A celebration of growth, community, and curious minds
Our December Reflection
December invites us to pause, celebrate, and look forward. At Walden International School, our motto—Making Good People—guides how we teach, learn, and care for one another every day. Over the year, 11 monthly posts explored threads of our shared journey: opportunities for growth, learning from the journey itself, supportive guidance at home, kindness, empathy, imagination, readiness, beginner’s mind, openness, personalized learning, and the joy of being understood. Read on for a cohesive reflection that ties those moments together and points toward the year ahead.
January: Fresh opportunities for growth and learning
Synthesis: Opening doors to new experiences helps students practice resilience, curiosity, and collaboration.
February: The Journey Over the Destination — Diversions and bumps in the road
Synthesis: Progress is a daily practice; small steps and steady curiosity shape character.
March: Helping Your Child When They Say, "There’s Nothing to Do!" — The Spring Break dilemma
Synthesis: Quiet moments can spark creativity when adults listen and trust; meaning can be found in open time.
“Progress is a daily practice; small steps and steady curiosity shape character.”
April: We could be heroes — The power of kindness, courage, and integrity
Synthesis: Small acts of kindness and courageous choices model integrity for every learner.
May: Making a difference — One good person at a time
Synthesis: Individual actions ripple outward to strengthen community and purpose.
June: Teaching empathy and mutual respect — An investment in goodness
Synthesis: Empathy grows when we listen, ask questions, and honour every voice.
July: Fuel for the imagination — Brains and bodies in motion
Synthesis: Imagination thrives when learning is active, joyful, and exploratory.
“A beginner’s mindset invites humility, experimentation, and new discoveries.”
August: How to get all ready. Already! — Preparing for re-entry
Synthesis: Readiness is a habit—planning, organization, and anticipation help us meet challenges with confidence.
Read August’s post
September: The Magic of Not Knowing: Why Being a Beginner Never Gets Old — Opening windows for learning
Synthesis: A beginner’s mindset invites humility, experimentation, and new discoveries.
October: Open Minds. Open Doors. — Discover What’s Possible
Synthesis: Openness to ideas, cultures, and perspectives enlarges our community and deepens understanding.
November: Learning more. Feeling seen
Synthesis: Learning shines brightest when every learner feels seen, understood, and valued.
Read November’s post
Weaving the year into one story
The throughline across these posts is a celebration of growth that happens in community: opportunities embraced; missteps handled with grace; kindness as a practice; imagination sparked by brave exploring; and readiness turned into confident action. Together, they tell a shared story of “Making Good People”: people who are curious, kind, resilient, and ready to contribute to something larger than themselves.
As we close this year, we pause with gratitude for the small, daily acts that shape character—curiosity, empathy, resilience, and service. The year ahead holds new doors and opportunities to make good in the world. We invite families, students, and alumni to share their favourite moment from the year in the comments or via your preferred channel, and to continue the conversation—both on campus and in our extended Walden family.
Wishing you a joyful, reflective December and a hopeful start to the new year. Let’s keep Making Good People together.