TAMCC February 2023 Newsletter

T. A. Marryshow T. A. Marryshow Community College Community College

TAKING YOU FROM WHERE YOU ARE TO WHERE TAKING YOU FROM WHERE YOU ARE TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO YOU WANT TO GO

Government aims to raise TAMCC's profile

Specifically, the vision for TAMCC will be achieved through the following initiatives:

• Institutional strengthening

• Promoting regional networks and centres of academic excellence

• Supporting high-quality student services

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dickon Mitchell, during the 2023 Budget Presentation on Monday December announced that his administration intends to raise the profile of the T. A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) to the highest echelons of Caribbean Education, providing a high-quality technological and vocational hub that will prepare our students for the jobs that are available throughout the region. He said, "To this end, we intend to partner with the World Bank for the provision of a highly concessional loan of US$15 million. These funds will be used to strategically strengthen capacity at TAMCC and develop high-quality academic programmes tailored to the Caribbean reality, which will ultimately contribute to research and innovation that support local development. An amount of $0.5 million has been allocated for the commencement of implementation of the OECS Regional Skills and Innovation Project next year.

Improving laboratories and workshops

• Developing digital skills and digital infrastructure for students and teachers

• Implementing information systems to monitor students’ skills proficiency, academic progression, and labour market outcomes

This thrust will also include training our teachers and educators so they can possess the right skillsets to deliver quality education training. Additionally, provisions have been made to train our youth in coding—a critical skill in many future jobs. An allocation of $1.0 million will be allocated in 2023.

Republic Bank sponsors TAMCC Financial Literacy Academy

Republic Bank Grenada Ltd. has come on board to sponsor the T. A. Marryshow Community College's first ever Financial Literacy Academy. The training programme was launched on Thursday January 19, 2023. This initiative, which is jointly coordinated by the School of Continuing Education and the Office of Resource Mobilisation, will form part of the College's thrust to bridge the gap in the skills sets of our graduates and employees.

The academy, through one-hour long weekly face-to-face classes, will cover important financial topics such as buying a home, credit cards, savings, budgeting, investing and mitigating financial difficulties. The Academy will run for nine (9) weeks and ends in March 2023. All participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Principal, Dr. Ronald Brunton and Mrs. Elizabeth Richards-Daniel, Finance Manager of Republic Bank

First cohort of participants of the Financial literacy Academy

Pre-Independence Panel Discussion

In celebration of Grenada's 49th Independence the College hosted a panel discussion on Monday February 6, 2023 at 2:00 PM under the theme " The journey to 50: Reflecting on the Past, Planning the future " .

This discussion was hosted by Dr. Wendy Grenade, Chair of the College Council and the panelists

are Mr. Terry Noel - History Lecturer, Mrs. Vernessa BarrettSociology Lecturer, Ms. Jade GleanYear 2 Student, Social Sciences, Ms. Akimah Telesford Modeste - Year 1 Student, Social Sciences and Mr. John Angus Martin - Director, Grenada National Museum; Historian and Author.

Independence Display

In celebration of Grenada's 49th Independence, the TAMCC Campus Beautification Committee in collaboration with the TAMCC library and Year 1 art students, erected a lovely patriotic display.

Five Panelists and moderator during TAMCC pre-independecnce panel discussion

Robotics Club places second in the Caribbean Stem Olympiads

The Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) hosted its inaugural regional Caribbean STEM Olympiads (CSO) on 19 - 22 January, 2023. Individual competitors, and teams from schools, clubs and associations competed at three different age levels for medals, prizes and cash. The events of the STEM Olympiads included: Math Olympiads, Computer Coding Games, aimed at solving one of the challenges faced by Caribbean communities and Robotics

Showcases.

Most of the events (excluding the Math Olympiad in Barbados) were held in a virtual format on the Zoom platform.

Team Grenada was successful in achieving a Silver medal at the event with its “Trash Bot” concept. A robot built to pick up pieces of litter from the ground and store them in a bin.

Robotics Club Showcase at Independence Extravaganza 2023

The Robotics Team was officially invited to participate at the annual St. Paul's Sports, Cultural and Developmental Organisation Independence Extravaganza 2023 event scheduled for Sunday 5th February 2023, at the St. Paul’s Community Centre.

The robots were built mostly for exhibition at the event while showing persons the reach of STEM education and its possibilities.

Team Grenada: Camron Marshall, Shemiah James, Kerlisia John, John Gilkes and Jemund Burke

Graduation 2022

The class of 2022's Valedictorian, Anthony Alexander obtained his Associate Degree in Natural Sciences and graduated with a GPA of 4.00!

Here is an excerpt from his impactful speech to the graduating class of 2022.

"I congratulate my colleagues on achieving this major milestone. You have, in your respective studies, transformed the knowledge of your primary and secondary education and leveled it up.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have made it! It feels really good to be here, however, in the words of calypsonian Tamboo, "the journey now start". We have so much more to accomplish, so much more to realise, much more to transform within ourselves. Whether we move on to further our education or whether we decide to take that first step into the world of work, the journey starts from this day. It is up to each of us to decide which path to step out onto and to not be fearful and only take that path that has been paved for us but to also be brave and transform it to make it better for those coming after us." We extend a final congratulations to the graduating Class of 2022 and wish them the best as they apply the lessons learnt at this institution to the wider Grenadian society.

Graduation 2022 Highlights

Marryshow Day 2022

In honour of Theophilus Albert Marryshow the College hosted a week of activities which began on Marryshow Day, annually celebrated on November 7, the birthday of T. A. Marryshow. The celebrations began on Monday November 7 with a service led by Bishop Clyde Harvey. Following the service, the Tanteen campus' library unveiled a special addition to their Marryshow Day display which was a replica of the original Marryshow House built by a member of the library staff, Mrs. Angelica Griffith. The day ended with a march by the College drum corps and students from the Tanteen

campus to Marryshow House where a ceremony was held in collaboration with The UWI Open Campus, Grenada to celebrate the life and reflect on the many contributions of T. A. Marryshow.

The week of events also included a live panel discussion on the Life and Legacy of T. A. Marryshow on GIS TV on Tuesday, a cultural concert at the College on Wednesday, the Annual Health Fair at the College on Thursday and ended with the TAMCC Mega-Fair on Friday. There were also various competitions, raffles and activities put on by departments of the College.

Marryshow Day Competition Winners

Faculty & Staff - Poetry 1st placeCaundi Joseph-Gay

Students -Poetry 1st place - Gabrielle Pinnock

Students -Poetry 2nd place - Cecil Patrick

Students - Art 1st place - Khassiddee Primus

Confucius Classroom Donates to TAMCC

On Friday November 18 the Confucius Classroom held an official ceremony to mark recent donations made to the T. A. Marryshow Community College.

The TAMCC Robotics Club received a donation of $10,000USD to participate in the 2022 First Global Robotics Competition in Geneva Switzerland held on October 13-16, 2022.

In addition, the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies (SASPS) received a donation for the purchase of new laptops in the amount of EC $88,146.96.

Robotics Club Principal, Dr. Ronald Brunton, accepting donations on behalfof the College

Dean of SAAT, Mrs. Merlisia John, accepting donation on behalf of the Robotics Club

Dean of SASPS, Mr. Kenrick McSween, accepting donation on behalf of SASPS

TAMCC Principal swims into first place

Principal of the T. A. Marryshow Community College, Dr. Ronald Brunton, captured first place in the 45-54 age category of the Ariza Pure Grenada Open Water Invitational held on Saturday November 19, 2022 at Grand Anse Beach. The event, organised by the Grenada Amateur Swimming Association (GASA), is open to international, regional and local participants. This year, 70 participants registered for the invitational including participants from Trinidad and Tobago and Germany. Dr. Brunton was awarded his first-place medal by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Norman Gilbert, after defeating his competitors in the 3km race with a finishing time of 1 hour 18 minutes.

Following his win Dr. Brunton expressed his love for setting goals and breaking personal records. He said, “I hope this encourages all TAMCC faculty and staff to adapt a healthy lifestyle and demonstrate that it is never too late to get active”. He looks forward to achieving an even faster time when he participates in next year’s Open Water Invitational which is expected to be bigger and better than ever.

TAMCC Football Tournament Results

1st place: Warriors

2nd place: Net Busters

3 place: Win Ah Ready

Best female player- Britney

Charles

Most organized team - Win Ah

Ready

Best sports person - Ronald

Lambert

Best goal keeper - First Yr Ballers

Most goals & Most valuable player - Randall Mark

Special thanks to all the participating teams, Coach, Mr. Anthony Dixon and the student affairs department for making this competition a success.

St. Patrick Campus

Recognising International AIDS Day

The St. Patrick Campus held two main activities during the latter part of 2022. In observance of International Aids Day, a short play entitled "Courage" was staged on November 25. The campus also held a karaoke event on December 15 which saw participation from both students and members of faculty .

Fundraising Efforts for Christelle

A financial contribution was made to Christelle Paul, a student of the last Fashion and Design graduating class, to assist her with ongoing medical consultations. During the second semester of 2022, the campus organized a number of fundraising activities in support of Christelle.

Independence Celebrations

On Tuesday February 7, 2023 Grenada celebrated its 49th year as an independent nation. As part of the celebrations, the St. Patrick Campus hosted its usual independence activities starting on Friday February 3 with cultural performances. This was followed by the oil-down cook-up on Monday February 6 by the different departments.

Independence

Breakfast Exchange

On February 1, 2023, the St. Patick's campus held its first ever independence breakfast exchange amoung staff and students.

Mirabeau Campus

Sweet Potato Harvest

The Mirabeau Campus had its first harvest of 2023 on February 1. The employees will harvested ground provision including sweet potatoes and dasheen which can be purchased from the campus.