wolmer’s Day itself the Trust held a lecture by the Boys’ Class of 1985. Both films are on the official channel. The national press did not print a 296 write-up.
296 Thanksgiving Service · Lecture Series · wolmersgroup · Wolmer’s Week
297 · the torch
On 21 May 2026, inside the Douglas Orane Auditorium, Wynter set the expansion in motion. Construction on a third storey of the Sixth Form Block began in July 2026, toward the 300th year, 2029. Douglas Orane passed the 300 torch to Principal Dwight Pennycooke. The work.
Given the local trends in skills development driven by rapid technology changes, the rise of artificial intelligence as a daily necessity, an investment in our economy, Wolmer’s must now position itself for the next 300 years.Courtney Wynter · joint board of management · Wolmer’s Day 2026 · Jamaica Observer, 22 May 2026
From the press
On this site:
297 years
The torch. The expansion is set in motion.
Maroon and gold pride
The road march. Wynter announces the 300 programme.
WATCH: Proud Wolmerians
The 295th anniversary march, with the Observer film.
May 21 declared as Wolmer’s Day
The proclamation at King’s House.
GG declares May 21 Wolmer’s Day
The signed proclamation, as Loop printed the day.
Governor-General declares May 21st Wolmer’s Day
Sir Patrick Allen greets Karla Small-Dwyer at King’s House.
Wolmer’s Schools Have Their Very Own Day
The hall on the Sunday after the proclamation.