Twenty-five years after exiting their Alma Mater, the Methodist High School, Arigbajo, Ogun State, Class of ’95 recently converged at the school premises, to celebrate members, give back to the school and also award deserving teachers.

Tagged: “The Gathering Of The Eagles,” the occasion wore the garb of reunion and bonding while outstanding contrbution of members to the school was celebrated.

The Guest Lecturer, Mrs. Emily Adeleye, the Literature-in-English teacher of the set, who emphasised the need for old students to always imbibe the attitude of giving back to their alma mater, recommended the need for classmates to come together under one big umbrella to achieve a common goal.

She said: “You must mobilise yourself in order to give back to the school. In other words, you must build on your vision and mission. The old student must strive to work on the tone of the school. The tone of the school could be regarded as the sum total of the opinion, which the people outside have on the school. The opinion may be good or bad; it may be high or low, depending on whether we have a good school tone.

“Sports may heighten the tone of a school by presenting a cup for inter-house competition. Essentially, old students directly dictate the school tone and get the incoming and present students to build on it. The reputation of the school built over the course of many years will instill in the children, the mission and vision of the school, so as not to ridicule or bring down its reputation.”

Adeleye noted that building up a healthy school tone will influence children to love and respect their school, adding that history, religion and literature are materials that can foster high ideals, which will help the students to build on the tone of the school.

“Historians, lawyers, doctors, musicians, as well as craftsmen could be encouraged to help the school with their learning. Concerts could be organised with the aim of collecting little fund for new equipment or whatever is needed; guidance and counseling services can be offered to raise the consciousness and orientation of the students on the value of education and its service to the society.

“Alumnus plays significant roles in offering scholarships to deserving students. Alumnus offers career development support and career coaching. Alumnus can organise skill acquisition and empowerment programmes, provide infrastructural facilities such as construction of classroom blocks, equipping library with current textbooks and free customised notebooks to all students and staff.”

The peak of the anniversary was the commissioning of the set project: a School Map Directory, unveiled by the father of the day, who is a former teacher of the school, Chief Titus Oludele Akinfenwa and the National President of the Old Student’s Association, Alhaji Shuaib Adeola Sokunbi.