EF Academy Times 2021 by EF Academy

EF ACADEMY TIMES www.efacademy.com

Students from around the world, stories from our school

2020/2021

NEW YORK | OXFORD | PASADENA | TORBAY

Education no matter what Lessons from a high school year like no other As a school, the lessons we have learned in 2020 have no doubt made us a more extraordinary, resilient community for years to come. But our biggest lesson has been this: No matter how much the world changes, we will continue to provide students with a life-defining education no matter what. The coronavirus pandemic forced many of us to put plans on hold. It challenged some of our priorities, but also reinforced the urgency of others. Education – especially a high school education – is one of those urgent priorities that cannot wait, and this year we learned just how committed we are to guaranteeing it. Adapting to uncertainty From face-to-face teaching to distance learning and back again – adaptability and resilience have been major themes in 2020. In a matter of days last spring,

our faculty transitioned from teaching in classrooms to teaching via distance learning across 12 time zones as we helped students return home safely. In spite of the challenges, our Grade 12 students graduated with some of the highest marks and best university acceptances our school has had to date (see p.2). The summer break was spent planning and preparing for campus reopenings in August. With a new intake process involving mandatory testing and quarantining, extensively revised health protocols and social distancing measures, we successfully welcomed students back on campus to provide them with a stimulating space in which to live, learn and flourish. When asked about what it was like to be back and reunited with friends, most students agreed that campus looks a little different nowadays but is very much the same welcoming, inspiring place it’s always been (p.4).

Optimism for the future Equipped with the lessons learned this year, we are determined to keep students on track with their education next year and are providing families with more support than ever before to ensure studying abroad in 2021 is still possible. Our Safe Learning Promise is our commitment to ensuring students continue their education no matter what. In a time of uncertainty, we are supporting families with a series of promises they can rely on: the highest standards of health safety at our school, face-to-face teaching and online learning for those who need it, a support network on campus and in families’ home countries and flexible fees to provide additional reassurance. In addition to this support, we have developed a series of exclusive preparation activities for new students and their families to make everyone feels

confident and ready to embark on their international journey with EF Academy. Interactive workshops, virtual tours and detailed seminars on topics such as university preparation and co-curricular activities will help every new student hit the ground running next September. They say education is a lifelong process, but the high school chapter is one that can neither be skipped, delayed nor repeated. At EF Academy, we are more committed than ever before to making it a truly transformational one. Written by Clara Herberg EF Academy Times Team

In other words

“We are entering a new era of not only education but also life. We as educators must look forward and teach with the future in mind to ensure our students have the skills necessary to meet whatever life may bring.” Dr. Vladimir D. Kuskovski, Head of School, EF Academy New York

Campus News

Building an inclusive campus community Introducing our new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee

Each year, students from all over the world embark on a unique journey at EF Academy New York – a journey that includes academic growth, cultural exploration and international immersion. For many students and staff members, being part of this community provides them with their first formative interactions with diversity.

With a uniquely multicultural campus, EF Academy New York recognizes the need for a renewed focus on fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within its school community. A variety of factors, including unrest and tensions within the US and throughout the world, served as necessary reminders that there is always room for

improvement when it comes to making everyone feel welcome and supported. This fall, EF Academy New York created a dedicated committee for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB), which will be responsible for celebrating cultural diversity, embedding inclusion in the classrooms and residences, and acknowledging areas of need for equity within the school community in order to inform school policy. Two outstanding and passionate people will be co-leading our DEIB committee: Divya Jesudoss and Tranae Robinson. Their different experiences and perspectives make them especially well-equipped to lead this team. Ms. Jesudoss and Ms. Robinson have already begun creating a foundation upon which we will build DEIB throughout our community. They have chosen to call this committee Weave, as Ms. Jesudoss explains: “At EF Academy, we can harness our diversity to build strength and beauty in our pursuit of excellence, weaving our social fabric one unique strand at a time.” The Weave mission reminds us of the importance of working through, rather than just talking about

our differences: “Our students come from all walks of life and so do we. Each of us contributes to an inclusive culture. EF Academy New York commits to courageously sharing our perspectives and encouraging our students to do the same. When we educate, advocate and celebrate one another we stay true to the fact that our school can be anyone’s home.” The transformational education that EF Academy provides its students includes a strong emphasis on global citizenship, so the importance of Weave cannot be overstated. In the words of Ms. Robinson, “Having a dedicated space for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging here on campus means that we are actively trying to represent and support every student that graces our community. As we work to foster global citizens, we hope to help each student understand themselves, their peers, and the world around them.”

Written by Madeline Ames EF Academy Times Team

University preparation

Outstanding university offers EF Academy’s Class of 2020 achieve strong results

Read our full results in the 2020

1,204

results booklet

university offers received

$5 million

in university scholarships awarded to students

Top 1% More than 1/3 of students placed in the top 1% of universities worldwide 1

In what can hardly be described as an ordinary year, EF Academy’s graduating seniors have obtained some of the strongest university offers in our school’s history. 327 students graduated from our campuses in New York, Oxford and Torbay this year, obtaining their IB Diploma, US High School Diploma or A-Level qualifications. Across our three campuses, students received offers from 47 of the world’s top 100 universities1 and are studying at higher education institutions in 19 countries.

Among our strongest placements this year are the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College London, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Toronto. For the first time in our school’s history, students received offers from all 20 of the UK’s top 20 universities,2 including several offers to study medicine – a highly competitive degree subject. 2020 was also been a strong year for our artists, with 20 students receiving offers from universities within the top 40 for Art & Design (QS) – including Parsons School of Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago and University of the Arts London.

QS World University Rankings 2020

The Times Good University Guide 2020

Top-scoring students Student’s country

IB Diploma score

University

Kazakhstan

New York University

Germany

Technical University of Munich

Student’s country

A-Level score

University

Denmark

A*A*A*A

University of Oxford

Academics

Alumni spotlight

The importance of STEAM education in high school Teaching skills for the 21st century You may be familiar with the term STEM – an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math – but what about STEAM? An update in recent years highlighting the importance of art in relation to STEM subjects, STEAM education is becoming an increasingly important part of a modern high school curriculum. With the development of technology, we’re seeing more jobs emerge in the industry and more students preparing for careers as engineers, developers, or analysts. While students with aspirations towards a career in tech obviously benefit from this academic focus, students from all areas of study benefit from STEAM education. An emphasis on these subjects helps establish what are called the “Four Cs of 21st-Century Skills” and prepare students to succeed in our modern world. Communication One of the most valuable aspects of STEAM education is how it encourages students to learn soft skills. These are skills that deal more with emotional intelligence and how to interact with other people. Chief among these skills is the ability to communicate clearly. Through STEAM education, students are encouraged to do several things in their daily life that establish communication skills, like critiquing art, presenting research, collaborating with peers for group projects, and communicating results in research papers.

able to think critically means you know how to apply what you’re learning. You’re understanding how to filter effectively, allowing you to sort through life’s determining factors – whether that’s through unexpected challenges or in navigating something as definable as academic goals. This is a crucial skill that’s especially important as we navigate the 21st century. Creativity Creativity isn’t something that can be taught specifically, but STEAM education creates an environment where students can learn to express themselves. In a supportive and accepting classroom environment, students get the chance to explore more of who they are. This helps students put aside biases and allows them to think outside of the box on a variety of subjects.

From EF Academy to Medical School

Collaboration The best teams are those that allow each member to shine and bring their own unique contributions to the table without undervaluing each others’ contributions. STEAM education encourages this, bringing a collaborative spirit to the classroom rather than a competitive one. As students work on chemistry reactions together or learn to see the value in their classmates’ artistic expressions, they learn how to cooperate and appreciate their peers.

We recently caught up with Jacopo Bagnoli ‘20, EF Academy Oxford alumnus, to talk about his experience at EF Academy and life as a medical student at one of the best universities in Italy.

Critical thinking The simple act of acquiring information often isn’t as important as knowing what to do once you have it. Being

Written by Sara Burkhard EF Academy Times Team

Student stories

Student highlights Shining a light on some of this year’s student success stories

What was your proudest achievement at EF Academy? My proudest achievement at EF Academy was being able to win the medical genetics award. The medical genetics competition was held during the quarantine period online. Each of us presented a topic of their interest. I discussed my Extended Essay in CRISPR CAS 9 and its use in the cure of Huntington’s disease in humans. Why did you choose to study medicine? I chose medicine because I have always been interested in the life sciences and how they interact giving rise to the complexity of the human body and what surrounds it. Moreover, the desire to help others, being on the frontline, is the reason why I chose a more clinical career like medicine, rather than let’s say neurosciences or biotech. How did EF Academy help you get to where you are today? EF Academy Oxford helped me a lot in what concerns preparation for medical admission tests, and interview practice. This gave me both the analytical skills and decision-making techniques needed to succeed in my future career. What are your plans for the future? My current main plan is completing medical school. I’m also going to do extra-curricular research, so that once I graduate I will have broader career options in the Health Sector. My future plans concern entering a surgical specialty (at least for now), as well as pursuing medical research, and – why not ¬¬– teaching the next generation of Doctors.

Isabella Zangirolami Grade 10, from Italy

Sarah Pires Barreirinhas Grade 11, from Brazil

Designed and patented a new surgical mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Published a novel in Portuguese over the summer: As infinitas vidas de Dylan Reynolds.

Read the full story.

Check it out!

Elisa Braune Grade 11, from Germany

Arsalan Fathi Grade 11, from Iran

Is competing in the Prix St. Georges international equestrian event in Germany over Christmas. Best of luck to her and her horse, Weihestolz!

A champion black belt taekwondo in Iran, started a YouTube channel in which he shows people how to train. Check it out!

Jacopo’s tips for aspiring medical students: 1. Study hard, but don’t forget the work-life balance. You need some rest to achieve success, otherwise you simply won’t be able to cope with the work, especially later on in your medical career. 2. Practice, practice, practice. This is especially true if you are preparing for medical school interviews. Try some questions with your friends as well as teachers or members of your family. 3. Do some work experience. Not for interviews (although it’s needed most of the time), but to really get an idea of whether medicine is the right career for you. I would strongly suggest doing whatever you can to help people in your community, though please remember to stay safe in these challenging times. 4. Never give up! It may be hard, but if you have a dream and you work hard enough you will succeed! I say it from the perspective of someone who got three interviews and one offer. I was in and then coronavirus ended (temporarily) my dream. I decided to study as hard as I could during summer to try the entry test for Italian medical schools. This is done in English so I had an advantage over other people. I thought everything fell apart and that I couldn’t succeed, but here I am in the second best medical school in Italy. If I did it, you can definitely do it too! Interview by Chanel Mülhaupt EF Academy Times Team

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