Warm welcome for newest ‘Cougars’

On Thursday morning, the St Michael’s School auditorium was adorned in fluorescent greens and royal blues, celebrating the arrival of the newest ‘Cougars’ for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Despite the rain’s attempt to dampen the spirits, the atmosphere remained lively as parents and children embraced the distinctive Orientation day. Although the start was delayed by the weather, Principal Tanya Harding expressed her contentment with the event’s execution. “We were initially concerned about the rain, but overall, it went very smoothly,” she remarked.

For Harding, orientation is a crucial step in assimilating students into the school’s nurturing environment. “At St Michael’s School, we use orientation to introduce students to our expectations and the support we provide to help them grow into well-rounded individuals,” she explained. “We had displays for all the clubs so students could explore, ask questions, and sign up,” Harding added.

Renee Thomas, an English teacher and event coordinator, acknowledged that this year’s orientation faced more logistical hurdles than usual. “This year presented additional challenges due to training from the ministry,” she explained. Nevertheless, the event upheld its interactive spirit, a format introduced in 2015 and only halted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “We realised the need for a more engaging way to showcase what St Michael’s School offers,” Thomas said. The traditional approach was replaced with dynamic booths representing various clubs and activities, offering a hands-on experience for both students and parents. Each year the school aims to improve the product so that the experience continues to be beneficial for their new students.

“It has more of a BMEX feel, where each club sets up booths to present their activities,” she noted, highlighting the format’s effectiveness in providing a comprehensive introduction to the school’s extracurricular offerings. “Annually we also have a sports obstacle course at the back with prizes on offer and the students can also sign up for the different sports as well but the rain this year was prohibitive. In honour of the Paris Olympics, this year we were calling it the Cougar Olympics… it was entirely too wet and muddy to have that part of the orientation this year.”

Parents were notably impressed by the school’s warm and inclusive environment. The Nation Publishing’s very own Wynette Eleuthere-Stoute, who is the mother of Jacob Stoute, admired the expanded range of opportunities for students, stating, “I was very surprised and impressed by the growth. There are so many different clubs… they clearly have the children’s interests at heart.” The former St Michael School student also praised the teachers’ dedication to student well-being, commenting, “The orientation itself went very well.”

Father Kareem Powlett valued the school’s strong sense of community and was particularly enthusiastic about the focus on financial literacy. “It feels great… I was very pleased to see the family culture here. They encourage you to join the family and be a part of the family which speaks volumes,” he said. He also appreciated the school’s financial education initiatives, remarking, “What I also found encouraging was the fact that they have a partnership with the credit union and put a big emphasis on savings… financial literacy is something that was missing in my time.” He added that he was looking forward to his son Aidan, who celebrates his birthday next week, spending the “next six years or so” at the institution.

For mother Natalie Rowlins, the day was a source of immense pride. “The Orientation was great… He (Kaidian) is my only child, so the fact that he is going to one of the best schools is extraordinary,” she shared.

The First Form Year Head, Shelly Herbert, underscored the importance of fostering a strong connection with both students and parents from the outset. “Orientation is crucial for building trust with parents and ensuring they feel confident in the institution,” she said. She also highlighted the role of the school as a supportive substitute family for students facing challenges. “If things are not working well in their own family, there is a substitute family ready to embrace, nurture, and support them,” Herbert explained, emphasising the school’s unwavering commitment to its students.

The event concluded on a note of optimism and unity, overcoming the day’s challenges. As Principal Harding aptly summarised, “It very much feels like a family when you come to St Michael’s School, and that sense of belonging continues long after you leave.”