Middle School Summit to Be Held Tomorrow

At a press conference held yesterday [Mar.30] Minister of Education Dame Jennifer Smith announced that tomorrow [Apr.1] the Ministry of Education will be hosting the first ever Middle School Summit entitled “Walk it Out”.

The boys will go to Warwick Camp for the day while the girls will go to the Bermuda College Campus. Each student will be provided with a “passport” for the day to record their highlights, and the day will conclude with them making a “personal commitment to make positive choices and to lead productive lives.”

Dame Jennifer’s full remarks follow below:

Good afternoon and thank you for joining me.

Ladies and gentlemen I believe that in order to ensure that we develop vibrant, articulate, capable, well rounded and community minded students in our public school system, they must be afforded not only critical educational and learning opportunities, but they must be exposed to leadership opportunities which stretch beyond the brick and mortar of our school structures.

Today I am pleased to announce that on Friday, April 1^st, the Ministry of Education will be hosting the first ever Middle School Summit entitled “Walk it Out”.

This event is strictly for our Middle Schools, and will see all students travelling to two venues for a day long retreat that includes a series of life presentations aimed at inspiring them to not only dream big, but also that – no matter the obstacles, they can achieve their goal.

The rationale for choosing this age group was both research and observation suggests that this is a crucial point when young people make decisions on the direction they will take with their life.

For those wondering how this concept was conceived, the impetus came when I attended the World Education Forum in London. There, I had the opportunity to talk with my counterpart from the island of Barbados.

He noted that the young men of Barbados are going through similar challenges to those being experienced here in Bermuda.

A way of bringing attention to this matter, Barbados had initiated a summit involving boys and men from all walks of life to interact to show them that they were valued.

Inspired by this conversation, I returned home, determined to host a Middle School Summit for Bermuda’s Middle Schools.

With the help of a great number of people – most of them in Education but also from the wider community – Friday April 1^st, our Middle School students (separated only by gender) will share in an uplifting and inspiring day with role models from across the spectrum of Bermudian life.

As a matter of having adequate space, the boys will go to Warwick Camp for the day while the girls will go to the Bermuda College Campus.

The intent is to make an impact on the thinking of our students, through life stories, examples and interaction with local role models and celebrities, exposure to activities that will make them think and hopefully light a fire that will help them to set goals and make right life choices.

Our role models include a host of individuals from all spheres of life – sports people, business professionals, chefs, managers, musicians, artists, pastors and Members of the Legislature.

These individuals will have one-on-one time with students to talk about how they overcame adversity, or how they got to the position they hold today. It is hoped that our children will be inspired and sense a connection not just to the speakers, but also to each other.

The theme for the day is “Walk it Out” and the day will conclude with our young people making a personal commitment to make positive choices and to lead productive lives.

Each student will be provided with a “passport” for the day to record their highlights and to take away as a reminder of the commitments they may make.

We hope that during the interaction, information which will be shared by students and role models will include:

• Mingling and talking to students about what schools they attended, neighborhoods they grew up in and social or sporting activities they participated in
• What (if any) adversity they had to overcome
• The importance of having their own set of values
• Not letting their circumstances define or limit them
• Making right choices

Since this is an unbudgeted project – I really want to thank all of those who have agreed to share their time for this worthwhile cause including our Commissioner of Education and Education Officers, all of whom have demonstrated their commitment to students by sending a clear message that they are valued and cared about.

This event would not be possible without the support of a wonderful group of individuals who I refer to as the “Walk It Out” Summit Committee.

Led by Education Permanent Secretary Mr. Warren Jones, they include Dr. Frederick Evans, Senator Laverne Furbert, Mr. Carlton Tyrell, Ms. Zina Tucker, Ms. Deborah Thomas-Gilkes, Ms. Terlena Murphy, Mr. Glenn Jones, Mrs. Martha Dismont, Mrs. Lisa Marshall, Ms. Nishanti Bailey, Mr. Nadanja Bailey, Mr. Anthony Peets, Ms. Nea Talbot, Mrs. Nolette Tucker and Mr. Thaao Dill.

This team has steadily gone about the business of putting all of the elements in place to ensure that this event is a success.

We have been supported by Hunt’s Food & Supplies, Barritt’s, Dunkley’s, Pizza House, Marketplace, XL, GET Security, HOTT 107.5, Perry Footwear and Grandview Tent and Rentals.

I also want to thank our key partners in this endeavour. Alongside me today is Mr. Chris Furbert of the Bermuda Industrial Union who have provided wristbands for our students and along with our partners in the Ministry of Transport, Minister the Honourable Terry Lister, Director of the Department of Public Transport Ms. Jonelle Christopher, they have worked together to ensure that our students will be transported to the individual venues. I also want to especially thank those bus drivers who would normally be off on that day as they have agreed to transport our student s without charge to the Government.

Ladies and gentlemen, this event recognizes that Middle School students are no longer children, but not yet young adults. Hence, this is a great period of change for them as they determine what direction they will go. It is hoped that this day will afford them a clearer insight on how they chart their path forward.

Thank you.

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