City In Focus: Back to School, Built for Every Child

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GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – We’ve already shown you how students at Lucaya International School are learning to ask better questions and think critically, and how small classes are building both confidence and curiosity.

Now, as parents across Grand Bahama get ready for the back-to-school season, City in Focus returns to LIS, where educators are making sure every child, no matter how they learn, is set up to succeed.

For many parents, back to school comes with one big question: Will my child thrive here?

At Lucaya International School, Head of Secondary Nigel Kirkby says the answer begins with understanding how each student learns.

Nigel Kirkby – Head of Secondary, Lucaya International School
“If they don’t learn the way you teach, then teach them the way they learn. That’s a central point of our process.”

He says the school’s small class sizes make it possible. And when students struggle, teachers notice.

Nigel Kirkby – Head of Secondary, Lucaya International School
“We constantly have meetings, and we have a situation where we have a document that teachers can report whatever they see within the lesson with certain individuals. And as a group of teachers, we come together and we come up with an action plan.”

Kirkby says the school also provides formal interventions for students with learning difficulties.

Nigel Kirkby – Head of Secondary, Lucaya International School
“We have a specialist teacher whose job is solely to look after those individuals with learning difficulties. We work closely with the Ministry of Education and private companies to get these students evaluated.”

For Kirkby, the joy comes in what happens next when students start to love school again.

Nigel Kirkby – Head of Secondary, Lucaya International School
“They know they have to come, but they’re actually quite happy that they are coming to the school, and they are happy to come to the lessons.”

For parents, that may just be the best back-to-school gift of all.

Nigel Kirkby – Head of Secondary, Lucaya International School
“We just had a young boy come back from Madrid. He went to a soccer camp over there. To see the joy in his eyes and the love of what he’s doing is great to see these students being successful.”