2016-2017 "4 Pillars" Highlights 1st Semester Summary Dear PAS Community: As the 2nd semester of the 2016-2017 school year begins, we are enthusiastic to share a general overview of the 1st semester achievements, all aligning with our vision to "aspire to be a leading bilingual World School in Central America." This year, a total of 282 action steps are in place in the four areas of emphasis based on the strategic plan's "4 Pillars 4 the Future." Following are a few of the highlights, organized by Pillar:
Pillar #1: Curriculum & Instruction
Successful NEASC Re-Accreditation Visit
Effective preparation of 1st IB Class to graduate in June 2017, first 12th grade class, and first class to graduate with international calendar
Effective integration of current 11th grade students in the IB program
Decision made to proceed with the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) authorization for grades 6-10, and MYP Coordinator named
Decision made to proceed with the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) application for Primary grades; this process will take 2-3 years for full implementation.
Decision made to implement the Reggio Emilia philosophy and approach in ECE for August 2017; initial training completed for the majority of ECE teachers
All Secondary teachers IB trained in their specific areas
Creation of the position of College and Career Counselor
Creation of the position of Instructional Coach in Secondary for developing and maintaining highly effective teachers
Implementation of a learning support component for students in co-curriculars
Installation of Science Lab for Primary
Hosted the 14th annual Model UN Conference with over 400 students in attendance, including 100 Pan-American students
Pillar #2: Values, Service and Ecology
Achievement of the 5th (and highest) star of the national Bandera Azul ecological program for the 3rd consecutive year
Continued involvement by staff in the Service Learning program; each staff member assigned to a grade level to participate with students in service projects
Creation of the Community Service course for 6th-10th grade students, based on the IB Middle Years Program
Development of new CAS projects for grades 11-12: Student Chirripó, AASCA, Student Newspaper, CAS COHP Haiti, Student Organization of Graduation. Additional projects assigned to grades 9-10: Reading Club and Carbon Neutral Campus.
Service Accomplishments from Student Organizations:
Teletón: 1,302,000 colones
Boxes of Love: 150 boxes distributed to the Pozos Community
Gifts for maintenance and security staff: 20
Collection of backpacks for public schools
Delivery of 50 Christmas presents for the Escuela República de Francia
Collection of food items for those affected by Hurricane Otto
Development of “PAS No Plastic” program
MUN donation to benefit COHP Haiti trip: $2000
Music workshop offered to children with special needs at the Escuela República de Francia
Pillar #3: Technology, Innovation, and Investigation
Implementation of the technological, micro-credential “Badges” program in Primary, Secondary, and for PAS Staff
Purchase of new wireless network to be installed February 2017
95% increase in bandwidth for the institution
Purchase of Google Chromebooks for 5th grade, which allow for a distribution of one computer device per student in grades 3, 4, and 5; in Pre-Kinder – 2nd grade, there is one device for every two students.
Purchase of touch screen Chromebooks for Technology classes (Prep – 3rd grade)
Purchase of new mixing board for the sound system in the main gym and installation of sound system in the gym annex
Participation by Primary students in the worldwide Hour of Code event in December focused on computer programming. During third term, students will focus on learning to code in Technology classes.
Purchase of school-assigned Macbooks for teachers
Implementation of Google Classroom
Pillar #4: Sports, Health and Wellness
Implementation of Secondary Fitness program
Implementation of Secondary competitive sports program in the mornings, with an increase in student participation of 67%
Implementation of additional competitive sports teams; girls’ and boys’ teams are now available in soccer, basketball, volleyball and cross country
In sports competitions, PAS won 2nd place in ACEP tournament for female soccer, 2nd place in ACTION Boys basketball, and 1st place in the Viking’s Cup for the B and C Primary soccer teams and 2nd place with the A team.
Participation of Primary students in their first Cheerleading competition
Installation of gymnasium wall padding
Installation of industrial-sized fan in the gym
Installation of professional volleyball system
Installation of new netting around the Primary synthetic field
Installation of temporary changing rooms and showers for fitness program
Change of administration of the cafeteria (Ana Salazar Catering)
A few additional general achievements from 1st semester include:
100 new students have enrolled in PAS so far during the 2016-2017 school year.
The Primary Office has been renovated over the Christmas Break.
The Co-curricular office has been relocated to the Primary Office along with Maria López, the co-curricular coordinator.
Buses: There is a new bus administration assistant, higher power radios were installed, several bus model year upgrades were made, and new routes were implemented.
New structure was built for the ECE synthetic soccer field.
Maintenance workshop was moved to the back parking lot.
Decision was made to remodel the gym so that it functions as a multi-purpose auditorium - to be completed during 2nd semester of 2016-2017 school year.
We look forward to all that is to come in the 2nd semester of the 2016-2017 school year! Best, Elizabeth Head