The Ministry of Education has announced the revised transition plans for Year 8 and M2 students for September 2025.  The Minister of Education, Senator, the Hon. Crystal Caesar, emphasised the collaborative nature of the decision-making process, stating that this follows her meeting on 28 January with the senior school leadership teams from CedarBridge Academy, The Berkeley Institute, and Sandys Secondary Middle School. This meeting was a crucial step in reviewing their progress and assessing their readiness for September 2025, and it was a testament to the collective commitment to the students' education. To highlight the scope of the work that the senior school teachers are engaged in, Minister Caesar stated, "The senior school teams are working on the essential tasks of completing Signature Learning Programmes (SLP) courses for S4 students for 2025, preparing for incoming S1 students for September 2025 - who are currently M3 students and preparing for both internal and external examinations in the next few months." The Minister emphasised, "This complexity of these critical tasks has created some unreadiness. The senior school teams have been working long hours to accomplish these demands. I appreciate their time and commitment.  Minister Caesar continued, "Following the meeting on 28 January, the Commissioner of Education facilitated meetings with parish primary school principals from Francis Patton and Purvis Parish Schools, middle and senior school principals, the Department of Education and the Education Reform Unit. The following changes were agreed:  • Current M2 students will NOT physically move to the senior school site in 2025. However, they will remain at their respective middle school sites and complete a Y9 Senior programme. These students will be on track and have the credits necessary to transition to Year 10 Senior School in September 2026.  • Year 8 students at the Parish schools will transfer to a middle school site in September 2025 to complete the Y9 Senior programme. Minister Caesar added, "The Middle School Principals have provided sound leadership around the changes and are prepared to lead and ensure a successful Y9 Senior programme at their respective sites."  Minister Caesar concluded, "I have carefully listened to the concerns and insights of school leaders, teachers, and parents. Understanding that this transition impacts students and families directly. The Department of Education leadership team is now prepared to meet with the 20 parents of current Year 8 students from Francis Patton and Purvis Parish Schools and 222 parents of the current M2  students from Dellwood, Sandys and Whitney to share the framework and logistics for Y9 students for September 2025. The parent presentations include information on the components of the Y9 program and address questions raised by parents to date. The presentations are tailored to meet the needs of each parent group. The meetings will take place today, Tuesday, 11 March. We recognise that parents and students have many questions, and we are committed to keeping school communities informed. These are the first meetings, and a second one will be arranged before the end of the school term." 

Through their Signature Learning Program (SLP) courses, students at CedarBridge Academy are learning more than academics. Signature Learning Programs blend academics with real-world, project-based learning focused on technical and industry skills within and beyond school. Students from S1 and S3  Intro to Trades classes embarked on a unique and creative project. They joined the Textiles class to design and create custom toddler chairs for local preschools. The trades students applied their knowledge of plumbing systems, tools, and materials to construct the chair frames from PVC pipes, carefully measuring, cutting, and fitting the components to meet design specifications. The textile students taught their Trades classmates how to operate sewing machines, cut fabric, and sew skills not traditionally associated with trades courses. "We are grateful to the local businesses and entrepreneurs who donated fabrics and materials to make these projects possible," said Wilbur Lowe III, the Intro to Trades and Maker Space Resource teacher. "We plan to donate the chairs to local nurseries and preschools, giving back to the community while providing our students with real-world project experience." Last week, Minister Crystal Caesar visited the school to observe the Signature Learning Program. She interacted with the students in both classes and was impressed by their work."This project provides a snapshot of the awesome work and skills taught within our Senior School Signature Learning Programs. It was a pleasure to see the students enthusiastically working together on the design and construction of the toddler chairs," she remarked. Principal Kenneth Caesar expressed pride in the students and staff for their hard work and collaboration. "The Toddler Chair Project exemplifies CedarBridge Academy's commitment to fostering practical skills, creativity, and community involvement through its SLP courses. By integrating diverse disciplines like plumbing, design, and textiles, students gain valuable, hands-on experience that prepares them for future academic and career pursuits. " This collaboration is a shining example of the SLP's interdisciplinary approach in action," he said. "Mr. Lowe and Mrs Golda DeMattos, our Textiles teacher, are to be commended for spearheading this joint venture. The students have thoroughly enjoyed learning about trades, design, and materials, and the results speak for themselves." For more information about Signature Learning Programs, visit www.learningfirst.com

The application period for the Ministry of Education 2025 Scholarships and Awards is now open and will close on April 15, 2025. Acting Minister of Education Crystal Caesar stated, “We firmly believe that funding for post-secondary education should be allocated strategically and in alignment with our core values. Whether you are an aspiring student, a mature learner, or a dedicated teacher pursuing professional training, the Ministry is pleased to offer financial support to help you achieve your educational goals.”Minister Caesar also highlighted an expanded opportunity for students interested in studying within the Caribbean. “While we have always encouraged applications for the University of the West Indies (UWI) Scholarship, there has been a decline in applicants in recent years. To address this, we have broadenedthe scholarship criteria to include students attending other institutions within the Caribbean region.”Ms. Shanaye Smith, Ministry of Education Scholarship and Award Manager, encouraged students to apply early. “Students should give themselves ample time to gather all required documents and submit a strong, complete application before the deadline.”Minister Caesar reaffirmed the Government of Bermuda’s commitment to education through long-standing initiatives, including the highly competitive Bermuda Government Scholarships for top-performing scholars and the Further Education Awards for students requiring financial assistance to complete their degrees. “Last year, 67 students received scholarships across diverse fields and disciplines, and we will continue providing these life-changing opportunities,” she added.Since 2018, the Government has significantly increased funding and enhanced accessibility to Bermuda College by offering financial support to students in need. The College Promise Programme allows graduates of CedarBridge Academy and The Berkeley Institute to attend Bermuda College tuition-free, removing financial barriers to higher education. Over the past seven years, Bermuda College has received a $300,000 grant dedicated to supporting students through financial aid.Additionally, the Government has kept its promise to support the arts by awarding three Further Education Awards to students pursuing careers in art. Furthermore, 10 Further Education Awards are reserved for post-graduate students.The 2025 Ministry of Education Scholarships and Awards are:  1.    The Minister’s Achievement Scholarship helps high-achieving graduating students of CedarBridge Academy and The Berkeley Institute attend overseas post-secondary education. 2.    The Minister’s Exceptional Student Award for graduating students or school leavers with disabilities for local or overseas post-secondary study. Persons with disabilities up to the age of 25 who may be working, volunteering, or already attending college or university are eligible to apply. 3.    The Minister’s Technical and Vocational Award for public school graduates for local or overseas post-secondary study.4.    The Minister’s Applied Science Scholarship for graduating public senior school students who attended the Applied Technology Dual Enrolment Diploma Programme with Bermuda College and who plan to continue the programme to obtain an Associate’s Degree or certificate. 5.    The Further Education Award for current students who have completed at least one year at an accredited college or university for continued post-secondary study. Awards will also be given to students pursuing or attending post-graduate study.6.    The Non-Traditional Student Award for persons aged 25 and over pursuing post-secondary study.7.    The Teacher Education Scholarship for current college or university students for study of selected subjects and/or areas of teaching needed in the Bermuda Public School System. Applicants must graduate, complete their Teaching Practicum, and obtain a BEC Licence within three years of receiving this award.8.    The Bermuda Government Scholarship for well-rounded graduating senior school, college or university students up to the age of 25 who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. 9.    The University of the West Indies Scholarship provides funding for up to 3 years for either undergraduate or post-graduate students. 10. The College Promise Programme provides public high school graduates with a GPA of 3.0 or higher the opportunity to attend The Bermuda College tuition-free. 11. The Bermuda College Book Award provides funding for books for Bermuda College students in financial need.  For questions regarding the Ministry of Education Scholarship and Awards, please email scholarships@moed.bm. To apply visit bermudascholarships.com 

JANUARY 19TH UPDATEThe Department of Education has issued an update regarding the recent international cybersecurity breach involving unauthorised access to the PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS) customer data.Commissioner of Education Kalmar Richards emphasised the seriousness of the situation and the Department's measures."PowerSchool has confirmed that the breach included data from some Bermuda Public Schools families and teachers. The data extracted were in the student and teacher tables. The compromised information primarily consists of parent and student contact details, such as names, students' date of birth, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses."Additionally, PowerSchool has informed clients that more sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) was also affected for certain individuals. The Department captures PII information in the medical alert field, such as allergies and asthma.  Unfortunately, until PowerSchool recovers the Bermuda database logs files covering the period of the breach, we are unable to confirm whether PII specific to Bermuda Public Schools was compromised."Commissioner Richards continued, "We eagerly await a timeline for when we will receive confirmation regarding the impact on our students' PII. Upon receiving the update, the Department of Education will immediately inform affected individuals."Commissioner Richards reassured stakeholders: "Our other cloud-based services, such as Schoology, remain secure and unaffected. Furthermore, we have submitted the Personal Information Notification documents to the Privacy Commissioner and have been fully cooperating with them." "PowerSchool has been a trusted vendor for the Department since 2008, and this marks the first cybersecurity incident under their service. In addition to contact information for teachers and students, the Department utilises PowerSchool SIS tables to capture data on attendance, courses, enrollment history, grades, and behavior incidents. The Department remains committed to ensuring the security of all student and staff data and will take all necessary steps to safeguard any sensitive or personal data."She concluded with a direct line of communication for concerns: "Families and staff with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the Office of the Commissioner via email at coe@moed.bmTo read PowerSchool's statement on the cyber incident, visit https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/ JANUARY 10thThe Department of Education was notified by its student information system provider, PowerSchool, of a recent cybersecurity incident affecting their clients. PowerSchool is a leading provider of cloud-based K-12 education software based in North America, providing these services in over 90 countries and to thousands of students and school organizations. This breach occurred on PowerSchool’s internal systems. The breach has not affected any of Bermuda Public Schools’ other systems or networks. This was an isolated incident specific to PowerSchool's infrastructure. According to PowerSchool, malware was not involved in this incident. PowerSchool has advised the Department that the incident has been contained and that their systems remain secure.  Here are the key details from PowerSchool: PowerSchool experienced a security breach when an unauthorized party gained access to its systems via a compromised credential. This means an individual’s username and password were used without authorization. The unauthorized access allowed the party to reach the management console of PowerSchool’s PowerSource tool.The data that may have been compromised includes family and staff contact information such as name and address information. PowerSchool has also indicated that for some individuals across their customer base, some personally identifiable information (PII) such as medical information may have been impacted. They are still investigating whether PII belonging to our students was included.PowerSchool believes that the compromised data has been deleted and will not be shared publicly. They are actively working to prevent further unauthorized access or misuse of data. The Department of Education Response:In keeping with Bermuda’s privacy laws, the Commissioner of Education, Mrs. Kalmar Richards, has informed the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Additional information will be provided to the Privacy Commissioner’s Office and our staff and families as it becomes available.Mrs. Richards said: “We are in close contact with PowerSchool and are actively monitoring the situation. It is worth noting that this breach is on PowerSchool’s International system and has not affected any of the Ministry’s local systems."We understand that this incident may raise concerns and appreciate your continued understanding as we work to address this issue. The safety and security of our students' and staffs' data remains a top priority."PowerSchool has informed us that it has contained the breach and is working to prevent any further unauthorized access or misuse of the compromised data. They are taking steps to ensure the data will not be publicly shared. They continue to investigate the incident and will share information as it becomes available."Families and staff with any questions or concerns may contact the Office of the Commissioner by emailing coe@moed.bm."

Good day, kindly see the link below for more information on the Bermuda Public School Registration for 2025-2026. https://www.gov.bm/articles/2025-2026-registration-bermuda-public-school-system