Caye Caulker Ocean Academy
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Academics
July 2010
National Winner and Youth Role Model! Congratulations to Jaison Hernandez who won 5th place in the national selection of youth role models, by the community policing Du Di Rite Ting Awards. Jaison, along with Ocean Academy's 5 regional winners, was recognized at a cermony at Old Belize on July 14th. Jaison won $400 and, when he graduates from Ocean Academy, he has won his tuition for a 2-year Associate's Degree (Jr. College) at St. John's College in Belize City. We couldn't be more proud!
June 2010
International Friends of Belize Scholarships: Congratulations to Mercedes Requena, Jaison Hernandez and Lilly Aldana who each won a $1000Bz scholarship from International Friends of Belize. More than 50 students applied nationwide, so it is great honour to be selected.
With Community Support, Students Shine at Awards Ceremony: Students, staff and community members gathered Friday June 18th to celebrate Ocean Academy’s end-of-the-year awards ceremony. Students, led by Form III's Ramir Villanueva, arrived early to transform the Caye Caulker Community Centre into a beautiful reception area decked out with lights, balloons and glittery decorations in the school colors of blue and orange.
“Good Conduct Awards” for receiving fewer than four demerits during the school year.
“Good Conduct with Distinction” was awarded to Lilly Aldana for no demerits during the entire school year.
2010 honor roll for maintaining an academic average of 86% or higher.
Corporal Geban presented regional winners of the community policing “Do Di Rait Ting” award to Lilly Aldana, Danny Marin and Michael Blease (Mercedes Requena and Jaison Hernandez were awarded earlier in the year). These awards recognize youth role models.
Community business owners rewarded deserving students with 22 tuition scholarships ranging from $50-$400, redeemable at Ocean Academy. Students and staff would like to express a big thank you to the Caye Caulker community for their ongoing support of educational opportunities for the island youth, and recognition of excellence.
Congratulations Danny Marin
Bahia Convenience for Attendance and Punctuality
Neil and Molly Bradley Award for Tourism Skills
Seadreams Hotel for Highest Academic Achievement in Form III
Congratulations Mercedes Requena
Chocolate's Conservation Award
Iguana Reef Visionary Award
Juan Karim Math Excellence
Hilda Marczak Memorial for Community Activism
Seadreams Hotel for Highest Academic Achievement in Form II
Congratulations Lilly Aldana
Lazy Iguana for Attendance and Punctuality
Oceanside for Effort in Math
Raggamuffin Tours "Spirit of Ocean Academy"
Seadreams Hotel for 2nd Highest Academic Achievement in Form II
Village Council "Spirit of Caye Caulker"
Congratulations Clifton Burgess
Frenchie's Award for Aquatic Excellence
Congratulations Estrella Jimenez
Belize Diving Services for Communication & Presentation Skills
Congratulations Arturo Allen
Joe Habanero's Caana Award (Great Improvement)
Congratulations Jaison Hernandez
Amanda & Scrumpy Award for Community Involvement
Cayeboard Connection Internet Award
Congratulations Angel Fuller
Caye Caulker Condos "Aim High"
Iguana Reef for Attendance and Punctuality
Seadreams Hotel for Highest Academic Achievement in Form I
Walter Marczak Memorial for Form I Science
Congratulations Michael Blease
Seadreams Hotel for 2nd Highest Academic Achievement in Form I
Tropical Paradise Hotel for Professsional Student Conduct in Form I
Congratulations Carl Burgess
Seaside Cabanas for Citizenship
Congratulations Carring Chen
Cayeboard Connection Internet Award
Tropical Paradise Hotel for Professional Student Conduct in Form I
Congratulations D'Arcy Lopez
Caye Real Estate for Academic Determination
Congratulations Elmir Arana
Juan Clemente Marin Memorial for Work Ethic
Tropical Paradise Hotel for Professional Student Conduct in Form I
Congratuations Dylan Ceballos
Caye Caulker Properties for Sale & RE/MAX for Entrepreneurial Skills
April 2010
Apprenticeships: Masonry, Electrical Work and Carpentry - Cornelio, Christian, Rudy and Artie spent their first weekend of Easter Break...working and learning! The students assisted Dane Dingerson and his crew in the construction of a downstairs Principal's Office, Counselling Office, and student cafeteria area. In addition to a working wage, the boys gained valuable worksite appentriceship skills.
Congratulations to 5 newly certified Scuba Divers (March 6): Congratulations to students who earned their PADI Open-Water certification in Ocean Academy's P.E. Aquatic Tourism class: Mercedes, Clifton, David, Bryon and Estrella. The owners of Belize Diving Services, Chip and Danielle Petersen, generously volunteered their staff time and equipment. Experienced diver Patrick Savage and Belize Diving Services staff member Pablo volunteered their time to instruct the group. Ocean Academy just opened up another classroom: the underwater world of Caye Caulker.
"Do The Right Thing" Award: We are very proud of Form II student Lilly, for winning the February regional award for the "Do The Right Thing" community policing award. Each month highschools are invited to nominate one deserving student who is a role model for youth doing positive things in their community. Lilly will be eligible for scholarship prizes in June when all nominations are judged nationally.
"Do The Right Thing" Award: We are very proud of Form II students Mercedes and Jaison, for winning the November and January regional awards for the "Do The Right Thing" community policing award. Each month highschools are invited to nominate one deserving student who is a role model for youth doing positive things in their community. Mercedes adn Jaison will be eligible for scholarship prizes in June when all nominations are judged nationally.
Honor Roll students: 86% average or higher in semester 1
Ocean Academy student awarded National Youth Award (Nov.27): We are very proud of Form II student, Mercedes, who was awarded the National Youth Award for Environmentalism. 10 Belizean youth from across the country were selected for honours by Youth For The Future and the Minister of Education at an awards banquet in Belize City. Mercedes is only 13, yet has been active for years as President of the Environmental Club, apprentice to marine biologists, leader of beach clean ups, and a young leader in the field of environmental activities.
Starting November 7, students from Standard VI (gr.8) at the primary school are invited to come to Ocean Academy's Saturday School and PSE exam prep. 27 students eagerly signed up for the first session of Computer Skills and Math Made Fun. Following sessions will teach English writing skills, Science experiments and hands-on Social Studies projects.
August 24, 2009: First day of classes.
- June 21 Ocean Academy celebrated student success with a Scholarship Award Ceremony: Congratulations to winners Mercedes, Lilly, Clifton, Jaison, Henry, Cornelio, Byron, David, Mariela, Stephanie, Steven, Ramir and Yvon. Go to "donors and volunteers" page for a list of the scholarships sponsored by local Caye Caulker business owners.
Science Fair a Success!: June 12. The Science Department hosted the first Ocean Academy Science Fair, open to the general public and hosted at the community library. Student displays included a solar oven, seismograph machine, catapault, experiment to demonstrate the spread of germs, exploding volcano, liquid density display, a chain-reaction demonstration, electonic circuit board and much more. The students did a fantastic job!
Honours Science Class learn CSI: Science teacher Sarah invited honours science students to the community library in May to re-create a crime scene investigation. Students learned hands-on the science of fingerprinting.
- Standard VI students tour Ocean Academy: We were pleased to welcome the Standard VI class from Caye Caulker Romn Catholic School. Students toured our buiding and classrooms, and met with staff. Our science teacher demonstrated the use of ProScope microscopes; the Math teacher played a mind-bender game; the school Principal talked about enrollment, English, and Scuba club; school Vice-Principal talked about Spanish, Social Studies and International Opportunities; Bridge and LifeSkills teachers presented a knowledge trivia game; Basketball and Volleyball coaches introduced their sports and training programs.
Ministry of the Environment Poster Competition Contestants: Ocean Academy is proud of students Mercedes and Lilly. The girls worked hard on posters depicting threats to Belize's Wetlands and entered their work in a nation-wide poster competition. The Ministry of the Environment sent Mercedes and Lilly both certificates of recognition for their good work, and notebooks illustrated with all the posters submitted for the contest.
Inspirational Women of Caye Caulker Project: Form I Social Studies class finished a unit on women's history in April. The final project is to conduct oral history with inspirational women of Caye Caulker: to learn about life in Belize before Independence, changes on Caye Caulker, personal memories of Belizean cultural and family life. Students are also asking these role-model women for words of advice from one generation to the next.
Archaelogical Dig Project: Form I Social Studies students studied archaelogy as part of their unit on the ancient Maya, and then created a mock archaeological dig site beside the school. Students learned to set up transects, dig for artefacts, document finds and even reconstruct pottery.
- Professional Business Behaviour Seminar: Congratulations to students Ramir, Vanessa, Monica and Stephanie for their certificates of participation in customer service. The seminar was hosted by the Belize Tourism Industry Association on May 3, 2009 at the Village Council offices. Ocean Academy students studied alongside Caye Caulker tour guides and business owners, learning valuable communication skills.
