Parent Jenny Meredith didn’t just find the right school for her daughters when she enrolled them at Overseas Family School; she found the right community for her family as well, one that values her family as a whole.
When you’re choosing a school for the kids, it’s never just about finding a place for them to learn and get the necessary qualifications. You’re also choosing a community for your family.
Think about it: school is where your children will be spending a lot of their time at. As parents, you’ll also definitely cross paths with other families from your children’s classes throughout the year. Your children’s school community is your ‘village’, and it’s only natural that you want to meet like-minded people here.
Lucky for parent Jenny Meredith, she found her ‘village’ in Overseas Family School (OFS), where she and her daughters feel valued. “The OFS community is a wonderful collaboration between parents, students, and staff,” she shared. We spoke to her to find out more about what her family loves about the school.
What convinced you that OFS is the right school for your family?
We were looking for a school that is academically-focused, with a bright and inclusive environment for our children.
We found that in OFS, seeing how happy the children were. The school also follows an international curriculum: the IPC in elementary school, the IB Middle Years Programme in Grades 6 to 10, IGCSE courses in Grades 9 and 10, and the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12.
The wide range of facilities was impressive as well, and we like that students can make use of them during class and break times. We found that this setup gives students space and freedom within an educational setting. Having access to facilities like the chess room, basketball courts, library, running track, and more allows them to be curious and try new things.
Seeing these at the school tour convinced us that OFS is the right school for our girls, and that they will have many opportunities to learn and grow here.
Has OFS lived up to your expectations?
Yes! It’s a great school that feels just like a big family, where everyone works together to achieve great things. We saw our youngest daughter, who’s in Grade 3, grow in confidence during her time in OFS – our friends and family couldn’t believe the change! Our eldest daughter, who’s in Grade 5, showed great improvement in her chess skills, and is now representing the school in competitions.
What do your daughters like about their school?
I imagine they would say the canteen and school bus, since that’s where they spend time with their friends. They also love interacting with their teachers, performing at the lunchtime concerts, and sports – a new passion they developed thanks to OFS.
We’d like to mention the buddy system as well, as it made our girls feel really welcomed when they first joined the school. The other children are all so lovely and welcoming, so much so that our girls felt part of the community from day one.
How’s the level of communication at OFS?
It’s fantastic. Everything is communicated. All our questions were answered promptly, be it through email, phone call, or in-person. Each class has a parent WhatsApp group where we get more specific class updates, and we’re regularly invited to school-wide events, like the class exit point events, whole grade concerts, and class performances. At no point in time did we feel uninformed.
And is there a community for parents?
OFS does a good job in building a community for parents. The school holds curriculum talks, meet-the-teacher evenings, parent association events, festive celebrations, and global picnics.
There’s also a Parent’s Band, exercise classes for parents, and a huge parent lounge where we can work from. Parents are also welcomed to visit the café within the canteen. There’s loads of opportunities to meet other parents.
What tips would you give other parents who are still looking for a school for their children?
Always follow your gut. If you feel excited about a school after a tour, then it’s most likely the right fit. Children are capable of achieving great things when they’re happy.
Thank you for speaking to us, Jenny!
This post is in partnership with Overseas Family School.
