Celebrating a Successful Afterschool Program Year: A Showcase of Creativity, Learning, and Growth
We are proud to share that Operation Inspire’s afterschool closing program was a tremendous success! Now in its seventh year, this vibrant program continues to grow and inspire. This year, 157 students completed a project-based learning journey, culminating in an exciting showcase of their skills and knowledge.
Each site brought its unique energy and focus areas to the showcase, reflecting the diverse interests and strengths of our students and instructors.
Eulalie R. Rivera PreK-8 Site: Sustainability, Healthy, and Persuade with Purpose
Eulalie students tackled three powerful themes this year: Recycle, Reuse, Reduce; Healthy Eating Around the World; and The Art of Persuasion. They explored how small everyday actions can make a big difference for the planet, demonstrating creative ways to repurpose materials and reduce waste. Their global food project took us on a culinary journey across cultures, as students presented healthy dishes from around the world—each one highlighting nutrition, culture, and care. Bringing everything together was their study of persuasive communication. Through paintings, marketing jingles, and presentations, students applied persuasive techniques to promote their ideas.
Ricardo Richards Elementary School Site: Sound, Science, and Nature’s Gifts
Students at Ricardo brought science and music together in an exciting blend of creativity. They experimented with sound and music, examining how sound waves affect emotions and behaviors—and even composed their own original song to share their journey! The natural world was also a key theme. They proudly showcased handmade coconut shell jewelry while teaching attendees about the many uses and benefits of coconut. One of the highlights was their presentation on herbal knowledge. This presentation included a tasting of their “bush” tea and display of herbal teabags they crafted using herbs they grew themselves in their school garden.
Pearl B. Larsen PreK-8 Site: Space, STEAM, and Student-Run Businesses
Pearl B. students took us on a journey beyond Earth! Their studies focused on outer space and its relationship with our planet, complete with students dressed as astronauts and thoughtful presentations. But they didn’t stop there. They wowed us with STEAM-based upcycling projects, turning discarded items into useful inventions and creative games. Most notably, students channeled their entrepreneurial spirit to launch four unique student-run businesses—each developed from concept to creation. From product design and branding to pricing and sales pitches, they handled it all!
Seeing the confidence and joy on our students’ faces as they shared their work was a powerful reminder that learning is most impactful when it’s hands-on, student-driven, and fun. The skills they developed—collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication—will serve them well in school and beyond.
We are incredibly proud of our students, thankful for our dedicated instructors, and grateful for the families and community partners who support us year after year.
Here’s to seven years of success—and many more to come!
Cane Bay Cares is a service initiative of St. Croix-based Cane Bay Partners VI, LLLP. Cane Bay Cares was established after three strong hurricanes, including two Category 5 storms, Irma and Maria, caused much damage to St. Croix during September 2017. The initiative has a goal of providing relief to the citizens of St. Croix. To make this possible, we have partnered with St. Croix Foundation, which is a 501c3 nonprofit that was established in 1990. All donations to Cane Bay Cares are donations to St. Croix Foundation and are 100% tax deductible.
Cane Bay Partners VI, LLLP was formed in June 2009 and founded by internationally experienced business executives with many years of experience in the financial services industry. Focusing our efforts primarily in the financial services industry, our management consulting practice specializes in providing services to clients in need of sophisticated risk management models, debt collections organizations which require liquidation models and analytics, and portfolio management companies desiring a variety of services.
Since 1990, St. Croix Foundation for Community Development has been advancing holistic community development as a pathway to economic prosperity, self-sufficiency, and sustainability. Established in the wake of Hurricane Hugo, today the Foundation is one of the premier place-based philanthropic leaders in the Virgin Islands. Having served as the conduit of over $37 million private and public sector dollars invested into the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Foundation’s impact has netted national recognition in almost every priority area – from economic development and community revitalization to public health, education reform, and nonprofit development. Our mission is to encourage greater philanthropic activity, to marshal resources, and to act as a catalyst to benefit the people of the Virgin Islands.