A Celebrated School Improvement Journey 

 

As a quality improving school, we truly believe that improving the quality of life in a school could also increase academic achievement for all students (Purkey, 2017). An overall positive school climate that can be demonstrated through our cognition processes, higher-order learning, curriculum and policies, teaching and learning effectiveness, intellectual honesty, democratic practices and moral development policies, can take place as a whole ecosystem and where people’s potentialities can be fully developed and excelled.

 

WFJLPS strives to create a supportive learning environment where all stakeholders are welcome, supported, and can feel safe socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically.

 

April 10 has been a great day for all stakeholders of WFJLPS! An award review visiting panel was sent by The International Alliance for Invitational Education (IAIE) to conduct a close-up assessment on our current school practices whether or not we are successfully creating, developing, sustaining and enhancing truly a caring and welcoming school environment and a strong inviting culture for our students!

 

Below is a message I wrote to all teachers and staff immediately after the visit. The message is written as follows:

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

I write to present my warmest gratitude to all of you that we have done a great job today! All works in relation to the 5 Ps practices we have demonstrated, in collective effort contributed by teachers, staff, students and parents, had greatly impressed the two USA IE guests, Ms Elizabeth Gabehart and Ms Megan Barton. When they ended up their visit this morning, they repeatedly told us that what they could say as a concluding remark to their visit is the word: "Amazing"!

 

It is evident that every member of our school has already shown one’s very best in front of our visitors. This witnesses our education belief of "Wisdom, Faith and Love". I suppose that Principal Wang, a guest who come from China on the same day with three colleagues from his primary school, would also agree that our school is the targeted collaborative partner who they would like to learn and share more from!

 

As the head of the school, especially regarding the IE practices led by our IE team where Peggy is the leader, I would like to emphasize that our journey has not ended yet. We can only say that our school improvement journey has just begun. Although we have got a brilliant start with so many positive feedbacks, much welcome by the visitors, our journey of school improvement will still carry on. The next step is to think of how to sustain what we value as good practices. In future, more active participation from you will be expected and each of your support will be highly appreciated! Please join us hand in hand to go on this meaningful journey. Thank you!

 

With Warmest Blessings from God!

 

Alan

 

Reference:

 

Purkey, W. W. (2017). Creating a positive school climate: 100 nuts & bolts of invitational education. International Alliance for Invitational Education.