St Andrew’s Cathedral School has a long history of sending students on educational tours overseas, from music, science, languages, sport, service, or history tours, to adventuring in the outdoors. As an International Baccalaureate World School, the importance the School places on these tours reflects a commitment to developing in students a spirit of intellectual curiosity about the world and their place in it, an openness to difference, and a growth in character. Tours also build real-world connections that supplement knowledge gained in the classroom.
Eight students from Year 7 and Year 8 recently had the privilege of representing Australia at the 18th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness (APCG) Youth Summit, held at Kagawa University’s Saiwaicho campus in Takamatsu in mid-August. At the Youth Summit the students worked with other gifted secondary school students from around the globe to address pertinent issues, particularly around the concept of global and local sustainability issues.
The summit’s overarching theme was, “Connecting the World Globally to Ensure a Sustainable and Equitable Future.” Ninety-six students from seven countries competed in teams of 16, with these teams selected to ensure a mix of languages and cultures. Each team had to select their inquiry based on one of the themes: Carbon Dioxide or Sunlight. The programme prioritised inquiry-based activities, tapping into the abundant resources of the local environment around Takamatsu in order to foster a setting where students could develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Beyond the Summit, students immersed themselves in Japanese culture and explored the local area, learning how to make noodles and watching the locals “seine fishing”. A Year 8 student Siddy loved being able to experience Japanese culture and the chance to work together with students from across the world. “The highlight of the Summit was making new friends from different countries and learning how to effectively collaborate with them,” he said. “Participating in the Summit has encouraged me to develop a global-minded mindset and has taught me how to communicate with peers around the world. These skills will be crucial later in life and I am thankful to be developing them now.”
Our students came back invigorated and inspired as well as excited to continue work on their areas of interest, reporting back on their findings at a special ‘STEM’ lunch at the School. All students from Years 7 to 10 at St Andrew’s Cathedral School’s complete the International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years Programme (MYP), with a commitment to developing active, internationally minded learners who have both the character and expertise to create fresh solutions for local and global issues.
“The work of our students was a testament to the critical thinking, research skills, and collaborative spirit that the MYP fosters,” said Ms Estee Stephenson, Head of Gifted Education (Secondary), one of the teachers who accompanied the students on the tour. “Our students were standouts throughout the event. Their behaviour, engagement, and overall approach to the Summit was exemplary. Their dedication to their projects, combined with their willingness to embrace new cultural experiences, made this trip not only successful but also deeply enriching for everyone involved.”
To learn more about St Andrew’s Cathedral School’s distinct approach to teaching and learning, please join one of our Head of School Tours.
To book your place, visit: www.sacs.nsw.edu.au/Tours