Coffee Morning with Our PYP Coordinator

oday, we enjoyed a wonderful Coffee Morning with our PYP Coordinator, Ms. Lisa Marie Parker, who transformed our parents into true IB learners! It was an exciting and interactive session where parents got to experience firsthand what it feels like to be an IST student.

Ms. Parker introduced parents to the concept of ATL (Approaches to Learning) skills, which play a key role in developing students’ ability to think critically, collaborate effectively, and learn independently. To bring this to life, parents worked in groups to build towers out of spaghetti and marshmallows — a fun and challenging activity that encouraged creativity, communication, and teamwork.

Through this experience, parents discovered what inquiry-based learning looks like in action. They learned that inquiry is not about being told what to do but about exploring, questioning, and discovering together. It was a great opportunity for them to see how their children learn at IST — through curiosity, collaboration, and reflection.

The feedback from parents was truly inspiring. Here are some of their reflections:

• “Inquiry leads and not follows.”
• “Learning through inquiry challenges the brain and builds independence.”
• “Collaboration opens up the mind to hear others and to be heard.”
• “It makes so much more sense to have your own ideas than to be told. Teamwork with wonderful ideas makes dream work!”
• “Today’s group task made me realize how different group dynamics produce completely different results — even with the same people!”
• “It was so fun and exciting to learn through inquiry. I felt really inspired — if this is how my child feels, then it’s amazing!”

It was truly a morning filled with learning, laughter, and discovery. Parents left the session with a deeper understanding of how the IB approach nurtures curiosity and confidence — and with a new appreciation for the incredible learning journey their children experience every day at IST.