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!

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

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)

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)

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 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)