In 2017, Hurricane Irma caused severe damage to St. Maarten, destroying or damaging nearly all buildings—including the Sister Marie Laurence School in Middle Region. At the time, we created a design for its reconstruction. Now, nearly eight years later, students are still being taught in a temporary facility. How does it feel to be a guest at your own school every day?

In this interview from May 2024, we speak with students about what it’s like to attend Sister Marie Laurence School while being housed in the St. Dominic building, and what they hope for in the new school. We also hear from teachers and school board members about why rebuilding is so important.

Challenges for the teachers

One of the teachers, Chivell Burton, reflects on the impact the hurricane had on both students and staff. “Coming back after the hurricane, we noticed that many students carried a deep sense of fear from the experience. Some came to school in tears. It took a great deal of effort of the teachers to help them get back on track, considering everything they had been through.”

A major task for the teachers at the time — about 8 years later it remains a challenge for them to provide the children with good education. Now because of the fact that they have to share the building with another school and are guests there. Two schools in one building result in a shortage of space. Both classrooms and play areas.

Wishes of the students

Considering the time that has passed, there are now children in school who have never been educated in their own building… But students still look forward to having their own space. In the interview, the students share with Lyongo what they would like to see in the new school: healthy food, fun activities, and good education.

When he shows them the renders of the new building, their reaction is enthusiastic. “It looks so fancy—like a mansion!” one student exclaims. Lyongo responds, “A building can help you learn better and shape who you are. If you attend a beautiful school that you’re proud of, it makes you feel different than you do now. Because here, you still feel like a visitor.”

Vision of the client

Director of the school board, Lillian Aventurin-Hodge, explains some ideas they had in mind for the new school. “For us, it was important to have more space. In the new building, we’ll have more floors than before. Thanks to the new layout, we’ll be able to offer a wider range of classes to our students. There is also a lot more space to meet each other outside. From each level, you can look up or down and see children throughout the entire building, and I think that’s a good thing.”

Moving forward

Although the board is still awaiting the demolition of the old building, they have already taken the first steps toward developing the area. Driven by the school board’s enthusiasm, a new sports field and playground have been built next to the old school building in Middle Region.

We spoke with project manager Tanja Frederiks-Vliegen, who explained how these new facilities are already making a positive difference in the neighborhood. She sees it as part of the school’s mission to serve as a catalyst for the area—creating a welcoming and vibrant community space. The new field and park mark an important step forward and have already been warmly embraced by the Middle Region community.