The dms Organisation and Joanna Clarke Award Committee members conducted several site visits recently to monitor the progress of the winning initiatives of the Joanna Clarke Award recipients.
They visited Cayman Prep and High School for its marine science programme, George Town Primary School for its digital visual media club, and John Gray High School for its scuba diving club.
In May, DMS presented $12,000 worth of cheques to help fund these initiatives.
Award committee members and DMS went to see the programmes in action and learn how the initiatives are advancing.
Joanna Clarke was in attendance at each of the visits.
“This is by far my favourite part of the award process, following up to see how the children are benefitting,” she said. “Hearing from the students firsthand about their experiences is incredibly rewarding, and as I have been in previous years, I was once again delighted to learn that each of the schools is capitalising on the opportunity and ensuring that the projects are being executed as planned.”
Ms Clarke was accompanied by committee member and DMS employee Tara Tvedt on the visit to Cayman Prep, where funding has assisted with underwater writing slates, $100 toward each student’s PADI diving certification and snorkel equipment.
“Their presentation was insightful as they shared with us experiences they have undergone in years past, including participating in the lionfish culling response team and assisting in reef clean ups island-wide,” she said. “The Marine Science Programme is most impressive, though unfortunately the recent weather has been challenging and they look forward to the ventures that lie ahead, such as a trip to Little Cayman’s Marine Research Institute.”
DMS vice president Krista Pell joined Ms Clarke at George Town Primary where they watched a presentation by the digital visual media club.
Following the presentation, Ms Clarke spoke to the students about the opportunities using the new resources.
“I have always maintained that students need to be passionate about what they are learning to truly benefit, and upon our visit that is exactly what I came to learn,” she said.
Each winner received a $4,000 grant to assist in funding their initiatives as well as raise awareness about the effort and encourage support from the community.
Ms Clarke has been an educator for more than 40 years. DMS launched this education initiative to recognise the efforts of the people and organisations that contribute to education in the Cayman Islands.
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