We Are Wellington | Cultivating confidence and curiosity
As part of our ongoing We are Wellington series, we ask our wider Wellington Community — parents, pupils and staff members — to share their experiences of the College and talk about what makes Wellington special to them. This week, Ines Menezes joins us to talk about how Wellington is helping her children, Leonor (Reception) and Tiago (year 4), build strong foundations for growth and success.
Becoming independent and capable learners
"My daughter Leonor is currently attending Reception, and this is the year where she will be starting to move to a more formal schooling. She is looking forward to all the new learning and friends, and especially to the ability to read, write and use numbers. My son Tiago is now in year 4. His expectations are mostly about building confidence in what he can achieve and in exploring great subjects like science, geography and history. For us as parents, it is more about seeing them develop the ability to become even more independent and capable learners for life with a growing positive attitude towards school and learning."
Celebrating differences, finding common ground
"I have particularly enjoyed seeing my children take part in the different cultural celebrations at school which have enabled them to have a deeper understanding of the richness of the world we live in, have an open mind to diversity and encourage them to go above and beyond with a positive attitude. I also find it extremely positive to see how much arts and crafts work they do with recycled materials. This not only stimulates their creativity, but also raises their awareness of how important it is to adopt sustainable practices."
Being an international school, Wellington has allowed my children to meet friends and classmates from across the globe and this has given them the chance to experience and learn about these different cultures first-hand. It has been a unique opportunity to discover the differences and similarities in other cultures compared to their own culture, better appreciate the world around them and gain the insight and confidence to live and work in multicultural settings. Finally, it has also made them more willing to learn other languages."
Moving through the world with confidence and curiosity
"I believe that Wellington has surely helped my children to flourish as individuals by encouraging them to bring their own personality and interests into the classroom. It has also allowed them to learn about the local culture. I see them learning how to confidently navigate a different environment, see a new way of life and embrace new opportunities in a variety of important areas. They have become more adventurous about exploring new things and more daring, as they have learned that failure is as important as success. I also feel they have become more independent and consequently more responsible and respectful towards their colleagues and teachers."
Guidance from the Wellington Identity and Values
"As the College's identity states, 'A Wellingtonian is Inspired, Intellectual, Independent, Individual and Inclusive'. I believe these are key skills for my children’s success and happiness. Wellington has played a fundamental role in equipping my children not only with key knowledge, but also with a love for learning and a desire to fulfil their potential. I also believe that the set of values by which the school operates will be essential to help them develop as individuals by giving them a positive direction and allowing them to further shape their mindsets and behaviour."
A strong, supportive community
"The Wellington Community is a very welcoming group that was key not only in our adaptation process to the school, but also to the city and the culture. It has given the network of support we needed in our transition, it has allowed to meet extraordinary people and take part in so many rewarding projects and experiences."
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