A Time for Moral Leadership

This has been a difficult few weeks. The devastating nightclub fire in Bucharest, with the loss of young lives continuing, followed by the terrorist attacks in Paris, and news of other atrocities in Beirut, and ongoing tragedies in the Middle east and Africa, have led to an outpouring of grief on an international scale.

In the early hours of the morning of Saturday 14th November, I received an email notification of a message from Kevin Ruth, the Director of ECI Schools, which had been sent to Heads of all ECIS members. The content of the email was later shared as a blog, and on Facebook, and I have provided a link to it at the end of this article. In his message, Kevin speaks movingly about the role of International education in a time of discord and hate. I was profoundly moved by his closing words:

It is time for us, as international schools, to be bold in our pursuit of equity, justice, and peace at the frontiers. Our time is now. Our impact should be felt now.

As the Head of Avenor International High School, and with my role throughout the whole school in developing the Cambridge International Programmes, I was challenged to think what I could do, and what we can do as a school, to make this world a better place. We say that we are Creators of the Future, and I truly believe that we can be agents for positive change.

My teaching experience spans decades; I first stood in front of my own class in September 1982. I am also the mother of a son and two daughters. Since 2002, I have lived and worked overseas, and have taught in schools in Britain, Southern Europe, West Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, before arriving to take up my position at Avenor College. I have spent my entire adult life, since the age of 22, caring for and educating young people. The thing I have learned is that the dual concepts of the unique child and the universal child are mutually inclusive.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of spending time with children, day in and day out. I have met children who remind me of myself, and of family members; children who remind me of pupils I shared my own schooldays with; children who are similar to my son and daughters. Increasingly, I have met children who remind me of pupils I taught at earlier times, or in different countries. Every child I have worked with has been unique. At the same time, every child has features of the universal child. Whether in a private school in Bucharest or a state school in England; a small school on the island of Mallorca or a big boarding school in Africa, I can assure you that 14 year olds are all challenging and refreshing to work with in equal measure. Children moving from primary to secondary school, wherever they are in the world, have the same worries and hopes and dreams. Parents bringing their 5 or 6 year old to school for the first time in Britain, or anywhere else in the world have the same ripples of anxiety. The human condition is universal. Our caring of and providing for the unique child is encompassed by the concept of the universal child: every child in the world.

 

When Kevin Ruth says:

Should we not also pursue with utmost conviction the social impact that our schools can create now by considering all that is at our disposal, from facilities to technology to nourishment to purchasing power? How might we look at this richness of resources and identify multiple ways in which we can contribute that will lead to reconstruction and reconciliation for „the other?”

He speaks for all of us involved in the education of the next generation. We need to challenge those behaviours and attitudes which promote the concept of ‘the other’. Whether it is racisim, xenophobia, sexism, misogyny, homophobia or other intolerance; we need to meet these things head on and say ‘NO’. We need to raise a future generation who can make the world a better place. Our children need to be educated to ask questions, to look beyond headlines and political posturing. They need to be equipped by the confidence and self-belief that each of them, and each other person, is worthy of respect. They need to have faith that there is justice in the world. We need to confront and challenge hatred and to stand up for the values of freedom and justice that the world so badly needs.

We are living in difficult times. There will, no doubt, be more pain and more bad news to come over the next weeks and months. We have to look deep inside ourselves at this time, and to focus on the children in our care with fresh eyes. We need to look again at The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to find ways of ensuring that future generations can see those rights respected fully throughout the world. We should begin with Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Our students need to grow confident in the knowledge that the adults responsible for them will protect and defend their rights, and the rights of others. We can make a change. We can make a difference. We can start today.

Denise Trickett, November 2015

You can read Kevin Ruth’s blog here: https://www.ecis.org/director-blog/post/our-time-now-impact-international-schools

 

Copiii implicați în propria dezvoltare sunt mai fericiți

Orice act în care eşti prezent te face să ştii că viaţa ta contează. Simţi viaţa şi cauţi să o trăieşti intens, frumos, cu oameni dragi alături, cu voioşie şi admiraţie. Atunci şi doar atunci, gândeşti deciziile, întrebi, afli, acţionezi şi ştii că sensul vieţii se construieşte pas cu pas. Nimic nu vine de-a gata. Şi, oricum, ce am vrea să avem fără să construim?

Un copil implicat în propria devenire se transformă într-un adult care ştie să aleagă, ştie să muncească, are răbdare şi se bucură pe parcursul devenirii.

Observ cum, în clasă, în timpul orelor, chiar dacă programa este foarte încărcată, există modalităţi prin care profesorul şi elevul fac activitatea cu adevărat împreună. Iată doar câteva exemple în acest sens:

  • Elevii sunt întrebaţi cum se simt.
  • Atunci când elevii întreabă ceva profesorul poate da întrebarea mai departe, căutând să afle de la alţi elevi un răspuns.
  • Elevilor le sunt prezentate la începutul fiecărei lecţii obiectivele acesteia.
  • Dacă eşti învăţătoare/ învăţător, poţi întreba ce oră vor să facă (avem multe ore împreună, însă contează ce aleg ei, ce cred că pot face/ înţelege mai bine într-un anumit moment); astfel, odată ce ei au ales, implicarea creşte exponențial.
  • Creaţii literare şi nu numai. Şi copiii au parte de experienţe diverse şi pot să le pună în cuvinte, chiar să creeze, să găsească cuvinte potrivite, pornind de la un context, de la o asociere, o culoare, o emoţie (am auzit în clasă cuvântul „adultitate” şi explicaţia lor a fost senină: „Doamna, ne-am gândit că avem copil – copilărie, deci: adult- adultitate” sau, un alt elev auzind că după un grătar casa se umple de fum a întrebat: „Doamna, ţi-ai mai înfumurat casa?”). Unele creaţii pot ajunge să ne schimbe lumea. Să o facă mai bună.
  • A-i lăsa să-şi găsească singuri poziția în clasă: când lucrează în grup sau când stau pe scaun. Este important să înţelegem că şi copiii au nevoie de mişcare şi că fiecare are modul lui de-a gândi, de a se mişca, de a privi.
  • Să le povestim cum şi noi, cei mari, mai învăţăm, mai citim pentru că ne place şi ne ajută să facem lucrurile pe care ne dorim să le vedem în jur.
  • Să râdem cu ei şi să le stimulăm simţul umorului. Ne este greu adesea, însă ştim ce efecte minunate are o glumă bună, o strâmbătură nevinovată, un gâdilat uşor.
  • Să ne exprimăm emoţiile, sentimentele; în felul acesta sunt şi ei încurajaţi să se exprime şi să-şi trăiască responsabil copilăria (este în regulă să te bucuri, să te întristezi, să întrebi, să ceri, să spui etc.). Emoţiile sunt personale şi, vrem nu vrem, ele se pot citi pe chip. Să privim cu atenţie, să încurajăm exprimarea lor şi să îndrumăm spre armonie. De ţinut minte că libertatea personală se termină atunci când lezăm libertatea altei persoane.
  • Să îi îndrumăm către o atitudine constructivă: apare o situaţie, îi căutăm soluţia, rezolvarea.
  • Copiii au de citit cărţi. Să ne luăm şi noi o carte şi să citim în acelaşi timp.
  • Au de scris, de pregătit o prezentare? Să scriem şi noi, să le arătăm că şi noi avem prezentări de făcut şi că, da, repetăm chiar în oglindă.
  • La ce ne ajută matematica? Facem cu ei exerciţii concrete de aranjare, sortare, calcule, bugete şi acasă, în vacanţe, în excursii etc.
  • Observăm un fenomen natural sau un animal? Să le spunem ce ştim, să îi întrebăm ce văd, ce simt.
  • Verificăm împreună temele în clasă. În felul acesta, fiecare elev spune ce a rezolvat, înţelege ce şi cum a rezolvat, apar lămuriri între ei, explicaţii oferite pe loc de către copii. Şi, ce modalitate extraordinară (şi prietenească) de a arăta că ai învăţat ceva explicându-i  altui coleg!

Multe pot fi făcute. Rolul unui adult în perioada lui de „adultitate” este să îndrume cu răbdare, respect şi atenţie. Un adult care sprijină un copil îi arată acestuia că viaţa este întotdeauna o construcţie în care dinamica şi rezultatele sunt date de implicare. Sau neimplicare. Părinţii şi profesorii îi ajută pe copii să devină oameni, cărţile îi ajută să rămână oameni.

Sunt încântată să observ copiii de acum, care au multe oportunităţi, mult sprijin şi îndrumare. În general, un copil dă în lume ceea ce a văzut, a trăit, a primit. Să îi ajutăm să fie implicaţi zi de zi în viaţa lor. Un om implicat este un om fericit!

Temele pentru acasă

De curând, copiii de la clasele I au primit prima lor temă săptămânală: „fișa de lucru care se află în mapa călătoare”, cu mențiunea că „tema trebuie lucrată cu creionul pe față și stiloul pe verso”.

Iată câteva informații utile pe care parinții le-au primit de la doamnele învățătoare pentru ca tema de fiecare săptămână să constituie o plus valoare a activităților educative de la școală.

Procedura: ☺

Fișa se scoate din „mapa călătoare” marțea și se lasă acasă pentru a fi lucrată. Fișa completată (tema) se întoarce la școală marțea următoare.

Timpul de temă dat este de 50 de minute, acest lucru însemnând câte zece minute pe zi sau cate 25 de minute în cele două zile de weekend. Părinții vor stabili împreună cu copilul cum vor împărți timpul de lucru.

Cerințe:

Tema pentru acasă reflectă efortul individual, prin urmare este nevoie să fie lucrată cu atentie, după care verificată de către părinte asistat de copil pentru început, după care de către copil asistat de părinte.

Tema pentru acasă constituie un element important din procesul de formare a ceea ce se cheamă competențe de studiu (study skills).

Sfaturi utile:

Este nevoie de o rutină pentru efectuarea temei. Aceasta se formează în timp și trebuie să urmeze câtiva pasi:

  1. Înainte de a începe temele, copilul a băut apă, a mers la toaletă și și-a pregătit instrumentele de lucru (stilou cu rezervă încărcată, creion, gumă de șters, cariocă, riglă).
  2. Pe masa de lucru este ordine pentru a putea ține caietul, auxiliarul și fișa de lucru în mod corespunzător (puțin înclinată permițându-i celui mic să aibă ambele coate pe masa de lucru/birou).
  3. La masă se stă cu spatele drept, fără picior sub fund sau cu cotul sub barbă ori la tâmplă. În niciun caz nu permitem capul așezat pe masa de lucru/birou.
  4. Atenție la feedback, este nevoie ca cei mici să simtă că le sunteți parteneri în acest efort (vă spun din experiență că pentru cei mici efortul este uriaș).
  5. Nu se depășesc cele 25 de minute de lucru.

Spor la treabă școlarilor mici și mari!

Grade 9 Discover the Leader inside themselves

Grade 9 Discover the Leader inside themselves!

“He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk.” John C. Maxwell

On Wednesday 30th September, the first generation of High School students at Avenor College commenced a ten week programme to develop their leadership skills. Our school values a broad, rich education, and for this reason, our students will have the opportunity to do far more than simply prepare for examinations during their four years with us.

Authentic Leadership is an educational programme that identifies and develops the leadership potential of young people. On successful completion of the five modules of study, students will have the opportunity of becoming an Ambassador. Before the course, our students met some existing Ambassadors of the project, and everyone was very enthusiastic about starting the programme.

The partnership between Avenor College and the Leaders Foundation came about due to our shared vision and values. The Leaders Foundation is about aspirations, unique experiences and values. Together we aim to empower the next generation of leaders, promoting a model of leadership where change starts at the bottom. The Leaders Foundation say:

“We contribute to the modernization of Romania by developing responsible leaders and a mentality oriented towards involvement and action.”

http://www.leaders.ro/

During the first session, Grade 9 students pondered what makes a person a leader. They worked interactively with the course leaders, and every voice was valued. Here is an extract from the course materials:

“A leader is a person who has a vision and who is using one sort of an influence to mobilize one or more people to follow him in order to achieve satisfaction. The leader’s vision is based on positive results for all who follow.

A leader has the ability and the responsibility to determine the level of expectations, to motivate, inspire and seek new ways/methods of action. A leader needs no formal status or official position to persuade; therefore everything results from their ability to communicate with people around.”

The Leaders session was held in the Grade 9 form room this week, with a wonderful view of the forest as a backdrop to the activities. Future weeks will see the students experiencing different environments, both within and beyond the school campus. This is the inception of the next generation of Authentic Leaders!

For those of you interested in reading more, here are some recommendations for books and websites:

Secrets of Success; Dale Carnegie

The 360 Degree Leader; John C Maxwell

Emotional Intelligence; Daniel Goleman

www.leaders.ro

www.ccl.org

www.hbr.org

blog1

Screen time vs. exam success

Cambridge University study suggests that 14-year-olds who spend even an hour a day watching TV or online fall behind peers
‘Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.’Albert Einstein

On Saturday, I read a report in The Guardian with the title: Teenagers who watch screens in free time ‘do worse in GCSEs’. This study, undertaken in Cambridge was published last week and provides an interesting snapshot of the influence that screen time has in terms of academic success at GCSE. By screen time, I am referring to watching TV or movies and playing online games.

If you would like to read the article for yourself it is on the Guardian website: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/sep/04/teenagers-who-watch-screens-in-free-time-do-worse-in-gcses

Now, I am not the sort of person who simply believes what I read in the newspapers! If I see something, I ask- who wrote this; where is the evidence; what is the back ground to this story? So, I found the original research, which was published in The International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity. The lead author is Kirsten Corder from Cambridge University and for those of you interested in reading the whole paper; it is available here: http://www.ijbnpa.org/content/12/1/106.

As an educator, I am very keen to keep up to date with new research, and this particularly caught my eye as we are all aware that young people spend much of their free time in front of screens in this day and age. The good news for me is that the study clearly shows the benefits of reading and self-study, whilst highlighting the detrimental effect of screen time on academic performance. However, I was surprised and a little shocked by the extreme effect increased screen time has in lower grades at GCSE.

Just to clarify, GCSEs are the UK equivalent of the IGCSEs our students prepare for during the first two years of High School. The ‘I’ is simply international; the courses are equivalent levels.

The research from Cambridge University suggests that 14-year-olds who spend an hour a day on screens during their leisure time score nine fewer points at GCSE when the sum of their grades is calculated – the equivalent of dropping two grades from a B to a D. Two extra hours results in 18 fewer points at GCSE. The length of time children spend watching screens is frequently a battleground in families, with parents increasingly powerless to control their children’s viewing – which has moved beyond TVs and computers, on to smart phones and iPads.

But on the strength of their findings, the authors suggest that parents who are concerned about their children’s GCSE results should consider limiting their time on screens. The researchers, led by the Medical Research Council epidemiology unit at Cambridge, studied 845 pupils from secondary schools in Cambridgeshire and Suffolk.

They measured levels of activity and sedentary behaviour at the age of 14, then compared this with their performance at GCSE. Additionally, they asked pupils to assess the amount of time they spent doing homework and reading for pleasure.

Unsurprisingly perhaps, the study found that pupils who did an extra hour of daily homework and reading performed significantly better at GCSE than their peers, achieving on average 23.1 more GCSE points. A child’s level of physical activity appeared to have no effect – good or ill – on academic performance, though previous studies have found a beneficial effect in some subjects.

“Spending more time in front of a screen appears to be linked to a poorer performance at GCSE,” said report author Kirsten Corder. “We only measured this behaviour with pupils aged 14 and 15, but this is likely to be a reliable snapshot of participants’ usual behaviour, so we can reasonably suggest that screen time may be damaging to a teenager’s grades. Further research is needed to confirm this effect conclusively, but parents who are concerned about their child’s GCSE grades might consider limiting his or her screen time.”

For me, as Head of High School and Head of English at Avenor College, these results are compelling; not only because of the negative effect of screen time, but also because of the very strong evidence that homework and reading for pleasure are critical factors in educational success.

Reading for pleasure, in the mother tongue and in English, is something that we need to encourage our children do to. In the coming weeks, I will share some recommended reading for older children and teenagers, and I would welcome any suggestions that any of you would like to share with me.

Finally, our policy of encouraging students to do homework is clearly shown to be good practice. Life is all about balance, and our children need leisure time, of course. However, when you see that one extra hour of reading or homework per day can have such profound effects on results, I am sure that you will agree that this is something we should be encouraging our children to do.

Denise Trickett, September 2015

Pledoarie pentru joc

Am citit recent un articol ce conținea în esență observațiile unui important cercetător român din domeniul educației – Solomon Marcus – despre învățare. Acesta afirma că „adevărata învățare constă în formarea unor capacități de observare și experiment, de sensibilitate și de intuiție, de gândire, cunoaștere, înțelegere și comportament atât în situații standard, cât și în situații inedite”. Eu aș putea continua această idee afirmând că școlarii mici, aceia care își construiesc ceea ce se cheamă achiziții fundamentale, observă, descoperă, cunosc lumea folosindu-se de joc. Pledez pentru joc, pentru joacă, pentru timp prețios la școală, unde activitățile educative includ jocul cu toate avantajele lui.

J.Piaget spunea: „Când un copil se joacă, el pune în mișcare toată capacitatea sa de a stăpâni și influența realitatea”. Astfel, prin supravegherea atentă a jocului copilului, vom reuși să înțelegem mai bine ceea ce este în sufletul său, ceea ce își dorește să primească și să i se ofere.

Jocul îl face pe copil să se simtă fericit. Un copil fericit are o imagine bună despre sine și are încredere în el. Este plăcut pentru cei din jur, înțelegător, învață bine și este cooperant, răspunzând pozitiv solicitărilor profesorilor săi într-o mult mai mare măsură decât copiii triști, mânioși.

În joc, copilul dobândește putere, creându-și o lume a lui unde el poate controla ceea ce se întâmplă. Or, aceasta îl ajută să accepte mai ușor realitatea obiectivă odată ce jocul s-a încheiat, altfel va căuta puterea în relație cu ceilalți prin violență, opoziționism ori amânare.

Se mai spune despre joc că reprezintă munca depusă de copil, deoarece cea mai mare parte a activităților desfășurate de un copil presupune activitate de joc. Astfel, prin intermediul jocului, copiii își îmbunătățesc experiența cognitivă, învață să manifeste o anumită atitudine – pozitivă sau negativă – față de ceea ce întâlnesc, își educă voința și, pe această bază formativă, își conturează profilul personalității.

După cum spunea Émile Planchard în lucrarea Introducere în pedagogie, „jocul copilului nu este numai  o oglindă fidelă a personalității sale în formare, ci poate fi utilizat și ca auxiliar educativ și chiar să servească drept bază a metodelor de predare în școlile preelementare și elementare”.

Indiferent de vârstă, jocul este fundamental pentru comunicare. El eliberează stresul, stimulează creativitatea, iar pentru copii este un mediu sigur de exprimare a sentimentelor, de explorare a relațiilor și de mărturisire a dorințelor.

Jocul nu este niciodată timp pierdut, cu condiția să se respecte anumite reguli implicite.

New Beginnings 2015!

The first day of a new school year is always an exciting time. Here at Avenor College this academic year is particularly special, as we have opened our new High School with a full Grade 9 class. Of course I am continuing with my responsibility for English throughout the school, but my role as Head of High School is a challenge and a privilege and I wanted to share a few of my thoughts about new beginnings and challenges.

Here we are at the start of another school year – all those opportunities and challenges stretching out ahead of us. The start doesn’t last very long – it’s almost over already – but it is a significant part of the school year and it cannot be regained once it has gone.

The plans we make, the principles that form the foundations of our plans and the actions we take first, before we act, are vitally important. Good foundations enable us to build our lives. These concepts apply to whatever we might attempt in life.

I believe it is all about foundational attitudes, about taking seriously the plans that we put in place now. If we get those plans right at the start, then, when the pressure is on because of a deadline or exams, we will all be well in control.

But, teaching is not all about what we can plan for. One of the great joys of working in a school is the fact that each new day offers new challenges, and our students often surprise us in many ways. We need our good foundations, but we also need to be flexible, open-minded, and proactive.

School life can be likened to a building with good foundations, but it can also be compared to a race. We can picture the life ahead for our students as a marathon; the race of life. When training for a marathon, athletes will begin with short practice runs, working their way up to longer distances. The school year is like one of those practice runs- training for the future years at school, and for the longer distances of working life. Running a race involves taking one step at a time. Every day is one step forward.

Sometimes, when running a race, athletes reach a point where they are tempted to give up because they ‘hit a wall’ physically- their energy levels are low and they lost the focus on reaching the finishing line. Like athletes in a marathon, when we ‘hit a wall’ and everything seems to go wrong, we can be determined to do the best we can, stay focused and keep going. We need to enable our students to keep their focus, to maintain their confidence and to have the drive and determination to succeed.

Ann Leiberman, a renowned American educator, has this to say: “Great teachers empathise with children, respect them, and believe that each one of them has something special that can be built upon.”

As teachers, we must never quit believing in our students and we should nurture in them the qualities of perseverance and determination. Whilst we all hope for happiness for ourselves and the children in our care, we also know that life throws up unexpected challenges. I wish it were true that we could make life easy, but the fact is, life is difficult at times. Each of us will face sadness, failure and trial as well as times of great happiness and success. We need to equip our children with the skills and emotional resilience to cope with the difficult parts of life as well as enjoying all of the good things.

One of the most profound moments for me was after our opening ceremony, when parents, grandparents and students had toured the school, met some of the teachers and collected their new school bags. A parent who was about to leave said to me:

“Take care of them. They are the most precious thing we have.”

This is something that we should never forget, as educators. Childhood is short, and the moments are precious. Our children themselves are precious and we need to care for them and nurture them, ensuring that we focus on the needs of every unique individual in our care.

Denise Trickett September 2015

11 la puterea 500

Am putea deja să scriem un scenariu în care, actorii sunt elevii clasei a III-a. Adăugăm apoi dorinţa de a-i educa frumos, de a le arăta lumea, de a-i învăţa să fie prieteni, să rezolve tot ce este de rezolvat, s[ emane multă bunăvoinţă, atenţie la detalii şi răbdare.

Am văzut creşteri şi progrese, de la o săptămână la alta. Aş vrea să vorbesc de schimbările care apar de la o sută de zile petrecute împreună, la altă sută de zile împlinite.

La început, era un efort şi să numeri zilele, să le rosteşti, să vezi pe panou cum se mai adună o zece… apoi, a devenit un exerciţiu matematic, să ştii să scrii numerele mai mari decât 200, 300, 400, 500…Am continuat să numărăm zilele iar din clasa a III-a, am scris şi în agenda elevului, zi de zi, numărul zilei pe care o trăiam. Deja, înţelegem cum se adună zilele. Înţelegem şi dimensiunea timpului… ne mişcăm diferit dacă ştim că avem o secundă, un minut, o oră, o săptămână, o lună, un an… şi ne facem planuri în funcţie de cât timp avem la dispoziţie.

Elevii au continuat să vină la şcoală cu zâmbetul pe buze şi au început să se admire pentru ceea ce sunt, pentru ceea ce fac şi mai ales să își umărească scopurile, să îşi recunoscă emoţiile şi să inventeze jocuri. În cele 500 de zile de şcoală, ei au ajuns să se cunoască suficient de mult încât să poată recunoaşte, accepta, admira ceea ce îl face unic pe fiecare. Dinamica grupului este intensă, pasiunile se dezvoltă, munca este înţeleasă ca o necesitate şi adulţii sunt priviţi acum cu mai multă înţelegere. Adulţii (părinţii, profesorii, bunicii) din viaţa lor sunt cei care îndrumă, cu răbdare, iubire şi atenţie, activităţile şcolare şi extraşcolare.

Jocurile de rol au ajuns să iasă din sfera lecţiilor de limba română şi reuşim să ne asumăm roluri şi în pauze, în excursii, la serbări, precum și în activităţile comune cu alţi elevi din şcoală. Elevii au experimentat, cu responsabilitate, cum este să fii profesor! În urma lecţiilor pe care le-au ales, le-au pregătit, le-au susţinut, îndrumat… fiecare a aflat că nu este uşor să fii în faţa unui grup de copii şi să îţi atingi obiectivele. În acelaşi timp, au spus că este frumos şi interesant, dinamic şi provocator să fii numit profesor şi să coordonezi o astfel de activitate.

La împlinirea a 500 de zile de şcoală ei au experimentat cum este să fii un observator al unor lecţii, alegând la ce ore şi la ce clase ar vrea să participe. Tot atunci, excursia la Iaşi, Ipoteşti, Gura Humorului ne-a învăţat multe despre ţara în care trăim, despre prietenie, bucurie și decizii. Momentul de reflecţie a arătat, de fiecare dată, că implicarea elevilor în luarea deciziilor, în alegerea sarcinilor, în procesul de învăţare este drumul cel mai bun pentru creşterea şi educarea armonioasă a lor.

Cartea „11 la puterea 500″ aduce şi finalul de an şcolar, arătând că, fiecare din cei 11 elevi, a reuşit să exprime ce simte, să arate ce ştie, să aprecieze lumea şi oamenii apropiaţi. Eu, când eram la şcoală, primeam la final de an cărţi pe care să le citesc. Copiii Omega, au primit cartea pe care ei au scris-o. În mâinile lor s-a aşezat cartea cu peste 100 de pagini, poeziile şi povestioarele scrise de ei, cu cinci capitole şi poze din activităţile desfăşurate între 400 şi 500 de zile de şcoală.

De aceea, „11 la puterea 500″ înseamnă puteri precum: înţelegere, învăţare, emoţie, joacă, implicare, iubire, simţire, prietenie, talent, încredere și bucurie.

Avenor High School proudly presents some of our newly enrolled students

As Head of Avenor College International High School I am delighted to say that we have some outstanding students enrolled for the next academic year. We have a wonderful school environment and a team of teachers who are ready to inspire and encourage our young people on their educational journey. As creators of the future, we have hand-picked students who have demonstrated academic ability, leadership aptitude, abilities in music and drama, sporting achievement, or entrepreneurial skills. The most important thing a school can do is enable its students to achieve their potential, which is why we have our students at the centre of our plans for the future. For the academic year 2015-2016, all places at Avenor International High School are now taken.

If you would like to join them, provide us with your email address and phone number and we will contact you to arrange a meeting to talk about how to enroll at Avenor.




Ultimately, the success of Avenor College International High School will be down to the achievements of our students so it gives me great pleasure to introduce some of them to you.

Click on each picture to find out more about each one of them:

Selin
Mihai
Maria
Marco
Florin
Damian
Cezar
Ioana
lavinia
Alex

Damian

Damian


Damian has already decided on his career path- to become an architect. Cambridge Mathematics will definitely provide him with the skills he needs, so along with the chance to study a wide range of other subjects he will be equipped to apply for universities worldwide, and in Romania.

“I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think that I would like to be an architect when I grow up, and I hope that at the end of these 4 years of high school I will be ready to study this at a top university.
I heard Avenor is a good school and I hope that the teachers will be open and willing to teach me new and interesting things that I will use later on in life.”

Florin

Florin


Florin is joining us from a neighbouring country and his international outlook and focus will be further developed by the broad curriculum on offer-sciences, humanities, languages and vocational subjects will all enable him to make informed choices about his future.

„My ambition is to perfect my English and become fluent in German, while also deepening my exact sciences knowledge. After looking Avenor College up on the internet and having it recommended to me by my parents, I knew that this was the right place for me to do all of this. English is the main language in this high school and the fact that it is a certified Cambridge institution with top notch teachers is definitely a plus.

I am certain that being in this environment will help me reach my goals and ambitions, so that I build a decent future for myself and my family.”

Marco

Marco


Marco is a young equestrian and will combine his studies with international events so he will bring his own international insights to the Debates and Public speaking in addition to applying his language skills in the real world.

After I graduate from high school, I want to go to Law school and continue to focus on my passion for horsemanship

In those 4 years of high school I want to learn how to efficiently work in a team, how to be responsible, think positively and be self-confident. This is why I chose Avenor. The fact that it is also a Cambridge-certified institution, where all subjects are taught in English, is a big plus.

After I graduate from high school, I want to go to Law school and continue to focus on my passion for horsemanship. I believe that Avenor will help me reach my goals through constant support and a well-structured study programme.”

Mihai

Mihai


Mihai has already begun his entrepreneurial career with a creative business initiative, so it looks like he is going to be a shining star of the Enterprise project and the Student Council.

„Success comes with a price. I can’t reach the top without making efforts and without working hard. So I have chosen Avenor to challenge my limits, cultivate my patience, and broaden my thinking.

In the 4 years of high school I want to learn as much as possible in order to become a successful business man. Maths will help my mind develop my logical thinking. Foreign languages like English, French and Chinese will help me communicate with future business partners or clients in their mother tongue, and those abilities will bring me more respect. The ‘Enterprise’ classes are also very important and useful because they can teach me how to grow my own business, be responsible, and act like a real entrepreneur.”

Maria

Maria


Maria combines academic excellence with sporting achievement, and her tennis career means that she will benefit enormously from the support and encouragement of her teachers who will ensure that she meets her academic targets whilst she is winning!

„I believe that Avenor is the right starting point for my career. With a flexible schedule and understanding teachers, I will be able to focus on both my tennis practice and my studies.

I chose Avenor because it’s the kind of high school I’ve been dreaming about since I was a kid and I was watching those TV shows where all high schools had drama clubs, radios and cafeterias and a lot of other informal facilities. I was very happy to find out that I can be a part of the first high school generation at Avenor, with a merit scholarship.

In the future, I want to follow my passion and pursue a career in tennis and, furthermore, go on to open the first Tennis Academy in Romania. Also, I would like to donate a part of the money I will earn to the less fortunate people.

I believe that Avenor is the right starting point for my career. With a flexible schedule and understanding teachers I will be able to focus on both my tennis practice and my studies. I aim to become fluent in English and also French.
I am certain that Avenor will offer me the best conditions for my personal and professional development.”

Mihai

Mihai


Mihai is looking forward to studying at an internationally renowned Hotel Management College in the future, and will benefit enormously from the chance to study Global Perspectives and French, German or Spanish alongside his other academic subjects.

„For me, high school is reminiscent of adolescence, the age of questions – about the world, about myself. The age of building up the principles that will guide me through life. At the end of my 4 years of high school, I want to feel limitless, to be ready for the future, for a life in an ever-changing society. I want to have a well-rounded personality, and be a good conversation partner in geography, history, classical music, not just math or computer science.

This is why I chose Avenor. It is a modern high school, following international standards and applying new learning techniques. Here, what every student feels and thinks matters. It’s a high school that not only offers you the best educational experience, but also wants to understand you as an individual.

At Avenor, students do things because they want to, not because they have to. This is the place where my character will be polished, where I will grow up and become the person I want to be. I have my dreams, but I also want to be discovered. There couldn’t be a better place for this than Avenor.”

Selin

Selin


Selin joins us from an international school where she has consistently scored some of the highest grades ever recorded, and has the ambition to study Dentistry in a top UK university, meaning that she will really enjoy the investigative science lessons.

„I know that life is different than what we are taught in school and that you need to have a couple of different skills in order to ”survive”. Therefore, while school prepares you for university, it should also prepare you for life. I would like to learn basic life skills such as, how to apply for a job or how to change a wheel on a car; how to take notes properly and how to study more efficiently.

I believe that Avenor College will provide me with the best education. It will also help me be one step closer to the best universities in the world. The scholarship Avenor College has offered me will be a great advantage when I apply for university. I want to study in one of the top universities in the world, after which I will continue with a master and PhD degree. I aim to be a successful dentist who is known worldwide. And, of course, I want to make the best of this wonderful life.”

Cezar

Cezar


Cezar is particularly interested in developing his skills in the German language alongside his English ability, and will enjoy the opportunity to use both languages formally and creatively with his bilingual colleagues.

“At the end of the 4 years of high school, I want to be fluent in German and master the exact sciences. I chose Avenor at my parents’ recommendation and I am certain that it will help me reach my goals. Avenor will play a crucial part in my development and will guide me towards a successful career.”

Ioana

Ioana


Ioana brings a love of the arts and drama alongside her very strong language skills, so she will be an enthusiastic participant in the CAS (Creativity/Action/Service) project in addition to playing an active role in Avenor theatre productions.

“I want to learn how to make it on my own and I also want to become the best version of myself and be a responsible person. In the future, I want to go to New York and study there. I have not decided yet what I want to do exactly, but it’ll be something between drama, acting, singing and psychology.

To this end, I chose Avenor because I know that this school is my best chance to get where I want and to make my dreams come true. I know that it will help me, as it is a great place to grow and it also has everything I need to achieve my goals. It opens a lot of doors for me, and I am grateful to be starting in September.”

Ioana

Lavinia


Lavinia is a determined and focused student who combines a quiet nature with friendly relationships with her peers. She will play a key role in group activities whilst working in a serious and organized manner.

“I chose Avenor with no second thoughts after seeing other schools in Bucharest. Their overall behavior, their educational offer, their way of working convinced me.

I really do hope that as an Avenor student I will be guided and encouraged to choose a path that is most suitable for me. I don’t know yet what that will be, as I am interested in various subjects, such as science and English, which I want to perfect.

I also want to learn another foreign language and nurture my interest in social life and human behavior, and I believe Avenor is the best place for that.”

Alex

Alex


Alex is a confident team-player who will be a great addition to the high school team. His strong language skills will be put to very good use in all of the IGCSE subjects.

“I chose Avenor because it works according to the Cambridge curriculum and it ensures a thorough learning of English, which I find very important.

I don’t know exactly what I want to be, but I am sure that I will figure it out along the way. I want to learn as much as possible from every domain, so I can develop an all-round education.

Avenor will surely help me in this respect, by offering me the proper learning materials and the much needed guidance and support from the teachers. ”

The Summer Slide

The Summer Slide

The summer slide is not a cool attraction at a waterpark, it is the term used to describe what happens to children’s learning over the summer period. We know, from research worldwide, that children often return to school in September seemingly lacking some of the skills and knowledge they displayed at the end of the previous school term. So, what can we do to avoid the Summer Slide?

The great thing about the summer is the pressure is off. No getting up early. No school-run. More quality time for families to spend together…But, research consistently shows that children who do not engage in any type of mental activity during the summer can lose up to a third of what they have learnt during the school year. The school gates may close for the summer, but there is no reason that a child’s mind should follow suit!

Here are four well established reasons why summer learning can be important for a child’s development:

  • It keeps their minds stimulated:

Keeping a child’s mind working during the extensive summer holidays will help them to avoid experiencing brain-drain and facing a setback once term starts again.

  • It allows a child to focus on the basics of a subject:

It allows them the opportunity to focus on subjects that they find particularly challenging – helping a child get to grips with the key aspects of that particular topic. The extra fun work is likely to help them feel more secure in their ability when returning to school.

  •  It’s a perfect time for discovering the joy of knowledge:

During the summer break a child can learn without the sense of urgency and pressure associated with school. So the brain is free to relax and work at its own pace. This helps to associate happy and positive feelings with learning – perhaps all a child needs to grasp a previously elusive concept.

  • It increases self-confidence:

Taking fun time during the summer to successfully explore a subject that they find difficult in school will help give a child a valuable feeling of accomplishment, self-confidence and pride.

The joy of summer learning is that it does not have to be from books. Collecting shells on a beach and finding out about them, visiting a museum or castle, using a foreign language on holiday, finding out about the history and geography of a destination- there are many, many ways in which children can learn and remain stimulated over the summer.

As an English teacher, I am often asked to recommend things to improve a child’s English over the summer and my number one tip is: READ!

How can parents encourage their child to read?

  • Set an example. Let your child see you reading for pleasure.
  • Furnish your home with a variety of reading materials. Leave books, magazines, and newspapers around. Check to see what disappears for a clue to what interests your child.
  • Give children an opportunity to choose their own books. When you and your child are out together, browse in a bookstore or library. Go your separate ways and make your own selections. A bookstore gift certificate is a nice way of saying, „You choose.”
  • Build on your child’s interests. Look for books and articles that feature their favourite sports teams, rock stars, hobbies, or television shows. Give a gift subscription to a special interest magazine.
  • View pleasure reading as a value in itself. Almost anything your child reads—including comics—helps build reading skills.
  • Make reading aloud a natural part of family life. Share an article you clipped from the paper, a poem, a letter, or a random page from an encyclopedia—without turning it into a lesson.
  • Keep the big picture in mind. For all sorts of reasons, some children go through periods without showing much interest in reading. Don’t panic! Time, and a few tips from this article, may help rekindle their interest. Which reminds me- buying a Kindle can be a good investment!

I would really love to hear from parents about the things you do together with your children this summer.

Enjoy the sun, enjoy the family time and enjoy learning together.

Denise Trickett June 2015