Page 32 - Quintile_37 web

32 • • • Issue 37 • QSI Quintile

TAJiKiSTAn

QSI International School of Dushanbe

Play Structure half stood on the wobbly structure, securing the relationships
roof to the tall poles. There were a few nail-biting
This is the story of the QSI International School moments, but the roof was installed. At QSI International School of Dushanbe,
of Dushanbe Play Structure. When the school community relationships are very important.
received its shipment from the United States in During the seven Saturdays it took, there was However, getting the whole school to interact can be
August, primarily filled with textbooks, teaching a lot of laughter, only a few minor injuries, some a challenge. To combat this, the school implemented
tools, and office supplies, we also received two strong debate, and in the end a coming together Houses based on our school’s mascot, the
special packages. One contained the parts for a that resulted in a finished product. Hierofalcon. There are four Houses, and every staff
free-standing 8-by-12-foot climbing wall. The member and student—from 2-year-olds through
second was a large play structure. This is what Could we have hired people to erect the Secondary IVs—are involved. These Houses help
our preschool and elementary students had been structure? Sure. We did so with the climbing wall. serve multiple purposes in our community, while
waiting for! But the question we asked ourselves is, would we engaging students through friendly competition.
be guaranteed that the structure would be put
together correctly? Considering how complicated The main purpose of these Houses is reinforcing
these instructions (in English) were, maybe not. So, the seven Success Orientations. Each student
we persevered. And, through it all, we had parents is able to earn points for their House based on
and staff return, Saturday after Saturday, to help see demonstrating an SO. This makes all students more
it through. actively aware of their behavior. Any student, at any
time, is capable of earning points for their House
We told you this story not only because we from a staff member regardless of if that student
want you to know that we have an awesome play and staff member have anything in common. Staff
structure, but because of what its journey represents. simply ask the student which House they are in,
This story represents the nature and strength of and tell them that their outstanding behavior has
our Community. It represents the helpfulness and just earned their House points. Students embody
friendliness of the people in Dushanbe. All of that is the Success Orientations more consistently because
reflected in QSI International School of Dushanbe they know that any staff member could reward
(and our playground). them for a job well done. Point totals are then
displayed in our common area for all students to
see, sparking interest in who is this week’s leader,
or to comment on if any House had a sudden burst
report of good behavior.

The Secondary program at QSI Dushanbe has
seen tremendous growth in the past four years.
Our school has moved from a primarily online
course-driven high school program of seven
students, to a vibrant community of learning.
In the past two years, we have welcomed subject
area teachers in the Sciences, Mathematics,
Cultural Studies, Literacy and Writing. We’ve also
welcomed a number of new secondary students.
The majority of secondary classes are now offered
in a “face-to-face” classroom forum. This exciting
transition allows them exposure to project-
based and cooperative learning. Our goal of
transitioning students from the online format to
classroom instruction has also effectively attracted
more families with teenage children to the school.
Registration of secondary students is up almost
100%. Classrooms this year have engaged in
science lab-based lessons, Socratic seminars, and The second purpose of the House system is
peer editing. Students have reported a general to involve all members of our school community
feeling of success and satisfaction with their with other students not in their age group, by
education. Many students who had suffered from giving them a common, connecting thread.
“math-phobia” report much more confidence now Once a month, the entire school gathers with the
The size of the containers was not daunting, but that they are not taking online courses. Their members of their House for House Gatherings,
the installation booklet was. Nevertheless, with an classroom experience offers extended support, and where students participate in activities within
optimistic heart we put out the first request for parent opportunities to grow and master the material. their House, or with other Houses. These meetings
and staff volunteers. We calculated that it would take alternate between individual House meetings and
us three Saturdays to get the play structure up. We All-House meetings. Individual House meetings
unpacked the boxes of hardware, and had the holes are a great time for students of each House to bond
dug for the main poles. We were ready! with each other through smaller activities, while
All-House meetings are a time for the students to
A handful of parents and an equal number of compete against each other in different activities.
staff showed up for the first venture. There was a
lot of debate, many opinions, and some progress, House events have been a wonderful way
but not much. It became quickly apparent that this for students to interact. Different age groups get
was complicated. Several people got their hands on together to complete a task that they earn additional
the installation booklet, but it was quite technical. points for. The activities are age-appropriate, so all
For the next several weeks we plugged along students feel involved and successful while working
every weekend, making slow progress, sometimes with their peers. These activities have brought
having to redo what we had already done—raising As our campus spreads to incorporate its together students from different age levels to work
platforms, lowering platforms. Every week we fourth building, the secondary and middle grade together toward a common goal.
had some new parent faces, a group of returning programs at QSI Dushanbe continue to stretch
parents, and a consistent set of staff who devoted in other ways. Outside of the classroom, the This is the first year QSI Dushanbe has enacted
a significant part of their Saturdays to the project. Student Council is gearing up to hold elections the House system, and the changes have been
Slowly, the instructions began to make sense, and and pursue student-focused and directed QSID immediately noticeable. Our younger students are
slowly the structure began to take shape. community programs. Cross-country ran again more comfortable with the older students, instead
this year, and Model United Nations will make of shying away. Our students of different ages have
We developed our working vocabulary. Torque, a debut. Badminton and basketball are in the more interactions because they are part of the
ratchet, hex wrench, bolt, and level became regular pipeline for winter, and offer students many ways same House. Most important, Success Orientation
parts of our conversation. We had to bring in a to grow in perseverance, responsibility, skill, and awareness has become a consistent, school-wide
crane to lift a roof structure. The truck required athleticism. In April, QSI Dushanbe will also be mindset. Even now, we can feel the excitement from
that half of our parent and staff volunteers stand fielding its first Week Without Walls excursion students wondering what the next House event
on the back of it as a counterweight, while the other in four years. might be!