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VOL. 62 February 26, 2021
VOL. 62 February 26, 2021
I have spent the better part of the last year writing about the IB Learner Profile attributes and what they mean to us at GJS. While these attributes help identify what IB learners strive to be, they are by no means all-encompassing descriptors of a well-rounded learner. I have been thinking a lot lately about how the Covid-19 pandemic, while devastating from a physical, emotional, and mental standpoint, has also brought to the surface additional attributes of a well-rounded person, specifically flexibility and perseverance. You will not find either of these words in the IB Learner Profile, but members of the GJS community--teachers, students, parents, leaders, and administrative staff--have repeatedly demonstrated both in the face of tremendous adversity and daunting challenges this year.
In the past week alone, each of the IB Programmes offered at GJS have put their flexibility and perseverance on display. In addition the usual challenges of HBL:
Year 6 students debuted their exhibition via the PYPX website.
Year 10 students debuted their Personal Project exhibition via the GJS Personal Project website.
Year 12 students have been thrown curveball after curveball (apologies for the baseball reference, but Spring Training just started in the US) since last year, with the latest coming in the form of cancellation of DP Exams and Mock Exams. Through it all, they have adjusted to the challenges, focused on the task at hand, and continued to work hard to hit unpredictably moving targets (you know, like trying to hit a knuckleball from Tim Wakefield in his prime).
While it wasn’t last week, I would also like to recognize the Year 12 Visual Art students for their exhibition, which required not only art skills, but also interior design skills as they transformed their homes into art galleries for the occasion!
Regardless of the situation, our students have had the unwavering support of teachers, parents, school leaders and administrative staff. Learning is a team effort, which has been all the more apparent this year. There are countless examples of us supporting one another to remain flexible and persevere when facing yet another challenge; indeed, there are far too many to mention here. If the last year has taught me anything, it is that challenges will continue to come our way and we will continue to work together to adapt and overcome them.
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