Parents urged to play bigger part in school life
19.01.2010
Parents and the whole community have been asked to become more involved with schools this year, principal secretary for education Jeanne Simeon said yesterday.
She was speaking at the assembly at English River secondary school to mark the start of the new school year.
The assembly was led by new headteacher Marie-Claude Morel, who asked the students to become well versed with the revised code of conduct and to keep up the “good practice and good attitude throughout the year”.
She also spoke about the formation of a school council as part of the education reforms.
Congratulations were extended to students who took part in the exhibition set up by the school during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen last month.
Sheila Young, the deputy headteacher for years S1 to S3, read out the message for the new year from Education Minister Bernard Shamlaye, who was attending the assembly at Baie Ste Anne Praslin school (see separate story).
Mrs Simeon said this year’s national theme – Together, Ready for the Future – could be directly related to school life in various ways, especially as this fourth education reform is carried out.
“The ministry or the school alone cannot make the reforms work,” she said.
“We need the support of all stakeholders, such as the teachers and students themselves – who will be directly affected by the reforms – but also the support of parents and other people in the community.”
She also spoke about the new pastoral care system, which aims to promote good values such as respect, honesty and devotion.
The new staff members, among them 10 new teachers, then introduced themselves.
Mrs Simeon wished all the students, teachers and staff of English River and other schools on Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette a successful 2010 school year, and congratulated and wished Mrs Morel well on her start with the school.
The new S1 students were missing from the assembly as they start school today.
The first school term will break from February 26 to March 1 and end on April 16 for a three-week holiday.
The second term will begin on May 10, break from June 28 to June 30, and end on August 13 for a four-week holiday.
The third term will start on September 13, break from October 29 to November 2, and end on December 10 for a six-week holiday.