4 Pillars 4 the Future
2016-2017 "4 Pillars" Highlights
1st Semester Summary
Dear PAS Community:
As the 2nd semester of the 2016-2017 school year begins, we are enthusiastic to share a general overview of the 1st semester achievements, all aligning with our vision to "aspire to be a leading bilingual World School in Central America." This year, a total of 282 action steps are in place in the four areas of emphasis based on the strategic plan's "4 Pillars 4 the Future." Following are a few of the highlights, organized by Pillar:
Pillar #1: Curriculum & Instruction
A few additional general achievements from 1st semester include:
We look forward to all that is to come in the 2nd semester of the 2016-2017 school year!
Best,
Elizabeth Head
1st Semester Summary
Dear PAS Community:
As the 2nd semester of the 2016-2017 school year begins, we are enthusiastic to share a general overview of the 1st semester achievements, all aligning with our vision to "aspire to be a leading bilingual World School in Central America." This year, a total of 282 action steps are in place in the four areas of emphasis based on the strategic plan's "4 Pillars 4 the Future." Following are a few of the highlights, organized by Pillar:
Pillar #1: Curriculum & Instruction
- Successful NEASC Re-Accreditation Visit
- Effective preparation of 1st IB Class to graduate in June 2017, first 12th grade class, and first class to graduate with international calendar
- Effective integration of current 11th grade students in the IB program
- Decision made to proceed with the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) authorization for grades 6-10, and MYP Coordinator named
- Decision made to proceed with the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) application for Primary grades; this process will take 2-3 years for full implementation.
- Decision made to implement the Reggio Emilia philosophy and approach in ECE for August 2017; initial training completed for the majority of ECE teachers
- All Secondary teachers IB trained in their specific areas
- Creation of the position of College and Career Counselor
- Creation of the position of Instructional Coach in Secondary for developing and maintaining highly effective teachers
- Implementation of a learning support component for students in co-curriculars
- Installation of Science Lab for Primary
- Hosted the 14th annual Model UN Conference with over 400 students in attendance, including 100 Pan-American students
- Achievement of the 5th (and highest) star of the national Bandera Azul ecological program for the 3rd consecutive year
- Continued involvement by staff in the Service Learning program; each staff member assigned to a grade level to participate with students in service projects
- Creation of the Community Service course for 6th-10th grade students, based on the IB Middle Years Program
- Development of new CAS projects for grades 11-12: Student Chirripó, AASCA, Student Newspaper, CAS COHP Haiti, Student Organization of Graduation. Additional projects assigned to grades 9-10: Reading Club and Carbon Neutral Campus.
- Service Accomplishments from Student Organizations:
- Teletón: 1,302,000 colones
- Boxes of Love: 150 boxes distributed to the Pozos Community
- Gifts for maintenance and security staff: 20
- Collection of backpacks for public schools
- Delivery of 50 Christmas presents for the Escuela República de Francia
- Collection of food items for those affected by Hurricane Otto
- Development of “PAS No Plastic” program
- MUN donation to benefit COHP Haiti trip: $2000
- Music workshop offered to children with special needs at the Escuela República de Francia
- Implementation of the technological, micro-credential “Badges” program in Primary, Secondary, and for PAS Staff
- Purchase of new wireless network to be installed February 2017
- 95% increase in bandwidth for the institution
- Purchase of Google Chromebooks for 5th grade, which allow for a distribution of one computer device per student in grades 3, 4, and 5; in Pre-Kinder – 2nd grade, there is one device for every two students.
- Purchase of touch screen Chromebooks for Technology classes (Prep – 3rd grade)
- Purchase of new mixing board for the sound system in the main gym and installation of sound system in the gym annex
- Participation by Primary students in the worldwide Hour of Code event in December focused on computer programming. During third term, students will focus on learning to code in Technology classes.
- Purchase of school-assigned Macbooks for teachers
- Implementation of Google Classroom
- Implementation of Secondary Fitness program
- Implementation of Secondary competitive sports program in the mornings, with an increase in student participation of 67%
- Implementation of additional competitive sports teams; girls’ and boys’ teams are now available in soccer, basketball, volleyball and cross country
- In sports competitions, PAS won 2nd place in ACEP tournament for female soccer, 2nd place in ACTION Boys basketball, and 1st place in the Viking’s Cup for the B and C Primary soccer teams and 2nd place with the A team.
- Participation of Primary students in their first Cheerleading competition
- Installation of gymnasium wall padding
- Installation of industrial-sized fan in the gym
- Installation of professional volleyball system
- Installation of new netting around the Primary synthetic field
- Installation of temporary changing rooms and showers for fitness program
- Change of administration of the cafeteria (Ana Salazar Catering)
A few additional general achievements from 1st semester include:
- 100 new students have enrolled in PAS so far during the 2016-2017 school year.
- The Primary Office has been renovated over the Christmas Break.
- The Co-curricular office has been relocated to the Primary Office along with Maria López, the co-curricular coordinator.
- Buses: There is a new bus administration assistant, higher power radios were installed, several bus model year upgrades were made, and new routes were implemented.
- New structure was built for the ECE synthetic soccer field.
- Maintenance workshop was moved to the back parking lot.
- Decision was made to remodel the gym so that it functions as a multi-purpose auditorium - to be completed during 2nd semester of 2016-2017 school year.
We look forward to all that is to come in the 2nd semester of the 2016-2017 school year!
Best,
Elizabeth Head