Environmental awareness focus of
third Performance of the Arts event
PHILIPSBURG--Reflecting on the theme “We Like to Lend Nature a Hand” for the third annual Performance of the Arts event, 11 local elementary schools will be tackling several subjects under four environmental headings.
Youngsters from the participating schools will present artistically on the topics “Our Wet Lands, Our Land Based Nature and Pollution” during an official performance at the Maho Convention Centre on Sunday, April 13.
As explained by project coordinator Dorothy Lake the goal of this year’s performance “is to stimulate awareness and national pride amongst the youth and general public as we embark on route to country St. Maarten.”
During a press conference held yesterday, representatives of the participating schools randomly chose the topics to embark on as an Environmental Project.
Manager Reuben Thompson of the Environmental Protection in the Caribbean Organisation, Beverly Nisbeth of Nature Foundation St. Maarten, Roland “Ras Bushman” Joe and Jadira Veen of St. Maarten Pride Foundation outlined the concepts of the subjects under the four environmental headings.
These individuals will be lending their expertise to the participating schools as they organise their performances.
The schools present at the event were given the opportunity to choose topics for their projects. Learning Unlimited selected Medicinal Plants which falls under the “Our Land Based Nature” heading, Oranje School chose Air and Land Pollution, reducing, reusing and recycling, Prins Willem Alexander chose Our Lagoon under the “Our Wet Lands” heading, Ruby Labega chose Our Hills falling under the “Our Land Based Nature” heading, MAC Browlia Maillaird Campus chose The Beaches under the “Our Marine Life” heading, and MAC John A. Gumbs Campus selected Farming under the “Our Land Based Nature” heading.
Marie Genevieve de Weever selected Our Fauna and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. chose Our Trees which both fall under the “Our Land Based Nature” heading.
To conclude the selection process, the Seventh Day Adventist School chose Our Mangroves and mangrove ponds under the heading “Our Wet Lands.”
During the approximated three and half hour presentation, five pupils in the fifth grades of the 11 schools will be given six minutes to present their topics. Judging will be based on content, introduction, creativity, organisation and timing, use of stage and speech.
While the teachers and experts may give general guidance to the students on the topic selected and the methods of presentation, the ideas presented in the project must be that of the students and must reflect their level of sophistication and understanding of environmental issues.
