ISD Student Perspectives on the 2.0 Renovation and ISD Athletics

Ellen Johnston, University and Careers Counselor 

Hawk Express is an extracurricular activity ISD Secondary students may join, allowing them to brainstorm and write about topics of interest ISD students share.  For the first assignment, Grade 10s Shamsunnahar Binte Mohiuddin, known at school as Masuma and Aditya Varshney, wrote survey questions to gain perspective on the 2.0 renovations and athletics at ISD from students and faculty. Masuma and Aditaya created a Google Form Survey in the fifth week of school and collected 57 responses.  This activity shows inquiry by writing questions and surveying to gain knowledge about the school community—other writers of this article were Lubaba Musharrat Amrin and Ahmed Khan Araf.  

Question 1: The word cloud represents the most frequently used words in response to the question, “What 1 word describes ISD 2.0?”

Question 2: When asked to list the best updates on campus, respondents mentioned the following:

  • Cafeteria 
    • 25 of the responses spoke about updates to the cafeteria. 
    • One response added the new cafeteria routines hold students responsible for clearing their trays, which teaches them the importance of food and the global issue of food wastage. 
    • UN Sustainable Development Goals adorn the walls, reminding students, staff, and visitors of the initiatives concerning the environment.  
    • New chairs with padded seating were reported to be comfortable, and the decorations use the new ISD logo’s color scheme.
  • Science Classrooms
    • 25 responses mentioned new tables, chairs, and smart boards. 
    • One response added,”  The improved seating in the science rooms has made it a lot more comfortable to sit and maintain focus.” 
    • Other responses mentioned that the smart boards make it easier to understand what the teachers are writing and to focus, allowing teachers to write more and annotate images
  • Cricket
    • New extracurricular space with the cricket coaching net, giving the previously unused patch of grass a new and improved area for practice. 
    • One faculty response noted they, as a coach, feel proud when visiting teams come to the ISD campus.
  • Signage
    • 3 of the responses noticed maps and signs around campus, paintings on the field, hardcourt, and gym walls with the “GO HAWKS” slogan, encouraging a boosted ISD school spirit.
    • In the words of a Grade 6 student, “The signs on each class help me since I am not familiar with the secondary building because I am in 6th grade. The class name and the room number helps me locate my classes.”

Question 3: How have the 2.0 features improved your school/work experience?

  • Respondents shared that the 2.0 renovations resulted in a modernized campus.  Students reported feeling motivated by a recharged ISD school spirit. 
  • Comments can be summarized as the ISD 2.0 improvements have united the ISD community.

“It feels great to have new paintings, renovations, a new logo and feel like we are all together. Good for school spirit.”

Question 4: On a scale of 1 to 5, how inspired, embraced, and/or empowered do you feel to learn/work in the newly renovated spaces?  

57 responses showed the average response was a 3 out of 5. On our scale, a 3 out of 5 means respondents feel excited about the updates at ISD.

Question 5: Explain why you have chosen that particular number (optional).

  • Some impactful quotes from most respondents were:
    • “The colorful branding gives the school more life and energy.”
    • “I feel motivated every day that I am surrounded by ambitious people here wanting to learn and become better.”

Question 6: The second part of the survey asked which sport the Secondary School students would watch at ISD during tournaments or in-house events.

Question 7: Which sports would students like to be added to ISD’s sports offerings? 

Analyzing Respondents’ Choice of Sports:

The survey showed that 23 out of the 57 respondents, or 40%, either responded with a sport that exists or a response such as ‘I don’t know.’ The survey informs us that the ISD Secondary Community may not know the various sports they can participate in. The writers evaluated that many ISD students want to see more diversified athletics, which can lead to more experience and fun on campus. Additional sports students wish to participate in. 

  • Lacrosse
  • Dance
  • Karate
  • Golf 
  • Rugby

Question 8: Asked respondents why they selected the sports in Question 7. 

Analyzing the Sports Choice: 

The writers assumed the most popular sport would be football; however, responses showed volleyball is the most favorable sport at ISD, surprising the writers. This year, the combined boys and girls volleyball team is massive in terms of players. ISD football consists of women’s and men’s teams, and the immediate popularity of the football team at ISD shows that students are looking forward to joining the football team, especially with the new Barca Academy. 

Question 9: Asked students what days of the week they would prefer to attend sports practices.  

Responses from students showed that most students would prefer to practice on Tuesdays.