Hillview College


Hillview College is a government-assisted Presbyterian secondary school situated on the foothills of the Northern Range at the top of El Dorado Road in Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago. The motto Humani Nihil Alienum is a Latin phrase meaning 'Nothing concerning humanity is alien to me'. Expressed in a positive way it means, 'I am interested in everything concerning mankind.'
It is an all-boys school and is a seven-year school that prepares students for CXC/O-Level examinations at 5th Form and CAPE/A-Level Examinations at 6th Form. It offers education in the areas of the sciences, business studies and modern studies. In 2011 The Hillview College Senior Cricket Team swept all three titles in InterCol Secondary Schools Cricket League.

History

In July 1951 the Official Board of the Aramalaya Presbyterian Church appealed to the Presbyterian of the Canadian Mission Church for a Boys' Secondary School to be sited on Sheriff Street, Tunapuna.
Two years later the Naparima College Board, which was governing only the Canadian missionary Secondary Boys' School in the country at the time, was instructed by the Presbytery to proceed with plans for a programme of secondary school expansion, giving priority to the oilfield area and the area in the vicinity of Tunapuna.
A committee of missionaries agreed to release buildings on Sheriff Street for use and on 27 September 1954 application was made to the Colonial Government for the recognition of a Provisional Assisted Secondary School in Tunapuna.
On Monday, 17 January 1955 the school was opened under the principalship of Rev. H. F. Swann. It was called Naparima College, Tunapuna Branch, with an enrollment of 44 students and two teachers. The church hall on Sheriff Street was used as the classroom and the portion of the grounds and cow-shed were used for games and also for teaching as a classroom.
Naparima College, Tunapuna Branch remained on this site until September 1957. In this year the Principal, staff and students entered the present site at the top of El Dorado Road. In November 1957 the government granted the college Permanent Status as a Government Assisted Secondary School and in 1962 the next principal, Dr. Stephen Moosai-Maharaj, renamed the school to Hillview College and gave it its motto and composed the words for the college song.
In 1959 the science laboratories were built and the number of classrooms increased. In 1967 the main hall was extended to accommodate the increased number staff, and an extension was made in 1996 to create offices for the administration and clerical staff. In 1986 a library was built and named in honour of Mr. Stephen R. Seepersad. In 1993 a 6th Form block was built, and in 1999 a pavilion was constructed and named in honour of Mr. Richard Kokaram.
In 2005, Amrik Singh Kochhar placed first in the world in Mathematics, Further Mathematics and fourth in Physics in the Cambridge A-level examinations winning Hillview College their President's Gold Medal for the fourth time. Hillview continues to obtains scholarships in the CXC CAPE examinations.
However, cricket is not the only thing that Hillview is most renowned for as the Hillview College football team called the H.V.C. Spartans, spearheaded by Mr. Sievan Siewsarran has been demolishing other football teams in intercol tournaments from the day that Mr. Siewsarran has begun coaching the team.
Victorious InterCol 2011 Cricket Team: - Hillview College became the first North East Zone school to win the PowerGen Secondary Schools Cricket League and swept all other major competitions.

Faculty

As a denominational school, Hillview College is under the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education. The Board is appointed every two years and oversees the progress and development of the five Presbyterian schools in the country. Hillview College has its own Board of Management which is responsible for the day-to-day management of the school. It approves the school budget, looks after other financial matters and the maintenance of grounds and buildings.
Members of staff are appointed on the recommendation of the Presbyterian Secondary Schools Board of Education.
There are five Deans, a Dean of Studies, and ten Heads of Department who assist the Principal and Vice Principal in the administration of the school.
A Librarian and Library Assistant, four Laboratory Assistants, a Bursar, a secretary, an Office Assistant, ten Ancillary Staff and 4 security guards complete the quota of staffing at Hillview College.

Co/Extra Curricular Activities

It is without doubt that Hillview College's curriculum focuses on the holistic development of individuals. One of the ways by which this is achieved is through co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. A few of the most active clubs and organisations are listed below.

Hillview College Film and Photography Club

Founded in 2013, the Film and Photography Club has been one of the most popular, and well known aspects of Hillview. Within its time of existence, the Club has hosted five photography exhibitions and three film festivals. Its members have won awards nationally in recognition of their work, including Josiah Persad, whose short film,‘Sweat’ won the best short film and people's choice award for the 2016 National Film Festival. The Club's activities focus on developing the creative digital arts of students and promoting the image of the school.
The Club is currently overseen by members of staff Mr. Stephen Bedase and Ms. Michelle Tappin-Davis.

Hillview Biological Organisation (HBO)

Students of Hillview College generally outperform those of other schools in the science subjects. It is without a doubt, then, that Hillview has a traditionally science-based club - The Hillview Biological Organisation. The Club, founded in 2013, focuses on activities based on biology, and social science. Students of the Club participate in various humanitarian exercises such as volunteering at animal shelters, assisting the dogs on campus, donating towards families in need in the Tunapuna area, and school cleanups.
HBO is currently overseen by member of staff Ms. Ria Rodriguez.

Hillview Journalism Society

Founded in 2014 by Dari Maharaj and Euan Ramnarine, and reinvigorated by current president in 2019, Dylan Kowlessar, is Hillview's Journalism Society. The activities of the club focus on documenting notable events of the school, as well as providing a forum for students to edit, grow, source, and harness report and aesthetic writing. The Club also features articles on fun facts, club activities.
Leading the Journalism Society is member of staff Mrs. Alana Ramlal

College Song - Men of Hillview

Composed By Dr. Stephen Moosai-Maharaj
Lift up your voice and sing
Across the campus clear;
Let the name Hillview ring
From classrooms year by year;
We'll strive with might to serve the world
With deeds of love, with flags unfurl'd.
Our Flag, maroon and gold
It floats on high serene;
A banner and stronghold
An inspiration keen;
All things concerning human ken
Are ours to champion, Hillview Men.
Three Humming Birds in flight
O'er the mountain peaks;
Fan out the pages bright
Of knowledge each one seeks;
And for the world this message hum
Humani Nihil Alienum.
To us who study here
Hillview will always be;
Our Alma Mater dear
Beloved from sea to sea;
And from these hills inspire true
We'll face the world with visions new.

Principals