Spelling Bee 2009 kicks off tomorrow night

The 2009 Spelling Bee will commence tomorrow, Tuesday November 3, 2009 at the Savannah Primary School Hall at 6:30 p.m. This will mark the start of the preliminaries for the primary competition which will be contested over November 3, 4 and 5, 2009.

Competing tomorrow will be Bodden Town Primary School, East End Primary School, North Side Primary School and Savannah Primary School.

Below is the schedule for the remainder of the week:

November 4, 2009 - Prospect Primary School Hall at 6:30 p.m.
Triple C School
Prospect Primary School
Red Bay Primary School
St. Ignatius Prep

November 5, 2009 - John A Cumber Primary School Hall at 6:30 p.m.
Truth for Youth
Cayman Prep Primary School
George Town Primary School
John A Cumber Primary School
Grace Christian Academy

November 5, 2009 - Aston Rutty Centre (Cayman Brac) at 6:30 p.m.
Creek and Spot Bay Junior School
West End Primary School

Everyone is invited to come out and support the schools and participants as they engage in healthy competition and fun. (MR)

October PD Days a success

Monday and Tuesday (October 26th and 27th, 2009) saw the Cayman Islands education service engage in various activities relating to professional development.

Colleagues on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman spent the two days discussing and learning IB methodologies; learning how to support special needs during literacy; engaged in subject meetings; learning about the Diagnostic Reading Assessment, guided reading and literacy workstations; or using ICT to learn about Studywiz, SIMs or Accelerated Reader.

From all reports, the sessions went well and the various participants involved indicated that they were timely and useful. Several teachers, secretaries and Executive Officers noted that many of the strategies and the new knowledge gained could be implemented immediately in their practice and was useful in helping them to achieve specific objectives.

The picture below shows participants on Cayman Brac learning more about the virtual learning platform Studywiz. (MR)

Reporting Instructions for PD Days October 26 and 27, 2009

Please find your PD assignments for Monday, October 26th and Tuesday, October 27th below:

· Registration/Attendance will take place at your assigned locations.

· All members of the education service will be released for lunch on both days—please make independent provisions for these days.

· For those attending sessions at Prospect Primary School, please allow additional time in your schedules for parking (car pooling is highly recommended).

· Travel and accommodation arrangements have been made for teachers traveling from Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman for IB Level 1 and 2 training—contact your Learning Community Leader for details.

· For questions about your specific assignments, please contact your Principal, School Leader, or Head of Service.


Special Group Assignments

National Education Conference Committee
October 27, 2009: all committee members
Planning Meeting—Countryside 11:30-1:00 PM

Support Assistants/Support Staff from Primary Schools (Grand Cayman only)
October 26th
Supporting Special Needs during the Literacy Block—RBPS 8:30-Nonn
In-school Planning—1:30-3:00 PM
October 27th
In-school Planning 8:30-3:00 PM

New Teachers from Primary Schools (Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac)
October 26th and October 27th:
IB-PYP Level 1 Training—Prospect Primary School Library 8:30-4:00 PM

Student Services
October 26th and 27th
In-house Professional Development—schedule to be distributed by Head of Student Services

EIP Staff
October 26th and 27th
In-house Planning Time—LHS 8:30-3:00

Primary Specialist Teachers
October 26th and 27th
Subject meetings —Prospect Primary School Classrooms 8:30 – 4:00 PM

School Assignments

AEC, LHS, JGHS, EEPS, BTPS
October 26th and 27th: all staff
In-school Professional Development —schedule to be distributed by principal

NSPS, SPS, RBPS, GTPS, JACPS
October 26th and 27th: all teachers and leaders
IB-PYP Level 2 Training—Prospect Primary School Hall 8:30 – 4:00 PM

George Hicks Staff
October 26, 2009: as assigned by school leaders
CXC English Training—JGHS 8:30-3:30 PM
Planning—GHC 8:30-3:30 PM
Accelerated Reader Training—GHC 8:30 AM
October 27, 2009: all staff members
SIMS training—GHC 8:30-3:30 PM

Cayman Brac
October 26th and 27th
On-island PD—schedule to be distributed by Learning Community Leader

Cultural Caravan

Some of the participants at the Cultural Caravan

New teachers, returning teachers and Department of Education Services and National Museum officers all came together on October 3, 2009 to participate in the first Cultural Caravan. Conceptualised and facilitated by the National Museum, Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services, the activity allowed educators, family and friends to come together to learn more about Cayman's culture.

Former teacher, Mrs. Nasaria Suckoo-Cholette, tour facilitator and chief organiser has provided her account of the Cultural Caravan...from inception to completion:

This summer was the first summer since I began teaching that I was not off on summer holidays, but rather was sitting at my desk behind a computer feeling envious of my teacher friends who were on various flights headed towards late mornings, family reunions and freedom. Now don’t get me wrong, I love my work, but a six week vacation, who wouldn’t like one of those. That got me thinking about the September looming ahead where normally I would frantically be trying to remain in the carefree headspace of “no work” and working hard only at forgetting how much preparation I still had to do for the next term . And I felt some comfort knowing that when my colleagues were heading back to the classroom, I would be taking my vacation. That’s when the idea for New Teachers Cultural Caravan Programme popped into my head.

I remember how bad I used to feel for the new teachers arriving to the island with barely a couple of weeks to find a home, buy a car, find their way around and all of this in the midst of a new cultural experience. Could be an adventure, could be a disaster. Wouldn’t it be great if they could get some kind of cultural heritage induction to welcome them to our islands, to help them transition smoothly into the schools, to show off all the things that make me proud to be a Caymanian? Finally I was in the position that I could make that happen. All excited I passed it by my boss and “slam bam”, we were on our way.

The next couple of weeks were spent researching cost, scouting resources and putting together my proposal; and halleluiah the Ministry of Education accepted.

Skip forward to Sat. Oct 3rd, 2009, armed with two busses, a detailed schedule and cold water, the Cayman Islands National Museum set off on its first annual Cultural Caravan. First was a tour of the Museum itself where the participants were treated to the blowing of the conch shell at 9am on the steps of the Museum, taking us back to a time when fishermen communicated with their customers through a special musical language. That’s when the emotion of all of this started to build in my chest. This Museum had just reopened since hurricane Ivan’s devastation, and in the last year, all I have been dealing with are the new exhibits for our re-opening. So it should be now surprise that while I am proud of what we have accomplished, I have seen those exhibits is several stages of construction and so I am just a bit jaded about the whole thing. But what really amazed me was the way this Museum visit transformed the spirits of these teachers. They became like children, “wowing” at this, “gasping” at that. I had to call them four or five times before they would follow me, so enthralled they were pushing buttons and taking rides on the submarine, asking a million questions. What…why...where…!!!

One of the interactive displays on at the museum. This fisherman in his catboat literally tells you about catboats and The Great Storm of 1932.

Needless to say the rest of the day continued in much the same fashion at Pedro St. James; getting lost in the bushes searching for tamarinds, trying to climb cherry trees to get to the cherries on top and parading nosily through the Great House. It seemed to come alive again.

The Josie Senior Centre was much of the same, skipping through this old house, mouth hanging and eyes blazed open, just drunk off of the rainbow of colour, from thatch work to candy coloured yoyo quilts, to the most delicate of crocheted lace. That’s all after we had been stuffed on tuna and cornbeef sandwiches, tamarind drink, light cake, cassava cake and macaroni pudding. Mrs. Josie Solomon and her Crafting Ladies spoiled us rotten, just like Grandmothers are supposed to do.

Relaxing at Mrs. Josie's Senior Centre in Bodden Town.

As if we could possibly take anymore beauty, we stopped at Al Ebank’s Art Studio where the teachers were introduced to Native Son’s Artists and their work. It was a fantastic opportunity for artists to share their vision, their passion with guests. They loved the one on one time with the artists and making contacts that will become invaluable to them as they make plans to incorporate art in their lesson plans. We toured through North Side, East End and West Bay and landed on Seven Mile Beach, ready to feast on fish and fritters from Mrs. Georgeann’s Kitchen, and just sit and take in the cool breeze and watch the sunset. Not before they are treated to some drumming, storytelling and dialect poetry though.

At the end of this tour, I was tired, but I was simply touched because I had proven what I believe to be true; if you invite someone to come and enjoy your culture, rather than try to thrust it down their throats, the process forms friendships that will last a long time and sets a foundation for them to come to feel love and responsibility for preserving, sharing and respecting the rich cultural heritage of these Cayman Islands. (Write up by Mrs. Nasaria Suckoo-Cholette)

Back to School @ NSPS

North Side Primary School are having a Back to School Celebration on Saturday, September 26th at 10:00 a.m. in the NSPS courtyard.

Click the flyer to get a larger image. (MR)

In Memory of Mr. Speirs

The 29th issue of The Educated Caymanian, the newsletter of the Department of Education Services, is dedicated to the memory of life-long educator Mr. Fred Speirs.

Click the image of the newsletter below to see a full sized version of the newsletter. The tribute was written by Mrs. Shirley Wahler, Chief Education Officer. (MR)

Funeral Service for Mr. Speirs

Honour Bestowed on Education Stalwart

To find out more about this outstanding lady and the honour she received, click the image above, or this link. (MR)

New School Year Gets Off to a Good Start

HR Consultant, Mrs. Juliet Du Feu (left) and Mr. Peter Beckford, Chief Human Resources Officer in the Ministry of Education, Training & Employment, chat with one of the new teachers at the orientation session last Tuesday at the Marriott.

The academic year 2009-10 for the Cayman Islands has inevitably started with excitement, fear, laughter, tears and a range of other emotions being expressed by students; and for teachers, the challenges and opportunities presented by the new school year will stand side-by-side throughout the coming months.

Considering all the above, the orientation for new teachers last Tuesday at the Marriott kick started the new school year with a high degree of positivity and hope. Teachers were informed about the structure and work of the Department of Education Services and our parent Ministry, the Ministry of Education, Training & Employment.

The newest of our education professionals were also treated to a special cultural presentation by a group led by Mrs. Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette. Numerous businesses and organisations were on-hand to offer their services, provide information and generally made teachers coming from overseas feel part of the Cayman Islands family. Caymanian teachers and teachers recruited from on-island were also part of the group of approximately 20 teachers and they were able to share some of their insights with their colleagues.

Above, education professionals interact with the new teachers at the orientation session last Tuesday.

Following the New Teacher Orientation, the Chief Education Officer Mrs. Shirley Wahler made pertinent points in her speech last Wednesday at the Mary Miller Hall, and Friday at the Cayman Brac High School at the respective School Year Commencement Ceremonies. Mrs. Wahler aptly noted that failure was not an option in spite of them many challenges we will face. With this in mind framed against the backdrop of congratulations and strategic statements by the Minister of Education, Training & Employment, Hon. Rolston Anglin and Chief Officer in the Ministry of Education, Training & Employment, Mrs. Mary Rodrigues; the school year began.

Following the messages, education professionals broke out into groups on both days in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac and participated in professional development activities ranging from literacy to numeracy; conflict de-escalation to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) planning and other areas relative to specific strategic priorities set for the year.

Teachers at Cayman Brac High School break out in their groups to discuss conflict de-escalation strategies

Above, outcomes have been prioritised by a group in the Conflict De-escalation session to produce a "win-win" situation

Reporting Instructions for August 26, 2009

All members of the Education Service are required to report to the
Mary Miller Memorial Hall
on
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
at
8:30 AM

Education professionals will be released for lunch at Noon and are required to return to their designated locations for compulsory professional development.

Registration (confirmation of attendance) for the ceremony and all professional development sessions will be required and will be facilitated on location.

Please allow ample time for parking and registration for all sessions.