An education in the arts teaches students to perceive and think in new ways. At The York School, creativity, reasoning, imagination, intuition and art-specific skills are all developed as students learn to build bridges between verbal and nonverbal communication, and logic and emotion.

In this episode, Natasha Estey speaks with Music Teacher Cody MacFarlane, Visual Arts Teacher Daniel Neville, Drama Teacher Mary Wood, and Film Teacher Otino Corsano, about why the arts are so important in an IB education.

You can see the arts at The York School in action on Twitter by following the hashtag #YorkLearns. Here are links to some videos of the arts in action at The York School:

Harmony Concert
Vocal Music (Cool Moon)
Concert Band (Crocodile Rock)
Senior School Theatre
Senior School Theatre
Art Battle
IBDP Film
IB Film Promo Video
YORK Connect YouTube Channel
 
Written and Produced by Natasha Estey
Audio Editing by Andrew Scott

Nǐ hǎo! Hola! Bonjour! What are the benefits of learning a second or third language? Why is this a key component of the IB experience? IB French teacher Andrew Torres, IB Spanish teacher Emily Cunningham, and IB Mandarin teacher Connie Zhao, help host Natasha Estey unpack how learning another language can help students increase their understanding of several cultures, including their own, and explore globally significant ideas and issues through different languages.

Learn about the philosophy of language acquisition as part of an IB education by visiting the International Baccalaureate website. Follow the hashtag #YorkLearns on Twitter to see additional language learning in action.

Written & Produced by Natasha Estey
Audio Editing by Andrew Scott

Design class is part of the Middle Years Programme at The York School. Join host, Natasha Estey, in conversation with MYP Design teacher, Tim Cooper, about how this class challenges students to apply practical and creative thinking skills to solve design problems using the Design Cycle.

You can find Tim Cooper on Twitter. Follow the hashtag #Yorklearns to see MYP Design in action at The York School. Learn more about Grade 6 Design, Grade 7 Design, and Grade 8 Design. Learn more about all the cool things students can do with micro:bits. Learn about what's special about Minecraft: Education Edition. Finally, watch the trailer for the award-winning documentary, Coded Bias. 

Written & Produced by Natasha Estey
Audio Editing by Andrew Scott

The bridge years between primary school and secondary school are a pivotal time for young adolescents, whose bodies and minds are developing more rapidly than at any stage other than the first two years of life. Middle School can be tumultuous but it can also be a lot of fun! It’s a time when students really start to frame their future in terms of identity and interests.

Join host, Natasha Estey, in conversation with teachers that bookend the Middle School experience - Grade 6 homeroom teacher, Teresa MacDonald, and Grade 8 homeroom teacher, Shelley Gopal - about how they bring joy into learning along with problem-solving and real-life applications, focus on how students learn as well as what they learn, and help students understand their positionality in the world.

Follow the hashtag #Yorklearns on Twitter to see more of the Middle School in action. You can find Shelley Gopal on Twitter @shelleygopal and Teresa MacDonald @mstmacdonald.

Books in Shelley Gopal's Grade 8 Book Club include:

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely 
The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin 

You can read more about the Harkness Method here.  

Written & Produced by Natasha Estey
Audio Editing by Andrew Scott

The York School’s Indigenous Education Committee is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action # 62 through 65 that have to do with Education for Reconciliation. In this special Bonus episode, host Natasha Estey speaks with Indigenous Education Comittee leaders, Sean Rand and Sara Akbari, about what they are doing to advance Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work at The York School and to integrate indigenous education.

Follow the hashtag #Yorklearns on Twitter to see this work in action. You can find Sara Akbari on Instagram @mssara.416.

You can find the book Seven Fallen Feathers at your local independent bookstore. Learn more about the work of Indigenous Education Consultant, Pamela Rose Toulouse.  The York School has partnered with Equity Connections for its DEI work. Look at The York School's Interim Strategic Plan. 

Written and Produced by Natasha Estey
Audio Editing by Andrew Scott

Academic success is intrinsically linked to social and emotional wellness. Wellbeing is a priority at The York School. Our teachers are committed to providing our students with a safe space to acquire the life skills they will need to manage in today’s fast-paced and turbulent world and help them nurture meaningful relationships with others.

In this episode, join host Natasha Estey in conversation with Junior School Counsellor, Amy Faba, about social and emotional learning (or SEL), the RULER approach, mindfulness, and how parents can see themselves as emotional scientists rather than emotional judges.

You can learn more about wellbeing at the Junior School by visiting our website. Information about the RULER approach for parents can be found in this past issue of The Flash. Visit the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to learn more about RULER and tools like the Mood Meter and creating a Charter. 

You can reach Amy Faba at afaba@yorkschool.com. Follow the hashtag #Yorklearns on Twitter to see the RULER approach and social-emotional skills education in action.

Written and Produced by Natasha Estey
Audio Editing by Andrew Scott

The junior years of elementary school - Grades 3 to 5 - are about continuing to build a strong foundation and consolidating some of the skills - both academic and life - students will need as they look ahead to Middle School.

Grade 5 teacher, Barb Prevedello, and Grade 4 teacher, Suzanne Newell, talked about how they engage their students through problem-solving and shared ways that they ensure their students are able to learn in the best way for them and can be advocates for their own learning.

Learn more about the work of Jo Boaler and the work of Carol Dweck. Learn more about the “power of YET” concept.

You can learn more about academics at the Junior School by visiting our website. You can find Suzanne on Twitter @SuzNewellTeach and Barb @BarbPrevedello. Follow the hashtag #Yorklearns to see education in action.

Written and Produced by Natasha Estey
Audio Editing by Andrew Scott

The beginning of a child’s educational journey is about the joy of discovery, nurturing their innate curiosity, and inspiring them to learn more about themselves and the world around them in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. Join host, Natasha Estey, in conversation with SK teacher, Melissa Hickey, and PYP Coordinator/Director of Curriculum, Kristy Purcell, about their passion for early years education.

Follow Melissa Hickey on Twitter @hickeymmelissa. If you search the hashtag #Yorklearns, you will be able to see a lot of the amazing things happening in our classrooms. You can learn more about academics and wellness at the Junior School by visiting our website. 

Written & Produced by Natasha Estey
Audio Editing by Andrew Scott