Teachers, students and parents are expected to benefit from a four-day conference this week. It had to do with building positive relationships, positive behaviour, and the development of life-skills. It is a UNICEF vision which the Ministry of Education has endorsed, and which the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School is vigorously pursuing.
Anguilla’s Minister of Education, Mr. Evans McNiel Rogers, outlined the aim of that vision entitled “Effective Principles for Secondary Schools”. Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, August 29, at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium, the Minister said:
“The vision for secondary schools is to foster and develop school climates where all students are engaged, supported and enjoy positive relationships with their peers and teachers, whilst utilizing available opportunities to prepare for future careers. This requires every student to be actively involved in the process of learning. This is accomplished through a focus on personalized learning, strong teacher-student relationships, positive behaviour support, the development of life-skills and parental involvement. The realisation of this vision will call for collaboration, retooling and creativity on the part of all stakeholders.”
Mr. Rogers stressed that such an undertaking would indeed assist the Comprehensive School teachers in Anguilla to better engage and support all students. He continued: “I stress all students because, in Anguilla, the framework of the education system is designed to promote inclusion. The comprehensive system of education, for example, is about all children having the right to be educated together and to be equally valued. If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that, in some cases, we have missed the mark because while the children are in school, they can still be disengaged or excluded from learning due to a wide-range of factors.”
The Minister further pointed out: “In seeking to build a more effective school, I believe the focus on wide positive behaviour support is the best place to start. Negative behaviour on the part of students can be both a cause and a symptom of their disengagement. Further, behaviour management is one of the most challenging issues facing school systems around the region. Right here in Anguilla, when our Ministry conducted consultations with teachers to inform them about the Education Development Plan 2015 to 2020, student behaviour was identified as the number one challenge. This conference is therefore not only relevant, but responsive to the issues that you have identified.”
He added: “Your involvement in making improvements in your school is essential. School improvement is not only the job of the Principal and Senior Management Team. It requires an ‘all hands on deck’ approach from all stakeholders. As the saying goes, ‘If we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem.’ I trust that all of you will choose to be part of the solution.”
Mrs. Joyce Webster-Stuart, Principal of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, said in part: “I would like to thank the Ministry and Department of Education for acknowledging and responding to our need for training and guidance – as we continue to work tirelessly towards improving the educational and behavioural outcomes of our students.” To the facilitators she said: “I am thankful that you have accepted the call at this time to share with us, at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, the research-based Principles of Effective Schools – and that the skills and competences that we acquire through this training will equip us to better meet the learning and support needs of our students. We are ready to take all you have for us, for our professional development and growth. We thank all of you for coming.”
Responding, Ms. Elaine King, the UNICEF representative, told the teachers: “We will be reflecting on what you do, and how you do it, and will hopefully give you some tips and strategies as to how you can improve whatever practices you have here. We are extremely heartened by the energy, enthusiasm and commitment that you have in Anguilla to really move forward this process; to objectively look at your school; to assess what is going well; to look at your weaknesses; and how you can put strategies in place to move forward.”
The opening ceremony and conference sessions were chaired by the Deputy Principal of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Mrs. Melsadis Fleming.
Working along with Ms. King – were regional facilitators, Nicole Lynch, Juanne Nurse and Rolston Nickeo. Among the discussion topics were: School-wide Positive Behaviour Supports; Integrating Life Skills Instruction; Transformational Leadership; Insights, Findings and areas for Improvement; Discipline and the rights of the Child; Adult/Student Interactions; Parental and Community Engagement; Reviewing and Strengthening the Referral Process; Clarifying Levels of Behaviour and Possible Consequences; Clarifying what will be managed by Teachers and what will be managed by Administration; and Managing Misbehaviour: A Closer Look.
