SCAI promises to be phenomenal experience

The Summer Crash Academy Inc (SCAI), summer kids’ workshop, promises to be a phenomenal one; so says the programme’s founder, Jolene Lewis.

“Each workshop is different, as we work towards ensuring that the returning students engage in new learning experiences,” Lewis told reporters at the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) conference room last Friday.{{more}}

The programme, which is being held under the theme ‘Strengthening our learning capacities, creating opportunities,’ incorporates reading, science, Information Communication Technology (ICT), mathematics, Spanish and Arts and Craft.

“We know that we are all living in a technological era and our children must be equipped to effectively navigate the technological terrain, hence ICT.”

According to Lewis, the academy came about as the need was identified in the North Leeward area to assist persons in making themselves more marketable by becoming more computer-savvy.

The SCAI founder said it was observed that some children were lagging behind their peers and their expected reading level and the Summer Crash Academy has taken the initiative to address this obvious need.

She noted that the students’ safety and well-being are of paramount importance and as such, they would ensure that they are provided with lunch and that snacks would be made accessible to them to defeat the need to leave the compound.

Additionally, cricket, netball, soccer and athletics would be incorporated. As Lewis says, they allow each participant to learn the necessary techniques and rules that govern sporting disciplines, while enjoying being physically active.

“The students will now able to expand their learning experiences by embarking on bus tours, upstage each other and facilitators on fitness hikes and display their competitive and team spirit in a fun day of sporting activities.”

Lewis added that it is their responsibility to provide children with the tools necessary for strengthening their learning capacities and creating opportunities for their future development.

According to the programme’s development and public relations officer, Gasley Cottle, children across North Leeward love the programme.

He said research has shown that a child can lose a couple of months’ worth of math skills during the lengthy summer break.

“Hence, we strongly believe that the summer break from school activities often results in a learning lag upon returning to the classroom,” he said.

“The children are given the opportunity to discover new interests, create memories and make lifelong friendships.”

According to Cottle, the workshop has reduced many learning deficiencies and has accelerated learning and the team strongly believes that the workshop would become a fundamental addition to the overall education programme in SVG.

This year the NTRC has collaborated with SCAI in order to launch its ‘My App’ programme.

Universal Service Fund (USF) administrator at the NTRC Kyron Duncan said that the NTRC saw the need to go into communities and give training to students during the summer to have them be able to build mobile apps.

Duncan added that the programme has been running for two consecutive years and was held at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC).

“This year, however, we saw the need to decentralize its location, as we don’t want persons in the rural areas being disadvantaged.”

He said there is a facilitator on the team who is accredited and has ICT training from the University of the West Indies and universities in the United States where he has worked.

Duncan urged all persons in North Leeward and surrounding areas to apply and attend the programme for the opportunity to develop mobile application programmes.

Registration for the ‘My App’ programme is EC$50 and it would run from July 25th to September 2nd from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Petit Bordel Secondary School, for children between 13 and 18 years.

The SCAI would be held at the Troumaca Secondary School, beginning August 15 to 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday, for children between seven and 12 years.

Registration fot both programmes started last Monday at the Troumaca Secondary School, and runs from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.(AS)