Academy PSVE Principal Lavern Nelson addresses students at the start of the new academic year on Monday.
EBENEZER–Students of the Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) section of St. Maarten Academy were urged to strive for excellence in the classroom.
During the first assembly on the first day of the new school year on Monday, PSVE official Roberto Arrindell told students that having a vocation is very important. PSVE students, he added, are guaranteed jobs at the end of their education at the school since they are immersed in on-the-job training. He stressed the importance of vocational education all over the world, noting that if he had to choose again, he would become a plumber because it is one of the lucrative vocational fields. Students were urged to get good grades as this would be the only way they can “beat up” a teacher. “School is very important. If you don’t have a decent education, then crapo smoke your pipe. If you have a decent education, you will be able to succeed in life,” he stressed.
A PSVE student being checked at the school’s entrance.
He impressed upon students that Academy PSVE is the number one school because it picked educators who are competent and dedicated to their students. The school is like a family and everyone works together to achieve excellence. He told students that the school’s principal, vice principal and teachers are not their enemy. “It’s up to you to work hard together to achieve excellence.”
Principal Lavern Nelson told students that they were stars and were excellent. She updated students on the school’s plans to introduce architecture and indicated that every class will have free WiFi this school year. This resulted in rounds of loud applause from students. She said Architecture and Civics will be introduced to students for the first time. Architecture will allow students to have a hands-on approach to their many creative assignments: Building scale models, making surveys, talking to people. It’s a very active and fun subject that they will enjoy.
Nelson had told this newspaper recently that Civics will be offered as an extension of the Social Studies programme, like Academy’s sister campus. The goal is to raise awareness amongst students about their role in St. Maarten’s development. The subject will engage students with the constitution of St. Maarten, including citizenship, parliament, parliamentarians, the ministers and their respective ministries, national personalities and symbols and required protocol. These are important to building St. Maarten and promoting national pride at the PSVE campus.
She had also said earlier that this year the school board the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education will continue to enhance the infrastructure at the PSVE campus. Later this month, PSVE teachers will have the opportunity to enhance teaching and learning with WiFi access in classrooms, which will reduce the chalk and talk instructional method and allow students to benefit from the vast array of experiences on the World Wide Web. Teachers will also get a Teacher’s Lounge as part of the new year planning.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/68555-psve-students-urged-to-strive-for-excellence
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