This is the time of year at GIMS when we take a mindful, necessary pause and come together to review our Growth and Improvement Plan. This ritual is invaluable, as it compels us to look back, assess our progress, and remind ourselves why we do this work. Our commitment to education is deep and enduring—toward our students, our families, and ourselves as a team. Teaching is not just about delivering content; it also means fostering and sustaining a culture of continuous learning and self-reflection, asking ourselves each day if we are truly moving forward.
In this review, we are focusing on three fundamental areas of our educational project: comprehensive assessment across the school, the development of bilingual reading and writing programs, and aligning our teacher training with Montessori principles—a guiding framework that continually inspires us and gives meaning to our work. Each of these focus areas presents a challenge and, at the same time, a wonderful opportunity for growth. From each, we have seen meaningful achievements, which I am excited to share with everyone.
Key Achievements
Comprehensive School Assessment
Through our Professional Growth Plan, each teacher has completed two self-assessment forms and participated in personalized mentoring sessions twice a year. This reflective exercise, where each team member faces their strengths and areas for improvement, demonstrates the maturity and dedication of our team. Teaching is not static; it’s a process of continual evolution. With this practice, we are enhancing our teaching methods and steadily moving closer to the Montessori standards that we hold so dear.
Bilingual Reading and Writing Programs
Reading and writing are gateways to thought, creativity, and the discovery of new ideas. This year, we introduced leveled reading materials in Spanish and English and expanded bilingual grammar resources for primary students. We are delighted with the results: 90% of our students achieved their reading goals—a milestone that reflects not only their hard work but also the transformative power of these new materials. It’s a true pleasure to see them writing and thinking in two languages, exploring ideas and cultures, and finding their voice in both Spanish and English.
In our annual review, we not only celebrate these achievements. It is also a time to make adjustments as needed, refine our focus, and rethink our goals for the coming year. None of this would be possible without the community that surrounds and supports us: parents, our teaching team, administrative staff, and the students themselves. It is a shared effort, a fabric held together by the trust and collaboration of everyone involved.
Of course, this journey never truly ends; there are always more challenges to embrace and new goals calling us forward. Yet each step makes us stronger. We firmly believe that our work extends far beyond academics; we are here to shape whole individuals, conscious citizens, human beings capable of thinking for the common good. And so, as we look toward the future, we do so with enthusiasm and the conviction that, alongside our entire community, we will continue reaching new milestones and building something beautiful and lasting.
Thank you all for joining us on this journey. We will continue to share our achievements and challenges, as we believe that education is, above all, a process of shared creation.
