Page 26 - Quintile_37 web

26 • • • Issue 37 • QSI Quintile

mACeDOniA

QSI International School of Skopje

“I learned a lot about improvisation.” (13-year-old
student)
music, music, music… “It teaches me empathy and the emotions of others.”
(13-year-old student)
“Music is probably the only real magic I have
encountered in my life. There’s not some trick
involved with it. It’s pure and it’s real. It moves, it
heals, it communicates and does all these incredible Quality—Focus—results!
things.” —Tom Petty
The first thought that comes to mind when
QSI International School of Skopje commits describing the QSI Skopje Secondary School is
itself to encouraging students to become “family.” The school is small enough to ensure
independent learners and musicians, allowing that no one falls through the cracks; no one is left
them to enjoy their instruments long past their behind; no one bullies or is bullied; and no one’s
middle and secondary schooling. In the early elementary years, homeroom potential goes unnoticed. QSI Skopje is small
teachers use drama to explore literacy, mathematics, enough that, like in the TV Cheers cafe, it’s a place
Our motto is, “Have fun while you learn!” We science, and cultural studies concepts, and students “where everybody knows your name.”
incorporate most of the learning objectives while often perform for the school and parents during
playing the students’ favorite popular songs. At the Community Time, when we meet with the whole The Literature curriculum in high school is
beginning of the school year, each student chooses school and parents. geared not only to developing a student’s awareness
an instrument to play. The choices are piano, guitar, of and appreciation for literature, but also to
bass guitar, drums and voice. For the upper elementary students through developing the students’ critical and higher-order
to Secondary School, we offer a drama class thinking skills. Our students know how to question
Students learn how to play in a band, which once a week, in which students are taught and to evaluate, how to investigate and to argue,
develops their listening skills, individual preparation, specific performance skills. They collaborate and how to assess and how to persuade.
and allows them to share their performance abilities participate in more advanced theater work, devise
with band members and audiences. The school dramas for performance, and continue to explore A small school is perfectly matched to mastery
organizes Open Stage nights three times a year, cross-curricular ideas through drama workshops. learning, as teachers have the time, resources,
during which students play in front of their parents, energy, and personal connection to dedicate to
teachers, and other community members. We strongly All drama classes are workshop-based, with the individual progress of each student. A student
believe that the more students practice and perform, practical applications of performance skills may well prefer Physics to Literature, or Drama to
the more successful they will be in any subject area and specific learning intentions. Students study Mathematics, but they can all discuss Macbeth,
or extracurricular activity. We work to develop acting techniques, character development, stage perform in our Spring Show, play an instrument or
leadership skills in each child. Student-directed help conventions, group collaboration, improvisation two at Open Stage and argue about the comparative
sessions (peer tutoring) are also part of these lessons. skills, play-building, storytelling, and theater advantages of electoral models.
genres.
Playing in a band is an excellent way to At the end of it all, they disperse throughout the
demonstrate mastery learning, as students can At QSI Skopje, we give all students the world, but still email from their universities in the
understand and hear the progress they make while opportunity to perform in the Macedonian Netherlands, the UK, or elsewhere, remembering
learning new melodies and songs. National Theater as part of a whole-school the time they spent with their “family” in Skopje.
production twice a year. Drama is integrated And like their families, we keep their photos on the
with music and movement in these shows, so wall, and celebrate their successes with them.
students have firsthand experience with integrated
drama Program performing arts. As a small school, we are able to
include every child in each performance—and we
At QSI International School of Skopje, the focus on the creative process of these shows, not Foreign languages
performing arts are integral to every student’s just the final outcome. As a result, students are
school experience. Through our integrated drama always enthusiastic, and enjoy participating in “With languages, you are at home anywhere.”—
program, students are given the opportunity to the rehearsals, as well as in the final show. We are Edward De Waal
learn and develop important life skills, to grow in committed to developing a love of the performing
confidence, and to deepen their understanding of arts in all students, and to giving them a variety In a spirit of mobility and multiculturalism,
the world. of theatrical experiences. Previous shows include the Foreign Language Department Program of
Mulan Jr., Fiddler on the Roof, The Twits, How to QSI Skopje offers instruction at various levels of
Drama is inherently educational, and develops Succeed in High School Without Really Trying, proficiency (from beginner to mother-tongue), in
higher-order thinking and social skills. When and other student-devised plays. six foreign languages: French, Spanish, German,
participating in drama activities, students need Italian, Intensive English and Macedonian.
to cooperate with others, problem-solve, explore What students are saying about drama at QSI:
emotions, and develop empathy. Performing By developing tailor-made programs for
arts foster reasoning and creative thinking, as “I enjoy being able to play different roles” (Secondary everyone, Foreign Language teachers respond
well as motivation, concentration, and aesthetic School student) precisely to the needs and objectives of all QSI
appreciation. “I love the songs and dancing!” (12-year-old student) students.