Author Archives: Damian Bacchoo

It was only when I started my holiday that I realized how much I really needed it. “Not cool, dad” Waiting patiently for a ride on the bumper cars with the kids, I noticed a group of young teenagers jumping the queue ahead of us and then being allowed to get away with it byContinue reading “Let it be?”

I picked up my son’s (Grade 6) school bag this morning and nearly pulled my arm out of its socket. I said something along these lines: “Flipping ‘ek.  That’s a heavy bag.  What on earth is in there?”  He said something along these lines: “Yeah, it’s heavy, but I’ve been training since Grade 1 andContinue reading “Milo’s principles”

When I graduated from school, there was no graduation ceremony, no wise words to never remember, and no fanfare. We finished our exams and that was that. We parted ways, got merry (some more than others), and then we got on with the summer holidays and waited forlornly for our exam results to come in.Continue reading “You build your purpose”

This week I overheard an expression I hadn’t heard before…where one lady was talking to another about the ‘strawberry’ generation. I was at the supermarket so I naturally assumed that something that was afoot in the fruit and vegetable aisle. Alas, no. A diatribe of derogatory comments followed about how soft, selfish, and delicate theContinue reading “Kids these days”

The special ones Recently, I was asked to nominate a student to support a high profile event. Even at short notice she absolutely crushed it. I knew she would. She deserved the feedback and accolades she received afterwards…they said she was inspiring, articulate, responsive, and confident. Honestly, if humanity manages to save itself from itself,Continue reading “Why are you (not) picking on me?”

According to ISC Research, ten years ago there were about 8,000 international schools. Today that number stands close to 13,000. The growth is staggering. Indeed, a recent (illuminating and challenging) Bloomberg article postulates that on average, two new international schools open each day. It has become an incredibly competitive market as more and more familiesContinue reading ““These aren’t the metrics you are looking for””

Be honest, you assumed the boy was stealing a cookie didn’t you? You probably did it all the time when you were his age and we all know it takes a thief to catch a thief! But what if….he’d been told he could take that cookie? Or if he was actually putting them out onContinue reading “Assuming positive intent”

“Which came first: the chicken or the egg?” Who hasn’t explored this age-old debate with little kids?  I know I have.   Ask any other person you know how the discussion went and I am sure that they will all agree that the kids loved the inquiry, the opportunity to explore theories and come upContinue reading “Which came first: the chicken or the egg?”

In school this week we kicked off Writers’ Fortnight. Incredible speakers, including many extraordinary parents, are being invited in to speak to our students to share how particular books have inspired them, or because they are involved in literature in some way. As a result, our students have been awed by poets, journalists, diplomats, artists,Continue reading “Hello stranger!”

Creating a sense of belonging for each student is the first and most important function of any school. Everything else (literally) is academic.   My first lesson in how to go about this (many years ago) came from my first teaching mentor who believed it was all about “nailing the welcome” at the start ofContinue reading “Don’t forget the little (big) things”