Find out how GIIS's friendly, engaging learning environment turned a shy boy into a confident learner.
As parents, we all want a school that will nurture our kids into the best learners they can be. And if it helps them overcome any hurdles — like shyness — we’re all for it. This is exactly how the Sanchez family feels about GIIS Smart Campus. For this family, the school has brought out nothing but the best in their son, Jadan Luis. It has helped him thrive emotionally and intellectually, and the family couldn’t be happier with their experience. HoneyKids had a chat with the Sanchez family to learn more about how well Jadan’s doing at the school…
Hi Emer and Rhia, what were you looking for in a school for Jadan?
Since we both came from a school with a big campus, we wanted the same for our son. We also wanted a school that had facilities dedicated to enhancing child development. Another important factor was an international curriculum — since we are both expats, we needed a program that would be recognised worldwide.
And what made you finally decide on GIIS?
It was the assurance that our son would be safe and comfortable in the school environment. GIIS came highly recommended because of its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We wanted our son to feel this way about his school because, after all, it’s where he spends the majority of his day. Plus, a positive school environment would help him thrive emotionally and intellectually and give him the opportunity to develop to his fullest potential.
Our son is shy, which is why we were so particular about finding a school that would make him feel at home. So far, GIIS has done that and more. The people behind the school are forward thinking and adaptive to the needs of every child.
How has the school lived up to your expectations?
Before GIIS, Jadan was very shy and now he seems to have developed much better social skills — he’s friendlier! Now, he doesn’t have any qualms about talking to kids outside his immediate social circle or grade. We believe this is because GIIS provides a lot of opportunities for students to collaborate and interact. It has Student Exchange programmes, inter-school contests and project-based assignments that give students the confidence to interact with the world beyond the classroom.
What does Jadan like most about GIIS?
He loves the group work and the fact that learning at GIIS is actually fun. He says that everyone is kind and easy to talk to. He loves it so much, he doesn’t want to miss a single day of school!
Tell us about your experience with the IB PYP at GIIS. How has it been beneficial so far?
We feel that GIIS is doing a great job of delivering the IB PYP curriculum. It has the necessary infrastructure that provides a conducive atmosphere for students to collaborate and be a part of a hands-on learning experience. The teachers are IB certified and do a wonderful job of helping students adopt an inquiry-based approach to understand concepts. They make learning fun yet productive.
We are happy with the PYP curriculum because students are taught to analyse concepts, collaborate with peers and become more responsible for their own learning. This takes away their shyness and enhances confidence. This is evident in how they tackle daily situations and presentation skills.
Do you have any advice for other parents trying to choose a school?
In the changing times, parents should look for schools that have new-age learning facilities and adopt innovative approaches to teaching. The teaching style should be aligned with the requirements of the current generation of learners. The school should offer a good balance of technology-based learning and conventional methods so that the children get the best of both worlds.
Thank you, Emer and Rhia!
To know more about the IB Primary Years Programme at GIIS, click here.
This post is in partnership with GIIS.
