A student’s view of the Private American School

Having read your recent article on the Private American School in Paphos (Cyprus Mail, September 10), I must say I was disappointed, both at the reaction to the change of premises and at the overall negativity surrounding our school.

It is true that we were not informed of the change of premises until rather late in the summer, and, admittedly, this was something of a surprise to most of us; however, it is most definitely a step in the right direction – after five years in converted apartments awaiting planning permission (and, in turn, for our licence to be approved) for a new school building, most anything is a step forward.

As to us being ‘lodgers’ in a building that does not belong to us, isn’t this making great use of a building that has previously only been in use from 2pm onwards?
In response to the numerous complaints that our facilities are sadly lacking, I would like to state that no matter how good the facilities or the premises of a school, without good teaching it is simply a very pretty, well-equipped carcass.

Without good teaching – and, indeed, good students – a school is nothing. This year’s GCSE results are testament to the calibre of both the teachers and the students of our school – for this reason, as well as its warm, friendly atmosphere, I am proud to call this my school.

I believe the article was overwhelmingly negative. Would it hurt anyone to see the positive things, to see just how good our school, as a place of education, really is?

American School student

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.