George School International Baccalaureate Students Mentor Fifth Grade Students

Understanding our growth helps us discover the interconnected aspects of the self and what it means to be human.

Recently, our 5th graders had the opportunity to explore those ideas alongside students from George School who are studying Theory of Knowledge (TOK), an IB course that asks students to think deeply about how we know what we know, how our perspectives are shaped, and how we make sense of the world around us.

While the students are at very different points in their International Baccalaureate educational journeys, their learning is beautifully connected. Both courses invite students to look beyond simple answers—to ask questions, consider different perspectives, reflect on their experiences, and explore the complex ways that people and ideas are interconnected.

And there was an especially meaningful connection in this group: three of the George School students are Newtown Friends School alumni! It was wonderful to welcome them back to campus and see them engage with our younger students from the perspective of learners who once sat in their seats. We were also thrilled to welcome their teacher, Kyle Abbott, a current NFS parent.

Bringing younger and older students together creates a special kind of learning. Our 5th graders get to see where their questions and curiosity can lead, while the older students have the opportunity to reflect on their own growth and share their thinking with the next generation of learners.

That’s the beauty of an IB education—and of a connected school community: we grow by learning from one another.