Old Fort School demand 'phenomenal'

Thu, Aug 14th 2014, 07:12 AM

The director of a new school in western New Providence has claimed that demand for the school has exceeded expectations ahead of its September 1 opening, providing the possibility for future expansion. "The response has been phenomenal, it's exceeded our expectations by all means," said Director of the Old Fort School Lisa Sawyer-McCartney, believing that the school fills a void in western New Providence's school system, given a lack of available classroom spaces in the region. The school is situated on five acres of a 10-acre site that formerly belonged to the New Providence Development Company (NPDC). Sawyer-McCartney noted last year that the NPDC would hold the remaining five acres for any further expansion by the school. However, the likelihood of expansion has increased significantly over the past year, according to Sawyer-McCartney. "Given the response, we're a lot more confident that a phase two will happen in the near future," said Sawyer-McCartney, who also serves as the director of the Meridian School off of John F. Kennedy Drive."We're in the throes of finishing the construction. Our teachers are coming in on Monday, the 18th, in anticipation of a September 1st school start," said Sawyer-McCartney.Despite the imminent opening, Sawyer-McCartney could not specify the project's investment value, claiming that it continued to change on a daily basis. Although the Old Fort School originally planned on accommodating children from pre-kindergarten through ninth grade, it has already expanded through 10th grade due to demand from families.Sawyer-McCartney added that the school would phase in additional grades as it operates, and anticipates having its first graduating class by 2017. Each class will have "no more than 18 children, a teacher and an approved teacher's aide," said Sawyer-McCartney, who noted that 186 students had already enrolled in the Old Fort School, which currently employs 17 teachers. Construction of the school began in August 2013. Sawyer-McCartney added that the Old Fort School's teachers were currently undergoing training through their affiliation with Cambridge International Exams (CIE) as the school's curriculum provider.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads