ABOUT US

EDUCATION, strong character, NATIONAL PRIDE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

ABOUT US

The Harbour Island Green School is an independent community based ‘green’ school with a focus on leadership, citizenship and environmental sustainability. It will open doors on September 2019 and serve students in K through 6. The school will follow the national curriculum of The Bahamas with an emphasis on experiential and interdisciplinary teaching and deliver a world-class standard of learning to local Bahamian and international students.

Vision: The vision of The Harbour Island Green School is to create a relevant and model educational and community organization that helps children reach their fullest potential and makes a vital contribution to the surrounding community. 

Mission: We deliver educational excellence and produce empowered, environmentally, culturally and socially conscious global citizens who demonstrate leadership, creativity, critical thinking and compassion. To accomplish this, we use dynamic teaching methods and provide a passionate and nurturing school environment.

Motto: Accepting the challenge - Blazing the trail 

Mascot: The Harbour Island Rooster (Gallus gallus domesticus)

The school will be led by director William Simmons, Mr. Simmons worked at The Deep Creek Middle School subsidiary of the Cape Eleuthera Island School and has a strong foundation in experiential, green and community-based approaches to education. Simmons has 5 years experience in The Bahamas public school system and intimate knowledge of the protocols and standards of the Ministry of Education. Mr. Simmons is also the recipient of the Bahamian Icon Award for youth and community development, one of the country’s most prestigious accolades to any professional in their field. Space 2 Create, Simmons’ Youth organization will operate the community centre division of the school.  

The school will follow the National Curriculum of The Bahamas delivered through a range of experiential, interdisciplinary and project-based learning activities that meet national curriculum objectives and international learning benchmarks. This will be supplemented with sustainability education and citizenship education taught in a sustainability and community class. The school's curriculum will be cross-referenced with international benchmark standards drawn from international curriculums, the common core, the Ontario curriculum in Canada and the IB curriculum 

Learning at the school will be guided by its mission and commitment to environmental sustainability and social justice. The school will practice the inclusion of special needs students whose needs will be met through differentiated instruction based on Individualized education plans (IEPs) for special needs students. This will be delivered ideally through a partnership with EEO. 

Year one goals

1. Register as an eco-school and successfully obtain the green flag award.

2. Smooth transition existing faculty and students into a new framework.

3. The establishment of an effective community resource centre at the site that offers structured after school and evening programs to all children on the island.

4. Obtain or renew accreditation from NEACB.

5. Creation of a native plant garden.

6. Administer G.L.A.T. with a 90% pass rate.

7. Curriculum overhaul and the development of a new school culture based on the mission and vision.

8. Conduct a school-wide literacy inventory through the SRI test or a similar literacy test.

9. Identify special needs students and develop IEPs where necessary.

10. Creation of a school garden and student nutrition programme

11. Participate in Junior Junkanoo.

12. Participate in Primary track and field.

13. Participate in The National Arts Festival.

Residency program

The school will host a professional residency program each term. This individual will collaborate with teachers to enhance themed learning and collaborate with the director to support the wider community initiatives related to their field. These might include the arts, environmental conservation or social justice.

First professional in residence: Marine Biologist Kristal Ambrose of Bahamas plastic movement, (BPM)

BPM is the organization that brought about the pending ban on single-use plastics. Kristal's role will be to collaborate with students to create a plastic-free school, to educate the community about marine pollution and reduce litter and plastic waste in the community. 

Partnership with Space 2 Create Community Centre

An integral project of the school is the establishment of an effective community resource centre at the site in partnership with Space 2 Create. This community centre offers structured summer, after school and evening programs to all children on the island. It is available for the use of approved partners who share mutual goals that match the mission and vision of The Harbour Island Green School and Space 2 Create.  

Health and Wellness

Health and wellness are fundamental to the realization of children’s academic potential. Maslow's hierarchy of needs tells us that nutrition, safety, and general well being are essential before meaningful learning can take place. The school will follow the guidelines laid out by The Bahamas Ministry of Education and the Ontario foundations for a healthy school, which include the practice of daily physical activity and total exclusion of junk foods except on special occasions. 

Human resource philosophy: Burnout prevention 

School staff must feel valued and must see a pathway for their growth and development. The school is committed to providing the best available resources and professional development opportunities to its staff. The schedule is rigorous and challenging but it is understood that professionals require a healthy work-life balance. Weekly professional development sessions and annual professional development allowances will support the teacher’s growth. Wellness partnerships with local business and organizations will support the well being of our valued staff. 

CORE VALUES

• Leadership

• Love of Learning

• Sustainability

• Creativity

• Community

Community Expectations

• Integrity

• Respect

• Kindness

• Responsibility

• Self Control