Vol 3 Ed 25 2022-2023 SY 2 June 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“You cannot stop change anymore than you can stop the suns from setting.” - Shmi Skywalker

June

The month of June is here. The month of June, for people studying in the northern hemisphere, most certainly can ignite the anticipation of summer in young people’s minds and hearts. Based on conversations with people in the CIS community, our parent community has some summer anticipation in mind in light of this being the first “summer” for many without some element of travel restrictions. While summer may be felt in the air (certainly in the form of heat and humidity at the moment), there is still over 7% of the student school year remaining. Great lessons continue, as do field trips, projects, celebrations, performances, assessments and much more. To put 7% of the school year in perspective … If the student school year were an NBA play-off basketball game, there is 3 minutes and 22 seconds remaining - a lot can happen in the last three minutes and 22 seconds of a basketball game. In turn, a lot can happen in the month of June.

Graduation

Today, our seniors graduate. Our 2023 graduating class is 49 people strong. This is the largest graduating class in CIS’ history - 17% larger, in fact than the previous largest graduating class. They have collectively been in school about 670 years. As individuals they have engaged in at least 16,000 hours of classes, enjoyed/endured in the range of 2,000 to 3000 hours of homework, and participated in at least 1,500 hours of extracurricular activities.

Graduation ceremonies celebrate the student. Graduation though, is not just a landmark for students.  In many regards, graduation is also a celebration of the joys and challenges of teaching and parenthood. Some may even say that graduation may be more for parents and teachers than students. Teachers – the memories of classes, triumphs, challenges, learning and humour. Parents - watching your child cross the stage to receive a well-earned diploma is a time of intense pride and nostalgia – how did time pass so fast – it can be a swirl of smiles and tears. The notion of swirls of smiles and tears, is not merely an attempt at being poetic - it is a reality of Graduation Day.

In partnership,

Jim

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

REMINDER FROM THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR’S WAVES

Something to Ponder

“You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes. Well, you might find. You get what you need.” - Michael Philip Jagger

Dear CIS Community,

The school is in the process of establishing the calendar for the 2025-2026 School Year. To help with this process we kindly ask you to complete the survey below for the school to gather community input regarding the draft calendar for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Survey link for 2025-2026 School Year Calendar – CIS 2025-2026 Calendar Survey.

  • For your reference, the draft calendar for 2025-2026 is found at the link - HERE.

  • Please note the survey includes two additional questions, one regarding evening event start times and the other regarding dismissal times at CIS.

Please note, the school is working to establish calendars two to three years in advance to provide as much information as possible with respect to future planning (for the school, for programming, for events, for students, and for CIS families.

Thank you in advance for your time (the survey takes about 5 minutes). Thus far, 124 people have completed the survey, the survey closure date has been extended to Thursday, June 8th, 2023. Also, on Monday, June 5th,  an email reminder will be sent to the CIS Community to provide feedback on the draft calendars. *If you desire more information about the parameters for CIS Calendars and frequently asked questions, please see the information after the valediction of this message.

Wishing you a pleasant weekend. 

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Calendar Parameters Synopsis

• Minimum of 925 hours of instruction hours for students of mandatory schooling age in The Cayman Islands
• Professional Days
  • Minimum 6 In-service Days before the first days of school for students (includes New Student / Family Orientation)
  • At least 3 Professional In-Service Days during the school year (If feasible these occur after a weekend or break or are aligned with a public holiday)
• First day of school for students aspires to be in the second last or last full week in August (looking to maximize class time, within reason, before May 1 in relation to IB exams) and ends the third full week in June
• Designated Student Breaks
  • Mid-Term Break (October)
  • Winter Break (December / January and in line with The Cayman Islands Public Holidays for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s)
  • Mid-Term Break (If feasible in line with Cayman Islands Public Holiday for Ash Wednesday)
  • Spring Break (In line with Cayman Islands Public Holiday for Easter)
  • No student school days during the month of July
• Be mindful of Cayman Islands Government School Calendars and Cayman Islands Government and Private Schools Calendar tendencies.
•  The Cayman Islands Public Holidays are no school for students and staff
  • New Year’s Day - 1 January
  • National Heroes’ Day - The Fourth Monday in January
  • Ash Wednesday - Forty-Six days before Easter Sunday (the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox)
  • Good Friday - The Friday before Easter Sunday
  • Easter Monday - The Monday after Easter Sunday
  • Discovery Day - Third Monday in May
  • Caymanian General Election - In applicable years
  • Monarch’s Birthday - The Monday after the Saturday in June that is designated as the official holiday observance in the UK. Generally the Monday after the second Saturday in June. This date does have a tendency to change.
  • Constitution Day - The first Monday in July
  • Remembrance Day - Second Monday in November
  • Christmas Day - 25 December
  • Boxing Day - 26 December
• In the event a holiday is declared for participation in local elections, professional staff who are eligible voters in Grand Cayman shall be granted a holiday only when the polling day falls on a regular Monday through Friday workday.

• A CIS student in Middle School or High School typically has about 1,215 hours. This does not include additional studies that happen afterschool – thus a typical student might have in the vicinity of 1,400 when factoring things like engaging in robotics afterschool, sport, art etc.
• A CIS student in Elementary School has about 1,170 hours with students in Kindergarten generally having about 1,035 hours.
• When considering school hours, a typical CIS student with a typical attendance record has the equivalent of 5 to 40 more days of instruction relative to other schools on island – excluding the time students may engage in afterschool / office hours programming.

• No. Generally, though an international school would have a range of school days being 175 to 185 days depending on the country regulations and length of the school day.

Vol 3 Ed 24 2022-2023 SY 26 May 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community,

 Somethings to Ponder

“Relationships are harder now because conversations have become texting, arguments become phone calls, and feelings become status updates.” - attributed to many

The sheer ubiquity and reach of social media platforms is startling. Indeed, the rate of social media use is astonishing, and is even more startling when considering the following approximate numbers from 2023 so far for 12 different devices / platforms/ social media.

• Cell Phones - There are about 15 billion cell phones in use worldwide
  • Noting that the world has 8 billion people - it seems people are taking advantage if having two ears
• Email - There are about 4.5 billion email users worldwide
  • Roughly 350 billion emails sent and received each day - no doubt everyone's personal and business email has zero unread.
• Texting - About 23 billion texts are sent each day
  • This is about 270,000 texts every second
• Facebook - About 3 billion monthly active users worldwide
  • The minimum age to use Facebook is 13 (older in some regions) - yet many people under 13 have accounts (even if Facebook is deemed by the young to be a platform for “old people.”
• YouTube - There are approximately 2.7 billion active Youtube users
  • Over 50% of internet users access YouTube at least once a month
• WhatsApp - Over 2.2 billion users worldwide
  • WhatsApp is rated as a 16 plus app.
• Instagram - Over 1 billion monthly users worldwide → an average of 95 million photos are shared per day
  • The minimum age to use Instagram is 13 (older in some regions)
• TikTok - There are roughly 1.6 billion TikTok users
  • The minimum age to use TikTok is 13 (older in some regions) - yet many people under 13 regularly use TikTok
• Snapchat - Over 500 million regular users worldwide
  • The minimum age to use Snapchat is 13 (older in some regions) - yet many people under 13 regularly use Snapchat
• LinkedIn - About 250 million people use this on a monthly basis
  • It seems that advertisers are becoming more and more active on this platform
• Twitter - About 350 million people use Twitter 325 million monthly users worldwide
  • This is an average of about 500 million tweets per day
• Omegle - It is reported that there about 235 million active users of Omegle
  • This can be a particularly dangerous platform - noting one of its tag lines was / is “talk to strangers.”

Social media is like The Force in Star Wars - it can be found everywhere. The Force is strong and has two sides - one of good and one of evil. I fear that social media, in Star Wars terms, leans to the darkside of The Force. Yes, there is the good side for sure; sharing updates with family on a different continent is certainly a great example of social media’s good side. Yet, social media is also the bastion of cyberbullying, cybercrime, and poor judgment. This great tool/platform of communication and learning is also a great tool/platform for all manner of exploitation. Some estimates are as high as 75% of young people in North America and Europe experience adverse social media effects.

Some of the most common issues people should know about (correction - these are issues people are generally aware of but tend to gloss over because not having access to social media is not an option in many people’s minds). Common Sense Media highlights the following features as being most problematic and dangerous.

• Ads and In-App Purchases - examples include - Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok
• Age-Inappropriate Content - examples include - Instagram, HIve Social, Snapchat, TikTok, Tumblr
• Public Default Settings - Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter
• Anonymity - Lipsi, LMK: Anonymous Polls, Tellonym
• Cyberbullying - Instagram, Snapchat, Roblox, Twitter -pretty much all forms of social media for that matter
• Location Tracking and Sharing - Find My Friends, Instagram, Snapchat, Twenty, Twitter
• Random Video Chat - HOLLA, Monkey, Wink
• Real-Time Video Streaming - YouNow, Instagram, Twitch
• Secret Chat Rooms - Discord, IMVU
• So-Called Temporary Pictures and Videos - Confide, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Telegram Messenger
• Toxic Culture - 4Chan, Discord, Twitch - pretty much all forms of social media and devices depending on the person

Unfortunately, there is no fail safe way to protect our children - and ourselves for that matter - when it comes to the darkside of social media. There is wide agreement however, that talking with our children about responsible and safe use is the most valuable way to stave off the darkside of social media and promote the good side. I wonder too, that in the future will social media contain stark messages about health (like we see on packs of cigarettes) as a warning to proceed with caution - or - will society find a way to effectively and safely use social media as a powerful learning tool.

In partnership,

Jim

Vol 3 Ed 23 2022-2023 SY 19 May 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes. Well, you might find. You get what you need.” - Michael Philip Jagger

The school is in the process of establishing the calendar for the 2025-2026 School Year. To help with this process we kindly ask you to complete the survey below for the school to gather community input regarding the draft calendar for the 2025-2026 school year.

• Survey link for 2025-2026 School Year Calendar – CIS 2025-2026 Calendar Survey.

  • For your reference, the draft calendar for 2025-2026 is found at the link - HERE.

  • Please note the survey includes two additional questions, one regarding evening event start times and the other regarding dismissal times at CIS.

Please note, the school is working to establish calendars two to three years in advance to provide as much information as possible with respect to future planning (for the school, for programming, for events, for students, and for CIS families.

Thank you in advance for your time (the survey takes about 5 minutes). Please note that the survey closes on May 31, 2023. Also, email reminders will be sent to the CIS Community to provide feedback on the draft calendars. *If you desire more information about the parameters for CIS Calendars and frequently asked questions, please see the information after the valediction of this message.

Wishing you a pleasant weekend. 

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

__________________________________________

Calendar Parameters Synopsis

• Minimum of 925 hours of instruction hours for students of mandatory schooling age in The Cayman Islands
• Professional Days
  • Minimum 6 In-service Days before the first days of school for students (includes New Student / Family Orientation)
  • At least 3 Professional In-Service Days during the school year (If feasible these occur after a weekend or break or are aligned with a public holiday)
• First day of school for students aspires to be in the second last or last full week in August (looking to maximize class time, within reason, before May 1 in relation to IB exams) and ends the third full week in June
• Designated Student Breaks
  • Mid-Term Break (October)
  • Winter Break (December / January and in line with The Cayman Islands Public Holidays for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s)
  • Mid-Term Break (If feasible in line with Cayman Islands Public Holiday for Ash Wednesday)
  • Spring Break (In line with Cayman Islands Public Holiday for Easter)
  • No student school days during the month of July
• Be mindful of Cayman Islands Government School Calendars and Cayman Islands Government and Private Schools Calendar tendencies.
•  The Cayman Islands Public Holidays are no school for students and staff
  • New Year’s Day - 1 January
  • National Heroes’ Day - The Fourth Monday in January
  • Ash Wednesday - Forty-Six days before Easter Sunday (the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox)
  • Good Friday - The Friday before Easter Sunday
  • Easter Monday - The Monday after Easter Sunday
  • Discovery Day - Third Monday in May
  • Caymanian General Election - In applicable years
  • Monarch’s Birthday - The Monday after the Saturday in June that is designated as the official holiday observance in the UK. Generally the Monday after the second Saturday in June. This date does have a tendency to change.
  • Constitution Day - The first Monday in July
  • Remembrance Day - Second Monday in November
  • Christmas Day - 25 December
  • Boxing Day - 26 December
• In the event a holiday is declared for participation in local elections, professional staff who are eligible voters in Grand Cayman shall be granted a holiday only when the polling day falls on a regular Monday through Friday workday.

Additional FAQ’s Regarding Calendars

A “Minimum of 925 hours of instruction hours for students of mandatory schooling age in The Cayman Islands is noted - How many instruction hours does CIS generally actually provide to students?

• A CIS student in Middle School or High School typically has about 1,215 hours. This does not include additional studies that happen afterschool – thus a typical student might have in the vicinity of 1,400 when factoring things like engaging in robotics afterschool, sport, art etc.

• A CIS student in Elementary School has about 1,170 hours with students in Kindergarten generally having about 1,035 hours.

• When considering school hours, a typical CIS student with a typical attendance record has the equivalent of 5 to 40 more days of instruction relative to other schools on island – excluding the time students may engage in afterschool / office hours programming.

Does ISS have a minimum &/or recommended number of instructional hours?

• No. Generally, though an international school would have a range of school days being 175 to 185 days depending on the country regulations and length of the school day.

I notice you share compare and contrast information of CIS fees with some other like international schools. Would they all generally have a similar number of instructional hours?

Yes, the schools would have a similar number of instructional hours. And it would not be uncommon that they would have about 45 hours less.

Vol 3 Ed 22 2022-2023 SY 12 May 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“Human spirit is the ability to face the uncertainty of the future with curiosity and optimism. It is the belief that problems can be solved, differences resolved. It is a type of confidence.” - Bernard Beckett

This weekend is a long weekend as the Cayman Islands celebrates Discovery Day. Discovery Day pays homage to the “discovery” of the Cayman Islands in 1503 by Cristoforo Colombo / Cristobol Colon / Christopher Columbus. At this time the islands were described as Las Tortugas because of the volume of turtles found around the islands. Later on the name Largatos was used, noting the many large lizards on the three islands. Later still, Caymanas was used, incorporating the Carib Indigenous peoples’ word for crocodile. Certainly the islands were seen by other people sailing by, long before the voyages of Columbus. Nonetheless, he decided to name and write about the islands - thus from a European perspective he is credited as the “discoverer.” What an excellent example of those who write history tend to get the credit. Thus emphasizing the many benefits of writing and consequently the sometimes underestimate power of literacy and the alphabet as a seminal tool of discovery.

Who knows where AI will take us in the future when it comes to recording, preserving, sharing, developing, refining and creating history and discovery. An alphabet is something we sometimes take for granted - but it is critical for literacy in order to record, share and preserve thoughts, ideas, inventions and much more - including having your name listed as a discoverer. An alphabet allows us to complement oral history with written history. Who knows how many alphabets there are on Earth? For sure approaching 100 if not more. From carving letters into stone…to the wooden blocks of Gutenberg’s printing press… to chalkboards of one room school houses…to liner notes written on your favourite album jacket (i.e. Abbey Road or Sign ‘O’ the Times or Up to Here)…to text messaging a friend…to a quick snapchat note…to emojis (ugh - like them or not emojis have become ubiquitous) - an alphabet in its many forms helps us communicate, record, create, and share. Indeed the written alphabet allows us to enjoy the works of Atwood, Chaucer, Coelho, Edugyan, Gladwell, Homer, Joyce, Marquez, Munch, Tolstoy, our own children, and a million others – not to mention write love letters, code, scribble reminders, endure the potential scourge of a spammed email or an email sent in anger rather than reflection, write a research paper, and cherish homemade cards from our children.

In appreciation of the alphabet, I invite you to consider the following this long weekend…

• If you have children in Nursery to kindergarten …
  • Ask them to tell you a story so you can write it down
  • Have them show you how they like to write stories
•  If you have children in grades one to grade five …
  • Ask them to read you a story over the weekend
  • Ask them if you can read them your favorite story when you were younger
• If you have children in grades six through ten …
  • Ask them to show you a website or even a meme or TikTok they find particularly interesting and read an article or post together
  • Have them teach you how to text really fast
• If you have a child in grade eleven or twelve …
  • Ask to read one of the essays they have written this year
  • Share with them the nature of the works that you might read for pleasure or professional reasons
• If you do not have children in school …
  • Sit back and read a book of your choice - perhaps about the history of The Cayman Islands.

Finally, if reading is not striking a fancy on a hot May day- why not head out to Pedro St. James or the Cayman National Museum to learn a bit more about the recorded history of the Cayman Islands.

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Vol 3 Ed 21 2022-2023 SY 28 April 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – First Nations Proverb

Monotheism Convergence

Pesach, Easter, Ramadan: The spring holiday season this year saw the convergence of important holy days and times within the Jewish, Christian (Eastern and Western) and Islamic Calendars. May we all regularly find time for peace and make a difference regardless of our beliefs.

Making a Difference

A CIS student was visiting Starfish Point last week. Thousands of starfish on the beach had washed up along shore because of a big storm. Noticing the starfish needed help, the student started picking up starfish one by one and placing them back in the sea. The people playing on the beach watched this with amusement. The CIS student had been helping the starfish for some time when a man approached the student and said, “Why are you doing this? Look at this beach! You can’t save all these starfish. You can’t begin to make a difference!” These words saddened the student and they stopped helping the starfish. But after a few moments of thought, the CIS student bent down, picked up another starfish, and waded into the sea, placing the starfish in the water. The student then looked up at the man and replied, “Well, I made a difference to that one!” The man looked at the student with curiosity and thought for a moment. Inspired, he joined the student in putting starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved. - Please note that the above is a story adapted from 'The Star Thrower' by Loren C. Eiseley

Earth Day

Last weekend, included April 22 - also known as Earth Day. The premise and notion behind Earth Day requires all of us to think and act with posterity/sustainability in mind. This is something that is not easy to do. “What can one person do to make a difference?” This classic, yet ever so poignant question is something we can all ask ourselves regardless of our age. Once establishing the one thing that one person can do, the challenge then is to follow through. For us as adults this can be even more difficult in light of some of our habits that have been formed, validated and solidified for many years. Thus, it is often easier for adults to talk about the things one should do for the posterity of our planet, rather than act. For example, young people do not necessarily consistently listen to teachers, parents, grandparents, coaches, mentors and the like – young people do however watch and observe very well. The same tends to hold true for us “older people too.” Young people have phenomenal hypocrisy sensors. Some classic green tips to reduce one’s carbon footprint include, flying less, driving less, eating less meat, turning off the lights, and reducing before reusing or recycling.

Naturally, in an ideal world, every day should be earth day and everyday should be about peace - the stark reality is that this is certainly easier said than done. Each weekend is an opportunity to talk with and listen to our children about the complex topics of sustainability, posterity and peace - it is a great time to ask your child(ren) about any questions, concerns, ideas they have with respect to making our world a better place for today and tomorrow.

Wishing you a pleasant weekend - be well - sincerely,

Vol 3 Ed 20 2022-2023 SY 6 April 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

With report cards and Learning Conferences in progress, and to be distributed on 21 April 2023 (the first Friday after the student spring / Easter break), I thought it might be fun to share fictitious yet plausible report comments of some influential people from the past and present. ‘He seems lost in space.’ - Stephen Hawking; ‘He is too stubborn.’ - Terry Fox; ‘She does not follow rules.’ - Viola Desmond; ‘He has unrealistic dreams.’ - Mahatma Gandhi; ‘She questions too much.’ - Christiane Amanpour; ‘He never sits still.’ - Lionel Messi; ‘She needs to mind her own business.’ Mingzhu Dong. 

Report Cards

Parents' approaches to report card review and conference reflection tend to span a wide spectrum. Some scrutinize each item on report cards and address each item point by point with their child. Some look solely for results, whilst others look for learning. Some parents do not read report cards due to their child’s choice or not being home when the report cards come out. Perhaps you have heard of a parent giving a child a car for what was deemed a good report card (though the child thought their report card was mediocre).  Or perhaps you have learned of a child being spanked for what was deemed a poor report card (though the child thought their report card was good). In my role, I have been fortunate or unfortunate to see a gamut of family approaches to report cards. We have roughly 1,550 parents and guardians in the CIS Community. Thus, it is quite possible that there are close to 1,550 different approaches to report card reading within the CIS community alone.

 Should it be helpful, below are five tips / approaches to consider based on what we know in regards to how children internalize feedback. Of note, these approaches may also be helpful when talking with your child about school in general, conferences and even what might be going on in their life.

• Share praise and celebrations with specific examples. Rather than saying “great job in Science” – say, “your hard work in preparing your Science projects in advance really makes a difference in learning.”

• Share praise with care. If your child consistently does well in all areas of school that are reported, saying “great job” can quickly lose meaning. Saying things like, “great job, you are so smart” can lead to challenges in the future when your child struggles with something and assumes they are not smart because they did not do a great job. If your child consistently has a strong report card, consider reminding them what might have contributed to the strong performance in school, things like, hard work, getting rest, listening, cooperating with classmates, talking clear notes, asking relevant questions, and taking time to get organized.

• Give your child a voice. Ask your child how they think and feel they are doing. Ask them how they feel about their learning. This approach is particularly helpful if you feel your child is struggling or finds school difficult - asking such questions provides the indication that you, as the parent, are ready to listen (as opposed to judge - which is often a child’s big worry). This in turn can set up a scenario where your child is more likely to listen to potential suggestions you may have later. This will also help your child focus on areas of improvement and the notion of working to get better, as well as feeling satisfaction about areas where she/he has excelled.

• Consider talking about the report card while going for a walk, or driving in a car or any other scenario when you both are looking in the same direction rather than eye to eye. This approach can be of particular assistance when talking with a boy.

• Separate your child from the report card. Adults and children alike do not want their self-worth tied into one report. Children and adults alike are so much more than one report.

Wishing you a pleasant Easter / Spring celebration - please be reminded that school resumes for students on Tuesday 18 April 2023.

Be well - sincerely,

Vol 3 Ed 19 2022-2023 SY 31 March 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community, 

• Please be reminded that there are no classes for students on Thursday 6 2023.
• Participating in parent conferences is an example of parent involvement. Balanced parent involvement can result in stronger academic achievement, better learning habits, and decreased behavioural challenges. Indeed, the best predictor of a student’s success in school is not social status or income. The strongest predictors of student success tend to be if a family,
• Eats meals together
• Has a home environment that encourages learning
• Expresses high, yet not unrealistic expectations for children
• Is appropriately involved (i.e. not hovering, yet not laissez-faire) in their child’s education
• Is appropriately involved (i.e. not hovering, yet not laissez-faire) in the community

We are fortunate to have two conference sessions during the school year, as well as back-to-school nights, community meetings, and more, to foster parent involvement at CIS. The first conferences of this school year were in October. The spring conference days are, as noted above, Wednesday 5 April (afterschool) and Thursday 6 April during the day. Please be reminded that on Thursday, 6 April, 2023 there are no classes for students. Families would have already received an email on how to sign-up for the conferences and already scheduled your respective conferences.

To assist with the conferences, below are some tried and true hints. The following suggestions for successful conferences are adapted from the work of Dr. Michael Thompson, noted school psychologist, researcher and author,

• Be on time for conferences and respect time limits.
• Be honest with teachers and make your concerns known in a respectful manner
• Show appreciation for teachers.
• Take time to reflect before the conference and try to prepare specific questions.
• Try to remember that your information probably came through a child’s perspective.
• Try to be open-minded. Listen first, reflect and then act.
• Discuss the issues rather than the teachers.
• It is okay to feel defensive on behalf of your child, but act as an advocate, not an excuse-maker.
• Remember that it is okay to be a real person. It is helpful to let the teacher know that you struggle with parenting; everyone does. The teacher also struggles with teaching (and may be a parent as well).
• Remember that we are all on the same side – we all want each child to be as successful as possible.

Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend - be well.

Sincerely,

Jim

Vol 3 Ed 18 2022-2023 SY 10 March 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community, 

Since the re-enrollment period commenced, a few parents and guardians of students at CIS have raised questions about the 10% tuition increase that has been implemented. In this edition of the Director’s Wave, I aim to address some of the common questions asked regarding this increase.

Yes, the trends in education costs indicate a typical average of 5% increase in education costs each year, excluding inflation rates.

The chart below compares school fees in locations where families move from to the Cayman Islands, as well as regional schools of similar enrollment and similar facilities. Tuition for 2022-2023 SY USD Exchange Rate as of 8 December 2022; Cost of Living Rank best on Numbeo and World Data Info.; Consumer Prices Including Rent as of February 2023 from Numbeo

Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend - be well.

Sincerely,

Jim

Vol 3 Ed 17 2022-2023 SY 3 March 2023 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.”  - Charlotte Whitton (Mayor of Ottawa, 1951-1956; 1960-1964)

Wednesday 8 March is International Women’s Day. The death of Iran’s Mahsa Amini last year is a stark example of how far the world needs to develop to improve the quality of life and opportunities for roughly 50% of the world’s population. According to 2020 research by the Business Insider, the ten best countries to live in if you are a woman are: 10) Austria, 9) Australia, 8) New Zealand, 7) Switzerland, 6) Finland, 5) Canada, 4) Norway, 3) Netherlands, 2) Sweden, 1) Denmark. But, before the above countries feel overly proud it is important to point out that the above countries also have examples of poor records regarding human rights, income equality, progress and safety for women. Imagine the challenges women face in countries and/or locations with limited resources, opportunities for education, human rights violations, income inequality and low availability of health care, in the report ten worst countries to be a woman: Sierra Leone, Sudan, DRC, Chad, South Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan.

 It is no secret that education plays a crucial role in addressing human rights, and the above mentioned issues that women face. The challenge is that inevitably there can be more questions than solutions - more examples of unfairness than fairness. May we as adults work together with our children to better understand issues of human rights, the gender income gap and progress and safety for women.

To lighten the mood of this message, yet still provide food for thought, below is an eight question quiz.

1. Who said … ”Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.”

   1. Charlotte Whitton

   2. Harriet Tubman

   3. Angela Merkel

2. Who said … “When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.”

   1. Helen Keller

   2. Indira Gandhi

   3. Charlotte Whitton

3. Who said … “I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger.”

   1. Harriet Tubman

   2. Angela Merkel

   3. Helen Keller

4. Who said … “There are two kinds of people, those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.”

   1. Indira Gandhi

   2. Charlotte Whitton

   3. Harriet Tubman

5. Women perform the majority of the world’s labour. What percentage of income do they then receive?

   1. 10%

   2. 20%

   3. 30%

6. Who said … “I feel sorry sometimes for these sportsmen and women who put in just as much effort as the footballers. For example, athletes train at least as hard as footballers but have to be happy if they can earn enough to finance a decent education.”

   1. Angela Merkel

   2. Indira Gandhi

   3. Helen Keller

7. The first official International Women’s Day took place in…

   1. 1911

   2. 1926

   3. 1941

8. Keeping in line with the fact it is basketball season on island - which is the most successful basketball team ever?

9. Edmonton Grads

10. Los Angeles Lakers

11. UConn Huskies

Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend - be well.

Sincerely,

Jim

Vol 3 Ed 16 2022-2023 SY 17 February 2023 JU

Something to Ponder

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

Please be reminded students have a mid-term break February 20 to 24, 2023. Please also be reminded that on February 28, 2023, the re-enrollment forms for next school year begin being distributed.

Tuesday was February 14. On this day multiple countries around the world consider this Valentine’s Day. Over time, lore, history and most certainly marketing ploys, Valentine’s Day has morphed into a day to celebrate love. Western pop culture has told us that love is a many-splendored thing and money can’t buy us love. We have asked questions such as, is this love, what is love and what’s love got to do with it? We have also learned that some people can’t help falling in love, love is what you want it to be, you give love a bad name and that others say love stinks. Personally, if love is the subject, at last, I am fortunate to be crazy in love. At last, please note the above comments about love are compliments of the Four Aces, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Haddaway, Tina Turner, Elvis Presely, Alana Myles, Bon Jovi, The J. Geils Band, Odds, Etta James and Beyonce.

Often unfairly maligned when it comes to love, is mathematics. In reality, there is a mathematical formula for love, it is not Love Plus One by Haircut 100, it is, (x2 + y2 - 1)3 - x2y3= 0.  This formula is expressed in the graph you see with this message. Whilst mathematics and music may indeed be universal languages of love, we cannot rule out the written word as a form of expression - just be sure to use proper punctuation when expressing your love in words, as illustrated in the examples below.

Example One - Punctuation use that indicates a love letter.

Dear Jamie,

I want a person who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, and thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other people. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy–will you let me be yours? Sincerely, Alex

Example Two -  The same words, yet with different punctuation, turning a love letter into a break-up letter

Dear Jamie,

I want a person who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, and thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other people, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be? Sincerely, Alex

As far as love goes, if you still haven't found what you’re looking for, I hope you still have a beautiful day.

Be well - wishing you a pleasant weekend - sincerely,

Jim

Vol 3 Ed 15 2022-2023 SY 27 January 2023

 
Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“It [Artificial Intelligence] will either be the best thing that's ever happened to us, or it will be the worst thing. If we're not careful, it may very well be the last thing.” - Attributed to Stephen Hawking

Whilst artificial intelligence (AI) has been with us for over a half century, its visible presence has accelerated the past twenty-five and in 2022 we saw an incredible increase in easy to use, readily accessible sites and apps.

If the movie Terminator or 2001: A Space Odyssey did not surprise you a little bit - perhaps the two quick examples of non-fiction AI generated items below might raise an eyebrow. The text below was generated in 7 seconds by an AI site specializing in written text and essays. I entered the following as a title, “Artificial Intelligence and the Impact on Schools in Relation to Plagiarism.”  The “novel” short essay was created in 7 seconds. To add a little color, I entered the phrase, “Two Triceratops in the City in the Style of Monet.” In 12 seconds the “painting” below was produced. Enjoy …

Two Triceratops in the City in the Style of Monet

Artificial Intelligence and the Impact on Schools in Relation to Plagiarism

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing technology that has revolutionized many industries in the past decade. It has also created a surge of new ideas and technologies. Many believe that this technology will make human intelligence exponentially more powerful. From self-driving cars to facial recognition, AI has already made life easier for humans. It has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our daily lives- including education.

The education sector is one of the most vulnerable to the rise of artificial intelligence due to its extensive use of data collection and processing. Schools use data to evaluate and teach students. This is especially true for English as most schools have a strict policy of teaching English language through a written medium. Consequently, they have extensive data on their students' written works. This data is then processed and used to teach future generations how to write better. AI could provide schools with an easy way to improve their teaching methods through the processing and analysis of educational data.

Depending on how it's used, AI could bring about both positive and negative impacts in this context. For example, plagiarism detection can be enhanced using machine learning algorithms. This way, plagiarism can be detected as early as possible so teachers can address the issue before submitting work themselves. On the other hand, plagiarism may be perpetrated by computer programs that are given access to school data repositories. These programs can copy someone else's work and present it as their own without anyone knowing the difference.

AI may also help mitigate the risk of data fraud by safeguarding all the relevant information related to each student. Data protection is crucial in an education system where students regularly submit assignments and receive grades based on other people's work. Therefore, technological innovations like cloud storage allow users enough space to store vast amounts of information without running out of space. This allows people ample time to alter or delete any data required in a particular investigation- even while it's still being processed. Allowing computer systems ample time to process data may prevent massive scams like the 2016 admissions scam, which stole over $200 million from Chinese university applicants.

The introduction of artificial intelligence in schools has immense potential for both good and evil uses. While AI can help detect forms of education fraud, it may also facilitate new forms of cheating through data manipulation- just like current forms of technology have done for decades with written assignments. Therefore, schools should be aware of how their current practices are affected by technological innovation and adjust their methods accordingly to maximize student safety and success while minimizing bureaucratic interference in student affairs.

Wishing you, and all the algorithms that influence your life directly or indirectly, a pleasant weekend.

Sincerely,

Jim

Vol 3 Ed 14 2022-2023 SY 13 January 2023 

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“You do not have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” - Martin Luther King

Happy New Year - may 2023 be generous to you in health and happiness and opportunities to take “first steps” present themselves. Welcome to the 2023 portion of our school year to our incumbent families and welcome too, to our new students and families who are joining CIS later in January.

Partnership

Partnerships are important in fostering the best learning environment possible. A good partnership requires effective communication. The website is a great resource of information, as is our weekly newsletter (The Weekly Current). Social media and email are other common modes of communication. Our parent conferences and parent coffees are good sources of information, as are our handbooks.. Digital and print resources provide many avenues to communicate, but face-to-face time is still very important. Learning celebrations, sports tournaments, performances, activities, parent meetings and much more, all provide great opportunities to come to CIS.

School Inspection - CIS Rated Excellent

Earlier this school year CIS had a full inspection. This is part of the Cayman Islands protocol in which all schools on island, public, private or otherwise are inspected by external inspectors using the Successful Schools Achieving Students 2 Framework. The Office of Education Standards has posted their report. For our families from the UK, the Cayman Islands inspection is analogous to Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills).

CIS’ rating is excellent, as judged by the inspection team and the Cayman Islands Office of Education Standards. CIS’ Inspection Report is Found Here. This is a testament to the school’s and community’s collective hard work and care in all aspects of the school. After review of the OES website, CIS is the first comprehensive school (Pre-K2 to Grade 12 / Nursery to Year 13) in the Cayman Islands to be judged as excellent.

Health, Safety and Security

• Safety is vital for schools - Each child needs to feel safe physically, socially/emotionally and intellectually to be as successful as possible. The world's complexity and ambiguity only grows –  the notion that we might not remember what we were taught, but we remember how someone made us feel continues to be true.

• Roads and Parking Lot - The weeks of a new calendar year when students school resumes involves families settling and adjusting their routines of student pick-up and drop-off. Inevitably, this means greater traffic in the parking lot and roads near CIS at the start of the school year. Please drive with care, watch for people and be patient with fellow drivers. The speed limit within and around our campus is 15 mph (24 km/h). Our security team and others will be visible in the parking area to assist with the safe flow of cars and people, yet ultimately we count on you to drive with care and courtesy.

Learning - Decreasing Digital Distractions / Appropriate Rest, Nutrition, Exercise

• Digital tools, devices and platforms clearly have a lot of power. Fortunately, much of their power can be leveraged for learning and unfortunately, much of their power can also be deterrents to learning and community. To help further support learning, resilience and community, please be mindful of social media and cell phone use.

• It is unequivocal that proper rest, appropriate nutrition and regular exercise help us learn and contribute positively to physical and social/emotional health. The above can be easier said than done. Nonetheless, please do all you can to ensure your child is well rested, eats well and engages in movement.

Thank you for being part of the CIS Community. On behalf of the CIS team, warm wishes to all students and families in 2023. Wishing you health, happiness, peace and first steps in 2023 - sincerely,

In partnership,

Jim

“Calendars and clocks exist to measure time, but that signifies little because we all know that an hour can seem as eternity or pass in a flash, according to how we spend it.” - Michael Ende

December tends to be a month packed with events, celebrations and more. Many of you have already been to CIS to enjoy the EC Winter Concert, High School Musical 2 Junior, MS / HS Sports Day, mural unveilings, Scrabble Scrum, ES Swim Gala and more this month. Often it is best to relax and enjoy the ride of the wave of December. Looking beyond December, to assist with planning, CIS aims to have school calendars posted as early as feasible. With this in mind, for information and people’s planning purposes please be reminded that the school calendars are posted on the CIS Website.

• CIS Calendar for the 2022-2023 School Year - Official

• CIS Calendar for the 2023-2024 School Year - Official

• CIS Calendar for the 2024-2025 School Year - Official

In March / April each year CIS sends out a community survey to solicit feedback on draft calendars for future school years. Thus in March / April this school year we will send out a survey regarding the draft calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. For some relative time fun, 2025-2026 is the year the current grade nine students graduate and the current Pre-K2 students start kindergarten. Feedback from these surveys help to inform possible changes moving from a draft calendar to an official calendar. For example, some refinements were made based on the calendar surveys sent to staff, students and parents in April 2022 regarding the draft calendars for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 - these include,

• First day of school for students is one day later than the two previous school years

• Winter break is not a full three weeks, yet still a bit longer than other schools on island

• Last day of school for students in one day earlier, this day is a full day rather than a half day

• Autumn PD Day is in September rather than the Friday before the October mid-term break

For those who enjoy further reading, or perhaps merely curious about calendar surveys, below are links to past two calendar surveys.

• Calendar Survey Summary for the 2023-2024 SY Draft Calendar in relation to the draft shared with CIS

• Calendar Survey Summary for the 2024-2025 SY Draft Calendar in relation to the draft shared with CIS

For you who desire more information about the parameters for CIS Calendars or are looking for additional reading to manage insomnia, please see the information after the valediction of this message.

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

____
Calendar Parameters Synopsis

• Minimum of 925 hours of instruction hours for students of mandatory schooling age in The Cayman Islands

• Professional Days

  • Minimum 6 In-service Days before the first days of school for students (includes New Student / Family Orientation)

  • 5 Professional In-Service Days during the school year (If feasible these occur after a weekend or break or are aligned with a public holiday)

• First day of school for students aspires to be in the last full week in August and ends the third full week in June

• Student contact days include parent-teacher-student conference days (if feasible conferences are at least an evening and a full day, i.e. Thursday evening followed by a full day Friday)

• Designated Student Breaks

  • Mid-Term Break (October)

  • Winter Break (December / January and in line with The Cayman Islands Public Holidays for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s)

  • Mid-Term Break (If feasible in line with Cayman Islands Public Holiday for Ash Wednesday)

  • Spring Break (In line with Cayman Islands Public Holiday for Easter)

  • No student school days during the month of July

• Be mindful of Cayman Islands Government School Calendars and Cayman Islands Private Schools Calendars

•  The Cayman Islands Public Holidays are no school for students and staff

  • New Year’s Day - 1 January
  • National Heroes’ Day - The Fourth Monday in January
  • Ash Wednesday - Forty-Six days before Easter Sunday (the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox)
  • Good Friday - The Friday before Easter Sunday
  • Easter Monday - The Monday after Easter Sunday
  • Discovery Day - Third Monday in May
  • Caymanian General Election - In applicable years
  • Monarch’s Birthday - The Monday after the Saturday in June that is designated as the official holiday observance in the UK. Generally the Monday after the second Saturday in June. These will likely change in light Queen Elizabeth II passing and the coronation of King Charles III
  • Constitution Day - The first Monday in July
  • Remembrance Day - Second Monday in November
  • Christmas Day - 25 December
  • Boxing Day - 26 December

• In the event a holiday is declared for participation in local elections, professional staff who are eligible voters in Grand Cayman shall be granted a holiday only when the polling day falls on a regular Monday through Friday workday.

Vol 3 Ed 12 2022-2023 SY 2 December 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“When there is a World Cup the world stops, the country stops, everyone is hugging each other, whether old or young, everyone stops just to enjoy the football.” - Hulk

(please note that this is Hulk the former national player for Brazil and not Hulk of Marvel comic book fame)

The World Cup seems to grab people’s attention around the world - whether one is from a football / soccer passionate nation or not - the joys of the game tends to captivate. Soccer, like most sports, can also be a microcosm of society. It is well documented that soccer around the world is rife with corruption, racism, and disparity. On a more positive note soccer can also be a harbinger of change. Yesterday, the Costa Rica / Germany game was officiated by an all-women referring team. This is a first in men’s World Cup history. Whether this is considered a historical event or an event from the department of “it’s about time,” Stephanie Frappart, Neuza Back and Karen Diaz established a first - and it cannot be lost that this first happened on a world stage in Qatar.

The novelty of the World Cup happening this time of year aside, the month of December also tends to captivate many people due to the festive season. December also happens to be a good time to be mindful of health and safety, in addition to fun, food and festivities.

Health - Seasonal Ills, Rest, Nutrition and Exercise

Sometimes December can signal the arrival of flu season or at least coughs, sniffles and sore throats. As a reminder, the following items are suggested from our health office; wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, get plenty of sleep and exercise, and eat healthily, and cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (or cough or sneeze into your elbow). If one happens to be sick with a flu-like illness, please stay home for at least twenty-four hours after your fever subsides. We appreciate the community’s cooperation when it comes to health.

Health - Rest, Nutrition and Exercise

It is unequivocal that proper rest, appropriate nutrition and regular exercise help us learn and contribute positively to physical and social/emotional health. The above can be easier said than done. Nonetheless, please do all you can to ensure your child is well rested, eats well and engages in movement. This can be especially challenging as the festive season tends to involve social events.

Safety - Hurricane Season

December marks the end of hurricane season in our part of the world. Indeed, the wonderful “winter” breezes are with us already. In the rare event that there is a hurricane after December 1, please note that CIS follows recommendations and announcements made by the Governor, the National Hazard Management Council, and the Ministry of Education in the event that schools are to be closed due to tropical storm warnings and potential developments into hurricane conditions.

Safety - Roads, Parking and Traffic

Roads and Parking Lot - In 2021 the RCIPS attended to 2,633 motor vehicle accidents. This included 9 fatalities and 27 people suffering serious injury. There are more cars in the Cayman Islands than people. The high season of tourism also means more vehicles on the road. Please drive with care, watch for people and be patient with fellow drivers, especially around the school. Our security team and others are visible in the parking area to assist with the safe flow of cars and people, yet ultimately we count on you to drive with care and courtesy.

• On and around campus there are Accessible Parking Spaces, Expectant Mother Parking Spaces, and Visitor Parking Spaces.  The spaces are not to be used by people without accessibility issues, who are not expecting and who are not visitors to the school.
• Please drive with care, watch for pedestrians and be patient with fellow drivers.
• The speed limit within and around our campus is 15 mph 24 km/h.
• Please heed the 3-way stops entering the school.

Safety - Drills

The following is a reminder from our August welcome letters. Safety is vital for schools. All CIS faculty and staff engage in emergency procedure training and review. Schools in the Cayman Islands are required to conduct safety drills on a regular basis, in fact schools are required to conduct a minimum of 10 fire drills per school year, in addition to other drills such as earthquake and lockdown drills. Our first drills each school year are done during inservice days with staff only. Subsequent drills happen with students. These happen on a rotation of fire drills, earthquake and tsunami drills and lockdown drills.

• Earthquake and Tsunami Drills - Initial earthquake drills do not include a tsunami component. Subsequent earthquake drills include a tsunami warning component which involves all people on campus moving to designated second and third story areas on campus.

• Lockdown Drills - Two types of lockdown drills happen at schools. Lockdown 1 refers to practice if there is a dangerous situation near the school but off campus. Lockdown 2 refers to practice if there is a dangerous situation on school grounds.

  • In 2021 there were 809 violent crimes recorded in the Cayman Islands. 55 of these were designated as crimes of serious violence. There were 1,735 domestic violence referrals and 1,399 child safeguarding referrals.

• Fire Drills - Over the course of the school year the complexity of fire drills tend to increase. For example, early in the school year fire drills happen during more predictable times such as when all students are in class. Later in the school year, practice can happen during lunches or other transition times.

  • In 2018, the CIFS dealt with 1,686 incidents of which 44 were structural fires.

Early in the school year, the school calmly announces the purpose of the drill, prior to the start of a drill. As noted above, as the school year progresses drills tend to be conducted in more complex scenarios and less preamble before the drill to ensure the school is prepared as best as possible in the event of an emergency. After each drill the school's Crisis Management Team (CMT) meets in order to look for ways to further enhance the safety of our students and staff should the rare occasion arise that a live emergency situation happens.

Whatever your plans may be as we enter December, may you enjoy the festivities of the season, whilst being alert and mindful of personal and community health and safety. If you are looking to enjoy some musical and artistic stylings of our students - December is concert and musical season too. This all starts tonight with High School Musical 2 Junior - it's fabulous.

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 11 2022-2023 SY 25 November 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself” - Tecumseh

Yesterday evening 152 CIS staff and family members participated in a potluck meal. Whilst yesterday is designated as Thanksgiving in the United States of America - one hopes that the notion of gratitude transcends national boundaries. In testament to the above, at the potluck there were staff members of 18 different nationalities.

Certainly thanks and gratitude is something that one hopes happens year round - rather than just on designated days depending on your country of origin. A Forbes magazine article boasted seven scientifically proven benefits of gratitude.

Five of the seven purported benefits of showing gratitude include;

• Improving physical health

  • Grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health and be physically active.

• Improving psychological health

  • Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, ranging from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. 

• Enhancing empathy and reducing aggression

  • People ranking higher on grateful scales tend to experience more sensitivity and empathy toward other people and decreased desire to seek revenge.

• Sleeping better

  • Spending just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and a person may sleep better and longer.

    • Of course, a skeptic might say, “hey, I just lost 15 minutes of sleep because I was writing.”

• Increasing mental strength

  • Recognizing what one has to be thankful for can foster resilience.

Thanks / Gratitude is one of the few things in life that can be truly shared. For example, yesterday, a colleague shared two cupcakes with me. While this was lovely (despite my desire to someday fit into my non-stretchy waist pants), technically these cupcakes were not wholly shared (I had two cupcakes and my colleague had two cupcakes - please note these were mini-cupcakes). Thus, in reality, the sharing resulted in my colleague having 50% less of their yummy cupcakes and my having the unexpected benefit of two cupcakes.

Gratitude and thanks, on the other hand, can be wholly shared. When one gives thanks, a person does not lose a portion of their gratitude. For example, when a person shares thanks they do not have 50% less thanks, the person still has 100% thanks and indeed the other person gains 100% of this thanks. Considering this fun math, being thankful can be fully and wholly shared. With this in mind, may you find the time this weekend to share a thank you with an acquaintance, a colleague, a friend and a family member.

Be well - with gratitude - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 10 2022-2023 SY 11 November 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“An eye for an eye only ends up making the world blind.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Currently, there are at least 10 wars happening in the world, many more when considering terrorist insurgencies and ethnic violence. The most prominent war in the western news is the invasion of Ukraine. Emphasizing the paramountcy of peace, please note the Cayman Islands observes Remembrance Day on Monday 14 November this year.

Remembrance Day -  Depending on your country of origin you may also know the day as Veteran’s Day or Armistice Day or 11 November or perhaps by another name. Regardless of the name, this is a time to pause in memory of those who lost their lives in military service whilst serving their country. Red Poppies are a symbol of this homage. The poppy often accompanies the phrase “lest we forget.” Remembrance Day ceremonies often include the poem In Flanders Fields (shared below).

Over time, Remembrance Day has also become a day to remind us of the importance of peace as well as service. Each year around Remembrance Day, forlornly, rarely does a day go by that we are not reminded that the world needs more peace and, for that matter, kindness. For those of us fortunate enough to live in relatively peaceful places, Remembrance Day may also remind us of the many wonderful things in our lives and the opportunities available to our children. Our children, here in the CIS community, are growing up without the immediate presence of conflict or war, food instability or barriers to education. Remembrance Day is a day to appreciate the wonders of our world and lives - to pay homage to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in hopes of making the world a better place for future generations – to think and act on what we may do as individuals or groups in service, to make the world a better place.

Each year to support remembering those who have fallen, CIS participates in the annual Poppy Appeal, lead by our grade five students. You may have noticed the signs related to this at school and around the island - perhaps you have provided a small donation in order to get a poppy of your own. The poppies distributed throughout the island are donated by the Royal British Legion and the Royal Canadian Legion. Money collected in the Cayman Islands during the Poppy Appeal remains in the Islands to assist the members of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association.

Please be reminded that there is no school for students on Monday 14 November as the Cayman Islands observes Remembrance Day.

In partnership and peace,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 9 2022-2023 SY 25 October 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if you don't have the first, the other two will kill you.” - Warren Buffett

School Inspection Update

Last month, CIS had a full inspection. This is part of the Cayman Islands protocol in which all schools on island, public, private or otherwise are inspected by external inspectors using the Successful Schools Achieving Students 2 Framework. The Office of Education Standards has posted their report.

CIS’ rating is excellent, as judged by the inspection team and the Cayman Islands Office of Education Standards  – CIS’ Inspection Report is Found Here.

This is a testament to the school’s and community’s collective hard work and care in all aspects of the school. To the best of my knowledge, and a quick review of the OES website, CIS is the first comprehensive school (Pre-K2 to Grade 12 / Nursery to Year 13) in the Cayman Islands to be judged as excellent.

Recruiting

Recruiting, developing and retaining excellent staff that inspire students, colleagues and the broader CIS community is extremely important – many school heads argue that this is the most important thing they do. The recruiting season is complex, exciting, ongoing, and time consuming. CIS takes great care in its recruiting, using a variety of protocols, as mentioned above, in order to ensure our faculty and staff is aligned with our principles (kindness, partnership, sustainability, good intent), appreciative of our mission (connect, inspire, serve) and dedicated to global citizenship. Throughout the school year CIS reviews and meets with people applying to our school for faculty and staff positions that may open up. October to March are usually considered the busiest months with respect to recruiting. The market for international teachers is very competitive and continues to be more so each year. The rise in inflation worldwide, and here at home will assist in making this recruiting season interesting.

The ISC Research Group (a research group focusing on international school markets), reports there were just over 5 million students attending 9,484 international schools worldwide with a combined faculty of 467,262. International schools are located in almost all countries in the world. Pre-pandemic projections indicated that by 2025 there will be over 11,000 international schools. To get a sense of the growth, in 2000 there were only about 2,500 international schools with a combined enrollment of about 1.0 million students, who were primarily expatriates. Much of the growth is being attributed to the expansion of for profit schools. In 2000 roughly 75% of international schools were not-for-profit and 25% for profit. Today the numbers are essentially reversed - roughly 20% of international schools are nonprofit (CIS being a not-for-profit school), and 80% for profit.

With this competitive market in mind CIS has already begun its formal recruiting, reviewing and hiring process. In fact, earlier this week was one of our internal dates for incumbent faculty to indicate their hopes/plans for the next school year.  CIS recruits candidates using a variety of methods including recruiting agencies, job fairs, HR services and word of mouth to name a few. CIS is fortunate to be governed by ISS (International Schools Services) which is one of the largest international teacher recruitment agencies in the world. Our process includes extensive review of paperwork, security checks, police checks, interviews, practice lessons and thorough reference checking, just to share a brief overview of the process.

 Anticipated openings for the 2023-2024 school year will be posted on our website, with ISS, Schrole and with WORC (Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman). The past 25 years have seen the heaviest recruiting month creep earlier and earlier from late February to October. The past two - three years things are different with the recruiting season anticipated to be longer and later as people and schools manage the challenges the pandemic has presented. CIS is fortunate to garner interest from candidates. This is reassuring, especially when considering the competitive market for teachers, and whilst the Cayman Islands is an attractive location, as is CIS, the cost of living on island presents a significant recruiting challenge - thus creating a discrepancy in standard of living relative to other international schools. Many other schools are situated in locations with a desirable climate, have strong resources, have government to government agreements involving no income taxes for educators, and are in large capital cities. Thus, our perennial challenge is to ensure our professional climate at CIS is an environment in which current and future staff wish to serve.

Wishing you a pleasant weekend - be well - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 8 2022-2023 SY 14 October 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers. - Socrates (circa 420 BC)

Thank you for participating in the conferences Thursday, as well as Wednesday evening. The school parent partnership is very important for our collective learning.

Being a parent is difficult and so is being a child.  As I become older - and perhaps grouchier and perhaps happier (and hopefully more reflective too) - I am becoming more convinced that we as parents inadvertently make our children’s life more difficult because we have difficulty finding the balance between being not involved enough and too involved. On island, we see examples of students having a roof over their head, food on the table and a nice phone and car yet absent parenting. On the other hand, our island also has plentiful examples of parents being too involved or knowledgeable of our children’s lives. Parents often know what their child is doing each waking moment. Children may be over-scheduled with adult-lead activities. Adults are quick to jump in to attempt to solve issues for their child. There is a fast growing body of evidence that the above, all with good intentions, are doing a disservice to our children. Indeed, young students today (whether in kindergarten or in university) as a whole, demonstrate less independence than say we did when we were younger, and certainly our own parents and grandchildren. Some researchers attribute this to the notion of Play Deficit Disorder. Children in developed countries today play less than children of previous generations. At play, many important life lessons tend to be learnt in an authentic setting through trial and error, taking initiative, creating, having time to reflect and solve things by oneself or with peers rather than having an adult step in (arguably too quickly). Indeed, at play, people develop emotionally, physically and intellectually and socially.

While the western world may have coined the term Play Deficit Disorder. Some parts of the eastern world have coined the phrase, “High Scores Low Ability,” referring to long term results of children spending most of their time studying to attain high scores on tests - that in the grand scheme of things have limited relevance to “real-life”. The result being that children have less time to be independent, creative and to find ways to solve complex social issues on their own or with their peers.

The life lessons of play help young people (and older people for that matter) grapple with important life skills of honesty, humility, bravery, empathy and respect. These important lessons can be learnt about in a class or adult organized setting, however, they can be truly experienced and internalized in the setting of play. For example, long term studies over the past 60 years in the USA show that accompanying the decline in play there has been a steady decline in empathy, as well as a steady rise in anxiety disorders and narcissism in students.

If the notion of Play Deficit Disorder or High Scores Low Ability has some attribution to having generation(s) of anxiety ridden narcissists who lack empathy, then I am worried for sure. If play helps galvanize lessons of empathy, humility, honesty, bravery and respect, then I certainly look forward to seeing parents and schools appreciating the value of play.

Wishing you a pleasant weekend and please be reminded that school for students resumes on October 24 2022 after the half-term break.

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 7 2022-2023 SY 7 October 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts. – Robert Fulghum

Conferences

Wednesday, October 12 afterschool (3:30pm to 7:00pm) and Thursday, October 13 all-day (8:00am to 4:00pm)

Participating in parent conferences is an example of parent involvement. Balanced parent involvement can result in stronger academic achievement, better learning habits, and decreased behavioral challenges. Indeed, the best predictor of a student’s success in school is not social status or income. The strongest predictors of student success tend to be if a family,

• Eats meals together
• Has a home environment that encourages learning
• Expresses high, yet not unrealistic expectations for children
• Is appropriately involved (i.e. not hovering or helicoptering, yet not laissez-faire) in their child’s education
• Is appropriately involved (i.e. not hovering, yet not laissez faire) within the community

We are fortunate to have two formal conference sessions during the school year, as well back-to-evenings, community learning meetings, and more, to foster parent involvement at CIS, in addition to the weekly newsletter (The Weekly Current). The first conferences of this school year are Wednesday, October 12, 2022 Afterschool to 7:00pm and Thursday, October 13, 2022 8:00am to 4:00pm. Please be reminded that on Thursday, October 13, 2022 there are no classes for students. Prior to the conferences you will receive communication on how to sign-up for the conferences.

What are some hints to help the conferences be helpful for me, the teacher, and my child?

• To assist with the conferences, below are some tried and true hints.

  • Be on time for conferences and respect time limits.
  • Be honest with teachers and make your concerns known in a respectful manner.
  • Show appreciation for teachers.
  • Take time to reflect before the conference and try to prepare specific questions.
  • Try to be open-minded. Listen first, reflect and then act.
  • Discuss the issues rather than the teachers.
  • It is okay to feel defensive on behalf of your child, but act as an advocate, not an excuse-maker.
  • Remember that it is okay to be a real person. It is helpful to let the teacher know that you struggle with parenting; everyone does. The teacher also struggles with teaching (and may be a parent as well).
  • Remember that we are all on the same side – we all want each child to be as successful as possible.

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 6 2022-2023 SY 30 September 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

"There is a cliched unwritten school/home agreement in every country…”If parents promise not to believe everything their child says happens at school – the school promises not to believe everything your child says happens at home.” – Anonymous

Conferences

Wednesday, October 12 afterschool (3:30pm to 7:00pm) and Thursday, October 13 all-day (8:00am to 4:00pm)

Participating in parent conferences is an example of parent involvement. Balanced parent involvement can result in stronger academic achievement, better learning habits, and decreased behavioural challenges. Indeed, the best predictor of a student’s success in school is not social status or income. The strongest predictors of student success tend to be if a family,

• Eats meals together
• Has a home environment that encourages learning
• Expresses high, yet not unrealistic expectations for children
• Is appropriately involved (i.e. not hovering or helicoptering, yet not laissez-faire) in their child’s education
• Is appropriately involved (i.e. not hovering, yet not laissez faire) within the community

We are fortunate to have two formal conference sessions during the school year, as well back-to-evenings, community learning meetings, and more, to foster parent involvement at CIS, in addition to the weekly newsletter (The Weekly Current). The first conferences of this school year are Wednesday, October 12, 2022 Afterschool to 7:00pm and Thursday, October 13, 2022 8:00am to 4:00pm. Please be reminded that on Thursday, October 13, 2022 there are no classes for students. Prior to the conferences you will receive communication on how to sign-up for the conferences.

What are some hints to help the conferences be helpful for me, the teacher, and my child?

• To assist with the conferences, below are some tried and true hints.
  • Be on time for conferences and respect time limits.
  • Be honest with teachers and make your concerns known in a respectful manner.
  • Show appreciation for teachers.
  • Take time to reflect before the conference and try to prepare specific questions.
  • Try to be open-minded. Listen first, reflect and then act.
  • Discuss the issues rather than the teachers.
  • It is okay to feel defensive on behalf of your child, but act as an advocate, not an excuse-maker.
  • Remember that it is okay to be a real person. It is helpful to let the teacher know that you struggle with parenting; everyone does. The teacher also struggles with teaching (and may be a parent as well).
  • Remember that we are all on the same side – we all want each child to be as successful as possible.

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 5 2022-2023 SY 23 September 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud” - Maya Angelou

As you know we are entering the more active part of storm season. Whether you are experienced in living in a storm region or you are newer to living in a storm region - below are some frequently asked questions to help with understanding with respect to storms, the Cayman Islands, schools and CIS, specifically.

Please tell me about CIS actions in relation to hurricane season.

• Please be reminded that CIS will be in line with recommendations and announcements made by the Ministry of Education and information from Hazard Management Cayman Islands in the event that schools are to be closed due to tropical storm warnings and potential developments into hurricane conditions.
• CIS receives notices from, and is in communication with, the Ministry of Education regarding mandates, direction and guidelines regarding school closures and openings during storm season.
  • The above is also in conjunction with their communication with Hazard Management Cayman Islands and the Governor’s Office.

Storms vary in magnitude, timing and direction. Sometimes schools, services and offices etc. are advised to be closed yet a storm changes direction and we end up with just a blustery day.

• Decisions with respect to storms and schools on the Cayman Islands are made with abundance of caution in mind. Hurricane Ivan (September 2004) remains, and for good reason, deep in the psyche of the Cayman Islands. The more recent Tropical Storm / Hurricane Grace (August 2021) is an example of a seemingly innocuous storm gaining strength and causing considerable damage.
• Indeed it can be frustrating when the direction is that schools are to be closed and a storm passes us by or does not materialize as originally projected by authorities. Thus, creating the scenario of having no school for students on what could amount to merely a blustery day. People who have lived in the Cayman Islands or other storm susceptible regions for an extended period of time have no doubt experienced this.
• It is frustrating for schools to close for sure. Since storm related decisions in the Cayman Islands are made with an abundance of caution in mind, the Cayman Islands and its schools choose to err on safety prudence. The notion is that it is better to have the frustration of a blustery day and no school, than to have school and have flooding, debris, traffic dangers and potential injury because a storm changed direction and schools remain open.

  • In the case of CIS over 3500 people have a schedule interruption in the event of a school closure, informed in advance or otherwise (in the case of emergencies such as an earthquake or fire).

• Of course, when an announcement is made that schools are to be closed and weather changes overnight and a storm passes, the benefits / debates of hindsight can begin. This can certainly happen if an All Clear announcement is made for the Cayman Islands the morning of a day when schools were announced the previous day to be closed. When this happens the schools and the Ministry of Education weigh in multiple factors, such as;

  • The timing of the All Clear, events scheduled on island, family plans made in light of storm warnings (i.e. child care, work schedules, time with children, clean-up, etc.) 
  • Availability of staff (i.e. child care issues (particularly, if some schools are open and some are closed in case of flooding or power outages or water outages).
  • Home flooding, transport issues of CIS community.
  • Cleaning protocols that may have been interrupted.
  • Differences in power outages and other disrupted services around the island.
  • Many of the above items may still affect people despite an All Clear. Such as conducting a comprehensive review of school infrastructure for function and safety (i.e. clean-up of debris, leaks, power supply, connectivity etc.). 

• Thus a decision to remain closed as per prior announcements or to reopen on short notice (if there is good fortune for a storm to pass) is not taken lightly. If there has already been an announcement that schools will be closed, it is unlikely that such a decision will be reversed. In an effort to best balance information, communities’ diverse wishes and certainly people’s safety. CIS is reviewing its processes taking a best account possible in the future event of an early All Clear announcement. Of course noting that when an All Clear announcement is made by the Cayman Islands, they are also managing multiple interests such as, businesses possibly being anxious to open, environmental, utilities and safety authorities possibly preferring to delay an All Clear until risk assessments are thoroughly checked and double checked.

If there is a school closure does CIS need make-up days?

• No - CIS has between 1,100 and 1,300 hours depending on the age group. This number does not include extracurricular activities and enrichment activities in which students participate. Thus, it is highly unlikely that we will need to make up for any lost time in the event of a school closure because we already intentionally exceed the minimum legal requirements on island (which is 925 hours of compulsory age instruction time).

  • In the event of lengthy school closures due to a hurricane of great magnitude, or lengthy school closures due to other reasons - then the school may need to consider additional school days.

When is hurricane season and what does an average hurricane season look like?

• The Atlantic Hurricane Season is six months and is considered 1 June to 30 November. Please know that storms can form outside of this season on occasion.
• 2020 was the most active year in recorded history for hurricanes in the Atlantic. The trend is that the number of hurricanes each year is increasing and it is anticipated that the 2020’s will be very active.

I am new to the Cayman Islands and hear terms like depression, tropical storm, categories etc. What do these mean?

• Tropical depressions and tropical storms are types of tropical cyclones. A depression has winds up to 38 miles/ hour (61 kilometres / hour). A tropical storm has wind speeds of 39 to 73 miles / hour (62 to 118 kilometres / hour). A tropical depression and a tropical storm have an identified centre.
• These tropical cyclones (depressions and storms) become a hurricane if there are sustained winds of 74 miles / hours (119 kilometres / hour). The categories or rankings of hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson Scale are as follows,
  • Category 1 - 74 to 95 miles / hour (119 to 153 Kilometres / hour).
  • Category 2 - 96 to 110 miles / hour (154 to 177 Kilometres / hour).
  • Category 3 - 111 to 130 miles / hour (155 to 209 Kilometres / hour).
  • Category 4 - 131 to 155 miles / hour (209 to 249 Kilometres / hour).
  • Category 5 - 156 miles / hour or greater (250 Kilometres / hour or greater.
  • Categories 3, 4 and 5 are considered major or intense hurricanes.

In the Cayman Islands I hear people mention Hurricane Ivan or Hurricane Paloma, why are hurricanes named?

• A tropical cyclone is given a name when it becomes a tropical storm (thus tropical depressions are not given names). It is easier to keep track of and remember the name of a storm rather than its positioning by latitude and longitude. Naming storms also helps limit confusion when there is more than one storm or hurricane happening at the same time.
• The names of English, Spanish and French origin. They are given in alphabetical order except the letters Q, U, X, Y and Z.
• Some storm names are retired. This is when a storm caused so much destruction that it would be insensitive or confusing to use the name again. For example, the names Ivan and Paloma are retired.

What are some recommended sources of information regarding storm preparation and management?

• Hazard Management Cayman Islands: http://www.caymanprepared.gov.ky
• Cayman Islands National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov.ky
• National Hurricane Centre: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

People and organizations rely heavily on power and connectivity to get information. How can I stay informed if power and communications go down?

Given that we do live in the tropics, it is also helpful to be familiar with storm watch / warning flags at some point. They get raised at all government buildings and other key strategic locations on all 3 islands (Grand Cayman Island, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman). These flags are also hoisted by police at the same time the warning is being announced.

In Cayman, seeing two red triangular flags with black squares in the middle lets you know a tropical storm warning is in effect. For hurricanes, the flags are square. The range of flags and what they all mean is below should it be helpful.

Tropical Storm Signal Flags

• Tropical Storm Alert

  • Storm threat more than 36 hours away.

  • Flag Description: One triangular red flag.

• Tropical Storm Watch

  • Storm threat 24 to 36 hours away.

  • Flag Description: One triangular red flag with a black square in the centre.

• Tropical Storm Warning

  • Storm conditions expected within 24 hours.

  • Flag Description: Two triangular red flags with black square in the centre.

• All Clear

  • The storm has passed, but still use caution.

  • Flag Description: One triangular green flag.

Hurricane Signal Flags

• Hurricane Alert

  • Hurricane threat more than 36 hours away.

  • Flag Description: One square red flag.

• Hurricane Watch

  • Hurricane threat 24 to 36 hours away.

  • Flag Description: One square red flag with a black square in the centre.

• Hurricane Warning

  • Hurricane conditions expected within 24 hours.

  • Flag Description: Two square red flags with a black square in the centre.

• All Clear

  • The hurricane has passed, but still use caution.

  • Flag Description: One square green flag.

I trust the above information is of some assistance. Again, please know that it is school as usual on Monday unless otherwise informed via email from CIS. Wishing you a dry weekend and a good start to your autumn season.

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 4 2022-2023 SY 16 September 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“It is through this lens of history that we should view the conflicts of today, and so give us hope for tomorrow.” - Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II

One of the banes of being human is the desire to make meaning. One such example is the shift from the prominence of intelligence quotient (IQ) to emotional intelligence(EQ) to Intelligence (CQ). We have noticed shifts from emotional intelligence to social intelligence. And in recent years we have seen movement to the prominence of cultural intelligence. A balance of all of these is paramount for us as individuals in society to hopefully leave our world a better place for younger people. Indeed sometimes people hit the mark in this regard and other times people miss. The Cayman Islands’ setting of being a physical island and having a mix of people - highlights the value and importance of a competent mix of emotional and cultural intelligence. These elements are key aspects of communication. Elements of communication that in many ways were epitomized by Her Majesty The Queen.

Richard D. Lewis and his organization have studied communication patterns, in particular cross-cultural communication, leadership styles and cultural identity in relation to communication. In his book, “When Cultures Collide,” cultural communication patterns as well as cultural leadership styles are diagrammed. Of course, there are great individual differences within the way a culture communicates - exceptions abound. And looking deeply into culture can be risky on many levels. Lewis does point out however, that there is evidence of cultural norms in the way we communicate. With this in mind, and considering our school is Cayman International School. I thought you may find the diagrams below (from “When Cultures Collide” and also appearing in the Business Insider - Diagrams of Communication Patterns from Around the World.

Wishing everyone a pleasant long weekend - please be reminded that there is no school for students on Monday 19 September as the Cayman Islands mourns the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

Be well - sincerely,

 Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 3 2022-2023 SY 9 September 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

"It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change." - Queen Elizabeth II

With respect to wisdom she shared, “Let us not take ourselves too seriously. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom.”

In managing difficult times and garnering strength she remarked, “We all need to get the balance right between action and reflection. With so many distractions it is easy to forget to pause and take stock.”

Her community mindedness is illustrated in her comment that, “family does not necessarily mean blood relatives, but often a description of a community, organization, or a nation.”

Wishing you a good weekend and in a quiet moment, may we find the time to appreciate and reflect on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s grace, wisdom and strength.

Be well - sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 2 2022-2023 SY 2 September 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” -  Bob Talber

The notion of teaching them what counts resonates deeply with me on a professional level, and is heightened this time of year on a personal level, entering my fourth year as an ‘empty nester.’ My wife and I live roughly a 10.5 hour trip from our son and an 11.5 hour trip from our daughter. In referencing the above quotation, the good news is that our children can count very well, have completed their undergraduate degrees, and have secured scholarships for further study. This is all fine, however, as I write this (secretly hoping my children might send a snapchat or bereal) I can assure you their academic performance is not top of mind. What is going through my mind, as well as the minds of the other empty nesters (of which we have many newly minted empty nesters in the broader CIS Community), I have met along the way, are all the things related to what counts and what matters in life. I, like the other parents, know the academic part of learning will fall into place - and naturally we all want our children to do as well as they can in their studies and in their careers, jobs and passion projects. What actually is on the collective parental minds though are concepts related to independence, good decision-making, happiness, safety and health. And of course, for many in our CIS Community, not having our children at home - means less chairs at the supper table each evening. This is life I suppose - yet I am sure that at this time of year in the northern hemisphere there are thousands of parents (and siblings for that matter) wishing that chairs at the dinner table were not empty and hoping very hard that their children (now well into the journey of ‘adulting’) are making wise decisions, having fun, being kind to others, being healthy and being good global citizens.

Parent Involvement

Teaching children what counts is a team effort. A team requires many people, a lot of effort, and involves hard work. It inherently encompasses mistakes along the way too. Thus helping our children understand, appreciate and act on what counts requires a strong school / parent partnership. To be sure, success in school is measured not just by academic standing, but also via social-emotional health, engagement in the arts, athletics and service and much more. Arguably these are the realms where our children practice, first hand, skills like, managing independence, coping when things don’t go one’s way, developing decision-making skills and doing the right thing when no one is looking - the things that count. Indeed, we have all come across children and adults for that matter who carry themselves in an oddly entitled manner - sometimes demonstrating questionable decision-making and habits. Thus perhaps underscoring the importance and value and notion of “teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” 

Parent involvement in a child’s learning is important, and certainly varies from age group to age group. It requires a fine balance. Too little and too much parent involvement is detrimental to student growth. The art is in finding the right balance – and, of course, this too varies from child to child too.

Two forms of parental involvement consistently show a positive effect on student success. One is attending school information sessions such as orientations. When parents attend information sessions, and other similar types of orientation, students tend to have higher rates of school work completion. In fact, when parents participate in school events their children tend to have a student work completion rate 15% to 20% higher than students whose parent(s) did not attend such an event.

The other form of parent involvement that consistently helps students is having family suppers or meals. Our busy lives often get in the way of the ritual/tradition of eating a meal together. Children who are in an environment in which their family regularly eat meals together (three or more times a week), tend to have stronger academic achievement, lower instances of substance abuse, less behavioral issues, and are more likely to complete high school and / or post-secondary education, and tend to participate in service to others as well as themselves.

On behalf of the CIS team, thank you to our parents for engaging in the school / parent partnership. Below are just a handful of examples I have already observed in the first week of school.

• Introducing yourself to your child’s teachers, teaching assistants and other staff members at back-to-school evenings.

• Returning parents introducing themselves to new families to the school at the welcome back BBQ.

• Asking your child questions about the strengths / dangers of social media.

• Talking with your child about prudent health habits around hygiene, rest, food and exercise.

• Listening to our children and not just telling them exactly what to do when a difficult situation arises or coming to their  immediate ‘rescue’ without taking time to pause or letting them find a viable solution or sometimes better yet, having to manage fitting consequences.

Indeed, children's attitudes towards school, their engagement, achievement, attendance, motivation, self-concept, and behaviors are influenced by the attitudes of their parents towards learning and school. CIS is very thankful for the hard work of our parents in support of young people.

Wishing you a good weekend and a smooth start to the month of September - may you have the opportunity to have a meal together with your child, in partnership,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 3 Ed 1 2022-2023 SY 26 August 2022 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud” - Maya Angelou

The first week of each school year is a gift of renewal – it is an annual revitalization filled with anticipation. From early childhood students cautious to leave parents for the first time … to high school students who are eager to leave their parents to reunite with friends … to staff excited about the new year...to parents experiencing a swirl of pride, excitement and trepidation - the anticipation of the first day / week / month of school is one of the many joys of serving in education.

Communication and Contact Details

Collectively, we are fortunate to be part of the CIS community. Our principles of kindness, sustainability, good intent and partnership aid our students’ and community’s growth. Partnerships are crucial in creating the best learning environment possible. A key component of a good partnership is effective communication. It is important that the information that we have about your children is kept current and updated. This helps the school share your child’s progress, as well as fostering a greater sense of community. The CIS Weekly Current (our weekly newsletter that goes out on Fridays during the school year) is an excellent source of information. The electronic age helps communication (or possibly creates communication clutter), yet face to face time still remains paramount. I hope to see you at school for the following events.

• Welcome Back BBQ - Saturday 27 August @ 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• Elementary School Back-to-School Night - Tuesday 30 August @ 5:30 pm

• Middle School Back-to-School Night - Thursday 1 September @ 5:30 pm

• Early Childhood Back-to-School Night - Tuesday 6 September @ 5:30 pm

• High School Back-to-School Night - Thursday 8 September @ 5:30 pm

• Conferences

  • Wednesday 12 October - afterschool to 7:00 pm

  • Thursday 13 October - 8:00 am to 4:00 pm - NB: No classes for students on this day

Health

Edward Stanley noted that those who think they have no time for exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. Also related to health, it is highly recommended that students bring a filled water bottle to school. To support broader community health, if your child has a fever or is ill, please have them stay at home until they are feeling better. If you have health questions, please feel free to contact  Nurse Ann Thomas at ann.thomas@cis.ky.

It is unequivocal that proper rest, appropriate nutrition and regular exercise help us learn and contribute positively to physical and social/emotional health. The above can be easier said than done. Nonetheless, please do all you can to ensure your child is well rested, eats well and engages in movement.

Safety

Unfortunately, traffic accidents are a notable cause of injury and death in the Cayman Islands. Fortunately, road and traffic safety can be greatly controlled as individuals. The first days of school also involve families setting and adjusting their routines of student pick-up and drop-off. Inevitably this means greater traffic in the parking lot and roads near CIS, and all schools for that matter, at the start of the school year.

• Please drive with care, watch for pedestrians and be patient with fellow drivers.

• The speed limit within and around our campus is 15 mph 24 km/h.

• Please heed the 3-way stops entering the school.

Our security team and others will be visible in the parking area to assist with the safe flow of cars and people, yet ultimately we count on you to drive with care and courtesy.

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes - Tropical storm and hurricane season is June to November in the Cayman Islands. To help with community understanding regarding this season, the following link addresses frequently asked questions regarding  tropical storm and hurricane season in relation to CIS.

Learning

CIS continues to grow and evolve to continually improve to enhance learning across different time periods, within different buildings and across changing environmental and economic settings. The reverse is true too, in that the CIS community has also adjusted to changes in education and the reality of being a diverse school that is mission driven. We must continue to anticipate what our students today will need for tomorrow’s world. The challenge of course being that the future is the hardest thing to predict.

We also need to make good use of what we know about how students learn; processes and approaches that are often different from those used in the recent past. Some might argue that even more important than learning, is the ability or comfort with “unlearning” and being comfortable with ambiguity. This requires our school (and education in general) to better leverage the learning implications of current brain research, new knowledge in the field of child development, and balancing what may be important to adults with what may be the passions of children. The world’s knowledge now doubles so rapidly that it is not uncommon for things learned in the first year of university to be obsolete by the time a student enters their final year. With the above in mind, schools have become more complex, elements of parenting have changed and the nature of young people’s lives certainly continues to change. Indeed, change has become the default. We do know that our community principles of kindness, partnership, sustainability and good intent, as well as our definition of learning focused around concepts, competency and character are elements that transcend time and help our students to manage change and be strong global citizens.

Wishing you all the best in the new school year, in partnership,

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School