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)

Grand Opening for National Children's Festival of the Arts

The Grand Opening of the National Children's Festival of the Arts (NCFA) and the Art Exhibition took place this week at the historic Pedro's Castle. This is the first time the opening has been done in such a large scale way, and is one of a number of 'firsts' for this annual festival.

Attended by the Acting Governor, Minister of Education, elected MLA's and many other visitors, the evening was packed full of talent from students representing a wide number of schools. Students gave performances of all art forms, including the Swing Band from John Gray High School, dance groups, choirs, solos, and dialect choirs.

Many people commented on how tasteful the whole evening was and how well planned with every detail, including art work and performances reflecting the highest quality. Congratulations to all the organisers and participants of this ongoing festival. (GL)

Ministers' Briefing for Finance Committee

In preparation for Finance Committee debate on Ministry spending, senior staff have been briefing the Hon. Minister on their exciting plans for the next year as part of the drive to continue to raise standards throughout the education service.

Pictured above are: Mrs Mary Bowerman, Acting Director, Education Standards and Assessment Unit, Mrs Shirley Wahler, Chief Education Officer and Hon. Minister Mr Alden McLauglin. (GL)

Contracts signed for new secondary campuses!

Mrs. Angela Martins, Chief Officer of the Ministry, signs contracts with Mr. Hunter Jones of Tom Jones International, for both secondary campuses.

A very exciting event happened as the contracts for building the new secondary facilities for John Gray and Clifton Hunter Campuses were signed today. This follows a protracted time of hard negotiation. This will allow construction to proceed as soon as the supporting infrastructure is in place. The successful contractor for both campuses is Tom Jones International.

The contract negotiations for the Beulah Smith Campus are still under way. More information on this Campus will be posted at a later date.

The scheduled effective opening for all the new campuses to take students is September 2010. (GL)

Mrs Angela Martins presents a cheque to Mr Hunter Jones, of Tom Jones International for mobilisation of construction resources