Preston
Last weekend 11 of our High School students and a number of staff supported the SEF Oratory Competition at the Paterson campus. This gives younger students a great opportunity to develop persuasive arguments, debating and presentation skills. Over 100 students from a range of elementary schools in Singapore joined the competition and I thank all those that volunteered in support of the event. This week our Grade 9 students successfully completed the ISA testing. This provides us, as a school, with important data on student progress and benchmarking which allows us to celebrate areas we are doing well in but also identify where areas for development may be required. Result reports from the ISA testing will be sent out in November. Each month we celebrate one of the IB Learner Profile Attributes. Today in Assembly we recognised those students who were nominated by peers and teachers for demonstrating the attribute ‘Balanced’ (We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives - intellectual, physical, and emotional - to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognise our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.) For the month of October we will focus on the attribute ‘Principled’ (We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.) Final preparations for the Week Without Walls programme are well under way and the first students, Grade 9, will depart to Vietnam on Sunday 6 October. Grade 10 to Bali and Grade 11 to Tioman, Malaysia depart on Monday 7th. Further detail on each trip can be viewed on the High School Week Without Walls website: sites.google.com/iss.edu.sg/isshswww2019 Thank you to all parents and guardians who were able to join us on Wednesday for the 3-Way-Conferences at the High School. There is another opportunity, for those that were not able to attend on Wednesday, this coming Monday 30 September, again at the High School from 2:10 pm. Signups can still be made through the link sent out to parents through Managebac. Please note that lessons end early at 2 pm on this day to enable the conferences to start at 2:10 pm. Upcoming Events:
I wish you all a restful weekend, Christopher Hayward Thank you for your patience and understanding as we follow the school policy and procedure for ensuring the safety of your children during this period of elevated haze in the region. Some outdoor ECAs and Varsity training sessions have had to be postponed as well as outdoor PHE lessons taking place indoors. Please refer to Dr Alvarez’s blog form last week for details of the school’s haze policy.
Students have been busy with assessments - Grade 9 and 10 completed Language Acquisition oral assessments and Grade 12 completed an exam style listening assessment. Extended Essay drafts were also due earlier this week, a critical time for Grade 12. These are important aspects of the Grade 12 preparation for final exams later in the year. I would also like to share with you some of the events happening with staff which underline both the school and their commitment to providing quality teaching and learning for students at ISS. On Tuesday, Paul Crozier our Personal and Health Education Literacies Leader, completed the final part of a 6 month Leadership Program run between international schools in Singapore. This weekend Bhamini Kirpalani and Akbar Hussain are attending workshops on the Extended Essay and MYP Mathematics, respectively. Fiona Edwards is also leading an IB Diploma Workshop developing teachers understanding of the Language Acquisition course offered in the IB Diploma. I thank them all for their commitment to quality teaching and learning, giving up their personal time in supporting professional development and the positive impact this will have on our students. Next week we look forward to welcoming parents for the 3-way-conferences on Wednesday afternoon, taking place at the High School campus from 2 pm to 6 pm. On Wednesday next week, the Grade 9 students will complete the ISA testing which will provide valuable data for us to evaluate areas of strength and areas for development in supporting teaching and learning. Upcoming Events:
Christopher Hayward This week culminated with Marie-Christine Nibagwire, a Rwandan genocide survivor, visiting the High School and sharing an important message and inspiring students for how they can be a real force for peace in this world. In sharing her experience, Marie-Christine emphasised the importance that students Learn, Remember and Confront to overcome hate and work towards a better peaceful world. We are grateful for her visit and for her powerful shared message and look forward to upcoming fundraising to support her work.
On Tuesday the Grade 12 Biology students visited the Science Centre and enjoyed their hands-on experience. Thank you Ms Kirpalani for organising and providing this great opportunity for our students. The winner of last year’s #ISSCelebrates competition on social media, celebrating great ISS moments, was Jackson Wang in Grade 12. This week he was presented with a $200 cheque which will be donated to the Food Bank as his chosen charity for the prize. Well done, Jackson! Last Saturday we had a number of students volunteer at the Mid-Autumn Festival and we thank them for their service: Tony, Yansen, Hongye, Jiamin, Peko, Qin Qui, Hang, Yulong, Hannah, Rita, Donglin and Nick! A big thank you also to Cheng Laoshi for facilitating this and encouraging our students. Upcoming Events:
I wish you all a restful weekend, Christopher Hayward Friday 6th September is Teachers’ Day here in Singapore and I start this week’s blog by thanking the High School teachers for their hard work, dedication and commitment to supporting the learning and development of our students. We all enjoyed a morning tea together at breaktime on Friday to celebrate the day and the work of teachers - a profession we are all proud to work in.
On Thursday evening there was a University Information evening for Grade 11 students, parents and guardians. While graduation and heading off to university in two years may seem some time away for these students, there is a detailed and thorough process to go through in ensuring the appropriate pathway beyond Grade 12. Thank you to all who attended, information from the evening is available through Managebac. On Friday the Grade 10 Design class took a trip to IKEA as part of their inquiry into lamp designs. What a great place to be able to visit that is so close by! Next week the Grade 12 Biology students will be visiting the Science Centre for an afternoon trip and we look forward to hearing about their experience. Upcoming Events:
I wish you all a restful weekend, Christopher Hayward |
Christopher Hayward: High School Principal
Fiona Edwards: High School Assistant Principal
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