Stories of St. Maarten launches year-long reading initiative During Literacy Month

GREAT BAY--The Philipsburg Cultural and Community Center has launched Stories of St. Maarten: A Year of Reading & Discovery, a school-year literacy initiative designed to connect primary school students with local authors, culturally relevant books and the living heritage of St. Martin.

The program, which begins during Literacy Month in September and runs through May 2027, places local literature, St. Maarten identity and student participation at the center of reading activities throughout the school year.

The initiative is intended to help children experience reading not only as a school requirement, but also as a source of enjoyment, imagination, confidence, cultural connection and discovery.

Throughout the year, participating students will take part in monthly author and book focuses, classroom reading circles, author encounters, creative assignments and family and community activities. Students will be encouraged to read, listen, discuss, create and reflect on the material they encounter.

The program is being presented by the Philipsburg Cultural and Community Center in partnership with the Nederlands Letterenfonds, the Dutch Foundation for Literature. It is being coordinated by Project Manager Kenty Lichtenberg in collaboration with participating Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten schools, teachers, authors, readers, families and community partners.

“Literacy Month gives us a meaningful moment to begin a longer journey,” Lichtenberg said. “When children see their island, history, language, imagination and lived experiences reflected in books, reading becomes personal.”

She said the program is intended to create sustained opportunities for students to connect with local literary voices while also recognizing the value of their own stories and experiences.

“This program creates sustained opportunities for students to meet local literary voices, share their own ideas and recognize that their stories also matter,” Lichtenberg said.

From September through May, the reading program will explore themes including island identity, place and belonging, heritage and community, family and imagination, St. Martin history and memory, Black history and Caribbean voices, and self-empowerment.

Sessions will combine read-alouds and storytelling with student discussion and reflection connected to St. Martin’s heritage and community life.

A number of local authors are being scheduled to participate throughout the program, including Ralph Cantave, Tamara Leonard, Aishira Cicilia, Shanice Felix-Theodule, Quenton Marlin, Ruby Bute and Amy Arrindell.

The school year will conclude with a celebration of Caribbean readers, writers and literary legacy, featuring participating authors and student voices.

The Philipsburg Cultural and Community Center extended its appreciation to the Nederlands Letterenfonds for its partnership and support, as well as Foundation Catholic Education St. Maarten, participating schools, teachers, authors, readers, families and community contributors.

Organizers said the students themselves will ultimately be central to the success of the initiative as they develop their curiosity, creativity and love for reading over the course of the school year.