EDITORIAL NOTE by Bambi Pomagalski
Christmas and the New Year are practically upon us and there is no better time to look back, with pride, at the semester we’re saying goodbye to. New students have joined and current students have built ever stronger ties, staff have worked hard to ensure the greatest learning experiences, safety and joy for all, and AIS has remained a true home to academic and personal growth through our care and teaching.
Whilst challenges can arise at any time, we have enjoyed a very calm but motivated semester. Celebrating achievements, grades and festivities, the semester has been a vibrant one where all of us, at Astoria International, have proven our worth and given our best. With so many things happening daily, it is our pleasure to share with you, in this semester’s Blazon magazine, a few of the highlights.
Arts & Culture - Greek Cultural Activity by Maria Teresa Viscusi
Both our Waterlilies A and Lilies, thanks to our Greek intern Lydia, were momentarily whisked away to Greece and discovered new customs and traditions of Greek culture. We learned about a new festivity we hadn’t known of before, “Clean Monday”! You must be curious? So were we! It is a very important Greek festivity which takes place 40 days before Easter and is famous for people gathering with colourful kites that dance in the sky above hilltops. We practiced some Greek language by learning what Greeks usually eat during this special day. Our kids were fascinated by Dolmadakia (which is made of stuffed vine leaves with lots of dill, mint, scallions, and tender rice) and Halvas (which is a tasty pudding-like dessert made with semolina). Ms Lydia had us drooling! At the end of the day, for our own Clean Monday souvenir, we made our own kite and had so much fun!
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Arts & Culture - Bonfire Night by Joseph Marks
Remember, remember the 5 th of November! The 7th, 8th and 9th grade have been learning about the famous figure Guys Fawkes and the origins of Bonfire Night in the UK as part of Cultural Week. They looked at how he conspired in the unsuccessful plan to blow up Westminster Palace and the Houses of Parliament in 1605. As well as learning about the history of the event, the students learned about how it is celebrated across the four nations today to this day and made their own display celebrating Bonfire Night. Students also had a debate to decide whether Guy Fawkes was a hero or a villain and whether he was justified in carrying out the great gunpowder plot.
Project Area - Mindfulness by Iris Miranda
No Astoria International School tentamos sempre dar primazia ao desenvolvimento e aplicação de estratégias que possibilitem o envolvimento emocional e académico dos alunos. Assim, ao longo deste primeiro período, e no âmbito da disciplina de Área de Projeto, a turma dos Edelweiss tem vindo a desenvolver um projeto de Mindfulness que visa aumentar o tempo de concentração dos alunos e desenvolver competências de gestão de conflitos e momentos de frustração, tanto em sala de aula, como em contexto de recreio. Assim, ao longo das aulas, aprendemos sobre o funcionamento do cérebro, falámos sobre o “ciclo das aulas felizes” e dos sete princípios da prática do Mindfullness e desenvolvemos várias atividades de exploração e aplicação destas estratégias através dos sentidos. Das atividades que mais envolveram os alunos, destacamos as que foram realizadas ao ar livre, para
explorar a atenção plena, e a elaboração de mandalas com recurso ao compasso. Mindfulness é como um super poder...é gratuito e podemos praticar em qualquer lado e a qualquer hora...pára, respira e continua!
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Learning on the Go: From school to your home This semester in Kindergarten, we have started to share monthly ‘Subjects and YouTube lists’ with families so that those at home can share and partake in their children’s learning journeys. This way, English Time never has to end! The aim is to encourage every child to engage with English in and outside of the classroom and with everyone they meet.
by Bambi Pomagalski
Considering all of the amazing English learning happening every day in the classroom, it seemed unfair to not share this with the families at home! It is understandable that with their English teacher, during English Time, the children are extra comfortable using English to communicate. However, as soon as English Time ends and we all return home, wouldn’t it be great if that comfort-zone could extend from school to home?
Whether at home or in the car, families will now know the current subjects to discuss with their children, as well as the songs to sing and dance along with. Expanding the time and places that our children engage with English will only create a stronger relationship to the language and a greater love for learning! So, what are we waiting for? This is English on the… GO!
English is Contagious: Milton Platform by Joana Braga dos Reis
This year’s English is Contagious has a new tool to help our lessons become even more interesting.
students play, and as a result, the learning that takes place is more significant, more efficient and more relevant.
A Milton Education is a global publisher specialised in educational content. A wide variety of content, interactive activities and classroom management are delivered to students through innovative methodologies and techniques. The goal is to help each student discover the pleasure of learning.
Everyone loves English is Contagious!!!
Tablets, phones, videos, games, music, photos...the children of today are digital natives who are used to having an unprecedented amount of content available to them. Interacting with this type of content is a basic part of learning for them. Children learn by playing. Many studies show that higher rates of student motivation are achieved when the
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Giving Back to others: Neste Natal Pensei em Ti by Lúcia d'Almeida
A Associação Portuguesa de Leucemias e Linfomas (APLL) volta a lançar este ano o seu desafio “Neste Natal Pensei em Ti”, uma iniciativa que consiste na criação de
postais de Natal, por alunos de todas as idades para serem distribuídos durante o Natal a doentes oncológicos.
A participação do Astoria International School deseja proporcionar um momento de alegria aos adultos e crianças, com doenças oncológicas, que se encontram nos centros hospitalares. Os nossos alunos realizaram os postais com muito empenho, carinho e criatividade. Obrigada a todos pela colaboração!
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Our Events Dia do Mar by Rita Candeias
No dia 16 de novembro assinalou-se o Dia do Mar. Uma data em que parámos para contemplar a grandeza e beleza deste mar misterioso, mas também refletimos sobre a importância de o conservar e respeitar, através de atitudes simples que promovem a construção de um planeta mais saudável. Valorizando esta causa, o Astoria International School ofereceu às suas crianças e alunos uma experiência verdadeiramente subaquática, apelando aos vários sentidos e sensações através de cor, som, luz, diferentes texturas e dimensões. Ninguém ficou indiferente e não faltaram expressões maravilhadas das nossas crianças ao observarem a raia e as alforrecas no teto, o surfista simpático, as silhuetas dos animais marinhos, as conchas e búzios ou até mesmo o baú do tesouro.
Chr stmas
ut of the book
by Joana Braga dos Reis
The Christmas party was a moment in which we all shared together the magical atmosphere of Christmas. The elves were up to make some mischief and it was up to us as a family to help Santa Claus save Christmas. We travelled through the world and back to fix our Christmas book. Both students and teachers had a lot of fun dancing and singing together. Happy Holidays!!!
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Fun and Games Q: Why didn’t Rudolph get a good report card? A: Because he went down in history.
Teste Matemático What’s the value of A, B and C?
Q: What did one Christmas tree say to another? A: Lighten up!
A+B+ C=6 A+A+ B=4 B+B+ C A+C+ =7 C=7
Find the shadow matching
Q: What do you call a bear with no teeth? A: A gummy bear! Q: Why did the math book look so sad? A: Because it had so many problems!
Upcoming Events Twelfth Night Carnival St Patrick's Day
COLLEGE LONDON Registered Exam Centre 53748
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