The Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL), St. Maarten National Commission for UNESCO, Jet Blue, and Students of the University of St. Martin (USM) joined forces in celebration of International Literacy Day with their first annual “Interactive Read-a-Thon” on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 10:00am – 12:30pm.
This collaborative effort between UNESCO, USM students, Jet Blue and the Library was spearheaded by Marcellia Henry,Secretary General UNESCO St. Maarten, Morenika Charles-Arrindell, PJL’s Activity and Public Relations Coordinator, Shellian Ramchandani, Supervisor Jet Blue, Patti Maier, instructor of the EDU 351 course at USM, and Joseanne Peterson, who presently reads to children on Saturdays at the library.
The event started with opening remarks from Library Director, Monique Alberts and Marcelia Henry, St. Maarten’s UNESCO SG as they welcomed those in attendance and stressed the importance of reading.
Special guest readers for the event included, the Honorable Minister of Education, Patricia Lourens-Philip, the reigning Miss St. Maarten Senior Carnival Queen, Bria Sorton and second runner-up for the Miss Teen Carnival Queen, Joanne Galva.
Four students enrolled in the USM Teacher Education Program, namely Mirla Cortico, Renae Brown, Marcia Nisbeth, and Jessica Setz, also read stories to attending children and did an arts & craft activity related to their stories for children ages four to ten years of age. The student teachers read “Glasses for D.W”, “The Cat in the Hat”, “The Lamb and the Butterfly”, and “The Penguin Race”.
National Institute of Arts (NIA) Instructor and dancer, Clifford Henry, entertained the children as he danced to the famous theme song, “Let it go”, from the animated film “Frozen”.
The committee members wish to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the Honorable Minister Lourens, JetBlue, Student-Teachers of USM, Paula Gordon and the Carnival Queens for making the first annual Read-a-thon a huge success.
- Friday, April 26, 2024
