by LYIS
LYIS recently headed to The Harbour School Hong Kong to meet the Head of School and Co-Founder, Dr. Jadis Blurton and the Director of social Impact and Sustainability Progam Rafi Cristobal.
The Harbour School is, on all fronts, unique and takes great pride in its efforts to be so. Underpinning its uniqueness is an awareness that “emotionally healthy people learn more and produce better” and from our perspective, that includes teachers too. As Dr. Jadis gives us a tour of the school, we see the creativity and incredible commitment to sustainability in action. The children learn by doing and experiential learning is a bedrock of everything the school stands for.
Each area of the school links itself back to its students’ experiential journey. We begin in the Marine Science Center, where students learn about natural habitats and the importance of sustaining and protecting them for future generations. Teaching and Research go hand in hand at the center – the first of its kind in Hong Kong. Great international education is contextual and the school’s support and dedication to bringing its local habitats and species to life is incredible and unlike anything we’ve seen before.
“Experience is defined as ‘an event or occurrence which leaves an impression on someone’, and we view it as paramount to the learning journey” the school says. There are plenty of experiences everywhere in the school.
The school even has its own yacht ‘The Black Dolphin’. and “While many sail programs teach sailing, and others focus on character traits and team building, we are one of the few programs that focus primarily on education and research. Students also learn leadership skills such as collaborative problem-solving, teamwork, resilience and self-reliance”.
As we meet with Rafi to discuss some of the school’s sustainability credentials and plans, we pause to take in the stunning backdrop.
Our conversation is a deep and meaningful where we connect on so many levels.
Congratulations to the school in being recognised at the recent Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence in:
Silver Award for overall performance – Primary Section
Best Green Education Initiative Award – Outstanding Award – Primary Section
Certificate of Merit – Secondary Section
Best Green Education Initiative Award – Outstanding Award – Secondary Section
Individual Award – Green Achiever – Mr. Rafi Cristobal, Director of Social Impact & Sustainability
LYIS extends its sincere thanks to Jadis Blurton for making us feel so welcome and sharing the school with us and to Rafi Cristobal for meeting with us, connecting and sharing the great work around sustainability the school is involved in.
Next, we caught up with Anthony Dixon of Metanoia and The Alliance for Sustainable Schools (TASS) to see how we can work closer together.
If you would like LYIS to visit your school, email: amy@leadingyourinternationalschool.com