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What Is Reach a Student?
Reach a Student is a website established to give students direct communication access to student mentors in various grade levels. Students will be able to reach out to other students and ask any questions they have regarding student and campus life. The site will also stream videos of students sharing their experiences at Windermere Prep as well as activities around campus. Find Out More
What are
some tips you have for students that are on the fence about doing IB diploma
due to Theory of Knowledge (TOK)?
There should no reason for students to be on the fence because
half the week is a study hall and you will still have opportunities to get work
done for your other classes and also the course is not hard. There is a a lot
of reasons why one should be on the fence about doing diploma and taking TOK
should not be one of them. It is also fun to be in the class, the good thing is
that instructors can do whatever they want with the material of the class. So I
try to choose fun activities and I think that the topics in the class are very
interesting.
Could you
give a brief summary of the TOK course?
TOK is about growing as a knower and putting together pieces of
what you learn in your other IB classes. It is also about synthesizing
knowledge.
And for
students that are taking TOK, what are some tips for succeeding
in the course?
To have an open mind and to be inquisitive.
Also what
do you think would be better taking the online course or the actual class? And
why?
I think the actual class is better because a big part of the
course is discussions. And the online course lacks that. There is a lot of
things you could do with the online course and you could still have discussions
but the responses online would not be as thoughtful or as instantaneous as our
live in class discussions.
I happened to be born a girl in the 21st century, and into a family that loves me unconditionally and provides me with anything I need and most any opportunity I want. From the beginning, I've truly lived a spoiled, blessed life. 17 years later, the only thing that's changed, somewhere in between then and now, is that I have 75 sisters from Sahasra Deepika (SD)-- a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a home and a quality education to impoverished and orphaned girls in Bangalore, India. These girls are no different than me in intellect, creativity, or capacity. The only thing separating us is a factor out of any of our controls: the socio-economic circumstance we were born into-- a factor which, unfortunately, limits opportunity.
Realizing all that I have in comparison to so many around me heightens my gratitude and appreciation for the life I live, and spurs me to take advantage of what I've been given and use it to enact change and lend a voice to what I am passionate about-- which happens to be women: women's empowerment, education, rights, and parity. I do confess, however, that at least to me, the pursuit of all these efforts sounds a little too idealistic to realistically tackle. But I have realized, largely because of what I've learned from spending time at SD, it's up to girls and boys alike to somehow, in their own way, turn these idyllic ambitions into tangible realities. This, I believe, should be, in some capacity and upon whatever issue they connect to, the goal of us millenials of the 21st century.
However, it's easy to go into any altruistic endeavor feeling some level of pity, or maybe even guilt because of what you have compared to those you want to help. I know this is oftentimes the mindset I hold. But it's equally important to realize what they do have, or even what they have that we don't. We cannot amplify humanitarian causes so much that they, as virtuous yet very broad forces, overpower the humanity within the individual you're connecting with: they are not just hopeless cases who know and have nothing but misfortune or darkness. Such a mindset causes a psychological disconnect, and can hinder you from connecting at a real, personal level. I have learned this from forming deep bonds with the girls at Sahasra Deepika, as friends and as sisters. True, we ask each other about where we come from, and exchange in what people might call more meaningful conversation, but we also talk about Taylor Swift. We sneak to the roof of the neighboring high school and see who can drink the water out of the coconut the fastest. We are real with each other. We are friends. And I think of them as no less, or no less capable than me. They are intelligent and they are talented: they're artists and they're athletes-- they've even beaten me, a varsity track runner, in running races, with me in my Nikes and them in their bare feet. And they have self-esteem and dignity, which I think is more resilient and stronger than mine, as it has been weathered and tested, broken down and built back up.
These traits of resilience and strength, nourished even more within the girls by the caring environment of Sahasra Deepika, should serve as paradigms for the rest of society. These are the qualities which transcend geography, religion, culture and sociology-economic class-- they are ones which should be universally adopted and developed within all of us, for they are the requisites of enacting lasting and effective change, and are vital in both kindling and sustaining the deepas— the lights— within us all to serve as lights of hope for all of us brothers and sisters.
Time management is a key skill in high school, but also in
your life afterwards. Having time management allows for you to be less stressed
because you have spaced out your work and also allows for you to revise your
work to make it better. Playing a sport forces you to have good time management
skills. Being a student athlete takes a lot of prioritizing, responsibility,
and motivation to be successful in the classroom. Having good time management
skills makes you create a balance of work time and down time. People with these
skills know how to organize their lives so they accomplish everything they have
planned for that day whether it's in school, in your sport, or with your
friends.
Life is a pathway of choices, and the
one who makes those choices is you. Whether you make the choice, someone else
influences your choice, something influences your choices, the final result
will be produced from you. There are times where you can turn your choices
back, but most of the time, you cannot turn your choices back. Your one choice
could lead to profitable and good results, but that one choice could lead to a
series of mistakes and even a disaster. According to research, decision making
suddenly changes when you reach puberty, and change slowly when you enter the
twenties. I believe that the most choices made during the high school life is
whether you should drink and do drugs, and I believe that the choice you make
in the situation stated before will affect your future. Do not look for a
situation that is only a step ahead. LOOK at a few more steps and imagine what
your future could look like due to your one choice! I really hope for you to
not make the decisions that may affect your future in a bad way.
I would like to share some tips for tackling AP
European History. My first tip to you would be to pay attention in class.
Always take effective and efficient notes during Mrs. Hilaman's lectures, as
everything she says could be used on any tests. My second tip for you would be
to do the formative practices. Mrs. Hilaman gives a lot of practice DBQs
(document-based questions), LEQs (long essay questions), and short answer
questions. Doing her formative work will help you develop the writing styles
that the AP graders want from you at the end of the year, which will help you
get the score you want on the exam. In addition, if you listen to her feedback
on the formative work, you can use that feedback to get good grades on her
assessments. The last tip, and probably the most important, do not over study.
I found that many of my peers studied frantically the night before assessments,
and they stressed themselves out by trying to cram all the knowledge into their
brain. Pay attention in class, and study what you don't know, and if you are
having a really difficult time grasping this, it won't help to study more, so
just move on. These tips will hopefully help you get a good grade in AP
European History with Mrs. Hilaman, and get you a good score on the AP Exam.
Already one quarter of the school year has
passed, and we are getting ready for the next, with the midterm exams coming up
along with Homecoming, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Each new quarter is a fresh
new start- a chance to get higher grades, try new activities, and put in as
much effort as you can! With this new page, it seems like you do not need
to do anything to prepare. However, there are a couple of things you can do to
give yourself a leg up to prepare for the exams and the lessons ahead.
1.
Evaluate the last quarter.
How much effort did you put into the last
quarter? Did you do all formative work, and all of the summative work? Did you
study? These are questions that you can be asking yourself. If you find
something that you could do better, like trading an hour of video games for
studying, or getting to school on time, or even just getting eight hours of
sleep, you can create easy ways to achieve this to make this an easier and
better term for you.
2.
Write down what you have learned.
Although it was just the beginning, there was a
lot of subject material that you have learned. It may not seem important, but
these topics will be on the midterm exams, though you learn them so long ago.
This leaves many people reviewing in the last week and forgetting what to
study. A way to resolve this would be writing down key themes from each of your
subjects. This would be the most important things to know, and it doesn't have
to be very detailed, just a sentence or two to help you remember. For example,
in US history I would write "The Colonies" and "The Great
Depression", and important figures during that time.
3.
Look at the Syllabus!
What better way to prepare for the new quarter
by seeing what you are going to learn? If you know the subject material, not
only will you not be lost in class, but you will know what is coming up. This
means you can also prepare beforehand, by reading or researching the main
themes and facts.
4.
Talk to your teachers
There may be things you are doing wrong or
should be doing that you do not even know about. Ask your teachers on how you
did in the quarter and what you can do to improve, from homework standards to
classroom etiquette.
5.
Make some goals!
Thanks to Skyward and Canvas, our grades are
always there to see. You may not have reached a grade level you wanted to, or
there may be a grade you want to achieve by the end of the year. A semester
grade consists of the two quarters plus the midterm exam, which means if you
know what your grade is this quarter, you can find out what grade you have to
get the next quarter and in the exam to achieve the grade you want. This end
grade will be a goal, and you can have certain goals leading up to it, like
studying every night or getting or completing all of the reviews, and getting
A's on the formative assignments.
In conclusion, don't waste time before the
quarter, or think there is nothing you can do. Make sure you do what you need
to do to have the best year ever!
At Windermere Prep, we're lucky to have such a
well-developing, ambitious, and growing Arts Program available to students of
all ages, no matter their level of skill. One of these many programs is the Dance
Program, taught by Gilliane Hadley and Alison Barron. Many students, new or
returning, may have questions or hesitations about the Dance Program at our
school, which is why I sat down with high school dance instructor, Ms. Hadley,
to provide some answers to any of your questions.
What do
you like the most about the dance program at Windermere Prep?
H: What I like most about the dance program is that
you get to dance everyday and I get to see you grow throughout the year. I've
had students since they were freshman and now they're about to graduate as
seniors. I also love that the fact that the dancers have different levels they
can dance in and then they have a choice to take IB Dance or stick with
elective dance or do both, which is amazing. I love that they get the
opportunity to perform and do activities with Juilliard.
How do you think dance counts as both a sport and
an art? Why are both elements important?
H: As an art, because it's a performing art, right?
As for being mixed with a sport and art, we're physical, we're always moving,
our heart rate is elevated, and we are our own athletes in our own way. Our
bodies need to be warm like an athlete and will wear down like an athlete. For
each genre of dance, there are certain skills and elements you need to know,
just like any sport.
How do you come up with our themes and visions for
our dance shows?
H: Sometimes it just happens, and sometimes I just
hear something in a song. Music inspires me a lot. If I hear something, I can
totally envision certain groups of kids dancing to it, which is how I figure
out what dances you're going to do. Regarding the themes of the shows, me and
Mrs. Barron really work together trying to figure that out because we have to
be able to pick something that not only you guys will be excited about, but
also what will inspire us to create those dances. We always like to challenge
you and ourselves. Sometimes we think, "Oh my gosh, what are we doing?" But we
are always thinking of you guys and what will keep you excited about dance and
challenge some classes technique wise.
What do you think the dance program at Windermere
Prep has to offer students and aspiring dancers?
H: So, for students who love to dance, it's a nice
break from sitting at a desk all day. It should be an escape from your busy
school schedule. Yes, I have high expectations for you, but if you love to
dance, those expectations should be second nature. I can only help you so much,
but if you try, those accomplishments are worth it in the end. Sometimes it's
hard, because our classes are so short in terms of regular dance classes.
Celeste, one of my aspiring dancers who graduated last year, found it hard to
go to auditions and face the dance world because she couldn't take away everything
that she should have. But we are not a studio, we are a school. It's not
about taking a technique class. There are things we have to dive into more such
as terminology, dance history, watching the works of other dancers and
choreographers and creating compositions. I try to base our classes off how
performing arts schools teach their dancers and try to shape versatile dancers.
I want students to be able to walk into an audition or a dance group in college
and be able to dance any genre or style, even if dancing professionally is not
their ultimate goal.
Why do you think students should take a dance class
next year, even if they've never danced before and what can they take away from
it?
H: They should not take a dance class if
they don't like to move or sweat. I think they should take a dance class
because it's good for your health and it builds your brain in a different way.
It's a release and it's enjoyable. It's interesting to see dancers in the first
month and see which dancers make it to the next semester and the changes in the
way they dance; it amazes me every time. They come in so enthusiastic and so
ready to be challenged more. The best reason to take dance is that you really
learn who you are and how much discipline you have and how much you really want
to grow as a person.
During my time in middle
school, everything seemed easy. Now there were a couple exceptions like TAP, but
for the most part it was a breeze. I could go home do my homework in an hour
and then watch TV or do something else. I had a lot of free time on my hands.
At the beginning of the 9th grade year, I didn't think that 9th grade could be
much harder than 8th grade. You would not believe how wrong I was. Now, most of
the hard work came from my AP Human Geography class (which required at least 2
hours a night) and I was forced to learn how to manage my time well so I could
have time to do some of my extracurricular activities, and other homework. The
most efficient way to clear up time is to make use of your weekends. This may
seem hard at first because your weekends are your only time off from school,
but to manage an AP class with other activities you must utilize it. Utilizing
the weekend can reduce the workload. You must stay organized during your 9th
grade year or you will fall behind on your assignments. There are a few
different apps that I recommend to get organized as they have helped me in the
past. Using technology was a big help in knowing what is due and when.
iCalendar
Wunderlist
Todoist
Things
Outlook Calendar
Another big difference between school and high school is that
you go from the top of the food chain, to the bottom. In 8th grade you were the
"big man on campus", the apex predator, you had gotten pretty used to the
campus and the teachers knew you very well. In 9th grade you flip sides, you
become the "little man on campus" and are put into a totally different
environment. With all the different teachers and classes, high school can look
overwhelming. But know that by the end of the first semester, you will be used
to it. Another big fear most 9th graders have are the seniors. They are
expected to be big and bad, but they are actually friendlier than you think.
They will assist you in pretty much anything, whether it is directions or
advice for a certain class.
The final difference between 8th and 9th grade is the immense
pressure put on by college. When entering high school, you will have a moment
of realization that now everything matters. Each test, each project, each
choice that you make in high school will affect college. So in May, when you
are looking at your course selection actually look at what classes you choose
because those decisions can come back and haunt you. Make sure to pick classes
right for you, not too hard or too easy but just right. You must put all your
effort into each an every assignment because every grade matters and one grade
can affect your quarterly grade in a positive way or negative way.
Whenever you are
lonely, whenever you are bored, and whenever you are nervous, one of the best
activities to do is volunteering. The fact that you are helping someone out for
his or her benefit, not yours, gives you a thrill and happiness. When you are
volunteering, you are also giving something back to the community, the
community that gave you the environment to grow to what you are now.
Volunteering can
also help you build new skills or even build on an existing skill that you are
working on. For example, volunteering at a golf tournament may help you
understand golf and volunteering at a hospital may help you understand how
patients are treated and how the hospital runs during the day. Each time you
volunteer, whether it is fun or not, you learn a valuable lesson, and the
lesson you learn can be used for your future decisions and actions
For me,
volunteering is quite fun, although I encounter new skills and activities that
I might not even use in my life, just learning the new skills makes it fun for
me. I volunteered at a golf tournament January 2016, and from there, I learned
how the scoreboard runs during a golf tournament, and many other management
skills that run a golf tournament. I even met many famous people there too!
Furthermore, I am going to volunteer at the Orlando Regional Medical Center and
I am looking forward to volunteer! I will be able to not only go around the
hospital, but also have a chance to look into details where patient is being
cared of, and other great opportunities!
All in all, one of
the best ways to learn and go out into the world is by volunteering. The
current world requires us to have as many skills and volunteering can cover
most of the experience we need. Plus, just why not volunteer? Volunteering, in
my opinion, is better than any phone or computer games and many other home
activities. Most volunteering activities are held outside, which means that you
can also get your daily walking done while outside. So to have fun and
volunteer!
All students can describe their high school life as busy. Between
homework and all the different sports and after school activities we are
involved in, at some point (or points) in the year the work load will just become too much. Students will find that there is not enough time in the
day for homework, sleep, sports and clubs, and a social life. In order to
handle all of these things a student will soon find themselves up at 3 a.m. finishing
homework that could have been done sooner or studying for a test that was
forgotten because of this workload. A way to avoid all of this is time
management. And I know that I am sounding like a total counselor right now, but
trust me it works. How you use your time is very important and totally changes
how your week turns out. The amount of homework sometimes depends on what you
get done in class. ( Not all the time obviously ) In order to cut down the
work here are some tips that I would highly recommend to use!
•When at school if
given the chance to work on projects or protective homework, work on it! Either
if it is during class or SRT. The more you get done at school, the less you
have to do at home.
•When doing homework
at home, if you find that you get tired while working work a desk and not on
your bed. This will force you to work on what you need to get done.
•Also make sure that
when doing homework to put away all of the possible distractions to work at
your full potential.
Many people have the desire to succeed,
however sometimes it takes a lot of work to get
to the point that you want to be at academically.
My main tip to doing your absolute best is being on top of things. If a teacher were
to give you a test a week in advance the best thing you could
possibly do is study a bit every night until
the assessment approaches. Many students will wait
until last minute to study and will not
perform at their best. This could be applied to any project
given as well. As you get into
higher grades the work amount will only increase, so if you
started bad habits on procrastinating then it might be hard to
break out of it. However, you will for sure see benefits when you begin
to do your work in advance instead of cramming it the night before
it's due.
My second most important
tip is to use your class time. Many teachers let you
complete work in class, to prevent the amount of
homework you will have at home. Many students slack in
class and talk to their friends or not
pay attention, and that just will increase your stress levels in
the future. It is way easier to do the
work at school when you are supposed to than leave it to do
when you get home in the afternoon. Following
these two important tips, it is guaranteed that
you will see an improvement in your performance and
your stress level will begin to decrease.
Staying on top of work can be hard, especially
in High School. Falling behind in work may seem hard to avoid, but there are
always ways to stay ahead. When you make the transition from Middle School to
High School, you can see the difference between the amount of work you have.
I'm in 9th Grade, so it is my first year in High School and it was hard for me
to adjust to the amount of work there is in High School. Once I started to
realize I was falling behind, I made sure to change that and started doing
things that could help me. There are many ways you can stay on top of your work
and even though it may take extra time, it is completely worth it because you
will be stress free.
My first tip would be to always be paying
attention and writing notes. If you are constantly writing notes in your
classes you will automatically start to understand concepts more. Once the test
or quiz comes around for that class, you won't have to cram the night before
because you will already have the basic information. Not only that, but
actually going over your notes after school will help you a lot. In past
years I would only look over my notes once at home and then never again , and
that would lead me to being stressed over the class. Once I started reviewing
the concepts from the class and all the notes, I noticed how quickly it helped
me. Not only that but challenging yourself and pushing yourself to work. Being
in a class that is too easy for you may be less stressful, but actually pushing
and challenging yourself to be in a class that is a little bit harder will be
helpful, because you will actually be learning new concepts. If you do decide
to challenge yourself, you shouldn't push yourself too hard. If you do then it
will be hard to progress because you will be struggling to keep up with the
concept. Keeping on top of all your work may take up time, but it is worth it in
the long run.
High School here at WPS differs greatly from Middle School. There are
higher expectations, more emphasis on academic mastery and more hours spent
completing homework. But that doesn't mean you should be scared or intimidated
about the jump from 8th grade to 9th grade. Here are some tips and advice to
prepare you for your first year in high school and the years to come.
Always Be On Top of Everything: It
is crucial that you stay organized and know what is coming up in the week.
Firstly, always know what your homework is, when it is due and what tests you
have to study for. There are multiple ways to do so, such as getting a hard
copy planner or using a program on your computer. This way, you can keep track
of upcoming assignments and exams and what you have to do that night. Plan out
your homework load so you are not procrastinating and working on a lengthy
assignment at 11:00 at night. While everyone slips here and there and
procrastinates until the last minute because of other homework or after school
activities, try your best not to. Another method that is crucial to adapt is
organization. Keeping all your papers, worksheets and tests in one place will
make it easy for you to study for midterms and finals. Doing the same on your
computer is also helpful as well.
Taking Notes and Study Methods: For
a lot of students, school comes easy to them and are able to make A's without
studying. But as the material becomes harder to understand and the amount of
material on exams increases, students find it harder to not study and still
make an A. That's why taking good notes and finding the right study method is
important. Depending on the teacher, they might teach with a powerpoint, by
writing notes on the whiteboard or by just talking out loud. Try your to not tune
out the teacher while they are talking and just write what is on the board.
While that might be easier to copy down, sometimes the teacher will say or
explain material that is not on the board and is important to know. Not
everyone does this, but I will tend to use multiple pens such as a black and
purple/gold pen so that I can use the colorful pens to underline key concepts
and terms so when I am reading through my notes later, those key concepts will
stand out to me. When it comes to studying, just reading over your notes might
not be enough, especially if the class is rather challenging for you. Students
need to find what study method works for them, whether it be explaining
concepts out loud or using online flashcards and practice tests such as quizlet.
If you figure out what helps you learn early on in your freshman year, high
school will be a lot easier for you.
While school can be boring and
uninteresting and it is hard to be motivated to do homework, you have to look
at it with a positive approach. Choose classes that fit your learning skill
(honors, non-honors, AP, etc) and always strive to be the best that you can be.
If you stay organized, take good notes and study in a way that benefits you,
you should be very successful in high school. I will leave you with two things:
Don't sweat every single grade because I am going to tell you now that you will
get a 'bad grade' from time to time. Just focus on making corrections to it and
doing better next time. Lastly, just remember, if you ever have questions about
material in class, ask your teacher. They are there to help you. Best of luck!
As a student of Windermere Prep you are
expected to strive for perfection and attain excellence, but this doesn't mean
that you must be stressed all the time. With good time management you can be
less stressed, get more things done, and even have some free time for other
activities that you may enjoy. I used to always be stressed about getting good
grades and doing all of the homework that I was assigned. I had to learn how
to manage my time in order to get more things done and have free time do the
things that I loved. I had tried many time management tactics, such as writing
everything down in my planner, or even skipping some after school activities in
order to get the best grade possible. This ended up stressing me out even more,
I had to find a method that worked for me. I ended up using a time calendar. I
know it sounds weird, but I got a white board and marker and would write down
what I would be doing every half hour. This helped me to see exactly when I
should be working on a certain assignment, or studying for a specific test. I
now had seen where I had free time to spend with family and friends, and even
go to all of my after school activities. This has helped me manage my time, but
it might not help you. Find a system that works for you and stick with that
method. Make sure to keep up with the method you choose as well. As long as the
system works for you, it doesn't matter how weird it seems.
With the first
test done, I am sure there are some 9th graders considering dropping APUSH (AP US History).
From my understanding, the grades were not that good. This is not abnormal, for
my AP Human Geography class as well as the classes before me the first test is
always the hardest and most students don't do well on it. I for one received a
C on my first test and I am sure that this is the same situation for the rest
of you. Before my first test, I thought Mr. Zoslow was exaggerating about the
longevity of his tests. I thought that the essay questions would be one page at
max and there would be more than enough time. Boy was I wrong. I was completely
blindsided by my first test, and considering the circumstances I was pretty
lucky in receiving a C. Like me most of you asked yourself, how on earth am i
going to do well in this class?
The first tip I
give to you is participating in class discussion. This is what is going to be
on the test. 75% of the test is based on the applications of the information on
the outlines which Mr. Zoslow talks about every day in class. So taking notes
is a great idea. Class discussion reinforces the points that you studied in the
outlines as well, so when you participate in class discussion there are one of
two outcomes. Either you get it right and you can say that you know the topic
or you don't and Mr. Zoslow will explain the correct answer. In the beginning
it is extremely nerve racking as Mr. Zoslow is pretty intimidating. As soon as
you overcome this fear, you will be one step closer to an A.
On a test, Mr.
Zoslow will put all information learned on it. You must use all sources in
order to ensure that you are well prepared for each test. Everything in the
textbook, on the outlines, in the class discussion, and on the KBAT is fair
game for the test. This may sound like a lot of studying but the effort needed
for a good grade is high in an AP class. In terms of the distribution between
the various resources, Mr. Zoslow expects you to know the facts from the text
book, but most of the points earned on the test are the applications talked
about during the class discussion, so I highly recommend taking lengthy class
notes.
Finally, when
testing you should always outline before you write an essay. Take just 30
seconds to organize your thoughts and it will make a big difference. Mr. Zoslow
always makes the analogy of an easter egg hunt. In an easter egg hunt,
everything is scattered everywhere and there is no form of organization. In
your essay it is essential that your essay is well thought out and organized.
If you were talking about subsistence agriculture, don't go and talk about
commercial agriculture before you finish subsistence agriculture.
Zoslow's class will take some time
to adjust to, so don't get discouraged if you don't do well in the beginning.
But in the end, everyone will figure out a formula to success and will do well.
Since Reach A Student is all about getting and
sharing insight within school communities, I was hoping to meet the new owners
of our school - Windermere Preparatory School when I was on vacation this
summer in Hong Kong.I honestly did not
know what to expect from my visit to the Nord Anglia Education Head
Office.Ms. Sarah Doyle had arranged for
me to meet and interview the CEO himself, Mr. Andrew Fitzmaurice.
The interview was
scheduled for 11am on a Thursday and our hotel was located in the tallest building
in Hong Kong on Kowloon and their office was on Hong Kong Island so our taxi
went on a short ride through a tunnel that crossed the famous harbor in just a
few minutes. The drive only took a quick
15 minutes to reach St. Georges Building where Nord Anglia Education had the
entire 12th Floor.
After a quick wait in their reception area, Ms.
Doyle came out to greet me and take me to Mr. Fitzmaurice's office. He has a beautiful office with a great view
of the harbor and the Hong Kong Eye (which looks a lot like the Orlando
Eye). Ms. Doyle and Mr. Fitzmaurice were
very kind and Mr. Fitzmaurice shared some nice stories about himself, his
family and Nord Anglia Education.
Ms. Doyle was really kind and presented me with
some literature about some of their programs as well as a boxed gift, which was
very generous of her. They explained
some of the opportunities that Windermere Prep students could now benefit from
– like Global Classroom and the Julliard partnership. It was an amazing experience and I can't
thank Nord Anglia leadership enough for their generosity with their time and
for welcoming a student from 1 of their 41-school family.
If you would like to see some of the photos of my visit to the Nord Anglia Headquarters in Hong Kong, please click the main image and scroll to see more.
While I was in Hong Kong
this summer, I not only had the opportunity to meet some of the people in the
Nord Anglia Education Leadership Team, but I also got to visit one of the Nord
Anglia schools in Hong Kong - The Nord Anglia International School (NAIS) located
in Lam Tin. Hong Kong is a former
British colony and there is a lot of European influence in the city and at
NAIS.
The principle of the
school, Mr. Brian Cooklin generously gave me a tour of the new school, which
just opened this past September (2014).Mr. Cooklin also allowed me to interview him for Reach A Student and
share his insight.Besides the school
tour and interviewing Mr. Cooklin, I was also able to interview a Year 5 teacher,
Mr. Williams, and his student Ava.
This year was the school's
first year operating as a new school, and I must say that it was amazing how
developed they were for a school still just 9 months old.Prior to becoming the campus of the Nord Anglia
International School, the property was previously used as a Catholic Boy's
School and when that school moved out, Nord Anglia was awarded the space to
use.I learned that there was a lot of
construction that needed to be done and everyone worked very hard to get the
school ready in just a few months for new students to begin classes last
September.
The learning environment
is really beautiful and the students and teachers I met were all very nice and
welcoming. NAIS follows a British curriculum
and that might be the biggest difference between the Nord Anglia International
School and Windermere Prep. I spent a
long time looking at a lot of their students work, much of it on display in the
corridors and I can tell you that it is all of very high quality. Mr. Cooklin explained they use Nord Anglia
Education's High Performance Learning techniques and I was very impressed by
their approach.
Another difference that I
really like was how they separate students in the school into 4 houses; Windsor
(red), Sandringham (yellow), Caernarfon (green) and Balmoral (blue).These are the names of grand homes and
castles in the United Kingdom.When
students do something well, they are given a colored token that represents
their house which they deposit in clear cylinder at the front of the
school.The cylinder with the most chips
at the end of the year wins, so there is a lot of team or house spirit.These houses also compete in school
competitions against each other throughout the year.I thought this house system was really unique
and fun.
All their classrooms were
well designed and the school had excellent learning facilities. They had a gymnasium similar to ours at WPS,
an Art room, Computer Lab, A full Science Lab, Library, Music Rooms and so much
more. I saw students doing drama,
playing in their playground where Mrs. Cooklin had painted a beautiful Panda
and so many other things you might see at a school in America, only this wasn't
America, it was all in Hong Kong – a city on the other side of the world from
Windermere Prep. Needless to say, I was
beyond impressed and it makes me happy to know that we are now a part of the
Nord Anglia family of schools.
If you would like to see some of the photos of my tour of the Nord Anglia International School, please click the main image and scroll to see many more.
Besides Global Classroom,
there is also a program that might interest aspiring WPS musicians and it is
called Global Orchestra.This past March
musicians from all the Nord Anglia schools were invited to audition for the
opportunity to be selected to participate in the Global Orchestra summer school
in New York from June 24th to July 1st.This year 34 singers and 46 instrumentalists
were chosen from Nord Anglia schools around the world and spent their week attending
music workshops and participated in practice sessions conducted by music
experts.This is another wonderful
opportunity for Windermere Prep students because we are part of this large
family of schools.
Nord Anglia Education will
be providing Windermere Prep student with access to their program known as The
Global Classroom. This program offers
students the opportunity to connect with other students from the other 40 Nord
Anglia schools spread around the world.
Global Classroom will
allow our students to experience diverse perspectives, new challenging
concepts, topics and ways of learning.They accomplish this by using 3 methods:
An Online Learning Environment
Students can connect with
students in other schools, debate with them and learn new concepts and
ideas. As Mr. Fitzmaurice described, a
student who was studying the effects of pollution on plants in China, could connect
with a student at one of the Nord Anglia schools in China and get a perspective
that you wouldn't find in a book.
In-School Activities
Students are challenged in
competitions to find new solutions to current problems that plague our planet.
Face-to-Face Events
These events bring Nord
Anglia students from across the globe to work on community service projects,
develop leadership skills towards instilling a sense of global citizenship.
I feel strong that
bringing Global Classroom to WPS will allow us to learn and experience new
topics and expand our global view. This
year Global Classroom offered an opportunity to students to travel to Tanzania
in Africa where they could volunteer to help the people there and have other
unique experiences.
As a student, I am really
excited to use The Global Classroom this upcoming year.
The Juilliard School which
was founded in 1905, is a world leader in performing arts education and it is
not surprising that students at our school are really interested in finding out
more about the partnership between Nord Anglia Education and The Juilliard
School.
I think we will see
curriculum changes, which will begin with music but will extend into the other
performing art categories.WPS musicians
will soon be exposed to a "Juilliard-curated repertoire" of music that
represents different genres, styles and cultures.Nord Anglia students are to gain
understanding how music functions and how it fits into the human experience.
Windermere Prep teachers
and students will benefit from being connected to Juilliard's network of
teachers and performers.Also, Juilliard
teaching artists will be sharing their insight with the Nord Anglia teaching
community.The result of all this is so
that students at Nord Anglia schools receive the highest level of performance
art teaching available.
Performing arts is something
that is really important to students at our school and that is why the
partnership between Nord Anglia and The Juilliard School will be a huge benefit
for our school. Clearly, this will help
to enrich our performing arts curriculum as described above. Students will be able to connect with Julliard's
countless performers and teachers. I
think that this can only help inspire students to excel in this field.
I would like to think that I am a good writer; that
I am good with words. You think it is an art, how I bleed for the world in a
verse. But I think it's a way of life, how I let myself speak the words I've
never been able to say. Writing is an art. Identical to art, the mystical crux
of writing is in the eye of the beholder. Writing, like art can come in various
magnitudes, insignias and each have their own eccentric way with words.
I find that
words can be like an incorrigible child at times. They run around in your head,
popping up at random intervals, giving you headaches and causing a
maelstrom. Words are nothing but a
jumble of inane letters, but it is your job, as a creator and as a writer, to
tame those words running in your head and bend them to coalesce into tangible
thoughts.
When I was
smaller, writing was not an event that I would happily do, not by a long shot.
Never would you find me freely obliging to write a 6-page essay for my friend.
The easiest excuse I would use was that "writing is not easy". Everyone has
their own struggles, whether it is coming up with strong thesis, plot,
characters or even having an idea to start with. When George Plimpton asked
Ernest Hemingway what the best training for an aspiring writer would be in a
1954 interview, Hemingway replied, "Let's say that he should go out and hang himself
because he finds that writing well is impossibly difficult. Then he should be
cut down without mercy and forced by his own self to write as well as he can
for the rest of his life. At least he will have the story of the hanging to
commence with." This was kind of like Hemmingway's sick, comical take on
writing.
Trust me,
writing doesn't have to end in "hanging". It does not have to seem hard.
Really, it can be quite enjoyable. But unlike common belief, writing is not easy. Not in the least bit. It
is not just a scratch on top of a piece of paper or the result of a single
keystroke. No, it is the process of creating a breathing life form that is
birthed from your very own mind. If you do it just right, if will feel like you
are putting part of your soul down on the surface. It is not like a jar waiting
to be filled, more like a castle waiting to be built. Nonetheless, writing, for
anyone, is not an easy feat. However, it one of the most purest forms of art you can ever make. You
are painting with the most potent "aether" of your own heart.
If you
are an 8th Grader like me, you probably have a lot of questions about course
selection for next year. One of the most difficult decisions I think I
will be facing as I enter high school, is whether or not I should challenge
myself and take Mr. Zoslow's AP Human Geography class. Over the past
week, Reach A Student mentors have been receiving a lot of questions about this
class and some students suggested we interview Mr. Zoslow. He has been
kind enough to share some of his thoughts and if there is a question you would
like him to answer, please email them to me at sarina@reachastudent.com and I
will be happy to forward them to Mr. Zoslow for review. I will keep
updating this blog post, so be sure to check back often for the latest Q &
A.
When you spoke to the
8th graders
about your class a few weeks ago, you said that there would be 90 minutes of
homework required every day, even on weekends! Students have pointed out that
the workload for the same class in other schools in Central Florida, is not as
rigorous, do you think this is true and if so, why is there a difference?
I
cannot speak for other schools, but these students at WPS in 8th grade can
ask former AP students at WPS with regard to whether the rigor prepared them
not only for their exam in May but also better prepared them to step into IB.The rigor of AP Human Geography should not be seen only within the context of
this one class but also within the context of creating a competitive academic
edge for pursuing the most challenging course work through the WPS IB programs.
Another question asked
by a student was how were they expected to do 2 hours of extracurricular
activities, plus your class homework as well as homework from other rigorous
classes?
Each student should choose a level of challenge that is most
appropriate for them to pursue, some course selections are less rigorous and
should be selected by those who place a higher value on extra curricular
activities. WPS provides a curriculum to suit everyone's desired level of
rigor. Students highly involved in athletics, robotics, theatre and so on have
moved through AP Human Geography with great success because of their desire for
rigor both within and outside of the classroom, as well as aided by a strong
sense of discipline, organization and commitment. Please reach out to students
who have completed AP Human Geography in order to get a peer perspective on the
course.
How can 8th graders
prepare themselves for your class next year, maybe something over the summer?
Please see letter below.
Is the summer reading
the same book that you will be using for your class or is it just a
supplementary resource?
Please see same letter below. However, should any student enrolled for AP Human Geography wish to
have a text for preview over the Summer they are more than welcome.
Besides the summer
reading, do you have any other suggestions that might help students perform
better in your class or to be more efficient in their homework?
How important is note
taking in your class and if so, what are some good note taking tips that you
can give to your students?
It depends on the student...some students require
significant note taking whereas others are better suited to focus on listening
and mental processing skills. Also, participating in class discussion is
critical to higher level thinking and for students to better integrate
themselves with the materials on a richer and more meaningful level.
What are some good
ways for students to study for your exams?
Use the course study tools,
Textbook, Outlines, Essential Daily Questions, Vocabulary, and after school
study sessions, and using these study tools daily to build up the maximum
possible knowledge over time for the exams.
Why do you think
students should take your class?
This course is not about what I think but
about what students think and value...if academic rigor on a college level as a
freshman in high school is a valued challenge then wonderful, if not, then that
is wonderful as well. "Know thyself..."
To go along with my
previous question, what do you think is the core message of your class and what
do you stress most for your students?
Again, this class is not about me but
teaching to an international standard that will be tested on a Global scale in
May...AP Human Geography is about everything there is to know about the world
today, to even attempt mastering this takes significant risk taking, hard work,
and humility -the understanding that there is much to learn in less than 10
months. These qualities also happen to be or are similar to the IB Learner
profile qualities.
Is there anything else you would like students to know?
My door is always open, for those in AP Human Geography, and for those
who pursue other paths, every answer will always lead to another question and
to that end it will be my pleasure to answer in person any questions concerning
any element of the high school experience.
Dear AP Human Geography Students,
I look forward to working with you at WPS as your AP Human Geography teacher. Your suggested
Summer Reading to best prepare you for the course is as follows:
Barron's AP Human Geography, 5th Edition (paperback)
Authors: Meredith Marsh, Ph. D., and Peter S. Alogona, Ph. D.
Publisher: Barron's Educational Series, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1-4380-0282-8 (unique identification number for text)
This text and edition provides you with an initial diagnostic exam, as well as dividing the course into
sections with exams to test your understanding and retention of material. Additionally, it breaks down
material into simplified units for increased comprehension.
This text cannot guarantee results. However, by reading through the materials your understanding of the
course information will be richer, and the transition into your AP Human Geography course will be
made more seamless.
Should you or your parent(s) have any questions please do not hesitate to e-mail me. I will have only
sporadic access to e-mail over the Summer, and e-mail will be the best manner to communicate with me.
My best wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy Summer!
I
come from an educational system that does not put as much emphasis on grades at
such a young age as they do in the USA, at least not until the child is older.
What I would like to say to all of the students at WPS is not to worry about
the grade but to think instead, 'What have I learned?', and what is the next
step. School should be a voyage of learning, and if someone becomes obsessed
with a letter grade, rather than what they are actually learning, I think that
is a shame. You are more than a letter scrawled onto a page. If you got a good
grade, then great, but what does it ACTUALLY mean? Do you reflect on why you
got a good grade, and what you took away from that period of learning? Do you
think to yourself, what else could I learn about this? How could I extend my
learning? Was this fascinating to me, or something that I only tolerate because
I have to? Likewise, when you get a bad grade, do you ask why? What does this
mean for me? Do you find out what exactly you didn't do well or understand so
that you can fix it for next time? The WHY is more important than the grade.
Why am I studying this? Why is it important? What does it mean to me? Don't
reduce your brainpower to a letter grade. You are so much more than that. You
are creativity and problem solving. You are design and debate. Don't do things
for a grade, do them because they matter to you and you know the reason why!
Sometimes as a child I would describe myself like
an egg. On the outside a hard shell, smooth and flawless in appearance
but on the inside a mushy soft, runny liquid.
I'll explain…
I was put ahead a grade in 1st grade basically
because I knew my ABC's and could read while our Pre-K students now a days can
recite their ABC's and read in usually more than one language:) With a
late spring birthday this made me very young for the class which was like a
neon sign saying come pick on me. I was lucky academically where I liked
school and the subjects came easier than normal to me, again a flashing neon
sign. I was painfully shy and didn't have a lot of friends, this time the
flashing neon sign is playing a tune here, you follow me?:) Grades 1-5
were uneventful, no one noticed me so I went about business without any
problems. By 6th grade though, that was another story. My middle
school years were tough. I was picked on and ridiculed. I wasn't
physically bullied, it was all verbal which to me is worse. I would've much
rather been hit once and been able to walk away with an external bruise,
instead I had to be the egg, hard on the outside but a pile of mushy liquid
inside.
Unfortunately, I have no words of advice on how
to deal with a similar situation at the time of occurrence I put my head down
and prayed my way through but I can tell you now that those crucial years most
definitely made me the person I am today. I have tolerance, I have
compassion, and I have empathy. Strangely enough I'm an eternal optimist,
I see the good in everyone and everything. I am a parent who will not
tolerate my child treating their friends and peers with anything but respect
and courtesy. I will not partake in gossip or hearsay and I only surround
myself with positive people. Sounds like I got it all together right, not
in the least! I don't talk about my middle school years often but I will
divulge them to a crying student who thinks no one could possibly know what they
are going through at the moment. I hope to give them some hope, some
reassurance and some optimism. Because everything you do in life shapes
what kind of person you can become.
In my IB HL Biology class,
we recently began an extremely interesting section on Neurobiology and
Behavior. This Option (an additional lesson elected by the teacher as part of
the IB course) forces us to question whyand how we learn. Between class
discussions on the ethics of Skinner's pigeon experiments and the biological
genius that is the withdrawal reflex, we were asked to define "learning".
According to the IBO, learned behavior is characterized by experience. This clicked. The way we truly learn is
not by meaningless rote memorization. Rather, we learn by immersing ourselves
completely in what we do and by making an experience out of it.
In my earlier blog post ("IB, Honors, or AP – Oh My!"), I briefly
mentioned the importance of selecting classes that you are interested in.
Although this may seem obvious, I think it is a fact that some people overlook.
Rather than enroll in a class they are passionate about, too many students opt
for the more challenging (and less interesting) class because they feel the
need to prove themselves. By doing so, students forget the true purpose of
school: to grow toward your future with purpose. Although you may not know what
purpose that is, taking classes that do not resonate well with what you enjoy
will only serve to alienate you further from your future.
When I study I enjoy making an experience out of what I am learning.
Sometimes that means I get to spend time on YouTube researching the material or
watching videos from other IB or AP teachers. I highly recommend watching Crash
Course videos for your Science and History classes. Other times I prepare a
bowl of grapes for my study session! When I reach a certain page number or
outline a certain amount I will eat a grape as a sort of healthy reward. My
Neurobiology and Behavior class would classify this under positive
reinforcement. I feel good and I am incentivized to keep working. Studying in a
different location, reciting what you know to a family member, or even making a
catchy jingle to relate to a lesson are all different ways to make an
experience out of your studying.
The hardest part of studying or doing schoolwork is getting started.
However, I have found that once I start my work it is a lot easier for me to
just finish it. An analogy I use is "A Valentina in study mode, stays in study
mode until she is stopped by an object of equal or greater force". Minimize the
equal or greater forces that can snap you out of "the zone". Turn off/turn down
your phone and place it in the opposite corner of your room. Do not have too
many webpages open on your laptop. At the same time, remember to take breaks.
Do not force yourself to study one subject for an hour straight; you won't
remember what you learned. Take a break every 15 minutes by walking around,
talking to your family, or grabbing a healthy snack. I have also found that
taking a nap after a good study session will help retain the information
better.
Imbue yourself with the knowledge your teachers provide in class.
Embrace the experience of learning, but at the same time go out and live real experiences. You will become a truly
rich Laker, human being, and global citizen.
