CUL DE SAC--The academic and Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) sections of St. Maarten Academy will move into a shift system on Monday, January 8, to facilitate the rebuilding of the academic campus, which was badly damaged during the passage of Hurricane Irma in September.
As a result, both schools have reorganised the curriculums and lesson periods to operate out of the PSVE campus in Ebenezer. Classes for PSVE will begin at 7:30am and end at 12:00noon and academic classes will run from 12:30pm with two dismissal times: 5:20pm for Forms 1 and 2, and 6:30pm for Forms 3, 4, 5, and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE).
Academic campus Principal Tallulah Baly-Vanterpool said all efforts will be made to ensure that students are not negatively affected by curriculum adjustments and other changes.
Special arrangements have been made for the pick-up and drop-off of students and parents and students are being urged to pay keen attention to the information below:
PSVE
Pick-up of PSVE students will follow the customary times in the mornings so that students get to school before 7:30am. At 12:00noon, the school board will arrange private buses to take PSVE students home to the various districts.
Academic
Six school buses contracted by Government will begin running at 10:30am and will pick up students according to the following clusters of districts:
Two buses (P 9602 driven by Gregory Wilson or Serge Abraham, and M 7000 driven by Mr. Bromet) will pick up students in Middle Region, take the main road to Defiance, Sucker Garden, Pointe Blanche and Philipsburg, turn by Vlaun on Long Wall Road, pass Divi/Little Bay, take Welgelegen Road (the St. Maarten Medical Center SMMC) and drop off at PSVE campus.
Two other buses (P 3913 driven by Mr. Hodge and P 7017 driven by Charles Fleming) will pick up students in Maho, Simpson Bay, Cole Bay/Cay Bay and Cay Hill on the main road.
The final two buses (G 58 driven by Marcel Philbert and another to be announced later) will pick up students in Belvedere, Dutch Quarter, A.Th. Illidge Road (including Madame Estate), travel through Zagersgut Road and then on to L.B. Scott Road.
All students from the academic section who will be travelling to school by Government-assigned buses must be on the road in full uniform from 10:30am and wait for their respective buses which will carry the “Academy” signage.
At 5:20pm, three government-assigned buses will be taking Forms 1 and 2 students of the academic school to the following districts using assigned routes.
Bus 1 will take students living in Philipsburg, Pointe Blanche, Sucker Garden, and Middle Region.
Bus 2 will take students going to Cul de Sac, A.Th. Illidge Road, Dutch Quarter and Belvedere.
Bus 3 will be going to Cay Hill (on the main road), Cole Bay, Cay Bay, Simpson Bay, and Maho.
Four government-assigned buses will transport students who will be dismissed at 6:30pm according to the following:
Bus 1 will be taking students who live in Little Bay, Philipsburg, Pointe Blanche, Sucker Garden and Middle Region.
Bus 2 will transport those who live in Cay Hill, Cole Bay, Cay Bay, Simpson Bay, and Maho.
Two buses will be assigned to those who are going to Cul de Sac, A.Th. Illidge Road, Dutch Quarter and Belvedere.
According to an official of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), through which the school busing service is organised, the objective of the department is to provide safe, reliable, and comfortable transportation. Parents can always call with comments, questions and complaints regarding school bus transportation.
Should parents have any other concerns, they can contact the management of both sections at tel. 548-4821 Lavern Nelson (between 7:00am and 12:00pm) for PSVE; and Baly-Vanterpool (between 12:00pm and 6:30pm) for the academic section.
In keeping with the spirit and values of the Academy, management encourages parents to continue collaboration efforts with each other in carpooling, as discussed in the general parents meeting of December 7, 2017. This is especially important to ensure the safety of all students as we embark on this journey, the school said in a press release.
The Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) School Board and management thanked the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports Affairs as well as TEATT for their cooperation in making the transition a smooth one.
