20/3/2020                         

Dear Esteemed Parents /Guardians,

We thank you for your understanding and support,  especially in the last twenty-four hours. Students are still being collected. Like we said in our last correspondence, there is no need to panic or travel hastily as we shall keep running our services till the last student leaves.

We advise that all students should not be allowed to move about during this period.  This is not a period to go on visiting or else, the motive of  going home will be defeated. If there is any member of the family that has visited any of the CORONAVIRUS prone areas, we advise that such person should be quarantined before mixing up with family members. We pray that God Almighty will help us to put this scourge away. Amen

1. REVISION QUESTIONS: All Students in Js 1-2 and SS 1-2 shall be given revision questions in all subjects. These assignments are presently being deployed on our website – premiereacademyng.org now and via emails. Please, check it out and let our students be adequately engaged.

• JS 3 STUDENTS: All Js 3 students are expected to make use of their LASSWELL past question paper booklets which they have been using for practice.
• SS 3 STUDENTS: All SS 3 students are also expected to make use of their past question textbooks donated by the Board of Directors.

2. SS 3 MOCK RESULTS: The results will be deployed on our website on or before Tuesday, 31^st of March, 2020.
3. JAMB RESULTS: The results of the UTME are ready. We have recorded 300, 310, 324, 325 and still checking. We give God all the praises for the results so far. To check these results, parents are advised to please send RESULT to 55019 with the same phone that was used to obtain the code during registration. The result will be sent immediately.
4. WAEC EXAMINATIONS: This examination has been put on hold for the time being. A new timetable will be sent by the examination body in due course.
5. WHATS APP: A whatsapp group has been created for all Premiere Academy parents to facilitate easier passing of information.

Thank you for your continued co-operation

MANAGEMENT

In the 14^th century, the Great Plague decimated the population of Europe and destroyed the workforce.

Today, centuries later in 2019-2020, the world finds itself in a similar situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which apart from the havoc it has caused to people’s health, has also necessitated  the closure of schools globally, thereby bringing teaching and learning as we know it to a virtual halt. More than 100 countries have implemented nationwide closures of schools. Nigeria is no exception and has been compelled to close schools and universities all over the Federation in an attempt to slow down and eventually stop the spread of the virus.

On March 20, 2020 specifically, Premiere Academy was closed in response to directives from both the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Government of Nigeria that all schools should be closed. Consequently, over 600 students of the Academy joined over 1 billion learners who are out of school as a result of closures in response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Having already implemented some projects on digital learning (computer-based testing, e-books hosted by our Content Management System (CMS), technology-enhanced teaching and learning, etc), the ICT unit of Premiere Academy has escalated its activities in  response to the call and urgency of providing a digital platform that will allow teaching and learning to continue as ‘virtual classrooms’ during this period of “social-distancing” and even beyond.  Apart from the fierce urgency to find alternative learning solutions now brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, we also realize that going forward, it is unrealistic to imagine that teaching and learning should necessarily be confined to a physical classroom. In fact, teaching and learning can take place anywhere and anytime through the creative use of technology.

In the first week of April 2020, therefore, Premiere Academy will commence a programme of online learning for all our students. This will involve the use of educational tools, which will be accessible on the Internet. It will entail distance learning, which is a derivative of online learning. Teachers and students of the Academy will use a cloud-based app to meet in virtual classrooms that have digital tools and resources for learning. The students will receive codes for joining various classes from the comfort of their homes. Teachers will use audio-visual materials to teach and give assignments. Teachers will be able to interact with the students in real time since the digital platform will allow synchronous sessions. The students will take computer-graded quizzes and teacher-marked tests. All of this will be carried out within a clearly-defined timetable that will enable parents to plan along with their students to gain access to relevant at a time that meets their own needs as far as possible without disrupting their life routines unduly. With these initiatives, our students will be intellectually and socially engaged and motivated despite the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Please continue to be sensible and to stay safe.

God bless Nigeria. God bless Premiere Academy.

LET US ALL BE AWARE

Dear colleagues,

As we continue moving through this week, I’d like to ask that we try to keep things in perspective and I’d like to ask that in spite of the severity of this world pandemic and the great importance of maintaining continuity in the running of the Academy, we all take a step back from the intricacies and demands of creating a virtual school and remember that our students are also in the middle of this global crisis and may be feeling it in more personal ways than we realize. In the last few weeks, I’ve become increasingly aware of the following and I would like to share it with you in the hope that it will help all of us to be more sensitive as we all try to navigate our way through this unprecedented world challenge:

• There are students whose parents, siblings or other family members have (knowingly or unknowingly) compromised immune systems or have major health concerns. They are terrified.
• There are students whose parents or other loved ones are doctors. They are under stress.
• There are students who are fully responsible for supervising the school work of younger siblings as well as taking care of their own commitments. They are overwhelmed.
• There are students who have been moved away to other homes/farms/relatives for their protection. They are disoriented.
• There are students who consume news and don’t have the maturity or discernment skills to evaluate the information they are exposed to and to put it in perspective. They are confused.
• There are students who have been suddenly and unexpectedly cut off from friends and support systems. They are lonely.
• There are students who face challenges at home with dysfunctions of all kinds, and no way to ‘escape’ it like they do when they are at school. They are anxious.

You may well be asking. ‘Who are these students?’ The simple answer is that it could be any of them. I dare say, it could even be all of them, in one way or another. Whatever the case, the truth of the matter is that they may be going through all of these emotions in silence and may not necessarily speak up. Even those who wish to speak may not be able to articulate their feelings. Having said this, let us as their teachers please be careful to control jumping to such conclusions as saying that such students are either ‘lazy’ or ‘trying to manipulate’ such a precarious situation. Yes. Although I must admit that undoubtedly there may the odd one or two students who have ‘shaken off’ school and are playing around on Tik Tok all day without a care in the world, if we look a little more closely, we may find that it is more likely that in fact they are not doing what we thought. Since we can’t be sure, therefore, we need to demonstrate sensitivity and compassion, which at the end of the day with the current circumstances, are more important than any subject content.

With all of this in mind and like I said, even though it is imperative for us to continue to run the Academy and provide continued educational services to our parents and students remotely, I would like to us the following advice. Please for the time being at least, let us refrain from giving our students assignments that involve ‘writing about’ or ‘reflecting on’ coronavirus and the situation in the world. We have received feedback that it’s too upsetting, too raw for some students. We’re still in the middle of the crisis and some students (and many adults for that matter) are just unable to process it at the moment.

Much as I understand the intention behind the need to bridge the gap between content and real life, I am also convinced that at this delicate time, we need to very carefully balance sound educational practice with minimizing the risk of causing undue damage and distress to our students and parents in the process. Due to the unprecedented nature of the current situation in the world at large and in Nigeria in particular, as far as it affects us and other members of Premiere Academy, managing and maintaining this balance has major implications if we don’t do it well. We just have to get it right, therefore, and God will surely give us the wisdom to achieve this.

Let me end this message with a famous quote that says, ‘Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.’ This is as true for our students and parents as it is for each of us as individuals, colleagues, friends and members of the Premiere Academy family. May Almighty God continue to protect us, guide us and give us the wisdom to do the right thing by our students and parents as we do all in our power to stay safe at this challenging time. Let us continue to be wise.

God bless us and God bless Premiere Academy.

Rowland E. Eno

Principal

There has not been a universally accepted definition of learning over the years. This is largely because of the fact that it is abstract in nature safe for its resultant reflection in the change of attitude seen in the learners. Learning is described amongst other things

Dear Parent,

In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic with the increasing number of cases being confirmed in Nigeria, we are determined as an institution in our little way to combat the spread of the virus in our locality. As such, we are fully bent on ensuring that visitors, staff

Children who are safety inclined will in turn evolve into being well-adjusted, socially aware and responsible citizens hence,the need for safety training.

Top facts you should know about us
Are you concerned and wondering about the steps we are taking as a school towards improving our students’ learning situation within the Academy?  Are you also pondering on the efforts we are making to shift away from the snowball effect of disparities

Saturday 14^th March, 2020 was an eventful day as primary school pupils within the FCT and environs gathered at the Premiere Academy Multipurpose Hall, for the 2020 edition of the Annual Spelling Bee competition, supported by Zenith Bank Plc.

The 3^rd edition of Premiere Academy Annual Musical Concert was held on the evening of Friday, 6^th of March, 2020, at the School multipurpose hall. This was organized by the Performing and Creative Arts Department to showcase the musical talents in the Academy.

• {jcomments off}Premiere Academy’s deepest compassion goes out to all who have been struck by coronavirus

  outbreaks throughout the world and most especially in Nigeria. These are no doubt challenging

  times for every one of us, which is why we are doing our part to help prevent the further spread

  of the virus, while also supporting the needs ofour students, parents, employees and our other

  stakeholders.

  As you may know, as an Academy, we have and always will always put the health, safety and

  security of all our internal and external stakeholders first. Our approach is simply grounded in

  our organisation’s purpose, which ensures that we continuously strive to set the pace by creating

  needed solutions to every challenge in our community and workplace - hence our pride in our

  motto: The Pride of the Nation.

   

  Our Board, Management and staff are all deeply concerned by this rapidly changing situation

  and we wish to assure you that we are constantly monitoring events as they unfold. We are

  continuing to take direction and guidance from relevant government authorities and health

  officials, and we will endeavour to synchronize our efforts and responses with those of other

  nations around the world, drawing on best practices to stem the spread of the virus.

  We are doing our utmost to protect our students, parents, employees and our community at this

  difficult time in the following ways:

  Protecting students’ health, well-being and continuing studies.

  A few of days ago, we heeded the directive of the Federal authorities to close all schools and

  educational institutions until further notice. As a responsible Academy, we want to believe that

  all our students are at home and in safe hands with their parents. To this end, we advise all

  parents to ensure and implement a ‘stay at home’ policy while frequently washing hands with

  soap and running water, using hand sanitizers and maintaining a good personal hygiene regime.

  In the last few days, we deployed holiday assignments for all our students in order to facilitate

  continued researching, reading and advancing their knowledge, not just academically but also on

  topical global issues (see below). We plead with our dear parents and guardians to ensure that

  the students comply with our request for them to continue to study at home and also to adhere to

  our advice to keep safe.

  Protecting the health and well-being of our workforce and encouraging remote working

  In strict adherence to recommendations to reduce large gatherings and increase social distancing,

  Premiere Academy has asked the majority of its workforce to work remotely. We intend to return

  to normal operations only when the situation is brought under control. At the moment we will

  continue to work remotely and re-evaluate our academic calendar and plans.

  Planned events and serving our current and prospective/future parents.

  Since the coronavirus outbreak began, we have been focused on ensuring our dates and earlier

  planned events are adjusted to suit the guidance and recommendations of the relevant authorities:
• 1. Mothers’ Day celebration: This planned event has been cancelled until further notice

  due to the crowd it was intended to attract, while we continue to celebrate our mothers in

  no small measure for all their efforts and supports even from a distance.

   

  2. Entrance examinations: We have made open and available all our online platforms

  including writing by appointment. We do not intend to risk the health of pupils applying

  to join the Academy by September 2020 until the virus and its effects have been

  contained finally.

  Safeguarding our guests and stakeholders.

  In our efforts to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, we have temporarily closed for all

  entries in and out of our facility except for those whose appointments are confirmed while

  protective measures will be adhered to at the entrance. We will continue to evaluate the situation

  and determine potential re-opening dates at the appropriate time.

  The health and wellbeing of our guests and employees are important to us, and these temporary

  closings are in line with guidance from government and health officials to reduce large

  gatherings of people.

  In the meantime, all enquiries and appointments should go through the following contacts:

  Admissions-09039507773, Administration/Principal-0905599891 Academics-

  Finally, Premiere Academy as a community continues to sympathize with affected families so far

  and encourages our students, parents, workforce and our ex-students around the globe to take

  seriously the directives and measures rolled out by the health and relevant authorities to keep

  safe and healthy during this period.

  Thank you for your co-operation and may God continue to protect all of us.

   

  Rowland E. Eno

  Principal