Dear Principals,

As we come to the official close of the 2020 – 2021 Academic year, I would like to use this opportunity to thank you for the great support given. It was indeed another difficult year as we continue to deal with the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic and online education issues, however we have persevered.

To those of you may be retiring or moving on to other ventures, on behalf of the Education Department I express profound thanks for your contribution to the education of our youths. Your selfless service will be long remembered by those lives who you positively impacted.

As we conclude the year and commence plans for the new, let us continue our resolve to improve in our field and implement new innovations that will help our students to be critical thinkers equipped to make positive contributions to  the development of our beautiful by nature, the Turks & Caicos Islands.

Do enjoy your summer holidays and return refreshed and excited to begin the new school year.

God Bless! Regards,

David Bowen [Education Officer / Turks and Caicos Education Department]

It’s tradition here for Santa to arrive on the last morning of school on fire truck laden with book gifts for all. Mindful of COVID-19 this year, Santa recorded a special message for us all that was shared virtually to all our students learning at home and at school.

It wasn’t quite the same, but the excitement of seeing our familiar Santa, hearing his voice and sharing blessings met with the same enjoyment as ever.

We certainly have lots to be grateful for this year and thank Santa for finding a creative way to share his presence!

Memories of our past Santa visits…

TCIG Press Release:

Each year on October 15^th, Global Handwashing Day highlights the importance of handwashing with soap and water at home, in the community and around the world. It is a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap and “running” water as an easy, effective, and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. 

The theme for Global Hand Washing Day 2020 is “HAND HYGIENE FOR ALL,”an important reminder that we must include everyone when addressing handwashing irregularities. Inequalities in handwashing facilities and effective handwashing promotion programs, can put individuals at higher risk for diseases that impact their health, education, and economic outcomes.

In honor of children’s mental health awareness week in the TCI, the DMHSD has started a social media campaign to encourage youth and families to highlight any issues or struggles with mental health and to share messages of hope and resiliency.

Check out their facebook page for more details and read on to see their press release.

Press Release –
TCI Observes World Mental Health Day  With nearly 30 years since the inception of World Mental Health Day, The Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence (DMHSD) in the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services is ecstatic to recognize it, on this October 10^th, 2020 along with a week of activities also marking Children’s Mental Health Week (CMHW). Despite mental health awareness already being at the forefront of the department’s initiatives, this day, provides an occasion for the spotlight to be placed on selected aspects of mental health.

“Teachers: Leading in crisis, re-imagining the future”

Today, Monday 5th October is World Teacher’s Day!

Amid a global pandemic, our teachers have continued to work tirelessly since March to support their students, families and each other through the challenges of online learning and as they adapt to Covid-19 safety guidelines in our daycare classrooms.

As a Senior Leadership wanted to find a way to thank all members of staff for their hard work, resourcefulness and optimism in finding new ways to build successful learning communities. We truly appreciate their efforts over the first month of school.

Over the week, we are planning small gatherings of socially-distanced ‘tea and cake breaks’. A time to appreciate our home learning teachers, along with our Daycare, cleaning and maintenance staff who are working directly with children during this time.

Our Daycare children were all excited to return to the classroom after enjoying a staycation at home.

As the children entered the room, they were amazed to see the some of the Letterland characters on the wall.  Their curiosity, just like Clever Cat in Letterland, led them to explore all the classroom centers calling out the names and sounds of the letters.

So, our journey began, hanging out in Letterland and discovering the wonders of letters and sounds.

Over these first few weeks, the children have revisited some of the sounds they are already familiar with and explored those that are new.

The children have enjoyed making Letterland crafts, listening to the stories of each character, chanting the sounds they make, acting out the actions, making marks that represent each sound, writing in sand, using water to make prints on concrete, tracing with water over chalk, using dot art and tracing with markers, etc.

To help avoid eye strain during home learning screen time, do these 20- 20-20 eye breaks and blink often to refresh your eyes.

Also check the lighting and reduce glare. …

Adjust your monitor to eye level or hold your device up so you’re not looking down. …

Adjust your screen settings so they’re not too bright or too dark.

Check out this article for more eye strain tips.