The Online Thames Experience: Senior High School Edition 

by: Moses Ocampo, Thames International SHS Student

The COVID-19 Pandemic has certainly shaken up the world as we know it, and the biggest shift for us students was the sudden move to ten months of online learning. Thames International was well-prepared; it had been experimenting with the format for some time before 2020. Before classes even started, the school’s Senior High School program was already consistent with the SHS Advance Program held during the Summer Break. The SHS Advance Program provided valuable feedback on how SHS students learn best in the online environment, allowing for the school to further refine its methods.

I personally have had a relatively smooth ride so far with Thames, owing to its ingenious two-to-three subjects per month intake of classes. It makes all the requirements easier to crunch down, and the kindness and consideration of the teachers are simply amazing, as it’s not easy to shift one lesson per day to finish a semester’s worth of lessons in every subject per month. By the time the school year started in August, I had already completed seven subjects and am on track to complete three more before Christmas break begins.

The tasks themselves are quite different from the norm, and Arts and Design students like myself are challenged to think creatively and resourcefully. Doing everything on a computer is personally convenient for me, and the simplicity and rigorous challenge of the activities make it a transformative learning experience. As a Grade 12 student, this is a relief for me given the previous norm of complicated and overwhelming projects from many different subjects at once.

The school also has great seminars, workshops, and non-academic activities that help students learn and laugh with each other. Wellness Wednesday is a staple of weekly interaction amongst senior high school students, as this allows them to have a chat of sorts to alleviate some academic stress.

I am not the only student who has kind words for how this institution is taking its stride in its overall experience; we have a tight-knit community of students who all feel quite at home here. One student said that while the workload can be stressful at times, the consideration and kindness of the teachers make up for the intense educational work. Another student says, “My time in Thames so far has been good; since this is my first online learning experience, I can clearly say it’s been fun. Going at your own pace is a surreal experience for education.”

With all that being said, Thames is really one of the more educationally liberating and uniquely competent schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic. I’m really glad I made my choice to transfer here. Admittedly, this is the best academic learning experience I’ve ever had. It’s given me purpose at a time when I could’ve easily stopped for a year, and allowed me to continue my plans in life at an excellent standard for a very affordable deal. I hope to see more students reap the benefits of the Thames Experience as the SHS department continues to grow and evolve. Visit Thames International SHS to know more about this program.