CAT ISLAND STUDENTS TAKE PART IN EXCHANGE PROGRAMME IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Winners of the 2016 Earth Day Essay Competition are currently in Washington, D.C., participating in the 2016 Columbia Heights Educational Campus (CHEC) – Cat Island Student Exchange, which commenced on October 14, 2016, and is in its fourth year of existence.

Under the supervision of Ms. Kendia Barr, Business Studies Teacher of Old Bight High School, the group from Cat Island includes Andrea Greene, Arthur’s Town High School (11th grade); Erma Marcellus, Old Bight High School (11 th grade); Philesha Taylor, Old Bight High School (12 th grade); Ezra Russell Jr., Old Bight High School (11th grade), and Britney Thacker, Old Bight High School (10th grade).

The group, accompanied by Ms. Kristen Whitaker, History Teacher of CHEC, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Dr. Eugene G. Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, at the Embassy of The Bahamas, 2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., on Tuesday, October 25, 2016.

While in Washington, D.C., the students, along with their chaperone, are being received by host families of the CHEC in their homes, where they share meals, attend church, and travel together daily to school. The students have also participated in academic classes and after school activities, including sports, music, clubs and working in the school’s garden with their school mates.

Additionally, the students have participated in organized trips to the National History, African American and Air and Space museums, as well as university tours of the University of Maryland and American University. Ms. Barr has also had the opportunity to participate in the administrative and learning activities of the CHEC and extra-curricular activities with the students.

It is anticipated that Cat Island students and their families will host students from Washington, D.C., during the spring of 2017 to coincide with Earth Day.

The 2016 CHEC – Cat Island Student Exchange, which concludes on October 31, 2016, places special emphasis, among other things, on student entrepreneurship, community gardens and environmental protection.

CAPTION
Pictured from left to right:  Kendia Barr, Business Studies Teacher of Old Bight High School; Andrea Greene, Arthur’s Town High School (11th grade); Erma Marcellus, Old Bight High School (11th grade); Philesha Taylor, Old Bight High School (12th grade); Ezra Russell Jr., Old Bight High School (11th grade); Britney Thacker, Old Bight High School (10th grade); H.E. Dr. Eugene G. Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States; Ms. Kristen Whitaker, History Teacher, CHEC, and Mr. Chet Neymour, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of The Bahamas.