SES Blog

At Surabaya European School (SES), teaching our students to care for the planet is just as important as their academic learning. Through the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), we make learning about sustainability exciting and relevant for young minds. A fantastic example of this happened recently in Year 2: the students created their very own paper lanterns, starting with the amazing process of making the paper from scratch!

The IPC, which encourages students to connect different subjects and explore big ideas, provides a perfect way to learn about sustainability. This Year 2 project showed exactly how this works.

Year 2: A Hands-On Journey to Sustainable Light

Imagine the buzz in the Year 2 classroom as it transformed into a mini paper factory! This wasn’t about simply decorating shop-bought paper. Instead, the children embarked on a journey to understand how paper is made from basic resources. With their teachers guiding them, they followed these sustainable steps:

• Where Does Paper Come From?

  The project began with a discussion about paper’s origins, often highlighting the impact of cutting down forests. This naturally led to talking about better alternatives and why recycling is so important. The school might have even used recycled paper or fast-growing plant materials to make the initial paper mixture, showing the students how we can reuse things.

• Making Paper Magic

  The students then got their hands wet, experiencing the fascinating process of turning raw materials into paper pulp. They broke down the materials (recycled paper or plant fibers), mixed them with water, and used special screens to create new sheets of paper. This hands-on activity gave them a real understanding of the effort and resources needed to make even a single piece of paper.

• Looking After Our Resources

  Throughout the paper-making, teachers emphasized using water wisely and avoiding any waste. This taught the young learners important lessons about managing resources and why we need to look after our planet’s supplies.

• Creating Lanterns with Meaning

  Once their handmade paper was dry, the Year 2 students used their unique creations to build beautiful paper lanterns. This gave their hard work a lovely and meaningful outcome, connecting the sustainable process to celebrations that often involve light and hope.

• Thinking About What We Learned

  The project ended with a class discussion. Students talked about how their handmade paper was different from the paper we usually use, considering the energy and materials involved in making paper on a large scale. This helped them think critically about what we buy and why sustainable choices are important.

How IPC Principles Support Sustainability Learning:

This Year 2 paper lantern project beautifully shows how the IPC helps students learn about sustainability:

• Personal Learning: By being directly involved in the process, students developed a sense of responsibility towards the environment and understood the impact of their actions.
• Enquiry: The project encouraged lots of “why?” questions about materials, how things are made, and the effect on our planet, fostering a natural curiosity about sustainability.
• International Mindedness: Depending on the wider topic they were studying, they might have learned how different cultures celebrate with light and how different countries approach environmental issues.
• Making Connections: Students saw the link between making paper and bigger environmental problems like deforestation and using up too many resources, giving them a better understanding of the whole picture.
• Specific Learning Goals: The activity addressed specific IPC learning targets related to understanding materials, how things are made, and the importance of using resources responsibly.

Building a Greener Future at SES:

The Year 2 paper lantern project is just one example of how SES makes learning about sustainability a key part of its IPC curriculum. By providing fun, hands-on experiences that connect learning to real-world issues, SES is empowering its students to become informed, responsible, and proactive caretakers of our environment. Starting with something as simple as making paper sustainably, SES is helping to grow a generation that truly values our planet and is ready to create a brighter, greener future for all.

Surabaya European School (SES) is dedicated to providing an education that goes beyond academic excellence, fostering the skills and attributes students need to thrive in today’s interconnected world. A key element of this is our commitment to the Cambridge Curriculum, a globally recognised framework that perfectly aligns with SES’s vision for holistic student development.

A Structured Pathway to Success

The Cambridge Pathway, as implemented at SES, offers a carefully designed educational journey from the early years right through to IGCSEs and A-Levels. This structured approach ensures a seamless progression, allowing students to build knowledge and skills consistently. This clarity provides students and parents with a clear sense of direction and purpose in their learning.

Proper Understanding, Not Just Swotting Up

At SES, the Cambridge Curriculum promotes a proper understanding of subjects rather than simply swotting up facts. We emphasise inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to ask questions, explore concepts thoroughly, and have a go at applying their knowledge to real-world situations. This active engagement fosters a more profound grasp of concepts and empowers students to become active participants in their education.

Developing Essential 21st-Century Skills

Beyond academics, the Cambridge Curriculum at SES prioritises the development of crucial 21st-century skills. Through collaborative projects, problem-solving activities, and opportunities for independent research, students hone their critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. These skills, vital for future success, are interwoven into the curriculum to ensure our students are adaptable and innovative.

Cultivating Global Citizens in Surabaya

As a leading international school in Surabaya, SES shares the Cambridge Curriculum’s focus on fostering global citizenship. We encourage students to explore diverse perspectives, understand different cultures, and develop a sense of responsibility towards the world. By integrating international contexts into our curriculum, we prepare students to thrive in an interconnected global community.

Personalised Learning for Every Student

SES reckons that each student is unique. The Cambridge Curriculum’s flexibility allows us to cater to diverse learning styles and paces. Our teachers use differentiated instruction and assessment to ensure every student is properly challenged and supported to reach their full potential. This personalised approach allows us to nurture individual talents and address specific learning needs effectively.

Preparing for a Bright Future

The rigorous academic standards and globally recognised qualifications offered through the Cambridge Pathway at SES provide students with a strong foundation for future academic pursuits and career opportunities. The Cambridge qualifications, such as IGCSEs and A-Levels, are highly respected by universities and employers worldwide, opening doors to a wide range of possibilities for SES graduates.

Conclusion: The Cambridge Advantage at Surabaya European School

By embracing the Cambridge Curriculum, Surabaya European School provides a world-class education that extends beyond traditional academics. The structured framework, emphasis on proper understanding, development of essential skills, cultivation of global citizenship, personalised learning approach, and preparation for future success empower our students to become confident, capable, and well-rounded individuals ready to contribute positively to the world. At SES, the Cambridge Curriculum is more than just a pathway; it’s a launchpad for a lifetime of learning and achievement.

Surabaya, Indonesia – The roar of the crowd, the thumping of trainers on the track, the triumphant cheers – these are the hallmarks of Surabaya European School’s (SES) annual Athletics Day, a much-anticipated event that goes far beyond just a bit of sporting competition. For SES students, Athletics Day is a catalyst, lighting their competitive spirit, fostering teamwork, and instilling valuable life lessons that stretch far beyond the sports pitches of Surabaya.

More than just a day of races and jumps, SES Athletics Day is carefully put together to tap into the natural competitive drive within each student, no matter how sporty they are. The event fosters a healthy bit of rivalry, encouraging students to push their own limits, have a go at getting better, and experience the thrill of challenging themselves and their mates.

A Platform for a Good Old Competitive Spirit:

From the youngest ones having a go at fun, age-appropriate events to the older students battling it out in the track and field finals, Athletics Day provides a structured and supportive environment for students to get their competitive instincts going. The house system at SES – with its spirited rivalry between Sura, Baya, Garuda, and Komodo – further amps up this healthy competition, fostering a sense of belonging and everyone wanting to do well together.

It’s not all about winning, mind you. SES Athletics Day celebrates having a go, putting in the effort, and beating your own best. Students are encouraged to focus on how they’re doing themselves and to cheer on their teammates, creating a good atmosphere where everyone feels motivated to give it their all. The cheers and encouragement from other students and the teachers create a buzz where everyone wants to have a proper go.

Beyond the Finish Line: Growing Essential Life Skills:

The competitive spirit that gets going on Athletics Day at SES goes further than just sports. Students learn valuable life skills that are crucial for doing well in everything they do later on:

• Setting Goals and Sticking At It: Students set their own goals for their events and learn how important it is to keep trying and stick at it to achieve them. The effort needed to train and compete teaches them a good lesson about how hard work pays off.
• Bouncing Back and Dealing with Setbacks: Not every race ends with a win. Athletics Day provides a safe place for students to experience both doing well and being a bit disappointed. Learning to deal with not winning, to think about how they did, and to get back up and try harder is an important part of building resilience.
• Working Together and Mucking In: In team events like relays and house competitions, students learn how important it is to talk to each other properly, work together, and support each other. They understand that everyone pulling together can lead to better results than just doing your own thing.
• Playing Fair and Being a Good Sport: Winning with grace and taking a loss on the chin are both lessons from Athletics Day. Students learn to respect the other teams, acknowledge their efforts, and play fair. This encourages a good sense of competition that goes beyond the sports ground.
• Feeling Good About Yourself and Believing You Can: Stepping onto the track or field and giving it their best shot, no matter what happens, builds their confidence. Overcoming challenges and achieving their own goals on Athletics Day makes them believe in themselves more.

A School-Wide Celebration of Effort and Spirit:

SES Athletics Day is more than just a bunch of sporting events; it’s a school-wide celebration of effort, determination, and good spirit. The energy and buzz on this day spreads throughout the whole school, showing how important it is to have a healthy competitive streak as something that makes you want to do better and achieve things together.

By providing a platform for a good old competitive spirit, growing essential life skills, and celebrating everyone having a go, Surabaya European School’s Athletics Day plays a vital role in lighting the fire within its students – a fire that will keep driving them to do well in everything they do, both in and out of SES.

Surabaya European School (SES) isn’t just a place for learning; it’s a community deeply invested in shaping the leaders of tomorrow, a philosophy that chimes perfectly with the enduring legacy of Raden Ajeng Kartini. This article explores how SES actively instils Kartini’s values in its female students and how Kartini’s own life and aspirations remarkably embody the core principles that underpin the SES educational ethos.

Nurturing Kartini’s Legacy in SES Female Students:

SES understands that Kartini’s fight for education, equality, and empowerment remains incredibly relevant for young women today. The school actively integrates her ideals through various initiatives:

• Empowering Voices and Leadership: SES provides numerous platforms for female students to develop their voices and leadership skills. From student councils and debate clubs to leading extracurricular activities and community service projects, girls are encouraged to take the initiative, express their opinions confidently, and lead with empathy. This mirrors Kartini’s own determination to be heard and her belief in women’s capacity for leadership.
• Fostering a Love for Lifelong Learning: Kartini was a voracious reader and a passionate advocate for knowledge. SES cultivates this same love of learning in its female students, encouraging them to explore their interests, ask questions, and become independent, critical thinkers. The curriculum emphasises inquiry-based learning and provides access to a wide range of resources, mirroring Kartini’s own pursuit of knowledge despite societal constraints.
• Cultivating Independence and Resilience: Kartini faced significant obstacles in her pursuit of education and her desire for progress. SES aims to equip its female students with the resilience and independence needed to navigate challenges and pursue their goals with determination. The supportive and inclusive environment at SES encourages girls to take risks, learn from setbacks, and develop a strong sense of self-belief.
• Promoting Social Responsibility and Global Citizenship: Kartini was deeply concerned with the well-being of her community and envisioned a more just society. SES fosters a sense of social responsibility in its female students, encouraging them to engage in service projects, understand global issues, and become active, compassionate citizens of the world. This echoes Kartini’s own desire to contribute positively to her society.

Kartini: A Reflection of SES Core Values:

Remarkably, the learner outcomes that drive the educational philosophy at SES find a powerful embodiment in the life and aspirations of Raden Ajeng Kartini:

• Independence: Kartini’s unwavering belief in her ideas and her determination to pursue education despite limited access reflect SES’s commitment to nurturing confident and independent learners who take initiative and believe in their ability to shape their own futures.
• Respect: Kartini engaged in respectful, thoughtful dialogue across cultures and ideologies, demonstrating a deep appreciation for others’ perspectives—mirroring SES’s focus on developing pupils who treat all individuals with dignity and value diverse viewpoints.
• Engagement: Through her active correspondence and advocacy for social progress, Kartini modelled intellectual and civic engagement. This aligns with SES’s aim to foster pupils who participate meaningfully in their learning and communities, both locally and globally.
• Resilience: Kartini’s ability to persevere through societal constraints and her continuous pursuit of reform embody the resilience SES aims to instil in pupils—the strength to face challenges and overcome obstacles with determination.
• Confidence: Kartini’s journey of personal growth and her efforts to uplift other women exemplify SES’s dedication to cultivating confident leaders who strive to make a positive impact on the world around them.

In conclusion, Surabaya European School actively works to imbue its female students with the enduring values championed by R.A. Kartini. By fostering leadership, promoting equality, cultivating a love for learning, building resilience, and encouraging social responsibility, SES empowers young women to become the change-makers of tomorrow, echoing Kartini’s own powerful legacy. Furthermore, Kartini’s life and aspirations serve as a potent embodiment of the core values that lie at the heart of the SES educational experience, creating a powerful synergy between historical inspiration and contemporary practice.