ISHNEWS

#03PRIMARY SCHOOL

Primary Newsletter | Issue 03 | October 01 2010

The International School of The Hague

Wijndaelerduin 12554 BX The Hague www.ishthehague.nl

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

Secondary SchoolTelephone +31 (0)70 328 1450Fax +31 (0)70 328 2049Email ish.secondary@ishthehague.nl

In this issue

2 Dear ISH News Readers,

4}6 Primary News

7 Dates for your Diary

8}9 Primary News

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Dear Parents,Sadly, it feels like summer is over as the temperatures begin to drop. However, autumn here in The Netherlands is one of my favourite seasons. It was what I missed most when I lived in the Far East and Middle East, watching the trees change colour and the days become fresher and more crisp. It is dark when I cycle to school in the mornings now and soon it will be dark when the children cycle to school too. Please make sure, if your child does cycle to school, that their bicycle is in good working order and their lights (front and back) function properly. As a regular reader of this newsletter, you will notice that SquISH the Spider is now a permanent fi xture on the back cover. We have already had a number of children visiting my room to have their photograph taken for being resilient, creative, inquiring or for demonstrating some other personal goal. SquISH was presented to the children in a fully interactive form during Upper and Lower School assemblies last week so the children should be able to tell you a little more about him now. Look out for more SquISH stories in future newsletters.It was good to see so many at our SEN (Special Educational Needs), EAL (English as an Additional Language and Mother Tongue evening on Tuesday. For those of you who were not

there, the staff from these departments had the opportunity to give a short presentation and to explain how they work with children in our school. These departments are an integral part of our inclusive, multilingual school and I am very proud of their work.Today we had a fi re drill as part of our ongoing programme of health and safety in school. I am pleased to report that as usual, the children performed admirably and evacuated the school quietly and sensibly.In two weeks we will have our Parent Teacher Consultations. This is the fi rst formal opportunity for you to come to school to discuss your child’s progress and I strongly urge you to attend. Most of these meetings will be on Tuesday 12th and Thursday 14th October, although one or two of our teachers will be on training courses then so some classes might be slightly different. You will receive an invitation early next week with appointment times. For specialist staff, sign-up sheets will be in the Glasshouse. We look forward to seeing you in school.

Kind regards,

Graeme Scott

Dear ISH News Readers,

This Issue is made byVerona Schroder v.schroder@ishthehague.nlGraeme Scott

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 03 | October 01 2010

Primary News

Djembé at the ISH

ISH KIDS HAVE A TASTE OF AFRICAN DRUMMINGOn the Wednesday 29th of September our year 5 kids were given a very special treat. The Music Department and the Year 5 teachers decided to join efforts and we invited a percussionist from Senegal, currently living and performing in the Netherlands, to come and do a practical workshop with our kids. The workshop was linked to the current music topic – Cyclic Patterns and African Music – as well as to their next IPC topic Feelings. During the workshop we also had a chance to talk about sound waves and vibrations. The kids could feel and hear the different sounds a djembé can produce and how the vibrations travel through air.During the workshop each kid was given a full-sized djembé that the school rented for them. Mr. Serigne explained about the different types of sounds that can be produced by striking the goat skin in different places and using different parts of your hands. Then using technique we have been discussing in the music lesson called “call-reponse” Mr. Serigne showed them how to make different patterns (rumba, a cue, a chant etc). The children were also given an opportunity to take turns in playing a solo while the rest of the class kept the bass beat going.

A few things really impressed me: the children were very focused, not afraid of “giving it a go” and the atmosphere created was so special that Mr. Serigne only needed to stop a few times and explain things. For the rest, the music spoke for itself – the kids listened to the music and joined in – no words required. They copied him with eagerness and focus having a lot of fun on the way!There are some pictures of the lovely day we had on line.Mrs. TitanHead of Music Primary

Burger’s Zoo Trip by Dea 3J

Yesterday, the year 3s and some parents went to the Burger’s Zoo. We went because rainforests is our IPC topic and the Burger’s Zoo in Arnhem has a real one. First we went into the rainforest. Right when I stepped in, I started to sweat. It was really humid! We all went on a hunt. On the way back Mr. Parkinson fell asleep. I thought it was really fun.

Last week, we had our annual Ramadan evening. However, due to the timing of Ramadan this year, it became an Eid celebration. It was celebrated this year in The Hungry Mind community centre. Grateful thanks to Saima Mukhtar and Maktar Malik for organizing the event and all parents who cooked delicious food for the event. It was enjoyed by everyone.

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Primary News

Golden Rules Assembly

Two weeks ago, Friday, ISH primary students fi led in for their usual assembly, only to fi nd their beloved teachers had once again turned into rough rebels, breaking every school rule they could think of. Listening to and helping one another went out the window, as teachers scuffl ed over each other for new staff badges and a lovely lunch. Even Mr. Scott had a hand in the mischief!

Luckily, students were on hand to help sort out this unruly bunch of educators. With their Golden Rule knowledge ready, they offered clear suggestions to teachers for ways to become their lovely, helpful selves again.

This was, of course, the reason behind this very successful Golden Rule Assembly, which has now become an ISH event that both teachers and students look forward to each year. If you aren’t familiar with ISH’s Golden Rules, please read the background information below.

The Golden Rules explained….The Golden Rules are six short, positively phrased value statements. The Golden Rules encourage the development of positive values, and behaviour that matches those values, in our children. They are as follows:

1) Be gentle, careful and safe.2) Be honest.3) Be kind and helpful.4) Take care of property.5) Listen to others.6) Work hard. 7) Look after our planet.

Once every month during the assembly the new Golden rule of the month is introduced to the children. Running assemblies is a shared duty; ISH teachers lead the The Golden Rules. Golden Rules Assemblies are used to convey this message to the children. Often a Golden Rule is illustrated through real world examples or the rules are taught by telling stories in interactive, creative ways. Always at the end of a story, there is a lesson linked to the Golden Rule of the Week.

To promote Golden Rule behaviour beyond the assemblies, children were reminded that teachers would be looking for examples of that same rule in throughout the month. For the next assembly, the teachers will nominate children who particularly displayed that rule. Nominated children receive a special certifi cate and public recognition for their good actions.

The idea behind this is to recognize positive behaviour with positive praise and therefore encourage that behaviour to continue. In the past the results were felt throughout the school, as children were exposed to same common language and expectation for behaviour. Golden Rules are trigger phrases for action across year groups.

Discussing these rules at home with your child can be a great way to reinforce their positive behaviour at school . Let’s keep ISH golden!

Many thanks,

Mindy McCracken and Lara RikersGolden Rule Coordinators

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 03 | October 01 2010

Primary News

Prinsjesdag

By Olivia and Krister yr 6

The day before Prinsjesdag, on the 21st of September the year 6 students went to the beach, fi rst using the number 3 tram to get to central station. From the station we went past the Kurhaus with tram number 9. When we arrived at the Zwartepad a woman told us that the training was moved to in front of the Kurhaus and we had to walk. When we walked we saw the horses trotting on the sand to the location then everybody went wild. Mrs. Gerretzen tried to calm everybody down, but it didn’t really work. When we got there it took quite a while to get in front, then when we fi nally got in front the training began. We had to make as much noise as we could. The horses bucked and reared but they got used to it. After a while there were fl ash fl ares, tanks shooting, people playing instruments, some people got interviewed by a camera crew. There was also a big smoke bomb in the middle of the fi eld that they were practicing in. We heard a song that the people would sing for the queen called the ‘royal salute’. Then there was a break and we decided to leave. So we got on the tram 9 and then we when to central station again, we waited for the tram 3 to come and then we walked from the tram stop back to school.

From the PE Department

Following the IPC Rain Forest topic, our year 3 students have been working during their PE lessons with a toy originated from the Amazon Indians. It is called “Peteca” and the original one is made out of animal skin, sand and bird feathers. Ms Ana brought one back all the way from Brazil, so they could check what the real one looks like. In our gym lessons we have been working with the soft type and we had a lot of fun using them.

Rainforest Trip by Gabriele 3J On Thursday all the year 3s and some parents and teachers went to the Burger’s Zoo in Arnhem. We went to the zoo because rainforests was our topic in IPC. We visited the rainforest and I felt very humid and hot. I have seen lots of tropical birds. I passed over a bridge and I got a wet foot! In the desert part it was even hotter and I saw a tarantula. In the Ocean part I saw all kinds of sharks, piranhas and stingray. I learned a lot!

To view photographs of the Djembé

workshop, prinsjesdag and the

rainforest trip click

http://www.ishthehague.nl/category/image-galleries/primary

EAL Fun clubAll new students at the ISH with no or little English join the EAL (English as an Additional Language) Fun Club at the beginning of the year. During this intensive English program we cover various topics such as classroom language, colours, body parts, expressing feelings and much more. We have lots of fun together while learning English. All the children enthusiastically joined the group while singing songs, playing games and learning new words. After the Fun Club the children will continue to be withdrawn for EAL to work on building vocabulary and sentence skills.

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Dates for your Diary

Pre-Reception Meet and Greet from

09:00 - 10:30

Opening Spanish Section at nieuw

Waldeck Library at 14:30

Parent - Teacher Consultations 17:00 -

19:00

Parent - Teacher Consultations 15:30 -

17:30

Autumn Holiday - School Closed till 24

October

Halloween Party 18:30 - 21:00

IPC Information Evening Ms. Priestman

Ms. Priestman

Ms. Priestman

Ms. Munnick

Ms. Rikers

Ms. Munnick

Ms. Rikers

October November CT DAYSCT DAYS

06 09 06 Oct

16

12

14

27

Please check our website for a complete calendar.

07 Oct

08 Oct

14 Oct

15 Oct

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 03 | October 01 2010

Sports Activities coming soon: Years 5 and 6 dodgeball tournament. When? Starting after the October break, every Tuesday during your lunch break!Make sure you sign up your team! All teams must have 10 players (5 from each year group!), including 5 boys and 5 girls. If interested pick up your form with Ms. Ana or Coach Alex.

Chess A new chess group of nine secondary students started on Wednesday, 22 September.Daniel Kolodkin, a Russian student with a rating of over 1.900 played simultaneous against all others to give this chess season a nice kickoff. He won all games. Daniel is 14 and has a bright chess future. All interested students are welcome every Wednesday from 16.30 hours.Boy Frank

Primary News

Language Acquisition

Some Knowledge to ShareLearning an additional language: “It takes second language learners 1-2 years to speak with native-like fl uency. It takes them 4-9 years to learn, read and write academic content with native-like fl uency.

Mother Tongue News (MT)

Dear ParentsThank you to all the parents that attended the SEN EAL and MT information evening. It was very well attended this year and we hope that you found the presentations informative and helpful.Thank you also to all the teachers that prepared this evening and to Marcelle and Rodrigo, CAS student from secondary, for taking care of the children!As announced during the evening from now on I will add some of the information on language acquisition in our newsletter. You will fi nd this under: Language acquisition, Some Knowledge to share. In 2 weeks time on the 12 and the 14 October we will hold the fi rst parent teacher consultation. Specialist teachers including EAL teachers will be available to meet with you as well. You just need to sign up on the sheets that will be available on a board next to the gate, weather permitting, or in the glasshouse after children are in class or before

pick up time. If you have question regarding mother tongue you can sign up and meet with me.MT within the CurriculumAlthough MT within the curriculum started for our Y2 to Y6, Reception and Y1 needed a bit more time to settle down in their classroom before we could mix them in other groupings. R-Y1 will start MT within the curriculum after the October Holiday. This will take place on Tuesday from 2:00 to 2:50. Some of the C&S students joining us during MT time will also join R-Y1. As explained on Tuesday evening, involvement of parents has a positive impact on children’s motivation and on their learning. MT time is a nice opportunity as the children will receive input in their MT from you. Therefore we would like to encourage you, parents, to join us during that special time. Even if you can’t come every week, a couple of times would already make a difference.MT After SchoolMother Tongue after School Programme started this week. We were happy to fi nd new Arabic, Italian and German teachers! However we are still looking for one or two Dutch teachers. As soon as I have positive news about Dutch classes I will contact all the parents by mail to let them know when the classes can start.Classes offered this year are: Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Spanish and Italian (LS only). Hungarian class is also happening thanks to the Hungarian

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Primary News

parents and Catalan might start soon. We are very happy to be able to support MT after school for more than 100 of our children!This fi rst session was for the children to get to know each other as we have both new teachers and new students joining the groups. The tutors could then assess the levels of the students to be able to plan relevant lessons to develop their MT further. I saw happy faces when going around the classes and the children were happy to discover new students speaking their language in the school.I would like to reiterate the pickup time after the MT classes: 1:50PM on Wednesday for the Lower School and 4:10PM on Thursday for the Upper School. It is important that you are on time as we can’t provide child care after this time. MT tutors bring the children down to the Glasshouse where you can collect them.Finally I would like to remind the Spanish speaking community that Wednesday 6 October we will not have a MT class for the lower school as we will join the opening of the Spanish section of the Nieuw Waldeck Library, Rossinilaan 141, 2551 MR Den Haag. Some of our Spanish speaking children will perform poem and songs and will have a chance to participate in a Sevillana dance workshop. Parents and children will be welcome at the library from 2:30 and the opening will take place at 3:00PM.Kind regards,Pascale Hertay, Deputy Head, p.hertay@ishthehague.nl

ISH SEN Support – Parent Partnership Group

AIM – We aim to support parents of children with SEN (Special Educational Needs) within ISH

HOW WE WILL DO THIS –We will have regular meetings and some social events We will establish a contact list so parents can contact each other between meetingsWe will invite speakers from inside and outside of school to talk to us about things we feel are relevantWe will work together with the school to make our views heard on issues that we feel are important for our children

WHEN WE WILL MEET –Thursday 30th October 13.30 at The Hungry Mind

WHO TO CONTACT –E-mail: Karen Gilmour at parentpartnershipish@gmail.com

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