Belonging Series: Connecting

September 13th 2024

Today’s forum focused on belonging through the lens of connection.

Connecting with others is a key component of belonging, but we began by exploring how connecting is not just the big events like birthdays, anniversaries and other important events, but it’s the in-between moments where connection really lives. Simon Sinek shares this during a zoom call in pandemic times:

Connection at School

We reviewed how connection is featured in our three profiles of the student educator and parent, and discussed how connection is important to the different roles in the school community.

Connection at Home

We discussed some ways in which we can connect with our children at home and we were reminded of some previous parent forums that tackled the issue of connection. Read more about The Art of Listening.

TCKs and Connection

Our Junior School Counselor, Cath, shared some insights into what it means to be a Third Culture Kid and the impact that can have on relationships and how children connect through the ideas of hanging back or going hard and fast. If you would like to learn more about TCKs we have copies of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, in the library if you would like to borrow the book.

Connection through Language

We also explored how home languages build powerful connections to our community, our identity and cultures as well as to each other. We have restarted the home language programme in the Junior School with 14 languages now supported every Wednesday afternoon.

Connection through Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Our Director of Strategic Initiatives, Faith Mwesigye, discussed the idea of culturally responsive pedagogy and how we can support identity affirmation through the design of our classroom spaces, resources and practice.