What is the greatest gift a school can offer its students?
In a world where knowledge is no longer a privilege and academic achievements alone are no longer enough to define success, the true value of education lies not in what students know, but in who they become. At The Dewey Schools, every student’s journey of growth begins with the development of eight core qualities and competencies: Knowledgeable, Inquirers, Global Citizens, Balanced, Integrity, Passionate, Generous, and Lifelong Learners.
For Dewey students, an inquiring mindset extends well beyond the classroom. At the National Youth Science and Technology Innovation Contest of China, Như Phúc (Grade 10 Montreal, The Dewey Schools Cầu Giấy) encountered unfamiliar technologies and collaborated with international teammates for the first time. Rather than hesitating, Phúc embraced the challenge by asking questions, exploring different solutions, and working closely with the team to identify the best approach. Winning the Gold Medal was a remarkable achievement, but the greatest reward was the lesson gained along the way: every unknown presents an opportunity to learn, and differences become strengths when people listen, collaborate, and learn from one another.
While an inquiring spirit encourages Dewey students to push the boundaries of knowledge, passion gives them the determination to persevere. This is exemplified by Gia Linh (Grade 11 Atlanta, The Dewey Schools Hải Phòng). Her love for creativity and innovation is reflected in every project she undertakes—from a meticulously crafted 70-page campaign proposal for Student Council President to a comprehensive 99-page handbook developed for a Social Sciences and Humanities project. Behind these impressive achievements are not only creativity, but also perseverance, self-discipline, and the ability to balance academic pursuits, extracurricular involvement, and responsibility to the school community.
For every TDSer, learning does not stop when the school day ends. For Nhật Dương (Grade 7 Rome, The Dewey Schools Ocean Park), learning is a continuous journey of self-discovery. Beyond the classroom, Dương independently explores Psychology and Linguistics through online courses, builds positive daily habits, and is always eager to share newly acquired knowledge with others.
The same spirit is reflected in the story of JungYoon (Grade 9 Cannes, The Dewey Schools Tây Hồ Tây). Once hesitant to speak English for fear of making mistakes, JungYoon gradually gained the confidence to see failure as an essential part of growth. Beyond regular lessons, the student actively strengthens English proficiency, expands SAT vocabulary, and independently explores engineering and technology. Both students believe that every new piece of knowledge broadens their perspective, deepens their understanding of the world, and inspires them to continuously become better versions of themselves.
At The Dewey Schools, success is not measured solely by academic accomplishments or awards, but by how students learn, grow, and create meaningful impact through every experience. While knowledge may evolve with the rapid pace of technological change, strong character and enduring competencies remain timeless. They empower Dewey students not only to adapt to an ever-changing world, but also to lead with purpose and make positive contributions throughout their lives.
