Volume 1, Issue 7
Preserving Our Heritage. Creating Our Future.

The second annual Ocean Academy Academic & Certificate Week will be February 8-12.

During this special week, students will have the opportunity to to boost grades through an Academic Week (for students who need extra support to pass) and a Virtual Certificate Week (for students who are on track academically) to enrich passion areas and earn certificates for resume building.
Students may choose from several different certificate programs, including Art, Coding, Computer Repair, Physical Fitness (Coast Guard, BDF, Police), Digital Marketing, Cooking, Scuba Diving Theory, Fisheries Management & Coral/Fish ID.

Hometown: Caye Caulker
Positions: Spanish and Business teacher

What book would you recommend to a student and why?

There are two books I would recommend for anyone to read; "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking and "The Vampire Diaries" by L.J. Smith

In "A Brief History of Time", Stephen Hawking attempts to explain a plethora of subjects in cosmology, including the Big Bang, black holes, and gravity to an average reader. His objective is to give a general overview of the subjects, but he also attempts to explain advanced mathematics and elaborates cutting edge theories of our understanding of the universe.

For the students who are into fiction, romance, vampires and werewolves I would recommend "The Vampire Diaries".

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?

If I had the chance to meet anyone living or dead I would like to meet Sir David Attenborough. He represents an ideal that I believe we should all try to live up to. He has been the greatest influence in my life long interest and love for the natural beauty of our world. He recently released his own Film on Netflix “A life in our planet” which teaches us humanity’s impact on nature. This film is heartbreaking but at the same time, it offers hope. Every detail of this film is a work of art that could stand on its own, but as whole, it is one of the most emotionally impactful works I have seen.

What’s your favorite activity?

During my free time, I love to paint my face using makeup and face paint. There is something beautifully captivating about it. I love to draw butterflies, or fruits and just be able to express my art and creativity through a foundation and an eye shadow pallet.

14 Survival Tips for Teens for Living

1. Do not ignore something that you find challenging, this will not make the problem go away; in fact, it will just get worse.
2. When you have challenges and you make an effort to try to fix or solve them, it will give you a sense of control and you will realize that you are able to control the problem and that the problem does not control you.
3. If you have chores or other responsibilities to address when you have studying or assignments to complete, address your chores or responsibilities first. You will find the undone chores or responsibilities will prevent you from focusing on your academic work.
4. Deal with and try to resolve disagreements with your Mom and/or Dad or friends, the upset feelings will prevent you from thinking clearly.
5. Break Assignments into smaller pieces, rather than looking at everything, when you have many to complete. This will make you feel overwhelmed. As you complete each small piece you will feel much more in control.
6. Create Time-lines; these are especially good for big projects which you may not be able to complete all at once.
7. Choose to avoid people who you know are likely to create problems for you. Do not allow them to mess up your life.
8. Do not waste precious energy on things that you can do nothing about changing. For example, by getting upset because you are required to complete Tests or Assignments by your teachers, you waste emotional energy. Instead of getting upset, use this energy to do positive things such as getting your assignments done.
9. Get some exercise each day to help in managing stress. Go for a quick run or a brisk walk; go for a short swim with a friend; take your dog for a run; run up and down your stairs a number of times, etc.
10. Eat healthy foods which help to keep your mood steady during the day instead of causing the highs spikes in energy and periods of low mood that come from eating junk food.
11. Sleep well. Turn lights off and put away all the electronic devices under which your senses of seeing, hearing and touching, have been under constant stimulation and which needs some quiet rest. Try to develop a routine that allows you to get at least 8 hours sleep each night. Find ways each day to let your mind relax, give it a short holiday or vacation by doing any of the following:
    ❦Enjoy short periods of mental relaxation by reading a chapter or two in your book of choice;
    ❦Spend a short period each day on your hobby;
    ❦Enjoy nature by just closing your eyes in a place you find calming and inspiring.
12. Engage in deep breathing exercises and other relaxation exercises you learned in your Yoga classes.
13. Allow yourself to laugh or cry or feel sad or experience any other strong emotion. Whenever these may occur and you don’t know why and if you feel the need for support at such times, talk to your Mom or Dad or an adult with whom you are comfortable, or your counselor.
14. Do something helpful to someone who may need it. Acts of kindness that help people with whom you engage will give you a sense of purpose and will make you realize that you can make a positive difference in the life of someone else and in doing so you can also help to make the world a better place.

by Ludwin

I can see the best coming out me!
Faith in the almighty because I know he's the one to guide me
With him in my heart ain't nobody that can try me.
He tend to be the only person who has mercy on me.

Also born sinner, never wanted to be this bitter.
The sun coming out, but it's only getting dimmer.
The world getting colder and all I can do is shiver.
Why is negativity something they now deliver?

From very young I was humble.
Learnt that sometimes we take a tumble.
Understood that we may also fumble.

In the end we get blessed in the double.

Funny how time waits for no one, but awaits for everyone.

They say "pictures don't change"; it's true, but the people in them do.

I fall, I rise at the end of the day.

Turnt to Jah because I know he will light my way.

The colorful and attractive Belize Sign was mounted at the city park by the Buttonwood Bay community with resident and attorney Estevan Perera being the brainchild of the project. Big, bold and colorful letters made of concrete spell out BELIZE and adorn the park by the seaside. Once it was complete, it attracted attention from more than the community that was proud of their creation. (2014)

The sign, which was first officially recognized by the Belize City Council, has become a tourist attraction.

Caye Caulker also has a sign to help tourists remember their visit to Belize.

Byron Castellanos and Wilton Meighan constructed and painted the sign, respectively.

Each letter is in bright colors with an image that represents what Caye Caulker is about. There is the conch, coral, shells, turtle, manatee and dolphin, tarpon and seahorse that represent marine life. Then there is the iguana that can be seen running around the island and the pelican seen flying above. Most importantly there is the spiny lobster that plays a significant role in the history of the island.

The OA Library will be facilitating the Book Club this year. All students are welcome to participate.
Use this link to sign up for the OA Readers Book Club.

https://bookclubz.com/clubs/22803/join/83b7ac/

Help us to stock the OA Library with books that YOU would like to read.

1. Go to www.Amazon.com and search for "young adult books".

You can add words to include searches for your interests, ex. fantasy, mystery, suspense, romance, sports

2. Click on a book and read the description.

3. Continue until you find a book you would like to read.

4. When you have found a book, enter the information about the book you chose in this form.

(You must be logged into your OA account to access this form.)

Book Choice Form

Are you in need of a financial sponsor for this school year to help with your school fees?
Please message Ms. Saira Reyes (reyes.saira@oaseatide.com) to make an appointment for you and your parent or guardian.

You can help increase AmazonSmile donations to Friends of Ocean Academy by shopping at

Smile.Amazon.com/ch/46-3776428
(Share this link with your friends & family.)

AmazonSmile is a way for customers to support their favorite charitable organization every time they shop with Amazon.

Shoppers who start at smile.amazon.com will find the same Amazon they know and love, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the price of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice.

AmazonSmile has donated over $200 million to charities worldwide!

Joni Miller, Dane Dingerson, Heidi Curry

Email: admin@oaseatide.com
Website: OceanAcademy.education/
Location: 1 Ocean Academy Drive, Caye Caulker, Belize
Phone: +501-226-0321
Facebook: Facebook.com/CayeCaulkerHighSchool
Twitter: @OceanAcademyHS