Panaga School Weekly Issue 82 by Panaga School

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

Messages from Panaga School Senior Leadership Team Dear Panaga School Community, Thank you and Farewell This week, our staff have extended a fond farewell to Miss Rosie, who after 5 years is leaving Panaga School to return to England to a new teaching position. Miss Rosie has taught P3, P5, P6 and has also held lead teacher positions to support curriculum developments. Miss Rosie has been a huge asset to Panaga School. Her sense of community saw her volunteer constantly at discos and community events. You are a high Panaga School quality teacher and wonderful person Miss Rosie. We thank you IFM/4, BSP Company Sdn Bhd, and your delightful family for being part of Panaga’s school community. You will all be missed. Seria, KB 3534, Negara Brunei Darussalam

New Teacher Arrivals We are pleased to inform parents that all of our new classroom teachers are now in the country and are full time in school. A range of introduction sessions are (+673) 3375728/3372139 taking place for parents to meet new teachers across the school. (Teraja/ Melilas),

(+673) 3372694 (Mendaram/ Rampayoh) Principal: Cindy Bin Tahal (+673) 3372355/ 8777028 cindybintahal@ panagaschool.com

Panaga School Senior Administration Officer: Jalinah Bte Ali (+673) 3375728 jalinah.ali@bsp-shell.bn Admin Support, Rampayoh/Mendaram: Zurimah Bte Jumat z.jumat@bsp-shell.bn Admin Support, Teraja: Hasmah Bte Hj Salleh hasmah.salleh@ bsp-shell.bn

Strategic Updates Our school context accommodates the needs of our expatriate, transient international learners. In order to be responsive to an everchanging community, parent input and constant review of our school’s strategic direction is crucial. Parents will receive an independently led, anonyms survey today via email, to assist with our 2021-2023 School Strategic Planning. Recent school improvement areas have been inclusive learning and expanding our modern foreign languages (MFL) programme. Parents from P4 to M2 have been provided with updates about improvements to our MFL programme in readiness for January, Term 2. Inclusive Learning Growing a more inclusive school for our learners continues to be a priority, that also supports the company’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP). Stakeholder engagements on the topic, to inform strategic developments, have included the company’s Managing Director and Head of Global School Services. Small class sizes, with more teachers on class rather than providing external support, along with extra learning support assistants, allow us to provide more individualised learning. In addition, collaborations between Panaga School and International School Brunei (ISB) have realised a new ISB Centre for Inclusive Learning for the Belait District, that is currently under construction in F6, beside Melilas building. Panaga School is unable to sustain such a unit independently. By working collaboratively with ISB, they have been able to create a centre that will benefit both BSP international staff children, as well as families from the wider community who seek such specialised learning support. We congratulate ISB for the creation of this all important education facility. Panaga School and ISB will continue to collaborate and support one another in this venture, building on our school’s vision of Together, Improving Learning.

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

Messages from Panaga School Parent Teacher Association Panaga School Parent and Teacher Association

Hello Panaga School Community, We are grateful for your generosity. Your support of PTA activities are making an important impact. Last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Express Yourself Day provided a lot of fun for our school community and raised over $600 for PTA initiatives. Photos below capture some of the recent contributions to learning and play that have been made possible through PTA funding. Thank you for the support.

Our current fundraiser is the Calendar, Through the Jungle 2021. It is filled with amazing photos from the National Forest Day President: contest winners. Six children and six adults winners were Christina Landry-Boullion selected under three categories; most beautiful, most interesting and lock down in the wild. We are excited, as many of these clandry11@yahoo.com winners are students and parents of our Panaga School community. Purchase one and see the Bruneian beauty they have captured. Treasurer and

Parent Representative on School Advisory Board: Thank you for your continued support, Kristy McGrath bartonandkristy@gmail.c om

The PTA Team

Secretary: Sarah Harrison sarahmcruse@gmail.com

M1 and M2 received PTA funding to transport new air hockey and foosball tables from Bandar to improve their playtime options. All around Panaga school you can spot these Friendships Benches. Have a seat and someone will be along soon to join you! Constructed locally to continue to support local businesses and partnerships. P1 have been using their new oven regularly and they have made some delicious food!

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

Thank you for sharing in the fun of Parent Teacher Association’s “Express Yourself Day”. The day gave a lot of joy and also raised $603 which will go towards improving learning and play for all children.

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

7th Dec

8th Dec

9th Dec

10th Dec

11th Dec

Whole School Mendaram (PN-N)

Imagine That Exit Point

Rampayoh (P1-P3)

P2-P3 PTC

Teraja (P4-P7)

PTC

Melilas (M1-M2)

Whole School

P5 Winter Market PTC

14th Dec Term Break

15th Dec Term Break

16th Dec Term Break

17th Dec Term Break

18th Dec Term Break

Mendaram (PN-N) Rampayoh (P1-P3) Carols by Candlelight

Teraja (P4-P7) Melilas (M1-M2)

Whole School

21st Dec

22nd Dec

23rd Dec

24th Dec

25th Dec

Term Break

28th Dec

29th Dec

30th Dec

31st Dec

1st Jan

Term Break

4th Jan

5th Jan

6th Jan

7th Jan

8th Jan

School Reopens

Mendaram (PN-N) Rampayoh (P1-P3)

Welcome Back Assembly

Teraja (P4-P7) Melilas (M1-M2)

Sports Training Schedule (click here)

Event information above is correct at the time of printing. To keep up-todate with all school events, please go to: www.panagaschool.com/calendar.

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

After School Activities (ASAs) information and sign up forms

After School Activities for Term 2 commence on Thursday 14th January. Activities at Rampayoh (P2 and P3 only) run from 2.15pm -3.00pm

Activities at Teraja/Melilas run from 2.30pm – 3.15pm

Please click here for a list and information about ASAs available for P2 and P3 students. Please click here to sign up to P2 and P3 ASAs.

Please click here for a list and information about ASAs available in Teraja and Melilas. Please click here to sign up to Teraja and Melilas ASAs.

Sports Training

In addition to Thursdays’ ASAs, please click below for next week’s...

Sports Training Schedule (click here)

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

Pre-Nursery kicked off Christmas this week with a series of festive activities. We visited our amazing Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grotto in the Mendaram foyer for a story; made traditional pepernoten biscuits, paper plate wreaths, paper chains, festive play dough and decorated Christmas trees. The children dressed in Christmas colours and particularly enjoyed our first time baking. This was all made possible by our team of fantastic elves (parents!).

By Miss Shelagh

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

What a fantastic festive filled morning we had in Nursery! Many thanks to our parents who organised many activities: baking, play dough, sensory trays, story telling, face painting and decoration making. The snow making machine added extra excitement, especially for children who have never experienced snow before. An extra special thank you to the parents who made our foyer look so special and inviting.

Miss Louise

Miss Alex

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

P1 had a lovely Christmas celebration. Big thank you to our fabulous parent elves who organised such wonderful and fun activities. It was all topped off with beautiful Christmas decorations that made the celebration even more merry and so special.

Miss Amy

& Miss Rachel

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

What a fantastic ‘Blast Off’ exit point we had in P1! We were joined by the fantastic P7’s who helped to run the different activities. The children were resilient and adaptable as they went space walking, sampling space food, clambering through meteors, getting dizzy and much, much more!

Miss Amy

& Miss Rachel

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

On Monday, the children of P2, visited Hornbill Jungle School where they investigated a different learning approach in the outdoor environment. Safety was discussed and children listened intently on areas they could visit as well as what to do if approached by animals. They learnt a new game that required communication and cooperation! This game required the children to talk to each other and work together as a team to hook a shape while holding onto the end of a long piece of string. It was amazing to see how quickly they adapted to team work. They searched for worms under logs and placed the worms into the compost bin. Some children shared their prior knowledge of what a compost bin is and how it helps the environment. Children worked independently and in small groups to create teepees and structures to house a toy animal, using sticks, rope and string. Guidance was given on how to tie a knot to secure the teepee. During the trip, the children displayed International Primary Curriculum (IPC) skills of resilience, cooperation, respect, adaptability, cooperation, communication and enquiry. The following day the children reflected and thought of ways our playground could incorporate experiences they enjoyed during the trip.

By Miss Ali

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

We were very lucky to have Mr Benz from HSSE to come into P3 and talk to us about PPE ( Personal Protective Equipment).

We investigated the different examples of safety clothing, described how they mightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been made and thought about which materials might have been used and why. We were learning like designers by exploring real life products to help with our upcoming project! Here are a few of our labelled diagrams.

By P3 Team

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

P4 children and their parents had lots of fun this week making treasure hunting vehicles that will float and move in water.

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

By the P4 Team

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

November 22nd 2020, students of Panaga visited ISB (International School Brunei). An eco-friendly school located in Jalan Utama Salambigar, Bandar Seri Begawan. M2 students experienced what a day in ISB would look like for a year 9 student. During our visit, we stayed overnight and had the opportunity to look at the school, participate in a PE lesson and play a small game. We rode the bus to the school and felt a jolt of exhilaration. We were only a few minutes away, but as we took a turn, we could make out a vague sight of the school. The school at first sight was imposing. When we arrived, we were greeted contentedly. All the students and teachers there were generous and kind to every one of us. On the first day, the Panaga children were involved in a pool party and barbeque. A big inflatable water slide was set up ready for when the students arrived. They swam for 3 hours and then ended with a palatable barbeque. We found that we enjoyed ourselves quite a lot. Almost everyone had a turn on the waterslide. During the barbeque, foods like fruits, burgers, chicken and fries and dessert were included in the barbeque. The students had commented on the food saying it was above their expectations and tasted delightful. After the students had their dinner, we were guided into the substantial PE hall and spent a few minutes playing basketball and netball. We used a basketball to practice our shots in the hoop and we played a few games. Thereafter, we went back to the boarding rooms where we were greeted with hot chocolate topped with marshmallows. After the liquid refreshment we took a relieving shower and got ready for bed. At 8:30pm the devices were taken from the students to ensure we got a good nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rest. Before we went to bed, we had a conversation about boarding school and how we felt about moving schools. The boarding rooms (where the girls slept) consisted of three beds and closets. A desk was also provided. However, the boys were asked to sleep in the common room due to lack of space. The night spent in the ISB residence was very eventful and meaningful. The next day, the students were woken up at 5:45am and were led to the field. We partook in a PE lesson for about an hour. The girls practiced and were taught football techniques by the football coaches. We had a go at playing a few matches. Meanwhile, the boys played softball and also played a few matches. It was a pleasure to take part in this activity. After having a sporty morning, all students made their way back to the ISB residence for a quick break and took a brief tour of the school. We perused various classrooms and had permission to observe the learning happening in several subjects. The art hall was filled with sublime and intriguing creations and sculptures, and we tried not to interrupt a preparatory art exam. When the brief tour was over, the ISB community set up an orienteering competition for the Panaga students to take part in. The competition encompassed the personal qualities of cooperation, resilience and communication. It was great fun to work as a team to achieve our goals. Subsequently, we all made our way to the common room and had an appetizing lunch. The students took a quick shower and packed up ready to leave once the bus had arrived. We learnt a lot during our stay. Overall, we appreciated and enjoyed our stay in ISB and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very grateful to have been given this opportunity.

By Alisha Bakri

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

On Tuesday the 24th of November, M2 from Melilas (Panaga school) had the privilege of a guided tour around the JIS complex. We left on the bus at 07:45 in order to arrive at the school at 09:00 – 09:15. When we arrived we received a presentation from Mr Burbon and two previous Panaga students, this presentation included a brief overview of our day’s events and a description of how the students felt when they first made an appearance at the school. The adults were then taken off for a separate tour of the school whilst the pupils of Panaga were split into five groups and allocated a tour guide, each a member of year 9 students. Then we began our tour. We had the opportunity to look around the school and its multitude of facilities. For example, a 50 metre pool, a scuba diving pool, a 25 metre pool, sports fields, classrooms, laboratory’s, lunch area and library. We were also provided with a fantastic chance to understand the learning at JIS through a series of taster sessions consisting of chemistry, physics, project design and quite literally, tasting the food. During the chemistry session, Mr Unit performed multiple chemical reactions in quick secession. This show of reactions certainly intrigued many of us as we stood fascinated by the spectacle. During the physics session, we learnt a little about forces such as the gravitational pull on a bowling ball attached to a string, which in turn was attached to a pivot on the ceiling. The ball was then placed dangerously near to Mr Burbon and released. When the ball swung back towards the teacher it resumed its exact place. This would then decrease over time due to friction from the pivot and gravitational pull. During the project design session, we had the opportunity to see one of their 3D printers in action as well as their laser cutter. We were also given a brief overview of what we would learn in project design should we wish to choose it. After looking round the very impressive school we proceeded to the boarding facility food area. Here we were provided with a delicious meal and desert. We then had a look around the JIS boarding facilities. For the boys, first we were shown around the Ibis boarding house complex by Mr Griffiths. This boarding house was split into 4 buildings, identical to Kingfisher, one of the girls boarding houses. There we viewed the bedrooms, common rooms and bathrooms. After that we were passed over to Mr Stirling and showed around Eagle house. This house was one single block, identical to Osprey the second girls house. This house was slightly more modern than Ibis as it had been constructed at a much more recent date. After our view around the boarding houses it was the end of our trip. We left at around 12:30 and arrived back at 13:45. This trip was a brilliant opportunity for the members of M2 to get to know and understand the way JIS worked and what it had to offer. The tour guides were extremely helpful in answering all of our questions, as were the teachers. Everyone enjoyed the trip and was grateful for the occasion. Toby Stevens M2J

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020

Panaga School will once again take part in the Hour of Code. HOC originated in December 2013 during Computer Science Education Week. Code.org launched the ‘Hour of Code Challenge’ online, inviting students to try and complete tutorials using Blockly, a programming language similar to Scratch.

Today, the Hour of Code has moved into classrooms across the world. To date, over 100 million students have participated worldwide. Everyone talks about the job market as the big reason to learn programming, but the benefits go far beyond potential career preparation. To quote Bill Gates, “Learning to write programs stretches your mind, and helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.”

An effort to learn programming is a great way to improve your thinking skills. Coding requires and instills discipline, attention to detail, patience, the ability to predict an outcome, and many other valuable skills. These thinking skills can help children in all aspects of life – not just programming. The 2020 Computer Science Education Week will be December 7-13 To take part at home please visit http://hourofcode.com/

Mr. Neil

& Mr. Menno

Panaga School Weekly, Issue Eighty-Two, 4th December 2020