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By Western Academy of Beijing
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The podcast currently has 134 episodes available.
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.
Welcome back to the WAB Podcast, this is the first episode of Season 5. In this episode, High School Student Council President and Grade 12 student Jeremy, and Grade 8 student Jai have taken over as hosts to interview WAB's Head of School, Dr. Marta Medved Krajnovic, and the Director of Innovation in Learning and Teaching, Mr. Stephen Taylor.
Highlights from the conversation included:
WAB's 30th anniversary
Marta shared her anticipation around all the 30th-anniversary events. She explained how these big anniversaries are a great opportunity for a school and the whole community to celebrate together who they are and connect past, and present.
Another highlight was that all three WAB founders were on campus for our Community Picnic and Whole School assembly. They shared some of their memories of WAB’s foundation and also played a key role at both events by “waking” the tigers for a tiger dance by painting their eyes
Their favorite memories at WAB
Jai shared that one of the things he looked forward to is Rock in the Park, but "there are so many things that make WAB special". Jeremy expressed his affection for the new Tiger Field.
Marta's favorite memory was from 2023, when WAB managed to open up the school again after three years of challenging years, "seeing the students coming in" was so powerful. She shared that at that moment, she deeply felt "We are coming back to school and it's starting, it's a fresh start."
Stephen is proud of how WAB has held true to its core values,'s beliefs, and ensured the best possible WAB education for students. He shared that working with students and the community, especially in reflecting and thinking about what is the future is his unforgettable memory. When students were participating in renewing the educational strategy of the school, "it became very apparent throughout the whole community workshops that those core beliefs of WAB, to connect, inspire, challenge, make a difference, didn't need to be changed.’
What to look forward to this school year
Stephen is looking forward to continuing our work, focusing on refining teaching and learning at school this year and continuing the work of Strategy 2022+ towards I-DEAS (Inclusion through Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Social Justice) and sustainability.
Marta also expressed excitement about WAB's upcoming 30 alumni reunions worldwide, some hosted by WAB leadership and others by alumni or parents themselves. "I'll be in London and Amsterdam hosting two reunions," said Marta. These gatherings serve as platforms for sharing stories that intertwine past experiences with current endeavors, demonstrating "how their past at WAB has influenced what they are doing now and how it's influencing what they will be doing in the future," Marta emphasized.
Thank you so much Jeremy and Jai for facilitating this conversation. Make sure you listen to the full episode to learn more about WAB's foundation and how the spirit and values of WAB are continuing today.
In our final podcast of the year, we're joined in person by two Middle School students, Hayley and Thomas, along with Stephen Taylor, WAB's Director of Innovation in Learning and Teaching. Together, they discussed their personal growth as learners throughout the year, favorite moments, and academic highlights. Sharing their perspectives through some pre-recordings are Grade 4 students Hayden and Sooyeon, and Grade 9 student Myron.
Thomas shared his growth as a student, overcoming initial challenges to catch up with his peers and reach the same level of understanding. "I've grown quite a lot," he said. He emphasized how the science showcase allowed students to investigate an area of science that really interested them, and how he chose to look into how sound frequencies affect marine life.
Hayley highlighted her interest and involvement in drama and the support she received from teachers and friends, creating a friendly and supportive learning environment. She shared that one of her favorite memories this year was her participation in the Middle School play.
After listening to the students' feedback on their learning journey this year, Stephen emphasized the value of students' reflections, highlighting the importance of listening to students and offering opportunities for them to explore new endeavors. He mentioned that various initiatives like the science showcase, MADfest, and student leadership, provided "really challenging experiences" for our students. "It always comes back to the definition of learning. That learning is transformative, it's intentional, it's iterative, but it's also challenging and joyful at the same time."
For more student insights into their learning journey this year, don't miss out on this episode.
In this week's WAB Podcast, we're joined by three WAB alumni, Ava (Class of 2023), Carolina (Class of 2017), and Jennifer (Class of 2023), along with Middle School music teacher Jessica Chang. Together, they will be sharing their MADfest experience, how students took charge of this event, and how they collaborated with their peers while having fun exploring visual art, music, dance, and theater.
Jessica provided an overview of MADfest, describing it as a vibrant month-long celebration of the arts at Middle School. She emphasized that students play a leading role in the event, making choices, expressing their voices, and taking ownership. They have the opportunity to select from music, visual art, theater, or dance to broaden their artistic experiences.
Ava explained her reason for rejoining MADfest this year, mentioning that she returned home and decided to volunteer and assist her previous art teacher with the art classes. This experience gave Ava a fresh perspective on the program as a whole.
Carolina expressed her delight in the experience she has had with the students who chose dance at MADfest this year. She has been working alongside her co-teacher, helping choreograph dances. She also recalled her journey of gaining confidence by performing dance solo for the first time when she was at Middle School.
Jennifer reflected on her first time singing at MADfest, which inspired her to form a band in high school. She said this experience had a profound impact on her, as it opened her mind to explore other subjects and pursue a different path from what she initially planned. She believes this openness is valuable for students, as it allows them to discover new interests and talents.
Don't miss out on this episode to hear how MADfest impacted our Alumni and their journeys. If you want to see this year's performance schedule on June 12 and watch playbacks from previous years, please visit the MADfest page.
In this week's episode, we're joined by Grade 8 students Aliyah and Lucas, along with Middle School teacher Karen Jewett. Together, they shared their Middle School journey, the challenges they've faced, the choices they've made, and how they have grown.
As a Middle School Science and Math teacher, as well as a Grade 8 Level Leader, Karen expressed her delight in seeing students grow over the years. She highlighted the noticeable increase in their confidence as they transitioned from grade 6 to 8. Karen observed how eighth graders assumed leadership roles, actively participating in student council and organizing the Grade 8 celebration. She observed their transformation from uncertainty to becoming school leaders within the community.
Lucas, one of the Grade 8 students, acknowledged the need to adjust his study habits and time management skills in eighth grade. Aliyah remarked on the general changes she experienced during middle school. She noticed an improvement in her confidence levels, a greater focus on schoolwork, and the development of better study habits.
When asked about the highlights of their Middle School journey, Aliyah shared her love for WAB Wild, which provided her with a fun and educational experience, while also enhancing her social skills. Lucas fondly recalled the China Studies trip to the Shaolin Temple and various other events and activities that brought him joy and created lasting memories with his friends.
Karen also discussed the upcoming Grade 8 celebration, emphasizing that it is entirely student-led. The event serves as an opportunity for students to reflect on their experiences, and acknowledge their growth as middle schoolers. She expressed her excitement, stating that the celebration holds great significance for both the eighth graders and the teachers as they come together to commemorate the students' journey from sixth to eighth grade.
For more insights into their Middle School journey, don't miss out on this episode.
If you're a Grade 8 parent and like to participate in the G8 Celebration, please mark your calendar for June 14 and look out for the email with ticket purchasing and family photo reservation details. Tickets will be on sale by June 3.
The podcast currently has 134 episodes available.
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