Stonehill International School [SIS], known for its’ diverse and inclusive culture, continues to move from strength to strength. With an average of 32.1 points, Stonehill’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme [IBDP] score remains above the world average, for the sixth consecutive year. Of the graduating Class of 2018, Stonehill’s top scorers received an excellent result of 42 out of a maximum score of 45 points.

The IB Diploma [Grade 11 and 12] is a rigorous two-year programme designed to prepare students in multidisciplinary approaches to solving problems. It is crafted to be academically challenging, allowing students to acquire a vast breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding;make connections across traditional academic disciplines through in-depth academic research; and strengthens their ability to solve problems and understand concepts. This holistic approach to education helps students enhance their personal and interpersonal development as well.

Students from Stonehill’s graduating Class of 2018 have been accepted into prestigious universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT], Stanford University, London School of Economics [LSE], McGill University and more.

Over the years, the school has accomplished an illustrious record of placing its’ students in some of the best universities such as MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, Texas A&M, and Virginia Tech in the United States; London School of Economics, Kings College London, University of Manchester, University of Warwick and the University of Bath in the UK; Savannah School of Art and Design, City University of Hong Kong, BITS Pilani, VIT Vellore and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, amongst others in Asia.

Simon McCloskey,the Head of School said

As an inclusive school, striving to develop caring, confident and responsible global citizens, we are delighted that Stonehill’s average IB Diploma results have now been consistently above the world average for the past six years. We are also extremely pleased that two of our students, Dilsher Singh and Vinicius De Paula Sousa, both achieved 42 points – our highest score this year. We are all extremely proud of the Stonehill Graduating Class of 2018. We know that our very special students will go on to achieve great things.

Here’s what Stonehill’s top scorers have to say about the IB Diploma Programme and the school

Dilsher, one of Stonehill’s top scorers says

Maths and Science have always been my areas of interest; the excellent teachers at Stonehill have provided me with wonderful opportunities to leverage these interests. Sports has been my passion and Stonehill has given me opportunities to excel in football, cricket and swimming. The school has helped me develop lifelong skills which make me feel better prepared for University life. The IB programme has provided me with a holistic environment for learning and made me a confident learner.

Vinicius, another top scorer, says

Being a student at Stonehill provided me with the perfect environment to learn. I had the freedom and the space to follow my intuition, along with the necessary and strong support from teachers to fall back on when I needed guidance. These two elements made my experience in Stonehill a very valuable one – one I’ll remember forever.

Shashank Rammoorthy, Valedictorian for this years’ cohort says

Studying at Stonehill has been a great, all-round experience. I’ve learnt so much from my teachers and friends at this diverse school. The students received great support from all of our teachers, especially as the final IB exams approached.

Stonehill has grown into one of India’s most respected IB world schools and its major strengths are:

1. Diverse learning community – Stonehill admits students from over 35 countries and provides a diverse and rich learning community.
2. Inclusivity/Non-Selective School – Most schools are ‘selective’ and admit students who excel only in academics. Stonehill  believes in a ‘non-selective’ Admissions process, allowing students with different abilities and strengths, to excel in a challenging academic environment supported by highly skilled educators who focus on developing each child intothe best versions of themselves.
3. Faculty – Stonehill is renowned for hiring educators with a perfect blend of the best IB experience and international school experience. The highly trained Indian and international faculty includes teachers who are very active in various roles like IB workshop leaders, IB exam inspectors and senior examiners,accreditation specialists for other schools and more
4. Residential programme – Stonehill’s unique residential programme is designed to nurture each child to create caring, confident, empathetic global citizens. Students can opt for full-time or weekly boarding, and take advantage of residential tutors to help them academically. Stonehill is a member of the Australian Boarding Schools Association [ABSA], which is a leading authority on boarding for school-aged students both in Australia, and overseas
5. Accreditation – Stonehill is one of the very few schools in the country that is jointly accredited by the Council of International Schools [CIS], New England Association of Schools and Colleges [NEASC] and the IB [International Baccalaureate] which ensures that the guiding statements of the school, student’s learning and well-being, governance, leadership and staffing policies and practices are benchmarked to some of the best schools around the world.

Narendra Mehrotra, the Principal of the Secondary School says

We at Stonehill believe in providing a truly global education by providing challenging and diverse learning environments that promote international mindedness. Our students learn to be critical thinkers who apply concepts, both in familiar and unfamiliar situations. They are taught to think for themselves by driving the learning process, are competent problem solvers and can handle unexpected situations.

Learning through practical real-world examples is unique and long lasting, enabling our students to be well prepared for the challenges of university learning, and to face life in the real world with confidence.

Stonehill strongly believes in taking students with potential, and supporting and nurturing them in their journey to academic excellence, regardless of the level that they started at. To know more about them, please visit Stonehill International School [SIS]

May 26th saw an important occasion in the calendar of Stonehill International School – the graduation ceremony of their Grade 12 students. The ceremony was a beautiful and poignant, with encouraging speeches from Head of School, Dr. Beverly Sortland – Secondary Principal, Mr. Narendra Mehrotra – DP Coordinator, Ms. Manpreet Kaur and Chairman & Managing Director – Embassy Group, Mr. Jitu Virwani. The ceremony ended with an inspiring speech from the Valedictorian of the Class of 2018.

Accredited by the Council of International Schools [CIS] and the New England Association of Schools & Colleges [NEASC], Stonehill International School’s graduating students have been accepted into renowned universities in India and abroad. The Bengaluru based international school has a good number of this year’s graduating class getting into prestigious universities like MIT, Stanford University, London School of Economics, and more.

Over the years, the school has accomplished an illustrious record of placing its students in some of the best universities across India, USA, UK and Canada. VIT Vellore, Kings College, Simon Fraser University, Parsons and New York University are a few of the esteemed universities that Stonehill students have gotten accepted to.

Students who have made it to the top Universities across the Globe

1. Shashank R – Stanford University [World Ranking#1] and he has decided to attend the same. He was selected for both Stanford and MIT but he has decided to attend Stanford. Excerpts of a Q&A session with Shashank that was recorded earlier is below

Q. Which colleges have you applied and from which colleges have you heard so far ?

A. Stanford, MIT, Georgia Tech, Michigan, USC, UNC Chapel Hill

Q. What are the three most important factors an applicant should consider while applying to high selective universities ?

A. Passionate involvement in extracurricular’s, good academic performance and finally, I think being genuine in essays [or otherwise] goes a long way.

Q. What challenges did you face while applying to Stanford and MIT ?

A. It’s hard to not get intimidated by all the applicants with perfect SAT scores and great grades, but it is important to keep reminding yourself that it is a holistic process. Each applicant is looked at in context.

Q. Some useful tips for your juniors ?

A. Make sure to understand everything you learn in class – truly understand every concept. Your teachers are your greatest resource. For interviews, make sure to ask your interviewer lots of questions about the school. They will help you determine fit.

2. Vinicius DE Poula Souza – London School of Economics [World ranking#3 for Political Science]
3. Dilsher Singh – Hong Kong University of Science and Technology [World Ranking#27] – Indian Student. Excerpts of a Q&A session with Dilsher that was recorded earlier is below

Q. Which college are you planning to attend and why ?

A. I plan to attend Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for Engineering studies. I am a hands on learner and hence practical approach to my learning has always been my focus while selecting universities. HKUST offers high quality research opportunities and huge scholarships opportunities as well.

Q. What did you highlight in your application ?

A. As I mentioned, I am a hands on learner, I learn by doing. I have highlighted that quality of mine in all my applications. I have particularly highlighted my journey of overcoming challenges with increasingly rigorous subject combinations throughout my high school days.

Q. What do you think contributes to attaining scholarship at college ?

A. There are many factors that need to be combined to earn a scholarship at university. Top notch grades coupled with genuine demonstration of interest in the field of study and evidence of success in school years are of prime importance to earn a good scholarship. Also, bringing versatility to your profile adds ample diversity to the incoming class and hence leads to a good scholarship.

Q. Some useful tips for your juniors ?

A. Start early !! Start Early !! “Early bird gets the worm”. I have learnt this through my application experience. There are going to be pitfalls and unexpected challenges during the process and time heals everything. So start early.

Q. One factor that every parent should consider in the application process ?

A. Parents are the greatest resource in this entire process. We often do not realize this and ignore their suggestions. Our parents know us better than anyone. Parents can give you insights on certain aspects of university life that we may not have anticipated. Partnering with parents during the application phase makes our life easier as they are our ultimate shock absorbents.

4. Zoranuddin Syed – Zoranuddin has decided to go to McGill University. But he has received offers from Edinburgh and UBC as well.
5. William Croke Martin – University of Toronto/McGill University [World ranking 12 and 26 respectively for Political Science]

6. Ida Wardemark – Leiden University [World ranking 26 for International Relations] and many others have received equally impressive offers.

Quotes of some of the Distinguished Speakers are below

Jitu Virwani, Founder – Stonehill International School

Be compassionate and give back to those who are less privileged. Treating people with respect and kindness will go a long way. Be resilient to any setbacks that you will encounter in life. Always accept defeat positively and remember that setbacks are opportunities to get things right the next time. Be innovative in thought. Our world is changing so rapidly and for you to be successful, find ways to be innovative and Agile in thought and action. And finally, Have immense faith in yourself and be very grateful for what you have.

Dr. Beverly Sortland, Head of School – Stonehill International School

As you go forward, remember your common IB heritage. You are Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced and Reflective. Even though you share this background, each one of you is unique – there’s no one else like you.  Your own unique blend- the takeaways from your learning and experiences, your cultural background, family, your personality and characteristics – all of this is a gift you give to our world. So my advice is to enjoy and optimize this – go with the flow, see where life takes you. It’s okay not to have it all planned out in advance – this leaves the door open for opportunity.

Mr. Narendra Mehrotra, Secondary Principal – Stonehill International School

I hope your education at Stonehill has given you the skills to become excellent problem solvers, efficient communicators and, most importantly, lifelong learners. I would like to speak to you about the power of diversity and education. In a world that is constantly changing, now, more than ever, we are in need of global citizens that understand the necessity of diversity and the desire to learn from one another through success and failure. The true purpose of education is to help people understand and adapt to the world around them. By learning from each other, we allow for broader perspectives, more compassion and greater equality. We ensure that we not only celebrate our differences but also respect them. The diverse and multi-cultural community at Stonehill is a great example of what I am talking about.

Ms. Manpreet Kaur, IB DP Coordinator – Stonehill International School

Today, the door of opportunities lays open before you. Learn to make choices and follow your passion. You are going to fall down, but the world doesn’t care how many times you fall down as long as it is one lesser than the times you have got back on your feet. You are our Stonehill Tigers – you are prepared for all challenges!

About Stonehill International School

Spread over 34 acres, nestled 20 minutes away from the Bangalore airport, the Stonehill campus is spacious, purpose-built, safe and highly conducive to learning. The international school is fully accredited by CIS/NEASC and the Australian Boarding Schools Association. Students from age three through secondary school enjoy a state-of-the art campus that features extensive sports fields and facilities, two swimming pools, an equestrian centre, three boarding houses, two libraries, and a cafeteria. Stonehill offers education in a warm and friendly small school environment, where each student’s quest for individual excellence is a priority. The students and teachers at Stonehill come from India as well as over 35 different countries spanning the globe.