SXMElections.com

ST. PETERS--Helmich Snijders Campus of Hillside Christian Schools will now be the latest recipient of a donation of US $2,500 that Seven Seas Water made to Foresee Foundation last week towards the DigiKidz project.

Helmich Snijders will be the third school of the project to be outfitted with technology equipment and training, in line with the foundation’s aim to bring all primary schools on St. Maarten up-to-standard in “21st century learning.”

Its sister campus, Asha Stevens had been the first school to launch the programme, and Foresee Foundation committed itself to raising funds for another school after outfitting Seventh Day Adventist School as well.

Last week’s donation was presented at the Asha Stevens Campus during a visit by Seven Seas Water General Manager Franklyn Richards. The visit was a follow-up to the recently held DigiKidz Fundraising dinner at Moomba’s Restaurant, where he had pledged support for the third DigiKidz School.

Richards also visited the school to observe and experience the impact that the technology has in classrooms. He visited classrooms of teachers Nicole Fletcher and Angie Prince in Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 and was visibly impressed with the enthusiasm and engagement of both students and staff.

He praised their efforts and encouraged the schools and Foresee Foundation to “keep up the good work.”

Seeing the students and teachers at work in the Foundation Based Education (FBE) learning centres, with the digital board and laptops, he reiterated that “it is here where it starts. With the launch of the DigiKidz pilot, technology will bring us a step further for all schools on St. Maarten.

“Next to embedding technology in the classrooms, students are trained for careers in technology and will be well equipped for the future labour market of our island.

“With the increased opportunities of virtual labs and online resources teachers have another challenge to incorporate these new technologies in their daily teaching. It is exciting to see how the pilot schools use this way forward, to embrace technology in the different subject areas.”

Foresee Foundation expressed its appreciation to Seven Seas Water for the assistance granted in “this exciting next phase of its DigiKidz Project.” The foundation said it is looking forward to additional local and international support from the business community and charity foundations.