Dear Parents,
So much is happening. At the risk of leaving out dozens of exciting events, I am going to try and highlight some of what is happening this week. I will try to highlight other subject areas in future mails!
In school, MYP 1 – MYP 3 have done some exciting cultural and linguistic work with Dia de los Muertos and a lucky group even got to share their knowledge of this cultural phenomenon with PYP students – just in time for Halloween!
MYP 2s are creating comic books to show off design and historical knowledge from the palaeolithic to the neolithic periods.
MYP 3s are currently creating some impressive websites in English which house their writing portfolios and in Individuals & Societies are working on analysing some of the major social challenges to come out of the industrial revolution.
MYP 4s are creating CVs for their applications to acceleration lab teams. This brings together all the work they have done so far from their personality tests and self-reflections right through to the theory they have been exposed to about entrepreneurship. Economists are undertaking an exciting course of study linking economic theory to gaming.
The Model United Nations trip to Prague offers students the chance to debate global issues with students from international schools around the world, and trips to the Venice Biennale were a huge success – both for our DP visual arts students and for MYP 2s.
In terms of university guidance, we’ve hosted university visits from UK, Italian and US Universities. Workshops and webinars supporting student applications to the US and the Netherlands for parents have been very successful. DP 2 students are taking those hugely important decisions about where to continue their studies next year. To help our MYP 5s and DP 1s start on this exciting journey towards their further studies, we will send students in these year groups a diagnostic survey just after the October break and you will then receive suggestions on how students can take another step towards realising their university dreams.
For other highlights, please see below:
Ignition Lab
Ignition Lab brings guest speakers to cover a range of compelling global topics with the purpose of challenging our students’ assumptions through real-world insights.
September & October guest speakers:
- Marco Savini, Founder & CEO of Big Rock – The Metaverse;
- Reflections on Service Learning & sponsored walk Camminare per la vita with 2 special guests: Deborah Compagnoni, honorary chairwoman of Camminare per la vita & 3 times olympic ski gold medal winner & Antonella Gasparotto lawyer & board member for Citta della Speranza (oncological children’s hospital & research centre in Padova);
- Alberto Biancoli, Chief of Education UNICEF – Reflections on a career at the United Nations, presentation here;
- Lisa Abate, Manager Global Learning Centre UNICEF – Background on UNICEF & philanthropic products, presentation here;
- Tracy Sharp – Engineering everyday objects, a career in design engineering, presentation here and recorded session here;
- Breast Cancer Awareness Week, project by DP 2 students: Dr Alessandro Gava – LILT Treviso and breast cancer prevention.
Careers Counselling
Our Careers Guidance Department is organising weekly university visits either in person in school or online, as well as briefing sessions to guide our students on the application process & timeline for different geographies. Please find below the database of presentations or recorded webinars, where applicable:
- H-Farm College;
- Falmouth University;
- US Application Process;
- Hult University;
- Surrey & Warwick University webinar;
- US Application: How to write the perfect essay webinar & presentation by Valdo Academics;
- IED – Istituto Europeo di Design.
Have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to seeing you all in early November.
Warm regards,
Conan de Wilde, Head of School