The RIS Echo - Issue 1

December 2014

Volume 1, Issue 1

Rainbow International School 2-32, Yangjae 1-dong Seocho-gu Seoul, Republic of Korea 137-886

Rainbow International School

RIS Echo

Volume 1, Issue 1

December 2014

Back to School: New E.C. Activities Staff Writers: Arva Bulut and Humaira Sharipova

This year, we have some awesome new E.C.s!

Knitting E.C. Ms. Walters said that lots of good things happen in RIS even though it’s always busy.

She also said that she chose to be the head of the knitting E.C. because she really likes crocheting & knitting.

“I wanted to share my

For example, the knitting, global baking, newspaper, French and story telling E.C.s are all new!

We had some interviews as the newspaer crew and prepared some articles about the new E.Cs this year.

Let's start with the knitting E.C!

Knitting E.C. This year there are lots of new E.C.’s! One of them is the Knitting E.C. We had an interview with Ms.Walters, the head of the

Echo Jokes Staff Writer: Mine

Q: Why didn’t the skeleton go to the dance?

A: Because it had no-body to go with.

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Seoul, South Korea

crocheting & knitting. I should have kept it strictly knitting instead of both,” Ms.Walters explained.

Although there are some problems, there are fun things in the Knitting E.C! “Everyday is fun in the Knitting E.C.!” says Ms. Walters.

Newspaper E.C. This year, Ms.Alison chose to be the head of the new Newspaper E.C. knowledge,” she said.

Right now, most of the students in the Knitting E.C. are knitting scarves.

“I think I’ll let the students pick what to do after they finish their scarves,” said Ms.Walters.

We asked Ms.Walters if she had struggles in the Knitting E.C. She said that sometimes there was lots of mistakes and it was hard to explain and fix them.

“I would change the fact that I have both

Inside this Edition: School Life Pages 1-3 ............ Back to School Page 3 ................... New Teachers Student Life Page 4 ................................. Sports Pages 4-5 .................... Study Tips Page 6 ............... Student Council School News Pages 7-8 ...... New School Programs

Facts, Opinions, and Advice Page 9 ................... Ask The Echo Page 9 ................. School Surveys Page 10 ........................ Fun Facts Page 10 ....... Letter to the Editor

SCHOOL LIFE She told us that she wanted to have a Newspaper E.C. because she also worked as a staff writer for a local newspaper in her home state, Pennsylvania.

“We will be going outside on a few different occasions to report on local news happening around our school, too, which will be exciting to bring to the “I have a real passion for news faculty and students of RIS.!” says Ms.Alison! media,” says Ms.Alison."This year I really hoped to share Time is really important for that passion and use it to the journalists. Although they inspire the students at RIS. meet once or twice a week, Also, because our E.C. they try to get as much work as activities are also supposed to possible! highlight the talents of our teachers, I decided to begin a newspaper E.C. at our school.” Cooking E.C. Students of the Newspaper E.C. will create a fully student generated newspaper!

They will manage all aspects of newspaper production including reporting, editing, circulation, and business operations throughout the year.

Their goal is to publish at least two large editions of the newspaper during the first semester.

“As an added challenge to our E.C. group, we will work towards planning and, in the future, producing a studentrun Friday morning news broadcast reporting on noteworthy RIS events of the week,”said Ms.Alison.

it with others. I also love to help others learn how to eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains!” says Mrs. Holmes.

She and her students bake and

One of the new E.Cs this year is the Global Baking E.C. The head of the Global Baking

"Cooking. Cooking some more. Eating.

Eating some more!

Trying new food is something I think everyone should have the opportunity to do, so we will do that a lot!” ~ Mrs. Holmes

taste from all over the world!

They already baked Mexican, Italian, American, and Vietnamese foods.

Mrs. Holmes said that they mostly used onions, garlic and spinach for most of the dishes.

She said that she was very happy to bake with the RIS students, even sometimes if it E.C. is Mrs. Holmes. was hard to find international “I chose to create and teach the ingredients.

Global Cooking E.C. because I love cooking healthy food from all over the world and sharing “Cooking. Cooking some more.

Echo Jokes Staff Writer: Mine

Q: What is the difference between a school teacher and a train?

A: The teacher says to spit out your gum. But the train says, "Chew Chew Chew!"

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SCHOOL LIFE imagination and tell different Last, but not least, there is the stories about storytelling E.C. with Staff Writer: Mine their ideas.

Ms.Keeney!

Q: When is the best day to go to In the Storytelling E.C., the beach? students do A: Sunday! different art projects and share the great pieces that they show different ways to tell stories through art. It is a very make together! creative extra curricular activity The storytelling E.C. is a good for students at RIS! way to express your feelings through art and look at “Sometimes it’s a struggle to different art works, telling help students think of story Ms.Keeney told us that she ideas,” said Ms.Keeney.” And it stories from them. chose to be the head of the would be great to have more The students create stories Storytelling E.C. because it’s a than 6 students.” She still loves through painting, collage and fun and different way to teach to work with her students and drawing. students how to use their

Storytelling E.C.

Echo Jokes

New Teachers Staff Writer: Semanur Saglam

As you know, there are some new teachers at Rainbow International School this year.

Specifically, the grade 1, grade 2, ELL, Art, Science, Math, IT, as well as Turkish and Korean teachers. It was our job to interview the teachers. All teachers are excited to be with us at RIS. To learn more about each teacher, check out the highlights at the bottom of the pages!

Nice to meet you! New RIS teachers pose for a group picture, looking forward to being togetehr troughout the 2014-15 school year.

Hi, my name is Ms. Thompson. I am the grade 1 teacher. I am from the U.S.A. I am a caring, friendly, energetic, nice, fun person.

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Hi, my name is Mr. Soner. I am the Science teacher. I am from Turkey. I am a silent, self-diciplined, friendly person.

STUDENT LIFE

Sports Staff Writer: Aleena Faisal

Do you guys want to be better at the sport you have learned?

This article then is for you because it will give you tips on the sports you have recently learned.

So, lets start with soccer.

confidently about your next move. The fourth step is to remain focused until the last second of your match because you never know if something can happen. Remember to practice!

different direction if your opponent shoots it back at you easily. The fifth step is that you shouldn’t smash every time only smash when it's necessary.

Lastly, let's talk about how to improve your game in Now I will give you a few softball. The first step is that if tips to improve yourself in you are pitching. Don’t swing badminton. The first step is to your arm like crazy. The next remember to always hit the step is to have a good stance center of the shuttlecock. The when you are batting because it next step is to remember to will help with swinging your practice your footwork, which bat and hitting runs! The next will help you in having more step is always to have your eyes The control of your game. The third on the ball when you are first step to step is to remember to make hitting it. The following step is being a better player at soccer your opponent move because if to stay confident because if you is to remember that you are are all scared and thinking you playing as a team, so don’t just you do that, then your opponent won’t know where can’t do it well, then you just go out there and play by you are simply can’t do it. So just yourself. Next step is to try to going to remember to stay confident and move the ball more than practice! yourself, which will help you to aim next. save your energy. Third step is The fourth There is one really important step is to to use the element of surprise, tip for all these sports - it is to hit your which is important because if remember to NEVER GIVE shuttlecock you don’t change your move, UP! in a the other team can guess lot of information at once. So it is better to go slowly and give it some time. In the breaks, your Staff Writer: Bilgesu Balci brain has enough time to put Are you bored and tired of studying? You can’t focus on The first thing I did was the knowledge into pieces. your work? Well, I am pretty listening to some kind of music The third thing I do is sure that most of the students that will not distract me, like drinking something cold while and teachers have the same classical music. Music helped I am working. It helps me to problem. As a student, I had me to open my mind, and also refresh my brain and also have the same problem, and I was focus on my work. I should something to drink when I am having a really hard time agree that sometimes it made working, and this step helps me focusing on my work. But do me a little sleepy though. The a lot. The fourth thing I do is you know what? I overcame it. second thing I did was taking a to start from hardest homework Do you know how? I do these break while I work. I mostly do to easiest. If it doesn’t work for six steps while I am working this when I have a lot of you, you can start from on homework assignments, and homework. When you are easiest homework to also while I am studying for a working, your brain is having a hardest one. When I

Study Tips

test. And these six steps worked on me, but don’t forget Everybody’s learning style can be far different.

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STUDENT LIFE start from the hardest homework, my brain starts to work faster and harder. By the time I get to the easiest homework, my brain starts to work more slowly and easily.

Now you are wondering, isn’t it better to start from the easiest homework because your brain starts to work slower and then become faster? Well, yes it is true, but it doesn’t work well for me. The fifth thing I do is to have a snack. That way I get energy from the snack, and also I get hungry when I study.

I mostly like to eat fruits, chocolate, or candy. I will give you a hint: I washed my face in the breaks so I kind of wake myself up more, and I could be more hyperactive to focus on my work more.

So as we said, not only students have this problem.

Also teachers have the same problem. So I interviewed two teachers (Ms. Walters and Ms. Alison) to see what they did when they were students like Hi, my name is Ms.Seyoung! I am the Korean teacher. I am from Korea. I am an active,lovely,a bit messy,energetic,hungry type of person.

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us, and when they couldn’t focus on their work.

So as you see, you are not the only one who is having a hard Ms. Walters said that she time focusing on your work! played solitaire (any of various card games played by one person, the object of which is to What I Did use up all one's cards by 1.Listening music that will not forming particular distract me. arrangements and sequences), and that would help her 2.Having breaks while you work. develop her mind. The second 3.Drinking something cold. thing that she did was to take a 4.Hardest homework to easiest. shower so that she could wake herself up (like I do when I 5.Have a snack. wash my face).

Ms. Alison said that she would stop and listen to music, and also dance sometimes to relax herself. The second thing that she did was to walk her dog and get some fresh air. The third thing she did was when she was stressed, she would go and cook some cookies, and that way, she could relax and calm herself. The fourth thing she did was to study with a friend. The fifth thing she did was to have a tea. The sixth thing that she did was to go on the computer and search song lyrics. Then she would make a poem out of it.

What Teachers Did Ms. Walters 1. Play solitaire while working.

2. Take a shower.

Ms. Alsion 1. Stop and listen to music, and also dance sometimes.

2. Walk with her dog to get fresh air.

3.Bake cookies when stressed.

4.Study with a friend.

5.Have a tea.

6.Go search song lyrics, and make a poem out of it.

Hi, my name Mr.Gazi! I am the native Turkish teacher. I am from Turkey. I am a patient,helpful,warm hearted,decisive person.

STUDENT LIFE

Student Council Staff Writer: Miju Rahman

Be heard!

Have your say!

Make a difference in our school!

Student council has started again, and there were elections going on this year.

The candidates were Aleena, Umaid, Juel, Joshua Choi and Joshua Seo.

Student Council Members 2014-2015 Ms.Keeney is the

supervisor of Student Council.

She says that she has never been the supervisor of student council, nor has she had experience being it, but she really supporrts and believes in it. When she was in school she was not in student council too.

Her plans for later is that she wants Student Council to think of new ideas for every month.

Eventually, she wants to do a fundraiser.

Student Council has new students, full of new ideas!

Hi, my name is Ms. Keeney! I am the ELL teacher. I am from the U.S.A too! I am a thoughtful, silly, motivated, energetic, busy person.

Secretary -

Grade 6 Representative -

Juel Park

Joshua Choi

President Joshua Seo Student Council Supervisor: Ms. Keeney

Grade 7 Representative -

Elementary Representative -

Aleena Faisal

S.M. Umaid

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SCHOOL NEWS much bigger and has more books compared to the classroom libraries, at any time.

New School Programs Staff Writer: Arva Bulut

Reader's and Writer's Workshop

There are new books added to the classroom and school library. It’s good that we have bookworms at RIS. The teachers are happy about this, too!

Shelves here, shelves there, shelves everywhere!

The books are falling from the shelves! The students are getting a new book each day!

This year RIS has added a special classroom library for each classroom! The books are arranged by their levels and genres so that the students can find the perfect book for themselves easily. Isn’t that cool?

libraries well!

The RIS school library also has an online catalog. Students are able to search for a book online We even have book competitions each month! Your and check if it’s available or goal is to read the most books, not, without bothering to walk to the library. written by a specific author!

The students are very happy!

It’s a great online tool for the This is a very good opportunity RIS students and even the for our RIS students this year, teachers! and I hope RIS will continue managing the classroom

But, they can also go to the downstairs library, which is

Check out by entering this link: http://www.rislibrary.org

Echo Jokes Staff Writer: Mine Q: Why is 6 afraid of 7?

A: 'Cause 7 8 (ate) 9!!

Hi, my name is Ms. Saretsky. I am the Performing Arts and Art teacher. I am from Canada.

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Hi, my name is Mr. Bulut. I am the IT teacher. I am from Turkey! I am a committed, organized, persistent, flexible, adventurous person.

SCHOOL NEWS

New School Programs (cont...)

Staff Writer: Arva Bulut

The RIS Echo Do you know what else is new this year?

The new newspaper, of course!

This year Ms.Alison had this brilliant idea to open a newspaper E.C. and manage a new newspaper!

It’s exciting to have a newspaper running by the RIS students!

newspaper, the RIS Echo!

- Advice

There are a lot of fun things in - Student and Teacher Surveys each edition!

-- Awesome Artwork If you have a suggestion, you - Movie/Book Reviews can contact the members of the - Field Trips Newspaper E.C. at any time.

- Student problems They would be glad to hear your ideas, too!

They are planning to have at least two editions during the first semester - the second one coming out the first week of quarter 3. They hope they’ll get better and improve after a while so that they can release more editions in less time.

Breaking news and current events - Other upcoming events at RIS! Remember, if you have any news that you think should be reported, e-mail us at echo@rischool.org!

Take a look some of the articles that will appear in our next The Newspaper E.C. will try to edition: - Winter Concert Reflection include everything that the students and teachers might - Student Council Plans find interesting or would want - Riddles and jokes to know about in the

Google Classroom

RIS is lucky to have so many opportunities!

Google classroom is this year's new online learning management system that both teachers and students use this year.

Google Classroom is also a communication platform for students and their teachers.

Students can ask anything they wonder or need to their teacher privately or publicly. They can share information with their class as well.

collect the assignments and keep track of their students.

The teachers can post assignments or announcements There is also a separate space for each subject for every grade! for their students. They can Hi, my name is Mr.Oralbek. I am the Math teacher. I am from Kazakhstan. I am a kind, careful, smart, multilingual person.

Hi, my name is Mrs. Holmes. I am the grade 2 teacher. I am from the U.S.A. I am a passionate, curious, upbeat, loving person.

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FACTS, OPINIONS, AND ADVICE

Ask The Echo Staff Writer: Roanne Banks Any time that you're feeling stressed, confused, or troubled, ask The Echo! With our "Dear Echo" section, you'll get great advice in each edition from our wonderful staff writers!

trouble cleaning your room?

Everyday I have to clean my room, and I have trouble, too.

So what I do is try to make cleaning fun. For example, listen to music while you clean.

Having a Hard Time Cleaning My Room Dear Echo: I’m having a hard time cleaning my room.

What should I do?

- Messy in Seoul Dear Messy: Well, if you have trouble cleaning, what’s the source of making you have

But if that doesn’t work, at least try to clean the messiest part of the room first. That should be a good place to start!

School Surveys

Not Knowing What to Eat at Our School Lunch Dear Echo: How how can I have a healthy lunch at school?

- Hungry at RIS Dear Hungry: If you're having trouble eating a healthy lunch at school, then try to eat a little bit of the healther foods our school serves, like vegetables and fruits.

Make a plan: If you do eat healthy foods, you can have a little of the not-sohealthy foods that you want. If that doesn’t work, try a new food craving.

Staff Writer: Waad Al-Noaim

The RIS Echo wanted to see how RIS students' opinions differ about certain issues, like coming back to school, books, etc., so we conducted some surveys to get everyone's opinion!

How do you feel about the 2014-2015 school year?

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FACTS, OPINIONS, AND ADVICE

Did you know....?

For hundred of years, ‘Computer’ was a job title for a person who did math problems all day long!

’Strengths’ at 9 letters long, is the longest word in the English language with only one vowel!

Staff Writer: Arva Bulut

A man once held up and Anatidaephobia is the fear robbed a bank for $1, then sat that somewhere, somehow a down and waited for the duck is watching you! police to arrest him so he could receive health care in prison!

In 2007, a customer gave a $10,000 tip to a waitress after hearing she had financial troubles which had forced her to drop out of college!

ut o k c Che go! o l r ou

If you have any other fun or interesting facts that you'd like to share with us, you can contact us. Send them to us at echo@rsichool.org!

Invitation to Submit Letters to the Editor

finish the edition. When our edition is ready to be published, a very wellwritten, impressionable letter will be selected by our RIS Echo Editors.

Are there problems that you're having? Are you That letter will be passionate about making a published in the change in our upcoming community and the world? Would you like to share your opinion and gather support?

Extra, Extra! Read all about it!

All RIS journalists gather to celebrate the completion of edition one. Enjoy the news!

It sounds like you should write a letter to the editor! What does "Letter to the Editor" mean exactly? For each edition, The RIS Echo will collect letters from RIS community members -- students, parents, teachers, and staff -- as our journalists work to

edition of the paper and will be on the newspaper's back cover for all RIS ommunity members to read and consider deeply.

We look forward to hearding from you all! ~ RIS Echo Staff

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RIS Echo Staff Staff Writers

Photographers

Waad Alnoaim

Humaira Sharipova

Bilgesu Balci

Semanur Saglam

Roanne Banks

Mine Park

Arva Bulut Aleena Faisal

Faculty Advisor

Mine Park

Ms. Alison

Semanur Saglam Humaira Sharipova

A special thanks to all RIS students, faculty, and staff who helped us gather all of this great information through interviews and surveys! Echo readers, keep an eye out for our next issue!

Coming in January 2015!