The new academic term has entered the third week. Oluwatosin Ndukwu, the Head of Staff at MarvelVine Montessori School outlines her strategic vision.
In this exclusive interview with Akeem Alao, she states that her primary focus is to enhance student learning by fostering good study habits to boost competence, confidence, and self-esteem.
She also shares insights about other plans and approaches for the new session.
Could you please introduce yourself?
I am Mrs Ndukwu Oluwatosin, and I am excited to lead our school into this new academic year with a focus on enhancing student learning and engagement.
What are your primary goals for this new academic session, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Our primary goal this session is to encourage our pupils to develop good study habits. This is crucial for increasing their competence and confidence, which in turn boosts their self-esteem. We plan to achieve this by encouraging students to dedicate time to reading, whether in the morning or before bed. Reading not only enhances critical thinking skills but also serves as a form of entertainment and a means to process information effectively.
Our pupils won this year’s National Chess tournament and represented Nigeria in the recently concluded World Chess tournament held in Uzbekistan. We’ve seen that such achievements are crucial for increased motivation and confidence, which in turn boosts their self-esteem.
Are there any changes or enhancements to the curriculum that you believe will better support student learning and engagement this year?
Yes, we aim to update our course materials to ensure they are current and relevant. As educators, it’s essential for us to continuously learn and adapt our teaching resources.
How do you plan to provide support for students who may be struggling academically or emotionally?
We will first identify the specific challenges students are facing, whether they are internal, such as difficulty in grasping new concepts, or external, such as financial or emotional stress. Strategies may include one-on-one training where teachers can provide personalized support. Additionally, we will implement guidance and counseling sessions and make necessary adjustments in classrooms to accommodate students who are lagging behind.
What strategies do you intend to implement to promote discipline and a positive school culture among students?
Our school over these years has maintained a high standard in discipline. A system where new pupils as they join key in to the unique way things are done. The old pupils help the new ones to adapt to the school rules seamlessly Involving parents and guardians is key to fostering discipline. We encourage, support and reward positive behaviors as a strategy to maintain discipline in school and also encourage our parents to do same at home.
Involving parents and guardians is key to fostering discipline. We will keep parents informed about their children’s progress and behaviors, encouraging them to support positive behavior at home. Instead of corporal punishment, we will promote praise and encouragement for good behavior, which can significantly enhance discipline.
How do you envision involving parents and guardians in fostering discipline and academic success in students?
We will communicate regularly with parents about their child’s progress and seek their input on their expectations. By building a collaborative relationship, we can reinforce positive behaviors and academic success both at school and at home.
What professional development opportunities will you offer to teachers and staff to help them effectively manage classroom discipline?
Our teachers undergo extensive training before the school session begins. Recently, they participated in three-day training in HTML and coding, which has already shown positive results. We also plan to host webinars and ongoing training sessions throughout the year to ensure continuous professional development.
How will you gather feedback from students and staff regarding the effectiveness of your discipline policies and overall plans for the school year?
Our school utilizes a mobile-first strategy for communication. We engage parents through WhatsApp groups and hold regular PTA meetings to gather feedback. We understand that parental involvement is vital for fostering positive relationships between students and teachers.
Looking ahead, what long-term changes would you like to see in the school environment that would enhance both academic success and student behaviour?
In the long term, I envision introducing coding as a formal subject rather than just a club activity. Currently, coding is offered once a week by external instructors. If we can incorporate it into the regular curriculum, it will make learning more engaging and interesting for our pupils.
Additionally, empowering the pupils to engage in more online courses is essential as they play a crucial role in widening their horizons in some areas like chess, diction& speech, coding and robotics. So we will work on these, this new season to ensure a more fruitful session by God’s grace.