Warwick Academy IB students recently took part in the 2015 PartnerRe “Dollars for Hours” programme.

Each year, PartnerRe generously donates $30,000 to individual schools after completing a selected project for a registered charity.

This year, Warwick Academy IB students partnered with the Learning Disabilities Association of Bermuda.

The students were given the task to produce a business plan for a two-week summer camp specifically designed to offer children in Bermuda who have learning challenges, such as dyslexia and attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD), the opportunity to participate in a range of fun, entertaining and competitive activities.

Fun being the operative word as education activities was deliberately omitted from the business plan!

Six Warwick Academy IB students took part with the students working approximately 120 hours on the project.

They invited an occupational therapist, Jill Davidson, to tell them what types of activities work best and the students also went to the information night on the LAB school.

The LAB school is based in Washington DC and specialises in these learning differences.

Bonnie McGlynn, the learning enrichment teacher specialising in reading at Warwick, and Sara Jackson, the head of ICT and business studies, also gave invaluable guidance.

The result was that they not only produced a successful and well-defined business plan, but it also gave them the opportunity to better understand the challenges and needs of children who have had dyslexia and attention deficit disorders diagnosed.

It also motivated the students and gave them a sense of accomplishment and how good it feels when you give back in such a positive and productive way.

The great news is that LDAB loved the plan and the students are looking forward to making this business plan a reality.

In the new year they will start to put the plan into action.

So look out for The LDAB Star Wars theme summer camp that will take place in the summer of 2016 here at Warwick Academy!