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 As we reach the end of another busy week at the High School, I reflect on the start of the new school year and I am immensely impressed by the enthusiasm shown from staff and students and the positive ‘buzz’ about the place. Whether activities of investigation or discussion in lessons, it is a real pleasure to see students enjoying their learning.
Earlier in the week, a Mother Tongue evening was held at the Paterson campus, where parents, guardians and tutors could learn more about how we support home languages at ISS. It was an informative evening and a positive reminder of the importance of home language and identity for students in their learning. On Wednesday morning we hosted a ‘Guardians Coffee Morning’ at Preston and also took this opportunity to thank Alice Kuah for her commitment and hard work as the Guardianship Coordinator as she retires from ISS. The homestay and guardianship programme has grown significantly in recent years, and the successful partnership between ISS and guardians in supporting our students is in no small part due to Alice’s contribution. We wish her every happiness in her retirement. Guardians were introduced to Mr Gerard William who takes over this responsibility. High School students can now sign up for ECAs through the link available to them on Managebac. The selections must be completed by Wednesday 4th September. The activities will begin on Tuesday 10th September. Upcoming Events:
I wish you all a restful weekend, Christopher Hayward Thank you to all the parents who were able to visit the Preston campus on Tuesday evening to hear more about life in the High School, the exciting renovation plans for our unification with Elementary and Middle School next August, and also to hear about the Week Without Walls trips taking place in October.
As classes are back into Block 1 following the renovations for Phase 1 of the project it was exciting to see the architects plans which Dr Alvarez shared on Tuesday for the other areas of the campus. We are very excited about the planned improvements and new learning spaces, both indoors and outdoors, that will support student learning. You will be invited for tours of the site later in the year when more of the project work has been completed. Further information was shared with parents about the Week Without Walls trips for Grades 9, 10 and 11 which take place between 6th to 11th October. Grade 9 will travel to Hoi An, Vietnam. Grade 10 will travel to The Green Camp, Bali, Indonesia. Grade 11 will travel to Tioman island, Malaysia. During this week, Grade 12 remain at the High School to complete important assessment for the Theory of Knowledge component of the IB Diploma Programme and other activities supporting their various subjects. More information for each of the specific trips will be shared with you over the coming weeks. Students and staff look forward to the Week Without Walls trips with great anticipation and it is often recalled with fond memories by former students as a highlight of the year. Students have settled into the routine of lessons and it has been rewarding to see exciting activities and students enjoying their learning. High School Upcoming Events:
Christopher Hayward I am delighted to welcome you to the academic year 2019-20 by way of the first Preston blog post of the year.
It has been wonderful to welcome the returning students back to the High School, meet the Grade 9s who have moved up from Paterson and meet the 28 new students joining ISS for the first time. The hard work and preparation from the teachers over the last couple of weeks in preparing for the students’ return is clearly evident and I thank them all for their commitment to supporting student learning. This year we welcome eight new teachers to the High School: Christopher Garden - Music, TOK and IB Diploma Programme Coordinator David Gill - Mathematics Kristen Higgins - Individuals and Societies Brian Kim - Korean Language & Literature, Grade Level Leader (G9) Philip Miscovich - Music and Mathematics Yuki Ozuka - English Acquisition Matthew Schmidt - Drama and English Acquisition Blanche Venter - Visual Art You will have the opportunity to meet all teachers as all parents and guardians of High School students are invited to a ‘Meet The Teachers’ evening on Tuesday 20th August, 6:30 pm in the Hall. Further details have been shared through messages on Managebac. As the first week is underway, students have enjoyed lessons in some of our new and renovated learning spaces as we develop the Preston campus in preparation for the Elementary and Middle School joining us in August 2020. Finally, I would like to congratulate our graduates of 2019 as the IB Diploma Programme results have been released. Their hard work, commitment and motivation to their studies is evident as the class average is over three points above the global average and there are five students who scored 40 or more points. This is highly worthy of celebration and also a testament to the hard work, commitment and guidance from their teachers. One of the reasons teachers find the job so rewarding is due to being a part of such success and the teachers and students should be rightly proud of this set of results. Furthermore, last year’s Grade 10 students who completed the Middle Years Programme (MYP) also have much reason to celebrate. With 21 candidates and an average of 38, again above the global average, I am confident that these students have an excellent springboard as they now commence the IB Diploma Programme. Well done to all! I look forward to meeting many parents at the High School on Tuesday evening and also look forward with excitement and anticipation to the many success stories that will inspire us over the coming academic year. Have a great year ahead! Christopher Hayward This will be the my last blog for ISS and the academic year and we can reflect upon a wonderful year that has been filled with great achievements and expectations. We say goodbye to some of our students as they head back home, and we look forward to welcoming many new students to the ISS family in August.
This week we have seen our Grade 10 students take on the challenge of Pre-IB and Pre-HSD and learning about the new courses they will study in the new academic year. We have also enjoyed Spirit Week organised by the Student Council who have worked all year to bring new opportunities and events for the High School students to participate in. Well done to the Student Council Executive and Class Representatives on a successful year. Grade 9 ISA Results Parents and Grade 9 students now have access to the results from the ISA testing completed back in February. To access the results: Login to Managebac Click on the Portfolio option Download the 2019 ISA results IB Learner Profile Last month we celebrated the IB Learner Profile Risk-Taker: We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change. Grade 9: Aixon Akari Jeslyn Julie William Grade 10: Neo Hongye Tony Andy Grade 11: Matt David Fehmina Ruby Mai and this month we celebrated the learner profile "Reflective". We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development. Congratulations to the following students: Grade 9: Julie Ryo Candy Seungho Chanwoo x 2 Kako Mingjie (Jay) Yui x 2 Jeslyn Mari Nanako Grade 10: Kaho Tiantian (Lily) Jiamin (Erin) Grade 11: Kwan Woo (james) Hyo Jun Farewell teachers We say goodbye to some of our High School teachers this year. I am sure you would like to join me in wishing them all the very best and a heartfelt thank you for what they have achieved at ISS. Steven Bushong - Moving to India to an international school Michelle Lee - Working in Singapore as a Korean counsellor and tutor Judith Larue - Moving to China to an international school Melissa Sit - Moving to an international school in Singapore Christopher Hoddinott - Moving to an international school in Singapore Lisa Missen - Relocating to New Zealand Peter Russell - Relocating to New Zealand Alythea Bleyberg - Moving to Hong Kong As we say goodbye to our talented teachers, we Welcome new teachers in August: Christopher Garden - Chris joins us as the IB DP Coordinator and TOK coordinator. He is Australian and currently based in China and will be teaching ToK and Music. Kristen Higgins - Kristen is American and joins us to teach Economics, Humanities and Business. Matthew Schmidt - Matthew is American and joins us to teach Drama and English Acquisition. Philip Miscovich - Philip is American and joins us to teach Music and Mathematics. David Gill - Dave is from Australia and joins us to teach Mathematics and ToK. Brian Kim - Brian is returning to ISS to teach Korean, PE and will be Grade Level Leader for Grade 9. Blanche Venter - Blanche is from South Africa will be teaching Visual Art. As my time comes to a close at ISS, I would like to thank all of the teachers, students and parents for making ISS a special place and I will treasure the memories of my time here for many years. I will be taking up the position of Secondary Principal in an international school in Denmark. Final Week 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. Tuesday 4 June our Grade 9 are students will be involved in our second ISSMUN event. Grade 10 and 11 - normal lessons. Wednesday 5 June - NO SCHOOL - Hari Raya Puasa Thursday 6 June - Normal school day Friday 7 June will be our final day of school this academic year. From 8:15 - 9:25 we will have a final assembly to recognise the wonderful achievements of our students followed by three learning activities. All students are expected to attend school on Friday. Please remember that school ends at 12:00 noon on Friday 7th June. Reports On Friday, school reports are posted on ManageBac. Please log into ManageBac to read and download your child's report card. To see the reports: Log onto ManageBac Click on the Academics button at the top of the screen Click on the Reports tab on the right hand side NB. For those of you leaving ISS this year it is important that you download your child's report as you will not have access to ManageBac in the new school year. First day back at school will be Tuesday 13th August. On Friday evening I was a proud High School Principal as we bid farewell to our Class of 2019 at their graduation ceremony. It was a wonderful event and would not have been possible without Ms. Pat, who spent many hours helping to coordinate the event along with Ms Mala. It was also a sad time as not only was it my last Graduation Ceremony at ISS, but we also we said goodbye to the students who will venture to new pastures and new challenges, whether at University, a gap year or into business. We wish them all the very best and look forward to hearing their news as they take their place in the world.
We ended our exam week on Friday, and our students were exemplary in their conduct and approaches towards the whole examination process. We look forward to some excellent results from our Grade 12 and Grade 10 students in July and August respectfully. Our Grade 9 and Grade 11 students will receive their results in the coming week from their internal examinations. Pre-IBDP and Pre-HSD at ISS Our grade 10 students will be back into school on Monday to begin their week of introductory units in the IBDP and HSD subjects they have selected for grade 11. The purpose is that over the week students will be provided with: - a detailed, subject-specific overview of the courses that they will take in Grade 11 & 12, including learning expectations in terms of prior knowledge, learning skills, subject-specific content, homework and independent study. - an introduction to subject-specific command terms and terminology through relevant examples. - a detailed list of tasks (which may include reading subject-related articles, books, accessing websites, watching TED talks etc.) that will provide them with a ‘grounding’ in that particular course. We are confident that this provides our students with a foundation that will support their transition into our DP and HSD programmes, ensuring they are informed and familiar with the subjects they have chosen to pursue. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Bleyberg, our IB coordinator, [email protected] or Ms Edwards, our HSD coordinator, [email protected]. 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. Students will be dismissed from the venue. A note from the school detailing the event was sent to all parents and guardians via ManageBac. G9ISSMUN On Tuesday 4 June our Grade 9 students will participate in our 2nd ISS MUN Conference. The objective of the MUN conference is a simulation of the United Nations. The purpose of MUN is to provide a venue in which students of diverse backgrounds can hone the skills of research, public speaking and negotiation while cultivating the virtues of active global citizenship and principal-centred leadership. We look forward to another excellent conference. A reminder that the last day of school is June 7th and all students are expected to attend. Dismissal from school will be 12 noon. Next week all students in the High School will be involved in examinations. Our Grade 9 and 11 students begin a week of internal assessments and our Grade 10 and 12 students will finish their external examinations on Friday 24th May.
This week we have celebrated the results of the ISA, an external assessment tool that we use once a year to measure our students’ achievement compared to similar schools around the world. It is important for us, as a school, to know that our programmes are meeting the needs of our students and world standards. Students in grade 9, who sat the assessment in February, will receive their individual results via ManageBac in the coming week. Please be reminded that this is just one assessment tool that we use and depends on how the student feels on that particular day. It is not the only indicator of success at ISS. Next week is Vesak Day (Monday 20 May) This public holiday, in Singapore, marks the birth of Gautama Buddha. He was the father of Buddhism, who is responsible for Buddhism's core teachings. We will have no school for students that day, although some of our Grade 12 students will be coming into school to sit their external IB DP examinations. Talented Teachers Throughout this year our teachers have been meeting regularly as a part of a Professional Learning Community to review and discuss latest research around teaching and learning. Teachers shared their findings on feedback and using an improved model for feedback form students on ATL’s. We also heard about the use of examination and daily planners for our Grade 9 students and how these support their time management and organisational skills. Our teachers this year attended IB Workshops, Job-A-Like’s (with teachers that teach the same subject in other schools) the EARCOS teacher conference, Leadership conferences, Language workshops and a range of TeachMeets and Leadership workshops. Many of our teachers are workshop leaders for the IB and spend time supporting the development of curriculum and resources. A reminder no school on Monday 20 May. We had a wonderful afternoon of awareness through the Arts by our MYP students on Thursday. This year the MYP Arts Showcase focused on ‘Our Future’ and through Music, Visual Art, Drama and Design our students collaborated and created a wonderful afternoon of thoughtful and compelling performances that combined together, brought the reality of ‘Our Future’ to the forefront of all that we do. Congratulations to all of the students involved, we enjoyed the fashion show and seeing the dresses that had been designed and made from recycled material. Thank you Ms Missen, Ms Larue, Ms Vlad and Mr Hoddinott once again for supporting our students.
Examinations Our Grade 10 students have now gone on Examination Leave and we see them back into school next week for the start of their MYP examinations. If you have any questions about the examination weeks, please contact Chris Hayward our MYP coordinator. We wish them all the very best. Our Grade 11 begin their internal examinations on Thursday 16th May and our Grade 9 students will begin their internal examinations on Tuesday 21st May. All exams for the High School will end on May 24th. Examinations are one of many methods that are used to gather data and provide students with information to help them assess their own performance, and gain a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. They also provide critical data for our teachers to use to enhance their teaching and learning practice to better meet all our students needs. Graduation We are in full swing with the preparations for our upcoming Graduation ceremony on Friday 24 May 2019. This year we will be at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Performing Arts Theatre (Block D), 463 Clementi Road, Singapore 599494 and the event will begin at 7:00pm (Doors open @ 6.30pm). All of our graduates have invitation cards to bring along four guests (more can be requested). Please add this date to your diary as it is a wonderful event of celebration. We would also like to remind parents/guardians to share their intentions of whether they plan to continue at ISS next year. Class sizes and resourcing are important considerations for a successful start for next academic year. |
Christopher Hayward: High School Principal
Fiona Edwards: High School Assistant Principal
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