Parent Gitanjali wanted a school that could provide “holistic development” for her child. She shares with us how she found this at Global Indian International School.
Seeing her daughter Aadya grow into a confident learner with leadership qualities confirmed to Gitanjali that Global Indian International School (GIIS) is truly the best school for her child. She attributes this to the school’s holistic approach to education, which provides students with multiple curriculum options, as well as a variety of co-curricular activities (CCAs) and extracurricular activities (ECAs). Read on to find out more about how GIIS has helped her daughter develop holistically.
Hi Gitanjali, can you share a little about your daughter Aadya who’s attending GIIS?
Aadya has been studying at GIIS SMART Campus, Punggol, since she was in Grade 1. She has since completed the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and has transitioned into the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme in Grade 6.
Tell us more about the top factors you considered while selecting a school for Aadya.
Holistic development for our child was a key factor when we were choosing a school for her. GIIS SMART Campus at Punggol ticked this box for us, along with other criteria such as having well-equipped infrastructure, having multiple curriculum options, and modern technology-based learning. We also heard positive feedback from our friends about the school, and it’s in close proximity to our home.
And what did you think about the curriculum at GIIS?
One of the biggest game changers for us is that GIIS offers multiple modes of pedagogy, along with the option to transition between them according to your child’s needs. For example: Aadya was able to transition from a good but structured CBSE curriculum to the inquiry-based IB PYP seamlessly. This was very well managed owing to the tremendous guidance provided by the school’s PYP team. We had a very open discussion with the PYP Coordinator, Ms. Manju Nair, who patiently addressed all our concerns. She also advised us on the pros and cons of this shift, seeing that the IB does almost book-free learning but encourages boundless inquiry. Ms. Manju’s absolute faith in her teachers and unshakeable confidence in Aadya’s potential made us take this leap of faith. It’s really one of the best decisions that we took for her growth.
That sounds amazing. Does Aadya enjoy attending GIIS?
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Aadya absolutely looks forward to going to school every day. It’s like each day is a celebration! A great sense of camaraderie with her entire class is one factor that contributed to her enjoying her time at school.
We would like to dedicate a big shoutout to Ms. Nidhi Menon, Aadya’s homeroom teacher last year, who painstakingly created an environment where every child felt valued. She and Ms. Manju nurtured our child’s potential and ensured her holistic development. All the staff at GIIS – non-academic staff, supporting members, teachers, etc. – treat Aadya really well. She got to participate in various events, which gave her exposure and a sense of belonging in the school.
You mentioned that the school is very well-equipped when it comes to infrastructure. How did this benefit your daughter?
GIIS has many state-of-the-art facilities which enable children to participate in a diverse selection of ECAs / CCAs, including sports. The school is continuously expanding on its ECA / CCA offerings.
What about parent involvement – does GIIS have a community for parents?
The school always solicited parents’ participation in managing and assisting them at all events, be it school-wide or smaller class-level ones. Teachers encourage parents to deliver expert lectures, share real life experiences, and interact with students.
For the year end PYP Exhibition, parents were encouraged to become mentors to students, whose project topics matched their expertise. Most parents form close bonds with each other during informal and formal interaction sessions. GIIS’ parents community is very engaged and cooperative.
How about the level of communication you receive from the school?
GIIS follows a bi-annual formal Parent-Teacher Meeting structure. However, individual queries and concerns are promptly and appropriately addressed when raised. Everyone – be it the homeroom teacher, PYP Coordinator, or the Vice Principal – responded with utmost sincerity to all kinds of issues, queries, and concerns.
I think we can safely conclude that GIIS lived up to your expectations!
Yes! The care, concern, and importance placed on the overall development of each child at GIIS is truly amazing. Ms. Manju remembers pretty much every student by name and face. It’s truly remarkable to nurture this kind of bond, and I’m a very happy GIIS parent throughout these five years.
The PYP honed Aadya’s growth journey tremendously, from being an excellent and academic student, to a confident learner and potential leader today. She learned the importance of independent learning and its associated sense of ownership. The efficiently run Student Council, of which Aadya was a part of, gave students a taste of effective leadership and the responsibilities that come along with it. In her role as House Captain, Aadya picked up positive leadership traits and learned to perform her tasks with confidence.
Finally, any advice for parents who are looking for a school for their child?
My only advice is: let your child focus on the “how to” learn, rather than the “what to” or “how much to” learn.
As parents, we need to go beyond using grades and numbers as assessment parameters for our children. Their learning experience should excite, intrigue, and empower them. Let them find their own strength; give them time. I feel that this is especially crucial during the foundational primary years in order to let our children blossom into their full potential. The IB PYP at GIIS allowed Aadya to learn, explore, and eventually express all that she has amassed successfully.
Thank you for sharing, Gitanjali!
This post is in partnership with Global Indian International School.
