Elementary School Report

Matthew Woodward

Elementary School Principal

Ryan Hopkins-Wilcox

Elementary School Assistant Principal

Dear Elementary School Families,

This month, we hope you enjoy the Pride with guest authors featuring our very own students. Below is a sampling of learning experiences from our Pride Helpers. We loved hearing about learning at ISK from their perspective and hope you do too. Enjoy!

Hi, I am Ella W. in 4D

Welcome to ISK, new students- we hope you have an amazing time at ISK and enjoy it. I joined ISK this year, and I got super welcomed. First, I got a buddy in the morning. He was nice and showed me around the campus. After that, the morning recess ended. My teacher introduced me to the class and asked me if I wanted to come up so that the class could ask me ten questions. That was kind of fun. Then we did the work we needed to do. At the next recess, I got a new buddy. She asked me where I wanted to go and play, but I hurt my knee in the morning of that day, so I could not do much, so we just talked. At lunch, my knee got worse, so they took me to the health office and helped me to feel better. At the end of the day, they asked if I wanted to be their friend. Then one of my teachers took me to the bus. That was basically my first day at ISK!

Human Rights Studies in Grade 5

Hi! My name is Chaeyoung. We are learning about Human Rights and Children’s Rights. I’m going to investigate the Right to Education. The reason why I’m investigating Right to Education is that I was surprised that many people didn’t get any chance to have an education, and I thought that “If I was the one who didn’t get the education, what would I do?” But when I saw someone not getting a good education, I felt really bad, and I thought I wanted to learn more about it. I was really curious why many people are not getting an education.

We have had many parents come to speak to us about the work they do for Human Rights. I learned a lot, and I think I had a chance to know more about history too.

By Chaeyoung C.

Art in Elementary School

In fifth grade, we are learning about human rights art projects. We all pick a right to research, then we find symbolization for the right. The right I am researching is The Right to an Identity, and I know a lot about it. So in art we have to draw our rights in some ways, for example, I am drawing kids from around the world with passports, documents, etc. My friend Ria is working on The Right to Children With Disabilities; she is drawing different symbols of disabilities in a school. My other friend Elsa is working on The Right to Food- she is drawing a honeycomb with foods inside it.

There are all these awesome drawings of rights! I think it’s a very cool subject to study. My whole class is painting their amazing drawings, and some are already almost done! All our works of art are turning out great, and I’m very proud of myself. I think we are all ready to show our parents in the conferences! I’m very excited to show my parents my incredible work! Thank you for reading this article!

By Aven R.

ES Day 8 Highlights

ES day eight is one of the funnest days. One of the reasons is because you get to do what you are passionate about. Whatever you name, they will make it happen. I am a new student, and for me, I was so confused about day eight at first. I was confused because I was like, what am I supposed to do? Then I asked my teacher, and she told me all about it. This is what she said, “a day eight project is something that you are passionate about,” so I said, “thank you for helping me.”

By Keza R. - Grade 5

Human Rights Studies

This year in 5th grade, instead of capstone projects, we are learning about human rights. We are all choosing a right to research and eventually writing a booklet that we will share with some of the younger students. We learned how to cite resources, how to take better notes, and so much more.

Hi, I’m Naomi, and I am a student in 5D, and I’m going to write a booklet on the right to a fair trial. You may ask, why did I choose this specific right? Well, to that, I say it is a very important thing and is actually violated a lot. Another thing that is happening is that we have speakers coming in to teach us about human rights. The people that we have listened to are Ms. Merhazion,

The High School GSIA Club, and Dr. Suri. We also had some parents come to talk about their work.

By Naomi Y. - Grade 5

PE / Sports Highlights

The Athletics Department is one of the many departments in ISK. They offer a variety of sports and activities, including hockey, basketball, football, swimming, volleyball, tennis, golf, rugby, track and field, dodgeball, baseball, kickball, cricket, and many more. There is also a gym and other locations where you can do different sports. In PE right now, in 5th grade, we are playing and creating our own invasive games. It is really fun because you get to work in a group with your friends. We’ve learned how to play more games in PE.

By Amina V. and Naia F.

5th Grade Music

So in music, we play instruments and have fun! We are learning how to play some wind instruments, including saxophone, clarinet, trombone, trumpet, and flute. I am playing the trombone, and I think that the progress is going well. I can play the Star Wars Imperial March.

I hope to play When the Saints go Marching in. Maybe even play for 30 minutes straight!

By Nolan M. - Grade 5

Human Rights

Hi, my name is Danielle, and I am in 5D. In 5th grade, we are currently learning about human rights and responsibilities. These are basic legal principles and freedom that belong to everyone until birth to death, and this applies regardless of wherever you are from, what you believe or how you choose to live your own life. I chose to investigate ‘The Right to a Fair Trial’ because I want to be a Prosecutor when I grow up, and I am interested in a law or trial-related course, which is why I chose ‘The Right to a Fair Trial’.

There were several speakers who spoke to us about their stories- Ms. Merhazion (5C Teacher) The LGBTQ+ Community (The High School GSIA club) Dr. Suri (UN-Habitat), and many more. When the speakers were telling us about their stories or subject, we learned some surprising facts- like Ms. Merhazion’s parents were activists who fought against a dictator, that some people were being imprisoned just because they were homeless, that there are 1 billion people in the world who do not have a safe shelter to rest AND that 350 million of these are children.

By Seung Y. (Danielle) - Grade 5

A little bit about our old students.

Hi, I am Leyla, and I’ve been in I.S.K. For six years with my brother. My sister came in Pre-K, and she’s only been here for three years. I tried to make her feel as welcome as possible. I hope someone may be able to do the same for each and every new student.

By Leyla M.

Matt Woodward

Elementary School Principal

Ryan Hopkins-Wilcox

Assistant Elementary School Principal