With only one year remaining on his three-year contract, CedarBridge Academy principal Ernest Payette is striving to put the new school on a sound footing.

Speaking with The Royal Gazette days before the school is set to begin its second year, Mr. Payette spelled out what he believes it will take to prepare CedarBridge's staff and students for his departure and the 21st Century.

"One of our concerns is that we have a number of students who are below the required level,'' he said. "We will have to focus on bringing them up to the graduation level.'' In addition to several initiatives -- including a community-driven reading programme -- CedarBridge will change to a semester system.

"This allows us to ensure that students are proficient in a subject,'' Mr.

Payette said. "It enhances the students' ability to get the required three to four courses.

"Rather than two days of eight different courses, students will take no more than six courses so there is an intense continuum of those subjects.

"Rather than trying to cover more in terms of quantity, the emphasis will be on quality. Once we improve their skills, then we can increase the courses.

"We're also looking at implementing a mentoring programme to be run through the counsellor programme.'' CedarBridge will also implement behaviour modification programmes. Eight new staff members, including two educational therapists and four educational assistants (teacher assistants trained to help students with behavioural problems), have been hired.

An academic programme to provide enrichment courses for advanced students will also be available.

For instance, Mr. Payette explained, if students are working on a portfolio a certain standard will be expected of the students in the enriched programme.

"These are pilot programmes which hopefully we can expand on,'' he added, "so when we get rid of the BSSC (Bermuda Secondary School Certificate), these programmes will be available and fit into our senior school curriculum.'' Regarding staffing, Mr. Payette said: "We have lobbied the Education Ministry for an in-house staff development coordinator.'' An education exchange programme with Hasting Prince Edward School Board and the Metropolitan Separate School Board in Ontario were also under consideration, he said.

"They would come to visit us and get a sense of our environment,'' Mr.

Payette noted. "We will also do some job shadowing in their schools so we can see what kind of problems they encounter and how they handle it. We believe that it is important because even though we have very good teachers, our resource base is small. This is a way of tapping into resources overseas.

"We hope to be having a visitation in October and we will pay a visit back.'' One of the components of leadership is training, he stressed.

"We do have to look seriously within in terms of leadership,'' said Mr.

Payette, a veteran educator from Belleville, Ontario. "I'm two thirds through my contract.'' Whether or not he stays on beyond his contract will depend on the Education Ministry and CedarBridge's needs, he added.

"It depends on where we are at the end of the three years,'' he said.

Noting that there was only a "very small pool'' of local educators with experience in a senior school system, Mr. Payette stressed: "That is why it is important to have leadership training.

"We need to provide our people with that opportunity and exposure. The more ideas you can get and the more people you can share experiences with, makes you a better administrator.'' In terms of facilities, Mr. Payette said the administration office and Ruth Seaton James Auditorium were nearing completion.

Work was also almost finish on the grounds and design and technology rooms, he added.

"Most things will be done by the end of the school year,'' Mr. Payette said.

There are also hi-tech plans for the school to be fully utilised in the next millennium.

"The computer network is 90 percent in place and we need to look at satellite programmes which will become a necessity in the next millennium which is just two years down the road,'' Mr. Payette said.

"(Through the satellite programme) students will have access to overseas programmes -- distance learning.

"They will be allowed to do research as well as participate in a lot of educational programmes.

"We're talking about moving into the 21st Century to make sure our students have access to the same opportunities as their counterparts.'' Mr. Payette said he also wanted to have more student involvement in intramural programmes and extracurricular activities.

"We also need to expand our day-release programme,'' he added. "We are looking into a model where we can move into career pathways.'' This, Mr. Payette explained, may include internships with local companies.

"We have one foot in the present and the other in the future,'' he said.

NEAR COMPLETION -- The new Ruth Seaton James Auditorium at CedarBridge Academy is expected to be completed soon. The building, which can seat 650, will include rehearsal rooms for dance, theatre, and music, an orchestra pit, and a reception area. The facility will also be accessible to the physically challenged.

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