Jacobs: Every high school student should get copy of HYPE Agenda

Education Minister Silveria Jacobs and HYPE coordinator Zulayka Peterson with some HYPE participating students. From left: Xocxhiquetzal “Xochi” Gonzalez (CBA), Tania Narine and Naomi Jankee (St. Maarten Academy); Loudahlia Brill (CBA), Minister Jacobs, Peterson, Celine Mayeko-Coklee (LU), Aziza Baly-Vanterpool (MPC) and Yshmael Hermoso (LU). Other participating students were from Sundial School, Academy PSVE and Gwendolyn van Putten School.

PHILIPSBURG–High school students in St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius can now have a copy of a locally produced agenda with a host of useful information produced by their peers, thanks to the official launch of the 2017-2018 HYPE Agenda at the Government Administration Building on Wednesday. The Agenda was launched by Education Minister Silveria Jacobs, Voice of the Youth Foundation and some of the high school students who were part of the project.

  This year’s Agenda is themed: “Preservation and awareness of our environment, Treasure the world we are in.” The globe artwork on the cover was designed by Charlotte Brookson Academy (CBA) for the Performance Arts student Xocxhiquetzal “Xochi” Gonzalez, who was also part of the production team. The Agenda was produced completely in St. Maarten. The coordinating team includes a group of energetic students from the various high schools in St. Maarten.

  These students were actively involved in the production process and they determined the information they want to see reflected in the publication. They went out and conducted research and wrote most of the enlightening articles and profiles that appear in the Agenda. The articles reflect the general theme of the Agenda and they relate to the youth.

  Numerous young and adult role models from St. Maarten as well as from Saba and St. Eustatius are featured throughout the Agenda.

  The Agendas are specifically tailored for the academic year and cover the months that coincide with the school year making them easy for students to use for school-related reminders such as noting down their assignments, projects, homework and other school-related things. Also included is useful information such as school vacation dates and study financing information. Throughout the Agenda, readers will also be treated to pictures taken locally, featuring high school students, which reflect various aspects of the general theme.

  Jacobs commended the team for putting together the Agenda. She said Government has been part of the support system and pushed the Agenda, and the administration will do its best this year to support this endeavour as much as it can. She described the Agenda as “a wonderful endeavour” because of the inspirational messages and pictures that can speak to the youth, amongst other things, “It’s not just an agenda with pictures from a star somewhere in the US or Europe, but it’s featuring some of St. Maarten’s own,” she said.

  The Minister lauded the theme of the Agenda, noting that authorities have seen a greater involvement from the public in terms of awareness of the environment. She said also that the page in the Agenda with tips on how to become a green student can be very helpful. She expressed hope that students in St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius make use of the tips provided and also examine more ways of preserving the environment. She said that Government is planning a campaign about environmental awareness and what everyone can do to help save St. Maarten. She called the articles in the Agenda “very inspiring” and said each and every high school student should get one of the Agendas.

  In remarks at the launch, Learning Unlimited (LU) student Celine Mayeko-Coklee said she has been part of HYPE for the past three years and it is one of the teams that she is most proud to be associated with. “The drive and dedication of the HYPE team – from the youth writers to our mentors – is truly something incredible.” She said for most HYPE is just an agenda, but for participating students it represents months of pushing each other to produce only the best articles for their peers. “The HYPE Agenda is a collection of what we as youth believe our peers need to hear. Every article is filled with information tailored by the youth in St. Maarten for youth in St. Maarten and needless to say I am proud of every article in the HYPE Agenda because I know that nothing is done half-heartedly.”

  The 17-year old said her greatest hope for the Agenda is that each student who receives a copy goes through at least some of the articles and finds something that stands out to them and will stick with them. “I also hope that this Agenda will inspire more students to want to participate in future HYPE Agendas. It is a wonderful feeling to be able to create wonderful articles for young people to read, while working alongside my friends.”

  HYPE participating student Loudahlia Brill from CBA said the HYPE Agenda team wanted to create a local product that students can relate to. She said with the theme, HYPE wants to show students the importance of the environment and give them practical examples of how they can protect and treasure it by highlighting stories of persons who are living green and leaving a small environmental footprint on the island.

  She said the HYPE Agenda team believes that every high school student should have a copy of the Agenda. Thanks to sponsors, the team managed to maintain the price of NAf. 10 or US $6 per Agenda. This is the seventh edition of HYPE Agenda. She said each and every year it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure sponsorship to produce this educational product. This year was particularly challenging as the team barely secured funds to cover production and printing cost.

  The team is still seeking additional sponsorship to get the Agendas in the hands of students at every secondary school in St. Maarten. “I would like to underscore to businesses on our island the importance of backing educational products and implore on businesses to support this initiative.”

  She said Voice of the Youth St. Maarten and HYPE Design, which produced the HYPE Agendas, are grateful to sponsors who came on board for supporting this educational endeavour.

  Students who participated in the production of the Agenda came from Learning Unlimited; St. Dominic High School; St. Maarten Academy Academic; St. Maarten Academy PSVE; Charlotte Brookson Academy for the Performance Arts, Milton Peters College, Sundial School and the Gwendolyn van Putten School in St. Eustatius. She thanked Sharon Freiburg, who was the Creative Consultant; Graphic Artist Tyrone Peterson and the editor who worked with the team.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/68624-jacobs-every-high-school-student-should-get-copy-of-hype-agenda

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