More about LST

It is the goal of Lekòl Sen Trinite (LST) “to remain a small school, dedicated to providing a quality education to a very special population of students”.

Lekòl Sen Trinite (LST) is a licensed school serving marginalized children and youth in Jacmel, Haiti. Currently, close to 250 students are enrolled in pre-Kindergarten through Grade Nine. There was a time when co-ed classes ran in the mornings, while afternoon classes were reserved for girls only. However, in the 2022/2023 school-year, due to safety concerns for the girls traveling home late afternoon, classes were consolidated so that all students were together in morning classes. The pre-school/Kindergarten program is Montessori based. The Haitian curriculum for Reading, Writing, Mathematics, History, Religion and French is followed in Grades One through Six, and taught in Creole, the everyday language of Haiti. In the 2023/2024 school-year English will be taught in grades 3 to 6. A former LST student, who was fortunate enough to finish high school and obtain a teacher’s diploma, will be teaching these classes. In the MIddle School students study Mathematics, Biology & Physics, History & Geography, Creole, English, Spanish & French, Computers, and Oral Communication & Studying. After school, the students enjoy art and dance lessons, karate instruction and an especially cherished girls’ cooking class. It is the goal of LST “to remain a small school, dedicated to providing a quality education to a very special population of students”.

Leadership

The leadership team at Lekòl Sen Trinite is headed by Wilner. A tutor for many years of the boys growing up in the St. Joseph’s Family, Wilner works directly with the two school principals, liaises with the Ministry of Education, and works hard to involve parents in their children’s education.

We at HES have a close working relationship with Wilner and communicate regularly with him.

Collaborating Funders

While HES, along with sponsors from other organizations, provide bursaries for the students at LST, several other groups enhance the school learning experience. One group funds a lunch program, ensuring the children have at least one nutritious meal each day. Many students save a portion of their lunch to take home to eat later or to share with their parents and siblings. Additionally, a second group enhances the after-school program HES offers by sponsoring art, dance and drumming instruction. HES is grateful for this collaboration with other funders as it allows us to remain focused on teaching and learning.

Changing the Story

Current story in Haiti…

While elementary education is compulsory in Haiti – the 1987 Constitution actually provides for a free, public education – a number of factors contribute to the fact that “200,000 Haitian children remain out of school (World Bank, 2017). First of all, the government has not had the resources to develop a comprehensive system of education. As a result, the government runs only 15% of schools. The rest are private and often charge a fee for services. With an average annual family income of less than $500 many families cannot afford the tuition, book fees, supplies and uniforms. Less than 30% of the children who do attend either a public or private school reach the 6th grade! The rest drop out. Few elementary school teachers are qualified and have little or no teaching materials at their disposal. The classrooms are often crowded – 30 to 40 children in a classroom and the teaching tends to be teacher-centered and characterized by rote recitation.

How HES is supporting the St Joseph Family (SJF) to change this story…

Parents of Lekòl Sen Trinite (LST) students are not asked to pay tuition. They are, however, asked to be involved with the school and their child’s education, which they are very keen to do.
Of our current school population, approximately 70% are returning students.
LST is licensed under the Haitian government. The first class of Grade Six students graduated in June 2013. In spite of the many deterrents – a presidential assassination leading to political turmoil, Covid, an earthquake, and most recently gang violence, some of these students have been able to continue with their education thanks to a program funded by our collaborating partners. In June 2023 the first ever class of Grade Nine students graduated. All of them passed the State Exams and are also being sponsored to attend high school.
271 students were originally registered for the 2022-2023 school year. However, due to security issues within the country, schools did not open until December, at which time 227 students made their way to LST. Throughout the school year only seven students dropped out – a record even for LST.
LST is blessed with a solid and spacious building that withstood the 2010 earthquake. It is LST’s goal to remain a small school, dedicated to providing a quality education to a very special population of students. The LST Kindergarten is Montessori. With its focus on self-directed, hands-on activities the program prepares the children both academically and socially for grade one.
All of LST’s teachers are trained and have teaching experience. Five of them
hold a Montessori Diploma through the Peter Hesse Foundation. When funding allows HES provides professional learning opportunities for all teachers.

Montessori

A Montessori Pre-School/Kindergarten was established in 2008 as part of a two-year partnership with the Peter Hesse Foundation which used LST as a Jacmel teacher training site while providing base-line materials and furniture to the school.

With its focus on self-directed, hands-on activities the Montessori program prepares the children both academically and socially for Grade One.

Five LST teachers hold a Montessori Diploma through the Peter Hesse Foundation. When funding allowed and it remained safe to travel, LST teachers attended institutes held at the Centre Montessori d’Haiti’s teacher-training campus in Liancourt, Haiti.

Extra-Curricular Activities

The students at LST enjoy a number of after-school activities. The first of these to be established was the girls’ cooking class. Ever popular as a way to learn to cook and enjoy time with friends this class is a pillar of the after-school opportunities. Karate also remains very popular for both boys and girls. Several of LST’s graduates return to the School to assist with this program. Art and music, dancing and drumming, offered by collaborating partners round out the offerings for the students.

Should you ever attend a special occasion at LST, be prepared to eat food prepared by the girls’ cooking class, to enjoy their displayed art projects or to be entertained by the karate group, singers, dancers and drummers.