University application season can be a stressful time of year for students and families. One of the most essential role players in the journey is high school counselors.

While many schools use their students’ admissions to brand name schools as a selling point, at WAB, the focus on university counseling is the relationships our counselors build with students and families to support each of their own individual definitions of success.

On today’s episode of The WAB Podcast, we’re joined by two members of WAB’s High School Counseling Team who discuss relationship building as a foundation of their work, our school’s holistic approach to counseling, the distinctions between best and best-fit universities, and what parents can expect when their children come to WAB High School.

When we hear the word assessment, it’s common to think of tests that evaluate how well we know certain information. We sit down, answer the questions, get a grade back and whether it’s good or bad, we move on.

But WAB’s approach to assessment in the IB Middle Years Program will make you change the way you think. 

This week, we sit down for a conversation with two Grade 7 students who share their assessment experiences, explain how assessments are personalized, and describe assessments as an opportunity to progress through their learning with choice and ownership. 

Technology has been penetrating all aspects of our lives for years, but the rate at which we are using our devices for every day tasks has sped up exponentially with remote learning and working. 

Today, we’re joined by two of WAB's tech experts, Kevin Crouch and Keri-Lee Beasley, who discuss the best strategies for parents to support their children’s healthy, safe, and productive use of technology. We also discuss the fifth year of Keri-Lee’s worldwide initiative, Media Mentor Month, which, during the month of March, seeks to bring resources, conversations, and tools into the spotlight for students, teachers, and parents.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) is not just an individual course to support non-native English speakers. It should be seen as a life-long journey, which, at WAB, is coordinated and supported across all school sections from Early Years through to Grade 12 graduation.

On this week's episode, we are joined by the EAL specialists in WAB's Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. The team discusses why language diversity in a school community is an asset, how they work to train teachers school-wide, the most impactful strategies for approaching EAL, and the difference between learning language for academics and learning language for life.

Head of School Dr. Marta Medved Krajnovic and Director of Innovation for Learning and Teaching Stephen Taylor join The WAB Podcast to reflect on the first half of the school year and look ahead at what's to come. 

They discuss the transition to remote learning, major community achievements from the first semester, an update on WAB's strategic framework development, and preview of what's to come during semester two.

Since becoming an Olympic Model School in 2008 ahead of the Summer Games in Beijing, WAB's Elementary School has kept up the inspiring tradition of connecting the members of our diverse student body through sports.

Our Olympic Dream Series is a lunchtime extracurricular program that invites students to try new individual and team sports in friendly competition against their classmates. Students represent their countries, and award ceremonies feature national flags and anthems of medal winners.

“When I was new to WAB, I did my first Olympic Dream Series, and I met so many people,” Grade 5 student Kylin said. “The next year, a lot of them were in my class, and they all became my friends.”

On today's episode of The WAB Podcast, Kylin joins us with three of his classmates and Elementary School PE Teacher Niall Watt. They discuss how the Olympic Dream Series helps forge new friendships, celebrate diversity, and develop good sportsmanship.

At WAB, Middle and High School students follow a nine-day rotation. The first eight are regular curricular classes, but on the ninth day, students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of workshops or lead their own.

On today's episode, we're joined by two students and our Middle School Vice Principal who discuss how Day 9 has led to impactful and innovative projects, leadership opportunities, and deep learning.

The term "learning community" can be understood differently in different contexts.

In Grade 3 at WAB, faculty have shifted away from the traditional structure of one teacher in one homeroom with one group of students. 

"This means all home-base teachers, all Learning Support, and all EAL teachers have a vested interest in every student's success and development," teacher Angela Langlands said.

On this week's episode, take a trip into the Grade 3 Learning Community to understand how it enhances learning and teaching.

Precious Plastics is a new student group at WAB, joining a worldwide movement to upcycle plastic waste into new, usable products while also campaigning for the reduction of single-use plastics.

On today’s episode of The WAB Podcast, students Claire and Patrick discuss their inspiration for taking part in Precious Plastics, the products they plan to release to the school community, as well as the role they see themselves playing in the future of our school’s sustainability.

Language learning is often described as a way to gain new perspectives, connect people, and build relationships. In a school context, it can also be used as a tool to bridge academic disciplines.

On today's episode, WAB's Heads of Languages in the High School and Middle School, Ludivine Kennedy and Lynn Xing, describe how WAB approaches and values language acquisition. 

“The way we look at languages at WAB is for students to get a better inter-cultural understanding of the world around them,” Ludi said. “We make it fun, and we make it relevant, because it helps students remember things. But we also have a curriculum that’s rigorous and that ensures the students develop their speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills.”