Director's Wave | Volume 6 Edition 30

 Vol 6 Ed 30 2025-2026 SY 15 May 2026 JU

Dear CIS Community,

Something to Ponder

“You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you.” - Leon Trotsky

“The road to success is always under construction.” - Lily Tomlin

“We were in sight of two small and low islands, full of tortoises (turtles) as was all the sea about, inasmuch that they looked like little rocks, for which reason these islands were called las Tortugas.” - Ferdinand Columbus

CIS Strategic Plan

In March 2025 we initiated our new Strategic Plan which included affirming our mission and principles, revising our vision, and entailed the development of our five strategic imperatives,

• Innovative Programming
• Mission Inspired People
• Constituent Engagement
• World Class Learning Environment
• Sustainable Practices

Earlier this week we conducted a review, renew, and refresh exercise to ensure our strategic plan continues to guide our work, alongside our mission, vision, and principles. This review entailed the Champions (facilitators) of each strategic imperative presenting an update to CIS Staff in March 2026, as well as presenting to the CIS Strategic Plan Core Team (a 25 person team consisting of students, parents, staff, community members and our partners at Dart). Complementing the above, the Core Team reanalyzed our ongoing SWOT analyses (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) to help inform any changes to the action plans associated with each of our strategic imperatives. Ten parents attended the CIS Strategic Plan update meeting for parents on Thursday 14 May. You can read more about the CIS Strategic Plan by visiting the link strategic plan page here - https://www.cis.ky/about-cis/mission-vision-and-strategic-plan on the CIS Website.

Construction Near and Around the School

Temporary roadworks continue in the vicinity of Cayman International School. The CIS and Camana Bay community appreciate the broader community’s collective patience as the road works and construction around the school continue. Recent works have resulted in an increase in dust in the roads and parking areas to the south of the school, as well as the wellness centre and the hospital too.

While every effort is being made by the construction site and its partners to minimize disruption, delays, dust, and noise, we know that such inconveniences during pick-up and drop -off times, in particular, can be frustrating. The weather has been notably dry and the temperature will continue to increase as we approach summer time. To help mitigate the recent increase in dust south of the school, the construction teams are currently reviewing their practices regarding dust control measures. A further update in this regard will be shared by CIS as we learn more. Our air quality monitor is positioned very close to the construction. As you know, the CIS community, the Cayman Islands community, and the world for that matter can track Air Quality around CIS here. Internally, CIS’s air filtration systems have MERV ratings 8 to 13. These ratings are the same as typically found in hospital laboratories and superior commercial / residential buildings. Selected air handling units use a double filter system. The pre-filters (MERV 8) are changed every three months as part of our regular protocol. The primary filters (MERV 13) are changed annually as part of our regular protocol. All filters are inspected every three months and if needed an early change is made. The above protocol meets and exceeds industry standards. Complementing the above, the air-handling units utilize UV-C technology (Ultraviolet Light) to neutralize airborne pathogens.

We understand that construction can involve changes to daily routines and this can be challenging, during busy school hours and larger school events. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as the community adjusts to these temporary measures that will eventually result in improved infrastructure for our families, school programming, staff, and of course CIS students.

The Cayman Islands

This weekend is a long weekend as the Cayman Islands celebrates Discovery Day. Discovery Day pays homage to the “discovery” of the Cayman Islands in 1503. In the early 16th century the islands were described as Las Tortugas because of the volume of turtles found around the islands. Certainly the islands were seen by other people sailing and fishing long before the voyages of Columbus. Nonetheless, he decided to name and write about the islands, or perhaps more accurately, his son Ferninad wrote about the islands of turtles - thus from a European perspective he is credited as the “discoverer.” Whilst the Columbuses are credited with discovering the Cayman Islands, it was Giovanni Vespucci (nephew of Amerigo Vespucci, namesake for Americas continent) who first mapped the Cayman Islands in 1526. What an excellent example of those who write history tend to get the credit.

Wishing you a pleasant long weekend.

Sincerely,

Jim

Jim Urquhart

Director - Cayman International School