New students, teachers, board and school officials pose for a photo after the school’s orientation ceremony on Tuesday.
~ To introduce agriculture in curriculum ~
EBENEZER--The Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) section of St. Maarten Academy will be rebranding with a new name soon. The school will be renamed the St. Maarten Academy Vocational Business Campus.
Principal Monique Beek announced the forthcoming name change during a general assembly held at the school on Tuesday. The school welcomed over 90 new students during the ceremony.
Beek told the large gathering of students, teachers and parents that the school will be strict as it relates to discipline. “We must enhance our school's reputation by promoting a positive image of our institution, fellow students and teachers,” Beek said.
“We must demonstrate our school's excellence through our conduct and attitudes. As a school community, we will not tolerate any form of disrespect towards one another or our teachers. We will not accept activities such as foul language, fighting, bullying, smoking, stealing, skipping classes, being late for school, or jumping fences.”
She said by the 2025-2026 academic year, the school hopes to successfully launch an English-translated stream for TKL exams, specifically in administration and commerce, economics, maths, French and Spanish.
Another aim for 2025-2026 is to include agriculture in the school’s curriculum and introduce CVQ crop production. Additionally, the school also aims to engage more with the business community through various events and activities this academic year.
The school’s theme for the 2024-2025 academic year is "Dream big, start small and pay it forward".
Beek explained the significance of the theme. “This theme embodies our commitment to nurturing and inspiring students to aspire for greatness, start with achievable steps, and contribute positively to others. This theme will guide our endeavours throughout the year, encouraging students to set ambitious goals, take practical steps and give back to their community,” she said.
She urged pre-exam and exam students to take their education seriously and show gratitude for the guidance of their teachers. “The upcoming exams are very important, and we encourage you to approach them with dedication and thorough preparation.”
Beek works with a team that includes Caline Celestin (vice principal/discipline coach) and Barbara Cocks (student care coordinator).
The school’s educational team for this academic year includes Ms. Jubitana; Ms. Henry, Mr. Thomas, Ms. Bonhomme, Ms. Gregory, Mrs. Chote, Mrs. Charles, Ms. Sion, Ms. Ferrol, Ms. Cambridge, Ms. Caines, Mrs. Gordon-Breinburg, Mrs. Macie, Mr. Mc. Quilkin, Mr. Aikman, Ms. Layne, Mrs. Rajani and Mrs. Kavel.
