Service Learning

At CIS, all children are taught very early to look out for one another and to care about the world in which we live. As they get older, CIS students are given opportunities to participate in community activities that stretch their understanding about the world and about each other. 

Civvies days during each month help fundraise for local charities, thus strengthening community partnerships. Our peer tutoring program builds respect for each other across grade levels. Clean up events and recycling activities teach a concern for the environment and build upon our sustainability principle. 

Service is directly tied to many of the elementary project-based learning activities. From making poppy pins for Remembrance Day to beach cleaning for World Oceans Day, service has become an integral part of our curriculum. 

In the middle school years, a whole week is dedicated to service-learning, as students partner with local charities to both volunteer their time and to learn about several key service initiatives in Cayman. Meals On Wheels, The Cayman Cancer Society, Plastic Free Cayman, Jasmin, The Humane Society and The National Trust are just a few of the many partnerships that students can build upon in grade 6-8. 

In the high school years (grade 9-12), community service hours are a graduation requirement. Students must achieve more than 80 hours of service in order to earn their CIS  high school diploma. To support these efforts, many clubs and opportunities are offered to students. Acts of Random Kindness, Protect Our Future, Beads2Cure, The Youth Ambassador Programme for Mental Health, Clothes for a Cause, National Honor Society and Impact 345 are just a few of the clubs that offer continuous service opportunities for our students In fact, it is suggested that grade 9 and 10 students join one of these clubs in order to best prepare for their CAS (Community Action Service) project as they enter the IB Diploma Programme. 

In the past, community service trips and larger community outreach projects have also been a huge part of our service-learning programme at CIS. These activities have included visits to children recovering from heart surgery, the collection and distribution of school and personal supplies to local children, service trips to Peru, Honduras, Haiti, and Nicaragua, peer tutoring in local schools, presenting at international conferences regarding service work including COP25 & COP26, and leadership in sports programs across the island. In all that we do at CIS, we keep our focus on preparing our students to be well-rounded global citizens who can impact their world for good. We welcome future community service opportunities and partnerships in order to be the change we wish to see in the world.