74.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesNew Good Hope Country Day School Opens this Week

New Good Hope Country Day School Opens this Week

The Good Hope School and St. Croix Country Day School had operated for more than four decades as separate entities before a merge in June. And after the first “apprehensive” week of a new year united as a single school, the newly created Good Hope Country Day School is running smoothly. But is still a work in progress, its headmaster said.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” according to William Sinfield. “Some were apprehensive the first day, but kids were still excited about going to school, some anyway.”

Since the June decision to combine the private schools and to use the mid-island Country Day campus, staff has been hired, the curriculum was expanded and classrooms were adjusted to accommodate 450 students, all before the first day of school.

Twenty-two new teachers and administrators were hired from Good Hope to teach at the new school. Sinfield wouldn’t say how many of the new-hires were teachers, but they will help teach added AP classes in English, Spanish, French and world history. The school will be able to expand the robotics program, sports, music and performing arts, and other extracurricular activities with the additional staff.

Over the summer, the school upgraded its computer system and combined the schools’ websites. According to Kiomie Pedrini, assistant director of advancement, the new system will allow teachers, students, parents and alumni from both schools to interact and access information when it is fully operational.

In 2006, Sinfield said the enrollment at Country Day was more than 400, but had dropped to 310 by last year. Most of the steady decrease was children who moved away with their parents after the closure of the Hovensa Refinery in 2012, he said.

There were three reasons for the blending of the two private 45-year-old schools, Sinfield said. Considering the territory’s economic downturn, both boards and administrators hope to strengthen the school financially by combining resources, including staff, and to increase the chances of outside funding. The CDS campus was chosen because it is centrally located, he said.

“Our goal is to make it the strongest school in the Caribbean. We don’t want to shy away or apologize for that,” Sinfield said. Good Hope Country Day School can become a destination school and help the island financially, he added.

During the first week of school, the younger students made new friends, according to Sinfield, the former CDS headmaster. He anticipates the older students will gradually mingle, especially the middle school. All seventh-graders take a course to teach them how to interact with others and starting next week they will introduce themselves to each other.

Students will also begin to mingle next week when the volleyball team is selected and auditions for a school play begin.

Seniors Alex Lewit, Yasmeen Khaled and Joseph Lanclos are already enthusiastic about school at the end of the first week. They look forward to what Sinfield calls “pioneers.”

Khaled went to Good Hope previously. Lanclos was a CDS student. Lewit has attended both schools and already has a lot of friends.

Khaled said the new campus is “friendly” and she is not concerned that she doesn’t know everyone. She likes having more students in her classes, especially the AP courses, because there is more discussion.

Lanclos said the first day was “strange,” but is confident everyone will become friends soon.

Sinfield said the senior class is especially important this year because they will help create new traditions and select the school colors, mascot and logo. Khaled immediately mentioned “prank day,” a GHS tradition that Sinfield nixed until she explained the role of teachers and the principal in the raucous activity. She said she hopes two other GHS traditions continue – the senior dinner and senior farewell.

As for Country Day traditions, Mini Gusto and annual senior assemblies were mentioned. But by far, the most important is “Orange and White Day.” On that day in the spring, the two teams – which are chosen in seventh grade – compete in activities, such as tug-of-war and cage ball. The 30-year-old tradition ends with an obstacle course and students carrying raw eggs. Eventually, the eggs are fried and eaten. One team is then designated the winner.

Khaled said she is looking forward to “Orange and White Day.” Good Hope students have always wanted a similar event, she said.

“Good Hope is intense and has always wanted an intense day,” she declared.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.