Elementary News
This is the last blog that I will write to you as Elementary Principal at ISS. What a year it has been for me! I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and have certainly learned new things and met wonderful new friends from both the staff and student body. Thank you, everyone, for making me welcome and for your loyal support. This week we celebrated the Grade 5’s transition into PYP by having the first ISS Grade 5 Valedictory dinner. This was a formal occasion to celebrate the ‘rite of passage’ from PYP to MYP. The students were formally dressed and enjoyed a sit down dinner, supplied by the PTA. The students were presented with leaving certificates and a gift, and finished off with a disco. Good bye Grade 5s! Next academic year there will be a dedicated ‘mother tongue or home language’ time in the ES. Students will have the opportunity to maintain their mother tongue through these sessions. We are fortunate to have, on our staff, Korean speakers, Russian speakers, Japanese speakers and HIndi speakers. We are hoping that you, the parents, will assist by bringing in your own mother tongue resources and perhaps teaching a small group of students at this time. The MT period will be the lesson before assembly on Friday. Our ES and MS ARt Show this week was absolutely stunning. I am amazed at the talent of Ms HIma in inspiring students to be creative and to produce work at this high level. Congratulations ISS students! You will have no doubt attended the MS production of Once Upon an Island. Mr Lebon invited some ES students to perform under the guidance of Ms Vaughan and Mr Polumbo. It was amazing! By the end of term you will receive the ECA choices for next term. We have surveyed the students and are confident that the offering will be warmly welcomed by the students. Students can choose as many ECAs as they like. Teacher taught ECAs are on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Should your child like to attend an ECA from an outside provider, this will be on Monday or Friday. This week we welcomed Ms Susan Tilney who will be taking over my position and will be Principal of Paterson Campus from August 2019. We wish good luck to our leaving teachers who are flying off to new horizons; Ms Amin and Mr Reid are going to Saudi Arabia Ms Jasinska is going to work in Japan Ms Wolter is relocating to Dubai Ms Bond is returning to Hobart, Tasmania Mr Inman who is going to a school in Germany Mr Taylor is taking up a position of Principal in Kyoto, Japan We wish them well on their next venture in international teaching! We will be welcoming Mr Ronan O’Neill as a PE teacher and two new homeroom teachers; Ms Adamberry and Ms Daria Ignatova. I am sure you will make them welcome at ISS. So I say good-bye to you all - hopefully I will see you at Sports Day on Monday 4 June.Sports Day Kind regards and thanks to you all. Enjoy your summer break!! Elizabeth Middle School news This is the final blog for this academic year. What a week to write about in the final blog. The wonderful showcase of education that is ISS. Teacher movements This time of year is always tinged will some reflection as we farewell some of our community. Our MYP Chinese teacher, Linda Du who is taking a senior position here in Singapore at another school. Safe travels and a bright future to all. We also welcome Mr Gary Serbent who will be coming in to teach Math and Science and Mr Ronan O’Neill who is the ECA and Activities coordinator (and PYP PHE teacher) Once On This Island What a show. What talent on display. Once a again Mr Lebon and his band of merry teachers have brought a vision for performance and drama into ISS and the students and staff have responded in kind with a magnificent performance. Let us not forget the posse of PTA mothers who have worked tirelessly on costumes and catering; and Jaime O (ISS Alumni) for his stage work. Bravo to all involved. Art Exhibition I hope you all got the chance to extend your artistic enjoyment during the play to enjoy the Paterson Campus Arts Exhibition. Ms Atkinson and Ms Hima showcased their students diverse and well developed talents. I did sneak a look at one installation that looked very much like the Middle School Principal! Grade 5 Transition A great few days with the Grade 5 students. They were introduced to life in the MYP through exploration, experiences and activities. All students displayed the open mindedness and communication skills expected of their grounding in the PYP. The teachers are excited to welcome this cohort next year into MYP. Sports Day Monday 3 June is the ISS Sports Day. All the school will head to the Physical Education and Teachers College 2 Malan Road; Singapore 109433. Grade 6-8 will leave from Paterson Campus at normal school time (08:10) after Kampong. Students will return to Paterson Campus at 12:30pm. Students will be dismissed from Paterson Campus. A note from the school detailing the event was sent to all parents and guardians via ManageBac All parents are strongly encouraged to join us. Please be reminded to wear your parent ID as it is a requirement of the venue. Service As Action On Thursday 6 June we hold our last Service As Action day ‘The Legend of Bukit Timah’. Mr Herbert has organised a wonderful day of activities and challenges as part of the Sustainable Development Goal #15 - Life on Land. Goodbye, farewell and good luck to everyone over the break. The pleasure has been all mine. Michael Comments are closed.
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Susan Tilney
Paterson Principal Archives
April 2020
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