Ocean View Academy - SXM

Our Ocean View Academy students had the opportunity to visit The Setai St. Maarten in Indigo Bay, continuing a relationship that began with our visit to the project last year when it was known as Vie L'Ven.

Returning a year later allowed students to see the remarkable progress that has been made while learning more about the project's evolution into The Setai St. Maarten. As neighbours in Indigo Bay, it was especially meaningful to learn more about a development that will play an important role in the future of our community.

Before the visit, students developed inquiry questions focused on tourism and hospitality, construction and engineering, business and branding, environmental sustainability, careers, and community impact. Their thoughtful questions led to engaging discussions about hurricane-resistant construction, environmental stewardship, local employment opportunities, luxury tourism, and the long-term impact of major developments on St. Maarten.

A special thank you to Shirley, Melissa, and the entire team for their warm hospitality and for sharing their knowledge with our students. We also appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from the construction manager, who joined the discussion to answer questions about the project's recent progress.

Experiences like these help bring classroom learning to life and show students how the concepts they study connect to real projects happening right here on our island.

We are grateful for this continuing relationship and look forward to celebrating our graduation ceremony at The Setai sales office overlooking beautiful Indigo Bay on June 12.

Thank you, The Setai St. Maarten, for an outstanding learning experience.

🎾☀️ A fantastic way to wrap up our final PADEL trip of the year!

Yesterday, Ocean View Academy switched things up from our regular visits to Belair PADEL Club and headed over to Port de Plaisance for a full day of skill development, friendly competition, and learning beyond the classroom.

A huge thank you to SXM Padel Club and Ignacio Jauregui for helping build this partnership over the past few years and giving our students these opportunities.

A special thank you as well to Coach Pieter for an excellent lesson yesterday. It was our first time working with him, and the students had a great experience.

It has been incredible watching the growth in skill level, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the year. 🎾

After the lesson, students had an opportunity to cool down in the pool before enjoying an excellent lunch delivery from Pollos Hermanos SXM. Finishing the afternoon with some free PADEL play was a great way to wrap up an amazing day! 🏊🍔

And we are already looking ahead to next year...

Our Thursday afternoon Physical Education and Wellness Program will continue to expand and include rotations between:

🎾 PADEL lessons and trips to Belair and Port de Plaisance

🏊 Belair Community Centre visits, which will feature swim instruction and pool activities, fitness sessions, and Zumba classes

⚽ Outdoor athletics at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, including soccer, running, and athletic training

🌴 Outdoor wellness and activity days, including field trips, beach activities, and hikes in the surrounding area

🏃 OVA Running Team, with plans to participate in events such as the Around the Island Relay and other interscholastic runs

Learning at OVA goes beyond the classroom. Building healthy habits, confidence, teamwork, and resilience continues to be an important part of who we are.

Yesterday at Ocean View Academy, students celebrated Cinco de Mayo through food, history, creativity, and collaboration 🌮🎨

Following our Carnival break, it was a great way to reconnect as students learned about the history and significance of Cinco de Mayo, including the Battle of Puebla, while also making connections to cultural traditions and celebrations here in Sint Maarten.

After viewing and discussing the history behind Cinco de Mayo, students completed a follow-up writing activity where they combined historical understanding with creativity through newspaper-style articles inspired by the battle itself.

Students also helped prepare and set up a colourful taco luncheon filled with fresh toppings and flavours, while Miss Kimberley led a Cinco de Mayo–inspired art activity featuring patterned tile designs inspired by traditional Mexican art.

It was a fun and meaningful day that highlighted the creativity, teamwork, and positive atmosphere that make Ocean View Academy so special.

🎉 Celebrating Carnival Through Culture and Creativity at Ocean View Academy 🎨

This week, leading into our Carnival break, our students explored the rich history and traditions of Sint Maarten Carnival while connecting it to celebrations around the world.

As part of a meaningful research project, students compared our local Carnival to other world-renowned festivals, discovering the unique traditions, music, costumes, and cultural significance that make each one special. It was impressive to see the depth of their thinking and the connections they made across cultures.

Bringing that learning to life, Ms. Kimberley led a vibrant Carnival art session where students designed and created their own Carnival masks. The colour, creativity, and energy on display truly captured the spirit of Carnival and the pride we have in our island.

A wonderful week of learning, creativity, and community — and a reminder of how special this time of year is here in Sint Maarten 🇸🇽✨

Wishing all of our students and families a restful and rewarding Carnival break, and an exciting time enjoying the celebrations across the island!

Another fantastic day at Belair Padel Club 🎾☀️
Huge thank you to Coach Alex and the club for hosting us once again.

The photos say it all… action in every shot. High energy, great sportsmanship, strong teamwork, and a lot of fun, with skills continuing to grow each time we’re out there 👏🔥

Thursday afternoons at Ocean View Academy are all about getting outside, staying active, and enjoying time together ☀️ From pool time to co****le games, the afternoon is filled with laughter, teamwork, and a strong sense of community. It’s a great balance to the week and something the students genuinely look forward to 😊

This week at Ocean View Academy was a special one as we prepared for the Easter long weekend.

We had the opportunity to celebrate one of our students’ birthdays 🎉, always a meaningful moment within our vibrant school community.

Throughout the week, students also enjoyed a unique and memorable experience during their nutrition breaks, as we were able to observe whales breaching in Indigo Bay 🐋. It was an incredible sight and a reminder of the natural beauty that surrounds us here in beautiful Indigo Bay.

A highlight of the week was our Easter art activity, led by Ms. Kimberley 🎨. Students created decorative eggs using a decoupage technique, carefully layering delicate patterned tissue paper onto the surface with a light application of glue. This process required patience, precision, and attention to detail, and the students approached it with great care and creativity. The finished pieces were beautifully crafted, each one reflecting the individuality of the student who created it.

We would like to wish all of our students and families a blessed, restful, and rewarding Easter long weekend 🌸🐣.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Tuesday, April 7th.

📰 Ocean View Academy featured in today’s Daily Herald

We were pleased to see our recent Science Week visit to the Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten(BTP) featured in today’s The Daily Herald.

During the visit, our Grade 9 and 10 students had the opportunity to learn how the math and science concepts they study in class connect directly to real telecommunications systems, including radio frequency monitoring and signal tracking across the island.

A special thank you again to BTP, Sidney de Weever, Judianne Hoeve-Labega, and the St.Maarten Science Fair Foundation (SMSFF) for creating such a meaningful learning experience for our students.

Experiences like this are an important part of how we help students at Ocean View Academy connect classroom learning with the real world 🌍🔬

You can read the full article here:

Ocean View Academy students learn real-world science at BTP Sidney de Weever giving an explanation to students   INDIGO BAY--Ocean View Academy students gained practical insight into science and...

🔬 Real-world Math and Science in action for Ocean View Academy students

As part of Science Week 2026, our Grade 9 and 10 students visited the Bureau Telecommunications and Post (BTP) in Philipsburg for a hands-on STEM learning experience. 🌍

We were warmly welcomed by Judianne Hoeve-Labega, and the BTP team hosted the students for a rooftop lunch where they had the opportunity to speak informally with staff about their work in telecommunications and technology.

Sidney de Weever, Head of the Technical Department, then gave students an engaging look at how the Math and Science they learn in school connect directly to real telecommunications systems, particularly in monitoring and regulating radio frequencies across the island. 📡

Students also toured BTP’s monitoring center, where they saw the specialized equipment used to track communication signals. The afternoon finished with a hands-on activity using a portable monitoring device, allowing students to detect radio frequencies and narrow down the direction of nearby transmission towers.

A special thank you to Ryan Wijngaarde for helping coordinate the visit and to Agnes Kapoor from the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation for joining us.

Experiences like this help students see how classroom learning connects to real careers in Science and Technology.

Energy was high and the Ocean View Academy spirit was on full display at this week’s Padel session 🎾

As always, we’re grateful to the SXM Padel Club for hosting us and to Coach Alex for his steady encouragement and support as our students continue sharpening their skills and building confidence on the court.

It was great to see strong teamwork, positive attitudes, and real perseverance throughout the day. We’re already looking forward to our next trip to the Padel Club 🙌