PenDragon - the official magazine of Lyford Cay International School PenDragon Vol 4, Spring 2018 | Page 12

global stage academically, personally
and professionally.
The Roots of New Growth
As the larger economy blossomed, a
new demographic of young families
looking to settle on New Providence
sought the best education available
to their children. In the late ‘90s,
Western New Providence had its own
growth spurt when the adult children
of residents began to move home.
The Lyford Cay School, Club and
community grew side by side. The
school worked hard to keep ahead
of the shift to younger families in
and outside the club, and branded
itself as an engine for community
development, and a place where
locals could experience a world-class
education without having to leave
home. The intimate size of the school
was itself a draw for families all over
the island.
To achieve its potential, the school
board, staff and administrators
worked to further expand the size
and diversity of the student body and
the scope of its offerings. They set a
goal to double the student body and
become a community of more than
half Bahamians. The school grew its
reach, adding Grade 9 in 1998. And
the world was put within the hands of
the students as they welcomed visits
from a Maasai warrior from Kenya,
anthropologist Jane Goodall, a U.S.
president and Apollo astronaut Tom
Stafford.
In 1998, Lyford Cay School received
additional accreditation from the
European Council of International
Schools and the New England
Association of Schools and Colleges.
Parents appreciated European and
American validation of the systems
and curriculum. The school benefited
from the standards and accountability
that accreditation provided.
Shortly thereafter, Lyford Cay
School began its multi-year journey
to officially become Lyford Cay
International School. The board
pursued International Baccalaureate
accreditation, earning authorisation
to use the Middle Years Programme
curriculum in 2003, followed by the
Diploma Programme in 2004. This
effort was supported by families,
local organisations, outside board
members and donors, all of whom
saw the benefits of being able
to meet the expectations of a
growing international community.
Hardworking volunteers, leaders and
staff at the school had, over the years,
reinvented Lyford Cay to a stand-
alone, self-financing entity that used
its international features to develop
its programme and community.
Today, there are more computers
than goats, and the swimming pool
has replaced the persistent puddles.
While EP Taylor left us in 1989, the
school has continued to be guided by
the vision of the community developer,
who 55 years ago, looked across a
swamp and saw the future. Parents,
fundraisers, educators, volunteers,
religious
ministers,
corporate
citizens, friends of Taylor, all invested
in this vision to make sure the
children were happy, the books were
balanced, the plans strategic and the
roof tiles intact. This community of
support carried the school through
its sometimes awkward adolescence
so it could realise its founder’s vision,
creating an entirely new world in
which to set the LCIS student and
faculty experience: this one of their
own making.
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On International Day we celebrated
school’s diversity by recognising
each of the 46 different countries
represented on our campus.
Social Media Round Up
Follow us on social media pages to keep up
with the latest LCIS events.
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Lyford Cay
International School
Facebook
Followers
After six regattas, including two off-island
competitions, @LyfordCaySailing is one of
the largest teams competing domestically
and has some of the best Green Fleet
sailors in the nation, including a repre-
sentative going to the North American
Championships in Mexico.
1607
@LyfordSchool
Tweets on
Twitter
10,240
in
After dominating the Junior Division
this academic competition, our World
the
Scholar’s Cup winners will represent
school in Barcelona, Spain.
@lcis_dragons
Likes on
our Photos
Grade 3 welcome
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from Alberta, Cana an online pen-pal
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campus to meet the
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The Physical and
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uses a holistic ap alth Education curriculum
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demonstrated the
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Learning Centre’s ork at the Early
Sports Day.
Lyford Cay
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