As we come up to the end of the
year and the last newsletter, I am happy to reflect back on the many areas of
development in the school. Increasingly over this time, Pathways School Noida
has established a reputation for high quality teaching and learning together
with a rich co-curricular programme all of which strengthen our move towards
being an institution of excellence.
The school’s commitment to
excellence was recognized in various independent surveys: despite being a new
school we were adjudged in the top 6 in the NCR and the top 20 in the country.
The support from our parent community remains impressive and is an important
reason for the goodwill the school has earned. SLC Conference
Our various programmes involving
parents are wonderfully well attended – from days like Parent and Me, Sports
Day, Founders, to the more intimate student-led conferences, back to school,
parent-teacher meetings etc.
In this year the school has
continued on the long path to PYP authorization with a favourable feedback from
the IB appointed consultant. PYP consultant visit
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We expect to move forward strongly over the new
year. Our Diploma programme has consolidated itself with our second batch of
students completing their IB exams. Their strong academic credentials can be
seen in the University placements they have been offered, which include
Columbia University (with full financial aid), NYU, University of
Massachussettes at Amherst, Le Roches Switzerland, La Salle Singapore, Trinity
College Dublin, Northumbria UK, Cardiff University, Nottingham University to
name only some.
In other areas of the school the
academic programme has been strengthened with the introduction of baseline
testing to track student progress in English and Maths over the year. An
Advanced Learner programme has been introduced and will be further strengthened
in the new year.
The ICT programme was revamped to
introduce new programmes and skills and to integrate it more fully into
teaching and learning in all subjects.
Primary students using ipads
Sixty IPads were purchased and they are
being effectively used in classes from the Nursery upward. An online reading
resource Polar Fish was purchased and the middle school reading programme has
been strengthened by this. It will be extended into the upper Primary
curriculum in the new year. The school has also purchased e-resources for the
library both as teacher resources and for the primary school and these will be
utilized in the new year.
The Sports programme raised its
competitive level through our hosting of interschool events in basketball,
tennis, squash, swimming and horse-riding. Although our students are yet to
develop a strong enough team to win, we have done reasonably well in most
tournaments.
Students have consistently had
the opportunity to participate in enrichment programmes. The school
participated in 4 inter-school Model United Nations and hosted the first middle
school MUN in India. There were in-school workshops by external facilitators in
leadership, self awareness and study skills.
An important area of success and
one which is a reason for great pride, is the success of our community
service and outreach programme. Our
students have adopted a school in the neighborhood and children from there are
taught English and Sports every week.
Our own support staff have benefitted
greatly from another initiative to train them in computer usage and English.
Our office boys, drivers, cleaners and didis impressed the school by presenting
an assembly in which they spoke in English and showcased powerpoint
presentations.
Integral to the development of
the school has been the development of our staff. 26 new teachers joined in
this year and it is an indicator of our successful Professional Development
programme that they have slipped into their roles so successfully. Professional
development remains a crucial strength of the school. 43 teachers went to
individual workshops, both nationally and internationally as well as online. In
addition there were 2 PYP workshops for
the whole primary staff with an IB trainer.
I am confident that in the year
ahead, we are well placed to build on our strengths and go forward. I will take
this opportunity to thank our senior school Principal Mr Jaffar for all his
work this year and to wish him well for the future. The incumbent Principal Mr
Abraham is well positioned to take over from him.
I would like to take this
opportunity to wish you all a happy two months ahead whether you are braving
the heat here or are travelling. A reminder about our summer camp Rediscovering
Minds for those who will be here. I look forward to seeing our students back in
school on 1st August. Please do remember that unless special leave has been
granted, we expect to see all our students back on the first day of school.
Shalini Advani
School Director
