Page 24 - DAIS Insignia 2022-2023

The Academic Year 2022-23 has been a year of change, reflection, and action.
The Self-study process began in February 2022, with the dissemination of the DAIS is "Twenty"!
CIS NEASC Annual CIS Community survey. The survey results were shared with the school And we, the DAIS family, decided to make the milestone-year memorable by celebrating OUR PYP
RE-ACCREDITATION community in August 2022 at the PTA General Body meeting. The year 2022 was "CHANGE"! JOURNEY
also the year DAIS embarked on the review of the Strategic Plan 2016-2021 and
the creation of the new Strategic Plan 2023-2028. For the past twenty years, we were on a path that had its own strength and, of course, its
The Domain A report, which focuses on the Guiding statements of the school own challenges. We drew on those strengths and we thrived on those challenges and at the
and their role in driving strategy and planning was also submitted along with the risk of sounding immodest, I must say that we - DAIS - triumphed!
Part 1 report. These two reports contribute to the work of the other committees
and were shared with the rest of the Domain chairs to support their work. Our world is changing fast, throwing up new challenges relentlessly. As educationists, it is
Between February and April 2023 committees met and prepared the structure our responsibility to empower our students to face those challenges. To fulfil that
for their narratives along with gathering evidence to support their conclusions. responsibility, after examining and auditing foremost education systems in practice today
As we approach May 2023, we expect to have draft versions of all the reports across the world, we became convinced that the path to follow was the IB PYP Programme.
ready. These drafts will be refined and edited with a view to completing the The PYP is a holistic, transdisciplinary, and coherent learning experience that fosters Ms. Pritha Banerjee
reporting process by June 2023. PYP Coordinator
intellectual, emotional, social, and personal growth. Students develop a love of learning
Throughout the process, Mr. Abhimanyu Basu, the Dean and CEO, has played
an instrumental role in guiding the various committees, be it for strategic and agency to learn how to learn. This empowers them to be aware of their strengths and stretches their understanding beyond
Ms. Swarnalatha planning or in unpacking and understanding the new framework for the CIS the content and the classroom. In the future, this strength will enable them to emerge as global citizens with the dream and the
Potukuchi Ms. Kavita Dyas NEASC reporting. power to change the world for better.
Co-Chair, Self Study
Chair, Self Study Steering Committee
Steering Committee We look forward to receiving the Visiting Team in the next academic year and are We are on a new journey with the IB Primary Years Programme. This journey aims to foster the attributes of international
eager to hear their insights and feedback on all we do here at DAIS.
mindedness with the goal of building a peaceful and cohesive world.
To bring in the new, we brought in changes that we are very proud of. Our classrooms made a gradual shift from content to
concept based learning. Learning became less teacher directed and more student centered, and a culture of inquiry was fostered.
Thriving as a Microsoft Showcase School: Technology in Education post-COVID We developed our own curriculum drawing from the best in the world. Teachers across the Primary School collaborated to build
Being a Microsoft Showcase School in 2023 is a remarkable achievement, demonstrating a the programme of inquiry which is central to the Primary Years programme.
commitment to innovative teaching practices and the effective use of technology in
education. With 60 Microsoft Certified Educators (MCE) and 184 Microsoft Educators Summative assessments changed to continuous formative assessments.
(ME), DAIS has a wealth of expertise and knowledge to draw from. Every DAIS educator has Parent involvement increased dramatically through 3-way conferencing and parent-teacher meeting, and finally culminated in
completed the Microsoft Educator Academy and earned their Microsoft Educator trophy, the recently concluded student-led conference.
underscoring the school's dedication to providing a high-quality learning experience for
our students. The list is long and is a 'living' list. And the list will grow longer... of that I can, on behalf of DAIS, assure you!
We have integrated a variety of digital devices like iPads, JioBooks, and students' own
laptops into our classrooms to help students engage with educational content. With our
educators' curated digital resources, students can learn essential skills including Microsoft
Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, Coding, and Digital Citizenship. In 2022-23 we have DAIS officially became an MYP Candidate School on 11 November, 2022, and Class VI
adopted Toddle as an additional Learning Management System (LMS) to manage online Mr. Marc Bradley OUR MYP students started learning through the MYP framework in January 2023.
learning and assessments. Director of Technology
JOURNEY During the first semester of year 2022, the Thursday in-school professional development
and collaboration sessions for teachers focused on helping teachers develop their
understanding of IB philosophy, the MYP framework and approach, and best practices
During this academic year, DAIS librarians not only provided and managed quality print and towards High Quality Teaching and Learning. In addition, we had an in-school IB
NOTES FROM THE digital resources but also acted as instructional partners who collaborated and facilitated Workshop on "Developing the MYP" and teachers who are new to MYP travelled to New
LEARNING CENTRE learning to increase academic achievement, broaden perspectives, and work toward Delhi in April to attend subject-specific workshops guided by experienced workshop
common goals.
leaders.
They collaboratively planned and guided engaging inquiry-based learning experiences that
encouraged the students to think critically, select and use information ethically, develop Through MYP, Class VI students are making deeper conceptual connections with the
research and social emotional skills, and appreciate reading. They also promoted learners' Ms. Barbara Bilgre content they are learning and transferring that understanding to other subjects and
engagement and empowerment by modelling and explicitly teaching information, media, MYP Coordinator beyond the classroom. They are learning in real-world contexts that make their learning
and digital literacy and resource access and use, as well as supported students' success by experience more authentic and relevant. Some examples of these contexts are:
guiding them to read for understanding, breadth, and pleasure.
• How connections and relationships can build self-esteem
In collaboration with the teachers, the librarians purchased and managed over 4,000 copies of
titles to: 1. update and enrich the Primary School fiction and nonfiction collection, 2. support • How geometry can be used for beautiful and functional space development
Ms. Maria Pannunzio the PYP, Fountas & Pinnell reading program, and reading for pleasure, and 3. support faculty
Head, Learning Centre • How understanding electricity and energy transformations can lead to a better future for all
professional development. They curated quality, diverse, inclusive, and relevant digital
resources that also supported the school mission, curriculums, and students' interests, and • How the biological revolution can lead to sustainability in agriculture.
instructed and coached curation techniques for the teachers relevant to their classroom and students' needs.
Students are also developing agency through the approaches to teaching and learning that they are exploring in their subjects.
DAIS librarians promoted a growth mindset in all learners by providing opportunities for exploration and cultivated discovery, Students set their own personal growth goals related to managing their states of mind (impulse control, resilience, patience,
creation and continuous reflective thinking through instruction. They maintained a teaching and learning environment that was perseverance, persistence, and failing well). They also have focused on better organization, collaboration and communication.
fun, inviting, safe, flexible, collaborative, inclusive, and conducive to learning. They engaged with learners to guide, model, and Students got to demonstrate their agency as they led their parents through the MYP Learning Walk to showcase student
champion academic integrity and digital citizenship including access to and ethical use of reliable digital resources and providing
understanding of MYP concepts, skills and subject specific knowledge through engaging activities.
instruction and modelling in adherence to copyright and fair use requirements.

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