New Minister and Chief Officer Tour Clifton Hunter

Since the recent elections and subsequent reshuffling of the ministries the ministry responsible for education has gone through a slimming down process. Having dropped “Youth , Sports & Culture,” the Ministry and the new Minister are dedicated to focusing all of it efforts on the future of Cayman. As part of their familiarization of their responsibilities the new Education Minister, Hon. Rolston Anglin and the new Chief Officer, Mrs. Mary Rodrigues, took a tour of the ever growing Clifton Hunter Campus.

Head of the Education Dept, Mrs. Shirley Wahler (L) and the new Chief Officer, Mrs. Mary Rodriques (R) suit up for their visit.

Accompanied by the architects, head of Education Services, Mrs. Shirley Wahler, Head of Curriculum Services, Clive Baker and various others, the Minister and CO were able to walk around the campus and get a real feel for what the new school was about. Mr. Baker explained some of the plans and basic structure of the school as well as some of the hurdles they had already encountered and had to find solutions to.

Head of Curriculum Services Clive Baker explains some of the workings of the new campus to the Minister for Education the Hon. Rolston Anglin

The Minister is committed to the completion of the projects and took in all of the information about the new school as part of his quest to get an overall picture of education as it currently stands.

Mr. Baker highlights some key points of the building on a plan.

As far as the construction goes, the school is moving along nicely. AC ducts are being put into one of the academies, electrical prep work is being done in the main entry building and the construction of the covered walkways has started. The Facilities Manager, David Bodden was also on hand and he commented that the construction is on schedule for its September 2010 opening.

Minister Anglin and Facilities Manager David Bodden look over the Campus.
Behind them is the main entrance building and in the middle ground the construction of the covered walkways is starting

Teachers Tour Clifton Hunter Campus

Clive Baker points out a few features of the new classrooms.

This past Friday 8 teachers from John Gray High School had an opportunity to tour the on construction at the Clifton Hunter campus in Frank Sound and preview the teaching learning spaces. Head of Curriculum Services, Clive Baker escourted the teachers around to the major points of interest on the campus and explained how the classroom and internal areas on campus would work together as a whole. Construction is now at the stage where it easy to imagine the learning spaces all fitted out and full of students and the excitement on the teachers’ faces was clearly evident as they looked around.

The teachers look over the furure swiming pool and field.

Also on hand in some very fashionable pink wellingtons was Caroline Dawes, Head of Teaching and Learning. Ms. Dawes discussed how the campus would function on a day to day basis with students moving between academies and utilizing the cafeteria area during lunch breaks. By the end of the tour, the anticipation and enthusiasm was palpable among the teachers who clearly can’t wait to take ownership of the new school campus and take full advantage of all that the new and improved facility has to offer.

A Tom Jones International employee shows the group a few key points in the new gym.

A rendering of the gym at John Gray. Clifton Hunter's gym will be very similar.

New Schools Interior Animations

With the continued progress at Clifton Hunter campus and walls going up everywhere, the focus and interest in the new schools is starting to shift to the interior of the building and what they will look like. Thanks to the architects at OWP/P we can show you video of what the insides are planned to look like. These animations really give a good sense of space and dimension to the interior of the new schools, as well the flexibility of the new classrooms. (BH)

Despite Paloma, Clifton Hunter campus moves forward.

Hurricane Paloma dealt Cayman Brac and Little Cayman a severe blow and reports indicate that the all of the schools on the Brac sustained fairly significant damage. Out thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who has been affected and as a Ministry we will continue to do all that we can to support the recovery effort and get the schools in the Brac up and running as quickly as possible.

A worker ties up rebar in preparation for casting a column

On a positive note from here in Grand Cayman, considerable progress continues to be made at the Clifton Hunter Campus in Frank Sound. The buildings are really starting to take shape as all of the foundations for the buildings have been laid and work has begun in earnest on the exterior shells. On four of the buildings approximately 30% of the exterior shell has been completed. Construction is slightly ahead of schedule, and with the end of the hurricane season almost in sight, delays due to bad weather are not expected as the project moves forward.

In even more good news, the contactor Tom Jones International has maintained a 100% safety record throughout the construction period thus far and holds weekly safety meetings with all workers to make sure that safety remains at the forefront of everyone’s mind. (BH)

The new George Town Primary School - work starts..(Going down before rising up!)

Ground works are well and truely underway now at the site of the new George Town Primary School as the photos in this blog entry reveal. It may be a sea of mud right now but the very positive signs of progress actually happening will excite students staff and the community alike.

The stunning designs for this school will result in the new school environment really embracing modern day thinking for education and allow students to develop as exciting 21st century learners. GTPS is already starting to work this way - the new facilities will really enhance the opportunities that they have for their students and the local community.

The historic 'Rock Hole' will be a key feature of the school site - is this water filled hole it... views are mixed right now! It is causing an interesting debate with the community which is very interested in the forthcoming development. (GL)

Cayman education : Professor Heppell gets interviewed by CITN from San Diego

Professor Stephen Heppell taking part in an international media interview from San Diego with Donna Bush of Cayman 27 Television Company of the Cayman Islands. This interview should be broadcast next week.

This interview took place during just after the closing session of the Annual cefpi conference (see below). Crucially he speaks about why there has been just so much interest in the Cayman Islands story.

Krista is heard internationally again!!

John Gray student Krista has been heard internationally yet again as she spoke the closing words of Professor Stephen Heppell's closing presentation to hundreds of delegates of the Annual cepfi Conference in San Diego this week.

The video, originally filmed for the World Ministers of Education Conference in London 2008, still really sums up the important message about the real feeling of students and their ambitions for their future!

When she filmed this before Christmas 2007, she could never have predicted how often her own words have been shown all round the world. She really has summed up the feeling of students - they want to be noticed not just in their own country, but in the whole world!! (GL)

The world really is watching... continued

Deputy Chief Officer Vaughan Carter, Chief Officer Mrs Angela Martins, Professor Stephen Heppell, President of cefpi Merle Kirkley, Rick Dewar and Trung Le of oWp/p (Cayman High School architects) and joined by Gareth Long, former Strategic Development Advisor (Education) who attended representing a major UK builder of 'Schools of the Future'.

The blog entry below refers to Professor Heppell promoting the work being done in the Cayman Islands as really visionary and an example to the very best practice leading to education transformation. He did this as part of his keynote speeech at the influential Annual cefpi Conference.

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What could not have been predicted however was the huge interest that has grown during this conference in not just what is happening in Cayman Islands education, but the approach taken to achieve the progress that has been achieved so far.
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Professor Heppell has often told the Ministry that the world is watching the Cayman story.. from the evidence gathered here, from delegates representing, the USA, Canada, Australia and Singapore, that is most certainly true! (GL)
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Cayman education gets even more international coverage!

Professor Stephen Heppell talking about the George Hicks Campus during the Annual cefpi Conference

The new Cayman Islands schools designs have featured very highly this week at a major international conference on future school design in San Diego.

The Council of Education Facilities Planners International Conference (cefpi) is the most important conference of its type in the USA and Canada, this year. This year there were close to a thousand delegates from a number of countries, including: The USA, Canada, Australia, U.K, Jordan, Mexico, Singapore, Dubai and Cayman Islands.

The Cayman schools, and part of the education transformation story was referred to a number of times by Key Note Speaker, and consultant to the Cayman Islands; Professor Stephen Heppell. Unusually for a key note speaker, Prof Heppell is staying all three days and will also close the conference with another presentation.

His comments included the references to the definition of the ‘Educated Caymanian’, the ICT link up of the Little Cayman Education Service to a school in the UK and Cayman Brac, the ICT link up of George Hicks students dropping ‘electronically’ into a conference on schools design to students from three schools in the UK and also a reference to the splitting of the large George Hicks High school to the four small schools on the George Hicks Campus.

Interestingly, a very large number of delegates had already heard of the transformation work being undertaken in Cayman and were very eager to hear more. It is very clear, that the designs in the Cayman Islands really do represent a clear vision of how school designs will reflect the future learning needs of students. Subsequent speakers and planners spent many hours discussing the journey needed to get close to the work that has already been done in the Cayman context.

The feedback about the education transformation of the Cayman Islands was fantastically positive! (GL)

Building work starts at the new John Gray Campus

Builders are now really busy on the second of the three new secondary campuses on Grand Cayman. The John Gray Campus has seen considerable work being done to the delight of staff and students alike as they start the new school year.
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Construction has started on the area housing the new world class sports facility, commencing with the construction of a huge water cistern to be located under the hall. It really is a case of building downwards prior to the above ground works. However, everyone will soon seen walls beginning to emerge from the ground.

The Minister of Education; Hon. Alden McLaughlin is pictured above touring the works undertaken so far, accompanied by Chief Officer and Permanent Secretary; Mrs Angela Martins.

Work will start on the new Beulah Smith Campus soon, the third new facility, with the recent appointment of a contractor. (GL)

The new Clifton Hunter Campus rises from the ground...

Dramatic progress is being made by contractors Tom Jones International as the new Clifton Hunter Campus rises high from the ground.

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Many people thought these new campuses would never actually be built, despite the consistent assurances of the Ministry of Education. These photographs demonstrate how much has been done in a short period of time, not just to those interested locally, but also to the many interested educators all around the worlds who are watching these innovative new designs schools with very great interest. (GL)

Minister of Education hosts visiting UK MP's

Members of The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Cayman Islands

Back Row L to R: MP's Michael Fallon, Lindsay Hoyle, Nigel Evans

Front Row L to R: Baroness Golding MP, Ian Davidson MP and Cayman Islands Government Rep Jennifer Dilbert

Photo Source: Caymannewsservice.com

Sunday 27th July: Hon Alden McLaughlin, Minister of Education hosted a dinner for visiting UK MP’s from the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Cayman Islands (APPG) and took the oportunity to brief them on the importance of the educational reforms currently taking place in the Cayman Islands.

The visiting delegation includes Michael Fallon MP, who was Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Schools between 1990 and 1992, along with Ian Davidson (Labour), Baroness Llin Golding (Labour), Lindsay Hoyle (Labour), Nigel Evans (Conservative) and Jennifer Dilbert, Cayman Islands Government Representative in the UK.

The visiting Ministers were keenly interested in hearing about how the transformation of our education service is progressing and will no doubt be joining the throng of education Ministers and senior officials from more than 72 countries around the world who are tracking developments via this blogsite. (GM)

Pouring Concrete at 2.00 a.m.

Photo to follow

There really is massive determination to ensure that our new schools are built in a timely way.

To work most effectively at the site of the Clifton Hunter Campus, the contractors Tom Jones International decided to undertake the first large concrete pours at 2.00 a.m over a couple of nights.

The benefits of this are obviously that the temperatures were much cooler, and very significantly, the roads were empty, allowing the conveys of concrete trucks to get to the site much quicker!

There is really a great deal of excitement, especially amongst teachers, that work has started on these great 21st century learning environments. (GL)

New Secondary Campuses from the air...

The Clifton Hunter Campus showing clear signs of construction

As part of the Ministry determination to record each stage of the development of the new 21st century secondary campuses, ariel photographs of each site were taken from Cayman Helicopters today. Construction has only started so far at the Clifton Hunter site, although work on the John Gray Campus starts imminently. Work on the Beualh Smith Campus will start in a few months time.

Photographs by Gareth Long, Strategic Development Advisor (Education), taken from Cayman Helicopters.

The Beulah Smith Campus being built round the National Cricket Ground. (The Sports complex and pool at are being built at the top of the photograph)
The John Gray Campus, with part of the existing John Gray School buildings, opposite the newly refurbished National Sports stadium.

The new George Town Primary School site

An important part of building the new campuses across Grand Cayman is to record all the stages that take place on the journey towards their completion. The site for the cutting edge 21st century designed new George Town Primary School is clearly shown in the photographs here - it is totally land locked so site photographs can really only be taken from the air.

The photograph below clearly shows the historic 'rock hole' which will become an environmental feature of the new school and is cleverly incorporated within the design.

The photographs were taken from the doorless Cayman helicopter by Gareth Long, Strategic Development Advisor (Education)

The Cayman helicopter with the door back on!

The new Cayman Curriculum presented in San Fransico

The international interest in all aspects of the Cayman Islands education transformation process continues apace. The latest aspect to be shared revolves around the new National Curriculum.

The International Baccalaureate Organisation, North America, will host its 27th Annual Conference in San Francisco for North America and the Caribbean participants. At the conference, the Cayman Islands story concerning the development of the new National Curriculum will be represented by Head of Curriculum Services; Mr. Clive Baker and former Director of the Education Standards and Assessment Unit; Mrs. Helena McVeigh.
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Both Clive and Helena have played a year role in the development of the new National Curriculum and the promotion of the IB PYP Programme in the Cayman Islands, and are ideally suited to deliver their presentation titled The Primary Years Programme as a Framework for National School Improvement.
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The Powerpoint presentation for the session can be found here, and also at the top of the green section on the right labeled "Education innovation links". (GL/MR)

Cayman Teacher recognised internationally

Mr. Keeley carries out hands–on activities with Year 5 students from Prospect Primary School earlier this year.

It was with great pleasure to learn that a long time Cayman Islands teacher's environmental work has been recognised internationally. Martin Keeley, who is also Education Director of the Mangrove Action Project Martin Keeley has been selected to receive the National Marine Educators Association’s Outstanding Teacher Award for 2008.

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Mr. Keeley was recognized for his history of outstanding performance as a marine science educator in the Pacific Northwest and the Cayman Islands. This award honours effective and innovative marine science education in the classroom. Mr. Keeley will be honoured on July 23, 2008 at a ceremony during the National Marine Educators Association’s annual conference in Savannah, Georgia, hosted by the Georgia Association of Marine Education.

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Mr. Keeley, who is Brac campus director for the University College of the Cayman Islands, has been teaching in Cayman since 1998. He researched, developed and produced the Marvellous Mangroves in the Cayman Islands teachers’ guide in conjunction with the National Trust, the Department of Educational Services and MAP, and has been responsible for its implementation in schools throughout Cayman.He has also supervised the adaptation, translation and implementation of Marvellous Mangroves for the education systems in several other countries including Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and, most recently, Brazil.
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“I am honoured to have been given this prestigious award,” he says. “It recognises there is a continual need for students to learn, through hands–on exploration, the true importance of the natural world around them,” said Mr. Keeley.“Mangroves are essential not only for the survival of marine, avian and terrestrial species which depend on them, but for our own survival,” he adds. “Those of us who live on tropical coastlines where mangroves form the buffer between us and ocean–driven storms need their protection against hurricanes. This is especially true with the advent of climate change and its accompanying sea–level rise, and the horrendous damage caused by massive storms like the Cyclone Nargis, which recently hit Myanmar, and the 2004 Asian Tsunami.”
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NMEA is a national professional organisation founded in 1976 for all educators of marine and aquatic science. With more than 3,000 members NMEA is represented primarily in North America, but has chapters in other parts of the world including the Caribbean, Australia and Oceana (based in Hawaii).
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Our congratulations go to Martin for his outstanding work in the area of mangroves and environmental conservation. (MR/GL, adapted from the Cayman News Service website).

New Principal at Bodden Town Primary School

The Department of Education Services (DoES) has announced the appointment of Ms Cetonya Cacho as the new Principal at Bodden Town Primary School.

Ms Cacho was previously a teacher and member of the senior team at Red Bay Primary School. During the last academic year she has been undertaking further studies, doing the MBA in Education Management at the University of Southampton in the U.K. We were delighted to learn that she was awarded a distinction for this course, being named as the top student.

There is a continued emphasis and commitment to provide high quality training for able Caymanians as we work to continue to improve the leadership capacity within our education service.

The Ministry would like to congratulate Ms Cacho on her achievements and her appointment to Bodden Town. (GL)

UK Media writing about the George Hicks Campus

The highly reputable UK newspaper 'The Guardian' conducted a telephone interview with Cayman staff today for an article in its regular 'Schools of the Future' Supplement. The story was specifically about the very successful splitting of the large George Hicks High School into the four smaller schools on one campus which opened in September 2006, and the impact it has had specifically on the students and their learning.

This is further demonstration of the international interest in the transformation of the Cayman Islands education service. The interview was with Ms Lyneth Monteith, School Leader of Leading Edge High School and Gareth Long, Strategic Development Advisor (Education) from the Ministry.

The resulting five hundred word story will be published in September - watch this blog for a link to it in the future. (GL)

Clifton Hunter Campus - the metal rises from the ground!

Progress is rapid in the development of the new Clifton Hunter Secondary Campus and people are amazed that already metal is rising from the ground!

There is still immense interest from all around the world in the development of these 'cutting edge' designed campuses and real excitement in Cayman from all sectors, students, staff and the community, that they can now see them beginning to be built!

Work will also start on the new John Gray Campus in the next few days - watch this space! (GL)

Lighthouse School students graduate with new ASDAN certificates

The four LHS graduates, Andrew Smilley, Rico Codner, Joanna Ebanks and Sarah Terry. This is the first year that graduates wore gowns.

Students at the Lighthouse School graduated yesterday in front of a large appreciative audience. This really was a great event where students really proved again how well they had done with some exceptional performances, both academic, sporting and in the arts. Lighthouse School is a specialist school for students with a range of physical and/or learning challenges.
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A first this year was the awarding of ASDAN certificates for students. This course started this academic year and was one of the first tangible changes of the introduction of the new curriculum where students worked on courses awarding internationally recognised qualifications.
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The graduation was combined with the school prize-giving and musical performances - the whole event really left the audience filled with admiration with the determination and positive attitudes of the students, staff and parents that work so closely together! (GL)

Hon . Minister Alden McLaughlin presenting the ASDAN certificate to student Rico Codner

Students take part in 'live' international school design workshop

Three students from Leading Edge High School took part in an international school design workshop today using the Internet for live international links. In a workshop organised by Professor Stephen Heppell, a large group of one hundred students from schools in Kent were spending a day helping design new schools. They are also shooting a video about what NOT to do in new schools and things they would like included.

Kent is the largest education authority in the UK and is embarking on a £1.8 billion rebuild of all its secondary school and the voice of learners is central to that process..

As part of their workshop they questioned students in Tasmania where it was midnight and very cold and followed on by contacting the Cayman Islands where it was 7.00a.m. and hot. Using SKYPE on a MacBook there was an excellent clear video and audio signal for the 25 minute 'live' question and answer session.

The UK students quizzed students Appolina Bent, Kerseanna Ewers and Daniella Borden on many aspects of their school, from the number of students, what classrooms were like, how much outdoor learning they did, the types of computers they used, the range of subjects, what they would change about the layout of their school, through to what the lunch arrangements were (as well as the menus). As the students relaxed they became more confident and chatted happily away to their UK counterparts, who obviously they had never met before.

This was a really successful web conference and really demonstrated the effectiveness and immediacy of real live research using the Internet. The feedback received from the UK after the event was excellent and it is obvious that our students would love to be able to more of this type of project. (GL)

Leading Edge students: Appolina Bent, Kerseanna Ewers and Danielle Borden.

Construction starts at Clifton Hunter Campus

Construction has started on the new Clifton Hunter Campus! This is the first of the three new 21st century secondary campuses where construction work has actually commenced and already contractors Ton Jones International have demonstrated that they are working hard.
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Students, teachers, parents, education officials and the community alike are all excited that the long preparation work has now reached this stage where physical progress can be seen.
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The next secondary campus to start will be the John Gray site, where work is projected to start in early September. Further news on the construction of the Beulah Smith Campus will be announced later when contract issues and negotiations are completed.
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All three secondary campuses, along with the new George Town Primary School are slated to be open for students in September 2010. (GL)

Creating more welcoming learning spaces

Schools are making increasing efforts to create more interesting and welcoming learning spaces and trialling the creation of a range of different zones within their schools.

The introduction of soft seating in the reading corner of one classroom at Prospect Primary School has been enthusiastically welcomed by students who love to sit and read there. Additionally the introduction of soft cushions in the reading / performance sunken area of the library (photo below) have made it a much more welcoming and popular place for students to sit and read.

The whole issue of furniture, fixtures and fittings (FF&E) in schools is very complex. The more schools trial and evaluate a range of resources, for design, functionality, colour etc, the better. Their findings will be shared with colleagues throughout the system so that as we continue to move forward in developing 21st century learning environments we make decisions based on real research and data.

Minister records his first podcast with Professor Heppell

Hon. Minister with Professor Stephen Heppell recording the podcast, assisted by Wes Emmanuel of GIS

Such is the interest in the ongoing education transformation process, that the Minister has frequently been asked to record a podcast of the presentation given to upto 64 Ministers of Education at the international 'Moving Young Minds' conference in London earlier ths year. (For original blog entry click here)
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This week, accompanied by Professor Stephen Heppell, the Hon. Minister recorded his first ever podcast with the introduction by Professor Heppell, as was the case in London. The completed podcast will be accompanied by the slide show of images used in the original presentation.

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When the technicalities are completed, the podcast will be able to be downloaded from the Brighter Futures website. More details will also be posted on this blog.

National Literacy Strategy - Professional Development

Teachers in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac have been engaging in professional development surrounding the National Literacy Strategy throughout the months of May and June. In a two-part series of interactive workshops, the islands’ Literacy Coordinators are introducing the teaching faculty to the national strategy, with an emphasis on pedagogy. Teachers are being introduced to the methods that will be used to teach and assess literacy in the Cayman Islands. With opportunities to explore Guided Reading, Guided Writing, mini-lessons and best practices, teachers are being prepared for the implementation of a balanced approach to literacy instruction.

Teachers and schools will continue to be supported in the upcoming academic year through wide-ranging professional development that includes an emphasis on instructional coaching.For more information regarding the National Literacy Strategy, please contact Tanya Dwight at Tanya.dwight@gov.ky (Posted by MR, Department of Education Services)

Inter-Primary School Sports at the newly upgraded Truman Bodden Centre

The Hon. Minister photographed giving a few remarks with just a few of the many participant of the Annual Inter Primary School Sports competition today. Participants came from many government and private primary schools, including representatives from Cayman Brac.

This is the first schools competition to take place in the newly upgraded Truman Bodden Sports Complex, which includes an international competition standard running track and FIFA standard football (soccer) field. (GL)

Parents and Teachers hear update on the new George Town Primary School

Just some of the audience of parents and teachers

A good sized group of parents and staff met the Hon. Minister and architects (CS and P) last night, to hear the latest news on the progress towards the construction of the new George Town Primary School.

Listening to descriptions of the current work, and the value engineering process that had taken place, they were delighted that the academic parts of the school, that they had been so involved with designing, had not been affected.

The very exciting designs for the school are on track to be opened for students in September 2010. (GL)

Hon. Minister and Ms. Maureen O'Shaughnessy, architect with CSandP

Preparation for the New George Town Primary School continues

One the many meetings this week. Above are (l - r) : Craig Goodman, Maureen O'Shaughnessy and Adrian Phillips from CS&P, with Donal McGrath from BDCL

The new primary school for George Town Primary School continues to develop. Although there is no physical construction work to observe, there is still very considerable design and preparation work happening behind the scenes.
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The architects (CSandP from Toronto and BDCL from Cayman) have been in the Ministry all week in 'back to back' meetings as the work continues.

The new exciting cutting edge designed campus is planned to be open for students in September 2010. (GL)

Students demonstrate high aspirations through Art

from l to r: Airline Pilot, Artist, Architect, Lawyer, Judge

Primary school students recently demonstrated their high aspirations as part of the Art exhibition for the National Children's Festival of the Arts (NCFA).

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Students from George Town Primary School, under the heading of "Brighter Futures" created just great pieces of art work demonstrating their ambitions for the future. The photograph above is just a selection of the many pieces entered. (GL)