Director's Wave | Volume 5 Edition 27

Dear CIS Community,

Some Things to Ponder
“You should sit in meditation twenty minutes every day - unless you are too busy; then you should sit in meditation for an hour.” - Zen Adage

Learning celebrations, PBLs, moving up ceremonies, concerts, performances, exams and more - whilst the 2024 - 2025 school year is nearing its denouement for students, planning for the future continues. This is the time of year when families, parents, faculty and staff, and students may feel even busier than usual (thus the inclusion of the Zen adage above as a reminder to take pause, breathe and be present - even amid busy schedules, transitions, moving and change in general). 

Our world also tends to feel busy, and at times hectic, as it continues to navigate complex challenges. This year witnessed ongoing crises in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine; critical climate change negotiations focusing on the shipping industry's environmental impact; and the continued uneven progress toward global gender equality. The cultural landscape of 2025 has been shaped by conversations around eco-minimalism, generative AI, quiet luxury, climavore diets, neurodivergent pride, and biohacking. In sustainability, researchers are developing innovative solutions like "grasstics"—packaging made from agricultural waste—to address our persistent plastic problem. Closer to home, here on island, development, immigration, sustainability, technology, elections, and cost-of-living are common topics of discussion.  Meanwhile, YouTube remains our most-used platform, The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights" still holds its title as the most streamed song ever, Lady Gaga's "Abracadabra" tops the 2025 charts thus far.

What will your child remember about your 2024-2025 school year at CIS? Perhaps it's laughing with friends on the playground, finding their voice during a presentation, celebrating with teammates, discovering themselves on stage, or becoming immersed in a new favourite book. Maybe it's conversations in the library, lunchtime talks in the courtyard, standing up for what's right even when difficult, that "eureka" moment in class, an unplugged dinner time discussion with family and friends, or the excitement of choosing a university.

As people reflect on this school year and the journey ahead, I hope memories include more triumphs than challenges and that we all work to embody the CIS Community Principles of Kindness, Partnership, Sustainability, and Good Intent. Whatever the memories one sees and feels in one’s mind’s eye, I hope the memories are accompanied by a smile when one thinks about the 2024-2025 school year - thus far (noting there is still just over 4% of the student school year remaining).

Wishing you a pleasant weekend and wonderful time with family and friends.

Jim Urquhart
Director - Cayman International School