Key Characteristic 3: Engagement of Learning

STANDARD # 18

Learners are immersed in an environment that fosters lifelong skills including creativity, curiosity, risk taking, collaboration, and design thinking.

Elements

Conditions within the institution promote learners’ lifelong skills.
Learners engage in experiences that develop the non-academic skills important for their next steps in learning and for future success.
Learning experiences build skills in creativity, curiosity, risk taking, collaboration, and design thinking.

Evidence

Evidence 1: MNTS syllabus (https://www.mntamilschool.org/mnts-syllabus-overview/) and its evolution into an intuitive courseware has been explained. In addition to LSRW skills, vocabulary and grammar is helping students to learn the language for practical real-world use. Interpersonal Listening and Speaking skill provide ample opportunity for students to cover various topics. Students exercise creativity and collaboration on these.

Evidence 2: Mission statement (3) (https://www.mntamilschool.org/bylaws/) states “To inspire and educate all students about Tamil language, culture, and heritage by accepting, appreciating, nurturing, and challenging them to their individual needs and ability” and clearly articulates that primary motto of the school is to promote Tamil language education and along the line expose the students to rich Tamil culture and heritage through various events and competitions.

Evidence 3: Non-academic events document (https://www.mntamilschool.org/non-academic-events/) describes various events, competitions, after school activities;
• The non-academic opportunities are being offered in various linguistic skill like oratorical, written essay and spelling bee competitions for various age groups.
• The students display their projects work during World Mother Language Day and explain their work to the visitors (parents, teachers and public), which provide opportunities to exercise their creativity describing historic places, personalities and cultural elements.
• As part of the school annual day, each class students with the help of their teachers exhibit on the stage various skills like compering, presentations, program scheduling, drama, dance, oratory etc. based on their personal interest.
• Through after school programs, students are trained on Silambam (Ancient Tamil martial arts) and Parai (ancient percussion instrument) and thus exposing them to non-academic life skills.
• In addition to these, the school partners with its parent organization MNTS (Minnesota Tamil Sangam) around all arts, culture and heritage initiatives. Through Sangam and the K12 public school the Tamil school students perform and present in the various public events celebrating their linguistic and cultural identity. MN Festival of Nations, MN State Fair, MN Fringe and city community events are a few to highlight.