Welcome to the eleventh episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast. In this episode. We're joined by Marina Frias-Gavidia, the Middle School Principal and Spanish teacher, Moana Teriitehau, the French language acquisition teacher, and three students: Dominic, Kenzie, and Zoe from Grade 8. Together, they explored the After School Language (ALP) Program, discussing its benefits, learning approaches, and how it supports multilingualism, cultural understanding, and diversity at WAB. 

Marina highlighted our diverse community values multilingualism and ALP provides students the opportunity to learn Chinese, Spanish, or French after regular school hours. Moana added that the ALP content mirrors the daytime language classes, offering two hours on Mondays and lunchtime sessions on Thursdays. 

Three enthusiastic ALP students also shared their experiences. Grade 8 student Dominic is taking French ALP and also learns Chinese during the day. He explained his motivation that since he is moving to Canada next year, where French is widely spoken, he hopes ALP can help him stay ahead in his French studies.  

His peer Zoe takes ALP Spanish and learns Chinese during the day. She shared her reason for committing to the additional language learning, was to help prepare herself for the future, as she believes speaking three languages is a great advantage.  

As someone new to ALP Spanish, Kenzie mentioned she is really enjoying the course. She shared her previous experience of studying Spanish in Elementary School before she came to WAB. After taking a break for two years, she is now happy that she can pick it up again in Grade 8 this year.  

Marina highlighted the program's unique approach by leveraging translanguaging and recognizing students' home languages and cultures. Moana provided an example in his recent class, where a student from Korea compared French speech formalities to her home culture, demonstrating how students' home languages can facilitate their language learning.  

Marina concluded by emphasizing the broader benefits of ALP, as learning multiple languages can help our students connect with more people, understand diverse cultures, and develop crucial skills like discipline and perseverance.  

As the conversation wrapped up, the students offered advice to potential ALP participants by emphasizing the time commitment and the importance of attending each class. If you want to learn more about our students' language learning exploration, please tune in to this episode.  

Welcome to the tenth episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast! In this episode, we are joined by Grade 11 student Francesco, Grade 12 student Anya, WAB's High School Visual Arts Teacher Daniel Avila, and Film Teacher Patrick Izing. Together, they explored the development of WAB Curated and how it not only showcases student work but also nurtures their learning, helps them focus on the creative process, and serves as a digital portfolio. They also provided insights into the challenging and rewarding moments of the DP Art program.

WAB Curated, as Daniel explained, is a digital showcase for student artwork and films. It transforms classroom creations into public exhibitions, allowing for wider appreciation and feedback. This platform also encourages students to curate their own exhibitions and make connections between different works. 

Patrick emphasized the joy of seeing students proud of their finished work and eager to share it. Both teachers highlighted how art education fosters deeper connections between students and teachers.  

A key focus of WAB Curated is documenting the artistic process, not just the final product. Daniel stressed the importance of showing students' struggles and creative blocks, normalizing these experiences for aspiring artists. Patrick added that filming the creation process reveals the human side of art-making, showcasing both victories and challenges. Francesco notes that filmmaking relies on collaboration and trust among team members. He said, "Everybody's putting the work in together, making something together, and I think that's beautiful."

Our guests provided advice to students who are considering taking Diploma Program Arts. Patrick advised prospective DP art and film students to speak with current students for realistic expectations and to understand the unique nature of these subjects. 

Daniel compared Visual Art to other subjects, noting its specific requirements and the impossibility of last-minute cramming. Francesco added that attentiveness in class is crucial for success. Anya concluded with a heartfelt message: if you truly care about art, pursue it despite the challenges. She acknowledged the emotional rollercoaster of the creative process but affirmed its ultimate worth, sharing "It's a lot of energy, it's a lot of time, it's a lot of yourself that you're putting into something, and it's worth it." 

WAB Curated is more than just a showcase; it's a tool for learning, reflection, and growth, offering students a platform to share their artistic journey and prepare for future creative endeavors. If you want to learn more, tune into this episode and listen! 

In the ninth episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast, Grade 11 student Chloe, Grade 8 student Luca, and Rachel George, Head of Middle School Counseling, joined us to discuss the significance of the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program at WAB. Their conversation highlighted how SEL is integral to a holistic educational approach, fostering personal growth and active student participation. 

Rachel explained that SEL transcends lessons; it empowers students to improve their social-emotional skills by leveraging real-life situations. She outlines five core components of SEL: self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills. Rachel emphasized that these components help build a supportive environment that enhances students' sense of belonging, which in turn positively impacts their academic study. 

Grade 11 student Chloe shared her appreciation for the diverse perspectives within the SEL program, noting that students can learn from one another's strengths. Grade 8 student Luca echoed this sentiment, highlighting how SEL prompts reflection on social relationships and mutual appreciation among peers. 

Both students expressed enthusiasm for the continuous improvement of the SEL program through collaboration with external partners and student feedback. Chloe mentioned the SEL task force, which enabled students to suggest relevant topics and enhance lesson structures. Rachel reinforced the importance of student input in tailoring the program to meet their evolving needs and ensuring its relevance as students grow. 

Tune into this episode to discover how WAB's SEL program cultivates a nurturing environment that supports both academic success and personal development. 

Welcome to the eighth episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast. In this episode, Grade 9 student Sophie, Grade 10 student James, and their Theater teacher Leah Bramley joined us to discuss the Middle School and High School Theatre programs at WAB. They talked about how theater can improve communication and collaboration skills, their memorable experiences in theatre, and how they built self-confidence and fostered friendships along the way.

Leah discussed the structured progression from Middle School to High School theater. In Middle School, all students rotate through a a unit of theater, with the opportunity to specialize at the end of the year. As students transition to High School, they can opt for a semester of theater in Grade 9 and specialize further in Grade 10 for a full year.

Leah further emphasized the significance of theater in developing essential life skills like collaboration, communication, and confidence—skills that are invaluable and not easily acquired elsewhere. Through ensemble building, trust exercises, and collaborative show productions, students learn to express themselves vocally and physically, honing their storytelling abilities and fostering strong interpersonal connections.

Reflecting on her personal growth, Grade 9 student Sophie shared how theater has bolstered her self-confidence since joining in fifth grade. She said taking part in theater helped her build her strength, overcome stage fright, and be courageous to put herself more out on stage. 

Grade 9 student James highlighted his journey over three years in the program, shedding light on memorable experiences such as his participation in the Middle School play “I Hate Shakespear” and APAC Theater. He underscored different plays have diverse themes to explore and he has fostered many friendships during a theater trip to Guangzhou last year.

If you want to listen to more of our students' theatrical experiences, please tune into this episode! 

Welcome to the seventh episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast. In this episode, we were joined by four Grade 8 students - Adrien, Elsa, Gustav, and Veronica, along with their Maths teachers Tracey Brown and Karen Jewett. Together, they had a comprehensive discussion about maths learning in WAB’s Middle School, diving into the differences between self-directed learning and teacher-directed learning. The students also highlighted their favorite aspects of learning maths at WAB and the reasons behind them.  

Tracey provided an overview of the personalized maths learning in our Middle School. She emphasized how each student is a unique learner, acknowledging their diverse learning preferences, styles, and interests. She introduced that every student is paired with a math mentor with whom they regularly collaborate to craft a customized learning plan tailored to their individual needs. In their class, students are offered Teacher-Directed Learning (TDL), characterized by traditional teacher-driven instruction, and Self-Directed Learning (SDL), where students engage in small group or individual learning guided by a teacher. Regular progress check-ins occur, and math mentors aid students in making optimal learning decisions.  

Grade 8 student Veronica expressed her appreciation for SDL, emphasizing the freedom to progress at her own pace. She noted the flexibility to study independently, irrespective of others' levels of understanding. Her peer Gustav highlighted the freedom of choice in SDL, and he shared he personally favored TDL. 

In terms of learning environments, 8th Grader Elsa shared her fondness for studying in the booth, a designated space where students can gather around a table to create a learning-focused atmosphere. She mentioned this helped her focus on her studies, but also allowed her to also easily reach out to her peers for help.  

Karen outlined the process of integrating new students into the Middle School math program, emphasizing a comprehensive onboarding process. New students are paired with a partner and work closely with a math mentor to navigate the transition. The school also makes an effort to understand students' prior learning backgrounds to identify similarities and differences, ensuring a smooth adjustment to the personalized learning plans and meeting individual needs. 

When discussing their aspirations for High School, Veronica expressed interest in Advanced Calculus, Elsa leaned towards Geometry, and Adrien emphasized the significance of giving his best effort and remaining open to diverse learning opportunities as he progresses in his mathematical journey. 

Tune in to listen to more student insights on how they learn maths and how their teachers support them.  

Welcome to the sixth episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast. In this episode, we were joined by three Grade 12 students - Polly, Lily, and Sophia - who are the driving force behind the Youth Magazine, Utopix. Together, they discussed the development of this student-founded magazine, its organizational structure, its mission, and the challenges they have overcome along the way. 

Polly introduced Utopix as an online magazine dedicated to raising awareness about various social issues and highlighting changemakers through submissions from teenagers worldwide. Submissions can take various forms to tell stories, including written projects like poems and articles, paintings, photography, and other art. She also discussed how the magazine's publication, design, outreach, and communication teams collaborate. 

Explaining the meaning behind the name "Utopix," Polly described it as a fusion of "utopia," symbolizing a perfect society, and "pics," representing pictures. The aim is to work towards a more equal and joyful environment for everyone to live in using art to convey this message. 

Lily elaborated on the magazine's mission, emphasizing that it is driven by their passion and aims to address diverse social issues through submissions from teenagers worldwide and amplifying their voices.

Sophia, part of Utopix's graphic team and a magazine leader, shared some of the challenges faced when starting the publication. Initially struggling to receive submissions, they relied on friends and people around them for content. Later on, they leveraged social media platforms and collaborations with community partners to expand their reach and get their publications noticed. Polly added that through social media outreach, their latest issue received 30 submissions from teenagers worldwide. 

"It's really nice to see the magazine grow and evolve into what it is we initially wanted it to be," said Lily.  

For those interested in contributing, individuals who are passionate about art and storytelling are invited to submit through https://www.utopixyouth.com/. Submission guidelines and details can be found on the website. 

To learn more from these students on how they founded a magazine to spread awareness and create positive change through art and storytelling, don't miss out on this episode.  

Welcome to the fifth episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast, where we're excited to announce that WAB's Elementary School (ES) Library has won an Interior Design Award. Joining us in this episode are Architect Erica Borsa from Studio Vapore, Catherine Pierre, WAB's Elementary School Principal, and Beth Rohrbeck, Elementary School Librarian. Together, they talked about the redesign journey of our ES Library, discussing the collaborative efforts behind this community project, its impact on learning experiences, and the feedback received from our students.

Erica shared that the Interior Design Award is a platform that recognizes innovative design spaces on a global scale. Notably, our ES Library has also been shortlisted for two other awards. One is the Plan Award, which is a prestigious Italian architecture and design award hosted by the Plan magazine. We have been also nominated at the World Festival of Architecture (WAF) for the interior category.  

Catherine reflected on the redesign of the ES Library, driven by the necessity to address acoustic challenges, refresh the collection, and create a conducive environment for reading. Through the collaborative effort, the redesign increased natural light by leveraging the adjacent Chinese garden and created a magical and welcoming place for reading. 

Beth shared the students' enthusiasm for the redesigned library, emphasizing the design elements that cater to various age groups. The updated collection includes a diverse range of literature and award-winning books. The library is also a hub for reading events, hosting visiting authors, engaging parent volunteers, and promoting multilingualism through its varied language offerings. 

Erica also mentioned the evolving landscape of design awards, noting a recent focus on educational spaces tailored to specific needs. She commended WAB's innovative teaching approach, emphasizing that the library serves as more than a mere repository of books but a dynamic space for student learning and exploration.  

Welcome to the fourth episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast. In this episode, Grade 7 student Karina and Grade 8 student Sam shared their experiences learning science in Middle School, shedding light on how they are challenged and the support they receive. Middle School science teachers Kamil Rudolf and Greg Brown emphasized the exploratory and personalized approach to science learning at WAB and shared some tips on how parents can support their middle school scientists. 

Kamil used an example from the study of the solar system to illustrate the hands-on learning approach. Students engage in activities such as simulating nebula clouds using various materials and constructing models of comet and asteroid bombardment. In the unit of space exploration, students select a celestial object within the solar system for further investigation based on their own interests. This exemplifies the personalized learning experience fostered at WAB. 

Personalized learning is also evident in the Science Showcase. Grade 7 student Karina expressed the freedom students have to choose their topics. She is considering a project related to cigarettes for the showcase, driven by her curiosity about the effects of smoking on the human body. 

Grade 8 student Sam highlighted the diverse learning opportunities at WAB, noting the flexibility to work independently, in groups, or under teacher guidance. He appreciates the autonomy granted to students, allowing them to pursue independent research while receiving tailored support from teachers. 

Discussing parental involvement in their children's science education, both Kamil and Greg advocated for engaging in dinner-table conversations to inquire about their children's learning experiences. They also recommended that parents explore the library, and find the many wonderful books on diverse scientific topics, renowned scientists, and their inspiring narratives. Take your child to the library borrow some books, and use these resources to inspire interesting conversations about science. 

Greg emphasized that learning science at WAB is not just about learning the knowledge, but also learning the scientific method and how to think as a scientist. This will best prepare students for High School studies and future scientific endeavors. In this way, students recognize that "science is occurring all around them at all times, not just within our classroom, within our lab." They are also equipped with skills to navigate scientific inquiries effectively when facing real-life scientific issues.  

If you want to learn more about how our learners explore science at WAB Middle School, don't miss out on this episode.  

Welcome to the third episode of Season 5 of the WAB podcast. In this episode, Grade 12 student Victoria and Grade 11 student Tano have taken over as hosts to interview Mr. Kirby Boychuk, WAB's new Athletics & Activities Director. During the conversation, Kirby shared his experiences in education, his reason for coming to WAB, and his plan for further developing student leadership this year. 

Drawing from his beginnings in theater and music, Kirby recounted his journey from theater to physical education and then becoming an athletic director. He emphasized how this transition enabled him to cultivate a positive sports culture within the school community.

He underscored the rich diversity he found at WAB after coming here, highlighting the culture of respect and inclusivity belongs to the school environment. Having resided in various countries around the globe, including Bahrain, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Qatar, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, Kirby expressed how welcomed he feels at WAB, where individuals are encouraged to be themselves without fear of judgment. 

Kirby elaborated on his plans to enhance student leadership development this year, summarized as the Tiger Leadership concept. Under this initiative, he plans to introduce diverse branches such as teaching, community service, event management, etc, wherein students will have authentic opportunities to engage and gain real-world experiences. 

An example he provided was the backstage management aspect. He would expect students could know how to use the lightboard and professionally lead the project in other related aspects. He believes such hands-on experiences would equip students with valuable skills and competitive advantages for future employment opportunities.  

For further insights, tune in to this engaging student-led dialogue with WAB's new Athletics and Activities Director. 

Welcome to the second episode of the Season 5 WAB podcast. In this episode, two Grade 12 students, Andy and Jeremy from High School student club Art Amplifiers have taken over as hosts to interview Baba the Storyteller, who visited WAB recently to share his insights on Building Our Learning Community with Our Shared Stories. They talked about Baba's personal stories, his musical journey, and his experiences at WAB. 

Baba introduced his travels throughout the world sharing music and culture, through his practice of an ancient African tradition called Jaliyaa in the Bamana language, or griot in French. In West Africa, a Jaliyaa is a historian, storyteller, poet, and musician, whose craft dates back thousands of years.  

This US-born contemporary griot also opened up about his journey searching for identity,  "my journey out of the U.S. and to Africa was just part of my journey to discover who I am," and "I learned by leaving the U.S. and going to Africa". Now, he enjoys using storytelling as a medium to help build connections and communities throughout the world. "I want people to understand how much more similar we are in this world than different," said him.    

Grade 12 student Jeremy invited Baba to talk about his experience at WAB.. The storyteller said he found "a holistic, natural approach to relationships" here, and "how WAB is a very culturally inclusive school". He shared his idea of diversity, advocating for a deeper, more holistic approach that celebrates commonalities among humanity. This is what he has found at WAB, where "two students may not look the same, still share so much in common. He called it "true diversity". 

Thank you to our students for hosting this conversation with Baba, and be sure to listen to the full episode.