Parents lined the school yards around the island on Wednesday morning as they sent their little ones off to school to begin the new academic year.
Schools across the island opened today and Dominica News Online visited a few of them around the capital, Roseau, to see how the new school year was getting started. DNO also contacted a number of school across the island to get an idea of how things were going.
At the school visited mixed emotions were clearly visible as teachers and principals welcomed new and returning students while at the same time urging them to continue to strive for the best.
“Parents continue to pray for your children, pray for their teachers and pray for the school,” one principal said in her address to the parents. She urged them to place their trust in her staff and know that they are more than capable of taking care of their little ones.
Another principal warned her students that simply wearing the school uniform does not bring automatic success. She encouraged them to work hard and study hard.
In an interview with DNO, Convent High School Principal, Josephine Dublin, stated that this year’s focus will be on ensuring the success of students and getting teachers to continue to provide interesting lessons.
“Last year we focused on leadership training encouraged through our Health and Family Life Education (H.F.L.E) department, students took up service leadership for instance a class focused on mentoring some students at the Roseau Primary, others went on a litter free campaign,” she said.
According to her one of the challenges highlighted in the past school year were the varying abilities of students in Maths and English.
She told DNO that various concepts have been implemented to mitigate that problem. Placing students in groups according to their ability and promoting subject through exciting and fun ways such as Literacy week and “P.I Day” are some of the ways the school intends to encourage learning.
Principal of the Portsmouth Secondary School (PSS), Ronald Austrie, said the school year began “very well” at the institution. “School started out fine,” he told DNO. “We were well prepared.”
He said PSS is planning to improve the grades of students and the output of teachers and also provide the right environment for students to become productive citizens of Dominica.
Meanwhile down at the Dominica Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School Principal Carlota Challenger said the school year has started on a very good foot. She said the school opened its doors on Monday with an orientation for 66 new students and throughout the week the institution will be holding Student Enrichment Sessions aimed at assisting students cope with their studies.
She said in the new school year will focus on providing quality education and assisting students develop a closer relationship with God.
Below are some photos of the opening of schools around Roseau
DNO, please be professional in your response to readers’ questions. Yes, it would be nice to see pics of some schools around the island. If it’s difficult to provide us with more pics due to lack of staff we might understand. Maybe you could ask readers to send in pics from their Home schools. Just be courteous and professional with your response(s) and don’t take readers questions so personal.
BTW, the kids all look beautiful!
I like the photos. DNO stayed in the vicinity. Innocence is sweet. Leave the children alone, you are looking at our future.
DNO it would be nice to also present pictures of opening school day in the the villages—east , west, north, south—That is Dominica.
ADMIN: It would be nice if we had a large staff to do it, but we don’t. Pictures don’t appear out of nowhere.
hahahahahhahaha @ DNO comment… plox! This one was the hardest yet.
one set of schools DNO visited man, i doe hear nothing bout the goodwill secondary, the dominica grammar scholl etc.
Father we pray for all the children all over the world going back to school all over the world. May you protect them and keep them safe from all evil oh God.
In the name of your son and our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ amen.
St martin primary first day of school new socks, new shoe, new books, new bag and uniform well pressed. My mammy toujour stand up outside pounding bef on first day. Those people had us praying one jay haily marys. “Hark the trumpets sounding calling loud and loud…Girls must be their nations pride…” Look a story.
I remember those good days. Later on in the term going church and not behaving 
. Tamarind balls and donut making ding dang inside church whilst Fr John Lewis giving his usual speech. lols blows on a Tamaweh deyzen whilst peeps taking communion. hahahahaha When kenip season reach my desk filled whilst teacher talking. yep the good old days. I sure those kids now don’t enjoy DA school like how we use to back in the day.
I forget to add that when you send your daughter St.Martin Primary you prepare her to read, write and do maths. She may do well in one area but she’ll be good at it. Any little girl that go SMS and can’t read, write or do maths have some serious issues!
It is amazing how the present generation do not really have these recalls because it’s iPad, iPhone, I don’t feel like doing this/ That, I don’t care and I must get what I want . It’s frightening how this present generation just focus on themselves. How can they reflect on a legacy? They need a lot of prayers and guidance . Poor them. I thank God for the time I was born. Won’tchange it for anything. Unbreakable on constitution hill never gave us juvenile diabetes. Ok?
Dr.Jay
To all the children around the whole of Dominica who has gone back to school.
Welcome back, stay focus and pay attention to what your teachers are teaching.
If at anytime, you all find any situation a bit tough at school, do not hesitate to inform your teachers, parents or guardian.
To those who are going to school for the first time. This is the begining of your future.
Grasp it with both hands. And may God guide each and everyone of you to do well.
A school has assisting students to have a closer relationship with God as one of its objectives? No wonder they have been doing so well over the years. Always put God first and everything else would fall in place. Success to all students, principals and staff for the 2012/2013 school year.
the parents are all excited. i do hope it will not b the last time u enter the school yard proud. continue monitoring ur childrens progress and talk to them. motivate them and let them know that education is the key towards a better life.
well said!
Eh eh but Dno you all are bias. Only the schools seen here are the only ones in Roseau? All you must stop this damn discrimination. If you cannot visit all then don’t vist any. Of couse CHS, Saint Martin primary and secobdary had to be there. Eh eh! What message are you sending to the other students that there school is not important?
Convent High School was not there. Learn your uniforms before you accuse.
St.Martin Primary off course had to be there and CHS. What you think it is nuh?
Best schools on the island! Maybe their mother and father should remind them that they don’t always got to be in the lime light to feel appreciated. I sure DNO wasn’t trying to be biased.
where did you see convent??
Do you expect DNO to have pictures of every shool in Dominica? Since you need to see the schools why don’t you find some pictures and send them to DNO so all can see.
So what is pictures of catholic schools? The main objective is to show the kids back in school. Why some people have to be so negative? Great job DNO. We need to focus more on the kids and show them that we care.
*Sigh* My facial expressions
—-> 
—–> 
it looks like is only catholic schools that in town man!!!!SMH..come DNO
Jealousy is a sin
It is so refreshing to see our children in their school uniforms. Let’s pray it remains this way. Up here you can’t tell the difference between who is going to walk the corner, who is on the way to school or who is on the way to hold up the corner store.
o my goodness. i am out of state and i feel so good to see the way our students look in their school uniforms. this makes me proud to be Dominican.
Please,keep it up. Keep our students neatly and decently dressed.
Congratulations to all our parents. D N O next time show a few country schools.
children stay in school……
These is the future of Dominica folks! Among them
are Ministers of Govt, teachers, doctors,pastors
scientists college professors,and so forth
Needs each and everyone of us to help them reach
their goals.May God help them to be good stewards
for themselves their families and the country.
look a little one doing stick it up on his head. see what i mean?
My dear, look at the picture well…the child is doing the “peace” sign..my gosh…take a chill pill. Negativity already. Sheesh!
Sorry I feel sad for comments like that I am happy there are people who feel differently.
hehehehehe he doing a gang sign.. lil kawat!!! lmao
Send the little man school and he sticking his fingers in the air. lololols
Good luck to all. Work hard and you will reap the benefit.
Photos of only the catholic schools?
jealousy will continue to kill all u tail
Wow cute. From coast to coast, valley to valley, sidewalk, hamlet, community & town may the hands of the master of the wind cover these children and protect them from any harm. Let their enthusiam continue well beyond today and the joy of seeing their classmates and teachers.
‘Anxious’?