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2010
The 2010 Joanna Clarke Excellence in Education Award (JCA) winners were Cayman Prep and High School for its a marine science programme, George Town Primary School for its Digital Visual Media Club and John Gray High School for its Scuba Diving Club. At an entertainment-filled award ceremony hosted at LUCA, dms presented cheques totaling $12,000 KYD to help fund the initiatives, as well as awarded the Joanna Clarke Scholarship Fund recipient an additional $2,500 KYD – an extension of dms’ ongoing effort to promoting education.
With each of the winners receiving a $4,000 KYD grant, the award assists in funding their worthy initiatives as well raising awareness about the effort and encouraging further private sector support from the community.
Cayman Prep and High School recently introduced a marine science programme as an A-level two-year course of sufficiently high standard which can be used for advanced credit at North American universities. The funds will aid in furthering efforts to offer students a host of off-site excursions, providing invaluable hands-on experience for students.
Offering students insight to the world of media, George Town Primary School introduced a Digital Visual Media Club which equips students with necessary skills to integrate literacy with media. The grant will assist in continuing to teach students proficiency in various digital, visual, broadcasting and photojournalism applications, as well as the opportunity to explore careers in the relevant industry.
John Gray High School, also a JCA winner in 2008, entices students with its John Gray High School Scuba Diving Club. The club seeks to heighten awareness for environmental and marine conservation, and the funds will contribute towards purchasing equipment to make diving more accessible to students after they have completed their open-water dive course.
The other finalists recognized at the ceremony and their proposed initiatives included Bodden Town Primary School - Beyond School and The Wellness Centre - Autism in the Classroom.
An extension of dms’ commitment to education, during the evening dms also announced the first recipient for the scholarship fund, Krishan Welcome. Annually, dms will award a minimum of $1,000 KYD to Caymanians or those with permanent residency who are currently in the education field or aspiring to enter. An established lawyer in the Cayman Islands, Ms. Welcome hopes to redirect her energy from a career in law and pursue a teaching degree to one day explore her passion to influence young minds. Ms. Welcome was awarded $2,500 KYD as well as being chosen to continue as the 2011 scholarship recipient.
2009
The 2009 Joanna Clarke Excellence in Education Award (JCA) was presented at Ristorante Pappagallo on Saturday May, 30th. The winner was the N.C.V.O.’s Nadine Andreas Residential Foster Home for its Accessing Computer Aided Learning programme and runner-up - Cayman Islands Scout Association for Cayman Islands Scout Band.
Having received full funding for its initiative, the N.C.V.O.’s Accessing Computer Aided Learning programme will offer youth residents of the Nadine Andreas Residential Foster Home a computing and network suite, in turn enabling them to have the same access to approved computer websites and activities such as ‘lanschool’ as some of their peers schooled at George Hicks and John Gray High School. The funds will go towards purchasing and installing the PCs and necessary software programmes.
Runner-up, the Cayman Islands Scout Association, received partial funding for the Cayman Islands Scout Band. The band requires a full complement of musical instruments and uniforms, as well as an instructor to train its band members to perform in the community.
Minister of Education, Training and Employment, the Honourable Rolston Anglin, attended the JCA Evening and shared his insight regarding education in the Cayman Islands, commenting on the importance of leadership in the field of education.
The JCA Evening also showcased the talents of Cayman’s students with the John Gray High School Jazz Combo performing during the reception and the John A. Cumber Primary Year 6 Choir singing “Open de Library” at the beginning of the dinner. An assortment of artwork was also on display from students of Savannah Primary School.
In previous years, the JCA Evening was an exclusive, invite-only event. For 2009, it was open to the public for ticket and table sales to raise funds for a new Joanna Clarke Scholarship Fund. This fund will grant financial support to an aspiring or existing teacher looking to further his/her education. dms hopes to award the first scholarship in 2010.
2008
The Joanna Clarke Excellence in Education Award (JCA) 2008 went to John Gray High School (JGHS). At an award ceremony hosted at The Ritz-Carlton's Blue restaurant on Wednesday 5th of November, dms awarded JGHS a $12,000 KYD cheque to help fund its "Blueprint for Literacy" initiative.
The JGHS Blueprint for Literacy initiative aims to ensure that all high school students, upon graduation, will be able to perform at their grade levels and pass at least four external exams. The JGHS literacy committee was established in September 2005, and the grant will assist in further funding and ensuring the continued success of their ongoing programme, facilitating the purchase of 20 books for each of their 50 classroom libraries, books for book club members and audio books for classroom use and leisure reading.
"We were very pleased by the enthusiastic response that we received from the community. This year, we had a number of great applicants and even better finalists. John Gray High School had an exceptionally impressive initiative which we are confident will succeed and are honoured to support - congratulations to them in this achievement," commented President of dms Organization Don Seymour.
The Minister of Education, Training, Employment, Youth, Sports & Culture, the Honourable Alden McLaughlin, was in attendance for the JCA ceremony to share his insight regarding education in the Cayman Islands and assist in recognizing the award winner and finalists. Also in attendance were members of the Joanna Clarke Award Committee, and dms Organization, as well as educators from the finalists' schools. The other finalists recognized at the ceremony included East End Primary School (funding for musical instruments); North Side Primary School (Read it! Rate it! Release it! programme); PACE High School (Work Education Project); and Prospect Primary School (Passport to Peace programme).
2007
The first Joanna Clarke Excellence in Education Award of $11,000 KYD was presented to Savannah Primary School PTA for new playground equipment.
The unveiling of the playground and presentation of the award took place on Monday, April 2, 2007 at Savannah Primary School. On hand for the event were Mr. Don Seymour, president of dms Organization Ltd.; Mr. Mark Scotland of the Savannah PTA; Mrs. Lorna Blackman, Savannah Primary School principal; Miss Joanne Clarke, local educator and recognized patron of the award; Mr. Stran Bodden, deputy chief officer, from the Ministry of Education; and other members of the Savannah PTA.
Savannah Primary School PTA President, Mr. Mark Scotland commented: “We are pleased and honoured to have been selected as the first recipient of this prestigious award from Mr. Don Seymour and dms Organization. I would like to congratulate him for initiating this award, and hope that other members of the corporate community will follow in his example. It is also quite appropriate that he has chosen to name the award in honour of Ms. Joanna Clarke; she has been one of the most outstanding educators in our islands’ history. She continues to inspire the students who were taught by her, and is a model to other educators.”
He added: “Like Mr. Seymour, I am a past student of Savannah Primary. I consider Miss Clarke to be an icon in the field of education in our islands. The strong foundation left by her at Savannah School has continued many years after her retirement.”
Mr. Scotland further added: “We are deeply appreciative of the contribution from dms Organization and Mr. Seymour. It was used to purchase a playground set for the school, something that all the children in the school can use and enjoy.” |
