On Monday August 13, under the leadership of Principal Clara George, the St Maarten SDA School swung open its doors for the 2018/2019 school year with 337 students, a full staff compliment and a newly refurbished building. President Desmond James was on hand to experience the “spirit-filled and professionally executed” Back to School Consecration Service.
St Eustatius SDA School, under the direction of Principal Mrs LaVerne David, held a groundbreaking ceremony to herald the commencement of construction of a block of four new classrooms.
On August 20, the school swung open its doors for the 2018/2019 school year with prayers of blessing by IAD Sabbath School Director Pastor Samuel Telemaque and NCC Education Director Gerene Joseph, along with resident pastor, Virgil Sams.
St Croix SDA School hailed the appointment of a new Principal, Mr Johnston Southwell. Faculty, staff, and students were buttressed by members of the school’s board of management, parents, grandparents, supportive church members, and a cheerleading squad of alumni, as they returned to school after the summer vacation. Meanwhile that school boasts two early admission students to the University of the Virgin Islands in the persons of Mahlana Graham and Stacy
Frederick.Under the leadership of Principal Wade Tobin, the BVI SDA School registered exceptional CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) results in the 2018 examinations. This caused no small stir in the BVI territory and throughout the Caribbean Union. Achieving a pass rate of 93.5%, the school’s performance is among the best in the BVI territory. It also ranks #1 among the SDA schools in the Caribbean Union. The school will commence the 2018/2019 school year on September 10th.
Although forced to operate from two locations due to the impossibility of using the school building which was damaged by Hurricane Irma, the St Thomas/St John SDA School, under the leadership of Dr Whitman Browne, continues to be the school of choice for many students in the St Thomas/St John district. Faculty and staff are ready to commence the new school year with energy and enthusiasm. That school celebrates Jair Smith’s early admission to the University of the Virgin Islands. The School will reopen on September 4, for the 2018/2019 school year.
A new component, in the form of a Spiritual Retreat, has been introduced into the NCC Education system by the NCC Office of Education. The objective of the retreat is to provide opportunity for all members of staff (including auxiliary staff) to be spiritually rejuvenated and in one accord as they face the new school year. Spiritual Retreats have been conducted in the St Eustatius and St Croix Schools so far. The BVI SDA School will host its Spiritual Retreat on September 7th.
On Sabbath August 18, several churches in the NCC heralded the start of the 2018/2019 school year by hosting Prayer Festivals and Prayer Celebrations, on behalf of all the schools in the NCC. The blessings showered upon the schools by church members coupled with copious heavenly blessings will no doubt result in an abundance of successes for our schools this year. Together we can Change the world!