Since we have just started this blog and the school is running since more than 2 months, there will be a lot of postdated updates happening first!
Kathy Derrick (ex-PYP Co-ordinator, Internatioanl School of Sinagpore, a PYP workshop trainer and now associate regional manager for IB Asia Pacific) visited
Kathy toured the school and spent a lot of time interacting with Ankita and Vardan discussing school leadership, curriculum, teacher training, parent involvement, facilities planned etc. She also spent time interacting with our PYP teachers.
Kathy was impressed with the school infrastructure and facilities. She was also happy with the kind of training our teachers have undergone and the time built in their schedule for collaborative planning. She said that we are on track to implement the PYP. She gave us some tips on managing the training and planning better.
Some comments from the preliminary visit report which came in last evening:
"It was indeed a privilege to visit Fountainhead School to discuss the vision and plans
of the executive committee and the leadership team, to hear the enthusiasm of the
staff and to see structures and practices already in place in the school, which will
greatly support the implementation of the programme. The school has begun
implementing units of inquiry, with knowledgeable and positive guidance from the
Principal and the PYP Coordinator. The leadership team were eager to discuss future
professional development opportunities both in school and regional.
The school community is committed and enthusiastic and truly believe in the
programme, making links between it and good teaching practice and past
experiences. The school is growing and developing, and staff are adapting to needs
as they occur. The school is also realistic in their outlook for the future as enrolment
increases, and the new site develops, they recognize that structures will need to be
consistently re-examined.
As a result of the visit to Fountainhead School and the discussions which occurred
with the leadership team and staff, it is quite apparent that Fountainhead School has
set themselves up for successful implementation of the PYP. I look forward with great
interest to hear about the ongoing development of the programme and the school. I
wish Fountainhead School every success with the implementation of the Primary
Years Programme."
