St Andrews IB PYP newsletter - February 2019

IB PYP Newsletter

St. Andrews International School Green Valley

February 2019

Primary Years Programme (PYP) @ St. Andrews

GV Mission Statement: “Developing independent, confident, life-long learners.”

Finding ourselves half-way through the academic year makes it a perfect time to pause and reflect on our students’ progress and successes to date. Walking around the school this term, it’s apparent how much each and every student has developed, both in maturity and in their learning, since the start of the school year. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the first page of one of your child’s workbooks and compare it to the last!

One of the distinctive features of St. Andrews is that this doesn’t make us stop and relax; rather it makes us even more determined to continue providing challenging and exciting learning opportunities throughout the whole school.

I am excited to see where our learning takes us this term!

Rachel Mustovic, PYP Coordinator

"การพัฒนาผูเ้ รียนใหม้ ค ี วามคิดอิสระ มั่นใจ ใฝ่ เรียนรู ้ตลอดชีวต ิ " ่ การศึกษาซึงเป็ ่ นเวลาทีเหมาะสมในการหยุ ่ เวลาผ่านพ้นไปครึงปี ดคิด และทบทวนถึง ่ ้ และผลสัมฤทธิของนั ์ ้ น พัฒนาการทีได กเรียนเรา การเดินไปรอบ ๆ โรงเรียนในเทอมนี เห็ ได ้ชัดว่า นักเรียนแต่ละคนและทุกๆคนได ้พัฒนาเท่าไร ทัง้ ้ ต ้นปี การศึกษา ด ้านวุฒภ ิ าวะและด ้านการเรียนรู ้ตังแต่ ่ น ลองเปิ ดดูสมุดของบุตรหลานท่านดูใน หากคุณไม่เชือฉั หน้าแรกและเปรียบเทียบกับหน้าสุดท ้าย! ่ี หนึ่ งในคุณสมบัตท ิ โดดเด่ นของเซนต ์แอนดรูว ์สคือความ ่ าให ้การเรียนรู ้นั้นน่ าสนใจและท ้าทายโดยเปิ ด มุ่งมั่นทีจะท โอกาสให ้ทุกคนในโรงเรียนได ้มีส่วนร่วม ่ ่ ้ ฉันตืนเต ้นทีจะได ้เห็ นว่าการเรียนรู ้ของเราในเทอมนี จะ ไปสู่ความสาเร็จในจุดใด!

PYP Spotlight: What are Transdisciplinary Themes?

One of the most significant and distinctive features of the IB Primary Years Programme is the six Transdisciplinary Themes. The themes are selected for their relevance to the real world. They are described as transdisciplinary because they focus on issues that go across subject areas.

These themes are about issues that have meaning for, and are important to, all of us. The programme offers a balance between learning about or through the subject areas, and learning beyond them.

Connected Learning By learning through these Themes, students are able to make connections from their classrooms to the world around them.

They are also encouraged to think about how they can take action within these Themes, whether it be simply changing a habit or promoting a message to the community.

Stars of the Week At St. Andrews, we not only challenge students academically, we encourage them to become active, caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others and have the capacity to participate in the world around them. These are just some of our ‘Stars of the Week’ who have shown our Learner Profile attributes and Attitudes. Well done everyone!

Reflective

Open-Minded

Inquirer

Communicator

Balanced

PYP in Action - Units of Inquiry Here is a round-up of what’s happening during Term 2 in the Primary School. I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a pretty inspiring time to be at school!

Year

Nursery

Central Idea

Learner Profile

I learn about my world through shapes, colours and numbers.

Caring, Communicator

We started Term Two unit “Express Yourself!” with the ever popular book by Eric Carle “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”. The children loved the story and enjoyed the activities. They made some art work for our classroom display which is also a story board that the children use to re-tell the story.

Year

Central Idea

KG

This term KG have been having a great time learning about animals.

They have studied three different habitats and inquired about the animals that live there.

In the classroom we have had a jungle, underwater world and the Arctic. The children really enjoyed learning about lifecycles and focused on a chicken, butterfly and frog.

Machines can be used to make work easier.

Learner Profile Inquirer, Risk-taker

PYP in Action - Units of Inquiry Year R

Central Idea The Earth's natural cycles influence the things people do.

Learner Profile Inquirer, Thinker

As part of their unit, Reception have been focusing on one season per week and have worked on a series of science experiments based on the season. For Winter, students completed 2 experiments: 1– How do polar bears stay warm? Students were asked to think about what a polar bear has to stay warm and conducted an experiment where they had to put one hand uncovered in cold water and another in a glove filled with butter to see which hand stayed warmer.

2– Ice fishing - Using string, students had to try and catch ice by adding salt to the water. They had a great time catching ice!

Year 1

Central Idea Different materials are used in the construction of homes and shelters around the world.

On Thursday 31st January, Year One had their Learning Journey for their Unit of Inquiry about shelters, materials and recycling. In the morning, they confidently shared their learning with Reception students and in the afternoon, family and friends joined them.

Thank you to all the parents who came along and worked hard, making eco-bricks for our Year One Shelter. A special thank you to Mr Ben who has provided his expertise and guidance throughout the building process. If you haven't had a chance to visit our Eco-brick shelter, please come and take a look. It is outside the Year One class.

Learner Profile Thinker, Knowledgeable

PYP in Action - Units of Inquiry Year

Central Idea

2

Learner Profile Communities have changed over time.

Inquirer, Knowledgeable

As part of their unit focused on Where we are in Place and Time, Year 2 have delved into the changes in cities, transport, toys and technology. The children formulated a series of questions they wanted answered and worked on time lines to map out the changes. They discussed their opinions of the positives and negatives behind the changes and were very interested in the effects of pollution – a topic they had learnt about from Year 4.

There lots of cross curricular links, in science the children made their own balloon cars and evaluated them and in literacy, the children read biographies of famous people and mapped out their teachers life story on a timeline.

Year 3

Central Idea The arts are used as a form of expression to communicate and entertain.

Learner Profile Knowledgeable, Reflective

Year 3 have been showing a great interest in ‘The Arts’ this unit and have discovered that Art is all around them.

Year 3 went on a school trip to The Museum of Buddhist Art and Anak Kuson Sala, a Chinese Temple and discovered that cultural beliefs are shown in ‘The Arts’ in so many beautiful ways. The children are learning about mythical stories and they will be using all of their knowledge in their action to share their learning through ‘The Arts’. We have such a knowledgeable year group!

PYP in Action - Units of Inquiry Year 4

Central Idea

Learner Profile

People’s values and beliefs can inspire them to create different forms of art.

Balanced, Open-minded, Communicator

Year 4 have just embarked on their new unit where we are looking into how we express ideas, feelings, culture, beliefs and value. As part of our “tuning in” we visited a Mosque, Church and the Sanctuary of Truth. During this trip, we were exposed to many different religions and beliefs. We learned about the history of these different religions and gained a deeper understanding of how ideas and cultures are expressed through art.

Year 5

Central Idea Exploration may lead to discoveries, new perspectives and change in the way humans share resources.

As part of their Unit of Inquiry, Year 5 visited the Space Inspirium. As well as getting lots of ideas for their science fiction stories and art and design work, they are also found our about how technology is used in exploration and how it has developed over time. They spent time researching, taking notes and exploring. Highlights definitely included the space walk and simulation machine.

Learner Profile Principled, Thinker

PYP in Action - Units of Inquiry Year 6

Central Idea

Learner Profile Media can influence people's perceptions.

In our Unit ‘How we express ourselves”, we have been looking at how media influences people’s perceptions through advertising and through different forms of news. In advertising, we learnt about the persuasive techniques used to capture an intended audience and we recognised that adverts are placed in a variety of media.

As a ‘hook’ for our report writing in Literacy, we became journalists for a day, investigated and reported on a horrific crime that happened at school. Children used their note-taking, photography and questioning skills to gather enough information in order to report on the incident.

Through learning about fake news and the importance of internet safety (using Interland) we have developed our ability to be responsible and safer whilst online.

In Art, we have focused on street artists and tagging to create our own personalised tags through the use of ‘Graffiti Creator’ software. We have also used Serif X6 Photo and Draw Plus to begin designing posters to represent Global Goals awareness, in preparation for our end of year PYP exhibition.

PYP in Action - Specialists Our specialists have been hard at work as well...

French Year 5 students have just started a new topic: Animals! During our first lesson of the term, they went on a Treasure Hunt in the TB2 corridor, looking for animal pictures with their French translation written underneath.

Once found, they had to fill in a crossword with all the new words, paying extra attention to spelling for all the words to eventually fit in! Finally we went back to class to practise pronouncing the new words and to discuss what animals we would consider to be ‘pets’ or not, and why.

Communicator, Open-minded

PYP in Action - Specialists Music—Y6 Year 6 are learning to play a famous English folk song, Greensleeves, on the ukuleles.

There are 4 chords to learn, and a melody part as well. After just a few lessons most of the students can now play half of the music well done!

Thai As part of Reception’s Unit of Inquiry, they are learning about seasons. In MFL Thai class we studied the Thai letter Called Chor Cher ฌ which means the big tree.

We made our own trees in summer and autumn too. We then focused on students writing their Thai names on their work.

In Year 1, we are reading and learning a Thai story called “The Rabbit and the Turtle”. The students will then make their own story book.

Parent help & support @GV At St. Andrews we are very lucky to have parents who are willing to give up their time to help in the Primary School. The way that our parents help include: listening to children read, helping with a Primary activity, helping in the library and supporting our activities.

Below are our upcoming PYP Units of Inquiry which will start in the second half term. We are looking for parents and/or community members who may be able to help support these units by sharing their expertise. Even if your child isn’t in the year group, if you think you could offer something, please let us know!

You can either talk to the class teachers direct or speak to Rachel Mustovic, our PYP Coordinator (email: rmustovic@standrews-schools.com).

Year

Central Idea

N

I learn about my world through shapes, colours and numbers

KG

Stories around the world can help people to learn

R

Animals and people interact in different ways in different contexts

Y1

Ideas are expressed through stories and tales all around the world.

Y2

Stories can be conveyed through a range of media.

Y3

Many products go through a process of change before they are consumed or used.

Y4

Strength and stability of structures is dependent on the design, materials available and the location.

Y5

Exploring past civilizations helps us gain a better understanding of our future.

Y6

Survival necessitates adaptation

Information for Parents We now have several different ways of keeping parents updated with our latest news and events:

Seesaw Gives you regular updates and samples of work from the classroom.

Contact your child’s teacher for information on how to link to your child’s account.

Firefly Online Learning Platform This not only provides parents with curriculum and general school information but also has Class Pages with weekly updates and news.

Facebook Follow us /StAndrewsGV

Twitter Follow us @primarygv

LINE Stay in touch by joining GV School News or GV Parent Sport

Upcoming Events FEB 7-8

LAMDA DRAMA EXAMS

FEB 12-14

YEAR 6 TRIP TO KANCHANABURI

FEB 16-24

HALF TERM

FEB 25

STAFF TRAINING (SCHOOL CLOSED)

MAR 1

PARENT WORKSHOP– INCREASING THE QUALITY OF INTERACTION WITH YOUR CHILDREN

MAR 5

YEAR 3 TRIP TO SCIENCE MUSEUM IN BANGKOK

MAR 6

RECEPTION TRIP TO KHUN PENNYS FARM

MAR 8

KPIS MUSIC COMPETITION

MAR 12

LITTLE LUNCHTIME CONCERT

MAR 12

YEAR 3-6 SPORTS DAY

MAR 13

EARLY YEARS SPORTS DAY

MAR 13

YEARS 1-2 SPORTS DAY

MAR 14

YEAR 5 TRIP TO THE ANCIENT CITY

MAR 15

EARLY YEARS GRUFFALO OPEN DAY

MAR 15

TERM 2 REPORTS SENT HOME

MAR 16

SASS DRAMA FESTIVAL

MAR 20

PARENT TEACHER MEETING DAY

MAR 21-23

PRIMARY INVITATIONAL GAMES

MAR 27

PRIMARY POETRY SLAM FINALS @ ST. ANDREWS 107

MAR 29

BOOK WEEK VOCABULARY PARADE