Personal Project Exhibition
- Somersfield Academy 107 Middle Road Devonshire, Devonshire Parish, Bermuda (map)
Somersfield Academy’s M5 students are gearing up to present their highly anticipated Personal Project Exhibition, an annual event that highlights the creativity, initiative, and dedication of the Somersfield’s students.
The exhibition, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 19 in the school’s gymnasium, will feature a wide array of projects that reflect the students' diverse interests and commitment to meaningful learning. This event, open to parents, mentors, invited guests, and potential students, serves as a platform for students to showcase their work, engage with the community, and discuss their projects with attendees.
In addition to celebrating the achievements of the M5 students, the exhibition will also serve as an open house for prospective students and parents to explore the Somersfield advantage. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with students and teachers, gaining insight into the unique, inquiry-based education that Somersfield offers.
Governor Andrew Murdoch and Education Minister Crystal Caesar attended Somersfield Academy’s M5 Personal Project Exhibition, celebrating students’ year-long independent inquiry. Despite a brief power outage, students presented with confidence, resilience, and impressive depth of learning.
Somersfield Academy was also honoured to welcome esteemed guests including Tinee Furbert, Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors; Kim R. Wilkerson, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice; Andrew Pettit, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs; David Roberts, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice; Jache Adams, Minister of Public Works and Environment; Christopher Famous, MP for Devonshire East; and Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport. Their presence and thoughtful feedback offered students valuable real-world perspectives and professional insight.
Somersfield Academy’s M5 students will present the culmination of their International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) learning at the annual Personal Project Exhibition, held in the Somersfield Academy Gymnasium. The exhibition celebrates independent inquiry, creativity, and sustained commitment and forms a key component of Bermuda’s only IB MYP programme. Somersfield welcomes students from other schools to attend and experience the exhibition.
Desmond Crockwell’s summer role at LiveNet reflects the values nurtured at Somersfield Academy. From his M5 Personal Project to IB CAS, his journey shaped him into a socially conscious, independent thinker—now bringing creativity and purpose to LiveNet’s marketing team.
We were so impressed with Rogan Cabral ’27’s M5 Community Project—where he explored the creative possibilities of a 50mm lens—that we invited him to capture this year’s Secondary Sports Day. His images reflect the energy, emotion, and team spirit of the day, offering a unique glimpse into the action through a student’s lens.
The M5 Personal Project Exhibition marked a powerful milestone for our graduating MYP students. Each display showcased months of independent exploration, creativity, and critical thinking—reflecting the unique passions and ideas of the Class of 2027. Browse the gallery to experience the depth, curiosity, and personal growth captured in this culminating MYP experience.
Somersfield Academy’s M5 students will showcase their creativity at the Personal Project Exhibition on February 19 in the school gymnasium. The event will highlight diverse projects, from Bermuda’s flora and jewellery making to scuba diving and environmental conservation. Open to the community, it celebrates innovation, inquiry-based learning, and student achievement.
Somersfield Academy is pleased to share an article by student Zarah Siddiqi, advocating for education as a universal right. Zarah emphasises the transformative power of education to break cycles of poverty, improve social skills, and build a better future. She calls for Bermuda to recognise education’s vital role in societal progress.
Nico Bean '26 has partnered with The Stationery Store to release a new collection of custom notebooks for the back-to-school season. Nico, known for his acrylic pour technique and unique designs, created this collection to reflect personal style and inspire students. The notebooks are available in-store and online, and the collaboration showcases Nico's journey from student to successful entrepreneur.
Carolyn Amaral and M5 students, Taylor, Nico and Zarah speak with Shelly Thunder about their Personal Projects on Ocean 89.
Somersfield Academy is thrilled to announce the lineup of distinguished panelists who have committed to attending the upcoming Personal Project Expo on February 29, 6-9 PM, at Somersfield Academy.
M5 students are “embracing the spirit of inquiry and innovation” as part of an annual event showcasing their personal projects. The projects include an investigation into eating disorders; recycling plastic into 3D printing filament; and the adaptation of a hydrogenerator into a water catchment system.
Milo Morrison chose logo design as his personal project because, he says “I enjoy creating fashion and I also like the fact that I can create any design I want.” He not only designed the logos using design platforms, but he also printed them onto clothing.
Tyelle Phillips chose the topic of ‘Racial Discrimination and Police Brutality’ for his personal project not just because he has been personally impacted by these issues, but also because he wants to spread awareness throughout the school community:
Eli Carpol enjoys playing video games and his knowledge, passion and expertise shone through in his personal project: ‘Building a Gaming PC’.
As a dyslexic herself, Hanna Taylor feels very strongly about the fact that dyslexics need more help both in and out of school. For her personal project therefore, she used her knowledge and experience to create tools to help younger dyslexics.
Katiah Rogers chose a topical but emotive subject for her personal project, examining the issue of mental health depicted through art.
Somersfield Academy will host its M5 Personal Projects Showcase in the school gymnasium. The projects, linked to the 2022 Sustainable Development Goals, reflect the students' inquiry, action, and reflection. As part of the IB Middle Years Programme, M5 students must develop a project based on personal interest, write a 15-page report, and present their findings. The event celebrates student engagement and promotes project-based, student-centred learning.
School projects ranging from pop art-inspired recycled sneakers to soul food were showcased at Somersfield Academy yesterday. The projects were among the work displayed by M5 pupils as part of their International Baccalaureate middle-year programme, which covered topics such as social justice, sustainability, and religion.
Somersfield Academy’s M5 students showcased their passions through Personal Projects, exploring diverse topics such as music, sports, mental health, environmentalism, and cultural heritage. Each project highlighted creativity, commitment, and reflection, embodying the academy's mission to inspire independent thinkers.
Somersfield Academy hosted its Montessori & Middle Years Programme Personal Project Exhibition last month. Students showcased their original pieces of work, which included an eco-friendly catamaran, a Spanish children’s book, a documentary on “why we fight”, a model of a sustainable Bermudian home and a series of artworks to help those who struggle with anxiety. They reveal what inspired their projects.
At just 15, Shanyce Morris published Paria Street, a 100-page novel exploring themes like PTSD, abuse, & autism. The book, written for her Somersfield Academy IB personal project, is available on Amazon. Shanyce hopes to raise awareness & plans to continue her writing journey.
Somersfield Academy MYP students presented diverse IB projects, from Cani Swan's hovercraft to Zydeja Burgess's fashion show raising $500 for charity. Other highlights included Sachio Harrison’s $15,000 walkathon fundraiser, Noah Tompkins’s music album, and Marcus Bassett’s sci-fi story.
Selaah Stephenson, 15, created a ten-foot mural to honor Malala Yousafzai’s advocacy for girls' education. Displayed at Somersfield Academy, Selaah’s project uses art to raise awareness of Malala’s courage and efforts for change. She aims to share her tribute with the public soon.
Somersfield Academy's Sachio Harrison, 15, inspired his school community to join his walkathon, raising $16,785.66 for LCCA and PALS. The funds will support cancer care and assistance, reflecting Sachio’s gratitude for the help his family received during his father’s brain tumour treatment.
Alexandra Gerenda, 15, combined her love of baking with community service as part of Somersfield Academy's personal project. After months of studying and creating cakes, she hosted a fundraiser for the Eliza DoLittle Society, raising funds to support food security efforts in Bermuda.
15-year-old Somersfield student Sachio Harrison, inspired by his father’s recovery from a brain tumour, is organising a walkathon to raise $15,000 for LCCA & PALS. Part of his M5 personal project, the December 19 event will involve students walking or running to support medical aid and cancer care.
Somersfield Academy student Fae Sapsford, in her final year, has published a poetry collection titled A Snag in the Mind of an Unimportant Stander. Inspired by a Canadian Festival of Authors, Fae wrote and illustrated the book, available on Amazon. Her work is part of Somersfield's independent projects programme.
Student Ryan Whiting, passionate about design, chose his International Baccalaureate personal project to focus on architectural plans for affordable housing, despite initial concerns about the workload. At Somersfield Academy's fair, his AutoCAD drafts impressed viewers, demonstrating his commitment and impact.