“Have a disciplined, tolerant and productive day. Be your brothers’ and sisters’ keeper. Look out for one another.” No longer will we, the students and staff of Hillview College, hear these words echoed through the main hall each Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. No longer will we be greeted by the warm, reassuring smile, amicable gestures or excitable announcements of our Principal Mr. Leslie Mahase. 2021 is not just the second year of what feels like a perpetual, global pandemic, it is also the year our beloved Principal will be retiring after a career of distinguished service in the educational fraternity. To us, Mr. Mahase was more than a Principal, he was an icon.
But what makes Mr. Leslie Mahase an icon? For one, Mr. Mahase has had a long, illustrious career at his alma mater Hillview College. He joined the staff of Hillview in 1983, and in his 38 year long career, functioned as Dean of Studies from 2000-2005, Vice Principal from 2005 to 2007 and Principal of our esteemed institution from 2007-2021. His years of service exemplifies his loyalty, love and commitment to our institution, not just for part, but for the entirety of his professional career. He is indeed iconically “hillview to the bone.”.
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Nathan Nancoo (Form 5M) & Mrs. Alana Ramlal ,
Author

As we begin the new year, we must say goodbye to one of the brightest stars of our College, Dylan Kowlessar. As the former President of the Journalism Society of Hillview College, it would be remiss if we did not pay tribute to and recognise Dylan’s astounding contributions to the club and the College.
Dylan is best known for his academic achievements at Hillview. He graduated from the halls of Hillview in 2020 with an impressive (10) ten distinctions in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and recently began studies in Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, United States of America. Even at the form five level, Dylan was a studious, model student achieving nine grade ones topping both the internal merit list at Hillview College in several subjects and even placing on the regional merit list for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination in Geography, which he had done in form four as an extra subject. For the graduation ceremony in 2018, he even received the award for the “Most Outstanding Student.” He continued this ethos of excellence in the CAPE Unit One exams, where he also topped several subjects in the Caribbean in 2019. If the College had held a graduation ceremony this year, it could be expected that Dylan may have been a candidate for the valedictorian of the class of 2020 and he may have again copped some of the highest awards and honours in the College.
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Justin Sookdeo ,
Author
Form: L62

2020 has been a year that has challenged most people to alter and adapt their lifestyle in face of turmoil, and students are no different. In light on the COVID-19 pandemic that has gripped the world, most conventional institutions have been shut down in an attempt to reduce transmission of the virus, academic institutions among the most significant. As a result, students have had to adapt to an influx of online classes, assignments, and pseudo-examinations in lieu of a classroom setting, whilst combating the ever-present creep of stagnation and procrastination. I, being a student myself, have experienced such first-hand and will therefore attempt to chronicle my experiences in such a climate, thus providing a student’s perspective on the matter. Read more...

Naveen S. Boodoo ,
Author
Form: U6

It is without a doubt that 2020 has been one of the craziest, if not the craziest, year we have had to endure in recent history. From rumours of a World War, bushfires, a global pandemic, and much more, just the first half of 2020 has definitely been one for the history books. Hi. My name is Dylan Kowlessar, and I’m an Upper Six student at HVC studying Natural Science and Mathematics. This entire covid/quarantine/coronacation period has definitely been one of learning, adjusting, evolving, and surprisingly, growth, for me, and I hope to share some of my thoughts and experiences with you. Read more...

Dylan Kowlessar ,
Author
Form: U6

Almost every aspect of a student’s normal life has been affected by the spread of the coronavirus and its affiliating disease COVID-19. Not only at Hillview College has the student’s routine, academics, socialization and all-round thinking been altered in some way but, the entire world has also had to be re-fashioned. Firstly, with the introduction of this virus, there were many academic concerns shared among the student population at Hillview relating to accessibility of work and online classes. There was also the looming question of if school would reopen for term three. Read more...

Satesh Singh ,
Author
Form: 3E

Hillview College hosted its yearly fundraiser, the Walkathon, Barbeque and Family Day on Saturday, 9th February, 2019. What a memorable event it was! After the walk began at 6:30 a.m., it was time for the activities of the day! Upon entering the school compound, one was hit instantly with the delectable aroma of barbecue being feverishly prepared by the hardworking members of the Hillview Parent Teacher Association (PTA). In the quadrangle, there were tables and chairs comfortably set up to seat students, family members, visitors or tired participants after their walk. Read more...

Samuel Seemongal, Darius Maharaj, Nabeela Muradali,
Author
Form: L61 & L63

On the 17th of January, 2019, Hillview College held its 64th Founders’ Day Thanksgiving service. Students walked to the main entrance of the hall with a piece of green sprig, which was symbolic of the hope that the successes of Hillview College will be year-round, and immortal, like the evergreen sprig. These were placed it in front of the photographs of Hillview’s first Principal (Reverend Harold Swann), its second Principal (Dr. Stephen Moosai-Maharaj), as well as Founder of the Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago (Reverend Dr. John Morton). Read more...

Justin S Sookdeo,
Author
Form: 4W

It was the most wonderful time of year again at Hillview College, and the annual Christmas Concert organized by the faculty was being held on Wednesday, 12th December, 2018. The event, as tradition dictates, was hosted by two very capable Form Six hosts: Christian Ali and Alana Mahabirsingh, both of whom were able to keep the event going at a steady pace whilst maintaining the audience’s attention throughout. Read more...

Naveen Boodoo,
Author
Form: L6 1

On Friday 16th November, Hillview College ushered in the Christmas Season with an evening of tranquil luminescence and ceremonial singing and performances. Its third annual event, “Carols By Candlelight” represented Christmas at its core purpose; themed with the birth of Jesus Christ. To kick off the evening Hillview’s Principal, Mr. Leslie Mahase extended warm welcome to the audience, consisting of students and their families and friends, then opening remarks were delivered by the hostess Ms. Sharon Ramdeen. Preceding the commencement of the event the Crèche was blessed by Hillview’s very own Reverend Anthony Rampersad and then the night of carols began! Read more...

Seth Nurse,
Author
Form: L6 1

It was a special Monday afternoon and lights shone brightly in the ecstatic halls of Hillview College on November 5th, 2018. Rows of students spread across the auditorium anxiously awaiting the performances of our talented Hillview students as the Divali Programme 2018 initiated. A video presenting Hillview’s role in assisting the victims of the recent flooding disaster was unveiled. This was a clear example of light triumphing over darkness. Read more...

Satesh Singh,
Author
Form: 2E