Panaga School Magazine, June-July 2014

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine

Panaga School Magazine July 2014

We are a world united in learning

July 2014

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine The new look

Panaga School Magazine Issue 46 June/July 2014 Editor and Layout: Damian Brady email: damianbrady@panagaschool.com Panaga School HRF/4, BSP Company Sdn Bhd Jalan Utara Seria, KB 3534 Negara Brunei Darussalam Telephone: (+673) 3375728/3372138 Teraja, 3372694 Mendaram/Rampayoh Principal: Tim Robinson (+673) 3372355/8777271 email: tim.robinson@shell.com Head teacher of Mendaram & Rampayoh and the Dutch Stream: Meino Meines (+673) 3373972/8777028 email: meino.meines@shell.com Senior Admin: Jalinah Bte Ali (+673) 3375728 email: jalinah.ali@shell.com Admin Support, Rampayoh & Mendaram: Zurimah Bte Jumat email: z.jumat@shell.com Admin Support, Teraja: Hasmah Bte Hj Salleh: hasmah.salleh@shell.com

We are a world united in learning

July 2014

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine

July 2014

A message from the Deputy Head Teacher of Mendaram, Amanda Holmes As we approach the end of another busy school year, we will each reflect on the successes and challenges faced along the way. 2013–2014 will be remembered as an important year for Panaga School in so many ways.

Looking back over the school year, I ask you to join the Panaga staff and me in acknowledging and celebrating the many wonderful learning experiences and educational opportunities that have taken place for our students, in their classrooms and beyond, in very creative and innovative ways.

Together, we have planned and implemented best teaching practices and held students to high standards and expectations with our IPC learning goals and targets for next steps in their learning journeys. Panaga School’s unique character, excellence in teaching and the tremendous dedication and talent of our staff continues to make it a wonderful and special learning environment.

There are so many stories from this year. From trekking through the rainforest on the P7 residential to our international trips with P6 and P8. From learning how to survive in the jungle with the Gurkha Regiment and P5 to the variety of learning opportunities in our IPC units. From our year group concerts to each Challenge Day theme. From our exciting visitors to the actionpacked football tournament; with daily successes and so many learningfocused opportunities for our children to engage with, it is amazing to think about how much actually happens over three school terms.

This leads on to many, many appreciations. First and foremost, to the students: thank you for a great year, you are wonderful in thousands of ways.

To the parents and families: thank you for sharing your children with us and for your parenting of these great explorers as they travel along their road towards lifelong learning. Also, thank you to all the volunteers who have given up their time to support learning in all areas of school life. We simply would not be able to have the programmes in place and all the great learning experiences without you. Finally, thank you to the faculty and staff at Panaga School: you are beyond tributes. You are just truly outstanding in all you do.

As we reach the end of the academic year, we say goodbye to several members of staff and many of our students who are moving on to new pastures elsewhere. Staff and students will be saying their farewells, both privately and publically through assemblies, staff meetings and class parties.

We now look forward to September and further new learning opportunities as we welcome new teachers, support staff, students and families to the Panaga School community. I would like to take this opportunity to wish students, their parents and families and all staff a very happy and safe summer break.

Amanda Holmes, Deputy Head Teacher, Mendaram

We are a world united in learning

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine

July 2014

Our Brunei LSAs feel the energy of Sensory Circuit training

Above, Nisa, Nurul and Haniza are discussing how to use the ‘Exercise ball’ in the calming section of a circuit. Zaim is demonstrating how to do a modification of an activity. The circuits are used for one to two weeks before the LSAs create a new circuit using their knowledge and experience.

‘Sensory Circuits’ is a Sensory Motor Skills Programme which prepares children to engage effectively for the school day ahead. Behavioural signs such as fidgeting, poor concentration, excessive physical movement or overall lethargy can indicate that a child is finding it difficult to connect with the learning process. To ensure optimal learning of our students, the Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) of Panaga School, recently undertook "Sensory Circuits" training.

detailing not only how we use our senses but also our other senses of the vestibular system and proprioception.

The vestibular system contributes to balance and to the sense of spatial orientation. Proprioception is the sense of relative positioning of neighbouring parts of the body as well as the effort being employed in movement. Our LSAs created their own Sensory Circuits utilising the resources we have at school.

Thank you to all of our LSAs for your hard work and dedicaThe circuit activities are a great way to energise or settle chiltion to students and learning throughout the year at Panaga dren into their school day. The LSAs undertook theory training School.

By Mr Rorie

Discovering the world through books As an initiative for Panaga School and a way of improving our bilingual resources, may we ask you to bring back a book from your summer vacation?

A bilingual book/local story/indigenous story from a country you visit would be most welcomed and help build a bond and show the importance of learning new languages, cultures and customs. As a truly international school, it is vitally important that we expose students to the many differences that exist in the world, yet that we are so similar.

As a part of our IPC learning and passion for International Mindedness, we are privileged to be shown many aspects of the world and visit many countries develop that affinity. By having stories, pictures and books from other places allows the students who may not have the ability to visit places that some of us have been to understand firsthand how someone else ‘sees’ the world in which we live in.

If you are able to contribute to this initiative, please leave the book in either the Rampayoh or Teraja office so our library helpers can process them. Depending on which site your children are on, you may like to get books for younger or older students. Thank you for your assistance and contribution.

By Miss Vanessa, Miss Bianca and Mr Rorie

We are a world united in learning

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine

July 2014

ASEAN’s ‘Best of the Best’ video award goes to... Miss Ayu and Panaga!

Panaga School Learning Support Assistant, Miss Ayu, and her sister, Siti Aminah Masayu Mohd Suria recently competed in the CHILD AND YOUTH FRIENDLY ASEAN VIDEO Competition.

The two sisters thought of an 'International theme' for their video and wanted to involve Panaga School student representatives from each of the ASEAN countries.

All children received plenty of encouragement from their parents! The children participating in the making of the video were Ethan (IP4V), Nisa (IP7M), Jana (IP7G) and Andie (IP8R).

The video won at Regional level and was brought to Thailand to compete with the rest of ASEAN countries' Regional winners. To Miss Ayu, her sister’s and the children’s amazement, their video won the trophy and was given 'THE BEST OF THE BEST' award. Well done Miss Ayu, Aminah and childen!

Watch the video here!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_If-vMame08

We are a world united in learning

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine

July 2014

There are some major changes to ICT in the new UK National Curriculum, being launched in September 2014.

In the UK, 'Computing' is now the umbrella term for the subject as a whole which comprises of three elements: computer science, information technology and digital literacy.

At Panaga School, we have been developing all three strands ahead of the UK curriculum and feel it is time to reflect these changes in the subject name. 'Computing' does not fully encapsulate the abstraction of these elements learnt and taught here.

Therefore, we have decided to re-brand ICT as 'Digital Education' (DE) which we feel is an accessible name that fully covers our three elements of computer science, information technology and digital literacy.

By Neil Lynch

Panaga School in the debating community spotlight Congratulations to Panaga School’s debating group and Miss Jo for having such a huge impact on student debaters and teachers from other schools in our community.

From The Borneo Bulletin, 6.7.14

We are a world united in learning

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine

July 2014

Asia/Pacific’s first Microsoft Certified Educators - at Panaga School Recently, Panaga School's Digital Education Specialist teachers, Dave Salt, Neil Lynch and Damian Brady were bestowed the honour of becoming the first Microsoft Certified Educators in Brunei.

Best wishes to Dave Salt, who has been fundamental in the recent technological learning leaps Panaga School has made over the last couple of years, the best for his new teaching post in Oman.

From The Borneo Bulletin, 8.7.14: “Excellent! Congratulations to Panaga International School of Brunei for having 3 educators, Dave Salt, Neil Lynch and Damian Brady, with the Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification, making Panaga the leading education institution within the Asia region with this kind of achievement,” rejoiced Haniza Zakariya, Microsoft Brunei Country Manager.

According to Ms Zakariya, Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification validates that educators have the global educator technology literacy competencies needed to provide a rich, custom learning experience for students. Through the certification, MCE demonstrates that educators have achieved technology literacy competency in six content areas, mapped to the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers, Technology Literacy: 1. Education policy 2. Curriculum and assessment 3. Pedagogy 4. ICT/technology tools 5. Organisation and administration 6. Professional development “As Digital Education has been increasingly important in the 21st Century classroom, teachers with good levels of ICT literacy and ICT integration in their teaching method and content is something unavoidable,” Ms Zakariya furthered.

Panaga School looks forward to continuing making learning more fun, experimental and effective next academic year with the new curriculum and their rebranding of ICT as Digital Education (DE).

Asia/Pacific’s first Microsoft Certified Educators - Damian Brady, Neil Lynch and Dave Salt (with Panaga School Principal Tim Robinson - second from the left).

Microsoft Brunei Country Manager, Haniza Zakariya

We are a world united in learning

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine

July 2014

Slide on sunnies this summer!

By Anna Sanderson

Are you thinking about debuting a cool new look for the summer?

Why not try a stylish pair of sunnies? With the addition of this simple sun smart accessory, you could look like this cool cat:

So why are sunglasses the ‘must have’ item of the summer? Well, the sun not only wreaks havoc on our skin, but it also damages our eyes. Too much UV radiation to the eyes can cause short term complaints such as:   

Irritation Swelling Sunburn of the cornea

Exposure to UV radiation over long periods can lead to more serious eye damage including:  Cataracts  Cancer of the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the white part of the eye)  Skin cancer of the eyelids

We are a world united in learning

Issue 46

Panaga School Magazine

July 2014

A broad-brimmed hat can reduce UV radiation to the eyes by 50% but if you add UV blocking wrap around style sunglasses, you can reduce UV radiation exposure to the eyes by up to 98%.

Since eye damage from UV radiation builds up over time, it is important to protect young eyes. When choosing sunglasses for sun protection, remember - not all sunglasses are equal. These guys all look pretty cool but which of these sunglasses offer the most protection (and who has paired their sunnies with a hat)?

Tips for choosing your next pair of shades:  Choose close fitting, wrap around style sunglasses. 

Look for the words ‘good UV protection' on the label.

 Some sunglasses have an eye protection factor or EPF rating; EPF 9 and 10 block almost all UV radiation.  It is important to choose a style that stays on securely. Sunglasses designed for babies and toddlers have soft elastic to keep them in place.

Other items to add to your summer shopping list: Sun smart swim suit Broad brimmed sun hat

Have a safe and sun smart summer!

We are a world united in learning