La Mare de Carteret school, the last significant bastion of comprehensive secondary education, shutting down for students earlier this year. It will reopen in September as a temporary sixth form academy. The now private former high school has seen extensive renovations. It now sports a colorful new paint job intended to establish a welcoming environment for incoming students.
The colorful transformation of the building involved contributions from artist Ryan Dawe, who expressed his hopes for the impact of the renovation. It’s a bit of a granny school and we’re happy to kind of freshen up the place,” Dawe said of the project, “We’re hoping that this opens their eyes and gets them down here because we want people coming downtown really engaging with our community and enjoying life on campus.”
Four of the women and one man stood proudly outside the newly painted building. They enthusiastically publicly documented their support for the revitalization improvement. This group represents the commitment from the community to creating a warm, inviting space for the students returning to La Mare de Carteret.
Helen Watson, who teaches Psychology at the alternative new sixth form center. She is deeply passionate about establishing a supportive climate for youth. She emphasized the importance of adults making sure students feel like they are the most important thing in the world. Watson told us about the high stakes of making sure young people feel appreciated by their leaders. He is convinced the adults just have to do the hard work to demonstrate to them that they are worth it.
La Mare de Carteret was preparing to welcome its first intake of sixth form students. From Braymer to Holliday, educators and community members are coming together to provide the kind of nurturing environment that allows individual talent to blossom and fuels academic excellence. The reopening comes at a time when many educational institutions are adapting to new challenges and seeking innovative ways to engage students.
The temporary launch of the sixth form will complete the education journey at La Mare de Carteret. Beyond that, it really re-energizes the spirit of the community and attracts everyone together. Students are looking forward to once again walking the hallways of this historic building. They are packed with optimism and enthusiasm for all that’s still to come.
