Vol 5 Ed 7 2024-2025 SY 4 October 2024 JU

Vol 5 Ed 6 2024-2025 SY 27 September 2024 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.” - Robert Frost.

“Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get.” - Mark Twain

This past week was an unusual scenario, (as is often the case when it comes to weather and climate) because the system was moving slow and was slow to develop and school campuses were closed in the Cayman Islands. I am guessing this is very little consolation for the people in Florida at the moment. You are invited to complete this short survey - Post Recent Inclement Weather Survey.

The body of today’s contribution to the Director’s Wave focusses on two recently trending topics - school closures due to weather and remote learning related to short-term school closures.

School Closures Due to Weather

Storms vary in magnitude, timing and direction and change. 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 remains, and for good reason, deep in the psyche of the Cayman Islands. The projections that this year’s hurricane season will be particularly active does not help allay concerns for some. Sometimes a seemingly  innocuous storm gaining strength can cause considerable damage. Conversely, sometimes what is reported by meteorologists and professional climate agencies to be emerging storms for a particular area, change direction.

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 professional climate agencies and authorities. Thus the scenario of there being 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-as what happened most recently on Monday.

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 3,500 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 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), home flooding, transport issues etc. may still affect people despite and All Clear, 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. Of course noting that when a School Closure or Storm Warning Lifted or All Clear announcement is made by the Cayman Islands, they are also managing multiple interests such as businesses possibly being anxious to open or close, environmental challenges, utilities, infrastructure and safety authorities possibly preferring to delay an All Clear until risk assessments are thoroughly checked and double checked.

Remote Learning Related to Short-Term School Closures

Activation of the Home Learning Program (HLP) - Long-Term School Closures

In very rare instances CIS may need to activate the Home Learning Program (HLP) due to long-term school closures. Scenarios that may precipitate this include and are not limited to,

• Epidemics and pandemics
• Natural disasters
• Civil unrest

Whilst we hope not to need it, the CIS Home Learning (HLP) guide provides details regarding the implementation and activation of the HLP. Of note, it is a minimum of two days for HLP learning to be activated in the above cases in light of schools likely being closed for an extended period of time.

In the case of short-term school closures, a switch to remote learning is not automatic. Factors considered first include time for people to further prepare for pending weather (i.e. additional food stores, sandbags, battery packs etc.), connectivity (noting connectivity can vary between different parts of the island), magnitude of weather (noting that even in this recent stint, areas to the south of the school received over 13 inches / 33 cm of rain and areas to the west of school received 6 inches / 15 cm), level of flooding where people live (noting that staff serving in schools on island tend to live in areas more vulnerable to flooding and infrastructure issues), and power.

In the event of inclement weather, CIS may be in a position to offer remote learning opportunities. The priority is student and staff safety, and home preparation - before considering activation of remote learning for short-term closures (being defined as two to three days). Timing of remote learning activation for short term scenarios will vary. It is recognized that for some remote learning will be problematic, for some appreciated,for some not enough, for some just right, and for some too much. In the event of a hurricane or tropical storm warning, CIS may or may not be in position to offer remote learning opportunities that will depend on infrastructure, connectivity, magnitude of weather, and safety.

Below is a brief synopsis of what remote learning opportunities may look like if there is a short-term school closure and remote learning is activated.

Early Childhood

• Message from school indicating remote learning will be activated
• A menu of asynchronous learning engagements designed to compliment learning outcomes addressed during normal school days.
• Learning menu provided by EC leadership, with teachers available to clarify questions via email during normal school hours.

Elementary School

• Message from school indicating remote learning will be activated.
• Teachers will use Seesaw to re-share with parents links to digital resources and specify a list of available learning activities.

Middle and High School

• Message from school indicating remote learning will be activated
• Start of day homeroom video check-in
• Exact schedules may vary depending on time of closures, nature of weather or other issue
• Asynchronous learning opportunities with teachers available during scheduled times to answer questions and provide support

To help with further understanding, CIS will use the forum of a coffee meeting or an FSA (Family Schools Association) meeting to provide further details on the Long-Term Home Learning Program and the possibility of Short-Term Remote Learning Opportunities. In the meantime, you are invited to complete this short survey -

Post Recent Inclement Weather Survey.

Wishing you a pleasant and dry weekend, as in the words of George Carlin, “Weather forecast for tonight: dark.”

Sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

--- CIS in Relation to Tropical Storm and Hurricane Warnings FAQ from CIS Website ---

• 89.9 Radio Cayman is the Cayman Islands radio channel for such communication.

• 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.

• Decisions with respect to storms and schools on the Cayman Islands are made with abundance of caution in mind. Hurricane Ivan (September 2004 - Grand Cayman Island) and Hurricane Paloma (November 2008 - Cayman Brac and Little Cayman) remain, 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 scheduled 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), 
  • 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 the 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.

• 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.

• 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 / hour (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.

• 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.

• 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/.

• 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.

Vol 5 Ed 5 2024-2025 SY 20 September 2024 JU

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 since the 1950s, its visible presence has accelerated the past twenty-five years and since 2022 we have seen an incredible increase in easy to use, readily accessible sites, apps, and programming uses. In fact, as of today, the most prominent use of Generative AI is software and coding - code generating more code if you will. The video clips below of two robots in the past year might speak to Stephen Hawking’s notion.

• You may be familiar with the progression of the robot, Figure 01. This link shows Figure 01 in action, demonstrating speech to speech learning.

• You may also be familiar with the robot, Ameca. This link shows a conversation with Ameca.

For some food for thought, the text below was generated in 14 seconds by an AI application that primarily specializes in written text and essays. I entered the following as a title, “The benefits and challenges of AI in Education.” Also, to add a little colour, noting that a picture is apparently worth a thousand words, in a different application that primarily specializes in images, I entered the prompt, “Friday at the school playground in the style of Cezanne.” In 4 seconds the image below was produced. Enjoy …

AI in education presents numerous benefits and challenges, which are reshaping how students learn and educators teach. Here’s an overview of both:

Benefits of AI in Education

1. Personalized Learning:
   • AI can tailor educational experiences to meet individual student needs, pacing lessons according to their learning style and progress. For example, adaptive learning systems can offer personalized feedback and resources to help students master difficult concepts.
   • Platforms like DreamBox or Khan Academy use AI to adapt content dynamically to learners’ responses, creating a more customized learning experience.
2. Efficient Administrative Tasks:
   • AI can automate repetitive administrative tasks such as grading, attendance tracking, and scheduling. This reduces the burden on educators, allowing them to focus more on teaching and mentoring.
   • AI-driven tools like automatic grading systems help evaluate objective answers quickly, and even support evaluating subjective tasks like essays using advanced algorithms.
3. Intelligent Tutoring Systems:
   • AI-driven tutors can provide additional support outside the classroom, offering 24/7 assistance to students. These systems can help students with homework, answer questions, and offer explanations.
   • Tools like Carnegie Learning’s AI tutor assist students in real time, ensuring they receive help as soon as they encounter difficulties.
4. Accessibility and Inclusivity:
   • AI can create more accessible learning environments for students with disabilities. For instance, voice recognition software and natural language processing (NLP) can transcribe lessons for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, while text-to-speech helps students with visual impairments.
   • AI can also provide translations and language support, breaking down language barriers for non-native speakers.
5. Data-Driven Insights:
   • AI can analyze large volumes of educational data, such as test scores and attendance, to identify patterns and insights. This can help educators understand students' needs, predict future performance, and intervene earlier to support struggling students.
   • Analytics platforms powered by AI provide actionable data to enhance curriculum planning and student progress monitoring.
6. Enhanced Engagement through Gamification:
   • AI can support gamified learning, making education more engaging and interactive. Game-based learning systems often use AI to adapt challenges, rewards, and difficulty levels to the learner’s performance, keeping them motivated and involved.

Challenges of AI in Education

1. High Implementation Costs:
   • Deploying AI technologies in schools can be expensive, especially in low-income areas. Infrastructure, maintenance, and software costs might hinder widespread adoption in underfunded educational systems, leading to inequality in access to AI-enhanced education.
2. Teacher Training and Resistance:
   • Educators need to be trained to effectively integrate AI tools into the classroom. Resistance to adopting AI-based systems might arise from fear of replacement, discomfort with technology, or concerns about the impact of AI on traditional teaching methods.
   • Effective professional development programs are needed to ensure teachers are comfortable using AI and can leverage it to benefit students.
3. Data Privacy and Security:
   • AI systems often require access to vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about data security and privacy. Ensuring that student information is protected from misuse or breaches is a significant challenge, especially with growing concerns about surveillance and data mining.
   • Strict regulations and ethical standards must be enforced to protect sensitive student data.
4. Over-reliance on AI:
   • While AI can provide valuable support, there is a risk of students and teachers becoming overly dependent on these systems. Human judgment, creativity, and empathy are vital aspects of education that AI cannot replicate.
   • The emphasis should remain on AI as a supplementary tool, not a replacement for human interaction and guidance in learning environments.
5. Bias and Fairness:
   • AI algorithms can perpetuate biases if the data they are trained on is biased. This could lead to unfair treatment or evaluations of students based on their gender, race, or socio-economic background.
   • Ensuring fairness in AI systems requires careful scrutiny of data sources and algorithmic transparency.
6. Lack of Emotional Intelligence:
   • AI systems, no matter how advanced, lack the ability to understand and respond to students’ emotional and social cues. This can create challenges in scenarios where emotional support or interpersonal skills are crucial, like conflict resolution or managing classroom dynamics.
   • Teachers play an important role in providing emotional support that AI cannot replace, which emphasizes the need for a balance between AI and human educators.

Conclusion

AI in education has the potential to transform learning by making it more personalized, efficient, and accessible. However, significant challenges remain, especially around issues like data privacy, implementation costs, and the risk of over-reliance on technology. For AI to be truly beneficial, its integration into education should be done thoughtfully, with a focus on maintaining a human-centered approach.

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

Vol 5 Ed 4 2024-2025 SY 13 September 2024 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“The more social media we have, the more we think we're connecting, yet we are really disconnecting from each other.” - JR (JeanRene)

“Social media is changing the way we communicate and the way we are perceived, both positively and negatively. Every time you post a photo, or update your status, you are contributing to your own digital footprint and personal brand.” - Amy Jo Martin

The omnipresence, reach, and influence 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 2024 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 of 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
• Reddit - THere are about 430 million active monthly users
  • Yes, Reddit is making a comeback - or perhaps it is not a comeback it has been here for years
• 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 2.4 billion users worldwide
  • WhatsApp is rated as a 16 plus app.
• Instagram - Over 2.3 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 1.7 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 800 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 310 million people use this on a monthly basis
  • It seems that advertisers are becoming more and more active on this platform
• X (Twitter) - About 500 million active monthly users
  • The minimum age recommended is 13 (older in some regions)
• OnlyFans - Is reported to have an average of 420 million monthly active users
  • OnlyFans is said to be for people over the age of 18, thus there are no parental controls. Also, OnlyFans is reported to not be responsible for reporting content that violate their user terms
• 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.”

The quotations shared above are meant to highlight the notion that social media has dangers, issues and benefits. 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 90% 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 challenges 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.

Please note that students have an extended weekend because there are no classes for students on Monday 16 September - their classes resume on Tuesday 17 September.

Sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Vol 5 Ed 3 2024-2025 SY 6 September 2024 

Dear CIS Community,

• Fire - Jimi Hendrix
• Fire - Ohio Players
• Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash

• Waterfalls - TLC
• Bring Me Some Water - Melissa Etheridge
• Black Water - Doobie Brothers

• I Feel the Earth Move - Carol King
• Planet Earth - Duran Duran
• Earth Song - Michael Jackson

• In the Air Tonight - Phil Collins
• Ride Like the Wind - Christopher Cross
• Walking on Air - Katy Perry

Vol 5 Ed 2 2024-2025 SY 30 August 2024 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” - Robert Fulghum

Earlier this week I had the good fortune of reading some advice given to a young friend who is about to become a father. Some of the advice and wisdom written is as follows …

• What an amazing journey you have embarked on. They always say, “sleep when the baby is sleeping,” this is true. Be patient, not only with the baby but also with each other, as your lives are about to change in incredible ways. Remember to lead by example, as this will be important for your baby’s growth. Read lots of books, take many adventures, and create countless memories all together. Dont, hesitate to ask for help.
• May your days be filled with joy, love, and countless beautiful moments.
• When baby comes along, remember that it’s okay to admit that you might be overwhelmed and need help. Having a newborn is a difficult task and no one will judge if your ask for a hand.
• Cherish the countless joys and priceless memories.
• Get ready for sleepless nights, mysterious smells, and an endless supply of photos.
• Welcome to the “dad club” where your new hobbies will include dodging legos and mastering the art of the dad joke.

The young friend turned to me, inquiring, “Jim, I do not see your advice written down in the card.” I responded, “Tís true, I did not write down any advice.” I thought to myself, do I painfully go into droning professor mode and talk about the *four styles of parenting; 1) Authoritative, 2) Permissive; 3) Authoritarian, and 4) Neglectful. 

Fortunately, I caught myself, realizing this would not be helpful nor welcome at this time. I thought, do I attempt to be pithy and use the oft quoted quip of, everybody knows how to raise children, except the people who have them.

Instead, I ended up saying the “classic” don’t blink - the days may seem long, yet the years are short. Time is a blessing, be calm, be alert, be calm, be there, be calm.

Parent Involvement in Learning

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.

It is no secret that children's attitudes towards school, their engagement, achievement, attendance, motivation, self-concept, and behaviours are influenced by the attitudes of their parents towards learning and school. Parent involvement in a child’s learning is very important, and certainly varies from age group to age group. Indeed, even from Kindergarten to Grade 12 when most children are full-time students - 80% of their year is still outside of school and at home in some way, shape or form. Too much parent involvement is detrimental to student growth. - as is too little. The art is in finding the right balance – and, of course,  this too varies from child to child too. Balance is the elusive key.

Two forms of parental involvement in school 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) do not attend any school events.

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 behavioural 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, such as the recent new family orientations and back to school nights. May you have the opportunity to have a meal together with your child - hopefully we will see you at the Welcome Back BBQ tomorrow, Saturday 31 August at 4:00 pm.

Sincerely,

Jim

Vol 5 Ed 1 2024-2025 SY 26 August 2024 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.

An extended version of this message is found later in this version of the Director’s Wave, and includes; Principal Welcome Letters, general information, safety and security, family school association, used uniforms, health, hurricane season, as well as some numbers and getting ready.

We are happy to welcome 163 new students to CIS. Our new and incumbent families alike should be proud knowing that,

• CIS includes students from 47 different countries.
• CIS includes staff from 25 different countries.
• 25% of CIS students are Caymanian.
• CIS has International Baccalaureate Diploma results 10% higher than the world average.
• CIS was recently confirmed as just one of nine AMISA Distinguished schools due to demonstrating a strong commitment to supporting faculty and staff at high level. AMISA stands for American International Schools in the Americas.
• CIS’ excellent rating is based on inspection on instruction and achievement in Maths, Science and English, as well as Student Support and Leadership (Office of Education Standards Report here).
• CIS governed and owned by the non-profit International Schools Services (ISS).

On behalf of the Cayman International School Team, I extend warm wishes to all students and families as we near the 2024-2025 school year. 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 communication. 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.

Save the Dates

• Welcome Back BBQ - Saturday, 31 August @ 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
• Elementary School Back-to-School Night - Tuesday 27 August @ 5:30 pm.
• Middle School Back-to-School Night - Thursday 29 August @ 5:30 pm.
• High School Back-to-School Night - Thursday 5 September @ 5:30 pm.
• New Parent Director Coffee - Friday, September 13 @ 8:15 am.
• CIS Community Learning Series and Parent Meetings - Look for details in future CIS Weekly Currents.
• Conferences
  • Thursday 7 November - 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
  • Friday 8 November - 8:00 am to 4:30 pm - NB: No classes for students on this day.
• And it was a pleasure to see so many people at the Early Childhood School Back-to-School Evening earlier this week.

As Maya Angelou shares, as we enter further in the storm season in our region.  “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.” Thank you for being part of the CIS Community. On behalf of the CIS team, warm wishes to all for the 2024-2025 school year.

Sincerely,

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School

Extended Version of this Edition of the Director Wave