Several teachers awarded at public
schools’ end of year programme
COLE BAY--Teachers of all the local public schools were gathered Friday morning, June 29, at the Port de Plaisance La Terrasse restaurant for the public schools’ end of year programme.
The teachers were treated to a free buffet style breakfast as well as door prizes, and several teachers received special recognition awards. The teachers in charge of the Student Care Programme and Reading Recovery received recognition certificates for their exertion.
Additionally, one teacher from each public school was chosen to receive the Outstanding Recognition Award for their contribution in creating a commendable atmosphere in their school. The teachers were given the responsibility to select a teacher from their school who they felt deserved the award.
Teacher Natasha Richardson received the award for the St. Maarten Vocational School. Teacher Sandra Mathew received the award for the Marie Genevieve de Weever Primary School. Teacher Esther Jeffers-Cannegieter received the award for the Leonard Connor School. Teacher Rosa White received the award for the Oranje School. Teacher Judy Gittens received the award for the Prins William Alexander School. Teacher Diana Windefelde received the award for the Dr. Martin Luther King School. Teacher Ennis Vicioso-Pyman received the award for the Charles Leopold Bell School and teacher Miranda Lake received the award for the Ruby Labega School. Each award also included a sponsored gift.
General Managing Director of Public Education Oldine Bryson-Pantophlet in her address to the teachers extended a thank you and applauded all the teachers for their hard work throughout the year. She told them that she would continue to believe that public schools in the long run would be the entrance to education.
She advised all the schools’ staffs to encourage active contribution and listening amongst each other. She also commented that as English will be the language of instruction as of next school year, it was still imperative that Dutch be customary on a high level in all schools. Additionally she welcomed the new home grown teachers to the public schools board.
The Insular Head of the Education Department Quincy Harrigan also addressed the teachers. Providing entertainment during the gathering was a rap group from the Leonard Connor School that performed an inspirational self-written song entitled “RICE,” which stands for Respect, Impulse Control, Compassion and Equity.
Music teacher Lilita Johnson of the St. Maarten Vocational and Ruby Labega School performed a cappella as the teachers bid her farewell on her departure from the island. This year’s valedictorian of The Prins William Alexander graduation class performed a dance, and two pupils of the Marie Genevieve de Weever Primary School and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School read two poems.
