Readers are Leaders

Director of Tourism Ms Pilar Bush reads to Prospect Primary School students. Community leaders took time out last week (Friday18 March) to read to students at Prospect Primary School as part of the school’s Readers are Leaders programme. This monthly initiative aims to heighten pupils’ interest in reading, whilst exposing each class to a cross section of professions.

Reading Specialist at the school Ms Lydia Murphy explained: “Exposing students to a cross section of occupations widens their perception of who ‘leaders’ are and how reading can impact one’s life both personally and professionally.”

Readers are Leaders participants select their own reading material, possibly a favourite story or reflecting an area of interest and they often donate the book they have read to the school library.

RCIP Inspector Adrian Seales, who took part in this month’s programme, read about bats: “The students were very keen and already quite well versed on the subject of bats. This is an excellent programme and a great way to develop the children’s vocabulary.”

Prospect Primary School Principal Mr. Michael Walker explained to the participants that their contribution may be the most important thing they do all day: “We are very proud of this reading programme; it increases the students’ reading scores over the year and heightens their interest in reading,” he said.

Participants in this month programme included: Dr. Ruthlyn Pomares, Health Services Authority G.P; Ms Marcia Ebanks - Accountant, PriceWaterhouseCoopers; Ms Jennie Ann Pacheco - Engineer, Dart Management; Mr. Rudy Evans - Retired Deputy Commissioner, RCIP & Prospect Primary Parent; Mr. Richard Hew – Chief Operating Officer, Caribbean Utilities Company; Mrs. Merta Day - Coach, Youth and Sports Department; Ms Sarah Emerson - Human Resources and Office Manager, Cingular Wireless; Ms Pilar Bush - Director of Tourism; Ms Rita Estevanovich - Cayman National Cultural Foundation; and Inspector Adrian Seales – RCIP Inspector.

National Hero the Hon. Sybil McLaughlin and Chief Education Officer Nyda Flatley were amongst some of the other distinguished professionals who participated in Readers are Leaders programme during February.