Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Photo Smithtown Central School District
Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Photo Smithtown Central School District
Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Photo Smithtown Central School District
Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Photo Smithtown Central School District
Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Photo Smithtown Central School District
Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Photo Smithtown Central School District
Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. Photo Smithtown Central School District
Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Jan. 13.
With the temperature reaching the upper-40s and the sun brightly shining with no wind, Barbara Beard and Kelly Bennis’ third grade students became the first of several classes to use the new playground throughout the school day.
Students shouted, “I’m so excited!” and, “This is so cool!” and, “It’s like a wild carnival ride!” as they approached and then began using the state-of-the-art new playground.
The playground includes eight swings, a pair of slides and several other climbing structures. One swing even resembles a car seat for those who may have accessibility issues with a traditional playground swing.
Staff, including the entire group of cafeteria workers, were so excited by the Tackan addition, they posed for photos on Day 1 of its use.
The playground is part of Director of Facilities Daniel Leddy and the Smithtown Central School District’s ongoing project to try to introduce one new playground annually around the district, provided the budget continues to allow it.
Abuja, Nigeria – 24th December, 2021 – Seed Educational Consulting, the study abroad agency for African students, is proud to announce the official opening of its new office in Nigeria. The study abroad agency will serve as a central contact point for Nigerian students to information and access to global international education. Seed Education represents universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and in many other foreign countries. The team of expert study abroad consultants assists with course research, securing admissions, offers scholarship assistance, and support with the student visa application.
The new office will allow the company to offer close consulting services to students and families in Abuja, Lagos region, and in the East of Nigeria. Local study abroad consultant, Ms. Kaosi Maryjoe Onyenaucheya, has been appointed as Office Manager and brings considerable experience in the Nigerian market. Seed Education also offers admission processing support to local international education consultants and study abroad agencies in Nigeria for overseas colleges and universities who are looking for more Nigerian students.
Less than 12 months-old, promising pan-African start-up Seed Educational Consulting has already helped African students to secure more than 350,000 USD in study abroad scholarships. The brand has come to market as an official representative for over 25 colleges and universities in the USA, Canada, UK, and Dubai. Seed also represents the best Foundation Course providers to help Nigerian students access even more global international education options in the UK, Germany, Ireland and Turkey.
Seed Educational Consulting is focussed on developmental opportunities for Africans and through them prospective international students from Nigeria have access to hundreds of bachelor degrees and master’s degrees at more than 200 of the best foreign universities. Seed offers direct access to famous names such as Northeastern University, Duquesne University, Louisiana Tech University and Rowan University, amongst others, in the USA. In Canada options include Windsor University and Centennial College. In the UK, Heriot Watt University – degree courses at their Dubai campus are also an option. Seed Educational Consulting has strived to build a portfolio that offers students and their families career-focussed courses and great value for money. Nigerian students can research a wealth of information on the study abroad consultants website.
“In Nigeria, many have the view that the fees for study abroad make it something only for the wealthy, and so many choose not to pursue their academic interests. Seed Educational Consulting exists to provide Nigerians with high quality but cost-effective opportunities to fulfil their dreams and aim for career success.” Says Mr. Simon Gooch, Founder & Director of Seed Educational Consulting.
“Through my many years successfully helping families with university admissions, I have learned that Nigerian students are keen to benefit from the many opportunities and value-added experiences that studying abroad offers. Though the certificate is highly valued it is not just the piece of paper that people seek- Nigerians build a global network of contacts from their study abroad experiences. They develop greater resilience and the soft skills desired by employers through the student jobs and post-graduate work opportunities available to international students in places like the United States or UK.”
The Nigeria office is Seed Educational Consulting’s fifth service point, and represents the strategic expansion of the study abroad firm in Africa. Simon explains “We opened a new office to assist our university partners’ recruitment strategies. Through leveraging our global network and international education experience, we will help Nigerian students with all aspects of the process, including scholarships and student visa assistance. Together with the offices in Ghana, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory Coast, the new Seed Educational Consulting office enables us to further strengthen our service capabilities for families in West Africa,” he continued. “Seed plans to strengthen our growth into 2022, with more university partnerships, new offices, and partnerships with study abroad agencies in more African countries.”
“Seed Educational Consulting offers very close support to Nigerian students and their families through both the admissions and visa applications process. I offer a more tailored service for universities such as East Tennessee State University – as it helps to ensure a very smooth process and great admission services for both students and our college partners.” Said Ms. Kaosi Maryjoe Onyenaucheya, Lead Consultant for Seed Educational Consultancy in Nigeria. “I encourage Nigerian students interested in a review of their options for studying overseas to write or get on the phone with our team. We aim to offer the best information and assistance to all our clients. I have seen first hand the many success stories of students who have taken a degree at a foreign school. It improves your profile in the job market and many international students land top positions.”
What makes Seed different from other study abroad agencies in Nigeria
Study Abroad considerations – for YOU!
Choosing your university and program is a life-changing decision. It is also a significant investment of your time and finances. We are here to understand your future objectives, and then to recommend the right institution and course to help you achieve those goals.
At Seed, you can be sure of the following:
Seed Educational Consulting is a company dedicated to African students.
Our project is new, but we have 50+ years of combined experience in counseling students about universities abroad.
We are committed to promoting growth on all levels – academic, professional, and personal
Our partner colleges and universities are specifically tailored for African students
The institutions we promote are those that we have personally visited and/or where we have strong working relationships with key personnel.
We target institutions with small class sizes as they are critical for helping international students successfully adjust to their chosen institution.
The study abroad process often seems too expensive, which is why we offer affordable solutions to fit your budget and needs.
Seed Educational Consulting provides more than university abroad advice
Seed Educational consultants know all about the cities, countries, and customs overseas. Our African Study Abroad blog is filled with information to help you decide on your dream study abroad program. It contains hundreds of posts from African international students, past and present.
Our educational consultants offer career tips to African students as part of our service. Besides recommendations, we are also willing to advise students who want to launch a business after returning home.
It’s always important to take advice from people you can trust – reviews from those students we have helped in the past! In the words of our students, Seed Educational Consulting provides guidance and inspiration.
Study abroad student testimonials
Manman – Santa Rosa Junior College 2021 “I was very lucky to find someone like Mr Simon during my application. He helped me to figure out everything about this new process and it became much easier for me. Even now, when I have a question he is always there to help me. I know that there is someone that I can trust.”
Kevin – Lewis University 2021 “It has been years since I wanted to study abroad but never succeeded. Each time, I had difficulty obtaining the visa… However the first time I contacted Seed Educational, I knew I had made the right choice… Indeed, not only did I obtain an acceptance in the first university… but in addition, obtaining the visa was also easy.”
Channing – Ohio Dominican University 2020 “Finding the right school with the right program is not always easy. That was my case in the summer 2020. With the help of Seed, I was able to get accepted at the Ohio Dominican University, where I am pursuing an MBA in data analytics and risk management. If I was to rate my experience with the Seed Educational, I would give a 10/10.”
Awa – Douglas College 2021 “Seed Educational Consulting, a perfect company, helped me make my dream come true by searching for a school for me, a house and everything. Since 6 months I’ve been here in Vancouver and I can tell you that everything here is perfect.”
Alyda – King’s Education Brighton 2021 “I always wanted to study in England for my degree. After I graduated, I used Mr Gooch’s services to help me find a school for my foundation year. Thanks to him, I was able to get into a reference college and my school year is going very well.”
Gafar – Ohio Dominican University 2021 “I was able to obtain my admission to Ohio Dominican University in Columbus through Seed. Despite the Covid-19 situation, great preparation for my visa interview. I also got a scholarship which significantly reduced my tuition fees. To the director and the entire Seed team I say a big thank you. I can’t say thank you enough to the Seed family.”
Steps for Studying Abroad
Please provide us with your academic documentation and explain your future career goals to us. If you can, prepare as much documentation as possible about your sponsor and his/her budget. You will have lots of questions for us.
We will review your dossier and then suggest colleges to you based on your grades, intended major, budget, and any preferences you may have, such as geographic preferences. As part of this process, we will send you links to programs we think might be of interest to you.
Our aim is to provide you with links to quality universities so that you may carefully review and make an informed decision. Ultimately, it is YOU who will choose your university. Our firm makes recommendations, no more.
We will assist you in submitting an application to the university or college of your choice.
As soon as we receive an acceptance letter from your chosen institution, we can help you with the student visa process. Where a personal interview is required, such as in the USA, we will help prepare you for the interview.
You will be guided on how to proceed after you receive your visa, such as booking accommodations and flights.
Study abroad colleges and universities
Seed Education is an official representative study abroad agency of the following universities and colleges in Nigeria:
Duquesne University, USA
East Tennessee State University, USA
Fulton Montgomery Community College, USA
Lewis University, USA
Louisiana Tech University, USA
McNeese State University, USA
Northeastern University, USA
Ohio Dominican University, USA
Santa Rosa Junior College, USA
Shoreline Community College, USA
The University Of Tampa, USA
Centennial College, Canada
Columbia College, Canada
Université de Moncton, Canada
North Island College, Canada
University Of Windsor, Canada
Heriot Watt University, United Kingdom
Kings Bournemouth, United Kingdom
Kings Brighton, United Kingdom
Kings London, United Kingdom
Kings Oxford, United Kingdom
Heriot Watt University, Dubai
Middlesex University Dubai
Eurasia Institute, Germany
ILA Turkey, Turkey
Dublin International Foundation College (DIFC), Ireland
Top Nigerian student FAQs answered:
Can I get a scholarship to study abroad?
There are literally thousands of study abroad scholarships for Nigerian students. They may be offered by either the institution itself, by governments (in the form of Fulbright Scholarships administered by the American Embassy) or by corporate partners (such as the Mastercard Foundation). Other organizations may also offer funding in your field of study, such as your employer, your school, your home country’s Ministry of Education, or your place of study. For example, an engineering firm might provide a scholarship for engineering students.
There is a lot of information online and there is a lot that is not accurate. Academic record, your university and course of choice can determine your options. Nevertheless, keep in mind that nearly all scholarships are partial scholarships (in other words, they only cover a portion of your tuition costs). A scholarship may not always be the most affordable option: University A may offer a 50{e4f787673fbda589a16c4acddca5ba6fa1cbf0bc0eb53f36e5f8309f6ee846cf} scholarship on tuition fees of $30,000, but that still represents $5,000 more than University B where tuition is $10,000. It is always important to review the conditions of any scholarship and how to apply for one. At Seed Educational Consulting we will certainly give you advice and guidance on the best scholarship options for your Study Abroad journey.
Can I study abroad for free?
The short answer is probably not, especially at Bachelor degree level. It is not impossible – Ivy League universities do offer a limited number of fully funded scholarships for example. However, these are extremely limited in number and competition is intense. In most cases, full scholarships are not available from universities.
Media Contact Company Name: Seed Educational Consulting | Nigeria Contact Person: Ms. Kaosi Maryjoe Onyenaucheya Email:Send Email Phone: +2347013396316 Address:1473 Ambassador Albert Osakwe House City: 900211, Abuja Country: Nigeria Website:https://www.seededucational.com/
The Texas Education Agency has opened another investigation into South San Antonio Independent School District, just three months after concluding a two-year investigation that resulted in the placement of a state-appointed monitor to oversee the school board.
The agency notified Superintendent Marc Puig and board President Ernesto Arrellano Jr. in a letter Monday that Education Commissioner Mike Morath had authorized the investigation in response to complaints the TEA had received. The complaints claim the school board has interfered with the superintendent’s duties, including “getting involved with the suspension of a term employee and attempting to make employment recommendations for the chief financial officer,” the letter states.
In a statement, district spokesman Brad Domitrovich acknowledged that South San ISD has developed a reputation of discord and dysfunction in the boardroom.
“With the announcement of this newest special investigation, the board and superintendent pledge to promote an atmosphere of cooperation with the Texas Education Agency,” Domitrovich said. “Our main focus, from the board of trustees to administration to the hard-working people in the classroom, remains doing everything we can to be the best champions for our children and our community.”
Arrellano did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The TEA letter comes two weeks after monitor Abelardo “Abe” Saavedra told the board it violated state law and its own policy during recent meetings. Saavedra began serving as the state-appointed monitor on Sept. 30, a month after the TEA closed an investigation into similar problems between the board and superintendent.
Investigators found that trustees failed to cooperate with the superintendent and acted outside of their authority by contacting district staff to seek information and discuss district business, such as disciplinary issues and changes to board agendas. Board members also demonstrated overreach of their duties by contacting vendors, consultants, and other educational organizations on the district’s behalf without informing the superintendent, according to an Aug. 31 TEA letter to the district.
The Aug. 31 letter and final investigative report warned South San ISD that the TEA could issue further sanctions for the district if it did not correct the problems identified in the report and that more investigations could follow if district officials violated the law.
Since Aug. 31, the board majority has voted, with trustees Gilbert Rodriguez and Stacey Alderete dissenting, to publicly reprimand Puig for “dereliction of his employment duties to the board of the trustees” and “violations of the district’s school board procurement policies.” The board majority also has voted to commission an external audit of Puig’s expenditures since he started in May 2020.
Moreover, the board majority voted to request documents from J. Cruz & Associates “related to the superintendent’s procurement” of the law firm and to deliver those documents to the external auditors. Puig hired the firm earlier this year to investigate Felipe Barron III, the district’s head football coach, whom Puig placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.
In a rebuttal letter to the reprimands, Puig wrote that his contract requires him to attend all board meetings, except closed meetings in which trustees discuss his employment or resolve conflicts among themselves. He stated he did not abandon his duties to the board at the Aug. 18 meeting — as the first reprimand states — when he left the closed session after trustees began “raising their voices, using foul language, aggressive posturing, and hurling personal disparagements” over personnel actions Puig took against Barron.
“Feeling threatened, I left the closed session during such heated exchange to allow the board members to discuss and resolve the obvious conflicts between the board members involved,” Puig wrote in the rebuttal letter.
He also wrote that district policy gives Puig the authority to hire investigators to conduct inquiries of complaints, which is what Puig did when he hired the law firm to investigate Barron.
In October, TEA Deputy Commissioner for Governance and Accountability Jeff Cottrill told board members that the statutory violations unearthed by the state investigation “persist to plague this school system and harm kids.”
“I want to make crystal clear that this is something that isn’t dated. This isn’t something that’s in the past,” he said at the October meeting. “We have what I would classify as exceptionally egregious allegations of governance, dysfunction, and statutory violations in this school system.”
Cottrill had attended the October meeting to introduce Saavedra to the board. Saavedra previously served as South San ISD superintendent from January 2014 to October 2018 and as Houston ISD superintendent from 2004 to 2009. As the monitor, Saavedra must work with the board and district to identify issues that led to the noncompliance and report back to the TEA.
