Understanding the importance of co-curricular activities for our Grade 8 Northbridge students

Understanding the importance of co-curricular activities for our Grade 8 Northbridge students As the first semester draws to a close, it is with a sense of achievement that we look back over what has been accomplished thus far. As the crucial midpoint in their MYP journey, Northbridge International School Cambodia Grade 8 students have been worked well at striking a balance between academic requirements and co curricular commitments.

As the first semester draws to a close, it is with a sense of achievement that we look back over what has been accomplished thus far. As the crucial midpoint in their MYP journey, Northbridge International School Cambodia Grade 8 students have been worked well at striking a balance between academic requirements and co curricular commitments.

Students participated successfully in sports tournaments both at home and away as well as took part in regional activities such as the Nord Anglia South East Asia STEAM festival in Thailand and travelled to Switzerland to be part of the Global Campus trekking activities.

Closer to home our students participated successfully in the ISPP Model United Nations conference where they debated, passed resolutions and were recognized for their high level of performance as delegates in the Junior Model United Nations (JMUN).

All roundedness is the theme of modern education which recognizes that when the child comes to the school, he or she comes for mental, physical and social education and as such he or she must be educated and nourished in all of them. This is what we aim to do to our Grade 8 Northbridge students. 

Participating in co curricular activities, be it a sport, performing arts, service or community outreach forms part of the IB requirement of Service and Action which it has been shown to enhance academic performance. Students who lead a balanced school life, where co curricular compliments academic studies, learn effectively and develop into well balanced individuals.

Crucially such participation assists students in developing and refining  their personality, leading to them improving their communication, debating and public speaking skills, and increases their sense of belonging in their peer groups.

This link provides more information on research and current thinking about this topic.

In the first semester in the International Life Skills (ILS) course, Grade 8 students learned about self regulation and safety online, digital citizenship and the dangers the internet poses, and mental health which provided our students with strategies to cope with the demands of their academic and social lives.

By looking at environmental awareness through the NAE Global Campus students were able to understand their role as citizens of the world they live in. They then looked at World Children’s Day and how it impacts children in Cambodia. 

In advisory Grade 8 students looked through the lens of self evaluation at body image, stress and anxiety and how to cope with them. The MYP Approaches To Learning social skills of planning and time management were discussed in depth while bullying, conflict resolution, as well as the dangers to their mental and physical health of vaping were discussed and studied, since this is a growing problem affecting our students.

Go to this link for more information.

We ended the semester by informing students of the upcoming Mission in Action (MIA) trip to Siem Riep which will be the highlight of Semester 2. There they will be visiting a ceramics workshop, attend a mini workshop at the Phare Circus and connect with a service activity that provides housing for low income families.

The trip will be an invaluable experience for our students as it will emphasise the importance of working as a team and building and strengthening relationships while engaging students in service action.

We are confident that next semester will be equally enriching and developing for our Grade students where the focus in ILS will be on Nearpod Common Sense Media Lessons and a deeper study of Health and how it is impacted by dietary and lifestyle choices, while in Advisory/Homeroom we will be furthering our study and discussion on developing and strengthening a Growth Mindset.