International PYP Consultant visits the Lower School

As part of our school’s implementation of the PYP/ Primary Years Program, international PYP consultant Mr. Hewa Thompson visited the RFS Lower School earlier this month to share his expertise on implementing the PYP curriculum.

Mr. Thompson is originally from New Zealand, and is currently the Principal of the International School of Azerbaijan. Before starting his current post, he was the Head of School at Wroclaw International School in Poland, and he has been involved with the International Baccalaureate for a number of years.

With his grand experience at IB schools, Mr. Thompson will be giving his comments to the Lower School's PYP-Coordinator Duha Masri and the school's administration regarding the PYP curriculum now being implemented for all our Lower School grades.

Mr. Thompson spent two days at the Lower School visiting classrooms and sitting in on different lessons for all grades LKG through 5th. He attended a Monday Chapel Meeting about the PYP and the IB Learner's Profile.

The school also set up meetings for the consultant with parents and Board of Trustees members, separately, to speak with them about their comments and concerns regarding the PYP. He spoke with teachers and students as well, while visiting classes on all subjects including Arts, Arabic and English languages, Music, Science, Library, Technology and others.

Fourth graders spoke with Mr. Thompson about their upcoming iMovie projects on Palestinian culture and traditions, in their technology class, while second graders showed him how they practice animal noises on low and high pitch in their Music class.

Fifth and third graders showed Mr. Thompson how they work in groups, according to PYP standards, as learning communities. As for our youngest students, in KG, they enthusiastically showed off their Learner’s Profile traits.