The Hon. Alfred P. Sears, Minister of Education, speaks during the ceremony marking the launch of the Minister's Book Club at Jack Hayward High School

Sir Jack Hayward High School had the distinct honour of being the very first school in The Bahamas to embrace the programme, which sought to encourage a love of reading and appreciation of literature as well as the ability to express one’s self through writing.

The JHHS Chapter of The Minister’s Book Club, headed by Mrs. Delores Kellman-Jones was composed of sixty students and met monthly in the school library after school, to discuss the current book that was being read, having been chosen to be on the Minister’s List. ‘The List’ included works written by Bahamian as well as International authors who, whenever possible, were encouraged to attend the sessions and discuss their book with the students in person.

In July, 2004 The International ‘Visiting Authors’ initiative was first put in place with the visit of Haitian author Jean Cadet who had written a compelling work entitled “Restavec.” He has since been followed by the October, 2006 visit of American author Sharon Flake, whose book “The Skin I’m In” was a great favorite of the students.

The Visiting Author visits were accompanied by evening lecture/symposiums, which were open to the public giving Freeporters the opportunity to share in the bounty of the programme. The evenings were hosted by Sir Jack Hayward High School and held at Our Lucaya Hotel. They were extremely well attended, stimulating events, which sought to ‘spread the word’ and we were very proud indeed to be part of such an important initiative.

With the Ministers Book Club now officially ended, Jack Hayward High School is maintaining its own Book Club programme under the guidance of Delores Kellman Jones entitled "The Sir Jack Hayward High School Book Club" which will continue the initiatives set forth by Minister Sears.