Open Letter Volume 3 June 2011. - Open Campus - Uwi.edu

Current News
Vol. 3 Issue 12
June 2011
www.open.uwi.edu
Open Letter
Page 1
Nicholls Baking Co. Inc.
sponsors Open Campus
Student attending
Campus Games (photo)
Page 2
Principal receives the
Order of the British
Empire
The e-newsletter of the Open Campus, UWI
Page 2
Biennial Intercampus
Games
Page 3
LEO club plants Tree at
UWI, Open Campus,
Saint Vincent
Page 3
Staff Member in Saint
Vincent Honored for
thirty years of service
Page 4
Launch of Fat Busters’
Club in Barbados
Deputy Principal, Prof. Vivienne Roberts, receiving donation from Mr.
Courtney Ramsay, Accountant at Nicholls Baking Co. Inc., while sponsored
Open Campus student, Mrs. Kenisha Thom-Selvon (far right), Marketing &
Communications Assistant, Mrs. Sandra Griffith-Carrington (second from
left, back row) and Mrs. Fallan Skinner (second from right, back row),
another Open Campus student attending the Games look on.
Page 4
Acting Head of
Caribbean Child
Development Centre
from August 1, 2011

Principal receives the
Order of the British
Empire
The UWI Open Campus extends congratulations to our Pro Vice-
Chancellor and Principal Professor Hazel Simmons-McDonald who
received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for service to
education and educational leadership. Her award in the Queen's
birthday honours list no doubt results from her outstanding
contribution to the UWI which spans over 20 years, beginning with a
stint as acting Resident Tutor (St. Lucia) in 1974; as temporary
lecturer at Mona in the late ‘70s, and recently her three years of
sterling work in the establishment of the UWI Open Campus.
Professor Simmons-McDonald, began her forty year service in the
field of education in 1966 – as a novice at St. Joseph’s Convent for
one year and later as a teacher of Language and Literature at the
same institution, on her return from the University of the West
Indies (UWI) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (Special
Option). Having completed her Diploma in Education (English) with
the University of the West Indies in 1972, she then joined the staff of
the St. Lucia Teacher’s Training College and the Advanced Level
College at Morne Fortuné, as a Teacher Educator, Coordinator of the
UNESCO Language Arts Project and Instructor in English Literature
and General Paper until 1976. She later made an additional mark on
St. Lucian education when she served as Secretary of the Committee
for drafting education regulations under the 1977 Education Act
from 1983 – 1984.
Professor Simmons-McDonald rapidly advanced her academic
standing by completing two Master of Arts degrees in International
Development Education and in Linguistics, at Stanford University in
1977 and 1982 respectively, followed by a PhD from the same
institution in 1988. She also completed a Diploma in Creative Writing
from the Institute of Children’s Literature in 1991.
During her long career with the regional university, Professor
Simmons-McDonald has served in a number of capacities including,
Acting Resident Tutor, School of Continuing Studies, St. Lucia;Head,
Department of Linguistics, Head Department of Language, Linguistics
and Literature, Deputy Dean (Outreach), Deputy Dean (Planning) and
Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Education, and Professor of
Applied Linguistics. She is currently a Pro-Vice Chancellor and the
first Principal of the UWI Open Campus.
Prof. Simmons-McDonald has served and continues to serve on
numerous University Committees dealing with Quality Assurance,
Examinations, Awards, Distance Education, Finance, Research and
Institutional Strengthening. Her publications, articles, research and
conference presentations fill up several pages of her comprehensive
Curriculum vitae. Many of her publications are popular text books
especially at the secondary and tertiary levels and can be found on
the CXC syllabus.
Kwéyol. She has also written extensively on language policy, and has
documented several recommendations arising out of her research,
to improve the teaching and learning of English in Saint Lucia. Prof.
Simmons-McDonald has also produced significant Education
documents like the new OECS Harmonized Language Arts Curriculum
Grades K- 6. Her writing also includes works of short fiction and
several poems published in anthologies and periodicals. She has
conducted more than forty workshops and seminars, served as
consultant to numerous national and regional projects, was the first
Chief of CXC English ‘A’, and served alternatively as Chief and
Assistant for several years and more recently as Moderator of
English (CXC).
Though small in stature, Prof. Hazel Simmons-McDonald has blazed
an impressive academic trail and consistently demonstrates her
dedication and commitment to the land of her birth and the region,
through her work and service in the field of education.
Biennial Inter-Campus Games
The UWI Biennial Inter-Campus Student Games 2011 convened from
May 19-26, 2011 were hosted by the Cave Hill Campus of the
University of the West Indies. This event brought together
contingents and officials from Cave Hill, Mona and St. Augustine,
under the theme ‘4 Become 1: One UWI, One Caribbean, One
Champion!’
There were over 400 participants and the campuses that took part in
the sporting activities were the St. Augustine Campus, Cave Hill
Campus and the Mona Campus. For the first time the fourth and
newest campus, the University of the West Indies Open Campus
(UWIOC) was represented by an official observer team. In the end
there was only one champion, and the Cave Hill Campus took the
title of the Champion of the UWI Games 2011.
Nicholls Baking Co. Inc., Bibby’s Lane, St. Michael pledged its support
to the fourth and newest Campus, the Open Campus, by sponsoring,
Mrs. Kenisha Thom-Selvon.
Kenisha Thom-Selvon, First Vice President, Tobago Guild Chapter, is
a second year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in
Management Studies at the Tobago Open Campus Site. She has
obtained up to F6 ACCA qualifications. A member of the Advocacy
Group for Mental Health Awareness and an advocate for the Sylphil’s
Children Home located in Tobago, Kenisha is married and is the
proud mother of one.
Kenisha posits that attending the UWI Games 2011 was indeed a life
changing experience. She noted that throughout her years at high
school, she had always been involved in several sporting activities,
netball, volleyball and athletics. However, after joining the ‘World of
Work’ and becoming a student at the UWI Open Campus, her
participation in sports declined. She therefore found that the UWI
Games were very successful in awakening that spirit and it is with
this new enlightenment that she urges the Administration of the
Open Campus to put a system in place that will allow students of the
Open Campus to have the opportunity to be actively involved in a
sport while pursuing higher education.
Others document her passionate interest in and devotion to
Kenisha opines, “While interacting with some of the athletes of the
language acquisition/literacy especially in Creole speaking
Games, I have come to learn that attending the University of the
communities. She has done extensive research on reading and
West Indies is not just a means of acquiring an academic education
literacy in St. Lucia, Barbados and other OECS countries, and has
but also a means of developing one’s self within a sporting field that
authored primary school texts and resource materials in English and
allows you to be fit, passionate and goal driven”.

She observed that athletes at all games were very passionate about
the competition and so too were the supporters. It was also evident
that all teams prepared well in advance for the games selecting only
the best of the best.
She notes “In the end, the race was not for the swiftest but for the
team that endured to the end. It is therefore my goal to ensure that
the Open Campus is successful in fulfilling our mandate to be able to
successfully participate in the 2013 Games. As an executive member
of the Guild of Students, I am now even more driven to seeing such
programmes implemented at the Open Campus”.
LEO Club plants Tree at UWI, Open
Campus, Saint Vincent
In a symbolic gesture to mark their 26th year as a growing
organization, the LEO Club St Vincent planted a tree at the University
of the West Indies Open Campus St. Vincent on Wednesday May 11,
2011.
The yellow poui or Tababuia Serratifdia, as it is scientifically called,
was placed in the ground and covered with soil by LEO President,
Roleza Samuel, University Head Dr Adrian Fraser and other LEO
officials.
She ended, “When this tree has reached maturity, it will not only
create shade for users of the UWI compound but will help to filter
pollution from the air and provide an ambience that promotes
learning in a natural relaxing environment. An old Chinese proverb
reminds us; The best time to plant a tree was 20-years ago. The next
best time is now.”
Open Campus, St. Vincent Head, Dr Adrian Fraser, thanked the
group for their contribution and noted that the gesture was in sync
with the university’s goal of planting more trees on the compound to
provide shade for students. Dr Fraser also congratulated the LEO
club on their 26 th anniversary and commended them for doing their
part at not only beautifying the environment but also making it
healthier.
Staff Member Honoured
She said the theme this year “Commit to Re-Commit” was the most
universal activity associated with helping and protecting the earth
and was part of the LEO’s act of moving towards a deeper
commitment to environmental protection.
President Samuel explicated, “At a global level, trees and forests are
closely linked with weather patterns and also the maintenance of a
crucial balance in nature. Though this activity is small scale, it shows
our commitment to national and global protection of the earth.”
The LEO President also reminisced on her days as a student at the
Community College and pointed out that the UWI compound
because of its greenery was always the preferred grounds for studies
and group meetings.
Staff members of the UWI Open Campus St Vincent recently hosted
a luncheon to help their colleague, Theresa Hamilton, celebrate 30-
years as an employee at the 63-year old tertiary institution.
Amidst the dining and toasting, her colleagues described Hamilton as
a person who was able to work efficiently with the various
educational heads and staff members. They credited Hamilton with
being able to give good advice.
Head of the UWI Open Campus, Dr Adrian Fraser, who presented
LEO President Roleza Samuel said since the LEO Club St Vincent was
chartered on May 9 th
Hamilton with a plaque, commended Hamilton on her work ethic
1985, it has embarked on many significant
and described her as dedicated, mature, frank and filled with a
undertakings which have focused on groups from youth to the
wealth of UWI knowledge.
elderly of the nation.
He noted that Hamilton started with the educational institution as
an Office Attendant, educated herself and rose to the post of Clerical
Assistant Number 3. He cited her as an exemplary worker who took
advantage of opportunities, and announced that she would further
be honoured by UWI at a ceremony in Jamaica.
On thanking her colleagues for their words of appreciation, Hamilton
said that she always realized the importance of doing the little
things.
The honoree who will be retiring in two years, said that she was
pleased to work many times behind the scenes to ensure that
matters were dealt with speedily and efficiently. She emphasized
the importance of dealing effectively with situations of conflict

It is Hamilton’s hope that her remaining two years with the
Institution will be as productive as the thirty years she has been so
fortunate to record in service so far.
FAT BUSTERS’ CLUB
The idea for Fat Busters started as an in house joke at the Open
Learning Centre in Barbados, when the President, Miss Kimberley
Yearwood, wanted more community spirit within the office. She
decided the best way to get workmates more involved was to
introduce a game for lent since this is the time when persons are
involved in giving up something. She thought carefully what she
would ask staff members to give up and then the idea was birthed to
give up weight.
She approached Mrs. Jasmine Babb, the Human Resource Director,
who welcomed the initiative. Mrs. Babb conceptualized the name
‘FAT Busters’ and currently serves as Vice President to this club.
What does FAT mean? The cleverly coined acronym means
‘Forever, Achieving Targets’. The club’s main goal is to assist and
challenge its members to live healthier lifestyles as well as foster
more interaction between workmates outside their occupational
obligations. Whether you are slim or fat, what do you want to
achieve when you join our club? If you are slim, your target might be
to adopt a healthier lifestyle, but if you are fat, your goal might be to
lose weight. The latter is where the President’s concentration lies.
Staff and visitors were invited to weigh, under the watchful eye of
the President, and have their weight displayed on a FAT chart to
encourage motivation. It was agreed that persons who lost the most
weight at the end of the challenge would win a prize. Contra wise,
there are consequences for unfavourable results. Persons, who
gained weight, were fined a Fat Tax fee of $1.00 per pound. There is
also an Avoidance Tax of $5.00 for employees who refuse to join the
club. Staff was very enthusiastic about the idea, and this resulted in
the formation of the Fat Busters’ Club. This idea was shared with the
other Open Campus sites and they will soon be launching their own
Fat Busters Club. The objectives of the club are to promote a healthy
lifestyle, promote staff morale, and to give back to our community.
At present we are seeking to adopt a children’s home, where the
money raised will be donated to provide educational materials.
The culmination of the forty-days of Lent weight loss drive ended
with an impressive ceremony on April 20, 2011. It must be noted
that all members of the inaugural ceremony were bedecked in
purple – our chosen colour - which symbolizes royalty, power,
nobility, luxury, and ambition; and that is what FAT Busters stand for
as purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red.
Mrs. Pamela Edwards, the Assistant Treasurer, lost the most weight,
an outstanding 8 pounds. However, since Pamela is a committee
member she was not entitled to the prize but received a token for
work well done. The first prize therefore went to Ngozi Liburd who
lost 5 pounds and second prize to Althea Collymore who lost 4
pounds. The second lose weight competition commences from June
1 to July 31 as we strive to lose weight for Crop Over. Other areas
where we are seeking staff involvement include the offering of a
prize for the best designed logo of Fat Buster and our monthly
raffles.
The first monthly raffle was won by Mr. Michael Thomas. President,
Miss Kimberley Yearwood, made the presentation of a fruit basket
donated by Quality Flowers Inc. to Mr. Thomas.
ACTING HEAD OF Caribbean Child
Development Centre (CCDC) from
August 1, 2011
Professor Julie Meeks will proceed on sabbatical leave from August
1, 2011 and Mrs. Ceceile Minnott will act as Head of the Caribbean
Child Development Centre (CCDC) for the year.
Mrs. Ceceile Minott, a graduate of the University of South Florida,
with a Masters in Education, worked as Project Director of Dudley
Grant Memorial Trust for eight (8) years. Prior to this, she served as
Social Services Officer at Jamaica Social Investment Fund (2000 –
2003), Executive Director/Project Officer at the Jamaica Foundation
for Children (1995 – 2002), Training Officer at Life of Jamaica Ltd.
(1990 – 1995), Instructional Specialist at Florida Mental Health
Institute (1987 – 1988) and as Technical Consultant with the
International Youth Foundation, Peace Corps Jamaica, McCam Child
Development Centre and the Women’s Crisis Centre (1998 – 2011).
Mrs. Minott has worked extensively in project management in the
areas of education and training, primarily with parents, adolescents
and early childhood. She was instrumental in the development and
implementation of the children and parenting hotlines in the 1990’s.
She has also directed research and evaluation projects in education
for the Dudley Grant Memorial Trust and has successfully
undertaken consultancy assignments in the Caribbean.