Category: School life

Parenting Advice (part of the ‘School from Home’ initiative coordinated by the PSHE Department)

I thought long and hard about what would be an appropriate topic to write about in the ‘Parenting Advice’ section of the Weekly Bulletin. After tapping into my personal self-isolation experience and talking with parents from the Avenor community, it became clear to me that, in the avalanche of pandemic-related aspects that range outside of our area of control, there is one aspect of paramount importance that we can control: how we relate to all of it and assign meaning to it.

I am not pleading for an overly motivational speech, because I am aware that this type of approach does, indeed, put pressure on all of us to ‘be alright’, ‘think positive’ and ‘smile and carry on’. What I am pleading for is authenticity and resilience, because they will be our allies in going through this period of change.

After the pandemic is over, we won’t go back to how things were before, because we will not be the same people. Every day of self-isolation and restriction teaches you, as parents, things that you did not know you knew before all of this. The remark of one mum comes to my mind. She said that it’s quite funny that before the pandemic had started she considered herself extremely busy and now in full self-isolation and juggling roles, (personal, professional and family), she can’t help but laugh at her previous statement.

So, one thing that you as parents are learning every day, (in a boot-camp style, I would say), is that you do juggle jobs, parenting, schooling, household chores, your couple relationship, and your personal arrangements. But this comes with a huge effort, moments of meltdown and feelings of helplessness.

‘Where’s the good in all this?’ you might ask. Focusing on the good in this case can simply mean admitting to yourself and your loved ones that this is not an ordinary situation and therefore the solutions are nothing close to ordinary. So, putting in more effort is natural. Meltdowns are inherent and help you release some pressure from all of the effort made. Helplessness, although uncomfortable as it may be, let’s you know that you are human, and this human who is used to achieving has the right to feel helpless when, suddenly, achieving stops being the norm and becomes something ‘nice to have’.

I thought of some specific suggestions that might help you, parents, to focus on the good:

–    Take a moment each day, (it can be when you’re in the shower or right before you go to bed), and acknowledge at least one small victory of the day. It can range from ‘my daughter had only 3 tantrums instead of 5’ to ‘I managed to do some personal grooming without having my kids glued to the bathroom door’.

–     Look outside and let it heal you a bit. Irrespective of whether you live in a flat or a house, make a habit out of ‘relating to nature outside’. This might mean opening the window and enjoying the spring breeze on your face, taking video conferences in the garden or having a short stretching session outside.

–       Keep your healthy routines – movement, eating and sleeping. There might be days when you just do not feel like doing any sport and all you can think of is a plate full of pancakes, but try to make these days exceptions, not rules. Maintaining your routines will help you explain the new routines to your children as well and will boost your energy levels. Oh, and remember one thing: if you skip sleep constantly, everything you do will seem harder than usual.

As a firm believer in the motto ‘less is more’, I will resume to only three suggestions that will hopefully feel real enough for you to put into practice, if you are not doing this already. Until next time, stay safe and stay sane. 🙂

Ioana Botez

PSHE Curriculum Leader

The students’ interactions with their teachers and colleagues have moved to virtual platforms, and the admission process has been transformed into a series of Zoom meetings. Find out how we implemented all of these changes and how they impact learning from an interview with Mihaela Ancuta, Mathematics Curriculum Leader at Avenor College.

Avenor College: For about a month, learning at Avenor College has moved online. Our students continue to learn from home through daily technology-mediated interactions with their teachers. What happens in an online session with your students?

Mihaela Ancuța: Before I started preparing the online lessons, I reflected on the things I knew students appreciated about the Maths classes that used to take place at school, things I discovered from the various questionnaires and discussions or by simply watching their daily reactions, and I thought about bringing those elements in my online lessons.

I welcome students on Zoom with a smile, with enthusiasm and a good disposition. I know that it is within my power to set the tone and energy for the entire class.

Then I pay attention to each one of them and tell them what I observe: one student has a new background and I notice it, another uploaded a perfect homework on Google Classroom the previous evening and I congratulate him/her etc. This is how I let them know I care about each individual, that I look at them and I notice them.   

After we have connected and we are ready to start the class, I clearly state the lesson objectives and plan, remembering together where we are in our learning journey. It is very useful to remind students what we have already learned and the next point we want to reach. This mobilizes and stimulates them.

Sometimes we consolidate knowledge, other times we learn new things, discover formulas and theorems or practice for the exam. Other times we take online tests, acquiring the necessary skills we need to get excellent results: theoretical knowledge, attention to writing, timing.

Students sometimes work alone, on a notebook or tablet, other times they work in teams in Zoom “breakout rooms”, and I visit them and offer my support should they need it. I like it most when, after a work session in “breakout rooms”, we all meet in the main “room” and share ideas, solutions, results. Then the students take control and it is wonderful to watch them express their opinions and experiences in small groups. We also use educational platforms and various websites.

Another thing I enjoy adding to my lessons, usually at the end, in the last few minutes, is to share with them an experience I had in school which relates to that specific lesson, or to tell them something I recently read in a book, about communication skills, how to react when they are in a deadlock, what are the most important values ​​for a leader, how to manage time and organise effectively, how to organise a work flow etc. For example, one small thing that I shared with all my students and that seemed appropriate to the context we are in was “Make your bed!”, from the eponymous book. It said that if you arrange your bed in the morning (perfectly arranged, lined up), you start your day with a fulfilled task and this gives you the satisfaction of also completing it properly. Sometimes, at the end of the lesson, I tell them that next time I will share with them, for example, how we can read people’s thoughts from their actions, and they convey to me during our next meeting that they could hardly wait for our class to hear what I wanted to say.

A.C .: From the experience of the 4 weeks of virtual learning, how has the learning process changed in the new context?

M.A.: Recently I asked students what they think is different now from what we were doing before, and they all told me that there is no difference, they feel that they can continue learning as they have done so far, especially since I used to integrate technology into teaching daily, using my iPad and projector for every class.

Although students have not noticed differences in the learning process, I can certainly say I have: students are becoming more independent and more responsible for their own learning. The context of the online lessons gave me the opportunity to show the students even more that I trust them. I give them the opportunity to solve some tests without being supervised, they analyse their strengths and weaknesses and they self-evaluate then record their progress in a table.

A.C .: Together with the entire educational journey, the admission process has also adapted to the online environment. Students who wish to enroll at Avenor College can schedule online meetings with our teachers now. How is such a meeting going on?

M.A .: I am very pleased with our school’s approach to admission. The written admission exam has now been replaced with the online interview. This gives me the opportunity to discover the student from several perspectives. In the first part of the interview I tell them about the Maths classes at Avenor College, what we offer, but also about the responsibilities that the students have, and then find out if all of them match their wishes and expectations related to teachers, colleagues, school. Then, during the interview, I ask students to think about their relationship with Mathematics and to self-evaluate; this is how I learn what units they like, how much time they spend studying every week, how involved they are during a class, how they collaborate with their classmates and so on. In the last part of the interview I present students some problems, testing their knowledge and observing their thinking process. I also teach a mini-lesson for a few minutes and watch the student’s attention, as well as the ability to apply the knowledge received in a new context. In the end, I give the student the opportunity to ask me questions and thus I get asked “how many students are in a class?”, “What is the hardest lesson in high school?” or “when are we going to learn integration?”.

A.C .: The postponement of the National Evaluation exam could be a cause for concern for the parents of the students who make the transition from secondary school to high school. How has the admission process been adapted to facilitate the enrollment of students in our High School following the Cambridge curriculum?

M.A: The current criterion for admission to Avenor College is the online interview and we will keep it the same irrespective of the National Evaluation postponement. The admission interview is designed to give us the opportunity to look at each student’s characteristics and determine if he or she has the accumulated knowledge and the attitude necessary to continue learning at Avenor International High School.

A.C .: Why is now a good time to enrol at Avenor College?

M.A .: If we refer to children in Grade 8, still developing, the current circumstances might diminish their confidence in a future with quality education. At Avenor College they will meet teachers who will become guides, mentors, coaches, they will meet colleagues who will become friends, teammates and thus they will discover their skills and talents and will be able to capitalize on them.

Avenor students are celebrating the start of the Easter Holiday, and sport remains an activity that can be reinvented, even during the period of self-isolation. That is why our physical education teachers have designed a programme of live training sessions, which is addressed to both students and parents, during the Easter Holiday, within the Easter Holiday Virtual School programme.

“Sport is extremely important in our lives, especially during the period of self-isolation. Physical activity helps us to stay healthy, positive and active. We can have a healthy mind, only in a healthy body. We can have professional or educational achievements only if we take care of our mental health, and sport is an ally, because it helps us improve coordination and develop our personality harmoniously. A person does regula sport activity becomes a person who is attentive to details, which is why the sport sessions that I will host during this holiday will be addressed to students and parents who want to improve their ability to focus, balance and their overall mood”, said Ionel Voda, leader of PE department of Avenor College.

While Ionel aims to help students and parents to maintain their well-being and positive attitude during this period, Tiberiu Constantin, a sport teacher at our school, intends to help us correct our posture.

“In juniors, in particular, we can say that physical education helps a lot in preventing and correcting posture deficiencies, and in this period, muscle relaxation and stretching are very important, considering that both students and parents have a longer screen time. As a teacher, I hope that through all the training programs that I will host in the Easter Holiday Virtual School programme, I will help the families of the community to practice physical exercises in their free time. ”

Victoria Foster, PE teacher at Avenor, hosts a live dance session as part of the Easter Holiday programme.

“Sport helps us overcome mental exhaustion, and education is incomplete without sport. These days, during self-isolation, sport is an integral part of education. Students need to stay active even if they stay indoors, to avoid fatigue and lethargy. Sport improves blood circulation and keeps us in good shape. We invite students along with parents to join us on these sports sessions during Easter Holiday, because the power of the example is an important factor for children when it comes to the motivation to stay active ”, said Victoria Foster.

Simona Haiducu, a Ballet and Dance Fusion teacher at Avenor College, contributed to the sports programme and filmed a lesson of pilates for parents in the community. It can be accessed here.

“Pilates exercises are suitable for anyone, regardless of age. During this period it is very important to stay active, even if we are forced to stay inside. The pilates lesson will help you improve your breathing technique, mobility and ability to concentrate. Each exercise is performed paying attention to the breathing techniques. For maximum benefits, it is recommended to practice sports at least three times a week, so I encourage you to take part in the Easter Holiday Virtual School programme and join the school’s sporting initiatives, even during virtual learning, as we know that you were doing it offline too”, said Simona.

In addition to the sport lessons, the entire team of Avenor teachers has prepared interactive programs that will be carried out through the ZOOM application. The activities conceived by Art, Music, Drama and PE teachers are addressed to all of the students and parents in the community who wish to join us. We wish you a peaceful holiday!

Until February 2020, our life was passing by it at its natural pace. We were curious about what was happening in China and Asia, but we never thought it would get to us.  Here is a new virus, not even a very powerful one and it has managed to slow down, without much effort, the whole world. 

COVID-19 shouted “Everybody! Stand at ease!” and entered our houses without much endeavour. Fear got the better of us.. 

Both my husband and I are pretty scared of what will happen on an economic level – we are expecting losses, we will all be affected one way or another. 

However, we have reflected on the events in our lives and realized that we have gone through many major crises. We have all been through crises, none of us have been exempt, yet somehow we have managed to get over them. Because we didn’t give up, because we used our brains, because we were motivated to be creative, to adapt.

Will the world be different after COVID-19? Surely mankind will see better days, but the losses will be great.

As a mother, as a leader in Education, as a citizen interested in the future of the world, I ask myself: How could we have avoided getting in this situation? What could have saved us? What did we ignore?

Now we must emphasize the importance of education with passion, now that COVID-19 has pressed a great alarm. Now we have to analyze, with all seriousness, what is changing in the way we humans act because otherwise I am afraid that the next revolt of Earth, of Nature, could possibly be fatal to human kind.

We need rigorous and responsibly educated future generations in order to avoid getting into such crises or, if we do, to trust our education, our minds, that we can overcome these adversities. Let’s not stay paralyzed and wait to be saved.

Now is the best time to look at Education: Don’t just learn by heart – learn with passion. 

Now we understand what these shortages mean for every society: 

• The lack of basic science knowledge ( What is a virus? What is the difference between a virus and a bacteria? How is a virus treated? How is it transmitted? Why should we not administer an antibiotic when we have a virus? What is an epidemic? How does it spread? How do we protect ourselves?)
• The lack of critical thinking development (if I am young and my illness will not be anything serious if I get infected with COVID-19, but I am a carrier and I meet my grandmother, what could happen to my grandmother?)
• The lack of health education (How do we wash our hands, cough, sneeze, or when should we go to the doctor? What do we eat to be healthy?)
• The lack of basic mathematical knowledge and understanding (understanding a graph and a curve; basic mathematical and statistical calculation, applying mathematics in real life)
• The lack of education for solidarity between people (“if I’m not in the vulnerable group, I’m not interested in the rest of the world”, “why and when should I call 112? Why should I not make poor jokes calling 112?”, When we are sick we stay home or we go to the doctor, but we do not make others sick)
• The lack of personal and emotional development: What is fear? What is anxiety? How do I manage them when they appear in my life?
• The lack of economic and financial education – How do business and  the economy work? How do I manage money? How do I negotiate with the bank? What are the expenses you have to cut under crisis conditions?

At Avenor College, we focus on education for developing life skills, critical thinking and a complex understanding of the world. Many of these life skills are not examined, they are not reviewed, they are not marked. They are part of the extended Avenor Curriculum and the profile of the Avenor Graduate takes all of this into consideration.

I have a few concrete examples in mind:

1. When His Excellency the British Ambassador to Bucharest Andrew Noble came to visit our school and had an open dialogue with our high school students, he was surprised by the depth of thinking and knowledge of our avenorians as well as the questions and topics they brought up. The Ambassador initially said that the visit would take no longer than 20 minutes and he actually stayed over an hour. He said that the level of discussion exceeded a group of Political Studies students. I am sure that if our high school students were invited to a Government discussion table they would really contribute, come up with solid arguments, listen to others, carefully analyze and give some viable ideas for any serious problem of the country, the world.

2.  I invite you to read on Social Media about our Middle School and 9th grade students who are participating in a serious scientific project in order to find solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic.

3.  Do you remember the project of our 4 and 5 grade students – “Forbidden Forest”, which aimed to encourage us to get to know Băneasa Forest in a respectful and ecological way?

I am still open to sharing our experience and our programs with anyone who wants to see what and how we do it. The public system must reform its educational programs and include the development of life skills. They can be taught at school, if education were to become a social priority, a State priority.

Now is the best time to look at education: Don’t just learn by heart – learn with passion

At Avenor College we are an educational microcosm, modern, updated with the times we live in, with the real needs of society. Although it sounds exceptional, this is normal. We learn with passion.

 

Diana Segărceanu

Founder and Executive Director

Does the fact that Nursery children can talk to their teachers via Zoom help them express their feelings in this period? How can Avenor Nursery provide opportunities for children to further develop relationships with peers, even online? How does Avenor Nursery offer support to parents in the virtual learning new era? These are the questions that we have asked Ioana Botez, Avenor Nursery Counsellor, in order to offer us an overview over the importance of further developing relationships and feelings through various online learning tools. 

Avenor College: Does the fact that Nursery children can talk to their teachers via Zoom help them express their feelings in this period?

Ioana Botez: Emotional expression, especially during the times we are all currently living in, is essential for our well-being. In the absence of face-to-face contact and social interactions, we are quite fortunate to benefit from a variety of apps that help us connect. Because connection is the key to coping with the waves of uncertainty coming our way. And, I am not talking only about children, but about all of us. 

The communication within the entire Avenor community can be continued with patience, support and empathy through the use of technology. So, whether we are talking about using a smartphone for video calls or specific communication apps, (such as Zoom), if you feel it helps, then it helps. The longing that teachers have for children, the children for their teachers and the parents for going back to a routine in which the balance between parental involvement and nursery school support is restored are just some sensitive topics that can be explored during Personal Social and Emotional Development lessons via Zoom. 

I do believe that we, as educators, should support families using all of the technological tools available in processing strong emotions, but also be mindful of finding a healthy combination between online and offline activities in order to avoid overexposure to screens for all of us.  

Avenor  College: How can Avenor Nursery provide opportunities for children to further develop relationships with peers, even online?

Ioana Botez: As building relationships is not only one of the three main objectives of Personal Social and Emotional Development, but also one of the main reasons for which parents introduce their children to a nursery school environment, Avenor Nursery is continually thinking of new ways of connecting children, parents and teachers. We started off by messaging each other via WhatsApp with updates from our time spent apart. Then, we moved on to sending learning recommendation in paper and video formats via email to connect even further and nurture all the areas of development of the children.

We then talked over the telephone to collect feedback and suggestions from the people who are facing the greatest challenge: parents. This week, we are testing Zoom Circle Times with children and parents and, after having two trial sessions with Nursery Blue and Year 1 Blue, I can tell you that part of the joy that everyone expressed was related to seeing and talking with each other again. We are considering small group Zoom meetings with children in order to allow children to further develop their relationships and are in constant dialogue with parents, because only together can we find the best solutions for the Avenor Nursery community in terms of socialising. 

Avenor College: How does Avenor Nursery offer support to parents in the virtual learning new era?

Ioana Botez: Supporting parents is one of our priorities during this period, because we are aware that a great deal of the things we do in the nursery school with the children – care, supervision, educational activities, managing daily routines, is now handled by these real-life heroes, who have to juggle jobs, children, households, and personal lives. It is truly a time that requires a lot of flexibility, understanding and patience, because it is not easy for any of us, even as adults. One way in which we support parents at Avenor Nursery is by thinking through weekly learning recommendations that fit with the educational objectives of each age range in order for them not to drown in the ocean of free educational resources available on the internet. 

Another way in which we help parents cope with the existing situation is by keeping communication alive during telephone conversations, WhatsApp messages, video calls, Zoom sessions and personalised approaches to meet their particular needs. Feedback is essential in identifying the needs of each individual family in order to make their lives easier. Because it all comes down to this: making parents lives easier during the period of self-isolation. 

We are carefully planning practical activities that do not require screen time and build on children’s independent life skills. In the future we are considering Support webinars with parents and many other practical activity packs designed by our team in order to support children’s education and parents’ well-being.

Miss Cristina, a math teacher at Avenor College, sends a message to the entire community through the Avenor blog. She shares the experience of the first days of virtual teaching and tells us about the attitude of the students, about the emotions of the first hours online and about the benefits of teaching in this new reality.

“My dears,

Learn today, enjoy tomorrow! It is a principle that I try to instill in my students’ minds every day.

At the beginning I was worried about the news that I will only teach online for the foreseeable future, but after all when we saw each other in the virtual space I began to feel better about this situation. I realised that I am the same, my students behave the same and that the only thing that has changed is the meeting place. It is no longer a room with a number written on it, but a room in which the key is a simple push of a button. One of my goals this year was to introduce technology into teaching. I used Google Classroom (to post lessons, materials, announcements, puzzles), MyKoolio (to make lesson information more attractive) and Mangahigh. From the beginning of this school year, I realised that the Internet can be both our ally and our enemy as teachers. On the first day of online teaching, I felt like I did eight years ago, with conflicting emotions. The most important thing for me was for everyone to be present and healthy.

Now, after seven days of virtual teaching, I can tell you that the biggest advantage of this new reality is that we can continue the learning process without taking long breaks. I am also glad that we are able to save all the documents and lessons, so the students have access to them even if they cannot be present. Now students can leave questions in the chat so as not to interrupt the lesson, they can receive individual and punctual answers. I am happy to discover that my students have more time for individual study and to reflect on concepts.

I have to admit, I miss the interaction between student and teacher. In traditional teaching you can easily observe the positive and negative reactions, you can have moments of reflection in which you can observe the individual work of the student and the ease with which they can learn new concepts, but at the moment I think that online teaching is beneficial to all. It keeps us connected and helps us interact, keeps our relationships alive and authentic.

As a teacher, I am glad that the challenge of teaching online has taken me out of my comfort zone, and has urged me to look for strategies to keep my students as close to our goal as possible: Learn today, enjoy tomorrow! Together we will co-create the best future for each of us.

With love and good thoughts,

Cristina”

At Avenor College, we know that ordinary teaching cannot be simply replicated through virtual learning, but our teachers are making extra efforts to ensure quality virtual learning experiences. We invite you to access our virtual learning plan here.

Being admitted to High School is an exciting moment that can raise many questions for the high school students. This is why Vanessa, a student in the 12th grade at Avenor College, told us about what the 9th and 10th grades mean for the students who study in the international system and how they are supported by the school, pointing out the most important aspects of the beginning of high school life.

The moment of choosing the subjects: “Think about what you really like.”

“If I were to come up with one piece of advice that I would give to a 9th grade student who is currently choosing subjects, I would tell him to think about what he really likes. It’s no secret, some subjects are harder than others, but passion has the power to diminish differences between subjects. When you learn something you like, it will not be difficult for you ”, Vanessa says. She told us that in 9th and 10th grade it is useful to start experimenting with different study areas, but it is not necessary to know exactly what career path you want to pursue. “At the beginning of high school, I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, so I followed the advice of the school: I experimented. I had support from both teachers and parents, I felt that I had time to think well about my choice, and in my school it is not shameful to ask questions, so every time I needed a tip, I asked questions and I found an answer. “

Learn how to plan your time: “You have a lot of time, but don’t waste precious resources”

“At the beginning of the 9th grade, all older colleagues advise you to start learning as early as possible and they are right. From my experience, I can say that if I go back to the 9th grade I would make notes from time to time, I would pay more attention in class and I would definitely clean my closet more often.

At the beginning of high school you seem to have a lot of time until the important exams, but it is good to take the Mock exams seriously. The 10th grade marks will help you get into University. Regardless of the University you will choose later, you must prove that your academic career has been consistent, and if you are responsible with your study time, everything will be much easier. You have plenty of time, but  don’t waste valuable resources.

Whether you choose to follow the study plan prepared by the Student Support Officer according to your needs, or take full responsibility for this, you must take things seriously”, Vanessa told us.

Take care of yourself: “A healthy psychic will help you take good grades.”

It is important to be a good manager of your study time, but in order to devote yourself fully to the study, you also need mental health. Vanessa told us about the PSHE  and the contribution during each student’s academic pathway: “The PSHE classes are the ones that will help you stay focused on studies, but without neglecting your friends or your life outside of school. High School is also the moment you discover yourself, when you learn things about yourself as a human being. At PSHE you discover that you are not the only one asking questions, trying to understand what it means to be authentic, to be ok with who you are. In addition to PSHE classes, you can always go to a school counselor to talk about your feelings and if you feel you need help, it’s good to ask for it. If you understand what’s going on with you, you can focus more on the study, and your grades will improve.”

All Avenor High School graduates now study at their desired universities, in Romania or abroad. If you are interested in our international high school, contact us at admissions@avenor.ro 

Highlight: “Today is a historic day. I started to speak a new language and to make new friends, using a new language. I think I will no longer be a “digital immigrant”. And now I will get a better understanding of how our digital natives think. ”

Dear Parents,

Today, all of us were taking turns, students and teachers. Even though we were far away from each other, the excitement of the on-screen meetings was strong. The first experience of the virtual lessons has shown us that WE CAN provide continuity in the learning process.

Once again it has been proven that children find it easiest to adapt, and we, the others, are following in their footsteps. The four virtual lessons today gave us all a sense of pride and relief due to the enthusiasm, punctuality and seriousness of the children.

We have tested many educational theories today: virtual reality learning, cooperative learning, learning by doing, gradual transfer of responsibility, differentiated instruction, flexible grouping and a growth mindset.

Sofia was so eager to go live that she started chatting on Tuesday. Maya has shown us how great it is to be on stage, especially when you are ‘multitasking’. Ștefan walked us around the world with Virtual Screen Background. Theodora has used almost all the devices to make sure she knows what to do. Edi and Robert are already juggling the Raise Hand and Lower Hand buttons. Alex let himself be conquered by the magic buttons Mute, Unmute and Annotate. Bogdan explained what happens on the screen when one of the participants speaks. Ada and Maya retweeted the theme details in the Stream window in Google Classroom. Ilinca and Ana overcame all the technical obstacles, managing to connect on ZOOM. Kara, Mara and David requested extra hours to improve their communication skills through Share Screen. Almost all of the children contributed to the simulation of a theme at PBL, using a digital design tool to be able to Submit and Turn in the theme.

Today is a historic day. I started to speak a new language and make new friends, using a new language. I think I will no longer be a “digital immigrant”. And now I will get a better understanding of how our digital natives think.

We couldn’t have done it without your help. Therefore, we thank you for your support and we invite you to give us a brief feedback, by accessing the form (hidden link)

We continue to communicate through Engage, Google Classroom, Whatsapp and ZOOM platforms.

With optimism,

Mari Nicolae

Virtual Form Tutor, Avenor College

Cristina Bumboiu, teacher and English Curriculum Leader at Avenor College, is one of the members of the leadership team involved in an international training programme dedicated to leaders in education. Today, Cristina tells us more about her project, “Improving Critical Thinking Skills”.

Avenor College: Can you briefly describe your project?

Cristina Bumboiu: Critical thinking translates into a clear and free mind. Learning a new skill does not happen through memorizing information, but through developing the ability to process and work information that we are exposed to. A lot of skills can come under the umbrella of critical thinking: from learning a new language, to understanding a cultural or social context which leads to the development of a certain culture. Therefore, my project is based on the use of “visible learning” strategies to help students select and then analyse the information to then externalise it in front of others. These are abilities that all citizens of the future will need on the road to success.

A.C.: How did you come up with the idea of ​​the project and how does it impact student’s academic life?

C.B.: I believe that in modern society the ability to think critically and to collaborate with others in the learning process has had and will continue to play an important role in the lives of current students – the entrepreneurs of the future. Critical thinking is an essential characteristic of one’s personal and/or professional life, as it helps in communicating ideas and understanding a wide range of concepts. Communication therefore becomes much clearer and more effective.

By developing this skill in school, it becomes much easier for students to create their own learning journeys and to shape their own future, as they have the ability to understand each and every new subject they encounter, they can make connections between information already acquired and new content, which helps them become confident in making their own choices.

A.C.: What are the results you are aiming for?

C.B.: The results I am aiming for go beyond the academic side of the students’ lives as the chosen activities will help them search and find the essence of each new information, beyond the surface. This means that they will be able to analyse any situation from multiple perspectives and to make informed decisions.

Finally, the development of critical thinking does not bring immediate benefits to the student only, but also to the community they are part of. They will be able, at the end of their academic career, to ask relevant questions without being afraid of the reaction of those around them, to support a point of view, to cooperate with their colleagues, to exchange ideas and to accept different points of view, these being some of the global characteristics of a 21st century citizen.

Together with Cristina Bumboiu, six other teachers from our school participate in the National Professional Qualification for Middle Leaders (NPQML) programme. This training helps them develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need in order to lead a performing team in an international school and to improve classroom practice. During the training programme, our teachers develop a project designed to meet a need of the department they represent. We invite you to read on our blog a series of interviews about the NPQML projects of the Avenor College teachers.

Another interview from the series: Learning Leadership: The Impact of Technology in the Classroom

Ana-Caterina, a 10 grade scholarship student at Avenor College, gives her top 3 reasons why she thinks you should apply for a scholarship at our school. We invite you to read them and to apply for a scholarship at Avenor College.

My name is Caterina and I’ve been a scholarship student at Avenor for a long time now. I can say that I consider myself an ‘Avenor Ambassador’ already. For you to have a better outlook, I think I can sum up and share my unique experience as an Avenor scholarship student through the top 3 highlights that made my school years at Avenor amazing from both an academic and personal perspective. I know that each academic journey is unique, but I know for sure that the years you will spend in our school will be amazing, both academically and personally.

• Develop your communication and leadership skills

The fact that the academic results of the Avenor College students are remarkable is already known, but I want to talk to you about how you can develop personally as a scholarship student in my school. Each scholarship project will teach you how to develop your personality, communication and leadership skills, and how to interact with many types of people. That, I think, is the key to this programme – to me, the Avenor College Scholarship offered me the opportunity to explore more aspects of my personality and to capitalize on every skill I acquired.

Starting from the fact that we have the benefit of choosing our own subjects, to the fact that teachers are never bothered when students express their opinions, all these things help us to build ourselves as genuine and sincere individuals towards ourselves, well rounded people, I would say. I believe that this is essential for the development as future citizens of the modern world.

• Your voice is heard by the school`s management

I realized how lucky we are because we had the opportunity to live experiences outside of “Our Avenor”. As scholarship students, we have amazing opportunities: we meet students from other schools, we are part of conferences and discussions with interesting people, top entrepreneurs, university teachers and personalities from all over the world. We travel and experience life on and off campus. These are some of our dearest memories. I remember fondly the moment when I participated in the Youth Summit Transylvania – a meeting of students from all over the world; of all the debate competitions and I remember with gratitude all the meetings with potential teachers in the school, to whom we had the opportunity to give feedback, we had the opportunity to choose for ourselves and on behalf of our school. As a student at Avenor College, it will be very clear to you that you are an important factor in the entire decision-making process.

•  Find your friends and mentors in the community

When I first started writing this “top 3”, I found myself thinking about what I really love about Avenor. It was very easy for me to find the answer: I love the community, the fact that my friends are here, the fact that my voice is heard here. Wherever I go in the world, Avenor will always be an important part of my personality and extremely dear to my heart. You, my future colleagues, will find your friends here and you will learn that it is very easy to trust people around you. When you have a relaxed relationship with your teachers, the learning process becomes easier and more efficient.

Even if I talk to you about the special community we have here in Avenor, and even though I consider it one of our most valuable assets as a school, I think that in each school there should be a sense of individuality for the students. Fortunately, students can find their individuality at Avenor. Each student is seen as an authentic individual, has opportunities folded on his abilities and each feels that he has a road ahead that is adapted to their dreams and passions.

Applications are now open for the Avenor College 2020-2021 Scholarship Programme. From December 9th, 2019 to January 24th, 2020 students from outside the Avenor community can enroll in this programme. This scholarship session is for middle school and high school students who are currently in Grades 6 and 7, respectively in Grade 8 (Year 9) and Grade 10 (Year) 11).

We invite you to find out details about the awarding of scholarships, criteria, registration and the schedule of the program for the 2020-2021 school year by accessing this link.