OUR SCHOOL: The Institute of Providence (G.P.H) Location and History:
The Institute of Providence is located in Belgium , in the province Hainaut and in a small town named Gosselies. The address is: 105, Faubourg de Bruxelles, 6041 GOSSELIES. It is very close to the airport and the students have easily access to the school because of the bus network. Recently a tram line has been inaugurated and there is a tram stop in front of the school. G.P.H. has a rich history. Indeed during the 20th century it was inhabited by a community of nuns called «The sisters of the Providence ».That’s the reason why the buildings are typical and spacy. The community gradually disappeared, giving way to the school that still bears the name « Providence ». GPH was occupied during World War 2 by the Germans.
Infrastructure and buildings: The first year students go to B1, the renovated building that comprises 11 classrooms. All the other students are in the other school building. G.P.H has about 1340 students. The school is famous for its big park where the students are allowed to go while they lunch and is equipped with many facilities. It comprises 4 big refectories with a kitchen that offers the possibility to buy a sandwich, chips and a specialty depending on the day of the week.
There are also 3 gyms for physical training but the park and courtyard are also used for endurance or outdoor sports. There is a football field as well. We can attend courses in 4 computer rooms equipped with twenty computers, and math’s teachers have been using new white boards for 3 years. In the library we can borrow newspapers, all kinds of books and dictionaries . For the performances and theater plays, we have a large scene. In our school there are about 1340 students, the reason why we need so much space.. In the school there are some places where we can go to if we have a break. After school, we can go to the study room to study in silence; if we want to talk and organize our work, we can use another one. We can stay there till 17.30.
Discipline/Rules: The rules at school are very strict but it's the best thing to do to become an adult. We have to arrive on time and we aren’t allowed to leave earlier, except with an official authorization. Fighting, drinking and smoking are strictly banned inside the school. The head of the school is a director who is responsible for the administration, an assistant director who ensures that the rules are followed and a prefect who manages the organization of the establishment. In the administrative corridor, close to the principal’s office, there are the secretary and the accountant offices, and the service that deals with books. The school also employs psychologists who accompany students who face difficulties.
There are some educators who check if the school diary is complete and supervise the students during the breaks and the study hours. Students whose parents work late can study at school till 17.45.
U-key:
GPH makes the best for its students. All students are given a U-Key. It is an electronically loaded key that allows them to pay their drinks, sweets, sandwiches. There are about 100 lockers for the students. The rental of the U-key and the lockers is 20 €.
Extra activities:
If you got a talent, you can participate to the “Talent evening”. During this evening the talented students show how imaginative they are: they sing, dance, make a sketch on the scene for their schoolmates and their families. Of course the school organizes a lot of trips! In the third form, we go to Canterbury in England, in the fifth form the students from the optional class Latin go to Roma in Italy and in the sixth form the last year students choose their trip by voting for a destination abroad.
Relationships:
In GPH, it’s easy to find good friends because everybody is friendly. Every new student easily integrated. The relationships with the teachers are good too because they are dynamic, energetic and motivated when they teach us their courses. If we have difficulties they take us during the lunch break to give us further explanations. In conclusion, the Institute of Providence has all the characteristics of a welcoming school thanks to its history, space and the activities it offers to assist students in their academic career. The doors are open to other cultures and when we have finished our studies at GPH, we will be ready for high school and university and well prepared for real life! Some last year students, November 2014.