The Dinthill Technical High school began on April 1, 1938, as a practical training centre offering skill training in agriculture and allied trades to young 15-17 years of age. The aim then was to make a profitable business out of farming.  Forty students under the guidance of Superintendent, Mr. F. A. Foster inaugurated the programme on the Dinthill property comprising of 137 1/2 acres. The agriculture programme-complemented by training in such skills as carpentry, welding, motor mechanics, shoemaking and mattress-making was based on a work-study system.
In the mid-fifties, with government’s emphasis on rural development the status of the institution was changed to a Rural Secondary Technical School. While this did not influence any significant alterations to the curriculum it involved development in financing and consequently, student-intake and staffing.In September, 1961, the status was again changed this time to Dinthill Technical High School. By then, the enrolment had increased to over 200 students, which now included girls as well. Vast changes in the curriculum and the structure of the school were put into effect.
The academic programme was now largely technical-based although agriculture was retained as a feature. since then, the school has continued to grow with new curricula added and current enrolment standing at approximately 1, 400 students.

Special Features:
* Ample and arable land appropriate for agriculture.
* Bio-Digester plant.
* Extensive playfields for        multifarious activities.
* Computer 2000 Project* Income-earning agriculture project.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
THE FOLLOWING ARE CLUBS PRESENTLY ACTIVE:

KEY CLUB
The Key Club is a non- profit organization. The Key Clubbers are striving to make their club an exceptional one in building their school, home and community. They seek to develop good leaders, to render unselfish service and to cooperate in creating and maintaining high idealism which helps to increase righteousness, justice, patriotism and good will.


RED CROSS CLUB

The Red Cross Youth Link in keeping with the Motto "Serve One Another" has been actively involved in service. The members of this club have been involved in rendering First Aid to the general school community.

CADET CORP

The Jamaica Combined Cadet Force (J.C.C.F.) was formed in November 1943 by Colonel Michael Ralph Decardova. By the end of that year Cadet Units were formed in 16 different schools, colleges and training centres. Dinthill Technical High School is a part of the Charlie Company Sixth Battalion of the Jamaica Combined Cadet Force. One of its objectives is to instill mental, moral and physical training to the youth, so as to make a good start in life.
4H CLUB

The motto of the 4H Clubs is "To Make the best Better". The club is doing just that here at Dinthill and in its surrounding communities, by participating in a number of activities at the parish and national levels

INTER-SCHOOL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Established since 1976, the I.S.C.F. continues to give support to the school community by participating in Carol Service, Midday Meditation, and General meeting on Wednesday afternoons. Our Annual I.S.C.F. week is the crowning event of the year.

DANCE PROFILE

Dance has always been an integral part of the cultural activities of Dinthill. The dance club is fostering that continuity. The dance club has copped several National Awards, including : BEST SOLO - by Wayne Townsend, BEST RURAL GROUP, BEST DUET, BEST MODERN CONTEMPORARY and continues to strive for excellence in the performing arts.

ART CLUB

The Dinthill Technical High School Art Club was reactivated on October 3, 1997 after a vigorous campaign geared at recruiting students for membership. The club serves to introduce members to some of the wide and interesting possibilities of the Visual Art & Craft through talks, illustrations and demonstrations relating to designing, stencil making, screen printing, drawing, water colour painting and illustrating.

DRAMA CLUB

The objectives of the Dinthill Drama Society are: To translate the merits of professional theatre into the arena of youth theatre and suggest channels through which the natural dramatic ability of young people might be guided.

CHOIR

Here the members are exposed to various types of songs suitable for different occasions. Over the years the students have also been taught drumming and playing the recorder. The choir performs at every official function at the school, including Heroes Day Celebration, Valedictory Service, Graduation and Carol Service to name a few.

SPANISH CLUB

This club is geared towards exposing students to spanish culture. This is done by having them participate competitively and non-competively in the areas of song, dance, poetry, speech and drama.

CHESS CLUB
Dinthill Technical High School now has a new improved physical setting, which reflects the outlook leading into the new millennium.
An attractive, serene facade, boasts a rejuvenated orchard and a revised feature, horticulture. These give pleasure to the eyes of the passers-by and warmly greet the staff, students and the visitors alike as they enter.
The agricultural programme is undergoing a facelift as Dinthill revisits its roots. There has been a resuscitation of the farm buildings destroyed by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, while many and varied animals and crops have recently been put in to enhance its educational nature. The HEART Trust/NTA Development Project is indeed facilitating this new thrust for this academic year, 1999/2000.The teaching staff comprises in the main, Graduate - trained teachers who possess the necessary skills and qualifications to do the exacting job of educating today’s youths. Even more vital is that, a continuous and conscious effort is being made to keep the staff morale high.The student population is being highly trained, to not only gain knowledge in the Natural and Social Sciences, Liberal Arts and Industrial Technology, but also to be disciplined in whatever they do.
The Dress Code is emphasized and at the beginning of the current year, senior students (grade 11) were given a new look:- white shirts and ties for the males, white blouses and ties with skirts for the females. This change has given rise to an obvious lift in the self esteem of the senior pupils.
Computer Education and Information Technology is a phenomenon of the present and the future. As a result, efforts have been made to expand in this area. There are two Computer Laboratories (Cyber centres) and other stations where all students, teachers and other workers have been trained to be at least computer literate.
The school, as we know, is an open, social system. This truth has now strongly manifested itself in the relationship between the Linstead environs and this institution. A renewed interest has been in place for the past year and there are signs that many persons are now very proud to be affiliated with this school.
The Parent Teachers’ Association is invigorated to work with the "new Dinthill" as we strive to rebuild. A tangible sign of their effort is their contribution to the purchase of a new 30 - Seater Coaster which rolled into Dinthill in December, 1999.Also contributing to the purchase of this vehicle was the Past Students’ Association, which has been organising itself into a more dynamic force in the life of the school. The members have shown renewed interest in their alma mater and the association is growing again.In relation to Sports, a Sports development committee was formed in June 1999 by the Principal (Mr. Dennis M. Clarke). Its mandate is to control and monitor all sporting activities in the school. At present, 28 persons make up this committee involving a group of teachers and other community members, with Mr. Bingham as the chairman. Inter-house activities and fund-raising also fall under its umbrella.
The Principal and Staff have embarked upon a programme to involve all students in this school in the Performing Arts. The entire Student-teacher population is affiliated to at least one Club or Society. The Key Club has been making tremendous strides as its members compete with other schools in serving their school and community. Over the past three (3) years the Dance Society was awarded 15 gold medals in the Annual J.C.D.C. Festival Competitions.
This is where we are now. But where do we want to go? For this school, VISION 2000 AND BEYOND states:
* That by the year 2001 - Dinthill Technical High School will be the premier Technical High school in Jamaica.
* That by the year 2003 - We should be far advanced in plans to build a new wing for a Community College with emphases in Business Education, Agriculture and Home Economics.
* The majority of the teachers must boast a second degree
* Dinthill will field disciplined, sporting and extra- curricular teams capable of matching and beating any other high school in all endeavours.
* All Dinthill Technical High School graduates will be well educated, well rounded individuals who will top positions in the working world in Jamaica and around the world.



© Dinthill Technical High School
March 2000