Case study: Award-winning wellbeing at GEMS Legacy School
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Award-winning wellbeing at GEMS Legacy School
For this case study the Komodo Team spoke to Asha Alexander, Principal and CEO, GEMS Legacy School and Executive Leader - Climate Change at GEMS Education
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Introduction
Founded in 1990 GEMS Legacy School is a CBSE school located in Al Garhoud, Dubai. The school provides quality education for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8. The staff at GEMS Legacy are passionate about the student experience and providing the support needed for all students to succeed, “The school has chosen to place itself at the forefront of educational development, the focus on developing learning environments and a commitment for GEMS Legacy School to be inclusive, with unique ways to help all students continue their learning. We want to continue to create the opportunities for all to succeed.” The senior leadership team is supported by a Head of Inclusion as well as Heads of Pastoral Care and Designated Safeguarding Leads to ensure that a strong wellbeing strategy is maintained at the school.
From guessing which wellbeing initiatives were having a lasting impact to using data to drive and measure the impact of relevant individual and school-wide interventions: introducing Komodo has enabled GEMS Legacy School to create tailored wellbeing activities that expand on their wellbeing philosophy.
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THE CHALLENGE:
Before implementing Komodo, the GEMS Legacy team's wellbeing strategy was primarily reactive. It included a variety of methods such as student and parent workshops, guest speakers, student counselling, grade-based surveying, and mental health awareness campaigns. However, the team wanted to improve this approach and identified several key challenges.
Ms. Alexander shares that their main difficulties involved identifying individual needs and measuring the impact of their responses. "We struggled to accurately identify and address the diverse mental, emotional, and social needs of our students. This made it difficult to provide targeted support and interventions," she says. Despite their staff's dedication, they recognized a lack of effective tools and systems within their previous approach to measure the impact of wellbeing initiatives.
GEMS Legacy is passionate about creating a culture of growth for both their students and their staff. When their team identified the need for better resources and training around student wellbeing they spent time engaging in improving awareness and understanding. After using Komodo's psychologist-written resources, Ms. Alexander noted that they are now better equipped. "[We have] access to wellbeing materials and training for staff on how to effectively support students' mental, emotional, and social wellbeing," she says.
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THE SOLUTION:
Komodo has enabled GEMS Legacy the flexibility to craft a tailored approach to student wellbeing. “The most valuable features of Komodo include its quantitative approach and immediate data access... Additionally, the quick, adaptable, and flexible surveys stand out for their utility.” Staff at GEMS Legacy are committed to a holistic student wellbeing model. They have found Komodo easy to adopt and are grateful for the accessibility of student data. “The ability to access data quickly allows staff to identify trends and patterns, enabling them to tailor interventions and support strategies effectively.”
When asked how these insights were being utilised, Ms. Alexander explained how data trends were being used to direct the creation of school-wide wellbeing-focused workshops on topics such as Sleep Hygiene and Nutrition. “By analyzing the trends and patterns revealed through the platform, we can identify specific areas like sleep or bullying patterns where students might need additional support or resources. This enables us to develop targeted programs or adjustments to existing ones, ensuring our interventions are as effective as possible.”
In their Thriving Together video, Alethea Vaz, Dean of Studies and Head of Pastoral Care at GEMS Legacy says, “The educators at GEMS Legacy School triangulate data from cognitive abilities tests, PASS (pupil attitudes to self and school), Komodo Wellbeing and academic performance to provide a comprehensive understanding of students cognitive abilities, attitudes and wellbeing.” Maintaining this visibility has allowed staff to implement interventions and support activities that address both cognitive and emotional challenges.
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“The feedback from Komodo helps us monitor the impact of our actions over time, allowing for ongoing refinement to better meet our students' wellbeing needs.”
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THE IMPACT:
The GEMS Legacy Team has seen remarkable improvements in some key areas across the school community.
Improved social connection:
“By encouraging collaboration and peer support, Komodo has helped strengthen social connections, making students feel more connected to their peers and the school community. Parents have provided positive feedback about the changes they've seen in their children's attitudes towards school and learning. Many appreciate the school's commitment to addressing the holistic needs of their children, noting improvements in their children's happiness and stress levels.”
Improved academic performance:
“There's anecdotal evidence to suggest that improvements in student well-being have positively impacted academic performance. Students who feel supported and well are more likely to engage with their learning, attend school regularly, and achieve better academic outcomes.”
Improved student engagement & wellbeing awareness:
“Programs and activities designed to promote mental, emotional, and social health are seeing higher engagement rates, suggesting that students find these offerings valuable and relevant. This heightened awareness has contributed to a more supportive and empathetic school environment, where students feel more comfortable discussing their feelings and challenges. Students are more willing to seek help and support, recognizing that taking care of their mental health is as important as their physical health. Teachers and parents report that students are showing greater emotional resilience and coping skills.”
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“ Komodo plays a crucial role in creating a nurturing school culture where all students can succeed.”
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The school has recently been awarded the Global Inclusion Award from IFIP, The International Forums of Inclusion Practitioners, for their exceptional efforts towards inclusion and wellbeing. To learn more about GEMS Legacy School’s award-winning approach to wellbeing check out their website
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If you’re an international school considering improving your wellbeing strategy, we want to help!
We partner with industry networks including BSME, COBIS and EARCOS and work with schools in over 23 countries, which are already gaining the insights needed to master student wellbeing. What insight will you gain?
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