Year 10

Year 10 Personal Project - Parents Teachers session  

The Year 10 Personal Project will be one of the most arduous and challenging tasks not only for the student but also for the parents. Parent involvement will play an essential role in the success of the MYP Personal Project. Therefore, it is equally important for parents to know and understand their role and what is expected to support their child. Hopefully, this article will help parents get a general idea of what the MYP Personal Project is and how important it is for our students.

The Parents Session conducted on September 7, 2023, was where teachers presented comprehensive information to parents about what is expected from their children on their personal project. It is crucial that parents know and understand what their children learn from school, and we as a parent must also care enough to make sure our children are responsible for their tasks accordingly. Over 20 parents came to that session, and they were all involved actively with the presentation. I was glad that GJS held this kind of meeting quite often about many topics and subjects. These showed that GJS always tries to build a strong relationship between parents and teachers to ensure a good education for our children.

Personally, I thought that session was very impressive. It was conducted in a casual and friendly atmosphere, without losing its focus and goal to make parents understand more about their children’s personal project; how much work they need to put in, how much time they have to do their projects, and also to consider whether their plans are realistic enough for the given timeline. I loved that the presentation was clear, and well-structured so that it was easy for us to understand. Also, the session was organized efficiently, so teachers could cover all the subjects, while there was still enough time for Q&As. In addition to that, we could still have one interactive session where a group of parents were expected to make initial work to start a project. This made us understand more of what our children need to do for their project when their work is expected to be done, and how their work will be evaluated. More importantly, it made us understand how important our guidance and supervision are to our children’s work.

I have not attended many of parent-teacher sessions for almost 12 years that my child has studied in GJS. However, I found that this particular session was excellent. It was friendly and casual, I met many parents I had not seen in a long time and I also met new parents. It was exciting. I loved that the teachers presenting the topic were very clear, concise, and thorough so that we could have clear ideas about the Year 10 Personal Project. The presentation was well-structured; the answers given to the questions asked were also straight to the point. I loved that the session was finished on time, without leaving parents confused or unsatisfied. It was also amazing that parents were asked to work as a group and create a mindmap of what our “personal project” would be. These took us out of our comfort zone: to discuss with other parents in our table groups whom we just met and work on something we had not done in years, which was thinking academically (haha). However, it was fun, and it helped us understand more clearly our children's scope of work.

I am glad that I attended that session, realising now how much work my child has to put into this project. 

Parents now understand more about:

1. Underlying background of their children's project,

2. Three criteria that our children need to do for this project,

3. Platforms to control the progress of our children’s work (Managebac for important dates

and GJS Google Site for the timeline),

4. Important dates for submissions

5. Date of the Exhibition

6. Roles of supervisor, community, and project coordinator in assisting our children

7. Evaluation criteria

More importantly, parents understand that they also have an essential role in guiding and supervising their children's work. Parents were told many ways they can do to help with their child’s project; as simple as asking how their project is going, checking the personal project site periodically, and so on.

These, of course, would help both parents and children to stay on track and finish the project as scheduled, ensuring that our children fulfill all the criteria and go through every process required. Hopefully, by doing this, our children can enjoy their learning process and eventually achieve their goals.

I firmly believe parents' involvement in our children’s school work is very important, and it should start as early as possible. I also believe when parents' involvement activities are planned effectively and well implemented it will yield substantial benefits to children, educators, and the school.

Parents can provide support, encouragement, and guidance, which I believe would make our children be more motivated, have improved behaviour, improved academic performance, and most importantly better preparation to learn at school.

The Parents - School relationship is very important and plays a pivotal role in students' development. We, the parents, and the school must have a clear understanding of what is expected of the student at school, especially when it comes to the student's projects. Such as what type of technology the students can use at home, what kind of resources can be used, and how much time they should spend working on the project.

To help foster this relationship between parents and the school; the school could offer more opportunities for parents to become more involved in school, such as encouraging volunteerism, parents-sponsored events for the students, and fundraising-type events to help fund school events or activities where students represent the school.

I believe parent involvement in school allows parents and staff to work together in respectful and mutually supportive ways, creating an environment where understanding, trust, and respect can flourish. At the same time, students get consistent messages from the critical adults in their lives. When children observe that home and school are engaged in a respectful partnership for their benefit, they are likely to develop more positive attitudes about school and achieve more, compared to situations in which school and home are seen as worlds apart.

However, it is equally important for parents to have an active role in building this relationship too.

Year 10 Personal Project - Parents Teachers session 

On September 1, 2023, Global Jaya School held a parent information session on the Year 10 Personal Project. It was an informative and engaging event.

First, Ibu Sue, as MYP Coordinator explained about Personal Project. This is an exciting opportunity for Year 10 students to showcase their creativity and individuality. They will choose a topic that they are passionate about and develop a project that explores that topic in depth. This could be anything from designing a website to creating a short film to developing a community service project while developing valuable skills such as research, organization, and communication.

During the session, parents were given an overview of the Personal Project and its importance in the IB curriculum. They were also given insight into the support and guidance available to students throughout the project, including access to a supervisor who will provide feedback and guidance.  

Parents were divided into groups for hands-on experience to create their own personal projects. They also had the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the expectations for the project, including the criteria for assessment. They were also provided with helpful tips on supporting their child throughout the project, including providing a quiet space for work, encouraging regular check-ins, and promoting a growth mindset.

Overall, the parent information session was a valuable opportunity for parents to learn more about the Year 10 Personal Project and how they can support their child's success. With the guidance and support of the School, students are sure to develop valuable skills and gain a deeper understanding of their interests and passions through this exciting project.

Parents' information sessions can be incredibly helpful for parents who want to stay informed and involved in their child's education. It’s an opportunity to learn more about school's policies, curriculum, and resources available to their child, and also can be a a great way for parents to connect with other families and build a sense of community within the school.