From June 14-18, Year 11’s completed a 4-day program to help them prepare for their IBDP studies in the next academic year.

Every morning there were group and activity-based sessions that challenged their thinking in four soft skills designed to aid in their ability to rise to the academic demands of their upcoming two-year journey. They were asked to think about what it means to be a student leader, what resilience really looks like, what it means to communicate effectively, and what are the expectations that will be placed upon them to be a successful independent learner.

The program also focussed on some specific skills, such as how to do academic research and referencing, and introduced each of the three key core subjects, Theory of Knowledge, Creativity Action Service, and the Extended Essay. Afternoon sessions were highly activity based and focussed on creativity, critical thinking, leadership, and the importance of teamwork.

As a cumulative project, the students completed a group research assignment that was presented at the end of the week to the Year 10 students and some of the secondary staff.

The variety of topics that the students choose to present on were purely based on their interests. It was great to see the students showcase their research and presentation skills. First prize was awarded to Olivia, Siwoo, Cherry and Jacob but it was a very difficult decision as all presentations were excellent.

Overall, it was an enjoyable and active week for year 11 and a relaxing time after the rigours of their IGCSE exams. We are looking forward to seeing them all refreshed and happy in August to begin their IBDP.