St Joseph’s Convent has welcomed its newest cohort of Form 1 students and their parents as the school held its annual orientation exercise ahead of the start of the new academic year.
The orientation marked the beginning of what will be a five-year journey for the students, with the school encouraging them to embrace the opportunities available both inside and outside the classroom.
Principal Rosaria Auguste said welcoming a new group of students remains a significant occasion for the institution.
“It’s always special to welcome a new crop of students,” Auguste said. “It’s a very important chapter in their lives.”
She said the secondary school years provide an important period for students to develop their abilities and confidence.
“This is the time when, you know, their skills, their talents, their confidence gets built up and it’s always exciting to be part of the education system because of the impact that we can have on our students’ lives,” she said.
Auguste stressed that the school’s approach extends beyond academic achievement, with students encouraged to participate fully in school life.
“Another aspect of SJC is the holistic development of our students and therefore they’re encouraged to participate in the various aspects of what makes SJC,” she said.
According to the principal, students are encouraged to become involved in co-curricular and extracurricular activities as part of their overall development.
“So it’s not only about the academics, it’s about being involved in the co-curricular, extracurricular activities,” Auguste said.
She added that the school also places emphasis on developing students emotionally, morally and spiritually.
“It’s also about building them emotionally, morally, spiritually. We’re looking at the whole child,” she said.
Auguste said the school takes particular pride in seeing its former students go on to make meaningful contributions to society.
“The pride that we get when we see our past students making a difference in Saint Lucia and beyond,” she said.
The orientation exercise therefore served not only as an introduction to the school for the incoming students and their parents, but also as an opportunity to highlight the values and broader educational experience that St Joseph’s Convent hopes to provide throughout their five years.