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With teaching teams virtually complete, pupils present at roll call on the first day of the new school year, and schools refreshed during the holidays, the first day of the new school year was a success.All the elements for a successful start to the new school year were in place on the morning of Monday September 2 in Saint-Barthélemy. Only the rain almost compromised the general good mood. But a few drops were clearly not enough to dampen the spirited start to the new school year. As a result, over 1,160 pupils were able to return to school. Joyfully for many, anxiously for some, and dragging their feet for others. Nevertheless, the start of the 2024/2025 school year went off without a hitch.
Busy routine in Gustavia
At the Gustavia school complex, kindergarten and elementary school pupils started classes on Monday September 2 and Tuesday September 3. The youngest were accompanied by their parents. Some of them, quite rightly, were more moved by the separation than their little ones. To welcome and reassure parents and children alike, the school group's teaching teams, as at every start of the new school year, demonstrated their benevolence and serenity. Just like the new headmistress, Agnès Combin (JSB 1580), all smiles, and her close-knit guard, secretaries Naïma and Cindy, who were hard at work throughout Monday morning. This is to be expected when there are almost 400 children in 18 classes. No need to worry, however, as the teaching team is well established and well-versed.
Serenity at Sainte-Marie
At Sainte-Marie de Colombier, home to 202 pupils divided into nine classes and an adaptation group, headmistress Laurence Rebatel stood at the school gate to welcome all the pupils back and in. This earned her many more hugs from the children, who were equally delighted to be back in their classrooms. "Don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will take care of itself. Every day has its day. "These were the words of the headmistress, quoting the Gospel according to Matthew (chapter 6, verse 34) as she invited the parents of the CP pupils (cours préparatoires) to accompany their child to the classroom.
In Lorient, Saint-Joseph surfs on stability
Laure Gaborit knew she could rely on a stable team for her new school year as headmistress of Saint-Joseph de Lorient. Indeed, the school's 205 pupils (divided into eight classes) were taught by the same teachers as last year. What's more, the school now has two new English language teachers, and will be emphasizing kindergarten learning thanks to a partnership with the CFA (apprentice training center) at Mireille Choisy college. As a result, three students in early childhood educational support will support the teachers throughout the school year. What's more, although schoolchildren may not have noticed it during their wild playtime cavalcades, all the flagstones and slats that make up the playground surface were renovated during the summer vacations. The project was initiated by the Ogec (Organisme de Gestion de l'Enseignement Catholique), and thanks to the "insane work", in the words of the headmistress, of the two agents in charge of the work.
Finally, still at Saint-Joseph, each class will be working all year long on a common theme: fairy tales from around the world. This work will be showcased at inter-class and inter-school events.
At collège, the big ones become the little ones again
All students at collège Mireille Choisy returned to school on Monday, September 2. Following the order of their sections, the children and teenagers successively passed through the school gates before answering the school roll call in the playground. The most anxious and impatient were undoubtedly the 6th graders. Those who were the "big ones" just two months ago are back to being the "little ones" for another year. So it was with their parents that they were able to take their first steps in the establishment that will be their second home for the next four years. They preceded all the other students, since they were the first to arrive in 5th, 4th, 3rd and 10th grade.
This year, there will be four classes in 6e for a total of 91 students, three in 5e (83 students), three in 4e (76 students), four in 3e (91 students) but only one in seconde. For the simple reason that the number of applicants has been halved compared with last year. As a result, the seconde class will be made up of 18 students. Last year, there were 36, necessitating the opening of a second class. However, at the end of the 2023/2024 school year, of the 56 secondary school students wishing to continue their studies by entering a seconde générale et technologique, the vast majority decided to go to France (18), Guadeloupe (4), Portugal (10), Canada (5), Australia (1), the United States (1) and Santo Domingo (1).
It should be noted that several facilities will complement the teaching already provided at the school. An educational unit for "newcomer allophone pupils", a local school inclusion unit, teaching in English (mathematics, history and geography, physical education and social studies) and in French will all be part of the program.ography, physical education and sports), a Spanish "bilangue" system starting in 6th grade and, last but not least, a surfing sports section (three hours on Friday afternoons).
Another "detail" of crucial importance when it comes to the smooth running of the schools: apart from a few rare cases that will have to be resolved as quickly as possible, no housing problems have been reported for teachers. All the lights seem to be on at the start of the 2024-2025 school year. All that remains now is for the schoolchildren to plunge enthusiastically into their lessons.
Atsem and AESH also make their comeback
It's not uncommon to forget how important they are to the smooth running of schools. Yet without them, the island's schools and colleges would face many difficulties on a daily basis. So it's worth pointing out that school secretaries, day-care staff, canteen supervisors and maintenance staff also returned to work on Friday August 30. And let's not forget the specialized nursery school staff (Atsem) and the essential support staff for disabled pupils (AESH). Thank you to the Collectivité's agents, who are too often forgotten and who do a remarkable job throughout the year in the schools", insists the first lady.all year round," insists Marie-Hélène Bernier, the Collectivité's First Vice-President in charge of Education. All these agents and staff make up a group of over sixty people dedicated to their tasks throughout the year.
