Curious minds at St. Dominic High School broadened their horizons and showcased St. Maarten culture recently with an educational trip to Panevėžys, Lithuania. The faraway excursion was part of an Erasmus + project, a means of introducing internationalisation at the school.
Four students (ages 13 to 14) and two teachers went on the eight-day field trip earlier this month. This not only allowed them to learn new concepts, but imbedded lifelong learning skills not written in any books.
Their counterparts at the Panevėžio Rožyno progimnazija school welcomed them with song and dance; and in return, the St. Maarten students performed the traditional St. Maarten Ponum Dance.
St. Dominic teachers Sinatra Rouse and Arlene Halley also gave creative, interactive lessons in their respective fields of expertise. The Lithuanian students listened to their English instructions carefully, understood and enjoyed the lessons.
Ms. Rouse taught a mathematics class, while Ms. Halley, a dance teacher and National Institute of Arts founder and co-director, taught a dance class to the students and a yoga class to the teachers.
Communicating with others who barely spoke English became an art of international sign language, but it was a relief to the visiting St. Maarteners to discover that English is spoken among the younger generation and by certain professionals.
The country is rich in historic monuments, castles, palaces, greenery and scenery. Tour guides vividly described the historical battles of famous heroes – both religious and secular – making the listeners feel like active participants. Men and women of royalty were of course often and lavishly depicted.
St. Dominic’s mission and vision support the holistic education system, encouraging students to act locally and think globally. Travelling lets the students meet different people in a new environment, and is another way of educating them.
Erasmus+ opens doors for all levels of knowledge to intertwine – from student to student, parent to parent, teacher to teacher, school to school and culture to culture. With such an exchange, each level showcases the best of what there is to share, and participants have the opportunity to be grateful for what they have, or to reflect on what they don’t.
The host parents treated the students well, reassuring parents back on St. Maarten, who were kept up-to-date daily. The group was welcomed back with balloons, flowers and cards when they returned home.
This field trip opened the horizon beyond measure. Who and where is next?
