During the final week of Term 3, Deputy Head of Junior School, Ms Sarah McKenzie, travelled to Laos as part of the ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE Partnerships Program, visiting Panyathip British International School (PBIS) in Vientiane.
The BRIDGE program aims to strengthen understanding between Australia and Southeast Asia, fostering collaborative relationships between educators and supporting the sharing of educational practice across the region. For The Knox School, it marks the beginning of an exciting international partnership that will create meaningful learning opportunities for both students and staff.
Over the course of the visit, Sarah participated in learning walks and classroom observations across PBIS’s three campuses, from Kindergarten through to Year 12. While there were clear differences between the two schools, particularly in language and the structure of the school day, there were also many familiar elements. Like The Knox School, PBIS offers students a rich range of specialist subjects and opportunities beyond the traditional classroom, and there was a strong shared commitment to student learning and wellbeing.
One of the most memorable aspects of the visit was learning how PBIS began. Twenty-five years ago, a young girl refused to attend school. After trying several different schools, her mother decided to create a learning environment where her daughter would genuinely enjoy coming to school each day. In 2001, that vision became reality, with PBIS opening its doors to just 38 students and 12 teachers. Today, it serves a thriving international community and stands as a powerful reminder that great schools are often built on a simple belief: that every child deserves an education where they can learn, grow and belong.
Beyond the classrooms, it was the generosity of the PBIS community that left the greatest impression. Staff openly shared their practice, their experiences and their enthusiasm for building connections with educators and students in Australia, laying the foundations for what promises to be a meaningful partnership between the two schools.
In 2027, Year 6 students at The Knox School will begin a cultural partnership with PBIS through their Geography Unit of Inquiry. The initiative will provide students with an authentic opportunity to connect with peers overseas, share experiences, ask questions and explore each other’s cultures, communities and daily lives. Staff are also exploring opportunities to strengthen professional connections through the sharing of practice and collaborative learning.
Reflecting on the experience, Sarah said the true value of the partnership lies in learning with one another.
“It is not simply about learning about another country. It is about students and educators learning with one another.”
The visit to PBIS has marked the beginning of what is hoped will become a long and lasting relationship between the two school communities, creating opportunities for connection, understanding and collaboration that extend well beyond the classroom.
