School Climate & Culture
Our school culture generally refers to the beliefs, perceptions, relationships, attitudes, and written and unwritten rules that shape and influence every aspect of how Saint Georges school functions. Our culture encompasses more concrete issues such as the physical and emotional safety of students, the orderliness of classrooms and public spaces, or the degree to which a school embraces and celebrates all cultural occasions and students’ continuous successes.
Our positive school culture is conducive to professional satisfaction, morale, and effectiveness, as well as to student learning, fulfillment, and well-being. The following list is a representative selection of a few characteristics commonly associated with our positive school culture:
The individual successes of teachers and students are recognized and celebrated.
Relationships and interactions are characterized by openness, trust, respect, and appreciation.
Staff relationships are collegial, collaborative, and productive, and all staff members are held to high professional standards.
Students and staff members feel emotionally and physical safe, and the school’s policies and facilities promote student safety.
School leaders, teachers, and staff members model positive, healthy behaviors for students.
Mistakes are not punished as failures, but they are seen as opportunities to learn and grow for both students and educators.
Students are consistently held to high academic expectations, and a majority of students meet or exceed those expectations.
Important leadership decisions are made collaboratively with input from staff members, students, and parents.
Criticism, when voiced, is constructive and well-intentioned.
All students have access to the academic support and services they may need to succeed
Here are some of the examples adopted by Saint Georges School to improve its culture and make it more positive and lively:
Establishing professional learning communities that encourage teachers to communicate, share expertise, and work together more collegially and productively.
Creating events and educational experiences which aim at preparing students to confront the challenges of life, be successful in the workplace and render the theoretical knowledge into practical and hence sculpting the character of our students.
Saint Georges School's efforts to walk the talk of the mission and vision statements contribute to being accredited The International School Award (ISA) for its academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Some of these activities which were impressive and gained momentum during the year due to the impact on the community and students are:
Food recipe book
Le festival du contes
Character show
Dances from different cultures event
Model Arab League
Model United Nations (MUN)
A virtual trip to my friend in UK
Via such activities, students from all age groups became culturally savvy by being introduced to the habits and life styles of students from different places in the world. Our students were able to develop high tolerance level and cultural empathy which are prerequisites to being successful citizens in our diverse world. Thus, they learned how to accept the differences, respect the varieties and enjoy the new things about their fellows. They showed enthusiasm and excitement in doing their researches, connecting to pupils in schools abroad and knowing about new cultures. They were highly engaged in the activities and it was an opportunity to implement the curriculum in an interactive way in which they acquired knowledge. In addition, their command of the English language has improved noticeably because they had to communicate with others verbally and nonverbally. Our students' community awareness was emphasized and their IT skills were enhanced.The administration is giving all the necessary support by motivating the staff, faculty and students and by providing all the resources needed.
In the first year of integrating the International factor in our activities and curriculum in a planned and oriented way through the ISA plan, the teachers got interested in highlighting the international elements in the curriculum. They designed their own lesson plans based on integrating the global factor as much as possible. They encouraged their students to compare, present and give their opinion about the different cultures of other countries.
The success of such activities has driven us to seize partnering opportunities with local, regional and international schools and NGOs. We believe more than ever before that such kind of network helps to create synergy between our schools and its partners and leads to complying with our mission, vision, philosophy and educational approach.
Accreditation
Believing in Total Quality Management in education, we aim at abiding by the principles and standards put by the most prestigious accrediting institutions and organizations. Our practices are inspired by our morality and our future aim of being an accredited institution by NEASC (The New England Association of Schools and Colleges) or any institution that contributes to fulfilling our mission and vision of achieving excellence in education.
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges aspires to provide a process for meaningful, ongoing whole school improvement while honoring the unique culture and context of each institution it supports. In this spirit, NEASC:
Encourages the pursuit of a unique mission in distinctive circumstances by each member
Advocates for thoughtful self-reflection guided by meticulous peer review.
Promotes public recognition of the challenges that accredited institutions face both in common and in particular.
Elucidates the value, philosophy and practice of accreditation for our member schools, the public, legislative bodies, and governing boards.
Creating
Based on our philosophy, practice and culture, one can notice that our school works in compliance with the aforementioned points. This was exemplified by being accredited the International School Award (ISA) administered by the British Council. This prestigious accreditation contributes to the edge that our school has with respect to other schools.
Alumni Activities
Saint Georges School is proud of the tens of cohorts which have graduated and had great achievements at the university and professional levels. The school has established strong ties with its alumni and keeps pace with their success stories. The school aims at establishing an alumni office to create more activities that link the current students with the old ones. Such Alumni club would create annual ceremonial events which pay tribute to success stories which can be shared with current students and inspire them. This club will create the proper link between the school and the market place.
