It’s back to school in Dominica

Students on their way to school on Monday
Students on their way to school on Monday

Spick-and-span is the perfect way to describe the attire of students stepping into the new school year.

On Monday DNO took to the streets to have the first look of the boys and girls who will become the nation’s doctors, lawyers, teachers and even new reporters in the future.

For some who are entering school for the first time it was a feeling of nostalgia but others can’t wait to get into the classrooms to catch up on summer gossip and meet new friends.

Whatever the feeling, one thing for sure the school year have started and when the bell tolls at 8:00 am, it’s down to pens and paper.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer, Melena Fontaine told a press conference last week held at the Garraway Hotel that as she interacted with principals and teachers over the past two weeks in preparations for the opening of school, she got a sense of purpose, “A sense of commitment, of dedication and ownership and of wanting to do the best so that our students can succeed.”

She noted that good school leadership and good teachers can increase a child’s performance by more than a year.

“We also know what matters the most is great teachers and quality teaching,” she said.

She is confident that this school year will be a very successful one.

See some photos of students on the first day of school on Monday.

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14 Comments

  1. Massacre Primary
    September 9, 2014

    I drived pass the Massacre Primary School and notice KNEE HIGH grass in the yard and wondered if it wasn’t going to be addressed. Well I seemed that over the weekend, before school reopened on the Monday, it was sprayed I guess with GROMOXONE. That same Monday i witnessed, children running around in the grass, sprayed with poison. On Tuesday morning during the opening ceremony or first assembly, right next to the gathering, a man is there brush cutting…..noise. My concern is the poison in the grass which can still negatively affect and even poison the children that Monday morning…WHY are we so late into doing right by our children? WHY WHY WHY?

  2. September 9, 2014

    This picture is political sad but true.Let jah be praised and bless the children of Dominica.Plese keep them out of the politrics

  3. td
    September 9, 2014

    To the children who are attending school for the first time and to those who have been at school for some time now. May God grant you all wisdom. Learn well, grow in knowledge. And always remember you are the future.

  4. Peace
    September 9, 2014

    What a great way to start the day! Thanks for this feel-good story DNO. Best of luck to all the students!

  5. SLLJ
    September 9, 2014

    OMG… with you negative people…. cant we leave something positive for once without spoiling it by talking about politics… a lil encouragement to the youts dem woulda been much better… leave politics out for once jahhh!!!!

  6. Fond Memories
    September 8, 2014

    Seeing the little ones brings back fond memories of those back to school days after school holidays. We were all refreshed for the new term.
    At most elementary schools then students did not wear school uniform. My mother sewed her daughters’ clothes. She would sew a new dress for the beginning of the school year/term. It was a must to wear it the Sunday to Church to get it blest, not individually of course. :lol: She would ensure that we wore it first to Church. Any of you D/cans remember those days? You, too had a similar experience. Too young for some to know this of course. :)
    When I commenced attending the CHS, the same except we wore a school uniform. The entire school attended a special Holy Mass on the first day of school at the Roseau Cathedral.
    At school, after the usual speech by Mother Superior and orientation, prayer and singing, we settled-in our classrooms for the rest of the morning. Then, we were given the rest of the day off. We started afresh for school the following day.
    We always commenced classes with prayer and a hymn. Prior to leaving school for home, we also prayed. Those were the days my friend.
    Prior to going on school holidays, we had a special hymn which we sang to The Mother of God asking her to: “Be with us Mother from morn to Eve, thou and thy Blessed Son. . . Speak to thy Son as thou didst of old that Feast Day in Galilee . . . Tell him our needs in thy own sweet way . . . to protect us . . . Bless our holiday . . .” during school holidays I still remember it and occasionally sing this beautiful hymn. It is soothing and spiritually uplifting.
    Those who had relatives out of town would visit them for the holidays. I would think most of us did. This was fun and added to an enjoyable school holidays.
    A few of us were reminiscing of those days, that all of us who left for the school holidays returned to school with no incidents and we did.
    We did not know about summer and obviously did not call it summer holidays. Summer is restricted to those countries which have four seasons, Spring, Summer, Autum (Fall, when the leaves are falling) and Winter. We are approaching the latter.
    Having stated that, school children – students, may you have an enjoyable and studious year. One day, some of you may also be politicians. :) Make the most of your studies. Those days fly, never to return. God bless you and protect you!

  7. no mame
    September 8, 2014

    this last girl was not afriad of posing
    :lol:

  8. Anonymous
    September 8, 2014

    this last girl was not afriad of posing
    :lol:

  9. Oh Yes
    September 8, 2014

    have a great and productive school year to all.

    • Fond Memories
      September 8, 2014

      Isn’t this something? Today, with computer and Internet, they even get Media coverage. Makes them feel good no doubt in their school uniform. How fortunate they are in this era. :lol:

  10. September 8, 2014

    The uniforms look great and the student happy.What this picture does not show is the stain this government has put on parents,through lack of jobs an oppertunitys to earn a decent living.It has to be said that while Mp and such living high life the rest of Dominica feeling heavy pressure.To little and to late.CALL THE ELECTION.

  11. Anonymous
    September 8, 2014

    But wait, are we really serious in Da????? With all little school boys seems to be wearing long pants now and di so called bigman dem wearing short pants- cargo and even capri lol’ and we wonder why the place is upside down. This scenario is one of the factors that’s producing all them force ripe / avota- (spelling) in de place. Lord help us… Pleases somebody talk to them….Pleases

    • Anonymous
      September 8, 2014

      stupes

    • You made me laugh
      September 8, 2014

      What is wrong with that? So critical? I did not take note of the long pants. Since you mentioned it, where I reside I am accustomed of seeing men and boys wearing long pants unless some of them are out casually as also going to the park or shopping.
      Casual wear as jeans is also long pants for men and boys. I never see them with short jeans. Women occasionally wear short ones.
      In this era women wear long pants most of the time and even to church for church-going ones. Times have changed. Long pants seem to be the normal wear for men and boys.
      On the other hand, D/ca is a tropical climate. I wonder why the boys are not wearing short pants? Are the schools air-conditioned?
      On a wicked and jovial note which crossed my mind, are they afraid someone will touch their legs? :lol: I suppose no more short pants to show off their legs and whatever they look like. :lol:

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