By Karel van der Linden
Deputy Head of Primary
It is with great pleasure that I can share with our Northbridge International School Cambodia community about an organization and initiative that is close to my heart as an educator. It is my firm belief that the students of today will become the agents of change to create and foster a better world for all.
Additionally, as NISC is an IB PYP school, one of our core aims is to develop values within our students and their belief that they can take action and give back to society, to create a better future. We are fully aware of our responsibilities as educators that we are educating and developing students who will become future leaders.
What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
As UNICEF state:
“The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 to end poverty, reduce inequality and build more peaceful, prosperous societies by 2030. Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs call for a world where no one is left behind. UNICEF works with governments, partners and other UN agencies to help countries ensure the Goals deliver results for every child – now and for generations to come.”
(source: https://www.unicef.org/sustainable-development-goals)
Examples of SDGs include no poverty, zero hunger and gender equality – all are aspirational goals that we would want to see our young learners at NISC champion for themselves and others.
By aligning with UNICEF and incorporating the SDGs into our learning and units of inquiry, this is a fantastic way to bring to the attention of our students the challenges all of us may face and spur them into thinking about how they can tackle these challenges now and as they grow older.
For example, in Grade 3, the students are currently exploring how their choices can affect their health and well-being, which could align brilliantly with the SDG of good health and well-being, expanding the focus of their inquiry.
There are multiples ways that the teachers and key staff can integrate or incorporate the SDGs into the learning at NISC, and one of our aims for this academic year in the Primary school is to create strong curriculum links and learning opportunities centered on or aligned with the SDGs.
Every student at NISC has the potential to create their future but to shape the futures of others, and by incorporating the SDGs into our curriculum, our intention is to nurture the leadership and values within our students that we would want to see in our society.
I strongly urge families to research the SDGs and UNICEF to learn more about them.
Photo: Grade 5 students donate goods and visit Northbridge community partner People Improvement Organization (PIO).
When people think about leadership, what often comes to mind are the concepts of power, decision making, delegating and innovation. Seldom does one think about care, empathy, kindness, and generosity – however these traits that highlight the emotional skills for successful and effective leadership, including by students at Northbridge International School Cambodia, are just as important.
What are the Primary Arts all about? Is it just a load of fun and messing around? It is fun, which is why we love it but there is so much more to the programme than some people might think.
Take a visit to our early learning spaces at Northbridge International School Cambodia, both inside and out, and you will observe a wealth of play activities happening. Students are interacting in playing on their own (solo play), playing with the same thing or in the same space (mirrored play) or sharing together (collaborative play).
