Monday, September 7, 2009. Today marked the inauguration of a new primary school in Belize City at mile 3.5 on the Northern Highway. Just a year ago, Horizon Academy was but a mere concept for a new and unique primary school that would use best practice models from the wide spectrum of educational teaching methods. However, with the dedication, passion and commitment of some lifelong educators and parents, that dream became a reality and Horizon Academy opened its doors for the first time today with 65 bright-eyed students. Surprisingly, 65% of the students are boys; quite opposite to the national trend for enrollment and retention in schools. Dian Maheia, principal, boasted that is only one of the many unique qualities of Horizon Academy.
“The horizon leans forward offering you space to place new steps of change.” This quote from Maya Angelou was the inspiration for the school song and the administration and faculty promises to deliver the kinds of changes most needed in our educational system to build on the natural talents of the children while motivating and teaching them to excel. In her welcome remarks, Mrs. Maheia expressed “I welcome you this morning to a school which, on its opening day, is making history in more ways than one. Yes, we consider ourselves to be a community school, filling a need for excellent, affordable education in a community where no such school exists. Yes, we’re doing new things with the National Curriculum and with the positive approaches to education we have chosen to model.” She went on to welcome the invited guests “to a new and exciting place, to a world where students come first, to an environment that encourages the development of all dimensions of a child, to a setting designed to embrace and challenge all its young people, to an atmosphere that welcomes creativity and innovation.”
Horizon Academy commences this new school year with classes starting from pre-kindergarten to standard five and they will add standard six next year. Their teacher to student ratio averages an impressive 1:10. Principal Maheia stated with pride that Horizon Academy is “tangible proof of what can be accomplished when dreams and visions are combined with good, old fashioned hard work and dedication and the kindness and generosity of people who share the dream.”
