Overseas School of Colombo

The Overseas School of Colombo (OSC) is the oldest international school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. OSC is a multinational English medium international school located in Pelawatte near Battaramulla, a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Overseas School of Colombo is the only International Baccalaureate World School offering IB programs from Pre-K through to 12th grade in Sri Lanka. OSC is fully accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

History

Founded in 1957 as a non-profit organisation under Sri Lankan law, the school was originally named The Colombo School for Overseas Children. It was located at Queen's Street in Colombo Fort when the school first opened on 23 September 1957. The founders were from diplomatic missions (British High Commission, Burmese High Commission and Dutch Embassy) and the business community; this still reflects the school population today.

In September 1961, the school leased the premises known as "Rippleworth" at Turret Road (Dharmapala Mawatha) in Colombo 3. The younger children remained at the Fort while the older children moved to Rippleworth. In August 1963 the school in Fort had 100 children, while the school at Rippleworth, known as the Upper School, had about 72 children. In 1967 the school gained accreditation by the International Schools Association in Geneva, Switzerland.

To cope with an increasing numbers of pupils, in 1971 the school relocated to 51 Muttiah Road in Colombo 2 (Rivington) until finally in 1983 the school was relocated to its present address Pelawatte, Battaramulla. During the same year the school obtained accreditation by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organisation as an IB World School fully capable of offering the IB Diploma Programme. In 1982, the school changed its name to Overseas Children's School (OCS).

In 1990 the school received further accreditations from ECIS (European Council of International Schools) and MSA (Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools) and over the next five years opened its gymnasium and swimming pool. As the school developed it became recognised as an Office of Overseas sponsored school and has built close ties with the US Embassy while maintaining links with the other diplomatic missions. In 1996 the school took its present name, The Overseas School of Colombo. Continuing its campus development programme, the school built a new performing arts facility in 2005, renovated its primary and secondary libraries, and inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art sports facility in 2009.

The Overseas School of Colombo remains Sri Lanka's oldest internationally accredited educational institution. It is the only school in Sri Lanka to offer the International Baccalaureate Programme from Pre-school to Grade 12. OSC is a multinational English medium international school catering to the needs of the internationally mobile expatriate community and Sri Lankan students. OSC provides an educational setting that is focused on developing each student to achieve their full potential. That degree of personal excellence can only come with highly qualified teachers committed to the needs of all students on a campus which balances nature with state-of-the-art technology, facilities and resources. OSC is a culturally diverse community with students, parents and staff working in harmony.

School Mission

"OSC develops the whole person as a responsible learner striving for personal excellence within a culturally diverse school."

OSC lives by its mission and link it directly to the IB Learner Profile.

IB Learner Profile

The aim of all IB Programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. OSC learners are:

Inquirers: They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.

Knowledgeable: They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

Thinkers: They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognise and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.

Communicators: They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.

Principled: They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

Open-minded: They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.

Caring: They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

Risk-takers: They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

Balanced: They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

Reflective: They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.

Curriculum

OSC is a full IB World school offering the IB Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme.

Primary School:

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is for pupils aged 3 to 11, and focuses on the development of the whole child in the classroom and in the world outside. The PYP curriculum:

• Encourages international-mindedness in IB students

• Encourages a positive attitude to learning by engaging students in inquiries and developing their awareness of the process of learning so that they become lifelong learners

• Reflects real life by encouraging learning beyond the traditional subjects with meaningful, in-depth inquiries into real issues

• Emphasises, through the IB Learner Profile, the development of the whole student-physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically

PYP subjects (units of inquiry)

In Pre-school the children study four PYP units of inquiry during the course of each year, while in all other Grades, students study six PYP units of inquiry. All units are taught in a trans-disciplinary way, incorporating all disciplines and relevant skills and concepts.

The six main PYP subjects are:

• Science & Social Studies

• Language

• Mathematics

• Visual & Performing Arts

• Physical Education

• French

OSC students are also taught:

• Library skills

• Technology

Teaching

The Primary School teachers have a diverse range of nationalities. Within the Primary OSC is a “Learning Leadership Team” compposed of a Primary Years Programme Coordinator, Primary Principal, and for 2010/11 a mathematics leader (as part of a strategic focus on mathematics pedagogy). Class teachers are supported by a team of Assistant Teachers.

The school day for Kindergarten to Grade 1 students is 07.30-13.30; Grades 2-5 continue until 14.40.

Secondary School:

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed to meet the educational requirements of students in Grades 6-10 (11–16 years of age). This holistic programme is concerned with developing intercultural awareness and strong communication skills within a framework of interrelated disciplines.

The MYP is an international curriculum framework designed to help students develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world. Known as the MYP, it is part of the IB continuum at OSC, linking with the Primary Years Programme and the Diploma Programme.

Fundamental concepts of the IB Middle Years Programme

• Holistic learning MYP accentuates the interrelatedness of the academic subjects and develops well rounded, lifelong learners.

• Communication MYP stresses the importance of communication through a primary academic language (Language A), foreign language learning (Language B) and the appreciation of different ways of thinking and expression.

• Intercultural awareness MYP promotes better understanding of, and respect for, one’s own culture and other cultures. Furthermore, it asks students to view global issues from multiple perspectives.

IB Middle Years Programme subjects

The MYP curriculum requires the teaching of eight compulsory subjects. The subject groups are:

• Arts Visual Art and Drama

• Humanities History and Geography

• Language A English- language of instruction

• Language B French, Spanish and English

• Mathematics An integrated study of the five branches of mathematics

• Physical Education Health, recreation and sports

• Sciences Integrated Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

• Technology The application and development of technology user skills

Areas of Interaction

Each subject group focuses teaching and learning through the five Areas of Interaction (AoI), or common themes, which connect the student to the subject groups. The Areas of Interaction provide the MYP with a lens through which to view each subject area. Teaching subject areas through these contexts allows teaching and learning to focus on attitudes, values and skills.

The IB Middle Years Programme Personal Project

The Personal Project is a long term project, consisting of a significant body of work, undertaken by all Grade 10 MYP students. It is the product of the student‘s own initiative and creativity, and should be seen as the culminating activity through which students present their understanding of real-world themes, concepts and issues using the AoIs. The finished product is presented to the whole school community on Personal Project Presentation Night. The final 1-7 MYP Grade for the Personal Project is awarded by the supervisor, an internal moderator, and in some cases, an external IB moderator.

Teaching

Within the Secondary School, OSC has a “Secondary Educational Learning Leadership Team” comprising the IB MYP and IB DP Coordinators, our Counselor, Head of Technology and the Secondary School Principal. The subject teachers are supported by a team of Department Heads.

The school day for Grades 6-12 is 07.30-14.40. On Wednesdays there is a fixed timetable with classes concluding at 13.30 to allow for teacher collaboration and planning.

Campus

OSC is a fully modernised and air-conditioned campus set on a purpose-built, green and spacious campus designed to create a natural setting for students living in a busy city. OSC offers first-rate facilities such as:

   * A modern, new Sports Complex which includes two full indoor basketball courts and a climbing wall
   * A state-of-the-art performing arts centre, including a 450-seat auditorium and Black Box theatre
   * Swimming pool
   * Cricket nets
   * Three information technology labs
   * Four science labs
   * A newly renovated Primary and Secondary library
   * Three art studios
   * Music practice rooms
   * Canteen

Students

For the 2010-11 school year, the student body numbers 410, from a total of more than 40 nationalities. The largest percentage of students are Sri Lankan 19% with Americans comprising 14%, Indians 10%, British 9% and Australian 6%.

The majority of the families come from foreign missions, United Nations organisations and NGOs, while the rest are mainly from the corporate sector. The average annual turnover of students is 25% due to families being transferred to other posts abroad. OSC graduates go on to universities in the United States, England, Canada, Australia, and Sri Lanka among other countries.

Student Government Association

OSC believe that the students should be involved in all parts of their education, and should have a means to express their views about the school and its activities. Every student at the OSC is a member of the Student Government Association (SGA) a forum for their voice designed to encourage a sense of responsibility, leadership and service. The organisation helps maintain a high level of cooperation and school spirit, extending to the Primary School also in the form of the PSGA.

The SGA consists of an Executive Committee and a membership of two elected representatives from each grade level guided by a teacher supervisor. The representatives attend weekly meetings to provide valuable feedback on students’ requirements, ideas and issues, and two SGA representatives also attend School Board meetings.

Community Service

OSC students have a long and proud history of participation in Community Service activities. All Secondary School students enroll in some type of community service projects which mostly take place on Thursday afternoons. The projects range from work with sick or orphaned children, to support for street dogs through inoculations.

Alumni

OSC is an outstanding school which has served families of many nationalities for more than 50 years. Hundreds of students have gone through our doors, and are now a large group of valued alumni all around the world. We know that an alumni association constitutes the school’s largest and most permanent constituency. It is the guardian of the heritage of the institution. The association holds primary responsibilities for building strong relationships with alumni; relationships that are necessary to the long-term health and success of OSC.

Studying in a foreign country leaves an important imprint on young people’s mind, more than knowledge or values alone ever will. It enables young people to feel and understand what it means to be citizens of the world. Thus, creating a strong and broad-based network of people from similar backgrounds who will have this experience in common is so important, even though they live all over the world. With the continuing involvement of our alumni, OSC looks to the future with the goal of honouring its history, while maintaining contact with those who have been at OSC, and continuing to attract the best faculty and students. OSC plans to build up an active, involved alumni association, both in Colombo as well as in the e-world. OSC hopes to provide ongoing information and conversation about OSC, and organise events, including reunions, sports days and community service programmes. OSC encourages its alumni to join the Facebook page, OSC Sri Lanka (Pelawatte) for the latest updates, events, pictures or simply reconnect with friends, teachers and the school.

Notable alumni

Mohamed Nasheed- President of the Maldives

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohamed_Nasheed
• http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/1518.htm
• http://www.sundaytimes.lk/070610/Plus/pls12.html
• http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/11/fin12.asp
• http://www2.osc.lk/mun/about.html
• http://www2.osc.lk/mun/history.html
• http://www.srilankaecotourism.com/adamspeak.htm

External links

• The Overseas School of Colombo
• The International Baccalaureate
• The Council of International Schools
• The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
• South Asia Inter-School Association

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