As the school year draws to a close and the summer holiday approaches, we bring you a special end-of-year episode and the season finale. In this episode, two Grade 11 students, Francesco and Grace, took the mic. They sat down with our Head of School, Marta Medved Krajnovic, and Stephen Taylor, WAB's Director of Innovation in Learning and Teaching, to reflect on the year’s highlights and look ahead to the future.

A Year of Celebration and Connection

From September 1, when our community came together to launch the 30th anniversary, this year has been a joyful celebration of WAB’s enduring spirit. Marta shared that alongside the opening ceremony and alumni profile awards, WAB hosted over 30 alumni reunions in cities around the world. These events offered opportunities to reconnect and reflect on what continues to make WAB feel like home, even decades after graduation.

Another major moment was the #FOEN25: Future of Education Now conference in March, where WAB welcomed global thought leaders to engage with students, educators, and innovators around the future of learning. Student agency, the concept that students are powerful co-creators of their learning, was a central theme, as it has been since WAB’s founding.

The unveiling of the Jane Goodall statue during Jazz and Chill also stood out. Jane, a long-time friend of the school, represents the values of curiosity, courage, and care that continue to shape our learning environment.

Navigating Change and Transition

Change is a familiar part of life at international schools, whether it's moving from school sections, starting the diploma program, or preparing to graduate. Stephen highlighted the importance of WAB’s traditions, like the Grade 8 bridge crossing or the Grade 12 graduation walk, in helping students make meaning of these transitions. These moments of reflection offer both a sense of continuity and celebration.

Francesco reflected on his own transitions through WAB and how, even amid change, there is a comforting sense of familiarity and belonging. Grace shared how these traditions help tie the past and present together, allowing each new generation of students to feel part of something larger.

AI in Education

One of the most discussed topics this year was the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into education. Stephen described WAB’s approach as “careful and considered,” striking a balance between the opportunities AI offers and the ethical considerations it demands, while maintaining a strong commitment to student agency. Rather than banning AI or adopting it uncritically, WAB encourages students to use AI as a tool to support and enhance their learning. "Who is doing the thinking?" is the essential question, Stephen emphasized.

Both school leaders and students acknowledged the challenges and uncertainties surrounding AI, from data privacy to environmental impact. Nevertheless, they agreed that learning to use AI responsibly is essential for future success. As Grace pointed out, demystifying AI and understanding how to use it appropriately prepares students for a world where such technologies will be integral to the workplace.

A Community of Lifelong Learners

A consistent theme in the conversation was the shared commitment to lifelong learning among students, teachers, and school leaders. Marta noted that even school leaders regularly participate in upskilling sessions, underscoring that everyone at WAB is "learning together", adapting to new technologies and global developments as a unified community.

This spirit of collaboration, curiosity, and resilience is what will carry WAB into the next 30 years and beyond, intertwining its past and future, its traditions and innovations. Don't miss this student-led conversation as we honor the past and look forward to what's ahead!

 Welcome to the WAB Podcast! In this episode, Kevin Crouch, WAB's Head of EdTech, IT, and Libraries, sat down with three students, Ville from Grade 5, Sophie and Ciara from Grade 7, along with Middle School Principal Marina Frias-Gavidia, to discuss the exciting rollout of Toddle in Middle School next school year. They also talked about how it can facilitate student learning, increase student agency, and incorporate AI-powered support.

Why Toddle?

For the past four years, Toddle has been a cornerstone of learning in the Elementary School, streamlining everything from lesson planning to student portfolios. Now, it's expanding to Middle School, bringing its all-in-one platform to older students.

As Kevin explained, Toddle unites the entire learning process—teachers can plan, assess, and report in one place, while students gain more ownership of their learning through digital portfolios. Unlike Teams or other platforms, Toddle keeps everything connected, ensuring that learning goals, assignments, and feedback stay aligned.

What Students Love About Toddle

Grade 5 student Ville has been a Toddle user for many years, and he highlighted its functions and flexibility:

• Rubrics help students self-assess and improve their work.
• The Portfolio lets students showcase learning anytime, not just when teachers assign tasks.
• Toddle AI acts as a creative assistant, helping brainstorm project ideas.

For Middle Schoolers like Sophie and Ciara, the move to Toddle will mean better organization across their eight subjects.

 New Features for Middle School

Kevin pointed out that Toddle has also evolved since some Middle School students last used it. Exciting updates include:

• AI-powered tutoring: Students can get instant feedback and practice at their own pace.
• Adaptive "Worksheets": Like Education Perfect, but integrated directly into Toddle.
• Parent access: While daily classwork stays private, parents can see assignments, feedback, and portfolio posts.

Marina emphasized that Toddle supports personalized learning, whether a student needs extra practice or is ready to advance.

What About Teams?

Sophie and Ciara also wondered whether Teams will still be used. Kevin explained that Teams will remain for school-wide communication, while Toddle becomes the hub for classwork, assignments, and portfolios.

Want to hear the full discussion and get to learn how Toddle can bring more student agency, clearer feedback, and better parent insight? Tune into this episode!

Welcome to the WAB Podcast. In this episode, we take a closer look at what student leadership looks like in our Elementary School, and how even our Elementary students are making a difference in their school community.

We're joined by three members of the ES Student Council: Carolina and Maya from Grade 5, and Julian from Grade 3, as well as Elementary School Principal Catherine Pierre-Louis. Together, they reflect on what it means to be part of Student Council, why they chose to get involved, and how they’ve worked together to lead projects that matter to them and their peers.

Building Leadership Through Action

Catherine explained that the ES Student Council operates as an after-school activity (ASA), where students sign up through SchoolsBuddy. They can join one or all of the three activity seasons throughout the year. Looking ahead, there's a vision to expand the program into a year-long commitment to foster leadership development and support more student-led projects.

Once they join, students collaborate to brainstorm, vote on, and implement ideas that enhance the school environment. Through this process, they learn how to express their thoughts, turn ideas into action, and develop essential skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork.

Why and What They Lead

When asked what motivated them to join, Carolina shared that she wanted to make a positive change in the school environment. Maya was inspired to contribute positively and help others. Julian joined out of curiosity and discovered a passion for leadership along the way.

They also highlighted some of the projects they've led. Maya and her friends transformed an underused Grade 5 hangout spot into a welcoming space by cleaning and repainting it. Julian brought creative ideas to Spirit Week by introducing different themed dress-up days. Carolina led an initiative to build connections between students and cleaning staff, encouraging students to take responsibility for cleaning up after meals.

Overcoming Challenges and Creating Impacts

Catherine shared how students had faced actual challenges, like adapting when events don't go as planned, and learn to problem-solve and rally support from their peers. One success story is the Plant Squad, which reopened the school greenhouse for student use during breaks, overcoming initial hurdles related to supervision and participation. Student feedback has also played a key role in shaping larger school initiatives, such as the redesign of the ES playground, where many student ideas were incorporated into the final plan.

Tune in to this episode to hear how WAB's ES Student Council empowers students to voice their opinions, build leadership skills, and take an active role in shaping their school community and learning spaces.

Welcome to a new episode of the WAB Podcast. Today, we’re exploring how student leadership, innovation, and the power of science come together to connect and inspire.

Joining us are members of WAB’s High School STEMx Club, Grade 11 students Hannah, Utkarsh, and Shane, along with their teacher and advisor, Paul Wagenaar. Together, they share how a group of passionate students reimagined what science learning could look like, culminating in WAB’s first-ever interschool Science Day.

STEMx began as a student-led initiative aimed at making science more engaging for younger learners. The group started by running hands-on workshops in the Elementary and Middle Schools. As Hannah, the club's leader, shared: “Last year, we decided to expand our impact.” For her, what makes the club meaningful is its inclusivity: "Some members aren’t planning to study STEM in university or pursue it as a career. They joined for their interest."

Driven by curiosity and a desire to break stereotypes, like the idea that STEM is only for the ‘smart’ or mathematically inclined, the club set out to create a platform that showcased science as creative, hands-on, and socially relevant. The result was Science Day, an inter-school event exploring how science can help solve real-world issues, including challenges faced by refugees.

Utkarsh, who joined after being recruited by Hannah at the club fair, shared his motivation: “I wanted to see if I could use what I learned in the classroom and help other people enjoy it.” Shane added, “We’re both very passionate about science and math, so we joined together.”

With encouragement from their advisor, science teacher Paul Wagenaar, the club took ownership of the planning process. “They’re very self-motivated,” Paul said. “Many of them even contacted the administration themselves to organize the event.”

But bringing Science Day to life wasn’t without setbacks. Faced with low early registration numbers, the team considered cancelling. “It was disappointing, especially for our grade 12 students and Mr. Wagenaar, who wouldn’t be here next year,” said Hannah. She recalled nearly giving up—until a mentor reminded her that this was just their minimum viable version. “It won’t be perfect, but it’s a first step.” It reframed the challenge as part of the process, not the end of it. The team stepped up their efforts, sending out “a hundred messages a day,” and managed to rally enough interest to make Science Day a reality.

“The moment the opening ceremony began, it came to me that it’s actually happening,” Hannah reflected. “A very small idea turned out to be so big and successful.” Utkarsh saw the impact in real time: “I saw them actually having fun and being creative. That’s what we wanted, people having fun doing science and solving real problems.” Shane, who led a catapult-building activity, added, “I could tell the participants had a lot of fun. That was great.”

For Paul, the highlight was witnessing the students lead the entire process: “Seeing the club members sharing their passion, figuring out ways to solve problems when things went wrong was a joyous moment for me.”

Science Day was about testing ideas, navigating challenges, and seeing how student-led learning can have an impact. It’s a reminder of what students can accomplish when given the space to lead.

Welcome to the latest episode of WAB Podcast! In this episode, we explored WAB Wild, WAB's very own outdoor learning program, and one that's all about adventure, teamwork, and connecting with nature. We were joined by Stephen Boyko, the coordinator of WAB Wild, and two Grade 8 students, Gustav and Kenzie, who shared their unforgettable experiences. From abseiling to cooking breakfast under the open sky, we uncovered how this program builds resilience, fosters community, connects with classroom learning, and changes perspectives on sustainability.

Led by coordinator Stephen Boyko, WAB Wild's philosophy is rooted in experiential education. Stephen explained that the goal of the program is to build a lasting appreciation for nature, strengthen community bonds, and develop personal resilience through challenges.

When Gustav first arrived at WAB in Grade 7, he felt unfamiliar with the environment and the English language. But everything changed when he joined WAB Wild. The outdoor experience helped him build connections with both his peers and his teachers. The program's trust-based activities-like hiking in small groups through the woods or navigating a lake by canoe, helped him feel both independent and supported. Gustav added that you could feel a trust in yourself and a kind of community trust with your classmates and teachers.

For Kenzie, returning to the same campsite each year brought back memories while creating new ones. From geocaching adventures in Grade 6 to an abseiling challenge in Grade 7, each activity pushed her boundaries and brought her closer to her peers. She also recounted her memory of completing the water trip on canoes with her friends, where they had to trust each other to avoid tipping over and getting wet in the lake.

Stephen emphasized the deeper lessons behind this program, which is helping the students develop a love for nature and the skills to protect it. From composting food waste to understanding the impact of their actions on the environment, the students carried these values and learnings back to their classrooms and homes, along with deeper friendships, shared memories, changed perspectives on sustainability, and newfound resilience.

Tune in to find out more!

Welcome to the latest episode of the WAB Podcast, where we explore one of WAB’s growing student-led traditions: the Night Market. Joining us are Audrey and Rachel from Grade 11, and Chloe from Grade 10, three of the students who helped make this event happen.

From cultural showcases and global cuisine to student performances and an all-new Open Mic stage, the Night Market was a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and cultural connection. For the first time, the event also welcomed students from APAC schools who were visiting WAB for a badminton tournament, adding an exciting dimension to the evening.

Audrey described the Night Market as a platform for student clubs to promote their missions, raise funds for meaningful causes, and highlight WAB’s cultural diversity. It also provides a stage for performers to express themselves. The event, she explained, was shaped through student input: “During club meetings, we hosted brainstorming sessions to gather input from all club members, which helped make the event more successful, engaging, and fun for the students.”

Rachel reflected on why she got involved: “We all participated in last year’s Night Market and had such a great time. That’s why we wanted to help organize it this year.” Their goal was to carry the tradition forward and elevate it. This year’s event featured over 10 student clubs, two local restaurants, and five parent groups: Chinese Link, Korean Link, ASEAN Link, Tiger Spirit, and Tiger Den. Coordinating all these groups took time, teamwork, and clear communication.

Chloe shared what made this year feel different: “It was a bit different because we hosted it at the same time as the APAC tournament.” Opening the event to visiting students created new opportunities for connection and cultural exchange. One of the most memorable additions was the Open Mic session. Though organizers weren’t sure if anyone would step forward, the response exceeded expectations as students from multiple schools joined in and shared the stage.

Of course, organizing an event of this scale wasn’t without its challenges. When weather forced a last-minute change of venue, the team acted quickly to relocate the entire market indoors. Audrey shared one key takeaway: “Make sure that you always have a backup plan.”

Tune in to this episode to hear more from Audrey, Rachel, and Chloe as they reflect on the planning, challenges, and community spirit behind this special night at WAB.