Year-End Reflection with Students and School Leadership

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 enduring spirit. Marta shared that alongside the opening ceremony and alumni profile awards, WAB hosted over 30 alumni reunions in cities around the world. These events offered opportunities to reconnect and reflect on what continues to make WAB feel like home, even decades after graduation. 

Another major moment was the #FOEN25: Future of Education Now conference in March, where WAB welcomed global thought leaders to engage with students, educators, and innovators around the future of learning. Student agency, the concept that students are powerful co-creators of their learning, was a central theme, as it has been since WAB’s founding. 

The unveiling of the Jane Goodall statue during Jazz and Chill also stood out. Jane, a long-time friend of the school, represents the values of curiosity, courage, and care that continue to shape our learning environment. 

Navigating Change and Transition 

Change is a familiar part of life at international schools, whether it's moving from school sections, starting the diploma program, or preparing to graduate. Stephen highlighted the importance of WAB’s traditions, like the Grade 8 bridge crossing or the Grade 12 graduation walk, in helping students make meaning of these transitions. These moments of reflection offer both a sense of continuity and celebration. 

Francesco reflected on his own transitions through WAB and how, even amid change, there is a comforting sense of familiarity and belonging. Grace shared how these traditions help tie the past and present together, allowing each new generation of students to feel part of something larger. 

AI in Education 

One of the most discussed topics this year was the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into education. Stephen described WAB’s approach as “careful and considered,” striking a balance between the opportunities AI offers and the ethical considerations it demands, while maintaining a strong commitment to student agency. Rather than banning AI or adopting it uncritically, WAB encourages students to use AI as a tool to support and enhance their learning. "Who is doing the thinking?" is the essential question, Stephen emphasized. 

Both school leaders and students acknowledged the challenges and uncertainties surrounding AI, from data privacy to environmental impact. Nevertheless, they agreed that learning to use AI responsibly is essential for future success. As Grace pointed out, demystifying AI and understanding how to use it appropriately prepares students for a world where such technologies will be integral to the workplace. 

A Community of Lifelong Learners 

A consistent theme in the conversation was the shared commitment to lifelong learning among students, teachers, and school leaders. Marta noted that even school leaders regularly participate in upskilling sessions, underscoring that everyone at WAB is "learning together", adapting to new technologies and global developments as a unified community. 

This spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and resilience is what will carry WAB into the next 30 years and beyond, intertwining its past and future, its traditions and innovations. Don't miss this student-led conversation as we honor the past and look forward to what's ahead!