SKL – A Safe Place for Senior High School Students
by: Monica Joslyn, Thames International Senior High School Student
Sharing one’s thoughts can be petrifying, especially for teenagers like me; we often feel like we are in no position to express ourselves because it will likely come off as mere complaining. Many students feel like we should just keep silent, stay home, and stay in our place. Thames International School gave us the chance to share our thoughts and stories in its “SKL” event, named after popular youth slang “share ko lang”.
Last October 24, 2020, Thames International School held this session with the theme of “Online School Life”. The event was specifically made for senior high school students from Thames and other schools to provide them a safe space to share their insights and experiences in online learning with each other.
We talked about how we have been doing in school during the lockdown caused by this pandemic. Thames student Unno Angeles, opened the session with a jubilant song entitled “Ride Home” by Ben&Ben, making for a welcoming experience right from the start. Students not only from all over the Philippines but also from abroad were able to join the event online.
Ten students from Thames International Senior High School helped organize the event, guided and facilitated by Thames administrators Mr. Manuel de la Fuente and Mr. Karl Sta. Maria. From crafting the posters and profile frames on Facebook to actually speaking in front of the attendees, the student organizers helped make the event feel comfortable and relaxing to all the senior high school students. Among these ten students, an online roulette wheel was spun to choose which one would share his or her story, creating a candid and exciting experience. The first speaker was Edrian Attwood, who shared his story of how Thames International inspired him to do better in his studies. His story gave hope to struggling students, reminding them that it’s not too late to chase and achieve one’s goals. The next student to share was Unno Angeles, who shared how he was about to stop studying but was able to find this school that could cater to his current situation. Not only did the school have a considerate price for families affected by the pandemic, but also a curriculum like no other. The current curriculum in Thames International School suggests that students only take a maximum of three subjects per month, instead of the typical average of eight. This allows students to better focus on their studies rather than be overloaded with requirements, information, and stress. They also receive their final grade per subject at the end of the month. This allows students and parents to track their progress more efficiently.
I was the next presenter and I shared my experience of coming home here in the Philippines due to unprecedented circumstances and almost losing hope in my studies. I shared my journey of finding Thames, “The Perfect School” for me; a school that had a modern approach to education, skilled and experienced teachers, and most importantly, a culture that values their students and their mental health. I had a very vocal approach as to how I shared my thoughts hoping that I was able to spark a flame within the hearts of my fellow students. I was then followed by Sean Caling, who was named as the “Responsible Bulakbol ng Cainta Rizal” that day, because of his story on how he transformed from being a student who was always found in the Discipline Coordinator’s office in his previous school to being the beadle of his batch in Thames, leading and guiding his peers in their studies whenever needed. He also mentioned how his teachers in Thames gave him the opportunity to unlock his hidden potentials as he continues his growth as a student.
Anika Ong then shared how she did not expect that a school would still accept her since it was already relatively late in the enrollment season. This is something that many students aren’t actually aware of — every month, Thames International School has an intake for both their ABM and Arts and Design Tracks, giving the students a chance at quality education no matter the time of the year, and no matter where they are during this lockdown. Feliz Montesclaros had a similar story of how she was surprised that this school was open to accepting students when most schools had already stopped doing so. Like many other students studying in this school, she is pleased with the idea that even if she lived far away from where she is studying, she still has access to quality education.
A healthy environment is also very important. Crystal Navarro’s story reminded us how much of an impact the school’s overall environment affects the students. It is important for us to remember that as students, we spend the majority of our time in schools, which therefore have a great influence on the next generation. Another inspiring story was then shared by Aaron Valdez who showed us that we can always get back to school. It is our right to receive education and it shall never be a privilege to get a proper and quality education. The students are our hope for the development of our economy, so we should never neglect the importance of not only the schools but also the teachers who mold our future leaders. The Gutierrez twins, Travers and Thomas, shared how Thames International helped them learn our language a little better. Although Thames is an international school, it still values the importance of our Philippine identity which we should never forget as Filipinos. Still under the DepEd curriculum, Thames was able to provide education to students who had never been before in our country. Even before the pandemic, this school had already been practicing online learning. That is why in a time when many schools are still adjusting to the new normal for the educational system, Thames International is already experienced and equipped.
Students from other schools who also attended the event could say likewise. Neo, one of the senior high schoolers who joined, said “I want to thank Thames International for making this program. You’ve entertained different senior high school students from other schools, especially the students from the Thames. Personally, I’m not confident to speak to the crowd, but Thames made that possible by giving me a chance to say and express what I have in mind. Because of this program, it helped me a lot in many situations. I learned new things from other people, and they made me share my thoughts too. Thames International had no idea what this program turned me into. Again, thank you, Thames!”
Jamie, another student who attended, said “Well, I really liked the activity and the concept of inviting outsiders. It gives people from another school a space to share their experiences and it gives the advantage of your school to know what else they could improve on. It’s really witty but also very interesting because even the students are interesting.”
A statement from one of the attendees, Gwen, said “The activity is very enjoyable and it really puts things into perspective. Holistic learning is much more crucial in a person’s growth as I have seen in the different stories of the students that day. This is a great way to collect feedback as well as we have settled down with online learning.”
Overall, the very first SKL event was a success, and it’s evident in the way they ended the session in the video below. The students both from Thames and the other schools are looking forward to more of this event in the future. It was and will be a place where students can just speak up their minds and help enlighten each other. Keeping an open mind to each student’s opinions allows SKL to help us understand better the world and the people in it. Additionally, this event strengthens our ability to express ourselves. We are hoping that more students will learn about this event and join us at our next meeting!
If you or someone you know is looking for quality education despite the current circumstances, feel free to check out the available programs of Thames, which all have intakes this November 2020:
