Education

Over the last two weekends, members of the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS) Environmental and Conservation Club have been working on a beautification initiative at the student “Pick-Up/Drop-Off Zone” at Campus A.

The following press release has been issued by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Evans McNeil Rogers.

The Government of Anguilla recognises that education plays a fundamental role in helping to determine the character of Anguillian society, its rate of change and direction of development into the 21st Century. As articulated in the Education Policy document, Government’s mandate for education is underpinned by:

The Task Force on School Violence, which I chaired, has submitted its report to the Ministry. Our report attempts to outline the general level of violence and other deterrents that are impacting learning at the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School. Most importantly, the report offers a series of recommendations for creating a safer and more productive learning environment.

Former Headmaster of the Road Primary School, which proudly bears his name, Adrian T. Hazell, died suddenly on Saturday afternoon, March 14, touching off an island-wide outpouring of condolences to his family.
According to his wife, Teacher Dorothy, Mr. Hazell, 77, collapsed in the corridor of their South Hill home on his way to hear the cricket score in the match West Indies vs England.

When I first began teaching music in Anguilla, it was as a volunteer at the then West End Primary School having fun with Teacher Emma’s Kindergarten class every Wednesday morning. Although I had trained and worked as a teacher in Canada many years ago, it had been a long time since I had been in the classroom. It felt wonderful to be back and I loved the children. The best part was that it was felt they were learning to focus and perform better.

The Organisation of Early Childhood Education held its Annual Opening Ceremony for its month of activities at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on Tuesday, March 3. The event was ably chaired by Teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Mrs. Tessa Davis.

I have been writing about ‘what works’ in schools. I have discussed Check and Connect and HOPE, two programs that provide students with a connection to a caring adult. I have discussed research that suggests children’s attitudes toward learning and toward positive self-fulfillment can be improved through simple interventions, and that these improvements can positively impact school performance. Last week I described a method of identifying children who need more support in school, and then brainstorming methods of helping them. My point is, much can be done to improve our schools, and many of the most effective ways of doing this do not require additional funding.

Representatives from the Anguilla Animal Rescue Foundation (AARF) once again visited the island’s primary schools to educate students on safety around dogs. AARF education chairperson Linda Gratton, AARF Trustee Amy Williams and AARF’s new Mascot Hank were enthusiastically received by the grade One students at all of the island’s public and private elementary schools.

The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) to which Anguilla and many other regional islands subscribe, is being taken to the next level, it was announced here. The announcement was made by Registrar Dr. Didacus Jules and his Assistant, Cleveland Sam, from the Public Information Office, who visited Anguilla last week from the Barbados-based institution.

What Works?

Last week I wrote about the important role that the schools can play in helping to stem the increase in violence and unrest in Anguilla. School is mandatory, so we have the opportunity to observe, interact with, and influence all of Anguilla’s children. If the correct programs are in place, we can identify children who are at risk for a wide variety of issues, including learning disabilities, behavior problems, family and social difficulties, mental or physical health concerns. Putting these programs in place will take leadership. Those in charge need to decide that the time is right, mandate a few effective programs, provide some training, and, most importantly, assure that these programs are being implemented professionally by observing, reviewing, and sharing results.

Four members of the Junior Red Cross, at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, recently qualified for certification in Basic First Aid. They successfully completed their First Aid Course, delivered by Trevor Queeley, Emergency Medical Technician and Certified Red Cross Trainer, during the month of December and were awarded their certificate during general assembly at school on Friday 16 January.

The Comprehensive Learning Centre at North Hill, Anguilla, managed and owned by Sandra York-Gumbs, with the support of her husband and a cadre of fine lecturers, has long made its mark as a major contributor to education on the island for persons of all ages. Now, in addition to its many achievements, the privately-owned institution, which enjoys wide sponsorship, support and respect, has been accredited as an Examining Centre by the Caribbean Examinations Council.

The large auditorium at Campus B was filled to capacity and the audience listened with rapt attention as an all-inclusive Annual Speech Night Report was delivered by the Principal of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Mrs. Ingrid Lake on Thursday, December 11.

The Education Welfare Officers provide support and guidance to teachers, students and parents in situations where there are problems relating to school attendance and generally addressing students welfare needs. In carrying out our duties we conduct weekly visits to all government schools on the island which include WISE (Workshop Initiative for Support in Education) and the PRU (Pupil Referral Unit). We are therefore informed about issues affecting students in these institutions thus affording us the opportunity to provide assistance.

Some sixteen universities and colleges in the Caribbean, Canada and the United States were represented at the 2008 College Fair held at Campus B in Anguilla on Monday, November 3, to give students an opportunity to learn about higher education programmes to assist them in their plans to study abroad.

The Department of Public Administration has just completed a two-day Induction Programme for new and continuing teachers at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and the six Primary Schools.

It was an impressive demonstration of caring love and support for young people in Anguilla when representatives of Government, school, church and community came together on August 29 to address first year students entering Campus B of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.

All primary school teachers in Anguilla convened at the Teachers’ Resource Centre Auditorium on Monday, September 1, at 3:30 pm to take part in the launching of a web-based resource called Educationcity.com. Although the software has been in use for the past school year, the Education Department is attempting to make a big push so that all teachers can benefit from the website. Ryan Lovell, one of the managers of Educationcity.com, made the opening remarks and presentation in which he gave a quick crash course on how innovative the software is and how useful it can be to teachers.

The Principal and Staff of St. Mary’s Pre-school invited The Anguillian to their graduation ceremony late last week amidst a series of end of year programmes held by all of the schools on the island.

On Wednesday June 18th at the morning assembly at Road School, the Anguilla Animal Rescue Foundation’s Education Chairman, Linda Gratton, accompanied by Vice President, Suzie Donahue, announced the winners of the 2008 Kathy Melby Memorial Education Project of the Year.