A GLIMPSE INTO SMANCA'S EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE

Embarking on an educational journey across borders, I immerse myself in the vibrant learning tapestry of SMA Negeri 1 Cangkringan State High School (SMANCA) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. I've been fortunate to join the SEA-Teacher Project, an initiative that has found a welcoming home at this esteemed high school for the fifth time. Beyond its academic prowess, SMA Negeri 1 Cangkringan is a melting pot of cultural exchange and pedagogical innovation.

With its vision of “Creating a school with noble, superior, dynamic, highly disciplined, cultured, and environmentally friendly morals,” SMANCA focuses on providing culture-based education in line with the national education goals, regarding attitudes, knowledge, and skills.

SMA Negeri 1 Cangkringan is dedicated to a multifaceted mission aimed at holistic student development. This includes promoting academic excellence, developing a dynamic, responsible, and disciplined learning atmosphere, and improving the services provided to the community. The school is dedicated to helping students realize their potential for an independent life while fostering creativity and noble character and helping them succeed in athletics, the arts, and culture. In addition, the school prioritizes the development of respect for religious and cultural principles, fostering awareness in action. SMA Negeri 1 Cangkringan seeks to master science and technology to instill a spirit of excellence.

Environmental stewardship is prioritized through preserving functions, preventing pollution, and enhancing environmental quality. It is known to be a green school where students, teachers, staff, administrators, and even visitors utilize reusable materials and utensils—all people in the school alike do not throw single-use plastics in any part of the school grounds, even in trash bins!

The school endeavors to build an entrepreneurial spirit among all its members through the production of batik fabric-based products by the students and teachers, which promotes creativity and the value of their cultural heritage in such colorful tapestries while generating income.

Where Education Meets Tradition and Family

The tight-knit school community of SMANCA creates a nurturing academic support system, making sure that all students have the tools and guidance they require to thrive academically, encouraging a strong sense of community and drive to achieve academic excellence while upholding the school's core values.

Students at this child-friendly school, which emphasizes culture-based learning, are exposed to a wide range of deeply rooted local traditions and customs. Through this experience, they are better equipped to become well-rounded people by strengthening their sense of cultural identity and cultivating an awareness of diversity. Furthermore, the school actively involves guardians and parents in the educational process, fostering a cooperative relationship between the home and the school that further improves the holistic development of the students.

Each classroom is equipped with devices for facilitating innovative and engaging learning, including projectors, whiteboards, and diagrams. The use of digital tools and conventional hands-on activities enables students to learn about a variety of topics and hone their critical thinking abilities.

The school provides students with a wide range of learning opportunities. With rigorous academic programs and extracurricular activities, the school aims to give students a well-rounded education that takes into account their unique interests and abilities. Students have lots of opportunities to explore their passions and gain valuable life skills, whether it's through community service projects, field trips, entrepreneurship, sports teams, clubs, or exposure to cultural events!

Specialized Approach

SMANCA employs experienced and dedicated teachers who utilize innovative teaching methods to engage students in active learning. In this institution, I was surprised to know that the teaching of science is specialized, wherein the branches of science, namely biology, chemistry, and physics, are separate subjects with separate laboratories rather than just topics taken up in the general science class every quarter. This specialized approach allows students to delve deeper into each branch of science and develop a strong foundation in their chosen field.

The school utilizes a blend of traditional and digital means of learning resources, which are evident in the rich reservoir of information resources in their library as well as in the means employed by their teachers as they make use of Kahoot! and Quizziz, among others, to engage students in interactive quizzes and assessments. Additionally, the school encourages hands-on learning by providing well-equipped laboratories for biology, chemistry, and physics experiments.

Formative assessments are done in various ways, such as through recitation, gamification, group projects, and presentations. These methods allow students to actively participate in their learning and provide teachers with valuable insights into their understanding of the material.

Summative assessments, such as conventional tests and assignments, are unlike the typical broad summative assessment, which takes place over three days or one week. A summative assessment is completed for each topic covered in each subject and lasts for around two weeks, which I believe helps with targeted intervention and a more thorough assessment of the mastery of the subject matter.

Interwoven Curricula

At SMA Negeri 1 Cangkringan, education unfolds like a meticulously crafted story, weaving two distinct curricula to shape the academic narrative. The Merdeka curriculum applies to grade levels 7 to 10, and the K–13 curriculum applies to grade levels 11 to 12. The goal of the Merdeka curriculum is to give students a solid foundation in fundamental disciplines including science, mathematics, languages, and social studies. It places a strong emphasis on problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork to get students ready for college and the workforce. On the other side, the K–13 curriculum offers specialized studies focused on students' interests and professional aspirations, building on the framework set by the Merdeka curriculum. Students can pursue passions in subjects like science and social sciences through SMANCA.

A Chemistry Odyssey

I am Patricia Dennisse A. Balico, a part of SEA-Teacher Project Batch 9, deployed to teach chemistry in SMA Negeri 1 Cangkringan to the science students in grade 12. I am under the guidance of Sunartri, S. Pd as my resource teacher in SMANCA and the supervision of Muhaimin, S.Si., M.Sc., as my adviser from Universitas Islam Indonesia - my monitoring university throughout my SEA-Teacher journey.

I plan to teach the Periodic Table of Elements in a way that is engaging and interactive, incorporating hands-on activities with the touch of sharing a part of my culture through traditional games and innovative technology through exploring the lesson with a digital Periodic Table of Elements. I will also use visual aids such as diagrams and presentations to enhance their understanding of the topic.

I am so excited to be a part of this vibrant educational community at SMA Negeri 1 Cangkringan, where each day unfolds as a new chapter of discovery and collaboration. This is just the beginning, yet I can see how the forthcoming chapters of my SEA-Teacher journey promise not just academic exploration but a rich tapestry of shared experiences and mutual learning, a testament to the transformative power of education across borders.