Term Four Year Two in the life of IFS–ITS has begun!
Remembering back to term one 2013, there were 76 students, four teachers plus a teacher-principal, only a handful of coaches and three buildings, including our canteen. My how we’ve grown. Term one this year, our numbers were up by over 200%. When we return in 2015 we will have over 350 students, 13+ excellent teachers, a host of incredible tennis and football coaches, fabulous canteen chefs and up to eight buildings. There’s something very special happening at this college, how do we explain this amazing growth?
Like you, I’m sure, I am frequently asked about our college. Initially little, if anything, was ‘out there’ about us, but that’s no longer the case. “Oh yes, I have a friend who sends their son/daughter there.” Such remarks from strangers are now commonplace. So what do we say to people when they ask about IFS-ITS? We are unique in so many ways. I’m sure most of our students joined us because of the tennis or football programs, after all, they are of the highest quality. There is nowhere in this country where such opportunities are on offer. Awesome! Being a teacher here, I have to comment on our extraordinary approach to academic learning, which is also unlike any other in the country. I sincerely believe that project based learning is the educational approach for the future. When people ask you about PBL, what do you say?
This year in Stage 2 we began with 36 students, we now have over 50. Team teaching with another colleague is great. Todd is an inspiring individual, full of enthusiasm, initiative and a genuine love for the students in his care. I believe that working as a team allows the strengths of each teacher to be brought out to the benefit of the students. Having the students also working in ‘teams’, through group work, provides these very same opportunities; each and every student can in some way shine and at the same time be supported when necessary. Our students are quite young and only beginning their long journey of learning through the PBL approach. We have a great opportunity to mould these young learners for the future, and I am quite sure that when this group enters our high college, the foundation work that Todd and I have been doing this year, will allow the full benefits of PBL to be obvious to all.
Where else would you want to send your child?
Where else would you want to work?
So what do you say to people, the un-initiated, about our college?
The attached clip shows Stage 2 at work this term. The students were put into groups of five and given a drama exercise scenario, with ten individual short stories in all. In their groups the students had a short time to come up with the characters, four scenes, and a script which they then performed in front of the rest of the class. Great fun had by all.
http://youtu.be/JjoQMj0kTmA
Happy new term.
Warm greetings, Rodney
Leave a Reply