Wednesday Homerooms and PSD - New Developments First of all, I would like to officially welcome everybody to the 2021-2022 academic year in the Secondary School. This promises to be another rollercoaster year, but I’m optimistic that most of it will be on campus and that our students will regain a sense of normalcy in their lives. Fingers crossed! One of the major changes that we have made this year is to devote one lesson every Wednesday to some of the important educational experiences that we have never had time for in our daily timetable. These include: Academic Focus and Individual Attention
Digital Citizenship The students will have to attend six sessions a year to develop their awareness of the importance of online behaviour and how to be an ‘ethical digital citizen’. Community Service and CAS The students are given time to organise service activities, update relevant documentation for the IB, work with supervisors and advisors on their service plans, etc. Personal and Social Education There will be thirty minutes every week for students to work with their homeroom teachers on relevant topics planned by our Secondary School Counsellor and Head of Student Support Services. These include:
We are also planning to use the Wednesday meeting time for assemblies (when we are allowed to), special events and guest speakers. Hopefully, such opportunities will become available during the second semester this year. We have more than enough time in our schedule for students to work with their subject teachers. The challenge now is to make sure we address all of the topics listed above effectively in order to help our students develop the skills to become successful, active Global Citizens that we want them to be in the future. I’m very excited about these opportunities and I hope to get all of our students engaged in meaningful, healthy discussions about these key topics and activities throughout the school year. Joe Lumsden Secondary School Principal |
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