Campus
Naparima College's campus sits atop Paradise Hill, overlooking the city of San Fernando in southern Trinidad. The city's major landmark, the San Fernando Hill, towers over the college to the east; to the west is the Gulf of Paria. While the campus location has been the same for decades, there have been numerous infrastructural and developmental changes over the years. Many of the major changes had arisen out of the demolition of the old wooden buildings, most of which had been around since the first half of the 20th century. Most notably, the College's old gymnasium which was demolished in 1995, the Grant Memorial Building in 1999, and the structure referred to as the "main building" in 2005.
The structure that replaced the Grant Memorial Building is referred to as the "Grant's Memorial Wing" or the "new Grant building". Almost twice as large as the old building, it consists of two levels and a basement area (at the western end). It possesses a number of classrooms, Conference, Geography, Business, Language, Art, and Science Demonstration Rooms as well as an "Intelligent Classroom" and Scout Den.
Directly adjacent to the Grant's Memorial Wing and connected via a pedestrian bridge is the Science Laboratory building. Consisting of two levels, it contains a Chemistry Laboratory on the first floor and Biology and Physics Laboratories on the second floor.
Neighboring the laboratory building and connected by corridors on the second floor, is another section which houses the Library. Having undergone various remodeling sessions in the past few years, its current design as of 2012 is the most effective for research and study purposes. The availability of its service characteristics means that the library can be considered to be a hybrid of both a Reference and a Lending Library, albeit at a smaller scale for the institution. It possesses its own library staff, archives, internet access as well as book rental and (magnetic card based) photocopying services.
Students at the Form 6 level are allowed unlimited access to the library throughout a regular school day while students of lower forms must seek administrative permission for the use of its services at any time other than the luncheon and recess periods.
Also in the same section, directly beneath the library on the first floor and accessed via corridors is the Audio/Visual Room (abbreviated as the A/V Room). This room is used for displaying Media to aid lectures and presentations to an audience, especially by a visiting party. Also located in this section of the building are the offices of the Deans of Discipline and the Dean of Studies.
Adjacent to the aforementioned section of the school, but directly joined to it is an L-shaped building that contains of a number or classrooms, an Information Technology Laboratory, Storage Room (neighboring the cafeteria), Staff Room (for the teaching administration) as well as the offices of the Principal and Vice-Principal and the Main Office.
The washroom and shower facilities available for the student population and visitors alike are located on the western end of the campus, next to what is currently the Form 1 and 2 Blocks. These facilities are also located on the first floor of the gymnasium.
The Cafeteria (also known as The Café) is located on the northernmost sector of the campus. It has been extensively remodeled in the last few years, with its current design covering the largest area since Naparima College was founded. The main section of the cafeteria, located just under what is currently the Form 1S classroom of the Form 1 block, is the main area of business where students and members of the administration can trade. Adjacent to this is the area dubbed the Café Verandah. This area includes seating with tables. Local food merchants are also allowed to market here with permission from the administration. Students may freely purchase before and after regular school hours and during the luncheon and recess periods. The cafeteria staff reserves the right to bar any student from trading during class hours unless that student is accompanied with a written note provided by a member of the teaching or office administration.
There is also a small Snack Bar located in what was previously a security booth located at the start of the sidewalk at the top of Paradise Hill. It allowes students and administration greater flexibility in their choice of refreshment.
The structure known as the Principal's Residence is located a stone's throw away from the main structure and is out-of-bounds to the student population. Previously, it had been an old building which went unused for years until its reconstruction was proposed and eventually completed alongside the gymnasium.
Towards the eastern sector lies the gymnasium which is the most recent addition to the campus (along with the Principal's Residence). Whilst overlooking the On-Campus Playing Field, it consists of three levels; the second and third of which serve a dual purpose of hosting indoor sporting events as well as an Auditorium. The first level, which may also be considered as a basement level, facilitates indoor sporting activities, physical training via the use of exercise equipment, as well as bathroom and shower facilities.
There are a number of outdoor facilities normally available for the purposes of recreational and leisure ventures and are scattered in and around the campus.
The College wields two outdoor recreational grounds. The main on-campus general playing field is located at the western-most sector of the school's compound. This is available for use by the student population at anytime before and after regular class hours. However most activity occurs during both the recess and luncheon periods. It may also be utilized by students for the purposes of scheduled Physical Education lessons. The field also possess its own batting cage for the purposes of cricket practice.
The second and perhaps major playing field is located on the Lewis Street extension, San Fernando and being off campus it is generally out-of-bounds to the student population. It is mainly utilized for larger sporting events such as inter-school sporting competitions or for the events of Sports Day.
The spectator stand on the off-campus playing field which is known as the V.B. Walls Pavilion was constructed by the Naparima College Old Boys Association in 1965. Its name is a dedication to Rev. Dr. Victor B. Walls, a Naparima College principal from 1924–1953. It is currently scheduled for reconstruction.
The courtyard or "Qauddrangle" is located in what may be considered as the heart of the campus and is bounded by the structure housing the form 4 and 5 blocks to the north, the science laboratory building to the east and Grant's Memorial Wing to the south whilst looking over the Gulf of Paria to the west. Within the past few years the area which was dedicated to the courtyard had dramatically increased. The old wooden structure commonly known as the main building and the structure known as the water bay were situated here but were both demolished in 2005. The courtyard is used by Naparima College as the student assembly grounds and for recreational activity.
Other miscellaneous facilities or features around the campus include:
- A terrace above the scout den, overlooking the Gulf of Paria on the western sector
- Park benches at strategic locations
- Sinks located near Grant's Memorial Wing and the Form 1 Block
- Pedestrian shelter located at the entrance to Paradise Hill
- Vehicular parking for administrative staff, visitors and form 6 students
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