fbpx
Published On: Sun, Nov 19th, 2017

Gracita commends ROC Mondriaan school for support

~ “KUDOS TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS OF THE ROC MONDRIAAN INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & MANAGEMENT SCHOOL IN THE HAGUE FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOVE  FOR  SINT MAARTEN” ~

PHILIPSBURGGracita states; “November 11 last, while we commemorated St. Maarten’s Day locally, reportedly, on the other side of the Ocean, students and teachers of the well-known Mondriaan International Hotel and Management school located in the Hague, organized yet another successful fundraiser activity, for our island.

A dinner, that included dishes with a local flavor, prepared and dished out by the students.  The well attended fundraiser dinner was held from five in the afternoon until 11 o’clock in the evening ”

“The school has a very long standing working relationship with St. Maarten. Popular among students who want to pursue their careers in the hospitality and tourism industry, numerous of our students returned home after attending and receiving their diplomas in one or more of the courses provided, including how to start your own business. The school boasts a ‘state of the art ‘ kitchen, bar, front desk, restaurant and other facilities, where students receive the best on hands practical training a long with the theoretical classes ”.

Gracita said; “The first successful fundraiser held weeks after hurricane Irma hit St. Maarten reportedly netted over 3000 Euros. We can’t say enough thank you to the staff and school for their continued support.

It was therefore a pleasure and an honor to visit the school while in the Hague recently and extend a personal thank you to all for their hard-work and excitement in preparing both fundraiser event. It was a special occasion as well to meet and greet some of our own local St. Maarten students (see photo caption) and teaching staff who were having classes at the time of my visit. Mr. L. W. Wandel adjunct educational manager, and Ms. J. Coulombe, team leader/councilor/intake officer together with the students gave me a warm welcome and tour of part of the school.

Gracita & Mondriaan School students Gracita & Mondriaan School staff

Students who were doing their apprenticeship while working at the front desk in hotels in St. Maarten returned to the Netherlands, to finalize their assignments at other hotels in the Netherlands.

Gracita concludes: “The rebuilding and reconstruction plans are still on the drawing boards or tables of the local authorities. Structural financial support is imminent. We must be mindful to include in these plans the opportunity to establish a structural training project through a Public Private Partnership concept.

Our students who graduated from institutions such as the Mondriaan school in the Hague, similar schools in the US or elsewhere as well as those who attend and finish our local Sundial school and NIPA vocational establishments must be able to continue to receive on hands practical training from hotels and restaurants.

This is an excellent opportunity to further professionalize our local work-force especially in the restaurant sector now that many hotels are closed for awhile to rebuild.

Let us not focus on the debris. Let’s stay focused and keep a keen eye and act on new opportunities.