“Look at them standing, sitting there. The present, the past,
the future! All wrapped up in these bundles of humanity waiting to
emerge.”
In a life
lived by her own words, Juliet Christie Murray has devoted all her
professional life to the emergence, development and growth of our nation’s
youth through her service in the field of education, and her time spent at
the Sandy Bay Primary and Junior High School.
Born in the
parish of Hanover, she chose to remain loyal to her roots with the bent
objective of making a difference in the lives of all those who would
eventually cross her path in this journey of life. And like the title of
her book – to begin the journey to enlightenment for countless Hanoverians
over the years.
With a
tenure of almost forty (40) years in the field of education, she grew
professionally through the ranks, from that of being a pre-trained teacher
when she joined the staff of the then Sandy Bay All Age in 1972. Over the
years she served as 4-H leader, part of the S.C.O.P.E. Committee that
dealt with the expansion of the physical structure of the school, and was
a member of the school board. She completed that phase of the journey as a
Vice Principal, and with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology at the time of
her retirement.
As a Vice
Principal, the staff she supervised has many accolades for the time spent
with her. They have lauded her as a true leader, a woman with unique
spiritual gifts, a woman who is reflective, a firm but jovial and caring
person, a tower of strength, a mentor, a mother, a sister; a woman who
knows how to speak her mind. She tells it like it is, but without being in
any way offensive.
Being a
realist, she recognized that education goes beyond the bounds of literacy
and numeracy. It engenders values, attitudes, skills, and the development
of the total persona. To this end, many avenues were explored by her, and
the skills acquired were imparted unselfishly for the upliftment of the
Sandy Bay community and its environs. In 1983 the Home Economics
Department was opened with her as its head, and for many years the Sandy
bay school was the only All Age School in the western region with a Home
Economics Department. In order to give quality service to her charges, she
enrolled in what was then College of Arts Science and Technology (C.A.S.T)
to gain new knowledge and hone her skills in that field of study. Many
tailors, dressmakers, great homemakers and reputable chefs were spawned
under her care and tutelage in the Home Economics Department. Her
perseverance, fortitude and vision have helped to produce many great
community citizens in varying professional
fields.
For her
committed and dedicated service over the years to the field of education,
and for sticking to the task despite the challenges she was rewarded with
the Golden Torch Award in 2006.
As she
helped to open, shape and motivate young minds, in like manner hers was
opened, and she discovered the hidden talent of a poet in herself. She has
etched her name indelibly in the annals of history with the publication of
two books of poetry – Journey to Enlightenment, and
Seasons.
As a school
family, we salute you Juliet Christie Murray for being an integral part of
the successes of the Sandy Bay Primary and Junior High School over the
years. You have left indelible prints on the lives of so many. You have
given committed and caring service to the profession. Our sincere thanks
for all your efforts. We wish for you and your family a very long, happy
and successful retirement.
Today, as
you stand on the portals of time, one journey completed; another to begin,
it is only fitting that we leave with you the words of the great poet
Kahlil Gibran – “And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin
to climb.”
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