Although the teaching curriculum programme may still be the same, as always, there appears to be a somewhat new approach to the running of the Workshop Initiative for Support in Education (W.I.S.E.) Centre, now at a new location.
The learning centre, with a roll of 34 students (four girls and 30 boys), is an alternative to Campuses A and B of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School.
It was previously located in the main portion of the former Cottage Hospital building at the Crocus Hill area, in The Valley, for a number of years. However, the ageing structure was wrecked by Hurricane Irma and has been abandoned.
The Centre has now been relocated at the refurbished and expanded former Roger’s Soda Factory at Stoney Ground – across from the Princess Alexandra Hospital – owned by Mr. Leroy Rogers.
The Anguillian visited there this week and was taken on a comprehensive guided tour by two very polite students – Betania Polanco of South Hill, a third form student whose second language is English; and Serena Connor of Stoney Ground, a fifth form student aspiring to be a teacher. They were assigned as guides to the newspaper by Ms. Gabriel Klaren, Coordinator.
The roomy Centre functions in three main areas. The first area comprises Technical Workshops which includes Carpentry and Boat Building with Mr. Roland Hodge; Computer Graphic Design with Mr. Akio Lloyd; Engine Repair and Electricity with Mrs. Rhonda Samuels; and BTEC Construction with Mr. Trevor Queeley.
The second area comprises Creative Workshops including BTEC Hospitality with Mrs. Kawanah Jean; and Culinary Arts with Mrs. Lennora Taylor-Allen.
The third area comprises Academic Workshops with English CCSLC with Mrs. Cynthia Gumbs; Literacy and English by Mrs. Margaret Mitchell; Mathematics CCSLC with Ms. Sunshine Guico; Integrated Science CCSLC with Ms. Simone Connor; Math, Agro & Science with Mr. Darwin Hazell; and Social Studies, CCSLC with Ms. Rhonda Hodge.
The support staff members are Mrs. Yvette Petty, Custodian; Mrs. Eulah Bartlette, Assistant, Special Education Needs; Mrs. Natasha Carty, Welfare Officer; Mr. Iain Bibby, Substance Misuse Counselling; and Ms. Gabriele Klaren, Coordinator.
The objectives of W.I.S.E. include: offering a variety of technical and creative workshops from which students may choose in order to discover their skills and potential; moulding appropriate behaviour through clear rules and role-modelling from instructors; providing a safe and supportive setting so that students’ self-esteem grows and in time they can better cope in school and society in general; monitoring and documenting the students’ progress so that they are encouraged and enabled to pursue certification in CXC level CCSLC and BTEC level 1 certification.
W.I.S.E. focuses on “students at risk” who have a practical inclination. The students are selected through “self-referral” or referral by staff at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School or the Department of Social Development. The students attend W.I.S.E. full-time.
W.I.S.E. will observe its 14th Anniversary in September this year.
