Celebrating Achievement: Operation Inspire Students Shine at Closing Ceremonies
The vibrant sounds of accomplishment echoed through the halls of Eulalie Rivera K-8, Pearl B. Larsen K-8, and Ricardo Richards K-6 as Operation Inspire students showcased their impressive achievements at the closing ceremonies.
Operation Inspire, Cane Bay Cares’ flagship after school program, celebrated another year of hard work, creativity, and learning. This program, known for its project-based learning (PBL) approach, reached new heights with a full enrollment of 181 students.
Project-Based Learning Achievements in 2023-2024 School Year
At Eulalie Rivera K-8 School, students engaged in projects like “From Veggie Scraps to Garden Gold,” where K-2nd graders learned composting, “Garden to Plate” for 3rd to 5th graders who made healthy meals with garden produce, and “Green Dream Marketing,” where 6th to 8th graders developed marketing strategies for their garden products.
Pearl B. Larsen K-8 School students participated in globally-focused projects: K-2nd graders explored different continents with the “Travel Around the World with Dolphin Explorers Club,” 3rd to 5th graders created healthy recipes in “Healthful Youths,” and 6th to 8th graders practiced sustainability in “Second Chances with Upcycling.”
Ricardo Richards K-6 School emphasized entrepreneurship and advocacy with “Run a Restaurant” for 2nd and 3rd graders, who learned business skills, “Our Voices Matter: The Power of Pens” for 4th and 5th graders to address school issues, and “Mango Magic,” where K-1st and 6th graders created and marketed mango-based skincare products.
Enriching Lives Beyond the Classroom
In addition to their PBL courses, Operation Inspire students participated in monthly interactive presentations from local professionals on various topics, including crime prevention, fire prevention, festival culture, dental hygiene, eye care, anti-bullying, and financial literacy. These sessions enriched their knowledge and prepared them for diverse aspects of life.
Last summer, Operation Inspire also launched a literacy campaign to encourage reading beyond classroom requirements. Activities included read-aloud sessions, reading challenges, and book giveaways. Winners of the Passport-to-Reading challenge were formally recognized during the closing ceremonies, adding another layer of achievement to the celebrations.
The Cane Bay Cares and Operation Inspire leadership team extend heartfelt congratulations to all the student participants. Their hard work, creativity, and dedication have made this year a resounding success. We look forward to seeing the continued growth and achievements of these young minds in the upcoming school year.
To learn more about Operation Inspire, visit us at www.canebaycares.org/education. For updates and photos, see our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/OperationInspireUSVI.
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.