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Island Gems SupportsAnimal Care Groups

CAY HILL — The stray and unwanted pet population on the island continues to be a challenge for residents, visitors and the animal care organisations working tirelessly to curb the problem on both sides of the island. To this end, Island Gems Charity Foundation has made its annual donation to three very active groups to aid with spay/neuter campaign and awareness.

Receiving each US $750 in vet care coverage via St. Maarten Veterinary Clinic are St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation, SXM Paws and I Love My Island Dog Association Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  Orco Bank Sint Maarten reaffirms its commitment to the local community with its second annual donation drive, gifting 25 shoe box presents to 25 specially selected students of the esteemed Asha Stevens Primary School.
In a bid to spread holiday cheer and foster a sense of joyous giving, Orco Bank Sint Maarten proudly extended its support to the Asha Stevens Primary School for the second consecutive year Read more

SantaS Elves Arrive On Motorbikes. Hundreds Of Children Get Gift, Spend Day

Hundreds of children received a free gift and enjoyed a day of laughter and fun at the seventh annual Dance and Arts Dimensions Academy International 1,000 Gifts Giveaway event on Sunday. In photo: Scores of children flock to Santa Claus after his grand arrival. Story on page .

CAY HILL--Hundreds of children received a free gift and enjoyed a day of laughter and fun at the seventh annual Dance and Arts Dimensions Academy International (DADA) 1,000 Gifts Giveaway event held at the Read more

Highlights From The Big Live Nature Quiz Kids Edition.

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) recently hosted the annual Big Live Nature Quiz (BLNQ) Kids edition.  With 185 teams, each comprising of one to four students in primary school grades 5 and 6 (equivalent to group 7 and 8 in the Dutch school system) competing from the six Dutch Caribbean islands, the event brought nature in the classrooms and connected the islands. Aruba emerged victorious as the winning team, demonstrating their nature knowledge and teamwork in an exciting competition.

Fostering Nature Education and Island Connections

On November 2, 2023, the DCNA hosted the Big Live Nature Quiz-Kids Edition, an engaging and educational event designed for primary school students in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaao, Saba, St Eustatius, and St Maarten Read more

Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School Leads The Way With Soualichi Stories

Philipsburg, St. Maarten Imagine a classroom where history comes to life, where lessons are woven into captivating tales, and where students eagerly embrace the art of storytelling. Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School has embarked on a journey that promises just thata journey powered by Soualichi Stories, where the age-old magic of storytelling meets modern education techniques.

Over 30 members of the school’s staff participated in a training workshop aimed at utilizing Soualichi Stories within their curriculum, thus starting an interesting chapter in enhancing education techniques using old-time storytelling.

In the wake of the Season Three launch of Soualichi Stories, Foresee Foundation and the team of Soualichi Stories have set out to make the island’s rich oral heritage an integral part of the local educational system.

The aim? To spark inspiration, cultivate imagination, and encourage meaningful dialogue among students Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Library is excited to share the rescheduling of our Read to Me Dutch is Fun Puppet show for Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the Sint Martin University, from 6 pm to 7 pm.
Peggy Nibte, a performer and a great storyteller, will serve as the puppeteer for the Dutch Is Fun Puppet Show.
Ms. Nibte was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, into a family of seven. She is the youngest of four girls and three boys. Her mother worked as a teacher, while her father served as a police officer Read more

Students Return To School With Excitement And Anticipation For The New Academic Year

Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School pupils listen attentively to the founder of the school during the school's welcome programme on Monday.

PHILIPSBURG--After a long summer break, students in St. Maarten returned to school on Monday for the first day of the new academic year.

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PHILIPSBURG:--- The people and the Government of Sint Maarten will be commemorating the 38th Anniversary of Flag Day on June 13th, 2023, at the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School parking lot in Cay Hill. The annual commemoration of Flag Day will begin at 8:30 am with the Patriotic School Parade, which commences at the entrance of Cay Hill on Welgelegen Road and goes via the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, turns right at the entrance of the St Read more

Successful 8Th Hurex At Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School Concluded

Cay Hill- For the 8th time, the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill was honored to assist the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps by providing them with a command center for yet another annual hurricane exercise – HUREX. Between May 1-9, approximately 300 Marines from Sint Maarten, Aruba, and Curacao practiced and simulated different hurricane scenarios at multiple locations in Dutch Sint Maarten.

This preparation exercise is designed to train the soldiers to get themselves and their equipment set up as quickly as possible in the event of another major Hurricane Read more

Cay Hill:---  For the 8th time, the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill was honored to assist the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps by providing them with a command center for yet another annual hurricane exercise - HUREX. Between May 1-9, approximately 300 Marines from Sint Maarten, Aruba, and
Curacao practiced and simulated different hurricane scenarios at multiple locations in Dutch Sint Maarten.

This preparation exercise is designed to train the soldiers to get themselves and their equipment set up as quickly as possible in the event of another major Hurricane Read more

Hillside Christian Schools Celebrate Business Day

Asha Stevens (right) and airport staffers at the Helmich Snijders Hillside Christian School Cultural Fair.

ST. PETERS--The Helmich Snijders Hillside Christian School staff and students presented and simulated an international airport with eight destinations around the world in a creative and unique Business Day in the schools gym hall.

The eight destinations were chosen to reflect the diverse student population of the Helmich Snijders campus.

Before the fair, each class had to research their chosen countrys location, culture, language, food, currency, and other interesting facts, such as the largest airport or common phrases used by the locals of each country Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday 18 March 2023, A Betta Place Foundation and Angelique Romou hosted the 1st Women in Leadership Gala. This auspicious Black Tie Red Carpet fundraising event was top notch from the dcor, the ambiance, the food, the poised attendees, and the stellar Speakers, Panelists, and entertainers, was led by the mistress of ceremony Ms. Diandra Marlin, who did an amazing job throughout the evening. She opened the event by introducing Pastor Ms. Torana Granston who opened in prayer, followed by the amazing young violinist Ms Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Understanding that the youth of St. Maarten is the future, the Police Force of St. Maarten also aims to contribute towards their education and knowledge.

With this as one of KPSM's main guidelines, the community officers paid a visit to the MAC preschool in Philipsburg in connection with "Career Week", during which the children were invited to ask questions to the officers and were also given the opportunity to experience the functioning of the police vehicle.
The community officers have also proceeded with a segment of the Cops& Kids program which is Life Facts the past week.
Students from Asha Steven Hill-side school in Cay-Hill were treated to a lecture by Mr Read more

Island Gems SupportsNpos Strengthening

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Non-profit Organisations (NPOs) are the vehicle via which much support and improvement within the community evolve and develop. It is for this reason that Island Gems Charity Foundation saw it fit to be a partner of NPOwers Connect and Inspire Conference set for February 23 to 25.

Learning about the conference and already being aware of the NPO capacity building work of NPOwer, a programme of Foresee Foundation, Island Gems opted to support this furthering of knowledge for this important pillar of society Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- A new board game will teach children about hurricane preparedness and safety through fun scenarios and questions. The game 'HURRYcane Run has been developed by the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) and UNICEF the Netherlands (UNICEF NL).

Representatives Ernika van Putten (SSSD) and Laura Bijnsdorp (UNICEF NL) tested the game with students, teachers, and administrators at Asha Stevens Christian Hillside School in 2022 Read more

Island Gems Donates Copies Of Stories Of St. Martin To Schools

CUL DE SAC Island Gems Charity Foundation donated copies of the locally published Stories of St. Martinbook to schools on the Dutch side of the island. The book, produced by Association Les Fruits de Mer, tells the story of twelve St. Martiners, the collective name for people on both sides of the island, in their own words.

These stories were recorded on St. Martin between 2016 and 2021. They tell us about salt and salt harvesting, storms and renewal, work and service, and local traditions Read more

Trust FundS School Repair Program Completes 3 More Schools

EBENEZER, Sint Maarten With work completed at Milton Peters College (MPC), Methodist Agogic Centre (MAC) Comprehensive Secondary Education, and St. Dominic High School, a total of six (6) schools have now been repaired through the Sint Maarten Trust Fund.

The programs scope of work includes fixing roofs, doors, and windows, as well as mold remediation, plumbing, and minor electrical work. The contractor also installed new aluminum shutters on doors and windows where necessary.

In the case of MAC, additional structural interventions had to be done to improve the schools resilience to natural disasters Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday evening February 4th, 2023, the Cay Hill Community Council hosted a town hall meeting for the residents of the Cay Hill, Little Bay districts in particular, and the general public.
After the opening remarks of the Cay Hill Community Council president, Ms. Angelique Romou, several speakers shared information with the audience. Among the approximately 50 persons attending was the Minister of VSA, Mr. Omar Ottley, the Minister of ECYS, Mr Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- This past weekend history was made in the sports arena on St. Martin with the introduction of a fusion game basketball on stilts at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium. The game was created by the Funtopia youth initiative foundation as a part of the stilt walking training to help the students with their agility on stilts. The game distracts the childrens minds when learning to walk they no longer think about failing or balancing their focus shifts to maneuvering their body on the stilts to catch the ball and make score with their teammates Read more

El Programa De Reparacin De Escuelas De Trust Fund Completa 3 Escuelas Ms

EBENEZER, Sint Maarten – Con el trabajo completado en Milton Peters College (MPC), la educacin secundaria integral del Methodist Agogic Center (MAC) y St. Dominic High School, se han reparado un total de seis (6) escuelas a travs de Sint Maarten Trust Fondo.

El alcance del trabajo del programa incluye la reparacin de techos, puertas y ventanas, as como la remediacin de moho, plomera y trabajos elctricos menores. El contratista tambin instal nuevas persianas de aluminio en puertas y ventanas cuando fue necesario.

En el caso de MAC, se tuvieron que realizar intervenciones estructurales adicionales para mejorar la resiliencia de la escuela ante los desastres naturales Read more

PHILIPSBURG:---  With work completed at Milton Peters College (MPC), Methodist Agogic Centre (MAC) Comprehensive Secondary Education, and St. Dominic High School, a total of six (6) schools have now been repaired through the Sint Maarten Trust Fund.
The programs scope of work includes fixing roofs, doors, and windows, as well as mold remediation, plumbing, and minor electrical work. The contractor also installed new aluminum shutters on doors and windows where necessary.
In the case of MAC, additional structural interventions had to be done to improve the schools resilience to natural disasters Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Funtopia Youth Initiative Foundation, in collaboration with St Martin First Foundation, has ventured into a three-day basketball tournament. The activity will be held at LB Scott Sports Auditorium from Thursday 26th and Friday 27th of January from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am to Saturday 28th January from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

This is a family event. Parents are encouraged to come out with their children. As an incentive to encourage families to come out, a total of 3000 complimentary tickets have been distributed among the various primary schools on the island Read more

7Th Hurex At Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School, Saba, Statia

Cay Hill, Sint Maarten — For the 7th time, the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill is honored to assist the Netherlands Marine Corps by providing them with a command center for yet another annual hurricane exercise HUREX.

Between September 14 28, approximately 80 Marines from Sint Maarten, Aruba, and
Curacao will practice and simulate different hurricane scenarios at multiple locations on Dutch Sint Maarten Read more

Cay Hill:---  For the 7th time, the Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School in Cay Hill is honored to assist the Netherlands Marine Corps by providing them with a command center for yet another annual hurricane exercise HUREX. Between September 14 28, approximately 80 Marines from Sint Maarten, Aruba, and Curacao will practice and simulate different hurricane scenarios at multiple locations on Dutch Sint Maarten Read more