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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
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Global Focus as Schools Invite Parents This Week

Many territorial public schools are inviting parents to talk with teachers at a series of open houses this week as the V.I. Education Department joins with the U.S. Education Department to highlight the importance of cross-cultural education for International Education Week, according to local Education officials.

This year’s theme of “Inspiring Students Locally to Succeed Globally” will be promoted through International Education Week activities held in public schools from Nov. 14-18, and throughout the school year.

“As the world becomes increasingly interdependent, we must provide all students with an outstanding education, which includes global competencies,” U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a recent letter to V.I. Education Commissioner LaVerne Terry. “These competencies include the understanding of other cultures, histories, languages and values,” Duncan said.

Since the first celebration of International Education Week in 2000, the territory has continued to organize a variety of activities, including open houses scheduled to begin Monday in many of the public schools, Terry said. The events are designed to give parents a chance to interact with their child’s teachers, and learn what they and the other students are doing. Students also discuss and write related essays or poems, which are usually posted throughout the schools for visitors to read throughout the week.

St. Croix Central High School will hold an open house and distribute report cards Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The principal is asking parents to come out, conference with teachers and pick up report cards. For more information, contact Principal Janasee Sinclair at 778-0123.

Arthur A. Richards Junior High School will distribute report cards Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.n. and principal Kurt Vialet urges parents and guardians to make a special effort to pick up their child’s report card and conference with teachers. For more information, contact Assistant Principal Celeste Knight-Lang, at 772-1500.

An open house is scheduled at Claude O. Markoe Elementary School for Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Report cards will be distributed to parents or guardians and a Parent-Teachers Association (P.T.A.) meeting will also be held that evening beginning at 5 p.m. in the cafeteria. For more information, contact Assistant Principal Faith Dane-George at 772-4510.

Charles H. Emanuel Elementary School will also be holding its open house and report card distribution Wednesday at 1 p.m. and there will be a PTA meeting at 5 p.m. For more information, call Assistant Principal Barbara McGregor at 778-0511.

Alfredo Andrews Elementary School will hold an open house and report card distribution Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and a PTA meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact Acting Principal Joan Claxton at 778-1925.

Evelyn Williams Elementary School will hold its open house Thursday beginning at 5:30 p.m. For more information on Evelyn Williams Elementary School AEW activities, contact Principal Anastasie Jackson at 772-2844.

Lew Muckle Elementary School students, faculty and staff, and administrators are geared up for American Education Week, with activities called "I Love To Write" and "Press Release Day" planned for Tuesday and an open house and report card distribution set for Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Pearl B. Larsen Elementary School began observing American Education Week Monday with an appreciation breakfast for school staff in the teacher’s lounge. Students also began creating artwork on Monday to be entered in the school’s AEW art contest scheduled to be judged on Friday.

  • Tuesday, parents and guardians are invited to their child’s classroom to discuss their careers and jobs.
  • Wednesday will be a career exploration day, where primary students will show off their career interest by coloring pictures and intermediate students will be assigned to write about their career interest.
  • Thursday, community leaders and educators are invited to make 30 minutes classroom presentations between 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
  • And Friday is "Career Wear Day," where students will depict their career interest by their choice of clothes for the day. For more information on Larsen School AEW activities, contact Mervelle Sage at 773-3070.

Activities planned at Ricardo Richards Elementary School in observance of American Education Week include:

  • Tuesday the school will hold its open house and distribute report cards from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will showcase their progress using hallway and bulletin board displays. Parents are also encouraged to have lunch with their children, make presentations or read to assigned classes. A parents versus students kickball game is scheduled during primary lunch and a volleyball game during the intermediate lunch periods;
  • Wednesday will be Education Support Day. This day focuses on the importance of the support staff members, who take care of students every day, making sure they have the tools they need to succeed in school. Students will be assigned a grade level topic and use the writing process to develop a published piece that will be presented and displayed in their honor. Math Olympics will be held during the primary and intermediate lunch periods to encourage students to demonstrate their math skills.
  • Thursday will be Community Outreach Day, where those in the community are invited to make career awareness presentations. A faculty versus students kickball game will be played during primary lunch. Intermediate students will play softball during their lunch period;
  • On Friday, classes will select a favorite classroom book and create costumes for students to wear depicting the characters or setting of the book, then hold their annual Book and Character Parade at 1:00 p.m. For more information, call Principal Colleen Williams at 778-0612.
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