Last month, the Tergar School Kathmandu team engaged in a week-long professional development program that brought together educators, administrators, and staff from our Kathmandu campus and our international team. This gathering was more than just a training, it was a living expression of our shared aspiration: to nurture kind, resilient human beings through an education grounded in awareness, love, compassion, wisdom, and joy.
Throughout the week, we engaged in a dynamic blend of workshops, discussions, classroom visits, and collaborative planning sessions. The program focused on deepening our understanding of Tergar Schools’ unique educational model—one that weaves together Buddhist principles with contemporary academic learning—and on building practical skills to bring this vision to life in the classroom.
A few highlights from the week:
- Model Exploration Sessions: Joined by Tergar Schools board member Susan Kaiser Greenland and Executive Director Justin Kelley, we unpacked the latest iteration of our educational framework, exploring how view, meditation, and application show up across different developmental stages. It was inspiring to see how each educator connected this vision to their own classroom experience, and how new insights emerged from our collective reflections.
- Student-Centered Learning Workshops: Led by our learning leaders – Nimmi Basnet, Samit Shakya and Karma Shendon, these sessions focused on innovative teaching approaches that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. We explored how Buddhist practices—like mindfulness and compassion—can be integrated into modern pedagogy in ways that are meaningful, practical, and developmentally appropriate.
- Reflective Practice and Renewal: Each day began and ended with group meditation led by our monastic team – Karma Shenga, Karma Youten and Tashi Gurung, setting a tone of presence and intentionality. There was a palpable sense of care, not only for our students, but for each other as educators and human beings. Many remarked how grounding and rejuvenating it felt to practice together as a school community.
Perhaps most moving were the moments in between: the joyful laughter of teachers reconnecting after weeks apart, the energy of collaborative lesson design sessions stretching long into the afternoon, and the quiet conversations over tea about what it means to truly educate the heart and mind.
As we look ahead to the next phase of growth at the Kathmandu campus, this week reminded us that our greatest strength lies in our community. When we come together—with open minds, kind hearts, and a shared vision—we can create learning environments where children flourish, and where we, too, grow as educators and as people.
With heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this week possible—especially Kai, our Director of Operations, for his work on the ground; our staff in Kathmandu for their generous hospitality; our international team; and all our educators for their deep commitment to this path.
May the seeds planted this week continue to grow and bear fruit in the lives of our students and communities.
