Kingsway Academy, Nassau

Kingsway Academy or Kingsway Christian Academy, located in Nassau, Bahamas, is an interdenominational Christian primary and secondary school. Established in 1959, the school has grown from a modest beginning into one of the Bahamas's most respected education institutions.

History

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Kingsway Academy traces its origins to 1957 when Canadian missionary Ernest Tatham envisioned a Christian school in Nassau.[1] His daughter, Ruth had established the Jack and Jill Nursery School on Dowdeswell Street and, in 1958, Tatham established a primary school behind the nursery school,[2] which he called the Charles Tatham Memorial School, named after his father, Charles Goodeve Tatham.[1] The school was initially managed by teacher, Shirley Redbath.[1] Tatham's daughter, Grace, arrived in 1960 and ran the school for the next 14 years.[1]

In 1961, the school was rebranded Kingsway Academy as "the children could neither remember nor pronounce" the original name.[1] The school opened with seven students and its rapid growth eventually led to its relocation to a larger property on Bernard Road in 1968.[1] The construction of an L-shaped elementary school at the Bernard Road property was spearheaded by Chic Anderson, a Christian building contractor, who worked tirelessly for 18 months to complete the project.[1] The new building was ready, albeit initially without doors and furniture. The local churches lent tables and chairs to support the school in its early days.

The school continued to grow, adding new facilities and increasing enrollment. Carol Harrison became the principal in 1973,[1] overseeing significant developments, including the annexation of additional land in 1999, which further cemented the school's status as a premier educational institution.

Co-curricular activities

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Music

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The school choir toured the US in 2013, with the 50-member choir performing at the Alexander Memorial AME Church in Atlanta and Fisk University in Nashville.[3]

Sports

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The school's sports teams are known as the Saints.

In 2013, the school, No. 4 seeds, won the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) senior girls soccer champions.[4]

The school's sports programs were interrupted in 2021 as a result of the pandemic.[5] By 2023, the program had bounced back when the school lifted the over-14 title in the country’s first high school flag football tournament.[6] A month later, the primary school won the Bahamas Scholastic Athletic Association (BSAA) track and field championships.[7]

In 2024, the school's junior girls won the BAISS volleyball title after a perfect season.[8] In 2025, the school won the BAISS senior girls basketball championship.[9]

Honour Society

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The school has a chapter of the Alpha Kappa Tau Honor Society.[10] Members contribute to the community and serve as peer tutors at the school.[10]

Other

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In 2014, the school became the pilot school in the Bahamas for the US Embassy-sponsored Innovative Science “Where does the garbage go?” project.[11]

Principals

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This is an incomplete list of principals of the school:

  • Grace Tatham Kemp,[12] 1960–1973
  • Carol Harrison,[13][14] 1973–?
  • Mildred Turner,[15] ?–2005

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Kemp, Grace. "The Kingsway Academy Story" (PDF). The Kingsway Academy Story. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Obituary for Pastor C. Ernest Tatham". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. 18 September 1997. p. 30. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  3. ^ Poitier, Khashan (2013-03-20). "Kingsway Academy's "Heavenly Voices" Head to Tennessee". Bahamas Weekly. Nassau, Bahamas. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  4. ^ "Kingsway Academy Saints Senior Girls are BAISS Champions". The Tribune newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  5. ^ French, Simba (2021-06-25). "Kingsway's athletics department reflects on the past year". The Nassau Guardian. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  6. ^ Sweeting, Tenajh (4 April 2023). "Kingsway and SAC crowned as first high school flag football champions". Tribune newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  7. ^ Sweeting, Tenajh (4 May 2023). "Kingsway, Teleos BSAA track and field champions". Tribune newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  8. ^ "Kingsway junior girls have perfect season, win volleyball title". Tribune newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  9. ^ Kelly, Omri (2025-02-13). "Saints win BAISS senior girls title". The Nassau Guardian. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  10. ^ a b Bahamas Information Services (2014-09-23). "Kingsway Academy's Honor Society Calls on Bahamas Governor General". Bahamas Weekly. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  11. ^ "US Embassy supports the Innovative Science recycling program at Kingsway Academy Primary School". Bahamas Weekly. Nassau, Bahamas. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 2025-04-09.
  12. ^ "Honour for Kingsway Academy's Founder". Bahamas Information Services. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  13. ^ Ginder, Henry (Feb 1988). "The Brethren in Christ in Nassau". Therefore Go Ye. 16 (1): 3. Carol (Steckley) Harrison... is the principal of Kingsway Academy... in 1971... she was employed as third grade teacher at Kingsway. Two years later she was asked to serve as principal of Kingsway Academy. At that time the school numbered 240 students—kindergarten through sixth grade. Now there are 420 elementary students and 239 secondary students.
  14. ^ "New Principal at Kingsway Academy". Tribune newspaper. 1973-02-01. p. 6. Retrieved 2025-04-09. Board of Directors of Kingsway Academy, recently announced the appointment of Mrs. Carol Harrison to the post of principal of Kingsway Academy, effective January 29. Mrs. Harrison replaces Mrs. Grace Kemp who has been the Principal since the opening of the school in 1959.
  15. ^ "Principal's Salute". Tribune newspaper. Nassau, Bahamas. 16 June 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2024. It was "Mildred Turner Day" on Monday at Kingsway Academy as students, faculty and parents bid farewell to the school's principal Mrs Turner.
  16. ^ Lamirand, Bob (13 January 1987). "School Board Drops Rick Fox Appeal". Times Union. Warsaw, Indiana. p. 1. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
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Official website

25°03′12″N 77°18′34″W / 25.05333°N 77.30944°W / 25.05333; -77.30944

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