CUL DE SAC:--- St. Maarten Academy recorded a successful Open House on Thursday, February 12, 2015, where it provided information to parents of students who are preparing to write the upcoming Foundation Based Education (FBE) Exit Examinations.
Amid a packed courtyard at the school's academic campus, Principal drs. Tallulah Baly-Vanterpool presented a visual to parents and students of Grade 6 of several elementary schools of what the Academy has to offer. The meeting ran from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.
"We strive to make all our students feel comfortable so that they can perform optimally," Mrs. Baly-Vanterpool stressed, underscoring the school's motto of caring, learning, achieving and excelling.
Students were encouraged to do their best at the FBE Exit Examinations as they need a combined average score of 70 percent or higher to gain admission to Form 1 at the Academy.
"Once you get here, you will be exposed to 14 subjects – Art, Care, Civics, Dutch, English Language and Literature, French, Guidance & Mentoring, Information Technology, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Social Studies, and Spanish," the principal stated. She emphasized that once at the school, students can earn rewards for exceptional academic and extracurricular performances.
"We have an excellent rewards system. Each term, the top performing student of each class gets a gift and, at the end of the school year, the Parents Teacher Foundation (PTF) also rewards all the top performing students."
Aside from that, Baly-Vanterpool stressed, teachers at the Academy work beyond the call of duty – after school and on weekends – to ensure that students perform optimally. She boasts that for more than a decade, the Academy has been recording 100 percent passes at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. That evening, Baly-Vanterpool took the opportunity to introduce the full complement of her teaching and support staff in attendance. She maintained that it takes a team to achieve success and she had more than 90 percent of her team behind her that night.
"Then last September, we went a step further by introducing Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), where your child can spend an extra year or two right here at home, thereby shaving off some time and money from their university/college studies."
St. Maarten Academy partners with all – Management, teachers, parents and the community at large – so that students develop character, intellect, moral values, and social and civic responsibility to become effective and productive members locally, and in a global society.
That evening, parents and prospective students enjoyed a tour of the campus and there were presentations by several teachers and students of the school. The school has a diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and national population of an average of 500 students. It is fully accredited.