From the Head of School's Desk

Dear Parents, Staff, and Students of SIA, 

Welcome back after a rejuvenating mid-autumn break! We hope you all had a fantastic time with your loved ones. Our week kicked off with a spectacular ART exhibition that showcased our students' incredible talent and artistic work. To dive into the details, please take a moment to explore the ART column. 

Exciting news on the horizon! We're thrilled to announce our upcoming Australian Famous Universities tour during the Christmas break. This adventure is tailor-made for students aged between 10-17. The tour will include visits to prestigious Australian schools, providing an opportunity to experience the rich Australian education and humanities. Participants will also immerse themselves in an English learning environment, enhancing independent thinking and life skills, and improving interpersonal skills. We have already sent a link to express your interest; if you haven't had the chance yet, please use the link below. The enrollment will require a minimum number of participants, so based on your interest, we will organize this exciting opportunity. 

 

 We encourage parents to use this weekend as an opportunity to spend quality time with their children and check on their well-being. Collaborating with your child at home and discussing their life priorities can be incredibly valuable. As parents and educators, we share the responsibility of supporting our students' growth as lifelong learners because, for us, "Every Child Matters." 

Headmaster’s thought for the week: "One of the bravest things you can do in your life" is to be kind to yourself, especially on the challenging days. Remember to take care of yourself as you take care of others. 

As the weekend approaches, we wish you all a restful and enjoyable time with your loved ones. Please stay safe, take care, and make the most of the precious moments spent together. 

Warm regards,

Mahesh Selvaraj

Founding Headmaster

hos@biss.com.cn 

Please Find links at the bottom of this letter to review the PYP and MYP Newsletter for this week.

 

Message from SLT members

Parents Workshop 

In this week's parent workshop, we delved into the general patterns and characteristics of adolescent psychological development and emphasized the uniqueness of each child. We hope that parents while understanding themselves and their children, can tailor their approach to educate their children accordingly. 

As parents, it is our responsibility to guide our children to become the best versions of themselves, taking into account their individual traits. It is essential to avoid imposing our own ideas and expectations on our children. In the family setting, leading by example is more significant than verbal instructions. Before making demands of our children, as parents, we must first strive to be role models ourselves, setting a positive example. Through family interactions, we encourage our children to proactively learn the skills and methods they need for their future lives. 

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Field trip on 20th

Get ready for an unforgettable adventure! On the 20th of October, our students from Grade 3 to Grade 8 will be heading to Universal Studios, while our Kindergarten to Grade 2 students will have an incredible experience at the Beijing Science Centre.

This promises to be a day filled with fun, learning, and lasting memories. Please keep an eye on your email inbox for more detailed information, including schedules and important trip details, which will be sent out very soon.

Get Ready for School Photos!

Excitement is in the air as we gear up for our school photo and class photo sessions, scheduled to take place before International Day later this month. We will provide more detailed information to homeroom teachers and parents as soon as the date is confirmed. In the meantime, we kindly request all students to be prepared by wearing their full school uniform on the designated day.

Student Leadership Team

Our Student Leadership Team continues to impress with their growing sense of responsibility and dedication. This week, they've taken their commitment to a whole new level. They initiated a duty chart and diligently followed morning and lunchtime duties, even going the extra mile by arriving early to warmly welcome their peers.

During their meetings, they discussed crucial topics such as the SIA Talk, ESL Policy, SIA Host projects, the Media Team project, and the upcoming "SIA's Got Talent" event. Their passion for driving positive change is evident in their thoughtful approach.

What's truly remarkable is their proactive effort to promote responsibility within the team. They've established extra meetings on Wednesdays, focusing on delegating small tasks to all members, thus fostering a culture of shared responsibility. Our Student Leadership Team's unwavering dedication to their roles is paving the way for responsible leadership.

SIA Hosts

Our SIA Host team is brimming with enthusiasm as they embark on an exciting new project. They've been entrusted with the responsibility of introducing the Lifelong Skills Curriculum on behalf of our school, and their dedication is truly inspiring.

In their pursuit of excellence, they've come together to rehearse during lunchtimes, honing their presentation skills and fine-tuning their message. Their energy and commitment are palpable as they prepare to represent our school with pride.

To ensure they deliver an unforgettable performance, they'll be putting in extra work at home, diligently memorizing their lines and perfecting their delivery. The SIA Host team is poised to be the torchbearers of the Lifelong Skills Curriculum, and their passion for this endeavor is nothing short of contagious.

Mentorship Programme

Our Mentorship Programme is in full swing, and we're delighted to see the positive changes taking place this week. Mentors and mentees are forging closer connections, creating a warmer and more supportive atmosphere for everyone involved.

To foster this sense of camaraderie and support, mentors have been encouraged to check in with their mentees at least twice a week. This increased interaction is helping to build trust, encourage growth, and provide valuable guidance to our students.

We would like to extend our appreciation to our Mentorship SIC, Cindy, who has been instrumental in making these positive changes happen. Her helpful and flexible approach has significantly contributed to the program's success.

Our ultimate goal is for all mentors and mentees to cherish happy memories and enriching experiences through this Mentorship Programme. Hope we're building meaningful connections that will last a lifetime.

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International Day At SIA – Weaving Culture

Your family and friends are invited to celebrate our International Day event. Our staff and PTA members are working together to weave our international culture with everyone! Mark your calendar with below details:

Date: October 28, 2023 （Saturday）

Time: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

 

Main venue:     Dome (performance, international culture stalls, games and other activities)

Outdoor:          International food and cuisine;

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Message from School Counsellor

Helping children transition back to the school environment after a long holiday can be a smooth process with the right strategies. Here are some suggestions:

Gradual Adjustment: Gradually adjust your children to a school routine a few days before school starts. This includes setting regular bedtimes and wake-up times to ensure they get enough sleep.

Open Communication: Encourage open communication between you and your children about their feelings and concerns regarding returning to school. Create a safe space for them to express any anxieties or worries.

Visit the School: If possible, arrange a visit to the school a few days before it starts. This can help children become familiar with the environment and reduce anxiety.

Discuss Expectations: Discuss expectations with your children regarding schoolwork, behavior, and responsibilities. Setting clear expectations can help reduce stress.

Set Up a Homework Routine: Establish a designated homework or study space at home and create a daily homework routine. This can make the transition to schoolwork smoother.

Positive Reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement to motivate your children. Praise their efforts and achievements to boost their confidence.

Healthy Diet and Exercise: Emphasize the importance of a healthy diet and regular exercise, as they contribute to better physical and mental well-being, which is crucial for school readiness.

Limit Screen Time: Limit excessive screen time, especially in the evenings, to ensure children get enough sleep and have time for other activities.

Organize School Supplies: Ensure that your children have all the necessary school supplies, uniforms, and materials well in advance.

Reconnect with Friends: Suggest organizing playdates or outings with classmates or friends before school starts to reestablish social connections.

Stay Informed: Stay informed about school policies, schedules, and any changes in school routines to avoid surprises.

Practice Self-Care: Model self-care and stress management for your children. When parents are well-rested and calm, it can positively impact the children's emotional well-being.

Stay Supportive: It's normal for children to experience some anxiety or resistance during the transition. Stay patient and supportive throughout the process.

Professional Help: If a child's anxiety or adjustment issues persist, consider seeking help from a school counselor or mental health professional.

Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate small achievements and milestones along the way to boost your child's confidence and motivation.

Remember that each child is unique, and the strategies that work best may vary from one child to another. It's important for parents to adapt these suggestions to your child's specific needs and circumstances.

Extra Curricular Activities

Super STEAM Engineering

Project: Shooting and scoring device (2 weeks)

1. Make a basketball slide. After making the slide, first try sliding with a small basketball to see if the slide is unobstructed.

2. When making the base of the shooting device, it is necessary to note that the base should have a certain inclination and the slide side should be on the lower side. Utilizing a tilted base to allow the basketball to slide into the basketball collection slot

Precautions:

When splicing cardboard, it is necessary to align the edges and corners as well as the two perpendicular parts, align the paper structure with the extension line, and fix it with hot melt adhesive;

When splicing the vertical plates on both sides, it is necessary to pay attention to whether they are aligned with the base, aligned with the drawn line, and perpendicular to the base.

 

Debate

After a school break, we resumed our debate session and discussed various issues. We decided to get the topics for the next debate from the students themselves so that they could choose what they were interested in. The topic for the next week's debate is: Rich nations have a duty to help poorer countries.

 

Baseball

1. Warm-up

2. Review the passing, catching, and groundball techniques from the previous lesson

3. Self-throwing and self-catching exercises

4. Learn high toss

High toss technical focus: Relax your body's center of gravity and place the ball in the middle of the front of your head. With the glove facing forward, face the incoming ball and keep your eyes on the ball.

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Free Art Creation

We tried to use rice to lead our drawing last week for the free art creation class. In this session, students spend their time finishing up their water and learning about how to use watercolor.

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Phonics

In our phonics class this week, we started with a fun letter-sound game. We then explored engaging stories about D-Dogs and E-elephants. As today's learning objective, the little ones were Introduced to the letter "F" and discovered plenty of words like "fish", "fast", "funny", "feather"...... To wrap up, the students crafted a story using all the F words. What an enjoyable learning journey!

 

Japanese

1. Review colors, numbers, and beverages

2. Lesson focus:

- like and dislike sentence structures

- days of the week and months of the year

- What color do you like? I like

- What do you like to drink? I like

- What day of the week do you like? I like

- What color do you dislike? I hate

- What do you dislike drinking? I hate

- What day do you dislike? I hate

3. Japanese Appreciation "Little Cat" (Review likes and dislikes sentence structures); 

4. Appreciation of 'Sakura Momoko'

 

Basketball

1. Warm-up: lateral high knee, superman stretch, sideway squad, glute kicks, plunge with twisting arms, calf raise, quivering, sprint

2. Dribbling: ball tipping, one-hand dribbling, pounding, knee level, really low, left hand, two balls, group exercise

3. Passing: chest pass, bouncing pass, behind back and long pass and teamwork on passing

4. Shooting：Gesture/ ball finger release (backspin)/ 2 feet distance shooting with the help of a teammate (3 ways)

Match: 3 on 3 on small court

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Science

During our science class, students continued working on their Solar System posters and started making progress on the DIY activity. This hands-on project allowed them to apply what they learned and engage in creative exploration. We're looking forward to more exciting science adventures in the future!

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Choir

This week, our choir club practiced the song "Double Trouble" to prepare Halloween event. We have focused on singing a few identical and different counter-melodic contours without mistakes.

 

French

1. Reviewing Unit 2: Learning Family Members (Mom, Dad, Uncle, Auntie, Grandparents, etc.)

2. Self Introduction (Who am I, how old am I, what language can I speak, etc.)

3. Introduction to Family Members: How many people in my family are there...

4. Grammar Learning: Vocabulary negative positive, and the use of le la les, etc.

 

Football

1. Warm-up: ball juggling

2. Technical training: Use designated actions to bypass the signboard (review previously learned actions)

5V5 game

 

Cooking

Lesson Focus: Creamy mushroom fusilli

Ingredients:

- fusilli 

- fresh mushrooms

- olive oil

- onion

- garlic

- butter

- heavy cream ( 6.7 fl oz )

- salt, pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a frying pan over low heat, pour a little olive oil, onion and garlic. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes.

2. Add the butter, let it melt and then pour in the cream.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Finally, add the pasta to the sauce and mix so that all the pasta is well coated.

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We also learned three ancient autumn poems and invite you to join us on a tour of the beautiful campus to experience autumn through the eyes of the poets.

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Please click links below to review PYP and MYP Newsletter of this week