À Jérôme Beaupère nursery school At Sandy Ground, the start of the school year on September 1st was marked by proximity. From 7:45 a.m., the students crossed the gates under the watchful eye of a official delegation composed of Prefect Cyrille Le Vély, Vice-Rector Harry Christophe, President of the Louis Mussington Community, andNational Education Inspector, Fanny Giausseran. The director, Blandine Bossu, welcomed them by emphasizing the calm of this particular morning: “The return to school is serene.”

To better support the children, the school has chosen to gradually introduce classes. “For the younger sections, for example, it’s one group each morning. Next week, everyone returns,” explains the director. This organization also applies to very small sectionsWhere twenty children under three years old take their first steps at school. However, fifteen families were unable to be accommodated due to lack of places. Two ATSEM and a teacher supervise these students, in a suitable space including a dormitory and a specific courtyard.The biggest challenge in a TPS class is socialization."We're going to do things little by little, in a fun way. All learning happens through play and cooperation," the teacher in charge reminded us.

The early years of learning are essential

While visiting the classes, officials noted the local particularitiesThe prefect emphasized the value of this meeting: “The partnership between the State and the vice-rectorate is embodied today. We try to be present on the ground. Sandy Ground is a special neighborhood, multilingualist, multicultural. The numbers must be appropriate and there must be a system in place around the school so that parents who drop off their children feel reassured and safe. The early years of learning are essential. The school here has a fundamental role for our Republic".

The director emphasized the obstacles encountered by her teams: “Teachers should be properly trained in French as a foreign languageThis teaching must be structured from kindergarten onwards." The prefect agreed: "We cannot reason according to a single model; in Saint-Martin, there are things to take into account. Children who arrive at school do not have a complete command of the French language."

Vice-Rector Harry Christophe, for his part, recalled the difficulty in stabilizing teachers “The biggest unique feature is that teachers move around a lot. Some want to return to Guadeloupe after a few years here.”

Bilingualism and educational projects

The visit continued in the bilingual classes in the final year, where the organization has been alternating two days in French and two days in English since 2017Each class has about fifteen students. “The children who do best are those who have a parent who supports their learning at home,” the vice-rector said.

The director then presented an innovative project on the psychosocial skills : “This involves working on emotions, managing emotions, and would culminate in a presentation by a local artist to produce works with a keyword on psychosocial skills. The idea is to bring a positive approach when entering the school, which would transform into an art gallery. The prefect confirmed that this project could be integrated into the educational city for which the state allocates a budget of €300.000: “Thanks to these visits, we see the things that are actually being put in place and the problems that need to be resolved.”

Persistent material needs

This return to school also highlighted everyday difficultiesThe Jérôme Beaupère school has 178 students divided into ten classes (compared to eleven classes in the last 4 years). Asked by Louis Mussington about the work carried out by the Community, the director replied: “We had our air blowers at the end of last year. We have problems with air conditionersWe need to be responsive because this concerns the dormitory and the junior classes. In addition, two photocopiers are not working in the management office." The national education inspector also took note of these remarks.

For Louis Mussington, this institutional presence also aimed to respond to the concerns expressed “It’s no coincidence that we’re at Sandy Ground on this first day of school. During the August 15th celebration, a woman told me that Sandy Ground is abandoned. We’re here with the whole team, the National Education system and the prefecture, today to show that we don't forget Sandy Ground".

The prefect concluded on the scope of this return to school: "On the first day of school, we measure whether everything has been well organized or not. The administration is in touch with the field."

In this neighborhood marked by multilingualism, this return to school illustrates the daily challenges of public school: welcome, train and support all children, in a sometimes constrained framework but always driven by the conviction that the first years of learning shape the future. _Vx

Source: Faxinfo https://faxinfo.fr/en/education-a-sandy-ground-une-rentree-sous-le-regard-des-autorites/