IGB International School’s Weekly Newsletter - Issue 12, Week 1, October 2014
Inside this week’s Newsletter Message from Head of School Mrs. Anne Fowles, Head of School
News from Elementary School Mrs. Claire McLeod, Elementary School Principal
News from Secondary School Mr. Lennox Meldrum, Secondary School Principal
Updates from Student Services Mr. Peter Fowles, Head of Student Services
Upcoming Events October 6th October 2014 Public Holiday - Hari Raya Haji (Replacement) 7th - 10th October 2014 Secondary School Camp (Grades 6 - 11) Wednesday, 15th October 2014 Whole School Assembly - Deepavali Celebration 18th - 26th October 2014 School Holidays Wednesday, 22nd October 2014 Public Holiday - Deepavali
Updates from Academic and Support Services
Mr. Peter Syme, Director of Academic and Support Services
Wednesday, 29th October 2014 Parent Teacher Conference
Updates from Admissions Mrs. Bronwyn Thorburn, Admissions Director
Igniting Minds
Impacting Lives
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Message from Head of School Mrs. Anne Fowles Head of School Dear IGBIS Parents and Community Members, There were some animated discussions with the IB Leadership team in Bethesda as the Heads Council engaged in the review of the IB mission statement. While it was clear that ‘international mindedness’ was a key aspect of the mission and of IB programmes, the last statement of the current mission evoked different opinions; ‘These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.’
We realise that there may be different perspectives based on cultural understandings, historical backgrounds, religion and so on. Therefore young people need to learn that there is not necessarily one right answer to the problems that we face. It has been great to see the sports hall in use this week. It is such a huge area with the three basketball courts and surrounding areas that we will be installing curtains to partition each of the courts. More updates on the sports hall and activities in weeks to come. We have noticed that some drivers are arriving early in the afternoon and then parking their car with the engine running. This is neither environmentally friendly nor healthy for people who walk through the car park. We would ask that cars are not left with the engine running on Level two and that the drop off/ pick up area is not a place where cars wait for a period of time. I am sure that everyone is looking forward to having a longer break over this weekend. There will also be a lot of excited secondary students getting ready for their camp week.
News from Elementary School Mrs. Claire McLeod Elementary School Principal Last weekend I attended an Elementary School iPad conference here in Kuala Lumpur with four of my colleagues. Skilled technology teachers from around Asia shared valuable learning apps for Literacy and Maths, showcased different ways to develop e-portfolios and how easy it can be for young students to write their own e-books and make their own movies. Our Technology Integration teacher Mr Geoff Derry is working with teachers and students to embed technology into the classroom to enrich our students learning experiences. Together with ideas from this conference and from his next technology conference this weekend, Mr Derry will help up-skill our teachers so IGBIS students will have opportunities to show their understanding and learning in many different ways using the latest technology. This week I have included some photos of our Early Years 1 students during their weekly swimming lessons. Building confidence whilst having fun is the agenda for the lessons, as well as self-management and responsibility as they learn how to change their clothes and store them carefully.
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Activities Activities after school are cancelled next week as our Secondary School students and teachers will be out of school on camp. Activities will resume the following week. Fixed or Growth Mind Set? I have included an excellent article that you should find fascinating. Enjoy reading and then consider the type of feedback you as a parent give to your child and how this may contribute to their fixed or growth mind set. Teachers continually strive to provide valuable feedback to their students to help build confidence and self esteem. Monday is a public holiday so enjoy your long weekend! Until next week.
Igniting Minds
Impacting Lives
Why Some Kids Try Harder and Some Kids Give Up My toddler struggled to buckle the straps on her high chair. “Almost,” she muttered as she tried again and again. “Almost,” I agreed, trying not to hover. When she got it, I exclaimed, “You did it! It was hard, but you kept trying, and you did it. I’m so proud of you.” The way I praised her effort took a little effort on my part. If I hadn’t known better, I might have just said, “Clever girl!” (Or even “Here, let me help you with that.”) What’s so bad about that? Read on. Stanford researcher Carol Dweck has been studying motivation and perseverance since the 1960s. And she found that children fall into one of two categories: • Those with a fixed mindset, who believe their successes are a result of their innate talent or smarts • Those with a growth mindset, who believe their successes are a result of their hard work Fixed mindset: ‘If you have to work hard, you don’t have ability.’ Kids with a fixed mindset believe that you are stuck with however much intelligence you’re born with. They would agree with this statement: “If you have to work hard, you don’t have ability. If you have ability, things come naturally to you.” When they fail, these kids feel trapped. They start thinking they must not be as talented or smart as everyone’s been telling them. They avoid challenges, fearful that they won’t look smart. Growth mindset: ‘The more you challenge yourself, the smarter you become’ Kids with a growth mindset believe that intelligence can be cultivated: the more learning you do, the smarter you become. These kids understand that even geniuses must work hard. When they suffer a setback, they believe they can improve by putting in more time and effort. They value learning over looking smart. They persevere through difficult tasks. What creates these beliefs in our kids? The type of praise we give them -- even starting at age 1. The Research In one study, Dweck gathered up fifth graders, randomly divided them in two groups, and had them work on problems from an IQ test. She then praised the first group for their intelligence: “Wow, that’s a really good score. You must be smart at this.” She praised the second group for their effort: “Wow, that’s a really good score. You must have tried really hard.” She continued to test the kids, including presenting them with a choice between a harder or easier task. Kids praised for their effort tended to take the challenging task, knowing they could learn more. They were more likely to continue feeling motivated to learn and to retain their confidence as problems got harder.
Igniting Minds
Kids praised for their intelligence requested the easier task, knowing there was a higher chance of success. They lost their confidence as problems got harder, and they were much more likely to inflate their test scores when recounting them. Later, Dweck and her colleagues took the study out of the lab and into the home. Every four months for two years, Stanford and University of Chicago researchers visited fifty-three families and recorded them for ninety minutes as they went about their usual routines. The children were 14 months old at the start of the study. Researchers then calculated how often parents used each type of praise: praising effort; praising character traits; and “other praise” that has a neutral effect, like “Good!” and “Wow!” They waited five years. Then the researchers surveyed the children, now 7 to 8 years old, on their attitudes toward challenges and learning. Children with a growth mindset tended to be more interested in challenges. Which kids had a growth mindset? Those who had heard more process praise as toddlers. Can you unfix a fixed mindset? I got an email from an inner-city high school teacher. “Is it too late to learn algebra, or third-person singular conjugation, or rocket science if you didn’t [develop a growth mindset] when you were 4 years old?” she asked. Dweck had the same question. So she took middle-schoolers and college students who had fixed mindsets. She found that the students were able to improve their gradeswhen they were taught that the brain is like a muscle: intelligence is not fixed. It’s not too late -- not for your kids, and not for you. Salman Khan of Khan Academy is on a mission to let you know it. He created an inspiring video, based on Dweck’s work, titled “You Can Learn Anything”: The message: The brain is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. The way you exercise your brain is by embracing challenges, practicing skills, learning new things. As Khan puts it, “the brain grows most by getting questions wrong, not right.” Which is why, when my toddler was trying to snap her own buckle, I needed to encourage her to take on the challenge by saying, “Almost!” and “Try again” instead of “Here, let me do that for you.” Pass it on Sharing is caring, as they say. “If society as a whole begins to embrace the struggle of learning, there is no end to what that could mean for global human potential,” Khan writes. So pass it on! Tracy Cutchlow Author of “the coolest--and easiest--book for new parents,” says Parents magazine. Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science. www.zerotofive.net Source: Huffington Post: Posted: 09/16/2014 7:05 pm EDT Updated: 09/23/2014 5:59 am EDT
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Art in Action Art work in the Elementary school is being made using collaboration with the class programme as source material for the development of an Art component for some grades. Other grades are completing what is known as Stand Alone units. These units sit outside the classroom programme but are important as they contain valuable instructional material to develop the skills and techniques of the elements of art such as space, shape, colour, value and texture. Grades 1 – 5 have been learning how to draw, using the 5 basic elements of shape. Using these shapes in different combinations they discovered it was possible to make an abstract picture. To understand the concept of responsiblility, Kindergarten had free rein of paint and painting, realising it can be fun but rather messy without teacher guidance! Through this experience they learnt what it means to be self-managing, involving keeping colours clean, using the brush correctly so their paintings could be successful. Early Years are experimenting with colour, using paint, rollers and bubble wrap as a textured surface to create printed pattens. It is a challenge to use the rollers! Grade 4 are on a journey
of discovery about their beliefs and values and inquiring into the beliefs of a Chinese Emperor named Qin Chi Huang. Following on from the knowledge about the basic elements of shape, the Grade 5’s are beginning an inquiry into an art movement, that developed at the end of a time of world conflict. This art movement known as Pop Art reflected back to society, the values and economic re-growth of its people. More specificallly, the students will discover the work of Roy Lichtenstein, perhaps the greatest Pop Artist of this time period. All in all, a very buzzingly busy month in the Elementary Art room! Nan Parker, Elementary Art Teacher
Communication - A Home-School Partnership Open communication between teachers, students and parents is one of the keys to student success at school. When teachers, students and parents have a clear understanding of what, how and when students are learning, home and school work can work together as partners to help students manage timelines and achieve success. ManageBac This week we provided ManageBac accounts for our Secondary School parents. Parents and students now have similar levels of access to information on ManageBac and can see overviews of current units of study, assessment tasks, personalised feedback from teacher to student and student’s levels of achievement. ManageBac also includes contact details so that teachers can directly contact parents and parent can directly contact teachers. If Secondary School parents have not logged in to their ManageBac account yet, we encourage them to do so and discuss what they see with their children. The students have been using ManageBac for a few weeks now and can give their parents an online tour. If any parents did not receive their “Welcome to ManageBac” email on Wednesday afternoon, please check spam/junk mail folders and contact Mr Meldrum (lennox.meldrum@igbis.edu.my). On Friday, 17 October we will issue digital versions of the mid-semester progress reports on ManageBac. The reports will include comments from teachers and an indication of how well students are developing their Approaches to Learning skills in each subject. Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences On the afternoon of Wednesday, 29 October we will host Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences. Conferences will be scheduled by appointment between 2.00pm - 7.00pm, further details to follow. Please book the date and time in your calendar. Parent-StudentTeacher Conferences will provide an opportunity to further develop our home-school partnership, when parents and students can meet together with teachers to discuss academic progress. We will also provide additional support on that day for parents who would like to find out more about how ManageBac can be used to improve home-school communication. Phil Clark, Middle Years Curriculum Coordinator
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Igniting Minds
Impacting Lives
News from Secondary School Mr. Lennox Meldrum Secondary School Principal A common worry we hear from parents is whether they are doing “enough” to help their child. It is often a difficult question to answer without knowing more details, especially whether the parent is talking about quantity or quality of support. An important IB Learner Profile attribute we try to promote in the lives of all of our students is to be Balanced and this includes the support you can provide at home. There are many ways to encourage your child so that their learning can continue to flourish. Academically, supporting your child with their homework can take a variety of forms such as direct assistance, guidance and advice, review and feedback, and by leading by example (i.e. doing your own work at the same time as them). Being positive about education and schooling builds a strong culture of learning in a home. Allowing your child to take time to relax from their studies is always encouraged, and discussions with them about non-school related events can help build their creativity and communication skills. Be careful not to take over or be too controlling of your child’s study routines as encouraging responsibility and independence will help your child build good lifelong learning habits; you can help monitor their progress in learning these skills and provide guidance and direction as necessary. We hope that the parental access to ManageBac assists in supporting your child. The most important part of supporting your child is your participation and presence in their education. Our Terms and Conditions of Enrolment state that during the IGBIS school year, students will reside with the parent/guardian and that IGBIS must be immediately notified of any change. All parents and guardians that may take responsibility for a student at any time must have their details recorded with the school. If a parent/guardian is away from home for a short or an extended period of time, we must be informed of who the guardian will be for the student. Please ensure you provide all of these details to our Admissions Department. Secondary School Camps Our teachers and students are very excited for the school camps next week. Students should arrive on Tuesday, 7th October, before 8.00am as normal and go to their homerooms, and the buses will leave shortly after this. On Friday, students will arrive back in school before 3.00pm. I will be in school for most of the week (except for Thursday afternoon when I will visit one of the camps) so if you have any questions during the week, please email me. I will be in constant contact with each of the camps and will be posting daily updates on ManageBac for you. Have a relaxing long weekend.
The IGBIS Dragon’s Den You think you have a great business ideas? Proof it to the IGBIS dragons. Students came up with a gap in the market and thought about what amount of investment they need and why. They offered the dragons a share of their company to generate capital. The student took their role very serious and it was a real battle for the best and most realistic business idea. Ms Stephanie Seehaus, Business Management
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News from the Humanities Department
Expert Table in Economics What does it mean to be the expert: A person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject. Having, involving, or demonstrating great skill, dexterity, or knowledge as the result of experience or training. [1] ________________________________________ [1] “Expert.� The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014.
Students investigated several aspects of market equilibrium and changes in supply and demand. To connect theory and real-life they researched about a current event connected to their topic. After creating a quiz they lectured each other in groups of two and made everyone an experts. Ms Stephanie Seehaus, Economics Teacher
Upcycling Club with Ms Kelly and Ms Seehaus You want to be a creative?
You want to save the planet? Be part of the upcycling club and help the school become a greener place. When? Fridays during lunch and Tuesday after school Where? Art room If you want to support us in a different way, we need: Plastic bottles Tins
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Kitchen rolls Old toys Old clothes Old kitchenware Jars Tires Piping Flower cuttings or seeds Old shoes/boots/Wellies Old furniture Plastic cups Containers Ms Stephanie Seehaus
Igniting Minds
Impacting Lives
Updates from Student Services Mr. Peter Fowles Head of Student Services Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) Service to the community as a component of CAS started last Saturday. IGBIS Grade 11 students initiated the programme to volunteer as tutors of refugee children at the PANDAWAS School. Seongjin Bien, Cindy Leow, Woon Yong You, Miki Wong and Simran Malik are to be congratulated for giving up their own time and recognizing the need to contribute to the wider community. Grade 11 students with guidance from the school will establish a permanent connection with PANDAWAS. This may also provide students from Grades 6 to 10 an opportunity to make a connection for Service for Action by sharing their talents and skills with those less fortunate than themselves.
Energy Rising Classes with Lara
IGBIS Instrumental Music Academy This week all students from Kindergarten to Grade 11 will receive a booklet and registration form for the IGBIS Instrumental Music Academy. The booklet contains all the relevant information about the Academy programme. If you wish your child or children to join the programme please complete one registration form for each child and return it to me, Ms Hadewych or Mr Meldrum by the end of next week. Invoicing and timetabling will be distributed the following week once we have all returned from camp. Lessons will commence the week beginning the 27th October. The instruments that are being offered at present are Piano, Violin, Viola, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Flute, Clarinet and Alto Saxophone. For students below Grade 3 we are only offering Piano and Violin at present.
Energy Rising workshops with Lara - connects mind and body through expressive movement and other forms of art and energy work. Lara is a Reiki Master, Yoga instructor, Art teacher and Journey Dance Practitioner. All of the above are encompassed into these wonderful classes that she calls “Energy Rising”. Join Lara after the October holiday on Tuesday the 28th and Thursday, 30th October. The first two classes will be free! Come see what it’s all about, you won’t regret it. The Dance Studio door will be open at 7:30 am. Drop off the kids and get there as soon as you can. The Energy will really begin to start rising at 8.00am. So you must be there for that!You will need to sign in as a visitor at the turnstiles in the car park entrance. Feel the stress and negativity melt away, become reenergized and start manifesting all that you desire! You’ll walk out of class (at 9:30ish) glowing, glistening, at home in your own skin. Come home to your body, to your senses inhabiting every inch of your life!
If you have any questions please email me at jon.suffolk@igbis. edu.my
For more information: Email: EnergyRisingwithLara@gmail.com Website: http://EnergyRising.zohosites.com Phone: 012-970 8664
Mr Jon Suffolk, Performing Arts Teacher
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Updates from Academic and Support Services Mr. Peter Syme Director of Academic and Support Services Bus Services The Valencia and Sierramas bus service continues to be popular and we will be invoicing for September next week. Details about payment will come to you shortly through our Finance Office. A friendly reminder that due to the Secondary Camps next week there will be no afternoon activities and therefore, only the early buses will be operating. There will be no 4:15pm bus running next week. Lunches The lunch payments for October should now have been paid. A staff member from SHF has been at the payment counter this week to collect payment. If you still have not done this, please do so early next week. Lunch Only
Snack and Lunch B’fast and Lunch RM187.00
N/A
Grades 1-5
RM153.00
RM204.00
N/A
Grades 6-11
RM117.00
RM156.00
RM188.50
Early Years 1 and 2, Kindergarten RM136.00
Parent Identification Cards Thank you to the parents who have collected their identification cards from the reception counter this week. Please take the opportunity whenever you are in school to collect these from the reception counter. Sports Hall The Sports Hall had a “soft opening” this week. It really is a great facility and by next week all the nets and posts should have arrived. The students have been very patient in waiting for this facility to be ready and have started to use the hall at lunch times and for some of the after school activities. I am sure it will prove to be a very popular way to spend lunch times in the future.
Updates from Admissions Mrs. Bronwyn Thorburn Admissions Director Medical Update The Medical forms for the students were due back this week. It is important that we have the medical forms before the Secondary School students leave for camp next week. Uniform Shop The shop will be closed next week for stocktake and relocation to the area next to Reception. It will re-open on Tuesday, October 14 and Thursday, October 16 from 3.00pm to 4.00pm.
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Igniting Minds
Impacting Lives