Digital Chapel #62

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DIGITAL CHAPEL Issue #62 | April 2020

WORLD BOOK DAY ECEC & ES

IB ART SHOW EXPO

HS FIELD TRIPS

NEW TEACHERS

CHAPEL’S BEST UNDER 40

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ECEC/ ES WORLD BOOK DAY, A DAY WITH MANY STORIES TO TELL The World Book Day celebrations happened on March 12 and 13 and brought the school community together to celebrate books, promote culture and copyrights, and to honor authors. To do so, Chapel organized activities to enhance our students' connection to books and to foster their passion for reading. The ECEC and ES students participated in special story-telling sessions with Andi Rubinstein, an actress with a Masters in drama and animation. For Pre I through third grade children, Andi and musician Thomas Huszar told fun tales from the book Clever Jack Takes the Cake, by Candace Fleming. Fourth through sixth graders paid close attention to mystery stories and interacted actively with the storyteller by asking her creative questions.

On Friday the 13th, students came to school dressed up as characters from their favorite books. Teachers and staff also took part in the celebration by dressing up as literary characters. The students had a "Show & Tell" a c t i v i t y, a n d t a l k e d about who they were and the book they came from, in addition to telling the story of the book and why they chose that character. "The real significance of this sharing moment is having students listen to stories they have never listened to before, they get curious about it and they show interest in learning more about the shared story. The children expand their literary scope and get to know other authors and illustrators. After the activity, many children sit together to leaf through the books, lend them and/or eagerly go to the library to borrow the books they can't wait to read!," says Juliana Menezes, ES principal.

The ECEC had an intense agenda: "We had a day full of playfulness and fun. We revived an excellent repertoire of children's stories and their characters, which allowed children to notice differences between cultures and individuals in many different ways," explains Conchita Kennedy, ECEC principal. In the Pre I "Show & Tell" activity, students shared what was special in each of the chosen stories integrated with art exercises based on the

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book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. In Pre II classrooms, in addition to this activity the teachers planned reading stations based on the book The Cat in the Hat, by Dr. Seuss. The Kindergarten explored manual activities based on the lovely story of the book Clever Jack Takes the Cake. According to Ms. Kennedy, "these activities, among many other advantages, contribute to the process of literacy which starts in the first contact with the written language and to the expansion of vocabulary."

Another World Book Day activity for ES students was sustained silent reading, which brought about three hundred students and forty teachers together out of the classrooms. "This activity aims to promote independent, silent, and sustained reading. Our students and teachers choose a cozy spot in the soccer field and then they read independently for twenty minutes. Being close to nature, immersed in a good story and imagining what you are reading is a habit to be fostered because it is energizing!,” concludes Ms. Menezes.

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ARTE DO HS SIXTY WORKS AND TWO INSTALLATIONS: THIS IS THE IB ART SHOW The art work exhibition of the IB Arts class happened between March 13 and 18 and displayed more than sixty works. The nine students who concluded the two-year course demonstrate a rich diversity of techniques in their eye-catching work and in installations that provoked reflections on themes such as dependence on technology and ocean pollution.

About thirty techniques were used: painting (acrylic, watercolor, pencil, pen, pastels, among others), glazed ceramics, photography, video, collage, pyrography, and even encaustic, a painting technique developed by the ancient Greeks in V BC, in which color pigments are dissolved in hot wax. "This year's exhibition was marked by students' exceeding expectations. I am proud and overjoyed to see how much the group has grown and matured throughout the two years of work," comments Ms. Sylvia Almeida, IB Arts t e a c h e r, and she adds: "Congratulations, student artists!"

According to the teacher, the IB Art Show is a mediator between students and the other grades that visit the exhibition and the Chapel Art Show, whose editions are biannual. "Our students can feel more empathy towards the work of the famous artists after visiting the senior expo," she explains. In addition to the organization of the students in the planning of exhibition, Ms. Almeida highlights the flawless work of Chapel's maintenance team which builds the space according to the map drawn by the students: "The exhibition map is made individually with each student, since there is not a standard format for the areas due to the particularity of the works of art, and mainly, because of the installations that demand extra rooms, for instance. Chapel's team is wonderful. They take care of every detail."

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HS FIELD TRIPS TRIPS TAKE STUDENTS TO KNOWLEDGE AND BRING LIFE EXPERIENCES An important component of the HS curriculum, the field trips conclude a cycle of studies through a methodology that involves experimentation and feelings, "building a sort of climax for the learning of the first semester," according to Luciana Brandespim, general trip leader. This year the trips happened between May 9 and 13, a period when teachers and students were immersed in the visited locations by experimenting new situations to sharpen their senses - vision, touch, smell, taste, and hearing. "The tour guides draw students' attention to the scents, images and sensations. It is a complete experience that allows knowledge to happen once students reflect about it,” explains Ms. Brandespim.

The trips are a moment to transform the classroom theory into in loco practice, and according to the coordinator, there are two main purposes: “Verify, out of the classroom, the topics they learned in class and get in touch with the reality they heard of in class, interacting with their sensations and emotions.”

The 7th graders were led by Ms. Marina Veronesi to Paraty (RJ) and Ubatuba (SP), neighboring coastal cities, where they met a quilombola community, got to know their traditions and participated in a jongo workshop, having a valuable exchange with the community. Besides that, they went for a hike at Núcleo Picinguaba in Ubatuba, identifying and experiencing the region's ecosystem. In Paraty, they understood the transformations the city went through once its economic activities were no longer sustainable. "That allowed students to have an interesting reflection about the transformations and adaptations the world and the systems go through, and that nonsustainable models end up being extinguished," comments Ms. Brandespim.

In southeast São Paulo, the 8th graders visited the cities of Iporanga and Apiaí, located in Parque Estadual Turístico do Alto Ribeira – Petar. They were led by Mr. Bryan Sanders and they had to leave their comfort zones while going on hikes to reach the caves and caverns. “Petar trails are a metaphor for facing challenges and keeping a brave and resilient attitude,” observes the coordinator. Besides, the contact with a Unidade de Preservação Ambiental (Environmental Conservation Unit) was crucial to the comprehension of legal issues on sustainability.

The 9th graders went to Extrema, in Minas Gerais, led by Mr. Erick Santana. They visited Projeto Conservador das Águas, which promotes the protection of water springs by PSAs (the payment for environmental services) given by the government to landowners who protect the springs on their properties.

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More than seven thousand hectares are protected and ensure the supply of water in the seven hundred springs that supply the Cantareira system in São Paulo capital. The project exists since 2008 and it has won several national and international awards. One of the most important awards was delivered in 2013 in Dubai, in The United Arab Emirates, when the UN acknowledged the project as one of the best conservation efforts in the world. The students were able to see interesting contrasts in the region: they experimented the exuberant nature at Pico do Lobo and the issue with the garbage generated by the region, in addition to some solutions proposed by a recycling plant. “The garbage issue touched the students and led to deep reflections and the desire to change their daily actions,” explains Ms. Brandespim.

In Foz do Iguaçu (Paraná), the 10th graders went to the tri-border area and experienced the interesting cultural, social, and economic exchange between the cities in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. They were led by Mr. Vinicius Carmello, who gradually expanded the students' perception of the different perspectives when in contact with the world.

The 11th graders were led by Mr. Erico Padilha into Chapada dos Veadeiros (GO) and to the Brazilian capital, Brasília (DF). "In Chapada, for instance, the wonderful landscape, the exciting zip line ride over the geological formations, the flora, fauna, and the adventure while hiking at Vale da Lua gets students to experience the relevance of nature. In Brasilia, they get to know the three branches of the Brazilian government and their impact on the preservation of the environment they have just experienced," comments Ms. Brandespim.

The trip leader explains the trips are planned in a way that after the five-year-cycle, all students will have been through the different approaches and perspectives towards sustainability, deepening their comprehension of the issue and expanding their own views on the challenge of living in a sustainable way. Ms. Brandespim also points out that the trips impact the students' academic growth in an unmeasurable way, however, the greatest outcome is probably the socio-emotional one. “The students go through a complete and deep integration experience. When they travel for

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four or five days without their parents, they are motivated to develop autonomy and independence. They spend more time with their classmates, they share bedrooms, relax, and interact more and practice authentic communication and negotiation all the time,” explains Ms. Brandespim.

She concludes by saying that these intense and focused experiences are a leap in students' emotional development. “They develop selfawareness and people awareness and learn how to manage themselves and their connections by making responsible decisions,” she concludes.

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NEW TEACHERS “THE WORLD OF LANGUAGES CALLED ME” Paulo Henrique Gonçalves Silva | Portuguese and BSS ES Teacher There were three essential factors that motivated Paulo Gonçalves Silva to teach: the pleasure in writing, the admiration for the job and teachers who he had the pleasure of discussing with, and the students he could help to learn new content. “The world of languages called me, and that was not an ephemeral relationship,” he said. The new ES Portuguese and BSS teacher tells us that he realized he could express his creativity in writing since a young age, and this is the reason why he sets aside some time to spend on this activity. “Writing is a hobby for me. The fact that I appreciate music made me join these activities in my own social media page, where I write texts based on songs.”

Besides his teaching license and Master’s degree in Languages by Universidade Mackenzie, Mr. Silva is also a professional photographer - a course he decided to take to enhance his way of looking at things. In addition to writing and photography, he enjoys reading in order to get to know different realities. "That's what literature is all about: a picture of society and culture. Through reading I can understand a little how a woman feels like in our society or what it is to be black in a country like Brazil, or even how to deal with social differences through a different time's perspective," he states. Among his favorite authors figure Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mia Couto, Machado de Assis, and Djamila Ribeiro and his favorite literary genre are short stories, "because they deal with the way you look at things, they are windows to the small details and the complexities life shows us.”

Mr. Silva got to know about Chapel through a coworker. He tells us that when he was invited for the interview, he was not only impressed by the infrastructures but also by the friendly and professional conversation he had with the principals. "This atmosphere is surely replicated to the students, and for this reason, one can notice the respect towards everyone, especially the teacher,” he claims. “It is a rewarding experience to be part of this team.”

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“TEACHING FEEDS MY HOPE ON A DAILY BASIS” Olivia Nakaema | HS Portuguese Teacher With more than 15 years of experience in schools and NGOs, the daughter of two teachers, Olivia Nakaema has always believed in the transforming power of education. "I have this great passion for teaching and for the perspectives education allows us to have. Supporting somebody's growth is wonderful and fuels my hope on a daily basis,” she claims. In 2004, she concluded her major in Law at Universidade de São Paulo - USP, but she had already decided to start studying Languages (Portuguese-Japanese) at the same institution. And so she did. After she obtained her Master’s degree in Languages from USP, she lived for three years in Japan, where she obtained another Master’s, now in Japanese Literature, from Osaka University, with a scholarship from the Japanese government. "There, I split my time between research and Portuguese lessons for Brazilian children in an NGO,” explains the new HS Portuguese teacher, who currently develops a project with her fellow doctoral students at USP for teaching Portuguese to refugees in Brazil.

She got to know about Chapel through friends who studied at the school and, when she entered the campus for the first time, she felt the nostalgia of her Catholic school times. "The e n v i ro n m e n t l o o k e d v e r y f a m i l i a r a n d welcoming. Afterwards, when I started working, I felt embraced by the school, teachers and students. The mentoring program helps us to understand how the school works, and everyone's welcoming attitude allowed me to adapt quickly,” she states.

Ms. Nakaema is married and she is the mom of two-year-old Violeta. In her free time, she enjoys practicing sports - table tennis, running, and gymnastics - and also travelling. "I like to go to unknown places to get to know people and understand the way they live,” she reveals.

Reading and translating books from Japanese to Portuguese figure among her favorite activities, as well as studying languages - besides Portuguese and Japanese, she has also studied English and French.

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“A EDUCAÇÃO ME ENCONTROU” Manoela Fernandes | ES Portuguese Teacher Manoela Fernandes is an early childhood, elementary school, and special needs teacher from Centro Educacional de Niterói – CEN, besides having a major in International Affairs by UFF – Universidade Federal Fluminense with a concentration in Strategic Studies. The new ES school Portuguese teacher has been in the classroom for eleven years and since the beginning of her career she has worked in bilingual schools. “I started as an administrative assistant to the board of directors, but as time went by I was fascinated by classroom practices and the school supported me in this career shift,” she tells us. Ever since she was assigned her first class in 2012, leaving the teaching career is a thought that has never crossed her mind: “I joke around and say that education has found me.”

Searching for new professional challenges and focused on “spreading her wings”, she found a opportunity for growth at Chapel. “I was looking for a school that fit my profile and matched my expectations,” she explains. She was fascinated b y C h a p e l ' s i n f r a s t r u c t u re a n d t h e t e a m ' s professionalism. “The students are caring and welcoming. My coworkers are brilliant professionals that I admire and respect,” she reveals. Ms. Fernandes states that since day one, everyone has helped her to follow the school's routine and made her feel welcome and a member of the team. “Yes, it's a team! We are here at Chapel for each other.”

The new teacher was born in São Paulo but raised in Rio de Janeiro and tells us that she loves to go to the beach in her free time. “That’s where I feel at peace, I rest and connect with nature,” she says. That is why she enjoys travelling with her husband and their twoyear-old son whenever she can. Other hobbies include working out, going to the gym, and hiking.

On weekends, when she cannot go to the beach, she enjoys hiking in the woods while visiting her family’s ranch.

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CHAPEL’S BEST UNDER 40: Renata Matarazzo, 23 years old

Where she lives: São Paulo

Years enrolled at Chapel: From 8th grade (2010) to 12th grade (2014)

What is your academic background?

I have a degree in journalism, Italian, and French from New York University.

Briefly describe your professional life.

I am news producer at Globo TV. I currently work on production of Jornal Hoje, that is: I am responsible for suggesting and producing news for the São Paulo edition. That means I have to compile information, arrange interviews and characters (this is how we call the real people who feature in the stories), and I also organize the logistics for the reporters.

Your greatest goal in life is: Live a happy and fulfilled life with my friends and relatives.

Tell us your best memory from Chapel.

Our senior Fashion Show, whose theme was films and TV shows. Also, the Knowledge Bowl competitions with Mr. Murphy.

How did Chapel influence your life?

The IB program prepared me very well for college. It helped me to choose the subjects that interested me the most and it also taught me to deal with the amount and depth of work my professors would ask of me.

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DIGITAL CHAPEL is a Chapel School publication. All rights reserved.

R. Vigário João de Pontes, 537. – Chácara Flora – CEP 04748–000 São Paulo – SP – Brazil Phone: +55 11 5521–7763 – www.chapelschool.com Articles: Paula Veneroso and Chapel team – Translation: Chapel School Photos: Chapel files – Design: Otávio Garcia

@ChapelSchoolBR @ChapelSchoolBR @ChapelSchoolBR @ChapelSchoolBR @ChapelSchoolSP @ChapelSchoolSP DIGITAL CHAPEL #62

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