Giovanni Olivacce conducted a meditation workshop during Philipsburg Jubilee Library’s Summer Learning pilot project.
PHILIPSBURG–Philipsburg Jubilee Library hosted a pilot summer programme in July, which had an academic aspect under the theme “Summer Learning.”
The pilot was made possible with support of the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS). On the occasion of the bank’s 190th anniversary the Library received a cheque of NAf. 19,000 to contribute towards the library’s work and the important role it plays for the citizens of St. Maarten.
The Summer Learning Programme 2018, which was led by project coordinator Maryland Powell, was held at Sr. Borgia primary school. The pilot was designed to engage children nine to 11 years old (groups 6-7) in educational activities to bridge the gap between school terms to better prepare them for the Foundation-Based Education (FBE) exams in group 8, by helping them improve their academic skills in a fun and interactive way.
The Summer Learning programme covered reading comprehension, writing and mathematics under guidance of Vanessa Anderson.
Media coach Annelies Starreveld and Alejandro Espinal used tablets and laptops financed by the Dutch Representative in Philipsburg and Foundation Cooperating Funds “Stichting Samenwerkende Fonsen” to help pupils familiarise themselves with computer science.
Listening and behavioural skills were taught to participants by motivational speaker Lenworth Wilson, who was in charge of the boys group under the name “Boyz to Kings”, and Charity Cantave-Sams who was in charge of the girls under the name “Phenomenal Girls Society; I am Enough.”
Anger Replacement Training (ART) was conducted by Thomas “Coach Tom” Burnett, geared towards assisting children with controlling their anger, learning social skills and moral reasoning.
Meditation classes to assist with the improvement of concentration and a decrease in anxiety were guided by Giovanni Olivacce.
Denicio Wyatte of Spaceless Gardens provided an agriculture workshop to help children connect with the earth while teaching them about developing and growing their own sustainable organic food.
A fine-art workshop was provided by Charisse Piper and Tadzio Bervoets and Etienne Lake of St. Maarten’s Nature Foundation provided an environmental workshop which objective was to teach, through hikes and other island excursions, about St. Maarten’s geographical history and heritage.
Students of American University of the Caribbean (AUC) and Collective Preventative Service of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour taught the children about the “Body Smaart” human anatomy, healthy eating habits and nutrition, personal hygiene and movement.
To prevent theft after disasters, a “Too Cool to Loot” lecture was given by Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport in collaboration with UNICEF.
Poetry and storytelling led by Powell taught students to express themselves creatively. More self-expression workshops were given by Dance and Art Dimensions Academy (DADA). After a weeklong workshop a dance was showcased at the Christian Fellowship Church. In addition, Rijkman Hodge provided a workshop on free-style dancing.
Project coordinator Powell said the Summer Learning Pilot Programme “was a great success as the children are still talking about a great summer experience that they had. We, the Philipsburg Jubilee Library are also looking forward to hosting a similar programme next year.”
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/80298-library-s-summer-learning-programme-deemed-successful
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