Just
in time for the reopening of Cayman’s schools, the YMCA offered an
intensive tutoring programme to 16 Extended After-School Programme
students from Sir John A. Cumber Primary School and George Town
Primary School. Students were invited to join the YMCA for three
mornings of rigorous one-on-one literacy and numeracy tutoring. The
intent of the programme was to help bridge the learning gap for
children who might not have had access to strong academic support
over the lockdown period.

The
Y partnered with Rawlinson & Hunter, PricewaterhouseCoopers and
Literacy is for Everyone (LIFE) who all provided volunteer tutors to
support the initiative. As a result of the collaboration, the
programme was offered at no cost to families.

As
with all YMCA programmes, the sessions adopted the philosophy of
learning through play. Students and volunteers alike enjoyed lessons
filled with literacy and numeracy games such as Multiplication
Connect 4, Spelling Pictionary and Addition Hopscotch. Participants
also worked their way through Kumon Math and Summer Reading Review
and Prep books which they could also complete from home.

“The
YMCA supports literacy and numeracy throughout the school year and
does quarterly testing in these areas to monitor progress. Therefore,
this three-day intensive workshop aligns well with our objectives,
and we are so pleased that we were able to offer it to these
students,” explained Gillian Smith, Executive Director. “As we
enter the new school year, the Y will continue to enhance these areas
as we look to make up for academic time lost during lockdown.”

“I
think this was an excellent programme which provided a very thorough
experience for both the participants and the tutors,” said one of
the volunteers who was asked to anonymously assess the programme. “I
enjoyed the time I spent with my student Tiana, and especially liked
that I had flexibility in delivering materials as each child is
different and responds differently. Tiana reminded me about patience
and the importance of (snack) time; she spoke to me in Spanish and
challenged me to be creative in my delivery so that she could learn
as well as have fun.”

For
more information about the YMCA Extended Afterschool Programme (EASP)
visit http://www.ymcacayman.ky/after-school-programmes/,
email easp@ymcacayman.ky or
call 922.2432.