Cognita Awards Book 2

Top of the class Awards for Excellence 2015

COGNITA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015 THIS IS Cognita is delighted to announce the regional finalists for the PLACE-HOLDER Cognita Awards for Excellence 2015. TEXT FOR A HIGH IMPACT The annual awards recognise and reward our very best STATEMENT teachers and staff whose work inside and outside the AND REES IS classroom exemplifies excellence and provides inspiration to LOOKING AT IT others. COGNITA AWARDS Leaders from each of Cognita’s schools were invited FOR to nominate teachers and staff who have consistently EXCELLENCE demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of academic provision in the categories of: Early Years Practitioner of the Year Primary Years Teacher of the Year Secondary Years Teacher of the Year Learning/Specialist Support Practitioner of the Year Non-teaching School Support Person of the Year Head/Regional Office Support Person of the Year

Cognita’s educational leadership teams in Asia,Europe and Latin America selected finalists fortheir respective regions.Now a judging panel comprising Cognita’sleaders and experts in the areas of education,human resources and school managementwill select the overall winners, which will beannounced at a gala ceremony for the finalistson 14 May at Stamford American InternationalSchool in Singapore.

COGNITA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015 | PRIMARY YEARS PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR EARLY YEARS PRACTIONER OF THE YEAR ALISON MOY Stamford American International School, Singapore A passion for languages “Winning the award is an absolutely amazing feeling and for teaching and to have been recognised for my commitment and dedication is exceedingly rewarding. The timing couldn’t Lara has taught French and Spanish and led the have been better, of course, as it marks my tenth year Modern Foreign Languages department at the school at NBH.” for the past ten years and strives to ensure that all students reach – if not exceed – their potential and Headteacher Georgina Masefield praised Lara’s that opportunities for travel are a key element of their classroom presence which she described as learning. consistently energetic, enthusiastic and committed to the aim of preparing pupils with the transferable skills of She endeavours to inspire her students through her own learning foreign languages. passion for other cultures, often sharing her experiences of living and travelling abroad as a means of bringing “She demonstrates the Cognita values through all that languages to life. she does for the school and has shown this consistently for the duration of her tenure,” she adds. “Growing up bilingual (French and English) and having lived in francophone West Africa as well as the US, “Lara’s enthusiasm, energy and passion for education languages and a respect for cultural diversity have outside the classroom are one of her unique strengths. always played a central role in my life,” says Lara. She has contributed to and managed numerous clubs, enrichment activities and events, adeptly running At school, Lara is a great advocate for sharing ideas whole-school assemblies, competitions and countless and working within a collegial and cohesive team. successful language trips to France and Spain.” “I feel that sharing best practice allows us as classroom practitioners to develop our skills, however experienced we may be. I have always been driven in my work, I always strive for excellence and I am passionate about teaching languages.

FINALIST:KATIE COPEMANDuncombe School, Hertford, UKA secondary science teacher for 27 years, Nick also runs before-school and weekend classes for students doing single-entry IGCSEexams in years 8/9/10 and set up a science fair that brings togetherschools from the Bangkok and Eastern Seaboard region.FINALIST:CAMILA FARIAEscola Cidade Jardim/PlayPen, São Paulo, BrazilRicardo is always on the look-out for ways to demystify the teachingof mathematics. He is extremely committed to his pupils’ needs andcontinuously seeking to improve their experience by creating multi-disciplinary projects and participating in national and international projects.

COGNITA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015 | PRIMARY YEARS PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR LEARNING SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR DEBORAH DUFFIELD Australian International School, Singapore ‘Everything is possible’ Some useful careers advice from his father, a different take on a Lady Gaga classic and passion for experiencing different cultures have made Joel Heagney a popular, effective and, now, award-winning teacher. Joel, a Year 6 teacher at Hastings School, relishes the opportunity the profession gives him to help children decide what kind of people they want to be in the future . . . while admitting he owes his own direction and success to his dad. “He suggested teaching as a career, more from worrying about what I would do with my life as opposed to actually thinking I might be good at it,” says Joel, a keen sportsman who played National League Hockey in England. “It proved to be an astute call and I realised very quickly that I had found a profession in primary teaching where I could make a positive difference in the world. Every day, moments occur with the children that remind you of the value of what you do.” Joel’s permanently positive outlook and ‘can-do attitude’ has had a huge influence on life in the primary section both in and out of the classroom, says school principal Kevin Godden.

“For example, his ‘If the world were a village’ assembly FINALIST:became a huge art project which inspired the very TRACEY ABBOTTimpressive display currently adorning the walls of the gym. Akeley Wood Junior School, Milton Keynes, UK“He re-wrote the words of the Lady Gaga song Bad A teacher at her school since 2005, Carolina takes advantage of allRomance to fit with his presentation on the life of the projects and initiatives and has successfully led several leadership andRomans in Spain and his pupils very much enjoyed entrepreneurship workshops for her students. Carolina has recentlysinging their version of Bad Romans in front of their taken on the role of Deputy Director for Primary Education.parents,” says Kevin. FINALIST:“He also jointly runs the after-school Sports Club for VALÉRIA DO RÊGO BARROSprimary children, trains each sports team and leadsthem into a tournament between all the British schools Instituto GayLussac, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazilof Madrid. Recently he coached our years 6 and 7 A first grade teacher, James combines high expectations and data-mixed-sex tag rugby team to victory in a tournament driven instruction to tailor learning according to his students’ diverseagainst a multitude of larger British schools. needs. He is a teacher who embodies the concept of a lifelong learner, inspiring and motivating students to reach their full potential.“Joel’s approach rubs off on his colleagues and pupilsalike and so, in his presence, there appears to be verylittle that remains impossible or beyond the reach ofthe pupils.”





COGNITA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015 | PRIMARY YEARS PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR PRIMARY YEARS TEACHER OF THE YEAR JOEL HEAGNEY Hastings School, Madrid, Spain ‘Everything is possible’ Some useful careers advice from his father, a different take on a Lady Gaga classic and passion for experiencing different cultures have made Joel Heagney a popular, effective and, now, award-winning teacher. Joel, a Year 6 teacher at Hastings School, relishes the opportunity the profession gives him to help children decide what kind of people they want to be in the future . . . while admitting he owes his own direction and success to his dad. “He suggested teaching as a career, more from worrying about what I would do with my life as opposed to actually thinking I might be good at it,” says Joel, a keen sportsman who played National League Hockey in England. “It proved to be an astute call and I realised very quickly that I had found a profession in primary teaching where I could make a positive difference in the world. Every day, moments occur with the children that remind you of the value of what you do.” Joel’s permanently positive outlook and ‘can-do attitude’ has had a huge influence on life in the primary section both in and out of the classroom, says school principal Kevin Godden.

“For example, his ‘If the world were a village’ assembly FINALIST:became a huge art project which inspired the very CAROLINA VARGASimpressive display currently adorning the walls of the gym. Colegio Manquecura Valle lo Campino, Santiago, Chile“He re-wrote the words of the Lady Gaga song Bad A teacher at her school since 2005, Carolina takes advantage of allRomance to fit with his presentation on the life of the projects and initiatives and has successfully led several leadership andRomans in Spain and his pupils very much enjoyed entrepreneurship workshops for her students. Carolina has recentlysinging their version of Bad Romans in front of their taken on the role of Deputy Director for Primary Education.parents,” says Kevin. FINALIST:“He also jointly runs the after-school Sports Club for JAMES HARDYprimary children, trains each sports team and leadsthem into a tournament between all the British schools International School Saigon Pearl, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnamof Madrid. Recently he coached our years 6 and 7 A first grade teacher, James combines high expectations and data-mixed-sex tag rugby team to victory in a tournament driven instruction to tailor learning according to his students’ diverseagainst a multitude of larger British schools. needs. He is a teacher who embodies the concept of a lifelong learner, inspiring and motivating students to reach their full potential.“Joel’s approach rubs off on his colleagues and pupilsalike and so, in his presence, there appears to be verylittle that remains impossible or beyond the reach ofthe pupils.”

COGNITA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015 | PRIMARY YEARS PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR SECONDARY YEARS “Winning the award is an absolutely amazing feeling TEACHER OF THE YEAR and to have been recognised for my commitment and dedication is exceedingly rewarding. The timing couldn’t LARA have been better, of course, as it marks my tenth year BOYER at NBH.” North Bridge House Senior School, London, UK Headteacher Georgina Masefield praised Lara’s classroom presence which she described as A passion for languages consistently energetic, enthusiastic and committed to and for teaching the aim of preparing pupils with the transferable skills of learning foreign languages. Lara has taught French and Spanish and led the Modern Foreign Languages department at the school “She demonstrates the Cognita values through all that for the past ten years and strives to ensure that all she does for the school and has shown this consistently students reach – if not exceed – their potential and for the duration of her tenure,” she adds. that opportunities for travel are a key element of their learning. “Lara’s enthusiasm, energy and passion for education outside the classroom are one of her unique strengths. She endeavours to inspire her students through her own She has contributed to and managed numerous clubs, passion for other cultures, often sharing her experiences enrichment activities and events, adeptly running of living and travelling abroad as a means of bringing whole-school assemblies, competitions and countless languages to life. successful language trips to France and Spain.” “Growing up bilingual (French and English) and having lived in francophone West Africa as well as the US, languages and a respect for cultural diversity have always played a central role in my life,” says Lara. At school, Lara is a great advocate for sharing ideas and working within a collegial and cohesive team. “I feel that sharing best practice allows us as classroom practitioners to develop our skills, however experienced we may be. I have always been driven in my work, I always strive for excellence and I am passionate about teaching languages.

FINALIST:NICK FROSTSt Andrews International School Green Valley, Rayong, ThailandA secondary science teacher for 27 years, Nick also runs before-school and weekend classes for students doing single-entry IGCSEexams in years 8/9/10 and set up a science fair that brings togetherschools from the Bangkok and Eastern Seaboard region.FINALIST:RICHARDO VIZ QUADRATInstituto GayLussac, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilRicardo is always on the look-out for ways to demystify the teachingof mathematics. He is extremely committed to his pupils’ needs andcontinuously seeking to improve their experience by creating multi-disciplinary projects and participating in national and international projects.

COGNITA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015 | PRIMARY YEARS PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR NON-TEACHING SCHOOL SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR JOSÉ CARRASCO Colegio Manquecura Ciudad de los Valles, Santiago, Chile A passion for languages “Winning the award is an absolutely amazing feeling and for teaching and to have been recognised for my commitment and dedication is exceedingly rewarding. The timing couldn’t Lara has taught French and Spanish and led the have been better, of course, as it marks my tenth year Modern Foreign Languages department at the school at NBH.” for the past ten years and strives to ensure that all students reach – if not exceed – their potential and Headteacher Georgina Masefield praised Lara’s that opportunities for travel are a key element of their classroom presence which she described as learning. consistently energetic, enthusiastic and committed to the aim of preparing pupils with the transferable skills of She endeavours to inspire her students through her own learning foreign languages. passion for other cultures, often sharing her experiences of living and travelling abroad as a means of bringing “She demonstrates the Cognita values through all that languages to life. she does for the school and has shown this consistently for the duration of her tenure,” she adds. “Growing up bilingual (French and English) and having lived in francophone West Africa as well as the US, “Lara’s enthusiasm, energy and passion for education languages and a respect for cultural diversity have outside the classroom are one of her unique strengths. always played a central role in my life,” says Lara. She has contributed to and managed numerous clubs, enrichment activities and events, adeptly running At school, Lara is a great advocate for sharing ideas whole-school assemblies, competitions and countless and working within a collegial and cohesive team. successful language trips to France and Spain.” “I feel that sharing best practice allows us as classroom practitioners to develop our skills, however experienced we may be. I have always been driven in my work, I always strive for excellence and I am passionate about teaching languages.

FINALIST:GINI GARSIDEHuddersfield Grammar School, Huddersfield, UKA secondary science teacher for 27 years, Nick also runs before-school and weekend classes for students doing single-entry IGCSEexams in years 8/9/10 and set up a science fair that brings togetherschools from the Bangkok and Eastern Seaboard region.FINALIST:SOROT OSATHANUGRAHSt. Andrews International Sathorn, Bangkok, ThailandRicardo is always on the look-out for ways to demystify the teachingof mathematics. He is extremely committed to his pupils’ needs andcontinuously seeking to improve their experience by creating multi-disciplinary projects and participating in national and international projects.