It has been a full and productive fourth week at DSHK, and we were delighted to welcome families to our Curriculum Night on Thursday evening.
The evening provided an opportunity for parents to meet with teachers, learn more about what students are experiencing in the classroom, and better understand the thinking behind our curriculum and learning programs.
This semester, we have continued to refine our curriculum with a focus on making learning purposeful, connected and relevant to our students.
A Dual-Language Learning Experience
At DSHK, our curriculum is designed around a dual-language learning model, with English and Putonghua both playing meaningful roles in students’ learning experiences.
Our aim is not simply for students to learn two languages, but to use both languages as part of how they think, communicate, explore ideas and make meaning. This is reflected across the curriculum and in the way learning experiences are designed and timetabled.
From Inquiry to Application
This year, we have also continued to develop opportunities for students to learn through inquiry, projects and authentic experiences.
Inquiry is an important part of how students develop questions, investigate ideas and make connections across their learning. As students move into the Middle School, Project-Based Learning (PBL) provides opportunities to take this further — using questions and concepts as starting points for deeper investigation, collaboration and the application of knowledge to meaningful problems and contexts.
Alongside PBL, programs such as Innovation Forge, Technology and Digital Literacy, and Outdoor Learning give students opportunities to develop skills and dispositions that extend beyond traditional subject boundaries.
Field experiences, including our recent learning beyond the classroom, are also an important part of this approach. We want students to see that learning does not stop when they leave the classroom.
Building a Coherent Learning Journey
Another focus this year is ensuring that students experience a coherent learning journey as they move through the school. We continue to review how knowledge, skills and experiences build from one grade to the next, while using assessment information to help teachers understand students’ progress and respond to their learning needs.
These developments are part of an ongoing process. We will continue to listen, review and refine our curriculum based on what we see in our classrooms and what best supports student learning.
Thank you to all the families who joined us on Thursday evening. We greatly value the opportunity to share our work with you and, just as importantly, to hear your questions and perspectives.
Thank you for being part of our learning community.
