2024-2025 school year


Vol 5 Ed 17 2024-2025 SY 14 February 2025 JU
 

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

Today is Friday 14 February. Love is in the air, it's Friday I’m in love’, and there are a lot of things we do for love. 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 and that love is what you want it to be. Yet others might say that love is tainted, you give love a bad name.  and love stinks. Personally, if love is the subject, I am fortunate to be crazy in love and even addicted to love. For any music buffs who may be reading this, please note the above comments about love are compliments of John Paul Young, The Cure, 10cc, Nat King Cole, The Beatles, Bob Marley, Haddaway, Tina Turner, Elvis Presely, Alanna Myles, Soft Cell, Bon Jovi, The J. Geils Band, Odds, Beyonce and Robert Palmer. Below there are also comments by Haircut 100, Etta James, Paul McCartney and Wings, Celine Dion, U2 and an encore by Bob Marley.

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, 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 Ashley,

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, Blake

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

Dear Ashley,

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, Blake

Lastly, if you find silly love songs to be maudlin and sappy, and don’t think love can move mountains, perhaps you still haven't found what you’re looking for, regardless I hope you have a beautiful day.

Wishing you a pleasant weekend - One Love,

Jim

Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School

 


Vol 5 Ed 16 2024-2025 SY 24 January 2025 JU
 

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder
“The first time a child realizes that a little learning is a dangerous thing is when they bring home a poor report card.” - Mark Twain

Monday, 27th January is National Heroes’ Day in the Cayman Islands, and the reason this weekend is a long weekend (no school for students on Monday). There are many opportunities around the islands to learn about and celebrate the Beloved Isle Cayman.

Next Friday, 31st January 2025, report cards are sent home, Mark Twain’s wit aside, it is important to note that report cards are but one piece of the vast mosaic of indicating how a child is doing in school. It is helpful to not get too excited about what one may deem as an excellent report card (especially in a public setting). Conversely, it is helpful to not get too excited about what one may deem as a poor report card. In reading your child’s report you may feel a strong urge to voice your opinion and thoughts right away. This approach tends to result in frustration on the child’s and eventually the adult’s part too. It is kind of like eating junk food in place of a meal - it feels good going down at the time, but quickly leaves you unsatisfied, hungry and perhaps a bit disappointed (even in cases when your child may have earned what you define as a stellar report card).

The information found in a report card presents an opportunity to ask open ended questions. Generally, it is more fruitful to ask questions related to effort, habits, preferences, and well-being. Doing so can create the atmosphere, and sometimes a conversation that could lead to your child asking you to share your opinion in an organic fashion. Examples of some open-ended questions related to report cards are as follows,

  • What are some of your highlights of the school year so far?
  • In what subject do you work your hardest? Why?
  • What are some of your habits that help you learn?
  • What are some of the habits you have that make it difficult for you to learn?
  • If you could press rewind, what is something you would do differently this school year? How might you apply this for the remainder of the school year?
  • What are some of the things you most enjoy doing at school? Why?

If you prefer something a little less formal the classic thinking routine of Rose, Bud, Thorn may be helpful.

  • Rose → What things are going well / what things are particularly enjoyable?
  • Bud → What things are you excited about in the future / what areas are you growing?
  • Thorn → What are some challenges / what things might be difficult?

For some fun, it is recommended that you do not ask your children the following questions.

  • You graduate in five months - when do you plan on stepping things up? Do you have a job yet?
  • Why do you have an F+. Does that mean you are positively failing?
  • You are in grade one, it is about time you start thinking about university. What are you going to do about it? You can’t even write a flawless five paragraph essay?

Wishing you a wonderful Cayman Islands National Heroes’ long weekend and see you at the International Festival on Saturday 1 February - sincerely,

Jim


Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School
 


Vol 5 Ed 15 2024-2025 SY 10 January 2025 JU
 

Something to Ponder
“Who breaks a resolution is a weakling; who makes one is a fool.” - Farquhar McGillivray Knowles

Happy New Year - may 2025 be generous to you in health, happiness and peace. Welcome to the 2025 portion of our school year to our incumbent families. Welcome too, to our new students and families who are joining CIS in January.

Family School Association, Yard Sales, and International Festivals
We hope to see you at the next FSA (Family School Association) meeting on Tuesday 14 January at 6:00pm in the MPR. 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.

Two upcoming family events at CIS this month include,

  • The Great Declutter Yard Sale on Saturday 18 January 2025 from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm.
  • International Festival on Saturday 1 February 2025 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

The Earth’s Largest Land Animal, Math, Roads, Parking Lots, Courtesy, Newton’s First and Third Laws

  • Roads, Parking Lots and Courtesy - The weeks of a new calendar year when students resume schools 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 a calendar year. This is exacerbated this time of year with the volume of rental cars on the roads and an increase of drivers who may be less familiar with driving in the Cayman Islands. 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. 
  • Math, Maps, Road Safety, Newton’s First and Third Laws and the Earth’s Largest Land Animal - To hopefully further illustrate the societal importance of road safety the following example is shared. The drive from Barkers National Park to Rum Point going the long way around through the East End is 44 miles or 71 kilometres. The average speed limit (factoring the stretch of road that is 50 miles per hour and other stretches that are 40 miles per hour and 25 miles per hour) is 40 miles per hour. Thus to drive at the speed limit, it takes 1 hour and 6 minutes to drive from Barkers to Rum Point going the long way. If you drive 25% over the speed limit (which is 50 miles per hour) it would take 53 minutes. Speeding, in this case allows one to traverse the island by road 13 minutes faster. The speeding fines in the Cayman Islands is 20 KYD per mile per hour over the speed limit. Therefore saving 13 minutes to travel the island could cost 200 KYD. If one was in an accident at 50 miles per hour, whilst saving this “precious” 13 minutes traversing the island the impact would feel like being squished by 181,000 pounds or about 18 African Elephants. If one was in an accident at 40 miles per hour, traversing the island using the speed limit, the impact would feel like being squished by 116,000 pounds or a mere 11 African Elephants. It is important to note that the above is assuming the person forgot to put on a seatbelt. If the person was wearing their seatbelt in the above example and speeding the impact would only feel like being squished by 4 African Elephants. For a person wearing a seatbelt and driving the speed limit, it would feel like being squished by just 2 African Elephants.

Youtube, Super Marios Bros, Meta, Snapchat, Instagram, Sleep, Vegetables and Walking

  • 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, as well as personal function. 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. And if all else fails, in the words of the Smothers Brothers, “Red meat is not bad for you, now blue-green meat, that is bad for you.”

Thank you for being part of the CIS Community. On behalf of the CIS team, warm wishes to all students and families in 2025. Wishing you health, happiness, peace and first steps in 2024 - may 2025 provide you enough strength to keep a new year resolution and enough wits to make difficult enough yet plausible.

Sincerely,

Jim


Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School
 


Vol 5 Ed 14 2024-2025 SY 18 December 2024 JU

 
Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder
“Peace begins with a smile.” - Mother Teresa

Thank you for coming to the concerts, sporting events and learning celebrations during the past month. Just this past month our students have earned first place in Cayman Islands wide events such as football leagues, debate competitions, scrabble scrums and math events. Whilst the vernacular “hardware” is nice - more importantly - when watching the concerts and engaging in learning celebrations you quickly experience, first hand your child’s growth and curiosity.

Today is the last school day of 2024 for students. The human milestone of the end of a calendar year (at least in parts of the world that use the Gregorian Calendar), is a celebration of learning, life, reflection, and a myriad of experiences.. Since the beginning of the school year, you most probably have noticed a variety of changes in your children. These changes tend to take many shapes and forms – perhaps it’s a sudden appreciation for a different type of music, or a comfort level of speaking in public, or managing a maths problem, or sitting down to do homework without a reminder, or tying both shoes on their own, or helping a friend, or proofreading an essay more than once before handing it in, or playing a new sport, or reading a chapter book, or speaking a new language, or questioning what can be done to make the world a better place, or growing 2.54 centimetres (1 inch), or making a new friend, and the list goes on … perhaps and hopefully occasionally self-regulating screen time. Whatever these changes or learning experiences were/are, they are great reminders of the importance of education in its many forms, whether it is in the classroom, during an after school activity, a family excursion and the plethora of other learning opportunities one may experience - as Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Whatever your beliefs, faith or spiritual leanings may be, holiday time is a time for family and friends – it is also a great time to hug your children and loved ones a little tighter - and smile a little brighter. May Lao Tzu’s wisdom from over 2,500 years ago, provide some consideration as we enter a new  year according to the Gregorian Calendar,  “If you are depressed you are living in the past, if you are anxious you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.” On behalf of CIS, I wish you a wonderful holiday season and joyous New Year. 2025 is soon come!

Compliments of the Season - sincerely,

Jim
Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School
 


Vol 5 Ed 13 2024-2025 SY 6 December 2024 JU

Dear CIS Community,

The month of December is here. This month tends to captivate many people due to the festive season regardless of one’s beliefs and traditions. 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

December can signal the arrival of flu season or at least coughs, sniffles, sore throats and stomach ailments. 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. The above, of course, is good advice for us as adults too - naturally may be even more easily said than done.

Safety - Hurricane Season

December marks the notional end of hurricane season in our part of the world. Indeed, the wonderful “winter” breezes are here. Two days ago on walking home at night from school I legitimately saw people wearing parkas. Indeed, when the temperature drops to 77 F / 24 C it does feel chilly. In the event that there is an out of season hurricane, 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 of hurricane conditions. 

Safety - Roads, Parking and Traffic

Roads and Parking Lot - In 2023 the RCIPS attended to 3,197 motor vehicle accidents an average of about 61 motor vehicle accidents per week). There are more cars in the Cayman Islands than people. The high season of tourism also means more vehicles on the road, including some people not familiar with driving on the left side of 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, Taxi 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. E are also certified in CPR and first aid. 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 3,395 there were crimes recorded in the Cayman Islands. Forty-One of these were designated as crimes of serious violence. Referrals related to domestic violence referrals and child safeguarding increased in 2023.
  • 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.

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 in the coming weeks, 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 the performance,  concert and musical season too. This all started last night with the musical stylings of our choirs and this morning with the joys of the Early Childhood Winter Concert.

Whatever you may be doing this month - may it be joyous and may your say, “wasn’t tomorrow wonderful.”

Sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School


Vol 5 Ed 12 2024-2025 SY 22 November 2024 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” - Oprah Winfrey

Next week, Thursday, is a day of thanks in the United States of America - fortunately, giving thanks transcends national boundaries. Indeed, the Cayman Islands Thanksgiving is early next month.

Times of sharing, thanks and celebration often involve food. For example, in Cayman one might bring Cayman Style Beef to express thanks. Our neighbours in Jamaica might bring ackee and saltfish to a celebration of thanks. In the UK one might bring shortbread. In the US a meal of thanks might involve potatoes, turkey and a family casserole. Wherever you may be from, we have much to be thankful for in Cayman. It is clear that on island there is a periodic palpable low grade hum of anxiety from time to time -perhaps due to concomitant factors including; disruption of lives storm season, rise of mental issues on island (noting that in 2023 in the Cayman Islands there was a 72% increase in people admitted to hospital and over 40% of compulsory school-age students in the Cayman Islands report anxiety and / or depression), media / news from around the world and more. Despite the above, we still have much to be thankful for, not to mention the arrival of cool breezes today.

Forbes Magazine lists the following as top ten things to be thankful for,

10. Humanity
9. Freedom
8. Teachers, Mentors, Coaches
7. People Who Serve
6. Simple Taken For Granted Privileges
5. Modern Technology
4. Wellness
3. Disruptive Honesty
2. Hard Times
1. Good Friends - Good Memories
 

Thanks / gratitude is one of the few things in life that can be truly shared. For example, today, I shared a cupcake with a colleague. The cupcake was red velvet with chocolate icing. While this was lovely, in theory the cupcake was not wholly shared (I had half and my colleague had half). Thus, in reality, my sharing resulted in me having 50% less of the cupcake. Keeping with the cupcake analogy … Gratitude and thanks is different and can be shared wholly. When one gives thanks, a person does not lose a portion of their gratitude. For example, when I share thanks I do not have 50% less thanks, I still have 100% thanks and indeed the other person gains 100% of this thanks. Thus, being thankful can be fully and wholly shared. With this in mind, may you find the time this weekend, next week and for the remainder of 2024 too - to share a thank you with acquaintances, colleagues, friends and family.

Sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School


Vol 5 Ed 11 2024-2025 SY 8 November 2024 JU

Dear CIS Community,
 
Something to Ponder
“An eye for an eye only ends up making the world blind.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Monday, November 11, is Remembrance Day. It is a public holiday in the Cayman Islands, and schools are closed.

Remembrance Day—Depending on your country of origin, you may also know the day as Veteran’s Day, Armistice Day, 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 while serving their country. Red Poppies are a symbol of this homage.

According to the most recent Global Peace Index (GPI), as of June 2024, we have the highest number of countries engaged in conflicts since World War II. Data from the GPI include,

  • 97 countries deteriorated in peacefulness, more than any year since the inception of the Global Peace Index in 2008. Additionally, 92 countries are currently involved in conflicts beyond their respective borders, more than at any time since the inception of the GPI.
  • Conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine were the primary drivers of the global fall in peacefulness, as battle deaths reached 162,000 in 2023.
  • The global economic impact of violence increased to an estimated 19.1 trillion USD in 2023, representing 13.5% of global GDP. Additionally, exposure to conflict poses a significant supply chain risk for governments and businesses.
  • 108 countries have become more militarized since the inception of the GPI.
  • First of its kind military scoring system suggests that USA military capabilities are up to three times higher than China.
  • 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict, with 16 countries now hosting more than half a million refugees.

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, have limited exposure to food instability, and have basically no 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, led 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. Red Poppies are a symbol of this homage and support. The poppy often accompanies the phrase “lest we forget.” Remembrance Day ceremonies around the world often include the poem In Flanders Fields (shared below).

In Flanders Fields 
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, physician, soldier, poet, author, artist

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. 

Please be reminded that there is no school for students on Monday, 11 November as the Cayman Islands observes Remembrance Day.

Sincerely,

Jim


Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School

 

Vol 5 Ed 10 2024-2025 SY 1 November 2024 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)
 
Conferences Reminder

Balanced parent involvement can result in stronger academic achievement, better learning habits, and decreased behavioural challenges. Indeed, among the best predictors of a student’s success in school is not necessarily perceived social status or income. Some of the strongest correlations of student success tend to be if a family,
  • Eats meals together
  • Has a home environment that encourages learning and mutual respect
  • Expresses high, yet not unrealistic expectations for children
  • Is appropriately involved (i.e. not hovering or helicoptering or bulldozing, yet not overly laissez-faire) in their child’s education
  • Is appropriately involved (i.e. not overbearing, yet not apathetic) within the community
We are fortunate to have two formal conference sessions during the school year, as well as back-to-school evenings, community learning meetings, parent 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 Thursday November 7 after school and Friday November 8 all day. Please be reminded that on Friday, November 8th, 2024 there are no classes for students.
 
FSA (Family School Association) Trivia Night - Friday 15 November

This year’s Annual CIS FSA Trivia Night is Friday 15 November 2024. Sign UP fast as space is limited. You can sign up using the following link - CIS FSA Trivia Night Sign Up. Thank you for signing up and since you are reading this message you now have the benefit of knowing some of the anticipated rounds such as the possibility of music themed, the Cayman Islands, geography, animals, and something different. Again, if you have not done so already, please sign up here to RSVP to participate in this fun-filled evening!
 
The Notion of Play Deficit Disorder

Today I was informed that last night during some local Halloween Trick or Treating there were instances of people driving their children between houses in Snug Harbour to Trick or Treat - thus “saving” children from walking the 15 metres or so between homes. Perhaps I am old and grouchy … I found this information warming my blood, not quite to the level of people parking in fire lanes, or parking in accessibility spots or leaving their grocery trolley in the parking lot instead of returning it - yet warming my blood nonetheless with a mild accompaniment of a head shake of tisk tisk. Adults are quick to jump in to attempt to solve issues for their child. This sort of unfettered quest for convenience and ease reminded me of the notion of Play Deficit Disorder.
 
Over time, 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. 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, tend to demonstrate less independence than say previous generations, and certainly our own parents and grandchildren. Some researchers attribute this to the notion of Play Deficit Disorder. Children in so-called 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, intellectually and socially - often attributing to notions of resilience, grit, and growth mindsets (please forgive the use of these words / terms that may have become overused over the past twenty years).
 
Whilst 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 may have limited relevance to life beyond formal schooling. 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, “sticktoitness,” and respect, then I certainly look forward to seeing parents and schools appreciating the value of play.
 
Wishing you a pleasant weekend - perhaps of play, unstructured time or even reading for pleasure amidst our regularly scheduled programming.
 
Sincerely,
Jim

Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School
 

Vol 5 Ed 9 2024-2025 SY 25 October 2024 JU
Dear CIS Community,
 
Something to Ponder

“Education is when you read the fine print, experience is what you get when you don’t.” - Pete Seeger
 
Conferences
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. Some of the strongest correlations of student success tend to be if a family,
  • Eats meals together
  • Has a home environment that encourages learning and mutual respect
  • Expresses high, yet not unrealistic expectations for children
  • Is appropriately involved (i.e. not hovering or helicoptering or bulldozing, yet not overly laissez-faire) in their child’s education
  • Is appropriately involved (i.e. not overbearing, yet not apathetic) within the community
We are fortunate to have two formal conference sessions during the school year, as well as back-to-school evenings, community learning meetings, parent 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 Thursday November 7 after school and Friday November 8 all day. Please be reminded that on Friday, November 8, 2024 there are no classes for students. Earlier this week, via PCR you will have already received 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 5 Ed 8 2024-2025 SY 11 October 2024 JU
Dear CIS Community,
 
Something to Ponder

“When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.” - Tecumseh
 
Thank you for taking the time to complete the Post Recent Inclement Weather Survey. 199 parents completed the survey, specifically responding to the question - In the event of a future inclement weather warning that results in a short-term school closure, would you appreciate remote learning for your child? (NB: noting that this is different than a tropical storm warning or hurricane warning). The results of the survey are shared below in donut chart form. In addition to camps, maintenance, recruiting, professional development, reports, and some discretionary time during the student October Mid-Term Break, the school will also analyze the data below and make feasible adjustments, if needed to the potential deployment of remote learning in relation to prolonged inclement weather.
 
 
Aside from surveys, phone calls, emails, newspapers, radio, social media, the chat groups, social gatherings, and the good old fashioned letter to name a few - CIS parents have many opportunities to share and learn more about the school and your child’s program. For example, since the start of the school year, there have been over 610 formal individual parent meetings. With respect to large group meetings / presentations, there have been 7 grade level specific parent meetings, 4 new family orientations, 4 back to school evenings, 4 topic / event specific parent sessions (for example Literacy Night), 2 room parents meetings and the September FSA (Family School Association) Meeting. Of course, the Weekly Current is an excellent source of information, updates, and sharing and should be one’s first stop to learn about what is happening at CIS. Since the start of the school year, there have been 8 Weekly Currents. If you feel you may have missed something or wish to revisit things in the Weekly Current - they are archived on the CIS website.
 
Please be reminded that next week (Monday, October 14 to Friday, October 18, 2024) is the school’s October Mid-Term Break and there are no classes for students. Wishing you a pleasant weekend and please be reminded that classes resume for students October 21, 2024.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jim

Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School
 

Vol 5 Ed 7 2024-2025 SY 4 October 2024 JU
 
Dear CIS Community,
 
Something to Ponder
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” - John Dewey
 
This month is when we at CIS project staffing needs for the next school year. Recruiting, developing and retaining excellent staff that inspire students, colleagues and the broader school community is extremely important – most school heads argue that this is the most important thing they do or certainly one of the most important things they engage in. The recruiting season is complex, exciting, ongoing, and time consuming. What once was a recruiting session of about three months for international schools has changed to recruiting being a twelve month a year endeavour. CIS takes great care in its recruiting, screening and vetting, using a variety of protocols, in order to ensure our faculty and staff are aligned with our community principles (kindness, partnership, sustainability, good intent), appreciative of our mission (connect, inspire, serve) and dedicated to global citizenship. Whilst at the same time may provide skills and experiences that may challenge and refine the way we do things in education in order to help us continually improve.  Throughout the school year CIS reviews and meets with people applying to our school for faculty and staff positions that may open up. Later in October is when we start posting openings for the following school year. October to April are usually considered the busiest months with respect to recruiting - May to September once quieter months remain active - with November, December, January and February tending to be focal months. The market for international teachers is very competitive and continues to be more so each year. Economic pressures, societal issues and the current and growing teacher shortage adds to the challenge.
 
There are over 5,000,000 students attending over 10,000 schools worldwide with a combined faculty of close to 500,000 - of which CIS is the only one in the Cayman Islands. International schools are located in almost all countries in the world. To get a sense of the growth, in 2000 there were only about 2,500 international schools with a combined enrollment of about 1,000,000 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 owned and governed by the nonprofit ISS (International Schools Services), and 80% for profit.
 
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 owned and 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, interviews, security checks, police checks, anti-bias training for recruiters, practice lessons and thorough reference checking, just to share a brief overview of the process.
 
Anticipated openings for the 2025-2026 school year will be first posted with WORC (Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman), followed by ISS and our website and if warranted, with up to three other recruitment agencies. CIS being just one of nine AMISA Distinguished Schools (AMISA is the American International Schools in the Americas), being an IB World School, being accredited by MSA, and inspected as excellent presents some competitive advantages. Naturally, things are not all rosy: high cost-of-living increases, exposure to potential natural disasters, lack of affordable housing, prevalence of mental health issues on island, the Cayman Islands (as a small island of course not being a transport hub, and affordability of health services are some of our competitive disadvantages. Managing these advantages and challenges, CIS is fortunate to garner interest from candidates around the world and in the Cayman Islands. This is reassuring, especially when considering the competitive market for teachers, and whilst the Cayman Islands is an attractive location, as is CIS, the Cayman Islands has notable discrepancies in standard of living relative to other international schools in other location where schools are also situated within a similar and sometimes more desirable climate, have similar 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 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 ---

We are currently in the Atlantic Tropical Storm and Hurricane Season. Below are some frequently asked questions to help with understanding with respect to storms, the Cayman Islands, and schools.
Aside from my wind, weather, storm and hurricane apps on my device, where else can I find information about possible and or current storms near island?
  • 89.9 Radio Cayman is the Cayman Islands radio channel for such communication.
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 - 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.
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 / 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.
In the Cayman Islands I hear people mention Hurricane Ivan, 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?
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.

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.

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.

Sincerely,
 
Jim
 
Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School

--- Postscript ---
 
Aside from the regular uses and exposures to AI, such as recognizing email as spam, recommendations on youtube, security camera alerts, chess programs, language translators - I am slightly embarrassed to say the first time AI truly surprised me was in 2006 when I started playing Fantasy Football. The platform we used at the time generated automated post game summaries and reports - sometimes these were clunking, sometimes these hit the mark and sometimes they were mildly funny. Jump forward to this week, below is the AI generated post game report / recap, I received three days ago…
 
JUGGERNOTS Gets a B+ While Riley’s Raptors Earns a D- for Dismal Performance!
In a thrilling Week 2 showdown, JUGGERNOTS triumphed over Riley’s Raptors with a final score of 96.76 to 74.28. The victory was as timely as a clock that's five minutes fast, occurring early on Sunday. With grades like these, maybe Riley’s Raptors should consider a little extra credit next week!
 
For Riley’s Raptors, De'Von Achane emerged as a shining star, surpassing their projection by a whopping 10.17 points, while Aaron Jones was more like a black hole, falling 4.82 points short of their modest projection. Over in JUGGERNOTS, Chris Godwin flexed their muscles with a solid performance, outperforming their projection by 10.01 points, while Josh Allen seemed to think they were playing in a different league, scoring a mere 9.76 points instead of the expected 22.04.
 
As Riley’s Raptors continues to wallow at the bottom of the standings with a record of 0-2-0, they must be wondering if they accidentally signed up for a different league--perhaps one for underachievers? Meanwhile, JUGGERNOTS, sitting comfortably at 1-1-0, must be feeling pretty good about themselves, but let's be real, a B+ doesn't mean they're acing this course yet!
 
Looking ahead to next week, Riley’s Raptors faces Belichick's Goats and might want to consider practicing a bit more; maybe even study the playbook? As for JUGGERNOTS, they'll be up against Jocose Jay, and they should remember that a B+ can quickly turn into a C if they don't stay on their game. Good luck to both teams--just try not to make it too embarrassing!
 

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,

Something to Ponder
 
“I love the feeling of the fresh air on my face and the wind blowing through my hair.” - Evel Knievel
 
“There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew.” - Marshall McLuhan
 
“Focus on what lights a fire inside of you and use that passion to fill a white space. Don't be afraid of the challenges, the missteps, and the setbacks along the way. What matters is that you keep going.” - Kendra Scott
 
“Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.” - W. H. Auden
 
I was informed by two people that the Director’s Wave from last week was a little too heavy. For a change of pace, here is something lighter and fun. Today was the first elements shirt day - Air, Earth, Fire, Water. The school was a cacophony of colour. The sense of sight was certainly activated. Three noted that elements could have theme songs - activating the sense of hearing. Below are three songs each related to Air, Earth, Fire and Water. For fun I have arranged the ancient elements in order of “best songs”associated with Air, Earth, Fire and Water.
 
Fire
Water
Earth
Air
Wishing you a pleasant weekend - may your lungs be filled with fresh air, may your cup be filled with water, may your heart be on fire, and may the earth keep you grounded.
 
Sincerely,
Jim
 
Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School
 

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

Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School
 
*Four Parenting Styles as Described by the Mayo Clinic


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

 

Jim Urquhart

Director, Cayman International School