We love a school that puts in effort to help new learners settle in. But one that goes the extra mile to make parents feel welcomed too? We just have to hear this story!
Whilst most of us were trying to adjust to the new normal during the Covid-19 pandemic, Brendon, Henda, and their two children took on an even bigger challenge — moving to a completely new country altogether. Nervous and alone, yet excited to start their new journey, they found solace in the community of Nexus International School (Singapore), which met them with warmth and reassurance.
Ever since Brendon, Henda, and their girls joined the Nexus community in 2021, they’ve felt right at home. Fascinated, we had a chat with them to find out about their school selection process, and how they’re finding the whole experience so far.
What were your considerations in selecting a school, and what made you decide on Nexus?
Due to the pandemic, all our school tours and interviews were done virtually. Nexus was the one and only school that asked about our interests as a family and enquired about the wellbeing of our children. That’s what really sealed the deal for us! They showed us that they care for our children as individuals, and that’s all we could ask for.
In addition, we were especially drawn to the international makeup of the learners at the school. This gives our girls a diverse experience both in the classroom and in their friendship groups as it exposes them to diverse cultures and heritages from all around the world. We believe that this is something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
What do you value most about the school?
The school has wonderful teachers, and the children are given all sorts of learning opportunities. We also like the international aspects of the education, including the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme and the global-minded perspectives at the school.
How about your children, what do they like about Nexus?
Both of them find the international environment particularly exciting and enjoy making friends. They love the campus and teachers too, so it hasn’t been a hard task to motivate them to go to school.
Our girls are big on sports, so they really appreciate being able to participate in a range of sports. This also opens up opportunities for them to work within a team, strive towards a common goal, and form cherished friendships.
How did the school make your family feel welcome?
Despite the fact that parents were not allowed on campus on the first day due to Covid restrictions, our girls left for school on the school bus with the reassurance that there would be someone there to meet and guide them in their new journey. The support that we were given right from the get-go was incredibly invaluable.
They returned home at the end of their first day with happy faces, and told us that they were welcomed. Everyone was willing to lend a helping hand, which helped to ease them into the school environment seamlessly.
For us parents, the Nexus Community Group regularly organises coffee mornings on campus, community activities (picnics in the park, beach clean-ups, or nature walks, etc.) as well as informal sunset drinks. This has helped us to meet and make friends with other like-minded parents.
We also like how the school hosts regular parent workshops or presentations by experts, which has given us greater insights into parenting or curriculum topics.
Thanks for sharing all this with us, Brendon and Henda!
This post is in partnership with Nexus International School Singapore.
