by Angie Briceño | Mar 27, 2020
As of today we have been in online learning for a few weeks now, which as everyone knows is necessary due to the difficult situation the world is currently in. However, we want to take this moment to congratulate all teachers, parents, but especially students who have maintained such an excellent attitude through this transition. None of this would be possible without the positive and energetic attitude that students have shown in response to this emergency.
Futuro Verde was able to quickly mobilize all of this online learning thanks to the constant training that teachers and administrative staff have received. We’ve had the opportunity to be part of an organization called Principal’s Training Center (PTC), an international organization that specializes in training, coaching, and sharing tools and guidelines with schools around the globe. Thanks to this connection we have been able to respond quickly to an emergency like this one. We have experienced a supportive environment where we receive resources that are being implemented in other schools in Costa Rica and around the world.
The resources and guidelines that we have implemented are adapted for online learning; that is, we have adequate rubrics and assignments, and have implemented tools so that the educational process of the students is not affected. Teachers are adopting and using these tools. Both parents and teachers will be receiving technology tips that will help continue this process. We invite both students and parents to take the initiative and use these tools to connect with classroom teachers.
Despite the difficulty we have encountered in switching to online learning, it brings certain benefits that will stay with our students for a lifetime: the development of skills such as self-discipline, patience, effort, and time management.
by Lural Ramirez | Mar 26, 2020
At Futuro Verde there are six formal grade reporting periods. These grading periods are divided into three trimesters with a formal report card at the end of each trimester and a midterm report sent home 6 to 7 weeks into each trimester. All grade reports are completed collaboratively by all teachers who work with each student and they are intended to inform parents of their child’s progress academically as well as to comment on progress in skills related to social-emotional development and self-management. This year, midterm reports were emailed to parents as the date for parent receipt of midterms coincided with our transition to an online learning program model as a part of our COVID-19 protocol.
As a parent, it is best to use midterm reports in the following ways:
- Understand how your child is evolving and progressing academically. What academic areas are strengths for your child? Is your child struggling in any way academically?
- Understand the specifics related to your child’s social-emotional development. Is your child relating well to others? Are they demonstrating pro-social behaviors with peers and adults?
- Is your child organized, independent in their study habits and able to self-manage? This will often show up as a comment in regards to turning in assignments or as a general comment from teachers.
What should you do with what the midterm tells you?
- If your child is struggling academically please schedule a meeting as soon as possible with the subject teacher, CREW teacher or the academic or assistant director. Now is the time to act and to intervene to help your child get back on track!
Even though we are in an online learning program right now, you can still schedule a Zoom or Skype meeting with school staff. To do so, simply email the teacher or administrator you would like to speak with.
- If your child is having any social or emotional struggles, please request a meeting with the school psychologist, Massiel, in order to make a plan for support and intervention. Social-emotional development and care is essential to development and learning and must be prioritized if your child has needs in this area.
Again, even though we are in an online learning program right now, you can still schedule a Zoom or Skype meeting with Massiel. To do so, simply email her to set up a time to talk.
- If you are seeing that your child is not progressing along recommended developmental processes related to independence and self-management, please make sure to identify this need and address it. Our goal as parents are to support our children in becoming independent and functional citizens who are positive contributors to society. This development happens little by little over the years and delays in development should be addressed immediately in order to help children be successful at all ages and stages.
As we are in the midst of online learning as we speak, it is ever more clear that it takes a village to raise a child and the triangular support system of school, parents and student must work in close unison for optimal development and growth over time! Thank you for supporting your child while they complete their social distancing and school work from home and thank you for consistently working in conjunction with our school to help your child reach his/her fullest potential!
by Angie Briceño | Feb 28, 2020
As many of you have already heard, the year 2020 marks the beginning of our new Model United Nations Club as one of our extracurricular activities. We have already successfully completed the process of admitting students to the club and are very excited to announce the various activities we are organizing, as well as the conferences we will be participating in throughout the school year.
Here are some important dates regarding the Model U.N. Club:
- During the months of April and May we will be collaborating with SEK International School in San Jose with the goal of having informative training sessions for our MUN Club students.
- We will collaborate with La Paz Community School, a school in the Guanacaste area to conduct training sessions.
- On August 29th and 30th, we will be attending the first inter-school conference at the East MUN Conference, where students from Model U.N. clubs across the country are participating.
- On September 25th, 26th and 27th we will be attending the national CRIMUN conference in San Jose.
- Our last event will be participating and collaborating with the Model United Nations Club at United World Colleges (UWC).
It is very inspiring that our participating students can be part of this great opportunity. Not only will they develop skills throughout the learning process such as formal writing skills, public speaking, and debate, among others, but they will also be able to get to know new places and make new friends.
by Khalida Lockheed | Feb 25, 2020
At Futuro Verde, being an IB school means teaching students to think independently, encouraging engagement with local issues in a global context, and valuing both personal and academic achievement. While our IB Diploma Program students may take a several pathways to graduation, all Futuro Verde students benefit from being an IB World School.
Research shows that the IB Diploma Program stands out for factors such as university preparedness, enrollment and achievement, academic persistence, critical thinking, and higher education outcomes. According to a study from 2013, IB high school graduates from the USA were 2 times more likely to attend and ultimately graduate from a four year university than the average US national graduate. The most notable reason that IB Diploma Program graduates persist at university and ultimately graduate at higher rates than non-IB graduates is their preparation for juggling university coursework. Most notably, the areas of time management, study skills and writing (think Extended Essay!) were highlighted by university students who had graduated with the IBDP as being the most helpful.
On the whole, research shows that the IB DP graduates outperform non IB graduates from across all advanced high school programs worldwide, be it A levels or AP. Part of the reason for this is the integrated nature of the curriculum, with the Core (Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and CAS) requiring critical thinking, research experience, time management, and civic mindedness. Another part is the academic rigor. In a global study of a comparison between the mathematics course offerings of the DP and five other advanced qualifications from around the world, researchers found that “IB’s further mathematics HL was determined to be the most cognitively demanding course of the curriculums examined.” Further evidence of the academic rigor may be deduced from a study conducted in the USA this year which showed that average SAT scores among IB students, as compared to their non-IB peers, were over 100 points higher!
Finally, in summary of the value of the IB Diploma for university attendance rates, university selectiveness, and university performance, research finds that:
Former DP students in the United States (US) are significantly more likely to attend a ‘selective’ or ‘highly selective’ institution compared to the average US college-goer.
In the UK, they are more than twice as likely attend a top 20 university than the average A level student.
Minority and low income IB students from Chicago Public Schools were shown to go on to university at significantly higher rates than a matched control group of their non-IB peers of similar academic ability.
Feedback collected from a wide range of IB graduates suggests that IB students have an easier time adjusting to university studies.
Surveys of university and college admissions staff in the US, the European Union (EU) and Australia show that these professionals are both familiar with the programme and hold it in very high esteem compared to other qualifications.
An analysis of the recognition policies of the top universities in the US reveals that most of these institutions grant credit or advanced standing for high performance in DP courses.
http://www.ibo.org/research
by Angie Briceño | Feb 24, 2020
Throughout the 2020 school year, you might notice some changes and improvements within our preschool department. We are starting off the school year with our two spacious, improved and cooler classrooms, where our youngest students can enjoy learning in each developmental area. The preschoolers will learn through movement-based and music activities, explore the texture area, observe, create, and develop their own ideas in the area of thinking and expand their love of reading in the areas of language and literature.
The teachers have worked hard, as they do every year, to make this year’s preschool department a learning experience each and every day. In each of these learning areas the children will develop skills that allow them to be lifelong learners: thinking skills, making connections between learning and life, exploration, observation, and more. The beauty of the process is that through learning histories, which teachers create by documenting the learning process through photos, videos, and observation, parents will be able to feel closer to their children’s learning.
We will also have teachers who are working with our youngest children at Futuro Verde to further strengthen students’ love of language and literature. We look forward to seeing you on Back to School Night so that you can explore these areas and more with your child in the preschool department!
by Khalida Lockheed | Feb 4, 2020
After the successful completion of our very first IB Generation in 2019, a new year ushers in a new group of IB candidates – our rising 11th graders! This diverse group of first-year diploma students, both old and new to Futuro Verde, joins our second-year diploma students to comprise our 2020 IB cohort. This year’s group comes well prepared for the challenges ahead, thankful for the advice and experience of our recent graduates, and enthusiastic for the preparation and growth the Diploma Program provides.
With this new IB generation comes a new IB coordinator!
While change can be uncomfortable, it inevitably also provides an opportunity for growth. I come to this position both delighted and enthusiastic for the fresh challenge and equally humble about my service to the students and the school. I am thankful for the continued support from our departing IB Coordinator, Stuart, and from the rest of the leadership team at Futuro Verde as I learn the ins and outs of this specialized position. I look forward to supporting our IB students to maximize their success, and to refining and continuing to grow the Futuro Verde IB program.
Other associated changes to our program include IB History taught by Karol Madrigal for our Group 3 offering, in place of Business Management. And, in addition, I will also be coordinating Diploma Program Extended Essay. However, for this self-directed research paper students will continue to choose the best suited Supervisor based on the subject matter for their Extended Essay. Finally, the focus at Futuro Verde, ultimately, remains preparation for higher education and success at the university level. For each student the individual pathway may look slightly different, and we offer several options within the IB framework. Successful completion of high school at FV is attainable for all our students!
