Empathy Week at WIS
Schools globally, this week have been focusing on the theme of Empathy. Empathy Week 2021 is an invitation for young people across the world to put empathy into action, developing the skills of leadership and resilience along the way. Together, we are building the #EmpathyGeneration.
As one of only a handful of schools globally to be a Fellowship School for High Performance Learning (HPL); Empathy is deeply engrained in our curriculum at WIS. Mr. Sharratt; Head of Lower School states “At WIS, our focus is on a more caring classroom that helps create a healthier, more positive learning environment where students feel safe, settled and secure. This enables students to develop their resilience and be more inclined to take risks in both classroom and play-based activities”.
As students’ progress through the Lower School they focus more explicitly on the HPL Values, Attitudes and Attributes (VAA’s), where ‘Empathy’ continues to play a vital role in their social and emotional development. This encourages them to be more collaborative in their approach to lessons, working in teams, deeply valuing the views and opinions of their peers, as Janet Khambhati from Year 2 explains; “Empathy is about understanding each other and working together. It also helps you to believe in your knowledge and yourself”.
Empathy outside the classroom continues to grow from strength to strength in our sporting endeavours, most recently highlighted by the development of our new sports brand ‘The WIS Wildcats’. Hannah Underhill; Director of Sport and Health explains “At WIS, we are a team, and as the picture states: ‘We play as one’. However, what makes us great is that we are all individuals working towards the same goal - to be the best we can be! Every child has different needs, likes, dislikes, strengths and areas for improvement and one of our aims within PE and sport at WIS is to ensure that students are able to recognise that every member of our team has something to offer.”
We make it our priority here at school to ensure that students are provided with opportunities to be empathetic learners. By working collaboratively in groups and teams to solve problems and complete challenges, in which they can only succeed if they listen to; and value each other’s opinions, students help each other to achieve a common goal.
Students in the IB students prepare themselves for life after WIS by developing a more profound concern for society whilst completing the ‘Creativity, Activity and Service’ (CAS) element of their course, with some of our students currently working with Rulala Creations, to support the education of children in Palestine.
Our 'Eyeitiative’ which aims to help underprivileged children in India without access to appropriate vision care (ophthalmologists/ amenities such as spectacles), is another example of how WIS students go above and beyond in relation to their support for the global community. The project aims to collect glasses no longer in use, retrofit them and donate them to children, following free eye checks.
Additionally, in a remarkable demonstration of selflessness one of our students has even donated their hair to ‘Little Princess’ to make wigs for those in need. This continued theme of welfare has been further enhanced in school this week as Year 12 student Kani Ahmadpour explains “As part of the student body, we recognize how important empathy is as a skill, especially at this uncertain time. As a result, through our understanding of supporting others, we planned a wellbeing day with teachers for Y12 and Y13 students in order to best support students' emotional health”
Professor Deborah Eyre; Founder and Chair of High-Performance Learning has been highly impressed with the lengths WIS students have gone to in order to showcase Empathy across school; remarking “If you want to perform highly in any subject or sport you need to understand both yourself and also others. If you can see things from another person’s point of view then it helps you anticipate their actions and reactions, think of new ideas for yourself and become more creative. Students at GEMS Wellington International School clearly demonstrate ‘Empathy’ in abundance”
To find out more about Empathy Week 2021 visit https://www.empathy-week.com/ or watch the video here.
More Stories
-
‘Danny’s Mystery Unlocked’ by Arnav
Arnav in Year 5 is a author who published his first book called 'book ‘Danny’s Mystery Unlocked’ which can be found on Amazon India . Arnav also speaks to his fellow peers about bullying and gives his tips on writing a book.
-
At the ‘Fore’ Front of Golfing Excellence
Dominic Morton, Year 10 student, is excelling in golf after years of practice and determination. He was recently given the opportunity to play in the Pro-Am, professional golf event, at Jumeirah Golf Estates and played really well.
-
John Haffar - Sport Scholar
John Haffar is another one of our Sport Scholars. His main sport is basketball, but he is also a sporting enthusiast and takes part in many other sporting activities.
-
Christina Rach - Sport Scholar
Meet one of our Sports Scholars, Christina Rach. She specialises in Swimming and Basketball. Click here to read Christina's comments.
-
IB Results Day
As we prepare for IB Results Day on Tuesday 6th July, we look back on last year’s amazing results.
-
The Power of Induction
Induction is something that we sustain throughout the year, offering continuous opportunities for development.
-
Student Voice
Student voice, and the engagement of it at WIS, is vital to the ongoing growth of the school, and provides the drive and continuation of our pursuit for excellence.
-
Connecting the Skills of HPL to the IB Learner Profile
As a High Performance Learning School, WIS ensures that HPL values, skills and attitudes are embedded into the culture of teaching and learning from Foundation Stage up to and including Year 11.
-
Personalised Learning
At WIS our personalised learning takes many different forms and allows us to give the children a rich curriculum filled with opportunities.
-
Personalised Planning Process
As teachers we dedicate a great deal of time into carefully orchestrating these moments so that every student continues to succeed and grow.
-
Student Leadership
At GEMS Wellington International School our aim is to develop the next generation of world-changing, change-inspiring leaders by providing our students with opportunities to develop their leadership potential.
-
Working at Greater Depth Explained
The phrase ‘Working at Greater Depth’ appears frequently within the National Curriculum framework, but what does the term actually mean?
-
How to be Agile
The HPL Agile VAA is something we place a huge amount of emphasis on. Our students are well rounded 21st century learners who are open-minded enterprising risk takers, approaching tasks with flair, confidence and creativity.
-
One Year On; Principal's Article
In March 2020 the KHDA moved all schools into ‘Distance Learning’ mode. This took schools into unknown territory and perhaps an initial sense of panic.
-
What it means to be Hardworking
As one of the High-Performance Learning ‘Values, Attitudes and Attributes (VAAs), ‘Hardwork’ is deeply rooted in our learning culture. A trait that is widely considered to be inherently personality based, we firmly believe it is a characteristic that can be taught, developed and ultimately mastered to ensure that students are the drivers of their own success, knowing that dedication to a skill, craft or discipline can bring about the most amazing rewards and accolades.
-
Launching the WIS Wildcats
Our new PE and Sports brand, was designed by our very own Lara Moutran, and voted for by you! Whether you want to part of a sports squad, our media team, or you simply want to lead a healthy, active lifestyle we are all part of the same team, and we can’t wait for what’s to come. Click here to read more:
-
Developing a performance mindset culture
At GEMS Wellington International School in Dubai, they have been using HPL to help them to develop a performance mindset culture over the last academic year.
-
GEMS X Noon Winners 2020
We are so proud of our Global Innovation GEMS X Noon Winners 2020, Janvi Gupta, Nikhita Singh and Sangini Agarwal from Year 9.
