ISHNEWS

#13PRIMARY SCHOOL

Primary Newsletter | Issue 13| 14 March 2013

The International School of The HagueP. O. Box 520472505 CA The HagueWijndaelerduin 12554 BX The Hague www.ishthehague.nlish.admissions@ishthehague.nl

Primary SchoolTelephone +31 (0)70 338 4567Fax +31 (0)70 328 2049Email ish.primary@ishthehague.nl

This Issue is made byVerona Schroder v.schroder@ishthehague.nlPlease contact for Newsletter items

In this issue

3 Dear ISH News Readers,

4 Mother Tongue News

5 Year 6 NEMO Trip

6 Earth Day

7 Dates for your Diary

8-9 Parent Info

10-11 Photographs - ISH Awards

Cover photograph courtesy of Dan Murphy

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We have been visited this week by an accreditation team from the International Primary Curriculum (IPC). In what was a rigorous process the team observed more than forty-four lessons and interviewed a large number of children, parents and teachers. The purpose of the visit was to validate our own self-review and the team will have made judgements against each of the nine IPC criteria (see website under IPC). We should have their report in approximately two weeks time and I look forward to sharing this with you.

On Wednesday, 20 March our Year 5 and 6 children are taking part in the worldwide ‘Walk 4 Water’ campaign. ‘Walk 4 Water’ is an awareness and fundraising initiative, which takes place around World Water Day (22 March). The initiative culminates with our children participating in an organised walk, sponsored by families and friends to carry a water container around a predetermined route. There are two major outcomes of the initiative, firstly that students learn about global water issues and secondly they raise funds to help solve them. Experts visited the school last week and the children learned about the importance of clean drinking water and proper sanitation. They also developed an understanding of what children their age and younger have to do in developing countries on a daily basis often at the expense of going to school. The initiative raises more than €1.200.000,- each year and we are very proud of our children’s contribution to this. As part of our aim to use technology to support the children’s learning we are introducing iPads into the classrooms. This will happen over a period of time, as our technical support team needs to configure the machines and upload the relevant apps. I am sure that the year groups will keep you updated in their weekly/bi-weekly Newsletters.

The final three IPC criterion can be accessed by clicking on the following links:http://www.ishthehague.nl/content/brain-friendly-elementshttp://www.ishthehague.nl/content/themeshttp://www.ishthehague.nl/content/assessment-evaluation

Have a safe, relaxing and enjoyable weekend,

Kevin RaePrimary Principal

Dear ISH News Readers,

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 13| 14 March 2013

Mother Tongue NewsMT after schoolThe last term of MT after school classes started on 6 & 7 of March. If you are new to the school and would like your child to enrol to one of the language classes available please contact the office.In the next newsletter we will update the last lesson dates and the make up dates for the classes that have been postponed.

MT within the school dayIn Reception and Year 1 the children have been looking at spring and the flowers that will come up soon. It was fascinating to discover that you can find tulips in many countries. In Year 2 and 3 children are translating our SquISH personal goals. Soon we will have many more Mother Tongue posters of SquISH to share our personal goals with visitors coming from around the world.The Year 4, 5 & 6’s are working hard looking at our International Mindedness definition and how to express it in their Mother Tongue. We’ve discovered that some words sound the same in different languages, but the meaning might be different.

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Year 6 NEMO TripNemo Year 6 went on a trip to the fascinating NEMO museum! NEMO is a child science centre, but don’t think that this is any old museum. This is a centre where you can touch, play, learn and watch intriguing shows. From bubbles made out of lights, houses made out of foam., pictures made out of your shadows to hearing your partners voice at the other side of the room by whispering. We also had an awesome show about chain reactions.

Chain reaction showAt 12 o’clock precisely everybody who had interest went to the dazzling chain reaction show. An astonishing man told us all about Chain Reactions and then performed a circuit from which thousands of materials have been connected into chains. When you cut, break or disable a chain the circuit starts. A balloon pops so balls can go through long tubes. Those balls hit a toy car which gets pushed towards a tower of bricks. They fall over and that enables a chair to roll down a hill. It hits a trampoline which makes a rocket jump up into the air.

OpinionsAya “I loved the science museum. Compliments to the starter of the NEMO. It was a great learning experience!”Julliette “Very fun. I would love to go again. I recommend it to people with kids. It’s a real family thing.”Palomo “It’s was great, we watched a show about chain reactions!”Ana Laura “I loved it because NEMO was all about science and science is my thing!”Maia “Fun, awesome and dazzling, that’s the way to describe NEMO!”

By Aya and Maia, year 6

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 13| 14 March 2013

Earth DayEarth DayEarth Hour 2013 will be held on Saturday March 23 at 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm wherever you are in the world. So save the date and keep coming back to earthhour.org to see the world unite to protect the planet.There is no doubt about it: the world is facing some of the most critical environmental challenges in its history. That may make the journey to a sustainable future seem difficult to imagine, but it is far from impossible. Change this big needs you. It needs every one of us. Together our individual actions add up to make a difference collectively.In fact, change is already underway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtJFrUKVoKk

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Dates for your Diary

School Photographer in till 22 March

School Closed Inset Day

School Closed Easter Weekend

School Closed - Holiday

Parent Consultations

Parent Consultations

Jim Cummins presentation 18:30 - 20:00

Year 3 Camp till 19 April

May holiday All Students back to

School on 13 May

March April

Please check our website for a complete calendar.CT Days are Compensation Days that Teaching Staff are allowed to make use of during the school year, this in accordance with Dutch Labour Laws as stipulated by the CAO

Mr Curiston

Ms LaPierre

Ms Ana

Ms Wilkinson

Ms Welsh

CT Days

01

04

09

16

18

27

14

22

29 21

07-08

07-08

20

18-19

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 13| 14 March 2013

Parent InfoWe are delighted to announce the visit of Pr. Jim Cummins, world top specialist on Bilingualism, professor at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, from 15 to 17 April. Pr. Cummins will look at our Language Development Policies and at our practices, he will work with the staff and on Tuesday, 16 April 2013 he will present for ISH Parents on Bilingualism and how to support its development. 6:30 to 8:00 PM. His presentation will be 45 min and there will be time for questions. A coffee/tea time will follow to allow further conversation. We hope many parents will be able to attend since this is a great opportunity to discover about latest research in this area and implications for us at school and at home. Invitation with more details and sign up slip will be sent home closer to the date.

ICP SurveySubject: ICP survey 2013: Let your talent pay offDear international,Please participate in the ICP* survey on “The Quality of your Professional Life””. With your input and needs we can create an optimal working and living environment for international talent and their relatives. Our goal: enable your talent to pay off!Are you an international employee, self-employed, student or so called ‘STARS’ (Spouses Traveling and Relocating Successfully), please share your input via the link to the online survey. Completing the survey will take approximately 15 minutes of your time. Should you not be able to complete the survey in one go, you can always pick it up where you left via the same link.Your input will be treated confidentially and only for the purpose of this research.Share If you support our mission to create an ideal environment for you to further develop your career, share this survey with other internationals in the Netherlands. Ask your partner to fill it out or share it at Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.Thank you for your cooperation!

*In 2009, international companies & institutions joined forces in the International Community Platform (ICP).* Their aim: create optimal working and living environment for0international talent & their relatives.

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parent InfoICP articulates your needs as regards quality of life aspects (housing, childcare, education, healthcare, public transport) to enable (local) government and service providers to respond to these.The ICP Foundation consists of the Top 25 international employers in the region including companies like Shell, AEGON, Schlumberger, the EU institutions (Europol, Eurojust, ESA/Estec), UN tribunals, the international schools and other knowledge institutions (TU-Delft, University Leiden, THIGJ) and more. If you would like to know more about the ICP: check www.icplatform.nl

Invitation ‘Welcome to The Hague’ program

Dear Sir/Madam,The City of The Hague cordially invites you and your family to our ‘Welcome to The Hague’ program on Monday 8 April 2013. The morning is organised to help give you a better understanding of the city, and especially how The Hague International Centre can make your stay more comfortable. It will also give you an opportunity to broaden your network of contacts and meet other expatriates.The program is as follows:09.40-09.50 hrs Arrival at The Hague International Centre in the Atrium of City Hall, Spui 7009.50-10.00 hrs Welcome address by Frank Kooman, coordinator The Hague International Centre10.00-10.15 hrs Presentation on the The Hague’s international website www.thehague.com 10.15-10.30 hrs Presentation ACCESS and The Guest Card10.40-10.50 hrs Audio-visual presentation of the city “The Hague Impressions” 11.00-11.30 hrs Visit to The Hague Public Library11.30-12.30 hrs Guided walk through the historic city centre of The Hague12.30-12.45 hrs Closure of the program with coffee, tea and Haagse kakker, a Hague delicacy at the THIC, where you will be offered a special welcome package.

While the event will be of particular interest to new residents of The Hague, residents of surrounding towns are of course welcome, as are children, although no special children’s program will be organised. Space is limited, so please RSVP before Wednesday 3 April to the above e-mail address of The Hague International Centre with your name, address, e-mail and company or organisation, along with the number of persons attending.Please be aware that although there is no charge for your participation, we would appreciate it if you would inform us if you are unable to join us for the program. This way we could make your spot available to people on the waiting list.We look forward to welcoming you to The Hague!With kind regards,Astrid Bronswijk, Head of the Department of International Affairs

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 13| 14 March 2013

Photographs - ISH Awards

Photographs courtesy of Dan Murphy

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Photographs - ISH Awards

Photographs courtesy of Dan Murphy

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