House of Nehesi brings Unity Flag Activity Guide into St. Maarten classroom

GREAT BAY--Students at Sister Borgia Elementary School will participate in an interactive learning session on Wednesday, November 4, featuring the St. Martin Unity Flag – Activity Guide, as part of an ongoing literacy initiative aimed at connecting young learners with local literature, history and cultural identity.

The presentation will introduce Group 3 students to the activity guide developed for kindergarten through Grade 2, edited by Aishira Cicilia and Shanice Theodule-Felix and published by House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP). The educational resource is designed to help children understand the St. Martin Unity Flag, its colors and meaning, while exploring aspects of the island's history, environment and culture.

The classroom activity forms part of Stories of St. Maarten: A Year of Reading & Discovery, a literacy program coordinated by Project Manager Kenty A. Lichtenberg in collaboration with the Philipsburg Cultural and Community Center. The initiative, which continues through May 2027, seeks to introduce students to books by local authors while encouraging reading, creative expression and a stronger connection to St. Maarten's cultural heritage.

The timing of the presentation is particularly relevant as the island prepares to observe St. Martin Day on November 11. The St. Martin Unity Flag, first unveiled in 1990, was adopted by the governments on both sides of the island in 2022 as a cultural symbol representing the shared identity and unity of the people of St. Martin.

House of Nehesi Publishers President Jacqueline Sample welcomed the opportunity to introduce the educational resource directly into the classroom, emphasizing the importance of making locally developed literature available to children. She noted that previous generations did not always have access to books and educational materials reflecting their own communities, histories and experiences.

“It’s exciting when educational projects can collaborate around St. Martin books, writers, literacy programs, and learning activities for our children,” Sample said.

Two editions of the activity guide, one designed for kindergarten through Grade 2 and another for Grades 3 through 6, were published in June 2026 and launched during the St. Martin Book Fair. Both publications were developed to provide age-appropriate learning activities that introduce children to the significance of the Unity Flag and encourage greater understanding of the island's heritage.

The collaboration began in August when Lichtenberg contacted House of Nehesi Publishers about incorporating the activity guide into the Stories of St. Maarten program. The publication was considered particularly suitable for the initiative's focus on heritage, identity and community, allowing students to learn about an important cultural symbol through activities designed for their age group.

Sample also recognized the contributions of editors Cicilia and Theodule-Felix, whose work on the guides reflects an effort to create educational resources specifically for St. Martin's children. The activity guides are also available for download online, extending their accessibility beyond the classroom.

The November 4 presentation represents another step in the broader effort to bring Caribbean literature and locally developed educational materials into St. Maarten's schools. Through direct engagement with books, authors and cultural resources, the program aims to encourage reading while helping students develop a greater appreciation for their island's history and identity.

Photo: Editors Aishira Cicilia (right) and Shanice Theodule-Felix.