Sundial School students enthusiastically returned to school on Monday for the start of the 2016/2017 academic year. Photo shows one of the mentors engaging some first-formers.
SOUTH REWARD--Hundreds of students completed an introductory programme with their mentors at Milton Peters College (MPC) and Sundial School on the first day of the new school year on Monday.
MPC and Sundial Director Wim de Visser said the first day of the new school year had been a “really busy” one for both schools. “At both schools the new first form students were walking around in order to answer questions to get familiar to the new school. Everywhere I saw exciting and smiling faces of the new students. The students from the other forms are also preparing for the upcoming academic year,” De Visser said.
The schools invite persons to offer master classes for students. “There are sport activities for the upper form students who are already preparing for the major projects they need to handle in the course of the academic year. Some departments resumed their classes on Wednesday, while the HAVO and VWO Departments made a programme for the whole week where academic- and team-bonding skills are integrated – all focusing on the same goal: to excel this school year.”
“So all in all it was an exciting day. Things went very well. The new students were happy to be in school. The feedback on the introduction programme was very positive, both by students and staff.”
Regarding the relationship with the parents, De Visser said the school is looking forward to the full support of parents. He reminded parents who haven’t yet picked up their child’s school books to do so. Also, parents should ensure that students attend school dressed properly in full uniform.
“Please make use of our student tracking system ‘SOMTODAY’ to keep abreast of everything pertaining to your child. We are looking forward to meeting with the parents at the end of August, early September during our first parents’ evenings,” De Visser said.
These MPC first-formers during a brief school assembly on Monday.
He also urged parents and guardians to attend all school meetings and always participate, encourage their children to study and read and make sure their children get a good night’s rest.
He urged students to be on time for school every day, stay in school and complete their education, be driven and motivated to achieve their educational goals, form study groups and to make use of the Internet as an extra tool to do research.
In preparing for the new academic school year, De Visser said a committee comprising staffers organised a team-building/bonding day for MPC and Sundial workers last week Friday. This was “a huge success.”
“Staff, including all of our new staff members, drove in groups throughout St. Maarten to solve problems and answer questions and do group activities – all focusing on getting to know each other in an informal way. At the end of the day everybody joined a great barbecue at Mullet Bay Beach to enjoy the end of a real staff-bonding day where all staff showed great commitment to educate our youngsters in this school year.”
He thanked the organising committee led by Reggie Richardson, Paul van den Hoogen, Nolyka Watson, Ilse Kartokromo and Milton Eeswijk.
