JUNIOR SCHOOL
EAGLE EYE S E K O L A H P E L I TA H A R A P A N
VOL.
18 DEC
2023
Principal’s Message Dear Parents, As the festivities at Junior School unfold, we are filled with gratitude as we witness our children's performances in the Christmas Drama and Musical, Junior School concert, and the choir during our whole school Christmas Assembly. These occasions have truly marked the beginning of this beautiful season. Amidst the hustle and bustle, I urge us all to pause and reflect on the essence of this season. Christmas is not merely about the celebrations, it's a time to delve into the profound significance of the event. Two thousand years ago, in the humble setting of a manger, a baby named Jesus was born. This seemingly ordinary event carried an extraordinary weight, as this child bore the weight of an unimaginable responsibility — to bring salvation to humanity by dying on the Cross. The scripture reminds us, "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5 ESV). It is essential to remember that the true meaning of Christmas
Ibu Yuniarti Setia Abdi Katu
lies in the story of a Savior who willingly took on the burden of our sins. As a school, we remain committed to upholding and proclaiming the preeminence of Christ. Our educational endeavors are not only centered around academic excellence but moreover in the values and teachings that reflect the love, compassion, and grace exemplified by Jesus. May this Christmas be a time of deep and meaningful reflection of the significance of the season, and a reminder to us and our children of the greatest gift of Christmas, that is the salvation through Jesus Christ. Wishing you and your families a blessed Christmas and a joy-filled New Year. Ibu Yuniarti Setia Abdi Katu
Pre-Kindy
by Ibu Angela Chandra
Dadventure Day:
s e m i t l u f t h g i l e D ! s e i d d a D h t wi
As we culminated our letter 'D' learning, our "Day with Dad" on November 24th was a super thrilling experience! This special day is where kids intentionally spend fun moments with their busy dads, creating unforgettable memories. Our adventure began with games and crafting handprints on canvas - souvenirs of our wonderful time together. Then, the lively musical chairs got everyone hyped, with some kids surprisingly more competitive than their dads! The highlight was our photo scavenger hunt, capturing moments alongside our creations and activities throughout the event. We giggled and smiled as we snapped away, collecting memories with our dads. Outside, the trolley races had dads pulling their kids around, adding to the excitement! Wrapping up the day, we got creative decorating donuts with dad, playing with icing and sprinkles. Our "Day with Dad" was all about intentionally making memories, enjoying every moment, and cherishing the time spent with our amazing dads!
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Kindy 1
by Ibu Anna Purba
C for
r a C n a e l C
In wrapping up ‘Who We Are Unit’, K1 students had a final activity, combining language and UOI subjects. We are excited to share that learning letter C was so much fun with a sensory play activity; that was car cleaning. That day was spent well because they were so enthusiastic to take part in squishing sponge in the soap water, making foam with the sponge, spreading the foam all over the car, rinsing the car with water, and finally drying the car with cleaning clothes. Through this simple activity, our students learned that God made our body parts to do good work. Moreover, when they washed the car, they were using their big muscles and small muscles which will help them to develop hand-eye coordination and finger strength that are beneficial for writing skill. Isn’t this awesome? Through one daily activity, our K1 students can learn many things at once!
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Kindy 2
by Ibu Hondho Wahyu Setyaningsih
How We Express
s e v l e s r u O
We believe that God gives talents and gifts to each of us. In K2, we are learning to discover these talents and gifts to express ourselves in positive ways. Our unit is titled 'How We Express Ourselves,' and our central idea is 'People can express feelings and ideas through art.' K2 students and teachers unwrapped this unit through various activities, including a field trip to Museum Macan and inviting a guest speaker and the Drama Club from the Senior School. In the classroom, students created artwork of their choice and acted out some stories. This unit is crucial as students learn about feelings and how to express them positively and lovingly through various activities. The gifts and talents are God-given and are meant to glorify His Name. To conclude this unit, K2 teachers and students will hold an event called 'The Gift from K2 Village' on Dec 8. During this event, students will perform songs, skits, movements, and exhibit the artwork they created in class. Please join us at our event!
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Kindy 3
by Ibu Clairine Theodora
K3’s Eco
Friendly Journey In the colorful and bustling world of Kindy, K3 students are eagerly exploring the simple yet impactful concepts of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Through a series of daily practices, playful activities and engaging discussions, these young learners are embarking on an eco-friendly journey that's both educational and fun. Going on a special trip, the K3 students visited a place where they learned about recyclable materials and how to sort trash. They went to Depo Pendidikan Pelestarian Lingkungan Tzu Chi where they can immerse themselves in the real process of segregation happen. This hands-on experience offered an important lesson in environmental responsibility and the importance of sorting waste for a sustainable future.
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Grade 1
by Ibu Melia Susanti
g n i t a n i m l u C Activity
In unit 2, we learn about how our choices determine our quality of life. We learn about physical health, personal hygiene, and spiritual health and how to take good care of them. We learned to make good choices so we can have a good quality of life. Early November, Grade 1 had a culminating activity as the closure of our unit 2. We started by listening to a devotion by Pak Rene from Senior School. Pak Rene reminded us of the importance of prayer and that we can pray anywhere and anytime. Following the devotion, we played parachute game in the grassy area near JS playground and the golden child game on the basketball court. Lastly, we went to the JS staffroom to make pancakes and enjoy some healthy food and drink. We had a great and fun time celebrating the end of our unit!
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Grade 2
by Miss Mary Katherine Givhan
Learning
through Serving During our Unit 2 Who We Are, we learned about different disabilities. We talked about the difference between physical and mental disabilities. The students learned more about specific people who had these certain disabilities through readings, projects, and presentations. Our Mission Service Learning was to a school for students with disabilities. The students were able to play with them, sing songs, and do a small project. This allowed them to learn through serving.
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Grade 3
by Pak Christian Boenadi
Exploring Ecosystems and Community Services:
e c n ie r e p x E l a n io t a c u d Fun and E
In Grade 3, we studied the trans disciplinary theme "How We Organize Ourselves" to learn more about the function of community services. We delved into the interconnectivity of services within a community, how they meet the needs of people, and how community planning can impact the efficiency of services and ecosystems. To kick off our unit, we explored ecosystems by creating a terrarium. Our students worked together to nourish the plants and feed the fish, while learning about the interdependence of plants, water, fish, and sunlight. As a pleasant surprise, we even had baby fish born in our terrarium this year! In addition, we took a field trip to Kidzania to learn about the various services that communities require.
Jia - Most Favorite Community (based on parents’ vote)
Looking for a new community to call home? "Second Life" is a great option! Our town boasts a variety of services, such as restaurants and a massive museum, to keep residents entertained. In addition, we have a police station and hospital nearby, ensuring a safe environment for all. Come join us and start your new life today!
At the end of the unit, each student created a community display, incorporating lessons about three-dimensional shapes in mathematics and also what they had been learnt in our Unit of Inquiry. Our students came up with many brilliant town planning ideas, and we couldn't be prouder of their achievements in this unit!
Olivia - Family & Eco-Friendly Community (based on parents’ vote)
Introducing "Panda World," a Community for Panda Enthusiasts. At our community, we're passionate about everything panda-related. We offer a panda-themed park adjacent to a zoo, where visitors can have the unique chance to touch these magnificent animals during specific hours. Moreover, we have a research base dedicated solely to the study of pandas. We would love to have you come and visit us!
Casey & Ella One of the most enjoyable activities we did during Unit 2 was visiting Kidzania to learn about goods and services. It was a great way to explore how our communities work. Additionally, we also gained knowledge about how to protect our planet by recycling and preserving the animal population.
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Grade 4
by Miss Laura Michaels
Exploring
d l r o W e th
The fourth graders have been learning about various explorers for our Where We are in Time and Place unit. We have been discussing how the ocean and landforms impacted decisions that the explorers made, what caused the explorers to travel to new places, and perspectives of both the explorers and indigenous people. God has created a universe that contains vast opportunities to learn and discover. Exploration is a response to curiosity and a hope to find something new. We have a responsibility to learn from the past, have a godly influence on society and culture in the present, and point others towards the glory of God for the future. During this unit, the students have had the opportunity to form continents out of playdough as well as explore different kinds of spices. As a culmination to this unit, the students are preparing a presentation on an explorer of their choice.
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Grade 5
by Ibu Elika Wirawan
Sharing
the Planet This quarter, Grade 5 focused on the unit Sharing the Planet where we studied different ecosystems and how survival within an area depends on relationships. We started off the unit by giving students a chance to go around different areas at school to observe the different living things that exist in the different habitats. Throughout this unit, students were also able to creatively display their learning through posters and writing. To end off the unit, students had to choose a specific ecosystem in the world to focus on as they analyze and explain how a specific real-world problem affected and will continue to affect the ecosystem. They created posters of the before, during, and prediction of what happens to the ecosystem and different living things in the ecosystem due to the problem. Simultaneously, students learned to write a structured informational essay backed by proper sources and evidence in English class. Students collaborated to write a whole-class, well-researched, five-paragraph essay on deserts (5A) and coral reefs (5B). Scan the codes below to view the essays on the class blogs!
Grade 5A
Grade 5B
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Grade 6
by Ibu Ida Sriguntari
Come To
s r e t a W e Th
Have you ever stayed away from home and your parents? The Grade 6 students did! They went to the Grade 6 annual retreat in 5G Resort, Bogor, from October 25 – 27, 2023. In this 3-day-retreat, they learned to understand our school theme “Come to the Waters” by knowing that God is the living water, God is refreshing to their souls just as water is refreshing to them when they are thirsty. We all need God and need to develop relationship with Him. The grade 6 students enjoyed the time spent there through some teaching and series of message by the Word of Life Team, playing games, and spending more time with teachers and friends. Please enjoy some reflections written by the grade 6 students! The influence this retreat had on my spiritual connection—mainly with God—was what gave it extra significance. I had a rare chance to get a deeper understanding of Him and grow closer to my faith through the retreat.” (Michelle)
“Retreat has been very fun despite only being 3 days. I feel like I was able to have a closer relationship with my classmates and with God. I would always doubt if I would ever make it to heaven or if God would ever accept me, but the truth is that we need to accept God. I learned to believe in him and to never doubt his power.” (Paul)
We hope that the Grade 6 students will continue to grow their faith in Jesus Christ and shine His light to those around them.
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“The retreat brought me away from my family and that helped me build my relationship with God. This helped me strengthen the connection between me and God.” (Matthew D.) “Something I learned about is no matter if you’re good or bad, if you have Jesus you will go to heaven for sure. I also learned that you can’t just talk to God or just listen to him, you need to pray to God and read His word like friends. It is not one who talks and the other listens. This retreat helped me learn about God and just have a lot of fun.” (Julianne)
PYP Column
by Ibu Yuliany
Providing Optimal Learning Environment
for Students' Success
Creating a positive and supportive learning environment is critical to a student's success. When students feel safe, valued, and included, they are more likely to engage in learning and take risks. An environment that promotes inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and collaboration can help students develop the skills they need to succeed in higher education and beyond.
Learning Happens Everywhere Learning happens all the time and everywhere. A learning environment encompasses multiple learning spaces–built and natural, outdoor and in, formal and informal. As an IB school in SPH, we promote a holistic approach to education, which considers academic and personal growth. This includes how students develop into well-rounded individuals who are better equipped to navigate the challenges of life. Most importantly, a positive learning environment can help students achieve their full potential and success in all areas of their lives.
"Learning Environment" is believed to be the silent curriculum. It is also referred to as the third teacher in the classroom. It is a space for exploration, learning to become a group, autonomy, wondering about unexpected encounters, and examining different perspectives. Our school and teachers can create a positive learning environment in many ways.
First, we create a positive, warm, and welcoming space. Learning should be fun and engaging. Students should feel that they are cared for, loved, and belong in the classroom. They also feel they have the same opportunity to grow and succeed.
Secondly, we create a learning space that is engaging and flexible. A space that would create opportunities for quiet, independent learning and interactive group learning for students to make and create. It also should consider individual students and be responsive to diverse needs, backgrounds, abilities, and interests. The space could be built physically, naturally, and virtually. It can be indoors and outdoors, formal and informal.
Thirdly, we promote a learning environment that promotes lifelong learning. Students are challenged to inquire, think critically, and be reflective. Students are encouraged to strive for learning through various media and displays such as wonder walls, inquiry boards, daily or unit reflections, action boards, and other activities. We encourage creativity and allow the students to give their voice in creating a learning environment suitable for them, promoting agency and voice. There are more strategies we can do, but all we do is give our students the best environment that promotes learning.
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Creating a Positive Learning Environment at Home Not only at school having a positive learning environment at home can foster a love of learning as well. It helps children feel supported and encouraged and provides a safe and comfortable space to study and explore. It also helps children develop the discipline, motivation, and self-confidence needed to succeed academically. Here are some of the things we can do at home to reinforce the positive learning environment:
#1
#2
Provide Emotional Support, Love, and Attention
When children are exposed to books and reading, they will have an easier time developing intellectual skills such as concentration, memory, vocabulary, problem-solving skills, imagination, understanding, creativity, and much more. We can encourage them by providing various books, making some reading routines, reading together, etc.
Love and attention are two primary emotional needs that help learning. Having a sense of security from the parents will develop the self-motivation for learning. A home that focuses on the positive instead of the negative (yelling, arguments, and complaints) will support their love of learning.
#3
Encourage Reading
Create Special Learning Spots A special place for children will allow them to choose their space to learn or play. Some items to think about when creating this space includes the table for learning, the containers for storage that are accessible, the quiet area that is ideal for reading and studying, the spacious area for hands-on activities or project, etc.
#4
Keep to a Routine A good routine is crucial to help student's learning environment. When they know the expectations, they will be less anxious or worried. A good routine offers structure and a sense of control. Some of the routines could be keeping a regular wake-up and bedtime, incorporating cleanup time after play, 30 minutes of reading, or fun screen time after supper or homework, etc.
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#5
Encourage Independence We easily fall under the spell of wanting to do everything for our children. However, if you want what is best, keep in mind letting them do what they can do by themselves. Some of the ways to set up for independence include keeping a step stool near the sinks, making clothing easily accessible, providing easy access to supplies they need, teaching them to do the dishes, etc.
#6
Include Them in Meaningful Experiences Allowing children to watch TV or play video games when they are doing activities, such as cooking, cleaning, folding laundry, washing dishes, etc., are some examples of missing the meaningful life experiences of your children. We should involve them in these tasks to help them create meaningful experiences that help them with their fine and gross motor skills, sorting and matching skills, communication skills, responsibility, etc.
#7
#8
Be Present and Engaged Children are susceptible and could feel unheard, neglected, alone, and disinterested in learning. They need our attention. When everyone is on their phones, whether for work, email, social media, or playing games, those are the times you take away from them. We need to know when to stop. Be present and in the moment and create meaningful experiences with your child wherever possible.
Make Sleep a Priority Children need to get enough sleep. Adequate sleep will prevent them from becoming over-tired and help them function, retain information, and process it to get ready to learn again the next day. Children will have a good night's sleep with a structured nightly routine.
Learning happens everywhere, and taking this seriously will bring the joy of learning and create a lifelong learning skill for our children.
Reference: Empowering parents: 8 tips on how to create a positive learning environment at home. Edsembli. (2023, March 16). https://www.edsembli.com/8-tips-on-how-to-create-a-positive-learning-environment-at-home/ International Baccalaureate Organization. (2018). Primary Years Programmee: The Learning Community. Peterson House, Malthouse Avenue, Cardiff Gate.
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