Director's Wave | Volume 6 Edition 27

Vol 6 Ed 27 2025-2026 SY 24 April 2026 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” – First Nations Proverb

Making a Difference

One morning, a CIS student was walking along one of our many beaches after a storm had washed hundreds of starfish ashore. Without hesitation, the student began picking them up, one by one, and carrying them back to the sea. Beachgoers watched with quiet amusement. After a while, an on looking visitor approached and said, "Why bother? Look at this beach.

You can't possibly save them all - you cannot even begin to make a difference."

The words stung. The student paused. Then, after a moment of quiet thought, bent down, lifted another starfish, waded into the water, and gently let it go. Looking back at the visitor, the student said simply: "I made a difference to that one."

The visitor stood still - then smiled - then stepped forward and joined in. Others followed and before long, all the starfish were home.

Adapted from 'The Star Thrower' by Loren C. Eiseley

Earth Day

Wednesday, 22 April, was Earth Day. Like International Women's Day or Emancipation Days, it exists as a reminder - a pause in the calendar to appreciate what is quietly, persistently undervalued. Our planet is no exception.

This month, the Artemis II voyage reminded us just how rare and fragile this blue world truly is. That fragility is not abstract for us here. Living on a small island surrounded by sea, we see it daily - in degraded reefs, eroding beaches, overdeveloped coastlines, and a landfill that quietly smolders. The most recent fire, likely sparked by the improper disposal of lithium batteries from vehicles, laptops, phones, or vapes, is a vivid reminder that what we consume, and how we discard it, has consequences we cannot simply drive past.

Earth Day asks us to think and act with the future in mind. That is not easy. And it begins with a deceptively complex yet short question: What can one person do?

Walk the Talk

For adults, that question can be uncomfortable. Our habits - formed and reinforced over years - are not easily unravelled. It is far simpler to speak about sustainability than to live it. One of the many marvels of young people learning is that they may not always listen to us, but they watch us with remarkable precision. They notice when our words and actions do not quite match. Their hypocrisy sensors tend to be well tuned.

We can speak eloquently about growing our own food while reaching for takeaway packaging - of which I know I can be guilty of in a weak moment. We can lament the island's waste problem while not doing our part to address the fact that collectively people on island own more vehicles than there are licensed drivers. These contradictions are not lost on our children.

The classic guidance still holds: fly less, drive less, eat less meat, turn off the lights, and of course reduce before you reuse or recycle. Perhaps the most meaningful thing we can do from time to time is sit down with our children and simply listen. Ask them what they see. Ask them what they wonder about and inquire, what do you think one person can do to make a difference?

We all might be surprised - and we might find ourselves being like the student and starfishes and the visitor stepping forward to help.

Sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School