IGB International School’s Weekly Newsletter - Issue 154. Week 3. May 2018.

PYP Art ExhibitionPg. 6

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May: A Time for Reflection | Pg. 4 + Kindergarten Field Trip | Pg. 5

2 Igniting Minds Impacting Lives

Message from Head of School

Dear IGBIS Parents and Community Members,

Thanks are extended to over 50 IGBIS students and parents who supported the Malaysian Special Olympics National Competition. From those who performed in the Opening Ceremony to others who assisted with the events or interacted with the athletes, our community came together to make this event a huge success. Additionally our PVO organised a food stall and raised funds that have since been donated to the Malaysia Special Olympics Organisation.

Our IB Diploma students have completed their final

examinations and the MYP E-assessments successfully took

place this week as well. Congratulations to the students for their

hard work as they prepared and sat for these examinations.

On May 25th our Grade 12 Graduation will take place starting

at 11 am. As before, students and staff from the whole school

will provide an honour parade for the graduates as they make

their way to the ceremony in the theatre. Our IGBIS families

are welcome to join in the event.

Anne FowlesHead of School

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News from Secondary School

Dear Parents,

It was good to return to a normal week of school this week, after the public holidays last week. I hope our "online learning" approach was successful in helping students to continue their studies during the public holidays.

This week we met with representatives of the PVO and the Special Olympics to hand over a donation of almost MYR3000, monies raised by the PVO over the weekend of the National Games. I am very thankful to all of our PVO representatives who supported the event, and I know how grateful the Special Olympics National Committee is as well. At the meeting we discussed ongoing collaboration, and I hope to be able to share a few other upcoming dates and opportunities for how this will occur.

This week at the Secondary Kopitiam, I shared an update with regard to our school timetable. This year we trialled the rotating timetable, on a 5-day basis. This has been successful in balancing out the year, so that secondary subjects all have an equal amount of contact time with students. In addition to this change, we have been researching what other modifications we can make to our secondary timetable, to meet the needs of our students and offer an innovative education (as part of the IGBIS vision). I touched on a few of these modifications during the Kopitiam. Next year, we plan to implement a 7-day rotating timetable, the details of which we will explain in more detail at the beginning of the next

school year.

Grade 12 students completed their DP exams this week, we are so proud of them for all their studying and work for these important assessments. I encourage all parents to come celebrate their achievements at Graduation on Friday, 25th May at 11 am. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely yours,

Michael ArcidiaconoSecondary School Principal

Dear Parents,

Fotorex, the company that takes our school photos, has been working with us to create a more efficient way to purchase and deliver your children's school photos that were taken in February. You will need to use your school email address to access your photos and make your purchases.

A step-by step-guide on how to choose your photos, complete the payment and choose your delivery address is can be found here. You can start logging on to http://www.myportrait.com.my/ from today.

Please be aware of your login details:Your username is your parent email address.Your password is also your parent email address.

There is an option for you to have the photographs either mailed directly to your home or collect them from school. Mailing will be done the week after the closing date, which is 31st May. For those people who would prefer to collect the photos from school, Fotorex will be here on 8th June.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact Arvindar Kaur at arvin.kaur@igbis.edu.my

School Photo Information

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May: A Time for Reflection

Aga ChojnackaPrimary Years Programme Coordinator....................................................................................................................

It's May and as a month it holds a special place and significance to both students, parents and teachers. For students, it's the time when they start to realise that transition is around the corner and in less than five weeks they will be promoted to the next grade level or, in the case of some, the next stage of schooling. It's an emotional time filled with both promise and anxiety.

For parents, May is the month when all of a sudden everything happens all at once. Transitions, goodbyes, class parties, bake sales, uniform swaps, and getting ready for the summer break. It's a hot and busy month in so many ways.

For teachers, well...where should I begin. It's a month of starting to let go of the students we have built strong relationships with and for whom we care dearly. It's a month of writing reports and it's a month of supporting the children and parents in the transition process, as well as planning for and conducting the daily teaching and learning.

Overall, May is a month of reflection. All of us are are engaged in it in one way or another. At IGBIS reflection has a special significance this month, as it is also the time when we as a community reflect on the same things - our community definition of learning. Over the past five weeks we have engaged our teachers, parents and students in sharing their thoughts and ideas on "What we believe learning is..."

The video records and written reflections we collected made us feel very positive and enthusiastic about our shared beliefs, values, mission and vision as a school community. We've heard from all stakeholders that learning at IGBIS is a process that is challenging and engaging, that makes children want to come to school and enjoy their time here and makes parents confident in their children's future.

Thank you IGBIS community for your continuous engagement and support!

News from Elementary School

It has been good to get back to a ‘normal’ week. Students are settling back into their routines and are eager to be learning once again in their familiar surroundings.

We had an enjoyable start to the week in our Elementary assembly as our students shared a little bit more about Ramadan and Hari Raya. Some of the takeaways from the assembly were the ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ of Ramadan, the fasting month. The Grade 2 students shared 3 Do’s and 3 Don’ts.

Do’s Don’ts

1. Focus on doing something positive.

2. Pray all 5 daily prayers and on time.

3. Give to charity and help the poor.

4. No eating or drinking while fasting.

5. No lying and being rude.6. No arguing or fighting.

Whilst these do and don’ts are brought into focus during Ramadan, many of them are a part of the PYP and should be practiced often too. Ramadan has started and in the school we are supportive of not only our students but staff who may be fasting at this time.

Following the successful trial of the 5-day rotating timetable (after gathering feedback from staff, students and parents) next year we will be moving to a 7-day rotating timetable. As parents, you are now used to the rotation of days, so this will essentially be a continuation of what we have been doing. What does this mean for teachers and students in school? It means greater flexibility of what we do and how we do it. Thank you for your support in this ongoing development to enhance learning at IGBIS.

Dates for your diaries:• Tuesday 22nd May (Day 5): Grade 1 assembly• Thursday 24th May (Day 2): Transition Workshop PVO room

8.15 - 9.15am: Moving away from IGBIS, or even moving grade levels, transition/change is a reality. Mr. Chris will run a parent workshop on tips and help with transition.

• Tuesday 29th May: Public holiday - no school.

Simon MillwardElementary School Principal

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Kindergarten Field Trip

Megan Ngatai and Yolaine JohansenKindergarten Teachers....................................................................................................................

Last week in Kindergarten we began our last unit of inquiry under the transdisciplinary theme; How We Express Ourselves. The central idea that will drive our inquiry is: An audience can be engaged through performance.

The production of the book ‘Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus’ written by Mo Willems and performed by Theatre For Kids at PJ Live Arts at Jaya One was the perfect provocation to kick start our new inquiry!

Watching the children in the audience at this show was almost as rewarding as watching the show itself! They responded to all of the requests by the actors and enjoyed the interactive nature of the performance. The most memorable part of the morning was the astonishment and delight at being squirted with water by the pigeon. We were all certainly engaged throughout and the children should be commended on their fabulous audience behaviour and participation.

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PYP Art Exhibition

The Elementary Assembly took on a new and exciting form this week, coinciding with the launch of the 2018 PYP Art Exhibition. The Exhibition was opened with an opening address by Mr Simon that was broadcast live on Twitter. Soon afterwards, students descended upon the exhibition space, keen to take in the creativity of their peers. Art from every student in Elementary School was on display, showcasing a range of artistic styles and talents. Collage, watercolour, pencil drawings, mobiles and more - so many different media were on display. Mr Derry’s rotating Twitter-cam in the centre of the room was a hit, sharing the exhibition experience with the rest of the world. At various stations around the exhibition area, pencils and sticky notes were available for visitors to leave comments for the artists. By the end of the exhibition morning, some paintings couldn’t be seen beneath the mountain of positive comments left by appreciative visitors. Everyone should be proud of themselves for their achievements, not least of all Ms Elli and Ms Jade, who organised such a unique and successful event.

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