Social Graces Workshop brings out the best manners in students

Student Dining at Government House

Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 04, 2013 (SKNIS): The Ministry of Education’s aim to help students academically as well as socially was recognised recently as it partnered with the Learning Support Centre to develop a one day Social Graces workshop that introduced students to proper etiquette, on Friday.

Learning Support Coordinator Eleanor Phillip explained the goals of the workshop.

“The objectives of these workshops were to expose the students to appropriate social behaviours and deportment in public places, provide opportunities for the students to practice acceptable dining skills, educate students of the need and the know how to take care of your personal health and encourage students to socialise and make friends with their peers all around the Federation.”

In the morning sessions students were taught etiquette in public places and dining etiquette. This was followed by lunch at Government House where they were placed in a formal setting to practice their newly introduced skills. In the afternoon students engaged in discussions about Personal Hygiene, Sex and Sexual Health.

Chief Education Officer Clarice Cotton stated that the Learning Support Centre has prided itself in taking the initiative to coach the students not only in dining etiquette and hygiene tips but also in social skills that will benefit the tourism sector.

“[We need to learn] how to be polite how to do the right things in the right places,” Ms. Cotton explained. “So that when we do those things the tourists would leave and say people in St. Kitts and people in Nevis treated us nicely. They would want to come again because these things were demonstrated. We were talking about how persons could be trained in these skills. So the Learning Support Centre is a step ahead of everybody else.”

Basseterre High, Cayon High, Charles E. Mills Secondary, Charlestown Secondary, Gingerland Secondary, Saddlers Secondary, Verchildes High and Washington Archibald High all benefited from the sessions.

The Ministry of Education, in November of last year, partnered with the Learning Support Departments of all the high schools in St. Kitts and Nevis for a similar Social Graces Workshop.