AlphaMax Academy News

Christmas Greetings

2011-12-20T23:53:00.000-03:00

Learn more about Msiba, My Love

2011-12-15T23:00:00.000-03:00

Lily Strand publishing has created a website---http://msiba.webs.com so that online viewers can learn more about their latest publication -Msiba,My Love and its writer Ivan A. Khayiat.

It is also possible to order the book online.

The site has material from Ivan A. Khayiat's early collection of poems Quest by Day, Vigil by Night.. Msiba was launched last Friday in Suriname and has had an enthusiastic response from the public.

This coffee table photo book with the Tagore award winning poem is a collector's item and an ideal gift. The book is an excellent example of the creative skill of Surinamese.

The book was printed by Suriprint N.V and Design work was done by Studio TMC and ChadLab.com.

Suriname buyers can come to the AlphaMax Academy to get their copies.

Successful Visit to Jarikaba

2011-12-15T21:40:00.002-03:00

By Jonathan Liu--High School Senior and member of Business Class

On Wednesday December 14, 2011 the AlphaMax Academy businessstudents went to Jarikaba Stichting Behold Bananen Sector (SBBS). The studentsleft school at 8:00 am and arrived at the Jarikaba banana plantation forty fiveminutes later. When they arrived to the plantation Mr. Barsingh -the head ofagronomic and research department- greeted the student with a warmwelcome.

After a long trip with the bus the business students arrivedat the banana plantation. They then rode three more minutes to the bananafield. Mr. Barsingh described the field and the banana plants. Jarikaba has three farms and each farm has amanager and two supervisors.

The banana field is 1280 hectares long. One hectare has 1900banana trees .The banana are covered with blue plastic bags, so that the pestscannot get to the banana.

The field has an old sprinkler system to water the bananatrees when the field is dry (mostly on hot days). They are trying to put a newsprinkler system. The banana trees are 1.65 M away from each other and areplanted in a triangular pattern, so that each tree can get the same amount sunlight.

After the field trip the students went to the packinghouse.There is where the bananas are packed in boxes and shipped to other countries.In the packing house the bananas are examined to see if the bananas are tooripe or not ripe. If the banana is not so ripe they are going to export it andif the banana is ripe the going to sell it to the Suriname local market.

After the examining the bananas they are then thrown into apool of water with soap to wash the latex off the banana. The workers thenexamine to find out if some of the bananas are rotten. If there are rottenbananas they throw them away. Theworkers throw the bananas back in to another pool of clean water to wash outthe soap .When they are clean the workers pick them up for packing.

The workerspack the bananas in boxes with two different colors- green and red.

The greenboxes are for small bananas and the red box for larger bananas. Further on, theair in the boxes with banana is sucked out, so that the bananas won’t ripenduring shipping.

After a long day Mr. Barsingh invited the business studentsto sit down and gave the students something to drink and to eat. He also toldthe students about some future plans for the banana sector. It was time to goback to school so the AlphaMax Academy business students thanked Mr. Barsinghfor the tour. The students also got some bananas to bring back home.

Business Students to visit Jarikaba Banana Plantation

2011-12-09T12:37:00.001-03:00

On Wednesday December 14^th, 2011, the AlphaMax Academy business students are going on a fieldtrip to the Jarikaba banana plantation.

The trip was organized by teacher Sylvana Dankerlui .

The purpose of the trip is to get the business students to learn how the owners of the plantation set up a business there. From their example, the business students may learn how to make a business plan of their own.

Jonathan Lui - High School Senior and Member of the Business Class

A Sony VAIO Review by Kristina Taylor

2011-12-09T10:41:00.001-03:00

On September 5^th, 2011,I ordered a Sony Vaio laptop, on Sony Companies online. Although I had to wait an entire month for myorder to arrive, I was fairly happy with my order. An outrageous part of my laptop story is thatit is a crazy green color. Not justapple green, but more of a neon green. This was ordered in the Sony Fashion Laptopsection of the store and I wanted to purchase another color other than a boringsilver or black computer. My laptopcosts approximately $600-750. There aresome pros and cons about the Sony Vaio laptop:

Cons:

The screen is flimsy

The CD drive is flimsy as well

It is not recommended for gamers because the card slot doesnot hold all card types

The Sony VAIO came with its own type of program called SonyAnalyzer which constantly feels the need to update your computer

Sony shipping SUCKS

I only received a 1 week trial of Microsoft Office, but alife time of Adobe Photoshop Plus

The Webcam is poor

Pros:

I love the color (green)

It is lightweight- 3.5 pounds

It comes with i3 Windows 7

It does not overheat

The microphone works well

Comes with a free keyboard skin of your own color choice

AlphaMax End of Term Activities

2011-12-09T09:50:00.001-03:00

All end of term examination finish today –Friday December 9^th.

There are two field trips next week. One on Tues. 13 Dec forHigh School History students to Fort Zeelandia. The other for the High SchoolBusiness students on Wednesday the 14th December, 2011. This group of studentswill be going to Jarikaba.

There will be a school party for all students at the mainbuilding—Scabiosastraat 4 on Thurs. 15 December from 9.am to 12.30pm.

School report cards will be available for collection between8.00 and 10.00 am on Friday 16^th December.

End of Term Field Trips

2011-12-09T09:31:00.001-03:00

AlphaMaxAcademy is organizing an educational fieldtrip for High School History studentsto Fort Zeelandia on Tuesday the 13th December, 2011. The departure time willbe at 7.45am and the students will be back at school approximately 9.30am.

Therewill be a fieldtrip for the High School Business students on Wednesday the 14thDecember, 2011. The students will be going to Jarikaba. They will leave at7.45am and return to school at approximately 12.30pm.

StaffTutor Ms. Sylvana Dankerlui will be in charge of both trips.

10 Minutes of National Fame

2011-12-08T19:26:00.000-03:00

by Ruth Saman

Monday November 5, 2011 was thefirst day of the Children’s Day of Broadcasting in Suriname–an initiative of the STVS and the AlphaMax Academy. Surinamese students worked with the STVS crewto launch this project; this project might be an ongoing project. Kristina Taylor, Reann Kersenhout, Justin Ho,Emmanuel Landburg, Jason Jones, Yamil Baptista, Aaron Cheuk A Lam and CherisePlayfair are some

of the students who participatedin this project.

Ruth on National TV

Along with Cherise Playfair, Ipresented part of the STVS evening news for 10 minutes. During the voice checks on Friday December 2,2011 I was very nervous, and the recording room was very cold. Before me, other students went, and when I itwas my turn, I felt as if my nerves took over because I started my presentationbefore the camera man gave me the cue. WhenI finally got the cue, I presented the news and surprisingly, I was calm. I was very comfortable being in thespotlight. As a result the STVS teamdecided that my performance on my screen test was good enough for me to presentthe evening news. So I got the chance to be seen on television nationwide.

On Monday December 5, the day of the news presentation,Cherise and I had to be at the TV station by 12 noon. In the morning, we came to school and left at11. We started taping the presentationat approximately 1.30. I felt very calmand confident while doing it.

That night, when I watched the news, I waited impatiently onthe part of the news that Cherise was doing to end. Then there I was…readingthe news on National TV. Seeing myselfon television was something new for me, but it lasted only for 10 minutes. So I had my ten minutes of fame, I toldmyself.

After seeing this, I felt that I had revealed one of my manyhidden talents.

Ruth on STVS Evening News

Children's Day Broadcast a Huge Success.

2011-12-06T15:25:00.000-03:00

Children's Day Broadcaston December, 5th 2011 was a huge success. STVS, Suriname National station andthe oldest TV station in the country broadcasted several hours of programming doneby young people.

AlphaMaxstudents collaborated on this project and they did so enthusiastically.

The National Evening news was presented RuthSaman and Cherise Playfair. They got to read the day’s news for that evening.

Jason Jones hadhis hands full with the sports items. He had to interview a couple of people whoare in the sports business. Tarren Antonius and Justin Ho also did interviews ona program called 'Monday Live'.

There was a logofor the day that was created by Shafeek. Editing and other technical work wasdone by Shafeek, Yamil, Araon and Timothy.

Parents andfriends of the AMA students were delighted at the skills displayed by ourstudents.

Nicole Moeljadi

Gabriel Grauwde launches his personal website

2011-12-05T11:19:00.001-03:00

Gabriel Grauwde ,GAC class of 2012 has createda personal biographical website. Its URL is

http://gabrielgrauwde.weebly.com/. He is inviting his classmatesand friends to visit his site and make comments on how he can improve it. Hewants to give a picture of his academic and non academic achievements.

Gabriel is an outstanding Surinamese youth swimmer. He is in his final year at AlphaMaxAcademy and is a member of the GAC class.

Last summer he represented Suriname at theInternational Triathlon Games in Lausanne, Switzerland. Gabriel came toAlphaMax after spending twelve years in Barbados. His dream is to represent Surinameat the 2016 Olympics.Gabriel’s current plan is to study in the US in the fallof 2012.

AlphaMax Students on STVS Children's Day of Broadcasting

2011-12-04T13:52:00.001-03:00

AlphaMax students will be working along with otherSurinamese students to produce a day of Surinamese Children’s broadcasting tobe aired for over eight hours on STVS on December 5^th.Broadcsting ofthese programs will begin at noon.

Teams of high school students at AMA will be working onscripting, arranging interviews, interviewing on camera and presenting. Oneteam comprising Yamil Baptista, Timothy Naaarendorp, Aaron Cheuk-A-Lam and Shaffique Nazir will be working ontechnical matters.

Xiomara and Tarique Getrouwe –outstanding athletes from theschool are scheduled to be interviewed on a one hour live program that willfocus entirely on young people.

Some of our students will be part of the promo for the dayof broadcasting. Shaffique Nazir has designed the logo for the program and thiswill be placed on the polo shirts that participants will wear in the nextscheduled day of broadcasting in January.

Our students will join others to be news anchors and sportsnews anchors. Ruth Saman and Cerise Playfair are to be news anchors while JasonJones will do sports.

Films dealing with youth themes will be aired during the dayand each film will be introduced by young people.

The young people who won first prizes in the recent NationalTagore Creative Work competition will be featured. So our winners-Kristina Taylor, ClairePatandin, Reann Kersenhout and Shaffique Nazir will have features done on them.

AMA high school business class will do a segment on thecurrent Euro zone financial crisis and will be interviewing two senior peoplefrom the Ministry of Finance and a banker. This feature will be part of theregular morning programming .Tarren Antonius and Justin Ho will be on thestreets with the regular STVS reporters.

High School music teacher Mr. Ivor Mitchell has given theprogram one of his music compositions to be background music for a feature thatwill highlight the art entries in the recent Tagore Art competition.

Ivan A. Khayiat's "Msiba-My Love" will be launched on Dec 9th

2011-12-01T10:49:00.001-03:00

Lily Strand Publishing in Suriname is launching a uniquecoffee table book Msiba-My Love on December 9^th at 7.00 pm at theTower Auditorium in downtown Paramaribo. ‘Msiba- my Love’ is the winner of the2011 National Tagore Award for poetry. The book has a stunning collection ofphotographic images of Suriname together with the texts of three poems. Duringthe launch there will be a fifteen minute high definition video presentation ofimages of Suriname’s Brokopondo interior with audio of the main poem in Englishand Dutch. A specially composed musical soundtrack complements the male andfemale voices reading the poem.

Masba, My Love is not only a unique collection of poems butalso a deeply moving plea for respect for mother earth, Suriname and itspeople.

The centre piece of this collection is “Msiba My Love”. It is asymphonic poem in three movements which profoundly explores the many layers ofan economic and ecological crime that was committed in Suriname in the1960s. In the name of progress a multi-national company together with the Dutch colonial government forciblyremoved thriving Maroon communitiesfrom their ancestral homes to create the Afobaka hydro electric dam. Thesecommunities had been living there for over 200 years and held a sacredspiritual connection with their mother communities in Africa. Msibacommunicates the excruciating pain caused by the severing of the spinalcord of not only the Maroon nation but the nation of Suriname. The emotionalintensity aroused by the words, images, rhythms, and cadences of thisfascinating poem is so great that one young Surinamer was moved to tears justreading the poem.

Msiba however is more than the poem. It is an artistic effortto use both the force of the poem and the powerful impact of photographicimages to create a multimedia presentation. Each image in the book has been carefully selected to act either as acompanion or a counter point to the lines in the poem. “Reading” this poem is a multi sensoryexperience which resonates at all three important levels physical, emotional,and spiritual.

“Forest Tears”, thesecond poem, poses the questions that we all need ask about our relationshipwith the planet today. The collection ends with the exquisitely beautiful “Ilove you” which celebrates simultaneously the love of a woman and thecountry she comes from. The stunningly beautiful images of Suriname and thepoem evoke the joy of fresh new love.

Ivan Khayiat is a gifted writer with the ability to touchthe reader at the very core of his being. Everyone who reads these poems willdo so over and over. Each time the reader will come away with even greaterinsights into our need to be attuned to mother earth. Each reader will alsofeel the pain of the vicious crime that was committed to this peaceful nationnearly 50 years ago.

Milton M.Drepaul

First IELTS Examination in Suriname

2011-11-30T07:30:00.000-03:00

The first IELTS was held at AlphaMax Academy on Nov 26th 2011.Eight AMA students did theexamination. In the morning the studentsdid the Listening, Reading and writing sections. The speaking examination wasdone from about 1.30 pm to 4.30pm on the afternoon of the 26th. Mr. RussellHammond from the British Council in Colombia flew to Suriname to conduct theexamination.

Sean Taylor Sean Taylor, Director of Studies in a commentsaid,” Mr. Hammo9nd conducted the first IELTS examination most professionally –with purposeful clarity and efficiency. All the candidates were very comfortable with his professionalism andthe ease and style in which he presented the exams.”

On the following Tuesday Mr. Hammond had good meetings withofficials in Paramaribo, including the Ministry of Education.

Sean Taylor, Director of Studies said.” As a result of Mr.Hammond’s visit here and his discussions with us, at the AlphaMax Academy, weare poised and prepared to forge ahead with IELTS in further helping to shapethe horizon for quality English education in Suriname.”

The IELTS test is a standardization test to check thecommunication capabilities of an individual in areas of listening, reading,writing and speaking. IELTS iscompulsory for anyone who intends to study or work in a country where thelanguage of communication is English. Since 1989, the IELTS test has been aworldwide approved test that measures the communication ability of anindividual. The IELTS test is recognized in over 120 countries and in more than4000 institutions and government agencies. More than 5 million students takethe IELTS test every year worldwide. It is the fastest growing English languagestandardization test to date.

The IELTS test is an important proof for immigrationformalities in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The IELTS testis a recognized medium by professional bodies, immigration authorities andother government agencies. The IELTS test is similar to the TOEFL test.

THE IELTS EXAM

2011-11-28T15:21:00.000-03:00

On Saturday 26^th November, 2011,the IELTS exam was conducted for the first time in Paramaribo, Suriname at theAlphaMax Academy. The International English Language Testing System known asthe IELTS exam consists of four sections. The four sections are: Listening,Reading, Writing and Speaking. The Listening section is 30 minutes long, thereading 60 minutes, writing 60 minutes and the last part speaking is 15-20minutes long.

The IELTS exam was taken by eight AlphaMaxStudents: six from the GAC program and two from the GED program. The students took classes on Monday andWednesday evening taught by Mrs Sylvana Dankerlui to help them prepare for the IELTS exam. On November 26, Mr RussellHammond, an Englishmen from the IELTS agency came and conducted the exam.

I have taken the TOEFL exam before and it is differentfrom the IELTS exam. The difference is that in IELTS you have a speakingsection however in TOEFL you have a grammar section. The structure of the IELTSexam is different from the TOEFL exam. In the IELTS you have two writing taskshowever in the TOEFL there is only one writing task. However, for the rest iswas about the same.

Written by: Gabriel Grauwde (GAC Class 2012)

Shafeek Nazir--Future Moviemaker

2011-11-28T14:39:00.001-03:00

ByVinantia Nandlal GAC 2012 Class

Shafeek is agraduate of the AlphaMax Academy (2011 Class). He was Valedictorian for his class and ongraduation night he made a very moving and personal speech about the impact onhis life of the unique AlphaMax program of studies and activity.

For his work during the Academic year hereceived the Gandhi King Award, the Humanity Award, Art Excellence Award, and aTagore Art award. During his student year at the Academy, he also made anexcellent video about Gandhi’s life.

Shafeekfound the experience at the Academy quite intriguing, because the AlphaMaxseeks to bring out the talents and the gifts of each student. He hopes to come back and teach in the nearfuture. He is looking forward to earn a degree in Bachelor of Science as astarting point for his career.

Currently,he is working at the AlphaMax Academy as computer administrator. He has worked

On manyprojects for school and also outside school through AlphaMax Academy. He has alsodone a

Brochure forthe President’s office. Someonementioned that Shafeek will soon release two spectacular videos –Msiba, My Love and Many Faces of Love

Shafeek has hadextensive experience with major graphics software. He has demonstrated significant creativeskills in the multimedia industry.

I asked: How did you find out what your skills were?“

Shafeekreplied, “It all started when I got interested in finding out how movies,cartoons, games, and all other TV programs were made. That’s when I really startedseeking knowledge on these items and it helped me creating a starting point buildingup my skills.”

One of mytutors told us recently that someone said to him that one day we might seeShafeek on stage in Hollywood receiving an Academy Award for a movie he made. Iam looking forward to that day when he places Suriname on the world movie map.

Yamil on the net

2011-11-28T13:59:00.001-03:00

Yamil Baptisa (GAC 2012 class) has begun work on hisbiographical website. You can visit it at::http://yamilbaptista.weebly.com/.

Yamil says :”On this website I will be keeping a blog about anything that Ifind interesting. Also this website has a purpose to promote myself; I have myresume on it, and I also keep a small portfolio to advertise my photographicskills. The last page is a basic contact form in which anyone would be able tocontact me.”

GAC Program 2011/2012--1st Term

2011-11-28T13:46:00.001-03:00

ByTimothy Naarendorp –GAC class 2012

This year’s GACgroup comprises of six AlphaMax students including myself. These students withtheir chosen field of future study are: Yamil Baptistal (Aerospace Engineering),Gabriel Grauwde (Civil Engineering), Timothy Naarendorp (Electrical Engineering),Vinantia Nandlal (Medicine), Ruth Saman (Dentistry), and Kristina Taylor (Philosophy).

The coursestarted on September 5^th with six modules .These modules consistedof: Academic Listening and Speaking Skills (001), Academic Reading and WritingSkills (002), Study Skills for Independent Learning (003), Mathematics 1:Fundamentals (004), Introduction to Computing for Academic Study (005), Business,Science & Social Science: Communication Skills (006). Everyone soon hustledto finish their assignments as soon as possible and of course everyone did. Thefirst module was finished on November 18^th. The second level of theGAC program will start inNovember and end middle of March.

I asked twoof the GAC students to comment about what they think about the class. The firststudent, Kristina Taylor, commented, “It is challenging, but not difficult. Ifyou set your mind to it you can do it and that is what we did, we set our mindto it and finished level one of GAC.”

GabrielGrauwde commented, “Regardless of the intensive program the GAC offers, I thinkthat this course will fully prepare me for the road that lies ahead.”

I think,like Kristina that the program really was challenging and I believe it willbecome even more challenging with the levels 2 & 3 that still wait ahead ofus. The GAC program really prepares student for their University work. It makesthem more responsible and lets them think at a whole new different level.

One of themost interesting days was November 10^th when we had the mock interviewrehearsing us for an interview with the admissions section of a University? Wewere all dressed up in professional attire and broughtour personal statements and resumes.

AlphaMaxhas been giving GAC courses since 2007. They also do SAT, PSAT, TOEFL, IELTSand GED exams.

If anyone would like to know more about theAlphaMax; please visit http://www.alphamaxacademy.com/

Representing Suriname at Conference in Berkeley, California

2011-11-28T12:30:00.001-03:00

In July of 2011, I visited Berkeley, CA, together with mymother. This was a trip to represent the AlphaMax Academy at the NationalStudent Leadership Conference It was a very exciting and learning trip and forsure a life's milestone for me.

By Yamil Baptista ---GAC 2012 Class

I arrived in Berkeley on the 4th of July after a 12-hour flight from Miami The conference did not start until the 6th, sowe settled in the university city. In the morning of the 6th we walked over toUC Berkeley's Residence Hall's center. I signed up and went through theirstandard procedure. I received the dormkey mom and I went over to the room. It was my first time seeing anAmerican-style university dorm. Not much later, my mother left, and I was on myown from then on. I quickly got aroundspeaking to people; this was another achievement for me because I am a very shy person.

During this experience I learned a lot more than I hadexpected, both about engineering and about myself as a leader. We enduredthrough some trust activities in the cold parks of San Fransisco (I can notremember the name.) The group which I was in also were challenged with thecreation of a sea perch. This was a challenge for all of us and it was the bestopportunity to learn skills from each other, and also learn about eachother.

Next to the activities we had to engage in, we also visiteda few places such as: the San Fransisco Exploratorium, Intel, Pier 39 and 43½.We also had a boat tour, passing by Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Although the conference was 10 days, it feltlike we knew each other for years. This was indeed one of the best experiencesin my life.

Interview with Gabriel Grauwde

2011-11-28T12:02:00.001-03:00

By Kristina Taylor GAC 2012 Class

Gabriel Giano Hesdie Jr., Grauwde was born on August 29^th,1994. He is a young yet mature athletewith many prestigious achievements. Someof his major achievements are winning first place in the Telesur Swim Marathonon the Suriname River and first place in many international swim meets. He also won second place in the annualStaatsolie Swim Marathon in the Suriname River and attended the World Triathlonin Switzerland. Although he has a verybusy schedule during the week, he still has time to spend time with his lovely family. Gabriel’s swim achievements and his amusingpersonality has made him an extremely popular teenager in Suriname andthroughout the Caribbean. He is alsoknown for his quick, witty, and sometimes pompous remarks on some topics, butthat is also what makes him a distinct individual at his high school. On Wednesday, November 23^rd, Iinterviewed Gabriel Grauwde and I asked him the following set of questions:

Q: Name the first thoughts that come to yourmind while you swim.

A: “I think about the race and how I am going towin the race.”

Q: At what age did you start swimming?

A: “I started swimming when I was four years.”

Q: Would you say you started swimming for funand exercise or did you start to become the high achieving athlete you aretoday?

A: “I started swimming for fun and I loved thewater. When I saw that I had talent, Istarted to swim for competitions.”

Q: Did you have any inspirations to startswimming or were you just persuaded by your parents?

A: “Ian Thorp inspired me to swim.”

Q: How oldwere you when you started swimming competitions? Do you remember thecompetition? If so, explain.

A: “I was 7 years old. It was the Short Course Nationals inBarbados, I swam the 50m breast- stroke, and I won a silver medal. It was a fun and intense competition despitemy age.”

Q: About how many medals and trophies do youhave?

A: “I have about 400 medals and 21 trophies.”

Q: I heard you recently won the Telesur Marathonon the Suriname River, how do you feel about that achievement?

A: “I feel proud because I won, and I am reallyproud of myself; on the other hand, I felt disappointed because I expected towin something more than a trophy. Withoutthe support from m friends and family, I do not think that I would have won”

Q: Explain the feel of the Marathon.

A: “ It was an intense race, yet at the sametime the intensity made me excited!”

Q: About howmany hours do you swim per week?

A: “I swim15 hours of training per week.”

Q: Do you have those days where you say youdon’t want to go to training?

A: “Yes I do, but I have a goal to achieve, so Imust work towards that goal.”

Q: Do you have any role models?

A: “Michael Pheleps and Kosuke Kitajima motivateme the most.”

Q: Is there a message you want to give the otherswimmers out there, maybe a message of motivation?

A: “I just want to say, ‘hard work pays off’!”

Tagore Awards Ceremony

2011-11-23T15:18:00.000-03:00

The Suriname Rabindranath Tagore Creative Arts Awards Ceremony washeld on Tuesday, November 22^nd at 5:00 p.m. at the UniversityGuesthouse on Leysweg.

This important event celebraedthe work of more than 30 Surinamesestudent- and adult-artists.

The wife ofAmbassador Harvey Naarendorp (SurinameAmbassador to the EU based in Paris) handed out awards to over 30 creative artistsfrom Suriname who won school and national competitions in creative art andwriting (prose and poetry) competitions.

Thecompetition, which was launched in May 2011 by the Suriname Tagore CelebrationsCommittee, attracted more than 135 entries from students and adults inSuriname. Judges for the national competitions included members of theSchrijvers Group'77, Art Vibes United, and the University of Suriname. Therewere more than 75 creative writing and art entries from students attendingschools in Paramaribo, Wanica, and Commewijne.

The prestigious Tagore Art Competition was launched to mark the150^`" Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the firstnon-European and person of color to win a Nobel Prize (1912). Born in 1861,Tagore was a prolific writer, dramatist, poet, artist, philosopher, andinternational humanist. Across the world, national and internationalcompetitions are being held to uphold values in creative excellence incelebration of Tagore.

TenAlphaMax students were among the 40 prize winners in the first Tagore CreativeArts competition in Suriname.

AMAtutor Sylvana Dankerlui guided the packed audience through an enchantingprogram that celebrated Rabindranath Tagore’s influence on the world and inthis special case on Surinamese young people. Mrs Dankerlui gave a passionate and delightful account ofTagore and how his ideas influenced others.

Thiswas followed by a song done by the ICC singing teacher. She sang one ofTagore’s compositions. Her performance held the audience’s rapt and they gave her an enthusiastic round ofapplause.

Thehighlight of the evening was the reading presentation of the winning entries in the writingcompetition. The audience was thoroughly impressed not only with the ideas andstyle of writing but with the confidence and poise of all the winners as theydelivered their pieces. Many commented later on the kaleidoscope of Surinamesefaces of all races and the range of artistic expressions.

Parentsand friends commended the organizing committee for an unusually delightful eveningwhich placed the creative work of young Surinamese at the center of nationalinterest. All the winning art entries were placed along the walls of the auditoriumand in front of the audience.

See pictures posted on Facebook by Indian Embassy

AMA Press Release on Tagore Awards

2011-11-21T10:07:00.000-03:00

ALPHAMAX ACADEMY

Motto: “In Diligent Pursuit of Excellence”

Scabiosastraat 4 (Zorg-en-hoop), Paramaribo

Suriname

Tel. 597-401356 * 597-400588

Email: info@alphamaxacademy.com * lily@sr.net

Suriname Rabindranath Tagore Creative Arts Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, November 22nd, 5:00 p.m. (1700 hrs) – University Guesthouse, Leysweg 70

PRESS INVITATION

The Suriname Rabindranath Tagore Creative Arts Awards Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 22^nd, at 5:00 p.m. at the University Guesthouse on Leysweg.

You are cordially and warmly invited to attend and provide coverage for this important event celebrating the work of more than 30 Surinamese student- and adult-artists.

First Lady Mrs. Ingrid Bouterse-Waaldring will hand out awards to over 30 creative artists from Suriname who won school and national competitions in creative art and writing (prose and poetry) competitions.

The competition, which was launched in May 2011 by the Suriname Tagore Celebrations Committee, attracted more than 135 entries from students and adults in Suriname. Judges for the national competitions included members of the Schrijvers Group ’77, Art Vibes United, and the University of Suriname. There were more than 75 creative writing and art entries from students attending schools in Paramaribo, Wanica, and Commewijne.

The prestigious Tagore Art Competition was launched to mark the 150^th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European and person of color to win a Nobel Prize (1912). Born in 1861, Tagore was a prolific writer, dramatist, poet, artist, philosopher, and international humanist. Across the world, national and international competitions are being held to uphold values in creative excellence in celebration of Tagore.

Mr. ‘Wyck’ Williams Visits the AlphaMax Academy

2011-11-10T09:30:00.000-03:00

An historical moment for the Academy and its mango tree

By Ruth M. P.Saman-- GAC 2012

Ona sunny Tuesday morning when I walked through the gates of the AlphaMax Academy, I saw a group of four familiarand unfamiliar men. Immediately, I couldrecognize Mr. Ben Hurl, Mr. Drepaul and Mr. Taylor, but I did not recognize thehighly animated man they were talking to. This man was Mr. N.D.‘Wyck’ Williams.

Hevisited the AlphaMax Academy on Tuesday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 9,2011, and joined the AlphaMax High School students/teachers in assembly. During this morning’s assembly, Mr. Williamswas welcomed to our school and Suriname, and he also had the opportunity tospeak with us. He introduced himself andtalked about his experience in Surinameand at the Academy; from his way of speaking, you could perceive that he wasnervous and that he is a very energetic person.

Afterthe break, we experienced a historicalmoment were Mr. Williams came up with the idea of writing a book about thefamous mango tree that lies in the soul at the AlphaMax Academy. Mr. Ben Hur had observed some time ago to Mr.Drepaul: ‘The mango tree blooms at the same time, but the fruits ripen first onone side and then later on the other.’ This surprised and amazed me that Mr. Ben has noticed it, and this wasalso the source of Mr.Wyck’s idea of writing a book about the mango tree.

Afterthis, Mr. Wyck came up with another idea of including the High School studentsin helping him write this story. Thiswould then become a writing competition and the winner will receive aprize.

Thenext day in the writing class, Mr. Wyck spoke briefly about the creativeprocess about the tree. He gave us ideasof how this story about the mango tree could look like. He motivated us and made our minds run withpossible ideas to write the best story about/based on the mango tree. After the last meeting with Mr. Wyck, we tookgroup photos under the mango tree.

I think Mr. Wyck has triggered our students’enthusiasm for writing a creating story about the mango tree. Now we have to find our Muse and write. By doing this creative project, student’shidden talents will be unleashed. I am sure that Mr. Williams will be amazed withthe wonderful stories that will be ready for him to read in March-April.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

N.D. (Wyck) Williams was born in Guyana in 1942.He went to Jamaicaas a student to study at University of the West Indies at Mona in1968. As a student he witnessed the riots following student demonstrationsagainst the banning of the late Dr. Walter Rodney. This is now referred to asthe Rodneyriots 1968. He writes of being powerfully influenced by the radical, nativistcurrents in Jamaican culture - reggae and yard theatre - of this period. He had storiespublished in Jamaica Journal and Savacou and in the anthologies, OnePeople's Grief (1983) and Best West Indian Stories.

In 1976 his firstnovel Ikael Torass won the prestigious Casa de las Americas prize. It draws onhis experiences in

Jamaica

and particularly the Rodney episode. He also explores the role of theuniversity and education as an agent of social division, as well as the revolton campus and in the wider society against the repressive forces in Jamaicansociety. Ikael has been described as a "sophisticated investigation ofRastafari" by researcher Michael Mitchell.

Williams lived for atime in Antiguabefore moving to the U.S. where he lives in New York.His works, from the short stories of The Crying of Rainbirds (1992), thenovel, The Silence of Islands (1994), the two novellas My Planet ofRas and What Happening There, Prash in Prash and Ras (1997),to the short stories in Julie Mango (2003), all published by Peepal TreePress, explore both an island and a diasporic experience.

In 2002 Williamspublished his searching look at the teeming underclass of New York in his disturbing novel "ah,Mikhail, O Fidel".

Two other collectionof short stories followed-- "Colonial Cream" in January 2003 and"The Friendship of Shoes"(Nov 2005)

My Trip to Auburn University

2011-11-01T23:23:00.000-03:00

On Saturday 22^nd October,2011, I left Suriname together with my father, mother and brother to go toAuburn, Alabama in the United States. That morning we took the flight toTrinidad where we landed safely.However, we had to wait five hours for ourflight to Miami. Next, we went to Atlanta, Georgia, where we slept for thenight and the next day, we made our way to Alabama by car.

The main purpose of the trip was tovisit Auburn University and to get firsthand experience of what it is like atthe university. Auburn is on the top of my list of universities to attend so Idecided to visit. My father’s colleague is a professor at Auburn University,Montgomery and we stayed by him. While I was there, I got the chance to get seethe university, get a campus tour, tour the engineering department, meet withthe swim coach and also have a meeting with Admission Advisors.

I visited the university’s website butbeing there was totally different. I was impressed with the University’sfacilities and their reception of me as a potential foreign student. The tripwas an amazing experience and one of the best experiences I have ever had in mylife.

Written by: Gabriel Grauwde ((GAC 2012 Class)--AlphaMax Academy

Xiomara Getrouw Continues to do well in Athletics

2011-10-24T14:31:00.000-03:00

By Jonathan Liu-- AMA Senior

Xiomara Getrouw a 17 year oldstudent of AlphaMax Academy who has been inspired by her mother to become an athlete. She started her journey to become agreat athlete when she was six year old. She always aims to achieve the best in every sports she compete andalways thinks positive Among her recent achievements was her selection torepresent Suriname the 2010 Miami Half Marathon.

Last October she was a member of theteam of athletes representing Suriname in the International Guyanese Games heldin Suriname. Suriname, Guyana, and French– Guyana, participated in the competition. Xiomara won the 4^th place the female 6km time trial on October 21. Later in the games, on the 23^rdOctober, she was third in the female long distance run (35 km).

Xiomara saysthat she was very keen to compete with the athletes from Guyana and FrenchGuyana athlete in the competition. Before the competition she had set her mindto do her best and to win her events as all great athletes do.

After the competition she felt pleased withher performance although she did not win first prizes.

Xiomara plansto enter soon national cycling competitions .Sheis also training for the Srefidensi marathon and this year’s Miami HalfMarathon

To Us; Reann Kersenhout's First Prize Speech in Tagore Art Competition

2011-10-22T17:30:00.000-03:00

Reann Kersenhout won the first prize for prose in the Junior section of the National Tagore Art competition held in May 2011. This is her speech.

To Us

A great Sind once said, “Forced as we are to live in a society which is itself tyrannical, and which cannot always be gainsaid, I was often obliged to concede what I did not believe in, but what others around me insisted on. But I always had it in my mind to create an atmosphere.” This Sind, who goes by the name of Rabindranath Tagore, awakened us to acknowledge the difficulties that lie ahead. One of these difficulties is grasping our freedom.

Freedom from greed, fear, anger, and narrow-minded convictions is a challenge we need to face. Because we are surrounded and influenced by illusions and walls even in our own society, it reaches our inmost being. Yet our thoughts, our feelings, our truth should not be trapped; as long as that is free we can all escape.

But what is freedom? Freedom is not an object, and therefore “free from” is different from “freedom”. It all starts with the “freedom of mind”, the thoughts, the sensitivity, the awareness. To allow your moral thoughts to wander freely and guide you, it would mean that you have mastered one of the basic senses of freedom. And it is because you allow these thoughts in, you will realize that disciplining yourself is also a form of freedom. Being free means upholding the truth, for only then can you really face the lies that form a blinded vision. It will also make you see that freedom is not only what is desired, but being able to control that desire. Naturally freedom brings peace for it satisfies an inner calmness. This and many more are the inner realms we are looking for. But we should not look far into vanity to search for our freedom, for Nature is constantly reminding us that freedom is right here to allow us to change for the better; to strive for perfection. Nature, with its very grace, is telling us through the changing of the days that we have a new chance everyday to become better. In fact we receive freedom from the universe; we just need to appreciate and allow ourselves to connect with it.

Strangely enough, the restrictions that do not permit us to be free are of our own doing. Somehow we have allowed our thoughts to become corrupted and have therefore created systems that confine us. Generations pass, and now the illusions are controlling- or even worse -shaping us. Look at education, for example. The task of guiding our children’s knowledge and development has become too much concerned with whether you understand the text rather than becoming wise in life. Yes, even education is part of the difficulty, but it is not only education. What about laws? What is it based on these days? Do free people, free minds need law? The creation of such restrictions is due to the belief that we were not free. Free people are never really concerned with just law but with justice, which should be what law is based on. And this justice is really found in our own inner court, in our moral consciousness, which brings us back to the freedom of mind.

Although we are at this stage of the world, we should not degrade ourselves. We could for example, redeem ourselves from a “tyrannical society” by creating an atmosphere. But what exactly is the atmosphere? It is the energy glowing from us, encouraging our thoughts to direct itself in a direction that will show us our path of freedom. And to create an atmosphere is to create a space that will allow us to do this. A great way to apply this atmosphere is in education in order to start with the children. This is what it is about, educating our children in the free way so they can create a better tomorrow.

There are certain reasons why people such as Tagore come and bring us something. He reminded us that there are ways to improve. And that is freedom; it is a chance to get better. So now we as humankind, as children of the Universe, are at a new age, and are asked to accept this chance. The real question is: will we do it? Will we stay in our confined space, or shall we head in a new direction? Change is something that will always happen, but the only thing to do is to change to become perfect; to become free. It is true that we are facing growing challenges, and major successes. It is therefore our job to get rid of the foolishness of the world, and bring a proud, unified, and free name to our Age.

AlphaMax wins twelve awards in Tagore Art Competition

2011-10-21T17:14:00.000-03:00

AlphaMax Academy students and staff didextremely well in the national Tagore Art Competition winning twelve awards.

The competition, which was launched in May 2011by the Suriname Tagore Celebrations Committee, attracted more than 135 entriesfrom students and adults in Suriname. Judges for the national competitionsincluded members of the Schrijvers Group'77, Art Vibes United, and theUniversity of Suriname. There were more than 75 creative writing and artentries from students attending schools in Paramaribo, Wanica, and Commewijne.

Theprestigious Tagore Art Competition was launched to mark the 150^`"Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European and person ofcolor to win a Nobel Prize (1912). Born in 1861, Tagore was a prolific writer,dramatist, poet, artist, philosopher, and international humanist. Across theworld, national and international competitions are being held to uphold valuesin creative excellence in celebration of Tagore.

IvanA. Khayiat (a pseudonym for one of our teachers) won the first prize in theadult section for Poetry. With his poem “Msiba, My Love” Mahnaz Kohinory (BiologyTeacher) won the adult first prize for prose with her short story-“Jane CouldDance”

Firstprize student winners were; Claire Patandin –English Prose Senior –for “myEncounter with Tagore’; Reann Kersenhout—English Prose Junior –for “To Us”;English Poetry Junior—Kristina Taylor –for “Reflections” and Shafeek Nazir –Art12 +.

Otherprizewinners were: Timothy Naarendorp, second prize in the Senior Prose division;Jonathan Lui, third prize in the Senior Prose division; Brienne Renfurm secondin the Junior Prose division; Jason Hoppie third prize second in the Junior Prosedivision; Xiomara Getrouw second prize in the Poetry Division and Jason Jonesthird prize in the poetry division.

Ivan Khayiat's ' Msiba, My Love' wins First Prize in Tagore Awards

2011-10-21T15:48:00.000-03:00

Ivan A. Khayiat’s ‘Msiba, My Love’ haswon the first prize for poetry in the adult section of Suriname’s Tagore ArtCompetition.

The prestigious Tagore Art Competitionwas launched to mark the 150^`" Birth Anniversary ofRabindranath Tagore, the first non-European and person of color to win a NobelPrize (1912). Born in 1861, Tagore was a prolific writer, dramatist, poet,artist, philosopher, and international humanist. Across the world, national andinternational competitions are being held to uphold values in creativeexcellence in celebration of Tagore.

Milton Drepaul in his foreword to the upcoming published editiondescribes the poem in this way: ‘Msiba,My Love is not only a unique collection of poems but also a deeply moving pleafor respect for mother earth, Suriname and its people…. It is a symphonic poemin three movements which profoundly explores the many layers of an economic andecological crime that was committed in Suriname in the 1960s. In the name of progress a multi- nationalcompany together with the Dutch colonial government forcibly removed thriving Maroon communities from theirancestral homes to create the Afobaka hydro electric dam.”

Ivan A.Khayiat, B.S., M.A., is an educator, media specialist, avid environmentalobserver, and a published writer.

Ivan wasborn in Guyana and attended Queen's College. He later studied in the US doingundergraduate and graduate degrees in Communications and Literature.

Ivan Khayiat is apassionate writer on environment issues. He lives in South America near to therain forest. His books of poetry include "Quest by Day”, “ForestTears" and” Msiba-My Love".

Reflections by Kristina Taylor

2011-10-14T14:57:00.000-03:00

This the Prize Winning Entry for Junior Poetry in Suriname's Tagore Art Competition 2011

Kristina Taylor

Reflections

Confrontedwith the horror of modern days,

I oftenthink to create a better tomorrow,

Ascorruption imprisons us in a maze,

My eyesstart to fill with sorrow.

So, I oftentravel to an unknown land

Which notmany journey to see,

For too fewin these times can understand

Howenchanted peace and harmony can be.

As the treesreach up to the blue sky surround me

The sage ofSind keeps me company;

Amid naturalsteams, peace and simplicity

We speakfreely of mysteries that set all living souls free:

For this fairland which too few have found,

Waits forall who want to be unbound!

Jason Jones' Prize Winning Poem in Tagore Competition

2011-10-14T12:32:00.000-03:00

This is the thirdprize winning entry in the School PoetrySection of the Tagore Art Competition in Suriname –May 2011

The Biggest Problem inthe World by Jason Jones

The biggestproblem in the world.

Is the lackof love.

If we havelove, we have everything we need.

If we havelove we automatically have,

Respect ,honesty and almost everything,

That willmake the world a better place.

If we haverespect that means,

That therewill be no more wars.

We willrespect each other and there will be only peace.

If we havehonesty that means,

We're goingto have honest governments.

And therewill be no more rich and poor.

But we allwill unite as ONE.

A Better World by Xiomara Getrouw

2011-10-14T12:20:00.000-03:00

Second Prize Winner in The Tagore Art Competition --Schools

A Better World by Xiomara Getrouw

A better world

We can make a better world

Whentelling people about God (Holy Spirit)

and pulling them out of the mud

When we give cove with a pure heart

We can make a better world

By being color blind

Respecting everyone by being kind

Wether black or white, poor or rich

We can make a better world

When we realize we have no other place

Only here our children could be save

and a bright future can be made

This earth must be treated as it should

Give all the love to each other

To make this place a betterworld.

Four Questions For Rabindranath Tagore and His Answers

2011-10-14T10:21:00.000-03:00

Timothy Naarendorp’s Essay whichwon him the second prize in the Senior Division of the Tagore National ArtCompetition held in May 2011 in Suriname

Four Questions For Rabindranath Tagore and His Answers

People often feel at peace e whenthey are surrounded by nature. That’s why one particularman wrote and commented on the world of Nature. Rabinranath Tagore was born inBritish India, where he lived from 1861-1941. He was a musician, painter, novelist,and other great things. He was also the first non-European to be awarded theNobel Prize for literature. Tagore started writing poems at the age of eightand published his first on at sixteen. He was the youngest son of DebendranathTagore, a leader of the BrahmoSamaj, which was a new religious section in thenineteenth-century Bengal and which attempted a revival of the ultimatemonestic basis of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads. Mr. Tagore there arefour questions I’d like to ask you. I’d be glad if you were to answer them.

Timothy: “Tagore would you saythat children from your time or age were more capable of understanding eachother that the time or age I live in”?

R.Tagore : In my time peopledidn’t really know much about technology as you do today. We would take ourtime to read a book or do an activity that we like. We would play outside andinteract with one another. But nowadays I see you young people with all yournew and fancy technology. Sitting in a corner, fighting to understand thatparticular piece of metal or in front of the television all day long.If youyoung people want to understand each other better, you should put aside thedistractions of the modern world for a second and connect with each other.

Timothy : “Why do children in theend never speak their minds when itcomes to certain important things?”

R. Tagore : “Every child has heror his own way of thinking at a certain age. Children in my time were better atspeaking their minds. Because everyone was connected in a way, but there werethose who just let go of certain important things. And what I see in your time isthat some children have the nature to be nosy and ask every little detail untilthe end. Others are taught to behave and not be a bother to others, whereas afew just feel not saying anything would be better. So what you have to do isshow them that every little detail they think about that is being discussed isof importance, even if it were something stupid, which is what I have seen inevery school that there is nowadays.

Timothy : “They say that text-booksmade by missionaries themselves poison the minds of children . if that is thecase, where would a child learn the things he or she will need in the nearfuture.?”

R. Tagore : It’s true, if youlook at a number of books you will find that what is written in them are nothow it appears after finding out the truth. I have seen it over these manyyears, it still continues, people love playing games with other people,thinking that they are superior then the other. So they write lies in whateverway they can, to keep you away from the truth. But I know the truth that’s whyI did everything and am still abiding to it. What you as the next generation ofyoungsters have to do is not letting anyone think that way. Everyone is equalto another; no one stands above the other. And if a child is taught the wrongway in live, you should help that child in whatever way you can.

Timothy : “Would you say thatevil is bad? Because without evil there would beno good, just like themissionaries who with the text-books poison the minds of children who aretaught out of them? There will be people who are going to correct them like you.”

R. Tagore :Now, I wouldn’t saythat they are evil, but what they are doing should not be. Why do they do doesthings just to gain something better that others. It is true that without evilthere would be no good, but if you keep going in the bad direction you’ll endup falling untilthere’s no more helping you. And the people in you time easilyend up falling off the path they choose, by looking at others wanting whatothers have. If something must come to you, it will in time. So please justpatiently wait for what is yours.

I learned a lot from reading afew stories about Tagore’s life and what he has done in his life. Tagore wasn’tsomeone who got into university or any other high ranking scholar title. He wasjust a normal man like any of us, went into Mother Nature to become one withit. Us people or at least most of us life our daily lives in technology. Andall people do is make more of these fancy gadgets that only bring pain anddamage to Mother Nature. People need to at least go into Nature once every twoweekends, just to feel the difference of life in society and life in theoutdoors. I for one am glad that I was able to learn about such a great man asRabinranath Tagore. And I don’t just say it; thoughts like these where at theback of my head. So I am a bit relieved to bring them to the front.

Claire Patandin: My Encounter with Tagore

2011-10-14T08:00:00.000-03:00

This is the First Prize essay in the Senior High School section of the Tagore Art Competition held in May 2011 in Suriname.

My Encounter with Tagore by Claire Patandin

On Thursday evening, I met Mr.Rabindranath Tagore in the park. He wassurrounded by children. Screened by ajasmine bush, he was telling the toddlers about the importance of Nature. Seeing him interact like that made me want tobecome a child again, on the lap of Nature enjoying everything she has to give. He finished his tale and sent thechildren home.

Aloud I recited my favoriteparagraph from his work ‘To Teachers.’ “I believe that children should be surroundedby the things of Nature which have their own educational value. Their mind should be allowed to stumble on andbe surprised at everything that happens in the life to-day. The new to-morrow will stimulate theirattention with new facts of life. Thisis best method for the child. But whathappens in school is, that everyday, at the same hour, the same book is broughtand poured out in front of him. Hisattention is never caught by chance surprises from Nature.”

Tagore heard me and asked me my name. This was my opportunity, the one I thought Iwould never get: having an actual conversation with this intelligent thinker. He gestured me to sit on one of the swingsunder the mango tree. I sat down as webegan talking and soon enough I got answers to some of the questions that wereon my mind.

I started off by asking him whyhe made these remarks in his speech. Hesmiled and said: “This has a very simple answer. Nature is your best teacher. Nature is the easiest teacher to understand,but also the hardest. The key tomastering Nature’s lessons is to be attentive. You have to look with different eyes, hearwith different ears, smell with a different nose, taste with a differenttongue, and feel with different hands. You have to be open to Nature if you areplanning to learn something from her. Nature does not provide you with a textbook,but makes you learn from experience. That is truly the best way to learn anything in life. You will always remember something better ifyou went through it. You can read aboutit, but you do not know what it feels like. And if you do not know the feeling, you cannotgive any complete feedback on it. Thisis why I say that the best method is going out and experiencing.”

As I thought to myself that he was right, anotherintriguing question popped into my head. “Mister Tagore,” I said “in your work‘To Teachers’ you speak about the system in which we are all robots. How or in what way can we change this systemto make it more suitable?”

Again hesmiled. “That is a difficult questionyou are raising child. I can tell youthat this will be the most complicated task people must face. But we cannot really change the system. We can only change ourselves expecting thatothers will transform themselves too. Myhope is that all these changed people will team-up and do something about thisproblem we are experiencing now. Schoolsare part of the system in which we are in. It is part of the routine that we take out thesame book at the same hour and do the same things all over and over again – 6hours, five days a week. It is difficultto break this cycle because people are already used to it. The nation is part of this system and isrusted in this appalling cycle. Butchanging the system does not mean that we have to throw our textbooks away, itjust means that we should combine the passive learning with active experienceby discovering things for ourselves.”

“Now that you have asked your questions I want to ask youone too.” Tagore said. “Why of allparagraphs I wrote, did you choose that particular one?”

“This piece of writing interested me because that is how Ipicture it. But in reality the oppositeis true. I totally agree with you. I should say that it would be fun to learnwhile surrounded by Nature. Fromexperience I can tell that it is. In ourschool we do not always have to sit inside, but we can choose to follow ourclasses outside as well. I am aware thatthings learned in Nature stick better in your head than things learned whilesurrounded by four walls filled with technological devices.”

This was my last question and the end of our conversation. I thanked him for being so kind and saidI enjoyed our conversation. I had theopportunity of a life time: the chance to connect to mind as powerful as his. That is why I say thank you to MisterRabindranath Tagore for inspiring me.

AlphaMax Students Participate at the ICC Yoga Seminar

2011-10-10T15:26:00.000-03:00

By Ruth Saman

On October 09,2011, The Indian Cultural Centre, Paramaribo organized a yoga seminar on“Relevance of Yoga in Stress Management and Healthy Living.” Nine spearkers– Swamini Krishna, Mr. SeanTaylor, Dr. Carmen Jaglall, Malty Sietaram, Mr. and Mrs. Krieshen and SheetalRamkhelawan and Mr. Tariq Sadiek, Mr.Almer Nascimento and Mrs. Savita Behari–shared their experience on different aspects of yoga and stress management.

Seven AlphaMaxAcademy students– Timothy Naarendorp, Melissa Lie, Kristina Taylor, ReannKersenhout, Isabella Sew-A-Tjon, Ruth Saman, and Jason Hoppie–also participated in the yoga seminar. We were invited to attend this seminar to give a quick yoga demonstration. This demonstration consisted of differentyoga postures. Before our demonstration,Mr.Taylor gave a presentation about “Yoga and Education.”

To get an abstract of his presentation,please visit http://alphamax-news.blogspot.com/2011/10/yoga-and-education.html.

My First Experience with Nature: Bosbivak

2011-10-10T11:38:00.000-03:00

Last Easter two groups of students ( one male, the other female) went to a nature camp at the Bosbivak Nationaal Leger’s camp. from April 16^th –20^th, 2011. 30 Academy high school students and teachers took part in the camp where they learned preliminary camp training and survivalskills.

The camp for boys / males took place from April 16^th –18^th, and the one for the girls / females, took place on April 18^th – 20^th. The camp and training experience was underthe direction of Staff Sergeant Lucien Vroom,.

Below is an account of the impact of this experience by High School student Jason Hoppie. This essay won the third prize in the Junior prose category in the Tagore Art Competition held in may, 2011.

Jason Hoppie

                                      MyFirst Experience with Nature: Bosbivak

“I believe that children should be surrounded with the things of Naturewhich have their own educational value. Their mind should be allowed to stumbleon and be surprised at everything that happens in life to-day. The newto-morrow will stimulate their attention with new facts of life. This is bestmethod for the child. But what happens in a school is, that every day, at thesame hour, the same book is brought and poured for him. His attention is neverhit by chance surprises from Nature.”

I especially admire the ideas in thisparagraph because of my encounter with nature a few weeks ago at Bosbivak inthe forest of Suriname. Actually it is so that today adults and children ingeneral are not interested with the things of nature like they should. I makethis statement because at first when I heard about the camping trip, I was notinterested, but later, with great consideration and my principal’sencouragement, I agreed to have this experience. Just being out there away fromeverything in the city and experiencing nature first hand made me realize thatit is something that no book could have taught me. One needed the experience toactually agree with this statement. There is so much that can be taught in oneday and surprisingly, it is not like learning from a textbook because when yousee the animals, trees, insects, and a lesson is taught upon each, it isdifficult to forget because it is an encounter with nature.

Personally I did not know that there were so many harmful insects thatnormally I would take for granted. There are so many trees in the jungle thatcan actually be used as medicine to cure various sicknesses, but many of uswill never know because we are not interested in nature. If given theopportunity to camp out once again in the pure serenity of nature, I wouldagree immediately and not think twice about it because as the old epigram whichone of my instructors kept repeating at camp was, “One will die faster in thecity than in the jungle.”

I think experiencing nature is the best method for a child, because itopens his or her mind. An experience with nature is miraculous, pulchritudinousand serene. Nature can teach a child several lessons. Tagore gave up learningto spend time experiencing the fullness of nature. Because Tagore experiencednature and learned many things from it, it opened his mind, and he was able towrite some of the best poems in the world.

Some schools teach nature studies, but doing this in the city does notreally enlighten a child’s mind unless that child gets the opportunity to spendtime in the jungle. I personally can give account of this, because I did naturestudies, but I can say that spending time in the jungle explained much morethan I knew from books.

Tagore was right when he went into the jungle and wrote his poemsbecause he was not talking from a book but he was writing from his personalencounter with nature and that gave his poetry more reality.

At first, I was afraid when I heard the various strange sounds at night,but then I realized that I am so accustomed to the busy city that I did noteven have the time to enjoy what nature has to offer. Why was I afraid ofsounds that the nocturnal insects and animals were making? This is purer andmore natural than the cars and motorcycle that I hear in the city.

Each day at Bosbivak was a new experience for me. Never once was I bored.I learned something new every day and seeing that I want to be a pilot, I thinkthis firsthand experience was excellent for me and I would not trade it for anythingin the world.

I must thank Mr. Tagore for his inspiration and my principal for seeingbeyond what many people actually know about life and nature.

Yoga and Education

2011-10-02T10:14:00.000-03:00

Below is an Abstract of the Presentation-- -"Yoga and Education" done by Sean F. Taylor at an ICC sponsored seminar in Suriname on Sunday 2 Oct 2011

Yoga, as a system of exercise, isthousands of years old. (Archeological relics from Mohenjo-Daro attest to itsantiquity.) Deeply rooted in personal experience or self-knowledge, yoga issimple, efficient, practical, and scientific.

Contrary to what many of her criticssay, yoga is creedless — in no way confined or restricted to any faith orbelief-system. Anyone can practice this step-by-step, systematized body ofpractices intended to unite and harmonize body, mind, and ethereal intelligencefor wellness, wellbeing, happiness, peace, knowledge, and success. Throughsimple, methodical, and concentrated practice of yoga, one not only guides, oneawakens deeply, harnessing the inner forces of his or her being. By willfullypooling and focusing the energies and forces within, the practitioners mentalforces eventually become laser sharp — metaphorically-speaking, capable ofcutting through difficulties, challenges, issues or concerns that he or she mayface or be confronted with.

Itis on account of the concrete development of laser-sharp skills ofconcentration and numerous ancillary benefits to the practitioner in this ageof 'stress and haste' that yoga is of vital interest and importance to seriouseducators and students in a wide array of endeavors, enterprises, and fields ofstudy.

David Chen former AMA Student doing well in China

2011-09-30T15:44:00.000-03:00

David Chen, an outstanding studentfrom Suriname, graduated from the AlphaMax Academy in 2009. Heentered the AlphaMax in September 2008 and before that he gave piano lessons tothe younger children at the school. David also completed the Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) in2008. Between 2009 and 2010, aftercreating a business plan in the GAC course for a musicschool, he opened his school, Sentient Arts and had an entire music recital forhis students in ICC.

Towards the end of2010, David received an opportunity to go to Tianjin University in China. During the two years that he has been inChina he has had several achievements. In fact, recently, he sent one of his old teachers, Milton Drepaul anemail of his achievements since he was in China. Here are a few of David Chen’saccomplishments:

· Distinguished International StudentAward on the 26^th of April, 2011
· Winning third place in the annual Chinese SpeakingCompetition on June 14^th, 2011 (This competition is held to give thestudents an opportunity to show what they have learned and to show the teachershow much progress they made when it comes to speaking Chinese orally).
· Passing the HanyuShuipingKaoshi (HSK)Test on April 9^th with a total score of 245%, which was the secondhighest score in his class (the highest achievement is 300%)
· Successfully completing his study ofthe Chinese language at the Tianjin Daxue on the 12^th of June.

Thanks to his family and friends,business partners who supported him, Chinese friends, and people at BOS, Davidis now successfully completing university as a high-achieving student.

AMA 2011-2012 General Schedule of Classes & Scool Activitiesh

2011-09-06T19:19:00.000-03:00

SEMESTERI: September 5^th – December16^th,2011

(Term One) Monday, 5^th September, 2011 –Friday, 16^th December, 2011

First Day of Instruction Monday,5^th September, 2011

PTA Meetings (Tobe announced)

Long Weekend Break Thursday,27^th October – Sunday, 30th October, 2011

Suriname Independence Day Friday,25^th November, 2011

Christmas Vacation Saturday,17^th December – Sunday, 8^th January, 2012

SEMESTER II: January 9^th- June 29^th, 2012

(Term Two) Monday,January 9^th – Friday, March 30^th, 2012

First Day of Instruction Monday, 9^th January, 2012

PTA Meetings (Tobe announced)

LongWeekend Break Thursday,23^rd February - Sunday, 26^th February, 2012

EasterVacation Saturday,31^stMarch - Sunday, 15^thApril, 2012

(Term Three) Monday,16^th April - Thursday, 28^th June, 2012

First Day of Instruction Monday,16^th April, 2012

PTA Meetings (Tobe announced)

Long Weekend Break Friday, 25^th May– Sunday, 27^th May

End of School Year Thursday, 28^th June, 2012

INTERNATIONAL EXAMS: REGISTRATION DEADLINES & EXAM DATES

Registration Deadline ExaminationDate Venue

PSAT Wednesday,12^th October, 2011 AMA

ACT September16^th, 2011 Saturday,22^nd October, 2011 AMA

November 4^th,2011 Saturday, 10^thDecember, 2011 AMA

January 13^th,2012 Saturday, 11^thFebruary, 2012 AMA

March 9^th, 2012 Saturday,14^th April, 2012 AMA

May 4^th,2012 Saturday, 9^th June, 2012 AMA

IELTS Saturday,26^th November, 2011 AMA

Saturday, 28th April,2012 AMA

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SAT II (Subject Tests)

Oct.25^th / Nov.8^th, 2011 Saturday,3^rd December, 2011 Off-campus

Dec.20^th / Dec 30^th, 2011 Saturday, 28^thJanuary, 2012 Off-campus

TOEFL Dec.5^th, 2011 (ON) Saturday, 14^th January, 2012 Off-campus

Apr.2^nd, 2012 (ON Saturday, 5^th May,2012 Off-campus

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Graduation ………….. (June 2012 – Precise date to beannounced)

New Academic Year 2012-2013 – starts on Monday, 3rd September, 20

Trip to Dalian, China

2011-09-05T15:51:00.000-03:00

Four students of the AlphaMax Academy,Ruth Saman, Khabir King, Azim King, and Vinantia Nandlal, were invited for a 2days trip through Dalian by the Dalian Company in Suriname.

The Dalian people welcomed us with agreat dinner and we all introduced ourselves. Then, we had the opportunity tovisit some popular places in Dalian : SeaWorld, The Historical Ship, Bird Park,The beach, Restaurants and an Amusement Park.

We really enjoyed the journey becauseeverything was so well organized. Thanks to the Dalian Company who had made ourjourney unforgettable.

My Trip to Switzerland

2011-07-27T11:48:00.000-03:00

On Monday 15^thAugust 2011, I started my journey to Lausanne, Switzerland where I representedSuriname at the 2011 World Triathlon Championships. I was part of a mixed relayteam which consisted of two boys and two girls. The four of us along with ourcoach left Suriname Monday night and arrived in the Netherlands, the next dayaround midday. We stayed in the Netherlands for two days and left forSwitzerland Thursday afternoon.

Our teamarrived in the Geneva late in the evening and took the train to Lausanne. Whenwe arrived at the hotel we met with some of the teams that were also stayingthere. They had never heard of Suriname and were fascinated to meet us. Thenext day we went to the venue of the competition which was along Lake Geneva in downtown Lausanne.

The world championship race was on Saturday and featured elite athletes.We went to watch the race and were amazed by the extremely high level of performance. On the next day ,Sunday 21^st August2011, we competed in the ITU Team Triathlon World Championships race againstthirty-two other teams from around the world.We were the only team from SouthAmerica. Great Britain won the race. Ou The Suriname team ,however, did notfinish race because we were disqualified.

Although I wasupset after the race I did not let that spoil the rest of my trip. I had anamazing time on the trip and learned that if I wanted to reach the top, I wouldhave to work really hard to get there. The trip to Switzerland gave me theopportunity to meet and compete against top professional athletes from aroundthe world. These elite athletes were paid for racing by their sponsors. Most of them were between the ages oftwenty-one and twenty-nine and had given up their education to becomeprofessionals. They had been training for many years while our team had onlytrained for the last four months. We spoke to them about their training schedule and also become friends with some ofthem. We realized that first we would have to be outstanding in Caribbeancompetition before we could go back to compete at the world level ofcompetition. The trip was an experience that opened my eyes and helped meunderstand the level of performance I would have to attain.

The Surinameteam left Lausanne on Sunday evening andwent to Geneva where we slept for the night. The next morning we were on the flightto the Netherlands. We arrived in the Netherlands but were delayed there forthe whole day. We left the Netherlands12.30 a.m. to make our way to Surinameand arrived home around 3’o clock in the morning.

Written by:Gabriel Grauwde GAC 2012

Six AlphaMax Students Represent Suriname at GLYC Conference in China

2011-07-04T13:29:00.002-03:00

Five AlphaMax senior students and one past graduate are in China this summer representing Suriname. This is the largest group of students attending a GYLC Conference since AlphaMax started sending representatives in 2007. This is also the first time that our students have chosen to attend the conference in China. Previously our students attended the conferences in the USA and Europe.

The students attending this year’s conference are: Azim King (Class of 2011), Khabir King (Class of 2010), Vinantia Nandlal (Class of 2012), Claire Patandin (Class of 2012), Ruth Saman (Class of 2011) and Kristina Taylor (Class of 2012).

The conference is for ten days from June 28^th to July 7^th and the students will be in three cities: Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai.

The group reported feeling overwhelmed by the size of Beijing Airport, the city and their hotel. A member of the group said, “We thought that our research on China and our previous trips to the US and Europe would have prepared us for this, but as they say, it is one thing to be told about something and another to experience it.”

Photographs of our group appeared on the GYLC site today. Our students will not be doing the add-on sessions in the schedule, but have received a generous gift of a fully paid trip to the city Dalian. This is a gift from the Dalian company which has been building roads in Suriname for the past 10 years. Before the students left Paramaribo on Sunday, June 26th, the Dalian company hosted a dinner for the students, senior administrators, and their parents.

Visit http://www.cylc.org/educ_video/flash_slideshows/1116/GLC1116_S1_CHINA.asp to view slideshows from the Global Young Leaders Conference AlphaMax Students attended.

Ruth Saman's Valedicttorian Speech to 2011 Class

2011-06-24T11:13:00.000-03:00

Valedictorian Speech To AlphaMax Academy2011 Graduating Class

ByRuth M.P. Saman

Honorable membersof the AlphaMax Foundation, keynote speaker, Dr.Eugene Marcus, Distinguishedguests, the 2011 graduating class, AlphaMax staff, students, parents, and wellwishers, Allaho Abho, Peace, Namastay, Jai Jinendra, Assalaamu alaikum, ShalomAlechum, Sat Sriakaal, Good Evening.

I am Ruth Saman,and together with Shafeek Nazir we are giving the valedictorian speech for theclass of 2011.

Many of you are perhapssurprised to see that two very quiet people were chosen to be thevaledictorians for our class. I guessthis shows the power of AlphaMax to transform its students.

Three years ago,I came to the Academy not knowing what awaited me. I, however, believed that I was ready for theAlphaMax challenge. On that first daywhen I received such a warm welcome from both students and staff, I couldimmediately feel the special quality of the Alpha Max community.

In those earlydays, what many saw was a quiet little girl always sitting in a corner nottalking much. Three years have passedand today I stand before you, able to talk to an entire audience.

How much I havegrown, how much we all have grown, and how much the Academy has grown. In the three years that I have attended theAcademy, I have seen the Academy grown from a little school that looks like ahouse into a school that will soon occupy a large complex.

In three years’time, we have done so many activities in the Academy. In the school year 2008-2009, the Academy hadtheir annual competitions; where we competed against each other. In 2008, the school also produced a dramaticspeech presentation called “Great Thoughts, Great Minds, Great Moments in Time”.We also completed a DVD of this production.

In 2009-2010, theschool produced another dramatic presentation called “Many Faces of Love.” I was honored to be chosen to be part of thisproduction. Also this year, Alpha Maxbegan moving into its new building on Standvastestraat.

In 2010-2011,there were many positive achievements. Wehad distinguished visitors. Or artteacher’s portrait- the Four M’s, A portrait of Hope and Peace was chosen as a state gift from the Surinamese to the Venezuelanpresident.

I was also partof a group who did research on presentations on the history of Suriname. Our group also had a pleasant boat trip onthe Sweet Merodia.

During theEaster break, most of the middle and high school students went on a survivalcamp at Bosbivak. This camp gave us anopportunity to understand and interact positively with nature. We discovered the mental, emotional andphysical skill that we all need.

A few weeks ago,our students planted citrus trees to show our commitment to working on nationalfood security. The highlight for ouryear was the placing of a bust of India’s most famous artists and philosopherRabindranath Tagore on our school lawn. Alpha Max is only one of the fourteen sites worldwide where a Tagorebust was placed this year.

This lastweekend, I was also part of another group who were invited to a seminarpresented by Adek students which focused on values. This program called spotlight on values is ajointly conducted by the United Nations and the Brahma Kumaris World SpiritualUniversity.

These events areonly a small part of the life of the Alpha max community. Our graduating class has had an educationgrounded on the values that leaders of the future need.

On behalf of theclass of 2011, we would like to say a special “Thank You” to Mr. Taylor and hisdedicated staff and teachers. We trulyappreciate your love and guidance; another special “Thank You” to our parentsand guardians. You have paid for our education, not only with money but alsowith time, sacrifice and love. All ofyou have played an important part in shaping our lives.

Fellowgraduates, you have seen many friends leave the academy. Today, however, otherswill see you leave. You already know thatthe world out there is bitter sweet. Ifyou hold on to the lessons you received here, you will make it!! If you ever feel like quitting, remember that“A saint is a sinner who never fails.”

In those momentswhen you feel like giving up, say this affirmation:

“I take groundedaction towards my dream.

I face the possibility of rejection and criticismwith a smile.

I keep going no matter what may come.

I am protected.”

I hope thesewords make you strong. Know that you arealways protected.

Congratulationsto the class of 2011!! Let us alwaysremember to say the affirmation “Thou and I art never apart.” Whenever we say it in our minds, let usremember our high school Alpha Max and the beautiful times we spent there.

I will miss you:

Azim, the guywho makes frog noises,

Shiromani, ourfuture TV presenter

Jaleesa, our model,

Jill, crazy Ramona,

Jessica, ourflying penguin,

Sharen-vess, oursloth protecter

Maryssa, ourhappy child

Shafeek, nakedbarbarian

Thank you

AlphaMax"s Graduation Ceremony for 2011 Class

2011-06-23T13:03:00.001-03:00

AlphaMax Academy held its annual graduation ceremony in the banquet hall of the Torarica Hotel on June 22th.

The nine students graduating from the class of 2011 were : Jessica Bang A Foe, Marysa Brand-Flu, Sheromani Heilbron, Azim King, Jill Liauw Kie Fa, Shafeek Nazir, Jaleesa Pigot, Ruth Saman, Sharen Vess Schaap.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Dr. Eugene Merkus, member of the board of Directors. He delivered a rousing and inspiring call to all Surinamese youth to seize the times and develop their talents and skills not only for their personal gain but for the benefit of Suriname and the world.

As usual the event was well attended by parents and friends of the school. A middle school ensemble consisting of musicians-Justin Ho, Emanuel Landbrug, Dion De Bie, Daniel Kolf and singer Alysha Wazir played two pieces for the audience. Their work was well received by the audience.

Special awards were handed out by Ambassador K.J.S. Sodhi of India to the recipients of The Rabindranath Tagore award --Reann Kersenhout and Kristina Taylor and the winner of the Gandhi King award--Shafeek Nazir.

Kristina and Reann produced two extremely mature and touching sonnets in tribute to Rabindranath Tagore. The sonnet form is one of the most complex forms of writing in english poetry and this is only the third occasion that students of the academy have produced sonnets.

The valedictorians for this year were Ruth Saman and Shafeek Nazir. They both presented very personal statements of the impact on their lives of the unique AlphaMax program of studies and activities.

The chairman of the Dalian company in Suriname presented ties to the five GLYC students who are representing AlphaMax and Suriname in China from June 26th to July 7th.

At the end of the ceremony parents and friends gathered on the pier to sip and chat.

The Academy Awards for Excellence in 2011 are:

Best ACT Claire Patandin [Special Mention: Yamil Baptista]

Best TOEFL, Best PSAT Isabella Sew-Atjon

PSAT Merit Claire Patandin, Vinantia Nandlal

Humanities Award Ruth Saman, Shafeek Nazir,Kristina Taylor, Reann Kersenhout

Tagore Award for Literature Kristina Taylor, Reann Kersenhout

Gandhi-King Award Shafeek M. Nazir

LOWER SCHOOL AWARDS

Best Performance: Akash Lewis, Emile Bram, Noelle Sitaram

Phonics Shemaiah Johnson, Neo Ameerali

Science Sally Siu, Abygail Cambridge

Nature Encounters Emile Bram, Kwingha Landveld

Math Leonardo Batista, Jael Eriks

Asad Karamat-Ali

Merit Noelle Sitaram, Esperanca Woei, Stephanie Bai,Angelina Wip, Sally Siu

Best Conduct Noelle Sitaram, Brandon Browne, Esperance Woei

Arts & Crafts Iva Ameerali, Esperanca Woei

Most Improved Yada-Maria Moi Thuk-Shung, Brandon Browne, Gabriel de Miranda, Iva Ameerali

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Best Performance Emily Jong Tjien Fa, Winnie Siu, Alysha Wazir, Noor Patandin

Math Alysha Wazir, Matthew Ho, Mary Siu.Andrea Lau, Daniel Kolf

Science Emily Jong Tjien Fa, Tamia Hoppie, Matthew Ho

English Tamia Hoppie, Andrea Lau, Alysha Wazir, Emily Jong Tjien Fa

Social Studies Alysha Wazir, Winnie Siu, Noor Patandin, Andrea Lau

Most Improved Cimara Proeve, Dion de Bie, Daniel Kolf, Kevin Woei

HIGH SCHOOL

Math Claire Patandin, Li Yun Xu, Justin Ho, Sharen-Vess Schaap

Science Claire Patandin, Ruth Saman,Marysa Brand-Flu, Vinantia Nandlal

English & Writing Jason Hoppie, Brienne Renfurm, Yamil Baptista

Art Most Outstanding Alwyn Beckles

Most Improved Shafeek Nazir

Technical Drawing Tiffany Hoashin, Vinantia Nandlal, Alain Soeklal, Aaqil Wazir

Sports Xiomara Getrouw, Gabriel Grauwde

Merit Awards Tiffany Hoashin, Brienne Renfurm, Jason Hoppie, Justin Ho, Michael Grauwde, Reann Kersenhout

Most Improved Li Yun Xu, Tiffany Hoashin

Rabindranath Tagore’s Ideals and the AlphaMax Academy

2011-06-14T12:47:00.009-03:00

First Lady Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring and Ambassador K. J. S. Sodhi in front of the bust of Rabindranath Tagore at AlphaMax Academy

On the 4th of June, the Trustees, Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Students and Friends of the AlphaMax Academy have welcomed the arrival, installation and unveiling of the bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on the lawns of our relatively small and obscure school. To mark Tagore’s 150^th Birth Anniversary Year, a great honour has been bestowed upon us as an institution in Suriname. We are deeply appreciative to the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), the Embassy of India, and our First Lady, Mrs. Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring.

In point of fact, it is, however, no coincidence that the AlphaMax Academy has become home in Suriname to the bust of India’s internationally-recognized poet laureate and educator: Rabindranath Tagore has been a largely-unseen towering figure of inspiration at our fledgling institution of learning which ranges from kindergarten to primary to secondary and post-secondary education. From its inception in September 1998, teachers and students of the Academy have recited, often daily, those memorable words which first appeared in Tagore’s world-famous and respected collection of poetry, “Gitanjali.”

"Where the mind is without fear and head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary dead sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of free, my dear beloved God, let us all awake”

Thus, when Suriname’s First Lady Ingrid Bouterse Waldring unveils the Tagore monument, she did not only reveal a wonderfully sculpted bronze figure of Tagore, but she also unveiled a plaque that bears this inspiring prayer.

According to Deputy Principal of the Academy, Ir. Emiel A. Krak, These powerful words, which have guided our heart and minds for 13 years, are part of the nourishment of students, staff, and teachers at the Academy. This text is one of our school anthems. It reminds us of the key ingredients and values we are striving to inculcate within ourselves. A proper life-inspiring education should equip students, teachers, parents and members of society with a positive spirit of courage, deep self-respect and dignity, a thirst for truth, and a deep willingness to go beyond one’s prescribed boundaries in relation to narrow, inimical perspectives and actions. S/he who possesses these qualities is awake in the real heaven of freedom. Tagore’s words constantly call to our remembrance what’s the aim of our education and our life-purposes.

Bust of Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore on the lawns of AlphaMax Academy, Paramaribo, Suriname.

Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore is a sacrosanct and significant Teacher [with a capital ‘T’] within the geography of this little school,” said Principal and Academy Founder, Sean F. Taylor. “As a creative person and educator, his approach and ideas serve as a beacon and lighthouse. He’s a trailblazer for the 21^st century. We’ve sought without fanfare and fuss to emulate several of his educational ideals.

When this school was established here in Zorg-en-hoop, Tagorean ideals hovered silently in the background. We certainly did not attempt to replicate the poet’s experiment at Shantiniketan, for the circumstances here and our context – like those in India and elsewhere – are special and unique. Of paramount importance was the spirit and approach to education and learning.

Thus, at the AlphaMax Academy, an essential ingredient in the learning and teaching experience is the establishment of an inspiring environment where nature and beauty are enshrined, nurtured and sustained. Yet, while beautiful, it was not to be overly ornate or cosmetic; simplicity was to be a key ingredient and the students were to have direct access to respected inspiring teachers whose task is simply to call forth their innate gifts, abilities and skills.

First Lady of Suriname Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring addressing the audience at the unveiling ceremony for Tagore bust

While dispensing knowledge through a wide range of traditional disciplines across various levels, the AlphaMax has sought to cultivate a values-based learning environment and experience where teachers and students meet each other in an atmosphere of scholarship, mutual respect, creativity, and the development of various forms of expressive skills.

To help foster and enrich the holistic formation of its young scholars, from its inception, the Academy has devoted four of its five school days to left-brain academic and ratiocinative development and activities, and one full school day to right-brain creative endeavors. An unswerving resilient insistence on the latter is vintage Tagore, who like his Occidental contemporaries, Rudolf Steiner and Maria Montessori deplored lop or one-sided child/human development at the expense of a willful fostering and guidance of creative gifts and skills. Indeed it is through the latter that the inner ‘child’ is nurtured and brought to a ripe maturity.

To illustrate how important contact with nature was to the life of the educator and poet, during one of his many travels to lecture in the West, Tagore wrote:

“I wish I could be released from this mission. For such missions are like a mist that envelops our souls – they seem to shut us off from the direct touch of God’s world… The springtime has come – the sky is over-flowing with sunshine. I long to be one with the birds, and trees and the green earth. The call comes to me from the air to sing, but, wretched creature that I am, I lecture – and by doing it I ostracize myself from this great world of songs to which I was born.”

New York, March 18^th, 1921

Tagore virtually enjoined it upon his students and teachers to study and work outdoors in the midst of nature. Not only was literature, or art, but even mathematics was conducted under the jasmine bower.

On the day when the school turns from left to right-brain activities, in addition to fine art, technical drawing, and classes on Living Values, students of the Academy are guided in the practice of the two most ancient oriental systems of exercise - Tai Chi and yoga asanas. Even as Waldorf students do eurhythmy, AlphaMax students learn and practice tai chi and yoga. These ancient exercises reflect the inclusive international character of the school: it should be said that our express intent is to forge a new middle course in Suriname through tangible activities in our plural harmonious multi-cultural society. While we are walking the talk about mutual respect in our activities, at the same time, our students benefit by consciously engaging in constructively guiding and directing their wills, energies, and forces.

The natural fruits of this novel approach to the learning and teaching environment have found ample expression not just in the liberation of latent creative forces and skills, but also above-average academic performances by many students – some of whom had been dismally dismissed by an orthodox system which had exhausted other options.

Over the years, the creative impulses of AlphaMax students have found outlets through Academy publications and public performances at various venues, including the Patronaat. Whereas earlier, school productions were classical – often dramatic presentations from Shakespeare , in 2010, students presented “The Many Faces of Love” – a gala celebration of literature, song, dance, and video-presentations of the many facets of that mysterious elixir that drives all existence. One highlight of the program was the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore which was the centerpiece of the ‘Eros-Agape’ love-panel.

In 2011, we have presented for public audiences selections from Tagore, including his “Earth Song,” a poem that is amazingly mimetic of the spirit of life in Suriname.

In 2009, a captive audience at the Patronaat was dumbfounded at the oratorical skills of Surinamese students who presented the story of democracy – tracing its roots in American society from the time of the founding fathers through the modern era, including the struggle for freedom on the subcontinent and Africa, and culminating in the victory proclamation of U.S. Barack Obama. The Academy’s oratorical presentation of “The Portrait of Hope & Peace” had earlier been captured in a different, yet condensed format, on canvas, by its respected Art Professor, Ruben Karsters. The latter’s “4Ms: A Portrait of Hope & Peace” was a celebration of leadership models for youths and future generations in the 21^st century. Professor Karsters’ unique portrayal of India’s Mahatma Gandhi, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, and American activists, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, won international attention and acclaim in 2010 when President Desire D. Bouterse of Suriname presented the Karsters’ portrait to Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, and an MSNBC poll voted the President’s gift as one of the most appropriate presents a head of state could give to another.

In the AlphaMax Academy, East meets West; and North and South dwell together in a relationship of mutual respect – not one based on hegemony or obeisance or subservience. Mindful and respectful of all cultures and faiths, we stress a common underlying unity, for all human aspirations ultimately move towards the quest for love, peace, happiness, harmony, freedom, and prosperity.

Few respected thinkers in the 20^th century expressed their views as beautifully and with clarity as did Rabindranath Tagore. Some of his thoughts are:

"contemptuously treated, and men, who made big profits the sole end of their life, were looked down upon.”

“As I look around I see the crumbling ruins of a proud civilization strewn like a vast heap of futility. And yet I shall not commit the grievous sin of losing faith in Man."

The AlphaMax Academy is very happy to welcome this supreme artist, thinker and educator, Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore on these school lawns. The garden here has been prepared for him – we’re proud the students will run and play amidst these blooming flamboyant trees, the sculpted likeness of him, fajalobis, and orange trees planted by Miss Suriname and our students. In our hearts and minds, as an educator, Tagore stands on no lower a rung than Maria Montessori, Paulo Friere, and Rudolf Steiner – other educators from other rich traditions who are also worthy of celebration and emulation. In a nutshell, their teaching is singular: The creative impulses of our children – indeed all people – are to be nurtured to maturity and are worthy of being treasured – for beneath its expression, subtle forces of transformation are at play.

Were Tagore alive today, he would no doubt find himself sifting through the vast plethora of cultural statements which capture the imaginations of modern youths. For sure, he would be enchanted with the plurality of Suriname. In a letter to a friend he wrote,

“I feel that the true India is an idea, and not a mere geographical fact. I have come in touch with this idea in far-away places… and my loyalty was drawn to it in persons who belonged to countries different from mine. … The idea [is that] of ‘The Infinite Personality, whose Light reveals itself through the obstruction of Darkness.’ [Thus] Our fight is against this Darkness. Our object is the revealment of the Light of this Infinite Personality of Man. This is not to be achieved in single individuals, but in one grand harmony of all human races. The darkness of egoism which will have to be destroyed is the egoism of the Nation. The idea of India is against the intense consciousness of the separateness of one’s own people from others, which inevitable leads to ceaseless conflicts. Therefore my own prayer is, let India stand for the cooperation of all peoples of the world.”

In 1941, at the age of 80, three score and ten years ago, in his final speech entitled “The Crises of Civilization,” Tagore explicitly alludes to the urgent need for the transformation of thought and action in modern societies. He said, “I … look forward to the opening of a new chapter in history… after the atmosphere [has been] rendered clean with the spirit of service and sacrifice. Perhaps that dawn will come from this horizon, from the East where the sun rises… A day will come when unvanquished Man will retrace his path of conquest, despite all barriers, to win back his lost heritage.”

In Suriname, the AlphaMax Academy is one small institution which has already hearkened to the call for such transformation and the ushering in of a new era inspired by ideas from the ‘east.’ The call has not been restricted to some. Kindred institutions, like Waldorf, Montessori, Maharishi, and countless other unnamed schools openly seek to reflect the new light, which though not visible on the horizon, is already rising.

Particularly refreshing at this juncture in time in Suriname is the fact that recently the self-same intent and efforts found creative and vocal expression in a hit single by Tale Spin, released last year by Royant Studios. Curiously, the voice of Krishnamurti, a contemporary from Tagore time, can be heard on the single.

Lyrics “United” by Tale Spin, Naomie Sastra & Krishnamurti Jiddu

Tagore Bust Unveiled at AlphaMax Academy in Suriname

2011-06-05T18:05:00.008-03:00

Thursday, June 2^nd, 2011

On Saturday morning, 4^th June, Her Excellency First Lady Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring joined His Excellency K.J.S. Sodhi, Ambassador of India at the official unveiling ceremony of the national bust of Rabindranath Tagore on the lawns of AlphaMax Academy. Over 150 persons, including local dignitaries, such as Vice President of the Republic of Suriname, H.E. Robert Ameerali and H.E. Mrs. Ameerali, ICC Director to Suriname, and scores of AlphaMax Academy teachers, school children, and parents were on hand to witness the historic moment at the Academy’s facility located on Stanvastestraat and Stierappelstraat in Zorg-en-hoop, Paramaribo.

The majestic bronze bust, which weighed 250 kilograms, was a gift from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), in New Delhi, to mark the 150th Birth Anniversary Year of India’s most internationally celebrated poet of the 20^th century. In 1913, Tagore, who was also renowned as an educator, philosopher, dramatist, choreographer, singer, songwriter, orator and publisher, was the first Asian and the first non-European to win a Nobel Prize. Born on May 7^th, 1841, Tagore – who, following his Nobel Prize laureate conducted lecture tours in Asia, Europe and the Americas – is a cross-cultural international icon, enjoying profound respect in East and West as a supreme artist, scholar, and international humanist.

First Lady Ingrid Bouterse and Ambassador Sodhi addressed the gathering following the unveiling ceremony. The First Lady said, “While reading his biography I learned that Tagore worked hard to develop an appropriate system of national education. In 1918 he founded the Visva Bharati University, an international center of Culture and Humanistic Studies, because in his opinion the lack of education was the main obstacle for national progress. Indeed, knowledge is a fundamental need for development and growth of a nation.

“One of Tagore’s ‘fireflies’ teaches us that in every nation,” the First Lady continued, “education should be intimately associated with the life of the people. Children and Education is therefore my most important working area. In my opinion all children should have access to education. And of course culture, art, music and literature are very important in the development of our children. They bring color to our lives, inspire us to enjoy nature, and teach us to appreciate the little things that life brings to us.”

The Tagore bust on the lawn of the AlphaMax is one of 14 replicas to be unveiled worldwide, all presents of the Government & People of India through the Embassy of India and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The 1.20 meter bronze metal bust is a masterpiece exemplar of the work of India’s renowned sculptor, Gautam Pal, who also hails from Bengal, the home-state of Tagore. To date, Tagore busts have been unveiled by national leaders in Seoul, South Korea, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Havana, Cuba, Shanghai, China, and Singapore.

The ceremony was counterpointed by several cultural presentations which featured the work of Rabindranath Tagore. ICCR’s vocal music teacher in Suriname, Mrs. Mahhumita Bose – also a Bengali by birth – sang a deeply moving Rabindranath Sangeet, “Aloker-ei jharna dharai dhuije dao.” Students from the Academy gave two oral interpretative renditions of five Tagore poems. In order of presentation, first were selections from Tagore’s world famous ‘Gitanjali,’ followed by a Tagorean porm, ‘Earth,’ which the poet published in 1893. The AlphaMax presentations were made by Shafeek Nazir (Class of 2011), Ruth Saman (Class of 2011), Kristina Taylor (Junior), Reann Kersenhout (Sophomore), and Mr. Taylor, the Academy’s Principal & Director.

The cultural celebration of the morning came to a climax with the enthralling presentation of the “Bihu Dance” performed by visiting Indian artistes and dancers from the state of Assam in India. With hand and body gestures that were reminiscent of dance steps of indigenous peoples of Suriname, the Assam dancers received a standing ovation after their performance. It was the group’s first public appearance in Paramaribo following successful presentations in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Tagore bust-unveiling ceremony is part of a series of celebratory events organized by the Rabindranath Tagore 150^th Birth Anniversary Celebration Committee. The latter consists of the Embassy of India, the Indian Cultural Center, the AlphaMax Academy, ArtVibes United, and Schrijversgroep ’77. Last month, Art Vibes United in collaboration with the co-sponsors presented a week-long art and sculpture exhibition at Fort Zeelandia. This month, the Schrijversgroep and Art Vibes United are co-sponsoring art and creative writing competitions for school children at the VOJ and VOS levels. Entries for these national school competitions will close by June 30^th, 2011.

For information, please visit www.iccsuriname.com , www.indembassysuriname.com or www.schrijversgroep77.org

Starting Monday, June 7^th, entries will be open for an adult National Art Competition and an adult National Creative Writing and Poetry competitions. Rules for the art, poetry, and writing competitions are available online at www.iccsuriname.com , www.indembassysuriname.com and www.schrijversgroep77.org. Entries will close on July 31^st, 2011.

The winners from the national schools and adult competitions will be announced by August 7^th, 2011. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore left these mortal shores on August 7^th, 1941.

The AlphMax Academy and the Ideals of Tagore

2011-06-05T14:40:00.002-03:00

The Trustees, Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Students and Friends of the AlphaMax Academy have welcomed the arrival, installation and unveiling of the bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on the lawns of our relatively small school. To mark Tagore’s 150^th Birth Anniversary Year, a great honour has been bestowed upon us as an institution inSuriname. We are deeply appreciative to the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR), the Embassy of India, and our First Lady, Mrs. Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring.

In point of fact, it is no coincidence that the AlphaMax Academy has become home in Suriname to the bust of India’s internationally-recognized poet laureate and educator: Rabindranath Tagore has been a largely-unseen towering figure of inspiration at our fledgling institution of learning which ranges from kindergarten to primary to secondary and post-secondary education. From its inception in September 1998, teachers and students of the Academy have recited, often daily, those memorable words which first appeared in Tagore’s world-famous and respected collection of poetry, “Gitanjali”:

Where the mind is without fear and head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

by narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

into the dreary dead sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of free, my dear beloved God, let us all awake.

Thus, when Suriname’s First Lady unveils the Tagore monument on June 4^th, she will not only reveal Gautam Pal’s wonderfully sculpted figure of Tagore, but she will also unveil a plaque that bears this inspiring prayer.

According to Deputy Principal of the Academy, Ir. Emiel A. Krak, “These powerful words, which have guided our hearts and minds for 13 years, are part of the nourishment of students, staff, and teachers at the Academy. This text is one of our school anthems. It reminds us of the key ingredients and values we are striving to inculcate within ourselves. A proper life-inspiring education should equip students, teachers, parents and members of society with a positive spirit of courage, deep self-respect and dignity, a thirst for truth, and a deep willingness to go beyond one’s prescribed boundaries in relation to narrow, inimical perspectives and actions. S/he who possesses these qualities is awake in the real heaven of freedom. Tagore’s words constantly call to our remembrance what is the aim of our education and our life-purposes.”

“Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore is a sacrosanct and significant Teacher [with a capital ‘T’] within the geography of this little school,” said Principal Sean F. Taylor. “As a creative person and educator, his approach and ideas serve as a beacon and lighthouse. He’s a trailblazer for the 21^st century. We’ve sought without fanfare and fuss to emulate several of his educational ideals.”

When this school was established here in Zorg-en-hoop, Tagorean ideals hovered silently in the background. We did not attempt to replicate the poet’s experiment at Shantiniketan, for the circumstances here and context – like India and elsewhere – are unique. Of importance was the spirit and approach to education and learning.

To help foster and enrich the holistic formation of its young scholars, the Academy devotes four of its five school days to left-brain ratiocinative development and activities, and one day to right-brain creativity. A resilient insistence on the latter is vintage Tagore, who like his Occidental contemporaries, Rudolf Steiner and Maria Montessori deplored one-sided child development at the expense of a willful fostering and guidance of creative gifts and skills. Indeed it is through the latter that the inner ‘child’ is nurtured and brought to a ripe maturity. Tagore virtually enjoined it upon his students and teachers to study and work outdoors in the midst of nature. Not only was literature, or art, but even mathematics was conducted under the jasmine bower.

On the day when the school turns from left to right-brain activities, in addition to fine art, technical drawing, and classes on Living Values, Academy students are guided in the practice of the two most ancient oriental systems of exercise - Tai Chi and yoga asanas. Even as students at some schools do eurhythmy, AlphaMax students learn and practice tai chi and yoga. These ancient exercises reflect the inclusive international character of the school: it should be said that our intent is to forge a new middle course in Suriname through tangible activities in our multi-cultural society. While we are walking the talk about mutual respect in our activities, at the same time, our students benefit by consciously engaging in constructively guiding and directing their wills, energies, and forces.

Over the years, the creative impulses of AlphaMax students have found outlets through Academy publications and public performances at various venues. Whereas early school productions were classical – often dramatic presentations from Shakespeare, in 2010, students presented “The Many Faces of Love” – a gala celebration of literature, song, dance, and video-presentations of the many facets of the mysterious elixir that drives existence. One highlight of the program was the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, the centerpiece of the ‘Eros-Agape’ love-panel. Again, in 2011, we have presented for public audiences selections from Tagore, including his “Earth Song,” a poem that is amazingly mimetic of the spirit of life in Suriname.

In 2009, AlphaMax Academy students presented the story of democracy – tracing its 18^th century roots in American society from the time of the founding fathers through the modern era, including the struggle for freedom on the Subcontinent and Africa. The Academy’s oratorical presentation of “The Portrait of Hope & Peace” had earlier been captured in a different, yet condensed format, on canvas, by its respected Art Professor, Ruben Karsters. The latter’s “4Ms: A Portrait of Hope & Peace” was a celebration of leadership models for youths and future generations in the 21^st century. Professor Karsters’ unique portrayal captured India’s Mahatma Gandhi, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, and American activists, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.

The AlphaMax Academy is very happy to welcome this supreme artist, thinker and educator, Gurudeva Rabindranath Tagore on our school lawns. The garden here has been prepared for him, and we’re proud students will run and play amidst the blooming flamboyant trees, a sculpted likeness of the poet, fajalobis, and even orange trees planted by Miss Young Suriname and our students. In our hearts and minds, as an educator, Tagore stands on no lower a rung than Maria Montessori, Paulo Freire, and Rudolf Steiner.

[A more detailed version of this article is available online at:

http://alphamaxacademy-news.blogspot.com/p/tagores-ideals.html]

Official unveiling ceremony of the Rabindranath Tagore bust

2011-06-03T08:39:00.003-03:00

Thursday, June 2^nd, 2011

PRESS RELEASE

On Saturday, 4^th June, at 1000 a.m., First Lady Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring will join Indian Ambassador K.J.S. Sodhi, local dignitaries, and scores of AlphaMax Academy teachers and school children at the official unveiling ceremony of the Rabindranath Tagore bust on the lawns of AlphaMax Academy in Zorg-en-hoop. The ceremony will take place at the Academy’s Stanvastestraat and Stierappelstraat school facility.

The occasion will be a festive one to mark the 150^th Birth Anniversary Year of Tagore, India’s internationally acclaimed and most celebrated poet in the 20^th century. In 1913, Tagore, who was also renowned as an educator, philosopher, dramatist, choreographer, singer, songwriter, orator and publisher, was the first Asian and the first non-European to win a Nobel Prize. Born on May 7^th, 1841, Tagore, who, following his Nobel Prize laureate conducted lecture tours in Asia, Europe and the Americas, is a cross-cultural international icon – enjoying profound respect in East and West as a supreme artist, scholar, and international humanist.

The Tagore bust that First Lady Bouterse will unveil on Saturday morning is one of 14 replicas to be unveiled worldwide, all presents of the Government & People of India through the Embassy of India and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The 1.20 meter bronze metal bust is a masterpiece exemplar of the work of India’s renowned sculptor, Gautam Pal, who also hails from Bengal, the home-state of Tagore.

To date, Tagore busts have been unveiled by national leaders in Seoul, South Korea, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Havana, Cuba, Shanghai, China, and Singapore.

First Lady Ingrid Bouterse and Ambassador Sodhi will address the gathering on Saturday. Among the cultural features to be enjoyed by those in attendance there will be a dance presentation by the visiting 14 member dance troupe from Assam, India. It will be the visiting artists’ first public appearance in Suriname following presenting successful shows in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Tagore bust-unveiling ceremony is part of a series of celebratory events organized by the Rabindranath Tagore 150^th Birth Anniversary Celebration Committee. The latter consists of the Embassy of India, the Indian Cultural Center, the AlphaMax Academy, ArtVibes United, and Schrijversgroep ’77. Last month, Art Vibes United presented a week-long art and sculpture exhibition at Fort Zeelandia. This month, the Schrijversgroep and Art Vibes United are sponsoring art and creative writing competitions for school children at the VOJ and VOS levels. Entries for these national school competitions will close by June 15^th, 2011. For information, please visit www.iccsuriname.com , www.indembassysuriname.com or www.schrijversgroep77.org

Winners from the school and adult competitions will be announced by August 7^th, 2011. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore left these mortal shores on August 7^th, 1941.

officiële Openingsceremonie van het Rabindranath Tagore borstbeeld op het grasveld van Alphamax Academy

2011-06-03T08:33:00.000-03:00

Donderdag 2 juni 2011

PERSBERICHT

Op zaterdag 4 juni om 10.00 uur zal First Lady Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring samen met de Indiase ambassadeur K.J.S. Sodhi zich voegen bij andere notabelen, Alphamax Academy leerkrachten en schoolkinderen voor de officiële openingsceremonie van het Rabindranath Tagore borstbeeld op het grasveld van Alphamax Academy aan de Stanvaste- en Sterappelstraat, te Zorg en Hoop, Paramaribo.

Het zal een feestelijke aangelegenheid zijn ter viering van de 150^ste geboortejaar van Rabindranath Tagore. Hij is Indiaas internationaal bekendste en meest gevierde dichter van de 20ste eeuw. Tagore, geboren op 7 mei 1841, stond ook bekend als pedagoog, filosoof, dramaturg, choreograaf, zanger, componist, redenaar en uitgever. In 1913 was hij de eerste Aziaat en de eerste niet-Europeaan die de Nobelprijs won. Hij is een cultureel internationaal icoon die diep respect genoot tijdens zijn lezingen tour die werd uitgevoerd als Nobelprijswinnaar in Azië, Europa en Amerika.

Het Tagore borstbeeld die First Lady Bouterse-Waldring zal onthullen op zaterdagochtend is een van de 14 replica’s die over de hele wereld zullen worden onthuld; cadeaus van de regering en volk van India via de Ambassade van India en de Indiase Raad voor Culturele Betrekkingen (ICCR). De 1.20 meter hoog bronzen borstbeeld is een meesterwerk dat een goed voorbeeld is van het werk van de beroemde beeldhouwer Gautam Pal, die net als Tagore ook afkomstig is uit Bengalen, India.

Tot op heden zijn er Tagore borstbeelden onthuld door de nationale leiders in Seoul, Zuid Korea; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Havana, Cuba; Shanghai, China en Singapore.

First Lady Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring en ambassadeur Sodhi zullen tijdens de ceremonie zaterdag een korte speech houden. De aanwezigen zullen als een van de culturele presentaties, kunnen genieten van een dans presentatie door de uit 14-leden-bestaande dansgroep uit Assam, India die op dit moment Suriname bezoeken. Het zal het eerste publieke optreden in Suriname zijn van deze bezoekende kunstenaars na succesvolle shows op de Oost-Caribische eilanden.

De Tagore borstbeeld onthullingceremonie is onderdeel van een reeks van evenementen georganiseerd door de Rabindranath Tagore 150^ste geboortejaar feestcommissie bestaande uit de Indiase Ambassade, Alphamax Academy, ART Vibes United en Schrijversgroep’77. Vorige maand organiseerde Art Vibes United een schilder- en beeldhouwkunst tentoonstelling in Fort Zeelandia. Deze maand organiseren Schrijversgroep’77 en Art Vibes United landelijke kunst- en creatief schrijfwedstrijden voor schoolgaande kinderen op het VOJ en VOS niveau. De deadline voor deze nationale school wedstrijden is op 30 juni 2011 (verlengde datum). Voor meer informatie kunt u terecht op www.iccsuriname.com , www.indembassysuriname.com en www.schrijversgroep77.org En voor eventuele vragen over de scholierenwedstrijd kunt u terecht bij Ismene.krishnadath@gmail.com of sdankerlui@yahoo.com , telefoon:520513 of 491755.

Vanaf maandag 7 juni kunnen volwassenen deelnemen aan de Nationale schrijf- en kunstwedstrijd. Regels voor de kunst- en schrijfwedstrijd zijn online beschikbaar op op www.iccsuriname.com , www.indembassysuriname.com en www.schrijversgroep77.org De deadline voor inzendingen is op 31 juli 2011.

Winnaars van de scholieren- en volwassen wedstrijden zullen worden bekendgemaakt op 7 augustus 2011. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore verliet zijn aardse lichaam op 7 augustus 1941.

Can You Forgive? - Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D. - Heal Your Life

2011-05-16T13:53:00.000-03:00

Can You Forgive? - Alberto Villoldo, Ph.D. - Heal Your Life

Tree Planting Ceremony at AlphaMax Academy

2011-05-06T11:20:00.002-03:00

On May 5^th, the AlphaMax Academy was the recipient of 6 young citrus trees. The trees were donated by a goodwill organization in Suriname, one of whose goals is to highlight the need for food security and raise environmental awareness around the country

One of the school’s parents – Ms. Sima Jimidar – who is also involved in the organizing committee of the Miss Suriname beauty pageants, helped arrange for Miss Suriname herself, the runner-up of the Miss Suriname pageant and the 2011 Little Miss Suriname to be present and assist the students of AMA with planting the trees.

The trees were placed in the schoolyard of the new AlphaMax complex in the Staanvaste straat, and were a welcome addition to the neighborhood scenery

Bust of Distinguished Indian Poet to be installed at AlphaMax Academy on Sat 14May

2011-05-04T10:32:00.001-03:00

Alphamax Academy has been selected as the site for a bust of Dr. Rabindrath Tagore. Tagore is India's most celebrated person in the arts. He is India’s Poet Laureate, Bengali Poet & Writer, Nobel Prize Winner, International Humanist & Educator, Artist, Dramatist, Dance Choreographer, Music Composer, Song Writer, Singer, Educator, Philosopher, Spiritualist, Orator

Born in Bengal, India, Rabindranath Tagore was the youngest and fourteenth child of his parents, Devendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. He was born into a distinguished family. His brothers and sisters excelled as poets, musicians, playwrights and novelists; thus, the Tagore home was filled with musical, literary, and dramatic pursuits.

Bosbivak Easter Camp

2011-04-22T22:36:00.000-03:00

Bosbivak Easter Camp

Last Easter two groups of students ( one male, theother female) went to a nature camp at the Bosbivak Nationaal Leger’scamp. from April 16^th – 20^th, 2011 30Academy high school students and teachers took part in the camp where theylearned preliminary camp training and survival skills.

The camp for boys / males took place fromApril 16^th – 18^th, and the one for the girls /females, took place on April 18^th – 20^th. Thecamp and training experience was under the direction of Staff Sergeant LucienVroom,

AMA Staff who went to this camp included Mr. & Mrs Taylor, Mr.Ben Hur Henry and Ms Manhaz Kohinory.

Read Jason Hoppie"s Prize winning essay on his experience at this camp.

AMA's Xiomara Getrouw Represents Suriname in Miami Half Marathon

2011-04-04T13:12:00.000-03:00

Xiomara Getrouw is a sixteen-year-old student of AlphaMax Academy She is involved in swimming, athletics and triathlon.

Her mother who was an athlete influenced Xiomarar to pursue sports. Xiomara likes sports because she knows that it is good for her health and it helps her with her studies.

Xiomara Getrouw started sports when she was only six years old and has been doing it for ten years. She does not belong to a club because she feels that such a commitment would adversely affect her studies. Therefore, she has chosen to train individually.. She thinks this also helps her to concentrate properly.

In the national marathon held on November 20, 2010, Xiomara was the first female in her age group to complete the 42 km marathon. Since she did so well in the Suriname marathon, the manager of the Gazelle organization, Mr. MacDonald asked her. to participate in a 21 km marathon in Miami on the 30th January, 2011

According to Xiomara, the objective of marathon in Miami was to bring together runners from several countries. While taking part in this marathon she met other athletes in her own age group and others who were on a higher level. Many spectators turned out to cheer on the runners throughout the marathon. Xiomara also complimented the US Club for their excellent organization and publicity work..

Xiomara hopes that other runners in Suriname will take part in Marathons like these because she thinks it is a good experience to compete with runners from other countries.

The experience in the Miami marathon has motivated Xiomara to aim for the highest levels of performance in her future marathons competitions.

Xiomara has just participated in Suriname's Sprint Distance Triathlon and won the second prize for women in all age groups and the first prize for females in her age group

Tiffany Hoashin

Japan nuclear alert at Fukushima - Q&A

2011-03-17T09:19:00.000-03:00

There have been a number of explosions and fires at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, following Friday's earthquake and tsunami.

Four of the plant's six reactors have been in trouble. How great a danger do these problems pose for people in Japan and further afield?

Has there been a leakage of radioactive material?

Yes. Harmful levels of radiation have caused at least one temporary evacuation of staff at the power plant. Higher than normal, but harmless, levels of radiation have been registered in Tokyo, 140 miles (220km) away.

How much radioactive material has been released?

The World Health Organization's representative in China says there is no evidence of any significant international spread of radiation.

What type of radioactive material has escaped?

There are reports of radioactive isotopes of caesium and iodine in the vicinity of the plant. Experts say it would be natural for radioactive isotopes of nitrogen and argon to have escaped as well. There is no evidence that any uranium or plutonium has escaped.

What harm do these radioactive materials cause?

Radioactive iodine could be harmful to young people living near the plant. After the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster there were some cases of thyroid cancer as a result. However, people who are promptly issued with iodine tablets ought to be safe. Radioactive caesium accumulates in soft tissue, while plutonium accumulates in the bone and liver. Radioactive nitrogen decays within seconds of its release, and argon poses no threat to health.

Q&A: Health effects of radiation

How did the radioactive materials escape?

In at least two ways. Some is known to have escaped as a result of steam and gas released from overheating reactors. There has also been a release from the fourth reactor's fuel storage pond, which was damaged in an explosion, and caught fire.

Surprise 'critical' warning raises nuclear fears

Could radioactive materials have escaped by any other means?

The authorities have pumped seawater into three reactors. This water is likely to have been contaminated by its passage through the reactor, but it is currently unclear whether any of it has been released into the environment.

How long will any contamination last?

Radioactive iodine decays quite quickly. Most will have disappeared within a month. Radioactive caesium does not last long in the body - most has gone within a year. However, it lingers in the environment and can continue to present a problem for many years.

Has there been a meltdown?

The term "meltdown" is used in a variety of ways. Some of the metal encasing fuel rods have been damaged by heat, and may have partially melted (a "fuel-rod meltdown"). However, there is as yet no indication that the uranium fuel itself has melted. Still less is there any indication of a "China Syndrome" where the fuel melts, gathers below the reactor and resumes a chain reaction, that enables it to melt everything in its way, and bore a path deep into the earth. If there were to be a serious meltdown, the Japanese reactor is supposed to be able to handle it, preventing the China Syndrome from taking place.

Could there be a Chernobyl-like disaster?

Experts say this is highly unlikely. The chain reaction at all Fukushima reactors has ceased. The explosions that have occurred have mostly taken place outside the steel and concrete containment vessels enclosing the reactors. At Chernobyl an explosion exposed the core of the reactor to the air, and a fire raged for days sending its contents in a plume up into the atmosphere. At Fukushima the explosions have damaged mainly the roof and walls erected around the containment vessels - though it is feared the steel and concrete containment vessel of reactor number two has been damaged. Even if a reactor at Fukushima were to explode - according to the UK government's chief scientific adviser - it would send radioactive material only 500m into the air (rather than 9,000m) and the fallout would be concentrated within 20km or 30km of the site.

Could there be a nuclear explosion?

The explosions so far have been caused by hydrogen released from the reactors. At Chernobyl there may have been a nuclear explosion in the reactor, but this has not been confirmed.

What caused the hydrogen release from the reactor?

At high temperatures, steam can separate into hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of zirconium, the metal used for encasing the reactor fuel. This mixture is highly explosive.

How do iodine tablets work?

If the body has all the iodine it needs, it will not absorb further iodine. The tablets fill the body up with non-radioactive iodine, which prevent it absorbing radioactive iodine from contaminated milk, or other food sources.

What kind of radiation levels have been recorded at Fukushima?

Levels as high as 400 millisieverts per hour have been registered at the plant itself. A couple of hours exposed to this dose-level could cause radiation sickness. However, for long periods since the crisis began, the level has been at 10 millisieverts per hour or lower. (A spinal X-ray delivers roughly one millisievert of radiation, a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis has an effective dose of 15 millisieverts.) On Monday morning the level was as low as 0.02 millisieverts per hour - only a few times more intense than the level of radiation experienced on a passenger jet flying at 40,000 feet.

Is any level of exposure to radiation safe?

In some parts of the world, natural background radiation is significantly higher than others - for example in Cornwall, in south-west England. And yet people live in Cornwall, and many others gladly visit the area. Similarly, every international air flight exposes passengers to higher than normal levels of radiation - and yet people still fly, and cabin crews spend large amounts of time exposed to this radiation. Patients in hospitals regularly undergo X-rays. Scientists dispute whether any level of exposure to radiation is entirely safe, but exposure to some level of radiation - whether at normal background levels or higher - is a fact of life.

Words of Wisdom for Our Age of Transformation

2011-03-11T12:15:00.000-03:00

“We stand before this great world.

The Truth of our life depends upon our attitude of mind towards it –

an attitude which is formed by our habit of dealing with it

according to the special circumstance of our surroundings and our temperaments.

It guides our attempts to establish relations with the universe

either by conquest or by union,

either through the cultivation of power or through that of sympathy.

And thus, in our realization of the truth of existence,

we put our emphasis either upon the principle of dualism or upon the principle of unity.”

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

India’s Poet Laureate

AMA Seniors Go On Boat Trip

2011-03-10T10:12:00.002-03:00

On the 11th of February, 2011, a group of students from the AlphaMax Academy, went ton a boat trip along the Suriname and Commenwijne rives as part of a history project on Suriname. We did the trip on a boat owned by Suriname's most famous writer of historical fiction-- Cynthia Mc Leod.The name of ther boat is “Sweet Merodia”; sweet roots . Her boat was named after Cyntia’s first novel “the cost of sugar” and Merodia comes from the apartment “Merode” were Cyntia stayed in Belgium whille writing the novel..

This boat trip gives people the opportunity to see and learn about Suriname’s history. Mrs MLleod makes the trip available to schoolchildren free of ccharge. The Dutch ambassador made a donation of 25,000 guilders to help Cyntia made the boat sea worthy.. Telling people about Suriname’s history, Cyntia through this trip on the Sweet Merodia has been a success. Here is a brief description of my experience on the trip.

On the trip there was a woman who told us stories connected to the places we were seeing. As we were nearing the Commewijne river, she told us we should see the border line between the Suriname rivier and the Comewijne river as well as excited dolphins who would be jumping around the boat. Unfortunately, we did not see any of this. Because I ,however, had been on a previous trip and had seen this..

Written by Sharen Vess Schaap

While sailing past the Antondragtonweg, the lady told us that in this area lay plantations, all with French names-- Tourtonne, Marethraite. Around the year 1685, the rich French Huguenots, religious refugees, went to Holland and in Holland it was arranged for them to come to Suriname to set up plantations . These Huguenots were so rich that you could tell teir wealth from the height of their front step; the higher the steps the richer they were.

Years after that, in 1750, there was a place called Hoer Helena. This place was named after a woman who used to be a prostitute as well as the governor’s partner outside his marriage. During that period the term prostitute was quite norma. Later the place's name from “Hoer Helena” to “Orleane Kreek”.

Our guide then continued her stories of Suriname’s history by telling us that, in 1650, Lord Wiloughby came here to establish a colony for England. He came to our country and created ae fortress, Fortress Wiloughby. After seventten years in 1667, a Dutchman , Abraham saw the potential of Suriname and came with three ships, each having 2 guns.. Wiloughby had only 2 guns and the war lasted for exactly one hour and Suriname became a colony of Holland until the 25th of November 1975. Abraham changed the name of the Fortress to Zeelandia,. He also wanted to change the name “Paramaribo” into New Middelburg” , but unfortunately, the ship that had the legal papers with the name change sank and this never happened.

We now found ourselves sailing on the Commewijne river, passing New Amsterdam, which has an open air museum. One significant element of this old plantation is the statue of “Alonso de Ageda, the peering man”, made by Erwin de Vries in 1968. He stands with his back against the river and looking to the fertile ground of New Amsterdam. Near this plantation lies plantation “Rust en Werk”. During the period of 1750, this plantation used to produce coffee, sugar, and tobacco. After the emancipation in 1863, indentured workers from British India and Java came to work on these fields. Because India was a colony of England then, Holland needed permission for the Immigrants to come to Suriname. After the world wars, however, nothing was done on these plantation and many former indentured laborers came to Paramaribo and stated businesses. Plantation Rust en Werk belongs to the family of Armand van Alen, who owned seven plantations in total. In the second half of the 18th century there were a lot of plantation, because Suriname was then important for her agriculture.

When we arrived at Rust en Werk, we were introduced to two iresidents . They spoke about their work, which was processing dried shrimp. This happens as follows: the shrimps are cooked in salt water and afterwards dried in the sun. They are than put in a sack and knocked so that their shells get loosened. At last they are put into a big strainer and the shrimp and the loose shells are than divided.

This plantation looks like a farm.. I saw many cows, goats, coconut trees and there was one special tamarind tree.. This tree is 350 years old! The plantation once had hundreds of tamarind trees, but because there was a practice of using whips from these trees to beat slaves. Eventually the trees died out. What few people know is that these treescan grow older than a thousand years old., for example, The tamarind trees on the Independence square , for example, has been there from 1650..

Walking further we saw a huge bowl called “kappa” which was used to process sugar. The slaves had to stand next to this hot pot of sugar that would burn their body when getting in touch with it. Nowadays people use this term “kappa” to talk about somebody’s mouth in a rude way by saying “hold your big kappa”. I would really have like d to see the small cemetery with four graves from the past but for some reason we were not allowed. In these graves lay 2 daughters of Governor Crommelin, one with the age of 17 and the other 29, a brother in law, and an unknown grave from which indentured laborers used stones to built their floors. We had the opportunity to drink and eat something from the little bar that was available. We only spent half an hour on this plantation was half an hour..

On our way to the next plantation, our tour guide told us about the next plantation we were about to go to, named Pl. Frederiksdorp. This plantation produced coffee and cocoa. In 1785 it belonged to Mr. Knuppel and later his two daughters inherited all. They sold it to a new owner and this owner sold it again to the current owner Ton Hagenmeyer. He has been the ownert for 25 years. He wanted to make this place suitable for the Indian indentured workers so he decided to have a doctor there, a school,a police officer and from that a community group. One of the houses you could see had two black chairs which were the two dentist chairs. One of the most significant places we saw was the old coffee drying floor which is made of limestone and is still in its original form since 1750. There was also a big tank that was filled with rainwater, which was used by the people back then.

After having seen these historical monuments, my fellow students and I had the opportunity to walk around. We enjoyed the nice environment . When it was time to head back to the boat, it meant that we had to head back home. While heading back we did our presentation of the book “Elisabeth Samson “and turned our attention to the exciting and horrible stories of the past.
Written by Sharen Vuss Schaap

HISTORIC VISIT BY QUEEN’S COLLEGE STUDENTS TO SURINAME

2011-03-04T12:18:00.000-03:00

Groundings with their AlphaMax Fellows & Colleagues

On Wednesday, March 2nd, 60 students from Queen’s College, the leading Middelbare high-school in Georgetown, Guyana, met and interacted with more than 30 high school students from the AlphaMax Academy in Paramaribo.

Under the theme, “Youth, Agriculture & the Earth’s Future,” the students from the two English schools followed power-point and video presentations, and discussed organic agriculture and technology at the Anton de Kom University Lecture Hall.

The program was organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture in collaboration with the AlphaMax Academy, the Suriname Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Guyana, and Queen’s College, Guyana.

Following a presentation by Suriname’s IICA Representative, Cromwell Crawford, about the mission and work of the organization in Suriname and the Americas, Suriname's Minister of Labour, Technology & the Environment, Ginmardo Kromosoeto, addressed the students and teachers from both schools about the importance of this cross-border meeting between students of two top schools.

Video presentations on organic agriculture and solar dehydration technology developed with know-how and expertise from Guyana and Suriname were followed by lively discussions, and a question and answer period about forging a path of cooperation.

During their five-day visit – the first of its kind – the agriculture-science students from Queen’s College also visited CELOS, NATIN, and Guiana Sea Foods. They also met with representatives from the national youth parliament of Suriname. The Queen’s College students and their five instructors returned to Georgetown, Guyana, on Saturday, March 5th.

Barca and how the Spanish Civil War affected its fortunes

2011-02-16T10:42:00.000-03:00

I myself think that these guys are THE BEST TEAM EVER!!!! AND MOST OF THEM ARE REALLY CUTE!!!!!!
   BARCA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

  FC Barcelona was born as a club on 22th of October 1899, and the club gradually grew from 1899-1922. As both the fans and non-fans know, Barcelona is a Spanish professional football\soccer team, and might I add, one of the best. FC Barcelona is said to be the ''most successful club in Spanish football" and "one of the most successful clubs in European football". (Wikipedia)

Having titles such as La Liga title, Spanish Cups, Spanish Super Cups, League Cups, and UEFA competitions, FC Barcelona became the world's second richest football club. They would have been first, if it were not for their arch enemy, Real Madrid. (Wikipedia)

Real Madrid is also a Spanish professional football\soccer team, and do not get me wrong they are a very good team, but I just think (as a FC Barcelona fan, things might become a little subjective) that FC Barcelona is much better. As is said, there are major changes taking place all over the world, and maybe one of them will be that FC Barcelona will rise much higher than Real Madrid, since they have already passed Chelsea.

What I never knew was that the history of Spain had quite an impact on the club.

   Bill Shankly,the late Liverpool coach once said that, "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you it's much more serious than that." William Wilkes then states’ ‘Nowhere, does Shankly's statement have more resonance than in Barcelona, Spain." Here is why:

  Francisco Franco was the leader of the group known as the Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War. Franco and the military participated in a coup against the Republican government. The coup failed but it caused a civil war. This civil war lasted from 1936 to 1939.It was a brutal war and thousands died.

At that time Barcelona was the capital city of Catalonia' four provinces, Catalonia is one of the Kingdoms of Spain's seventeen autonomous communities. Barcelona was the biggest center of resistance to the fascist Nationalists who were trying to take power which they eventually did. This event had consequences for Club Barcelona, who had to change its Catalan name from FC Barcelona to CF Barcelona.

There were more terrible acts. Josep Garriga, who was Barcelona's left-wing president, was killed by the fascist's soldiers. The Nationalists also dropped a bomb on Barcelona's social club.

Barcelona was in a critical state, and for many years they were left behind Real Madrid, the Nationalist’s own club. Of course the new Fascist government then favored Madrid over Barcelona, and a lot of opportunities were lost to Real Madrid.

Fortunately for Barcelona in 1974, Franco died and the nationalist power began slipping away. Barcelona could breathe again. The first thing they did was change the name back to FC Barcelona, and Johan Cruyff, who is considered one of the best European football players, joined FC Barcelona and brought back the spirit and the exciting, graceful style of football.

This is FC Barcelona's history and look where they're now!!" For FC Barcelona, football is not just a matter of life and death, it's about history, resistance and freedom.", and this is shown in the way they are playing now. They made it, and now to keep going!!!!
Reann Kersenhout

AlphaMax Students and Staff get a Glimpse of the Power of Vedic Mathematics

2010-10-07T14:17:00.002-03:00

  On October 6^th 2010 Mr. Rajendra Prakash Jain, an Indian Gandhian scholar gave a brief introduction and demonstration of Vedic Mathematics for AlphaMax High School students and staff. Mr. Jain was in Suriname as part of the program of activities by the Indian Embassy and Indian Cultural Centre to celebrate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
Vedic Mathematics is based on the Vedas, the most ancient of Indian scriptures. Mr. Jain explained that with the use of Vedic Mathematics one can make calculations very fast, often faster than with a calculator. He suggests that contemporary over-reliance on the use calculators is not a good thing and one of the benefits of Vedic mathematics is the removal of this dependence on calculators
Two examples of Vedic Mathematics that Mr. Jain gave are:
1. Multiplying two numbers each consisting of two digits, of which the first two digits are equal to each other and the sum of the other digits equals 10, e.g. 37x33, 45x45, 92x98:
37 x 33 -> the first digit x (first digit + 1), this is 3 x (3 + 1) = 12 -> second digit x second digit, this is 7 x 3 = 21.
Write the results in succession: 1221.
2. Multiplying two numbers, which are equal to each other and are somewhat less than positive integer powers of 10 (10, 100, 1000, 10,000, etc.), e.g. 996 x 996 -> 996 is somewhat less than 1000 -> 1000 - 996 = 4 -> 996-4 = 992 -> take the three zeros of the thousand and replace the latter by the 4 -> 004 x 004 = 016.
Write the results consecutively: 992016.
A third example that I have added is
Subtract fractions), e.g.
6 _   2
7      3
Multiply crosswise and subtract: 6 x 3 = 18, 2 x 7 = 14 -> 18 - 14 = 4 (that is the numerator of the fraction),
7 x 3 = 21 (that the denominator of the fraction).
Mr. Jain also said that many universities and schools in India now have Vedic Mathematics in their curriculum. Some have integrated it into the Western Mathematics program. He mentioned that there are now educational institutions that specifically teach Vedic Mathematics in some countries.

Students, teachers, and directors were very enthusiastic about Mr. Jain’s presentation. Mr. Krak, Deputy Director and Head of the Math and Science program announced that AlphaMax Academy would like to include Vedic Mathematics in the curriculum. If you would like to know more about Vedic Maths a good website to visit is www.FastMaths.com.
Mr. Atma Jagbandhan,
Science and Math Instructor

Gandhi Seminar

2010-10-05T14:08:00.000-03:00

On October 13^th 2010 the Embassy of India in Suriname and the Indian Cultural Centre organized a “Seminar on Mahatma Gandhi” as part of their program of activities to mark the late Mahatma’s Birthday.

The AlphaMax Academy participated by contributing a PowerPoint presentation and a reading. The subject for the presentation was Gandhi’s Concept of Satyagraha which was based on students’ essays written last years. Out of these essays Shafeek Nazir made a beautiful PowerPoint presentation titled “Where have all the Gandhi’s gone? Part 2”. Part 1 was a speech presented last year by Mr. Sean Taylor, the director of the AlphaMax Academy.

Mr. Atma Jagbandhan

Congrats to Mr. Arty's Son

2010-07-23T16:29:00.000-03:00

Mitchell Wongsodikromo, son of PE teachers Mr.Arty Kersout and Mrs. Wongsodikromo, won a bronze medal for Badminton at the CACSO Games, Puerto Rico (in today's news).
Congratulations!

Mr.Atma

Music Can Boost Language Learning

2010-07-22T15:14:00.000-03:00

Reuters
21 July 2010

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Learning to play a musical instrument can change your brain, with a U.S. review finding music training can lead to improved speech and foreign language skills.

Although it has been suggested in the past that listening to Mozart or other classical music could make you smarter, there has been little evidence to show that music boosts brain power.

But a data-driven review by Northwestern University has pulled together research that links musical training to learning that spills over into skills including language, speech, memory, attention and even vocal emotion.

Researcher Nina Kraus said the data strongly suggested that the neural connections made during musical training also primed the brain for other aspects of human communication.

'The effect of music training suggests that, akin to physical exercise and its impact on body fitness, music is a resource that tones the brain for auditory fitness and thus requires society to re-examine the role of music in shaping individual development,' the researchers said in their study.

Kraus said learning musical sounds could enhance the brain's ability to adapt and change and also enable the nervous system to provide a scaffolding of patterns that are important to learning.

The study, published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, looked at the explosion of research in recent years focused on the effects of music training on the nervous system which could have strong implications for education.

The study found that playing an instrument primes the brain to choose what is relevant in a complex process that may involve reading or remembering a score, timing issues and coordination with other musicians.

'A musician's brain selectively enhances information-bearing elements in sound,' Kraus said in a statement. 'In a beautiful interrelationship between sensory and cognitive processes, the nervous system makes associations between complex sounds and what they mean.'

The study reviewed literature showing, for example, that musicians are more successful than non-musicians in learning to incorporate sound patterns for a new language into words.

Children who are musically trained are better at observing pitch changes in speech and have a better vocabulary and reading ability than children who did not receive music training.

Musicians trained to hear sounds embedded in networks of melodies and harmonies are primed to understand speech in a noisy background.

But Kraus said currently what is known about the benefits of music training on sensory processing beyond that involved in musical performance is largely derived from studying those who are fortunate enough to afford such training.

The researchers concluded that there needed to be a serious investment of resources into music training in schools accompanied with rigorous examinations of the effects of such instruction on listening, learning, memory, attention and literacy skills.

Historic Selection & Election: DR. JENNIFER SIMONS NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF SURINAME

2010-06-30T16:58:00.000-03:00

Dr. Jennifer Geerling-Simons, the AlphaMax Academy 2010 Graduation Keynote Guest Speaker,
was today, named Chairman of the National Assembly of Suriname.

It was a historic event as the new leader and many supporters in the Assembly and on the streets acknowledged her election. Her assumption of the position marks the start of the transition of power from the former government. According to one observer, “This is another significant moment in the growth of Suriname as a democracy in the post-colonial era.”

At the graduation ceremony last Thursday, Dr. Simons told the 12 AlphaMax graduates and over 300 parents, friends and well-wishers who had gathered at the Torarica Banquet Hall. “What I see in your eyes is expectation. … It’s a new beginning we’re celebrating here.”

“What will matter most in your life, based on my life experience, is your relationships,” she stressed, referring to the three most important types of relationships they would encounter in their lives. First is the relationship with God - the universe. Then there is the important relationship with nature. And third, of equal significance, will be their relationships with others. Dr. Simons, a medical doctor by profession, told the graduates, “It is your relationship with other people that makes you a person.”

The Administration & Staff of the AlphaMax Academy wish our 2010 Keynote Guest Speaker, Dr. Jennifer Simons: 'Success & Joy' in her new onerous responsibility especially at this significant historic juncture.

AlphaMax Graduation and Pictures 2010

2010-06-29T11:27:00.004-03:00

At the graduation and prize-giving ceremony for 12 high school graduates, Paramaribo’s most popular female parliamentarian, Dr Jennifer Simons, received a standing ovation following her keynote address to the gathering of more than 300 students, parents, friends and well wishers who were assembled on Thursday evening at the Torarica Banquet Hall in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Dr. Simons told the graduating class, “What I see in your eyes is expectation. … It’s a new beginning we’re celebrating here.”

“What will matter most in your life, based on my life experience, is your relationships,” she stressed, referring to the three most important types of relationships they would encounter in their lives. First is the relationship with God - the universe. Then there is the important relationship with nature. And third, of equal significance, will be their relationships with others. Dr. Simons told the graduates, “It is your relationship with other people that makes you a person.”

The twelve students received their diplomas marking the successful completion of their secondary education at VWO and HAVO levels. After receiving their diplomas, Valedictorians, Marina Sew-Atjon and Zikomo Mhango, addressed the gathering on behalf of the Class of 2010.

Members of the diplomatic corps, including Ambassador K.J.S Sodhi of India, U.S Ambassador John Nay, were in attendance at the ceremony where about 35 students received prizes for their meritorious performance and successful work during the academic year.

Four of the academy’s graduating class of 2010 scored in the top 5% of students worldwide who took the American College Test (ACT) during the current academic year. The students were Vincent Hilversum with 31, Zikomo Mhango with 30, and Stephan Playfair and Marina Sew – Atjon with 29, respectively.

This was the tenth graduation award ceremony since the AlphaMax Academy started in September 1998.

AlphaMax School awards for 2010

2010-06-29T10:43:00.000-03:00

Zikomo Mhango and Marina Sew-Atjon were the outstanding performers for 2010 at AlphaMax. They headed the list of students who won prizes and awards at the Graduation Ceremony held last Thurday at Torarica.

The full list of winners is as follows:

ACADEMY EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Best Overall Academic Performance:      Zikomo Mhango
Best GAC Scholar :              Marina Sew-Atjon
GAC Merit Award :              Daniel Lee, Sabrina Vaseur
Humanities Award:              Stephan Playfair
Best ACT   :                 Vincent Hilversum
Best TOEFL :                  Marina Sew-Atjon, Zikomo Mhango
PSAT Merit :                  Kristina Taylor
Gandhi-King Award :              Stephan Playfair, Marina Sew-Atjon
                       Kristina Taylor, Sharen-Vess Schaap

HIGH SCHOOL

Math :          Marina Sew-Atjon, Brienne Renfurm, Sharen-Vess Schaap,
Ruth Saman

Science:         Jessica Bang A Foe, Claire Patandin, Ruth Saman

English Grammar :   Marysa Brandflu
English Writing :   Sharen-Vess Schaap, Ruth Saman, Kristina Taylor, Jason Hoppie

Art: Most Outstanding   Sharen-Vess Schaap, Emily Jong Tjien Fa
      Most Improved   Marysa Brandflu, Jason Hoppie

Technical Drawing:    Diego Frantzen, Yamil Kartoredjo, Jill Liauw Kie Fa
           [Special Mention: Daniel Lee]

Sports :          Brienne Renfurm, Renzo Tjon A Joe

Merit Awards :      Jill Liauw Kie Fa, Kristina Taylor, Jason Hoppie,
           Yamil Kartoredjo, Claire Patandin

Most Improved:    Timothy Naarendorp, Shiromani Heilbron, Gabriel Grauwde

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Best Performance:    Emily Jong Tjien Fa, Reann Kersenhout

Math:          Emily Jong Tjien Fa

Science :      Tamia Hoppie, Emily Jong Tjien Fa

English:      Reann Kersenhout, Tamia Hoppie, Emily Jong Tjien Fa

Technical Drawing:    Aaqil Wazir, Alain Soekhlal

Most Improved:    Alysha Wazir

LOWER SCHOOL AWARDS

Best Performance:   Andrea Lau, Rebecca Voight, Matthew Ho

Phonics :      Akash Lewis, Noor Patandin

Science:      Santiago Chehin

Math :          Rebecca Voight, Matthew Ho

Best Conduct :      Lucienne Kuzmanovska, Andrea Lau

Arts & Crafts :      Andrea Lau, Lucienne Kuzmanovska

Most Improved:    Abigail Cambridge, Neo Ameerali

AMA TRIP TO AFOBAKA

2010-06-28T12:46:00.003-03:00

EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL TRIP TO AFOBAKA,

Monday, 28th June 2010

The trip was meant in the first place for the Physics/Physical Science) students directly instructed by Mr. Emiel Krak. Graduates, other High School students, Middle School students, teachers and other staff could also participate. The trip was organized by Mrs. Joan Telgt, mother of one of the students, and Mr. Emiel Krak .

We went by bus. On the way back we were joined by some former-graduate students.

We went via the Martin Luther Kingweg (-Road) and arrived at Paranam where we stopped outside the bauxite plant of the Suriname Aluminum Company (Suralco). From there Mr Krak explained the relationship between the Afobaka Dam and the bauxite plant and from there we had an overview of the plant. The hydro-electric installation and lake were built to supply the bauxite plant and the aluminum smelter with electrical relatively cheap energy. He explained how water power becomes electrical power and how it is transported to the bauxite plant and smelter.

Since aluminum smelting, which uses a lot of energy, was stopped 10 years ago, a lot of excess energy became available for Suriname. That energy is now the main source of electrical energy for Suriname.

Mr. Krak also spoke about the process and history of bauxite mining and conversion to alumina and the end product Aluminum. He also showed the obsolete aluminum smelters and also samples of bauxite, Alumina (half product between bauxite and Aluminum it self. In this arrangement Suriname became the country with a total integrated Operation( including (Mining, Refinery and Melting in one country located close to each other.)

After this we continued our trip to Afobaka (via Weg naar Afobaka (Road to Afobaka)). We drove in front of the dam and stopped at both sides of the dam. Mr. Krak explained how the the Hydro-electric installation worked. In short: at the bottom of the Dam there are turbines, which are moved by water flowing from the lake by water pressure through the dam (water power). The turbines connected rotors let coils moving in a magnetic field that generates electricity (hence generator) .The generated electricity is then being transported by electric wires supported by huge masts to Paranam Operations over a distance of approximately 200 km.

He also showed us the water spill ways, which are used when the water level becomes too high. In front of the dam we passed a big old turbine which is placed there for explanation of how it works in relation to electrical generation.

On the way back we went to Klaaskreek, a Maroon village at the banks of the confluence of Klaas Creek and Suriname River. We used the same roads to go back and the roads are never far from the Suriname River. The recreation facility at the bank of Suriname River is basically a nice place with neat huts, beach volleyball fields, restrooms and a swimming space which was shielded more or less with nets and poles. But minuses were that when we arrived there we saw people washing meat in the shielded space (unhygienic and may attract predatory fish), and at a few hundred meters distance a sand digging machine operating close to the bank made the water somewhat murky. So we decided not to swim there.

We complained about this to the people there. Later we concluded that the water was only suitable for paddling. Nevertheless we enjoyed the place, playing volleyball, walking around, relaxing and paddling. One of our teachers, Joan Grauwde, was recognized by a Klaaskreek Maroon lady who was trying to sell hand-made pangi’s (Marron dress) to us as her former teacher. This was a surprising and touching meeting of teacher and student. Our female teachers tried and also bought some nice pangi’s.

After this we went to the well-known water recreation facility of the Amerindian village Powaka with its fresh cola-coloured creek water. The cola-coloured water is not seen much in the world. The water gets is colour probably by mixing with finely dispersed humus. Another well-known recreation facility, Colakreek (Cola Creek), got its name from this kind of water.

The students who went on the trip were: Daniel Lee, Sabrina Vaseur, Khabir King.Ruth Saman, Gabriel Grauwde, Azim King, Claire Patandin, Vinantia Nandlal, Jason Hoppie, Jaleesa Pigot, Jill Liauw Kie Fa, Jessica Bang A Foe, Marysa Brand-Flu, Isaiah Wiebers, ReAnn Kaersenhout, Joia van Draanen,

The former students were Seon Gomes, Jess Ligeon, Jean Kartoredjo.The parent was Mrs. Joan Telgt.

Teachers and other staff: were:Mr. Emiel Krak, Mrs. Sharon Hoppie, Mrs. Joan Grauwde, Mr. Atma Jagbandhan, Ms. Mahnaz Kohinory, Ms. Gilian Gordon.

Five AlphaMax Students on Suriname's Team to CISC in Cuba

2010-06-28T11:49:00.000-03:00

Five AlphaMax students are in the 12 member Suriname team to the 18th Caribbean Islands Swimming Championship (CISC) being held in Cuba.They are: Brienne Renfurm, Daniel Kolf, Renzo Tjon Ajoe, Michael Grauwde and Wayne Denswil.

The meet starts today -- June 28th and ends on Friday , July 2nd at the Pan American Water Sports Complex in Havana.

The Caribbean Island Swimming Championships,is a biennial aquatics championships held in even years. Organized by Central American and Caribbean Swimming Federation (CCCAN).CCCAN is a member organization of UANA and is affiliated to FINA. UANA is the Amateur Swimming Union of the Americas and is the continental swimming association for the Americas. FINA is the acronym for Fédération Internationale de Natation.It is the International Federation (IF) recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the administrators of international competition in aquatic sports

The meet features age-group competition for teams from 20 Caribbean island nations.The countries have been invited to the 2010 Championships are: Antigua and Barbuda,Aruba, Bahamas,Barbados, Bermuda,Cayman Islands,Cuba,Dominica,Dominican Republic,Grenada, Guadeloupe,Jamaica,Netherlands Antilles,Martinique,Puerto Rico,Saint Lucia,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,Suriname,Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The CISCs predominantly draws Caribbean Teams but it also attracts participation from Suriname, (a member of CONSANAT--South America's Swimming Confederation), Guadeloupe and Martinique( these islands technically fall under the jurisdiction of the French Swimming Federation).

This is the second time for this year that these five AlphaMax swimmers have been selected to represent Suriname Internationally. In April they were on the Suriname team for the CARIFTA Games which were held in Jamaica.

2010 Graduation a huge success

2010-06-28T10:29:00.000-03:00

Parents and friends of AlphaMax Academy witnessed a successful graduation ceremony on Thursday 24 June at the Toraica Banquet Hall in Paramaribo.

A packed hall saw the twelve graduating students receive their Diplomas from the chairman of the Board of Trustees the Hon. Eugene Noordpool and Keynote Speaker the Honourable Drs. Jennifer Simmons,M.D. The graduating class of 2010 were also congratulated on stage by the other members of the board--Ir. Emiel Krak, Prof. Dennis Wip, Dr. Eugene Merkus, Sean Taylor, Director of Studies.

The program for the evening began with the procession of Graduates and the board led by Marshall Simone Griffith and three members of the graduating class bearing the school banner( Zikomo Mhango, Daniel Lee and Sabrina . The first item was a PowerPoint Presentation based on the architect's conception of the new AlphaMax Facility that is being constructed.

This was followed by the awards ceremony in which those students who had performed well during the academic year in lower, middle and high school received awards and prizes.
Next the Class of 2010 was presented by Milton Drepaul, Deputy Director and Co-ordinator of the Global Assessment program at AlphaMax Academy.

The students who graduated were: Diego Fransen, Vincent Hilversum, Khabir King,Daniel Lee, Zikomo Mhango, Stephan Playfair,Marina Sew- Atjon, Sabrina Vaseur, Sabrina W, and Isiah Webbers. Mr. Taylor and Marshall Simone Griffith then conducted the ceremony in which prayers were said for the graduates and the charge to the 2010 class was delivered by Director Sean Taylor. This touching part of the event was the school's last directive to its students before they entered another phase of their lives.

The valedictory address for the class was delived jointly by Marina Sew-Atjon and Zikomo Mhango.

Finally , Dr. Jennifer Simons gave a simple but moving address to the graduates in which the emphasized the need for young people to be grounded in basic values of love for God, Nature and other people. She stessed that our most valuable contribution in this life was our relationships with others whether they were friends or not. How well we managed our relationships defined our success as humans.

The program was interspersed by a piano /flute recital by David Chen ( Class of 2009) and Maryse Brandflu; a recital of excerpts from Rabindranath Tagore's Gitangili from Sabrina Vaseur,Krisina Taylor, Ruth Saman and Michelle Partoredjo ;and a guitar rendition from three Middle school students.