Year-End Reflection with Students and School Leadership
The WAB Podcast
As the school year draws to a close and the summer holiday approaches, we bring you a special end-of-year episode and the season finale. In this episode, two Grade 11 students, Francesco and Grace, took the mic. They sat down with our Head of School, Marta Medved Krajnovic, and Stephen Taylor, WAB's Director of Innovation in Learning and Teaching, to reflect on the year’s highlights and look ahead to the future. A Year of Celebration and Connection From September 1, when our community came together to launch the 30th anniversary, this year has been a joyful celebration of WAB’s...
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Toddle Comes to Middle School: A New Era of Learning
The WAB Podcast
Welcome to the WAB Podcast! In this episode, Kevin Crouch, WAB's Head of EdTech, IT, and Libraries, sat down with three students, Ville from Grade 5, Sophie and Ciara from Grade 7, along with Middle School Principal Marina Frias-Gavidia, to discuss the exciting rollout of Toddle in Middle School next school year. They also talked about how it can facilitate student learning, increase student agency, and incorporate AI-powered support. Why Toddle? For the past four years, Toddle has been a cornerstone of learning in the Elementary School, streamlining everything from lesson...
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Exploring Minds, Shaping Futures in Middle School
The WAB Podcast
Welcome to the WAB Podcast! In this episode, we're learning about Middle School Individuals & Societies. Joining us were Grade 6 student Justin, Grade 7 student Frederic, Grade 8 student Iris, along with their I&S teacher, Claudia Gomez. Claudia explains how Individuals & Societies goes beyond traditional social studies. Rooted in the IB Middle Years Programme framework, it’s an interdisciplinary, skills-based subject where students learn to: Formulate meaningful research questions Design and implement action plans Reflect deeply on their learning journey ...
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How Elementary School Student Council Shapes Their School
The WAB Podcast
Welcome to the WAB Podcast. In this episode, we take a closer look at what student leadership looks like in our Elementary School, and how even our Elementary students are making a difference in their school community. We're joined by three members of the ES Student Council: Carolina and Maya from Grade 5, and Julian from Grade 3, as well as Elementary School Principal Catherine Pierre-Louis. Together, they reflect on what it means to be part of Student Council, why they chose to get involved, and how they’ve worked together to lead projects that matter to them and their peers. ...
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Student Social Entrepreneurship Partners with Tiger Den
The WAB Podcast
What happens when students combine creativity, community values, and real-world challenges? You get student-led initiatives like Empowering Entrepreneurs and ProFarmer, socially driven projects supported by Parent Link with promotions, and through Tiger Den, WAB’s parent-run shop. Co-led by EJ and Morgan and run by a group of dedicated parent volunteers, Tiger Den opens weekly and hosts pop-up shops at school events. They sell WAB-branded apparel and merchandise as well as student-developed products that raise funds and awareness for community partners. EJ emphasized the idea to start...
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From Idea to Impact: How STEMx Club Sparked Science Day
The WAB Podcast
Welcome to a new episode of the WAB Podcast. Today, we’re exploring how student leadership, innovation, and the power of science come together to connect and inspire. Joining us are members of WAB’s High School STEMx Club, Grade 11 students Hannah, Utkarsh, and Shane, along with their teacher and advisor, Paul Wagenaar. Together, they share how a group of passionate students reimagined what science learning could look like, culminating in WAB’s first-ever interschool Science Day. STEMx began as a student-led initiative aimed at making science more engaging for younger...
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WAB Wild Takes Learning Beyond the Classroom
The WAB Podcast
Welcome to the latest episode of WAB Podcast! In this episode, we explored WAB Wild, WAB's very own outdoor learning program, and one that's all about adventure, teamwork, and connecting with nature. We were joined by Stephen Boyko, the coordinator of WAB Wild, and two Grade 8 students, Gustav and Kenzie, who shared their unforgettable experiences. From abseiling to cooking breakfast under the open sky, we uncovered how this program builds resilience, fosters community, connects with classroom learning, and changes perspectives on sustainability. Led by coordinator Stephen Boyko, WAB...
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Celebrating Cultures and Community at the Student-Led Night Market
The WAB Podcast
Welcome to the latest episode of the WAB Podcast, where we explore one of WAB’s growing student-led traditions: the Night Market. Joining us are Audrey and Rachel from Grade 11, and Chloe from Grade 10, three of the students who helped make this event happen. From cultural showcases and global cuisine to student performances and an all-new Open Mic stage, the Night Market was a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and cultural connection. For the first time, the event also welcomed students from APAC schools who were visiting WAB for a badminton tournament, adding an exciting...
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Student STEM Innovation: From Code to Cardiovascular Care
The WAB Podcast
In this episode of the WAB Podcast, we take a look at STEM learning at WAB. Grade 9 student Zane and Grade 10 students Anna, David, and Xander take us behind the scenes of their robotics, game development, and biomedical engineering projects. What they share isn’t just about technology, it’s about creativity, collaboration, and learning with real-world impact. Building, Breaking, Rebuilding: Robotics in Action Xander and David have been working together to design a competition robot using the VEX V5 system. David focuses on 3D modeling with Onshape, while Xander brings the...
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WAB DP Artists: Advocating Through Art
The WAB Podcast
In this episode, we explored DP Art with student artists, Emmett and Bella from Grade 12, and their teacher, Daniel Avila. Together, they talked about the recent DP Arts Exhibition, the hard work behind completing the final portfolio, the enjoyment of experimenting with innovative mediums, and the passion and creativity that drove them through this two-year art journey. Emmett’s work explores the irony of human development, using repetitive techniques like dot-making and woodcuts to critique industrialization and AI. He expressed that he became the instrument of labor in his own art, in...
info_outlineWelcome to the 14th episode of WAB Podcast Season 5! In this episode, we have invited two Grade 4 students, Gayi and Matteo to join us, along with their teacher Suzie Sizemore, and WAB's Curriculum Coach and PYP Coordinator Jenny Jin. Together, they explored the world of the Unit of Inquiry and their current unit Sharing the Planet. From understanding environmental issues to participating in hands-on experiments like building generators and wind turbines, they reflect on their inquiry, their critical thinking journeys, and the key takeaways from this unit.
Jenny elaborated on the essence of the PYP framework, structured around six transdisciplinary themes, each housing a Unit of Inquiry (UOI). She highlighted that UOIs provide students with a chance to explore real-life challenges. These inquiries seamlessly integrate multiple subjects within a contextual framework, including Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts and Physical Education.
Our Grade 4's current UOI is Sharing the Planet. Suzie introduced this unit by emphasizing its relevance in letting students understand how their daily lives intertwine with the environment and the broader world. Through this unit, students not only discover the origins of energy but also actively engage in hands-on experiments, fostering critical thinking and a realization that each individual can play a part in shaping a sustainable future.
Grade 4 student Gayi shared that through the exploration of this unit, she felt she had enhanced her ability to differentiate between various energy sources such as solar power, muscle power and wind power. She prefers using renewable energy in her daily life. During a discussion on sustainable innovations, she also shared how she was inspired by a girl who created biodegradable plastic from banana peels
Her peer Matteo shared he liked the process of constructing a wind turbine, recounting the challenges of crafting a sturdy base using Lego, building the blades using different materials and precisely measuring them at 14 centimeters high. He shared that after the exploration of unit, he could now distinguish different power sources, like wind power and water power, and try to stay away from using fossil fuels to make electricity.
To learn more about how our students comprehend complex environmental issues, and ignite creativity and nurture critical thinking, tune in to this episode for an exploration of their UOI adventures.