Founded in 2008, Village Community Schools is building a new model for sustainable education and development. Our success comes from leveraging our founders’ lifelong experience as educators while employing local professionals to implement our programs.
Teaching children to question, think, and learn about the world around them is the bedrock of our philosophy. We aim to provide a classroom environment that encourages sustainable, inquiry and activity-based learning to help children develop in all areas – academic, cultural and physical. The medium is English, opening many doors in a twenty-first century India that is connected to the world.
In 2009 we passed a milestone when we opened our first school in Chettipalayam, India: Global Pathways School. Classes began in June 2009, in a renovated leased former match factory, with 50 students in Junior and Senior Kindergarten and Standard One.
Our program is designed and led by directors Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots and Barbara Galbraith, educators from Toronto, Canada with a vast amount of experience teaching students how to learn and engage in their learning process.
Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots is the founder and former head of The York School, Canada’s first complete International Baccalaureate school authorized to offer all three programmes – Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma. Barbara Galbraith is the former head of York’s elementary school and an International Baccalaureate teacher trainer.
Barbara Galbraith, are educators with a vast amount of experience teaching students how to engage in the learning process. Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots is the founder and former head of The York School, Canada’s first complete International Baccalaureate school. Barbara Galbraith is the former head of York’s elementary school and an International Baccalaureate teacher-trainer.
In 2007, Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots and Barbara Galbraith initiated a school project at an orphanage in Podanur, Tamil Nadu, which involved creating an integrated classroom for special needs children and mainstream children, focused on inquiry-based learning. As the project developed, monies were raised in Canada to accommodate a new curriculum and the need for more space. As a result of this positive and successful experience, Theresa Mersky, the main benefactor, Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots and Barbara Galbraith initiated Village Community Schools.
Village Community Schools has active and involved boards in both India and Canada.
Wanted: iPads for Learning!
Do you have an iPad? Use it everyday for surfing the web, or maybe reading an eBook? Then you might be amazed to know that at GPS, our students use them everyday, too…but as a key part of their learning experience in the classroom. There are seven iPads at GPS and they are in constant use every day. Last January, we introduced them on a trial basis and the children took to them instantly. Thanks to Justin Medved (Director of Instructional Innovation at The York School) they are loaded with interesting, interactive language arts and math...
read moreVolunteer reflection – Daniela Keren
After having been asked to write a blog article about my experience during the three weeks of summer camp at Global Pathways, I found myself staring at a blank document, unable to collect my thoughts. How do I sum up the magic of the GPS community in one measly article? The truth is, I can’t. There is no way to describe in words how incredible it is to spend time in a place where happiness is found in the simplicities of life where the value of education is put on a pedestal. The best way to truly feel the magic is to go to Chettipalayam and...
read moreIPADS make an impact at VCS
Since arriving a year ago the IPADS have become an important part of learning at VCS. Used daily they are involved in the teaching and learning of language arts, math, music and much much...
read moreWhen we know better, We do better
Lyane van Schaik-Munk, a board member of Village Community Schools, visited Global Pathways for the first time in February 2012. Here are a few thoughts about her experience. I just returned from Global Pathways School and instead of feeling tired, I am energized. When I arrived at the school, of course the children were a wonderful sight. It was family day while I visited, and I was treated to a stage production of the children’s talents and skills. Everything from Yoga, dance and acting were displayed and the children’s costumes...
read moreA world of difference
Recent article published in “The Hindu” features GPS and its students. A world of difference AKILA KANNADASAN Global Pathways makes quality education affordable for children from underprivileged families Sri Ram is a good boy, says his mother Anjugam. “This morning, I was in tears after an argument with my husband. My younger son kept asking ‘Amma what happened?’ But Sri Ram took him away saying, ‘Amma is sad, do not disturb her.’ I was grateful to him. I have to thank his teachers for his understanding and...
read moreLearning about assessment workshop
A few months ago, Barbara and I went to visit the Indus International School and the Indus Valley Community School located in Bangalore. We had read an article in IB World which highlighted the community school started by the CEO of the Indus International School, Lt Gen (retired) Arjun Ray for India’s poorest children. He wanted to to offer an international standard of education to the children of labourers and also from a nearby orphanage and was set up just under two years ago on a track to follow the PYP curriculum. It Is supported...
read moreIndependence Day Gallery
Great images from the Independence Day Celebrations. [Show as slideshow]
read moreCommunity Rules Unit Gallery
UKG children when they were doing a small play on Unit on community rules. Free eye camp conducted by Aravind Eye Hospital ,Coimbatore Children during the participation in State level inter school yoga competition [Show as slideshow]
read moreOctober and November 2010 in Chettipalayam
Having been so involved and busy at Global Pathways School,we are now back in Toronto and have time to write a blog! Our first port of call in India was Delhi, one week before the Commonwealth Games took place. Nothing appeared to be ready, but we knew the Indians, true to form as we have seen, would pull it off – which they did, by bringing in the army and many, many more workers. Our main goal was to meet with Gautam Banerjee, a legal advisor to the Supreme Court of India and our Advocate/Lawyer for the Foreign Contributions...
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A Look Inside VCS