At Fairview, we’ve always believed that students learn best when they feel seen—not just academically, but emotionally, socially, and personally. Yet the challenge is real. Studies show that 40% of high school students report feeling disconnected from school (Aspen Institute), and students who do feel connected show 45% lower odds of experiencing poor mental health (CDC).
So what does it look like to build a school culture where every child feels they belong?
Let’s go back to a moment that’s familiar to many of us—and one that plays out across school corridors around the world.
1. Seeing the Invisible
Mei stood at the edge of the morning assembly, clutching her backpack like a shield. Her teacher, Ms. Andi, a dedicated educator at Fairview International School, saw a younger version of herself in Mei—nervous, uncertain, holding back.
At Fairview, whether in the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), or Diploma Programme, emotional well-being is foundational to learning. That’s why Ms. Andi started her lesson with a two-minute “feelings check-in.” Mei murmured, “Nervous, but trying.” It was small, but it mattered.
Inspired by research from Yeager & Walton, which found that a simple message—“I believe you can reach this standard”—can improve student GPA and sustain gains long-term, Andi wrote that belief on sticky notes she left on Mei’s draft essays. A few weeks later, Mei volunteered to lead a science demo. Her classmates applauded. Andi’s quiet smile said it all: Told you so.
2. Building Safety, Brick by Brick
A month later, the class tackled a debate on plastic waste. Cameras off. Mics on. The discussion was electric.
Fairview’s classrooms, whether virtual or in-person, are designed to prioritise psychological safety—a key ingredient for learning that enables risk-taking, open dialogue, and real collaboration. Research by Qiao & Albright shows that when students feel safe to express themselves, academic performance can skyrocket, with effect sizes as high as 1.813.
Andi kept the rules simple: respect first, critique the idea—not the person. She modelled the tone with honest, open questions:
- “What makes you think so?”
- “Can you build on Aliyah’s point?”
By modelling thoughtful curiosity, she turned her classroom into a space where every voice mattered. A classroom once stiff with silence now hummed with courage.
3. From Class Ritual to Whole-School Culture
At Fairview, we don’t stop at the classroom. We believe that belonging should be school-wide—woven into the fabric of campus culture.
After noticing the shift in her class, Teacher Andi proposed a “Belonging Audit” to school leadership. Each term, students in mixed-age advisory groups would complete a quick climate check-in and co-design one action for improvement.
This aligned perfectly with Fairview’s core mission: delivering substance over show, preparing students for life—not just exams. And the data backs us up: The PISA 2022 study revealed that schools where students felt high belonging scored better across reading, maths, and science—even through pandemic disruptions (OECD).
4. The Ripple Effect
Months later, Mei helped welcome a new student, Aditya. She showed him where to find the best nasi lemak in the canteen. It seems small—but these moments add up.
Since then, attendance nudged upward. Disciplinary referrals dipped. Class discussions deepened. Parents reported new confidence blooming at home. What started with a sticky note became a culture of care.
That’s the Fairview effect.
A Gentle Invitation
This is what a world-class education looks like—one rooted in belonging, built on trust, and driven by belief. At Fairview International School, we offer more than academic excellence. We offer students a place to be fully seen.
Whether you’re exploring the PYP for early learners, the MYP for interdisciplinary growth, or the IB Diploma Programme for global-minded thinkers, belonging isn’t a bonus—it’s built in.
So here’s our invitation to you:
Start small. One check-in. One sticky note. One advisory circle.
Then track the change, share the stories, and watch the ripple grow.
Because somewhere in your school—maybe even today—another Mei is waiting to be seen.
🔗 Explore Fairview’s IB programmes—designed to grow not just thinkers, but humans.
Works Cited
- Aspen Institute. Belonging: The Foundation of Student Success. 2024, www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/School-Belonging.pdf.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “School Connectedness and Risk Behaviors and Experiences among High School Students—United States, 2021.” MMWR Supplements, vol. 72, no. 1, 2023, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/su/su7201a2.htm.
- Yeager, David S., and Gregory M. Walton. “Social-Belonging Intervention Improves Academic and Health Outcomes.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2011, tll.mit.edu/sense-of-belonging-matters.
- Qiao, Jing, and James J. Albright. “The Effect of Psychological Safety on the Performance of Students in Graduate-Level Online Courses.” Journal of Online Learning Research, 2023, www.researchgate.net/publication/375805005.
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. PISA 2022 Results, Volume I: The State of Learning and Equity in Education. 2024, www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2022-results-volume-i_53f23881-en.html.
