General Information

Naparima Girls' High School is a Government-assisted Presbyterian school. It adheres to all teachings of the Presbyterian Church, but recognises all other religions of our multicultural society. All religious and national festivals are observed and celebrated, and students are expected to respect all such observances.

School hours

Each school day begins at 8:00 a.m. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday there is school assembly in the auditorium, where worship is held and announcements are made — all students must attend and take part. This sets the mood for the day and is invaluable for fostering a spirit of unity and harmony among students. On Thursday there is no morning assembly, and classes begin at 8:05 a.m. On Tuesday, students remain in class for a session on Personal and Social Development/HFLE with their Form Teacher.

The school day consists of eight 35-minute periods, with a fifteen-minute recess in the morning. Lunch is from 11:40 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. On certain days the schedule is adjusted to accommodate staff meetings, conduct meetings or other activities.

Lesson-change bells are a signal to staff; students should not pack up their books until the lesson is concluded by the teacher. The school day ends at 2:30 p.m.

Curriculum

Naparima Girls' High School has always promoted the holistic development of its students, offering a broad-based curriculum that includes Art, Music, Drama, Dance and Physical Education. These non-traditional subjects are valued for the development of the affective domain of each individual, allowing for more effective social adjustment and appreciation of the aesthetics. There is also a variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities to complement the curriculum.

Heads of Department

Heads of Department are appointed to ensure the effective supervision of their respective curriculum areas.

• Business Studies — Mrs. Sherry-Anne Pragg-Fortune (Ag.)

• Language Arts — Mrs. Shelley Kalloo-Sammah

• Mathematics & Information Technology — Miss Melisa Ramrattan (Ag.)

• Modern Languages — Miss Sharon Sahadeo

• Modern Studies — Mrs. Sherry Sookdeo (Ag.)

• Science — Mrs. Tricia Ramlochan Persad (Ag.)

• Visual & Performing Arts — Mrs. Reanna Edwards-Paul (Ag.)

Examinations

As guided by the Ministry of Education, the lower school follows a programme of work laid out by the Secondary Education Modernisation Programme (SEMP), preparing students for the NCSE (National Certificate of Secondary Education) exams at the end of Form III. Certification depends on satisfactory performance in coursework and end-of-term examinations over the three-year period. At the end of Form III, students select the subjects they wish to pursue at CXC CSEC level. The Forms 4 & 5 years are dedicated to preparation for the CXC CSEC exams, followed by the CXC CAPE programme at Sixth Form level.

Formal examinations are usually held at the end of term. In some terms, projects, assignments and monthly assessments determine the final term mark. Students are advised well in advance of the examination structure for each term.

Strict examination codes of conduct are enforced, and students are expected to observe all rules of honesty and integrity. Detailed guidelines are given to students before the start of exams, which are written on official Naparima Girls' High School exam stationery. Exam pads are sold at the Bursar's office at a reasonable cost.

Reports are issued on the dates given on the calendar of events. Only parents may collect reports, on the designated dates. Parents are welcome to call the school to set up an appointment with the Form Teacher to discuss their daughter's progress — prompt collection of the report is an indication of a parent's interest in their child's performance each term.

Keeping parents informed

To improve communication between the school and home, parents receive a newsletter each term, by email and via the school's website, keeping them updated on the school's past and upcoming activities. Parents are expected to use the calendar of events included in this newsletter to stay aware of each term's activities. The website is also where termly course outlines for all subjects are posted, and parents are expected to check it often. Homes without internet access can request paper copies of documents from the Form Teacher.

End-of-term activities

Internal examinations usually end one week before the end of term, to ensure test papers are marked and reports prepared promptly. During this week, effort is put into planning interesting and informative co-curricular sessions for students. Students are expected to be at school until the last day of each term, and to take part actively in all sessions. On closing day, the school and national flags are lowered, while the school hymn and National Anthem are sung.

Conduct meetings

Each term, staff meet to discuss each student's performance, progress and conduct. Parents may subsequently be invited to meet the Principal, Dean or Teacher to resolve any issues concerning their child.

Crisis management

A Crisis Management Committee, comprising the Principal, Vice Principal and other members of staff, has been established. This committee has developed an action plan to respond to critical incidents, which is revised and practised periodically. Students must follow the instructions and procedures given to them in case of a crisis.

Visitors

For the protection of students, all visitors (parents, friends, guests, lecturers) must present themselves to the guards and proceed directly to the school office. Students may see visitors in the office only, with the approval of administration. Visitors are not allowed in classrooms unless accompanied by a teacher, or with the Principal's permission, and all visitors must adhere to the dress code.

Financial matters

Contributions payable to the school can be made at the Bursar's office during lunchtime; students should not visit this office during class time. Parents should keep receipts for contributions for the duration of the school year. Should expenses arise, for example for field trips, a written request will be sent to the parent.

The school cafeteria

The school cafeteria is on the ground floor of the four-storey block. Hot lunches, snacks and soft drinks are sold, with comfortable seating provided. Girls must queue for service, take care with the furniture, and clean up their eating area before leaving — adequate bins are provided. No chewing gum is sold at the cafeteria, since students are not allowed to chew gum on the premises. Only Form VI students are allowed on the cafeteria floor during free periods, and Sixth Formers may only purchase items if they are free during periods three and five. All other students are served only during recess and lunchtime.

Content to confirm: the General Information page and the Staff page list slightly different Heads of Department (for example, the General Information page shows Mrs. Shelley Kalloo-Sammah leading Language Arts and Miss Sharon Sahadeo leading Modern Languages, while the Staff page's list differs). The school should confirm the current, accurate Heads of Department before this goes live.