Eximius

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_____NOVEMBER 2022

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Welcome to the re-born EXIMIUS.

It has been some years since the last edition of this well-known St Dominic´s publication. First published in 2012 EXIMIUS itself followed on the tradition of Signadou, the first school newsletter that was first published in June 1995. Curiously, the name Signadou was first given to the school newsletter by two grade 5 students, Jenifer Rodrigues and Alexandre Bochman. Alexandre is the sister of our current Senior School Drama teacher, Ms. Elizabeth Bochman, herself an alumnus of the school. According to legend, for three nights in a row, St Dominic saw a globe of flame, a signadou, resting over a ruined church in Prouilhe in southern France. He knew that this was a sign to begin a mission with the nuns of the church, who became Dominicans. Inside this edition of EXIMUS we have a host of information about what has been and will be happening in the school. Significantly there are a number of pieces that help explain the thinking behind and development of curriculum and learning experiences students have at school.

Those who have entered the school campus this year will have noticed the remodeled corridors and ceilings of the Junior School. During the mid-term break the work of improving the school continues, with new windows and doors in the reception area and new outside path coverings from the school entrance to the MYP Design building. We are also very happy to announce that St Dominic´s will host the inaugural IB Day IBEROAMERICA on Tuesday 15th November. We were pleased, and privileged, to be asked by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to partner with them in developing this key initiative which aims at building understanding of IB programmes within current and future IB schools.

We hope you enjoy this edition of EXIMIUS.

Regards

Steve Blackburn Principal

Blast from the Past

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More than 30 years ago, one of these happy people in the photo was a recently employed teacher at St Dominic´s.

We are very happy to see this teacher is still at St Dominic´s and still happy!

Health and Safety pre-1985 could we have a School photo with 14 of 22 grade 1 students hanging unsupported from the monkey bars today???

Funny joke for the Science department from 1980´s.

Things do not change too much…

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At Saint Dominic’s International School students in Early Years learn through a play-based learning approach. By exploring different centres, they engage in playful learning, try out ideas, test theories, experiment with symbol systems, explore social relations, take risks, and reimagine the world. Students learn best through first-hand experiences. Play motivates, stimulates, and supports them in their development of skills, concepts, language acquisition, communication skills, and concentration. During play, students use all their senses, to convey their thoughts and emotions, explore their environment, and connect what they already know with new knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

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NOVEMBER 2022

Through the Lens of Music and Art: Grade 2’s Inquiry into Forces

Inquiring into the use of forces in Art, the Grade 2 students experimented with and explored "action painting" inspired by Jackson Pollock. But why stop there if Music has been inspiring artists for centuries, playing a special role in "action" and "movement"? We decided to include the use of forces learned in Music and, while one group of students was playing drums and another moving and dancing to the sound, used these forces to drip and splatter paint on a big paper and create a powerful artwork.

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Grade 5 get the ball rolling with Junior School assemblies

After a long, forced break, Grade 5 students have led the way to a new season of exciting sharing assemblies. The students were risk-takers and as Mila put it, “We gave the people who might present in the future that extra boost of inspiration and motivation.” Student agency was at the heart throughout the process as they used their ATL skills to plan, organise, communicate and present ideas collaboratively about Peace and Conflict for their first assembly. A second assembly allowed them to share the Drama skills they have been learning in this new addition to the Creative Arts curriculum. Thank you Grade 5 students for your commitment and hard work!

Creativity, cricket and the CCB: Keeping Grade 4 curious about learning!

Grade 4 has started the academic year with creativity in abundance and important messages in art! The students have been on a learning journey encompassing graffiti and street art, comic strip creation, poetry and dance. The learning was brought to life with field trips to the wonderful Berardo collection at the CCB in Belém and a dance workshop at Jazzy Dance Studios when the students learnt hip hop moves. On the cricket pitch we are learning the ATL skills of communication and team work with this UOI immersing students in the life of ancient civilisations. Sounds fun doesn’t it?!

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NOVEMBER 2022

Being healthy and having fun – that’s how we learn in Grade 1!

During our Who We Are Unit of Inquiry the students explored the concept of personal, physical and social health and wellbeing. They enjoyed a delightful field trip to Vitamimos in Alagoa Park. The students participated with enthusiasm during the discussion and shared their knowledge of healthy foods. They had fun during the handson activity and eagerly helped to create healthy pancakes using fruit and vegetables. The students reflected on their learning and recounted their experiences. They demonstrated their curiosity and thinking skills when wondering why vitamins are good for you and what vitamins are found in different fruits and vegetables. This curiosity was a springboard for further learning.

New initiatives spelling out success in the Junior School

In Junior School, teachers are proving to be lifelong learners by implementing a new spelling approach alongside Read Write Inc (phonics sessions). Spelling investigations enable students to develop their critical thinking skills by encouraging them to analyse patterns, make connections between words, explore sound associations and become word detectives.

Students also engage in collaborative thinking to develop spelling strategies which makes learning more memorable and meaningful. The aim of these investigations is to increase vocabulary, expertise and fluency. Students have proven to be open-minded and their energy and enthusiasm are an inspiration for the teachers.

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Why Singapore Math? Mastering Mathematical Understanding in the Junior School

Students’ attitudes towards mathematics are shaped by their learning experiences. Making the learning of mathematics fun, meaningful and relevant goes a long way to teaching positive attitudes towards the subject. Care and attention should be given to the design of the learning activities, to build confidence in and develop appreciation for the subject. Singapore Math focuses on mastering mathematical understanding by intentional sequencing concepts. It offers a variety of learning experiences to help students develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts, and make sense of various mathematical ideas and their connections and applications. This allows them to participate actively in learning mathematics and to become more confident in exploring and applying mathematics. Some of the key features of the approach include the CPA (Concrete, Pictorial, Abstract) progression, number bonds, bar modeling, and mental math. As lifelong learners, both SDIS students and teachers are inquiring into the Singapore Maths approach, developing our love of Math and furthering our mathematical understanding.

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NOVEMBER 2022

Inviting students to join teachers’ Unit of Inquiry reflection meetings: is this risk paying off?

Reflecting regularly on teaching and learning is a fundamental pillar of the PYP. This year we decided to incorporate students into what had traditionally been reflection meetings that only the teachers and specialists attended. Students and teachers have always reflected on their Units of Inquiry, however not jointly, where equal weight was given to both teacher and student voice. We realized that it was precisely our students’ voices that were missing from these staff reflections. We had to be risk-takers because no one knew just how student participation would alter the dynamic of our discussions. However, we had equally no idea as to how impactful this initiative was going to be for both teachers and students. Having students in our meetings has completely changed the dynamic of these reflections. By being open-minded to this shift in how we reflect, teachers and students are able to engage in reflection together, on an even playing-field, which will inevitably have, we hope, a powerful impact on teaching and learning in the Junior School.

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NOVEMBER 2022

Our Grade 11 started engaging on CAS straight from the beginning of the school year. Students learned and reflected on the importance of CAS in the IB programme. However, the fun part was the experience it. A group of 20 students engaged on a challenging CAS trip to Santiago de Compostela. During a week students walked 110 Km of Camino Portugues. From Valença do Minho, between breathtaking sights and sore muscles, the group increased their knowledge about Galiza and took time to disconnet from the word of academic stress and exams. Connection happened with themselves, nature and foreigners that were also doing the camino. A life experience to remember

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Science Field Trip with grade 6s

On the first Curriculum Enrichment Day, the Grade 6 students went to the Oceanarium and the Science Pavilion (Lisbon). In the Oceanarium, students learnt about the different aquatic ecosystems and gained awareness on the major threats to ocean life and the work that the Oceanarium does in promoting species conservation. This is the perfect link to their next science unit - Variety of Life! At the Science Pavilion, students used their Approaches to Learning skills, such as Thinking and Social Skills, by engaging in different scientific learning experiences such as building marble machines, setting up electric circuits, or working with robots.

G12 Chemistry students embarking on their IA journey

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NOVEMBER 2022

Saint Dominic’s promotes and fosters the Approaches to Learning (ATLs) through the academic and the student well Being Program. In my role as ATL Coordinator I support teachers on helping students to develop skills and self-knowledge to become lifelong learners. This gives students more agency and the means to have success in dealing with the challenges of the MYP and Diploma Program. In the Student well Being Program students also develop skills through the IB learner profile attributes in their journey as a learner. Hopefully, they will be able to see the challenges and setbacks as an opportunity to grow. There have been presentations of different skills to all grade levels with activities and the effectiveness of this work had the support of Grade Level Leaders and tutors that facilitated the delivery. It is notable the enthusiasm of teachers that are engaged in delivering skills explicitly so that the process of learning, “how to learn” in acquiring knowledge, concepts and inquiry based learning is facilitated.

Carla Morais ATL Co-ordinator

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NOVEMBER 2022

Grade 3 students trade their labcoats for chef’s hats: applying scientific learning to the kitchen!

In their How the World Works the Grade 3 students acquired a lot of knowledge about the Earth and the processes involved in how it changes and adapts. The Learner Profile attribute of being knowledgeable was very much apparent in our reflection meeting with the students at the end of the UOI. They explained using scientific language all that they had learned about the changes that our planet and its rocks and minerals have undergone throughout time. To bring this knowledge to life students experimented with the changes that food goes through, making links to their learning about the Earth. Students watched as ice-cream melted and could explain why that was happening. How does molten chocolate become hard again? Easy question for the students after this UOI! Students linked their understanding of different states when inquiring into the world around us to the different states that food can pass through. This fun activity was impactful to the students as they could proudly apply their knowledge to and understand something that is part of our daily lives, food!

Ed Burt PYP Coordinator, Junior School

DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

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NOVEMBER 2022

We had a fantastic start of the year in the DP with a grade 11 cohort of 85 members from all over the world! We are so pleased to welcome so many families to the grade 11 SDIS community.

As a Diploma Coordinator, I truly value a strong collaboration between educators and families. We work together toward the success of your children, and it is essential that we support each other in this endeavor. Therefore, I will continue to hold monthly meetings with DP parents to inform them of the different aspect of the DP, and to explain how we can work collaboratively towards our goals. I was deeply grateful for your attendance in the Assessment session last month, and I hope to see many of you in the CAS session that will take place on November 14th, and the ToK session on December 5th.

Our grade 12, has just finished one of the most relevant tasks of their Diploma, the Extended Essay. In the next few weeks, they will be focusing on finishing the Internal Assessments. So, please, join me in wishing them a very fruitful end to term 1.

Dr. Aguilera

GRADE 12 - Extended Essay

Congratulations to the Grade 12s who have completed the extended essay process. They have come a long way by researching, reading and collecting data to answer their research questions. This year, we had interesting topics on various subjects; for business management we had an essay discussing the lack of ethical approach to corporate governance. In Biology, we had a research paper on antibacterial efficacy and in English literature we had deep analysis on the stratification in the Lord of the Rings. These are just a few examples of what our students were interested in, and they have successfully managed to write a 4,000 words research essay on their preferred topic.

The Grade 11s will start their extended essay process during next month (November) and they will have to select one HL subject for their research. The extended essay is a challenging independent piece work, where they will learn the basic process of formal academic research. This is a skill that will greatly benefit all students at university level, where all the work has this academic format. The students will develop many skills, such as organization, writing and selecting proper data to write 4,000 words aiming at answering a research question. Looking forward to seeing the many interesting topics that will emerge from this cohort.

Ms. Leu

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GRADE 11 TOK

We are approaching again the wonderful time of the ToK exhibition. TOK Exhibition is probably the most important addition to the Tok syllabus. The TOK Exhibition explores how TOK manifests in the world around us. The IB has introduced the TOK Exhibition to inspire students to relate the knowledge gained in the classroom to the world beyond.

First and foremost, you need to understand what the newly added TOK Exhibition is. Weighing 33% of the total TOK grade, the TOK Exhibition requires the students to create an exhibition of three objects with accompanying commentaries to highlight the engagement with the concepts which were learnt in the class. The students are supposed to carry out the Exhibition individually and ensure the objects they choose don’t overlap with someone else’s at school. The TOK Exhibition is marked internally and then perhaps externally moderated. Key points of the ToK exhibition:

1.To be strictly performed individually.

2.Exhibition of the three objects which are chosen in the context of the IA prompts (prompt to be be picked from the 35 prompts prescribed by IB)

3.Exhibition activities at school are encouraged, which in turn create awareness about ToK in the school. These activities are not a part of the formal assessment.

4.ToK Exhibition file is scored and moderated.

Where are we in the journey?

We are approaching the end of our Core theme- The Knowledge of the knower and soon starting the Optional Themes- Knowledge and Technology, Knowledge and language, Knowledge and Politics and Knowledge and Religion.

DEAR PARENTS, HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR CHILDREN?

1. Be aware of the aims and the structure of the course. (further TOK information session will follow.)

2. Discuss what´s being explored.

3. Support your children as they write their Essays and Exhibitions.

4. Talk to them about what is going on in the world right now (real life stories, events, etc.)

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NOVEMBER 2022

GRADE 12

Here we are again at that “daunting” time of the year! The writing of the TOK essay. As a learner studying for the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, the students will have to write a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essay. This is part of the program, and they are different from the regular essays. This fact alone causes some students to panic as they worry, they may not get a good score. However, there is no need to panic. Below you can find some information about the ToK essay.

The TOK Essay

There is a set of Prescribed Titles issued by the IB for each examination session. Students are required to produce an essay of a maximum of 1600 words in response to one of those titles. This is an external assessment, and all essays will be sent to the IB examiners for marking. The essay accounts for ⅔ (roughly 67%) of the final grade.

It’s worth pointing out that, due to the nature of the assessment criteria, there is no set content or curriculum to learn or memorize.

Instead, students should focus on the Areas of knowledge and questions being explored, and constantly try to take an active, critical look at the other subjects they are studying, as well as the other things they may read about in the news, or encounter in their own daily lives, and try to apply these questions to these real life encounters. This way, when it comes time to do the essay, they will have no problems coming up with Real Life Situations to use.

Mrs. Jennings

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NOVEMBER 2022

SDIS’s social-emotional learning program was developed 2 years ago, looking to provide students with an interactive and hands on SEL program that incorporates PYP learner profile goals and ATL’s. This program has been implemented and adapted for students in junior school, aiming to create a safe learning environment to promote skills such as reflective thinking, pro-social, communication, selfmanagement and self-awareness. Evidence shows that social emotional skills are malleable, and related to academic, career and life success, thus, promoting these skills in young people has become a priority for both in school and after school settings.

Carolina Viana Social-Emotional Learning Program

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NOVEMBER 2022

During the week of October 10th, the Senior School Counseling Department celebrated World Mental Health Day with students and staff. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. On Monday, cookies and stickers with encouraging messages were distributed to all senior school students and staff. During this week, the whole school focused on reflecting on mental health. Students engaged with the idea that we all have mental health and that we should recognize it and treat it like physical health. Remember, the School Counseling Department is here to help.

EAL (English as an Additional language) is not just about learning and improving language skills. Recently, our grade 9 EAL group studied the unit ‘Culture and Identities’. Each student researched their home country and create d a PowerPoint presentation which they shared and presented orally to the whole class. A questionand-answer session followed and students enjoyed learning about cultures, customs, traditions and languages from countries other than their own. Through this activity, they continued to develop their research, written and oral presentation skills as well as developing ways to select relevant information from resources. Each student learned a new fun fact about another country.

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NOVEMBER 2022

For the extended essay in Design Technology, Chiara Dehmel’s researched “To what extent would using a smaller piano keyboard benefit the ease of use and comfort, while playing the piano, for children between 6 and 17 years old?”. To investigate her research question, Chiara created two functioning 1:1 scaled piano models. While designing the model, Chiara considered both the physiological and psychological functions of the model. Chiara tested the models with her audience to gather the data she based her essay on.

One of three of the working drawings Chiara created and used to produce her models

One of Chiara’s instrumental piano model.

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NOVEMBER 2022

Alumni Talks – Professor Tazeeb S. Rajwani

Professor Tazeeb S. Rajwani will speak to our Diploma students on November 11th about his career, current research in International Business, and will share advice on studying in the UK. His experience is immensely valuable for St. Dominic’s students because… he was also one of them, many years ago.

Before becoming a Professor of International Business & Strategy, Head of Department and Member of the Senior Management Team at Surrey Business School, Tazeeb completed the Diploma Programme at St. Dominic’s, in 1997. After leaving our school, he completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Surrey; did a Master degree at the University of Nottingham; and, later, got a PhD from the Imperial College London.

Now, he is coming back to share all the wisdom he has accumulated in the last 25 years, since he left St. Dominic’s as a student.

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Class of 2010 Reunion

St. Dominic’s stage was theirs again for one evening! On the 27th of August, the Class of 2010 was back to celebrate their 10+2 anniversary of graduation. (as Covid did not let them celebrate the 10th anniversary in 2020). 25 students who graduated that year and 5 of their teachers had dinner in the Old Gym, remembering those old times and failing miserably to keep social distance. (We are not used to so many hugs, since the pre-pandemic days!). Other 10 teachers from those times sent a short video to congratulate their former students.

Next summer, there is already an important student gathering scheduled: on July 28th, the class of 2003 will return to St. Dominic’s to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their graduation.

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NOVEMBER 2022

The Association S. Francisco de Assis Cascais rescues abandoned or lost pets and tries to find them a home.

Since our Grade 9 students will participate in “Nós Propomos”, a competition in which they are asked to address a problem in Cascais and come up with a possible solution, we have invited SFA Cascais for students to see an example of a problem (abandoned and lost pets) that is already been addressed.