From the Secondary Leadership Team
Oxford University and IB at the ABC … but first:
It’s great to see students back and engaged with classes after the delayed start to our final half term before the Christmas break. I hope everyone is well and set for the remaining five weeks of lessons.
And why did I mention Oxford university in connection with the ABC in my opening line? I’ve started the week feeling vindicated. I’ve written about the importance of critical thinking a couple of times since I began contributing to the ABC Weekly. As IB Diploma Coordinator, it’s important I do so; students cannot begin this process early enough. But this week, Oxford University Centre for Educational Assessment has published a research article that backs up my ramblings. In a paper entitled ‘The effect of the Diploma Programme (DP) on critical thinking and development: An international multi-site evaluation’, researchers Hopfenbeck et al. report that IB students demonstrate ‘significantly higher levels of critical thinking than their non-IB peers’. This means they are developing towards analyzing situations, revisiting challenges and creating possible solutions to problems. What’s more, students and teachers who participated in the study agreed ‘that TOK, the EE and DP subjects foster the development of critical thinking’. And if that’s not enough, ‘teachers and students generally believed that the DP better prepares students for further study compared to national or state programmes.’
For many of us, these research findings may not come as a huge surprise, indeed families and staff often choose the ABC because of the IB Diploma, but it’s great to hear such a globally respected institution confirming what we already know. Students spend two years working on their IB Diploma but clearly they reap the benefits for years to come.
Something I admire about the ABC is the way we try to practice our values in order to support students to develop in ways that stretch beyond the subjects they study. There’s nobody in the school who doesn’t play a role in trying to grow the students as rounded individuals but this week I’ll mention the LSU in particular.
Life skills sessions have recently focused on mental hygiene. Working online has helped emphasise the fact that good health isn’t just the absence of aches and pains; mental well-being is crucial to achieving a balanced and healthy lifestyle under any circumstances. Students have been considering ways of being mindful towards their own well-being and that of others. Talking is part of this process. With that in mind, I’ll pass over to the LSU. They have written the following introduction to their student drop in sessions:
Welcome to the LSU Drop-ins! A wellbeing space for our students.
We know things are hard and we know we can make them better when we are together!
We want to invite our secondary students to a space where we can chat, vent and where we can lend a shoulder and help each other.
It is a voluntary, open space and students can drop-in at the times provided for their year groups:
6th grade every Thursday P3 - In Ms Ale's classroom in google meet
7th grade every Monday P6 - In Ms Ale's classroom in google meet
8th grade every Thursday P7 - In Ms Ale's classroom in google meet
9th grade every Wednesday P5 - In Ms Claudia's classroom in google meet
10th grade every Monday P8 - In Ms Claudia's classroom in google meet
11th grade every Wednesday P1 - In Ms Claudia's classroom in google meet
12th grade every Monday P3 - In Ms Claudia's classroom in google meet
Students have been notified of the meet links. I hope you will encourage your sons and daughters to take advantage of these sessions.
Some upcoming events/reminders:
G12 AVANZO:
Monday 16th: G12 students will attend subject revision sessions for the AVANZO. These sessions end at lunch-time.
Tuesday 17th: G12 students are not expected to attend school. They will be working on the AVANZO
Tuesday 17th: This is now a full day for G6-G11. There will not be an early finish
Best wishes for a great weekend,
Colin Hogan
Assistant Headteacher IB Years
Dates for your diary
SECONDARY
November
Monday 16th to Friday 20th - Grade 12 English Oral exams
Friday 20th - World Children's Day
Monday 30th to Friday 4th December - Wellbeing Week
December
Wednesday 2nd - Thursday 3rd - Grade 11/12 Learning Review Days
Monday 7th - Real Spanish Oral IB Exam
Tuesday 8th - Grade 9 Learning Review Day
Friday 18th - Last Day of Term
Monday 21st - Christmas holidays begin
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