primary newsletter 7
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Primary Newsletter 7TRANSCRIPT
NEWS#07
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Primary Newsletter | Issue 07| November 19 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 [email protected]
Secondary SchoolTelephone +31 (0)70 328 1450Fax +31 (0)70 328 2049Email [email protected]
In this issue
2 Dear ISH News Readers,
4}6 Primary News and Mother Tongue
7 Dates for your Diary & Events
8}9 Events
2
Dear Parents,
The excitement of Sinterklaas has barely died down! We were expecting the man himself to arrive by hot air balloon today but he encountered some unexpected problems and ended up landing in a fi eld nearby. We were so grateful that a farmer rescued him and brought him to school on the back of his tractor. He did not look at his most elegant, with straw sticking out of his beard and freezing cold (those white gloves are clearly not thermal!) but the children soon warmed him up with some lovely singing. I’m sure that, before you read this, your children will have provided you with a much more lively account of the day than I ever could. Suffi ce to say that it was a memorable event and many many thanks go to our Dutch department for organising it all, our teachers for supporting it, our children for taking part in it so enthusiastically, and of course thanks to Sinterklaas for dropping in at such a busy time for him.
I’m not sure what sort of schooling Sinterklaas had when he was a student but I dare say that it was rather different to the one your children are currently experiencing here at ISH. If you were at
the ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening at the beginning of term, you will have heard me talking about our 21st century learners – our children – and the different learning styles they may have. There are some fascinating presentations on youtube at the moment which echo similar sentiments. Two of the best are at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4Uand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY Thanks to the staff and parents who continue to forward these fascinating clips to me so that I can share them with you all.
A big thank you to parents for helping us with our traffi c improvements. Generally the situation is much improved. However, one of the areas of concern remains the abuse of the disabled parking spaces next to the staff car park. This week, we had a situation where a parent who genuinely needed to use one of the spaces could not because someone else had parked there. I know this practice causes irritation to many of us.
Last week our children organized the now annual Talent Show. It really is a nice event, completely organized by the children with no adults getting
Dear ISH News Readers,
This Issue is made byVerona Schroder [email protected] Scott
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Primary Newsletter | Issue 07| November 19 2010
Primary News
in the way! Well, that’s not quite true, Ms. Rikers and Ms. Comeau advised the children and did a lot of work behind the scenes, but the event itself was run by the children. They did a great job and raised E1400 for KiKa, a children’s cancer charity. The school also provided each primary child with a special keyring from KiKa. The winner of our Talent Show was Maya Peeters, with an amazing display of gymnastics, well done Maya and well done to the organizers and all children brave enough to participate.
We are approaching the end of a very long and busy term. I hope we are also nearing the end of this very cold winter weather. I’m sure more is in store for us throughout the remainder of winter but these temperatures are some of the coldest I have experienced in my six years in The Netherlands. A reminder to you all that school ends at 12:00 on Friday 17th December and children return to school after the winter break on Thursday 6th January.
As this is the last newsletter of 2010, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy holiday, although I hope to do so in person on the last few days of term. Hopefully standing at the gate will be a little warmer than it has been this week!
Kind regards,
Graeme Scott
The MR (Participation Council) meets every month with School Leadership to discuss a range of issues, from finances to recruitment. Each month has a specific focus for discussion and this month was the financial situation of the school. Briefly, the school is in a good financial state, operating efficiently and representing good value for money. The Principal, Mr. Scott presented the budget for 2011, which was given positive advice by the MR.
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Mother Tongue
Language Acquisition, Some Knowledge to Share
“Early years children arrive having not yet fully acquired
their Mother Tongue. Those deprived of a fully developed
fi rst language can experience cognitive diffi culties later
on.”
Eithne Gallagher
Mother Tongue News (MT)
Dear Parents,
MT Within the Curriculum
Going through the MT classes I have been really impressed with some of the nice work some children are doing. It is not always easy to work independently or to write in your mother tongue without the feedback of a teacher. However in Y2-3 I have seen many students trying hard and doing their best to make great stories.
In the last newsletter I was mentioning the support of CAS and C&S students from secondary. We actually have 45 students regularly joining us to support the MT within the curriculum. Thanks to their support, 17 language groups in R-Y3 receive an input from a MT speaker. We have around 55 Languages in the school (latest update in the next newsletter). If you have secondary children willing to join the MT buddies team it is always possible and we
would love to cover even more languages!
After School
At the end of the term, time for a reminder on the catch up classes:
Wednesday Lower School last session will be on the 15 December. The Arabic, Dutch and French groups will catch up one session on the 12 January.
Thursday Upper School last session is next week the 8 December. The French, Arabic, German and Dutch groups will have a catch up session on the 16 December.
Other
Talking about the number of languages, Ms. Sue in the library is working hard to tidy and register the MT books. We were very pleased to see that with the help of everybody we are now providing books in up to 44 languages in our primary library! Of course for some languages we have only a couple of books. However we keep looking for opportunities to extend the collection in languages and in numbers. If you are going home during the winter holiday and you would be happy to purchase some books in your mother tongue for us, please contact me and we will be able to provide you with an allowance.
Kind regards,
Pascale Hertay, Deputy Head, [email protected]
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Primary Newsletter | Issue 07| November 19 2010
Primary News and EventsSCHOOL BOOK FAIR SCHOOL BOOK FAIR
When? Tuesday 7th DecemberWhere? Upper School Plaza
Time? 14:00 Onwards
SCHOOL BOOK FAIR SCHOOL BOOK FAIR
KICI Collection
Dear Children and Parents,Do you remember the shoebox charity collection from last year? In the past, our school donated to orphanages in Albajulia, Romania and in The Netherlands. This year we will be supporting an orphanage and school in Kenya, which provides care for boys & girls between the ages of 4 -20 years.However, this year we will be doing things slightly differently. Instead of donating a shoe box fi lled with goodies we would like you to donate toiletries such as: shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shower gel, hand soap and moisturizers. You do not need to put these into a box, as we will be shipping the donations as one large lot which will be divided up by the orphanage. If the children from the ISH would like to write a letter to the orphanage, then these will be posted off with the shipment too.Each classroom will have a large box in which the children can deposit their contributions. Kici (www.kici.nl), a Charity Foundation, will collect our toiletry donations on Friday, 10th of December. Furthermore, a special container will be conveniently placed on the school grounds on Wednesday 1st of December 2010. This container
can be used to deposit new or unwanted clothes, as well as shoes (in a plastic bag).This clothing initiative will be an ongoing project for the ISH and will remain on the school grounds for some time. We feel that this will not only stimulate recycling & reusing but also support a worthwhile charity. Your generous contributions are highly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact Ms Munnick and/or Ms Hoenselaar.Kind regards,Ms. Cora [email protected] Ms. Nicole [email protected]
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Dates for your Diary
Start of Holiday - School Closes at
12:00. School starts again on Thursday,
06 January
First Day of School for Primary
School Reports to Parents
Parent Consultation 17:00 - 19:00
Parent Consultation 15:30 - 17:30
International Mother Language Day
Start of Spring Holiday, School
starts on 07 March
City Pier City Run
Open Day from 9:00 - 10:30
Ms. Tee
Ms. Peck
Ms. Munnick
Ms. Byatt
Ms. Munnick
Ms. Byatt
Ms. Munnick
Ms. Byatt
Ms. Gerritzen
Mr. Frick
Ms. Munnick
Ms. Byatt
Ms. Gerretzen
Mr. Frick
Ms. Munnick
Ms. Byatt
Mr. Frick
December
January
CT DAYSCT DAYS
06
06 Dec17
Please check our website for a complete calendar
07 Dec
13 Dec
14 Dec
15 Dec
11
February
21
17
15
26
16 Dec
17 Dec
13
24
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Primary Newsletter | Issue 07| November 19 2010
Events
Year 5 trip Gevangenpoort
On Friday the 19th of November, Year 5 visited the Gevangenpoort or Prison Gate in The Hague. This trip linked to their IPC unit, “Home and Host Countries”. They learned about life in the Hague and The Netherlands during the 1500’s. The prison was quite frightening for some children, especially seeing some of the awful equipment that was used to punish criminals. The children were able to stand inside a real prison cell and could get a real impression of how some of the people felt during their trial. It was very interesting to see how the more wealthier inmates were treated in relation to the less fortunate people.
Parking violation stickers have been reinstated, please stick to the school rules and park your car in the allocated areas only.
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Events
Dutch Reading Competition
The ISH school fi nal of the Dutch national reading-aloud competition was held in the primary library.This reading aloud contest is an old Dutch tradition, with more than 80.000 children in around 3000 schools participating in this yearly event.What is it about? Children sit in front of an audience. They give a brief introduction about a book they have chosen, including title, author, main characters and the storyline.Then comes the best bit: they read aloud an interesting part of the story, trying to captivate the audience. The 5-minutes hour glass tells when time is over.It all starts on class level: the best readers of each class compete to become the school champion. School champions meet each other on local level, and these winners then go on to regional, and fi nally on national level.At ISH, more non-native speakers feel confi dent to participate each year. These children have been at ISH for many years and developed their Dutch mainly in our school and during Dutch after school activities. . .this is really a great achievement, and something to celebrate and share! Like every year, the ISH school fi nal was a most enjoyable event. Participants Romi, Isobel, Vera, Dagmar from year 7, and Zakie, Elena, Amaia and Juliette from year 6 were all able to entertain the audience, reading a piece of their own choice, and a part from a short story they had never seen before.Ms. Halie and Ms. Gerretzen, both Dutch teachers, as well as last year’s winner Alexander van Eijk were the adjudicators. They had the hardest job, having to decide who would represent ISH at the next level. It was a very close fi nish, Isobel Bowring (y7) was the winner with Juliette Kappeye (y6) taking 2nd place and Romi Lotcheris (y7) coming 3rd.
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Primary Newsletter | Issue 07| November 19 2010
Events
Music News
Even though the snow seems to be the focus of our attention at the moment I would like to write to you all concerning our Primary Show. I know the summer seems very far from us now but we are already working on the play. So I would like to make some important announcements.First of all: there has been a change in the dates for the Show. This year we will have three performances. For us it is very important to have all children present in such an event so please notify us as early as possible if you child won’t attend the show as this has consequences for the dancers and actors. We decided to postpone by a week so PLEASE reserve in your calendar the following dates:June 6th – Dress RehearsalJune 7th – First show (starting at 16:00)June 8th – Second show (starting at 17:00)June 9th – Final Show (starting at 17:00)
On the 10th the children will have an easy day at school as we will allow them some relaxing time. We’ve booked the Theatre for a nice movie session. There are some other changes in the format of the show for this year (I don’t like to repeat thing… creative minds are like that!). We decided to create two differentiated groups (one of singers and
one of dancers) so that we could give an extra challenge to the children who excel in one of these areas. Mrs. Scott and I will be select this children in the hope of offering them a stretcher’s program as well as make each child perform to the best of their abilities. We will be working with these children on the breaks. We might be involving the children in a similar way into the production of the scenery as well. We will also will work with the year 4’s in a different way (this has to do mainly to our attempt to make the show a bit shorter). All year 4 classes will learn the same dance. After that they will be split into two groups (mixing all classes). One group will perform on the night of the 7th, the other on the night of the 8th of June. All children of year 4 will perform on the fi nal night of the 9th keeping that very warm and unique event on the last night when we see all children from Upper School on stage. As for the theme of the show….Even though I can’t tell you much now please read the newsletter in care! From January on I will be introducing you to some very exotic character on a regular basis! MOODLE: I am working very hard into putting sound fi les and resources via the Moodle. I want it to become a vehicle of transmission of information in particular allowing the children to practise their singing with the assistance of the moodle – please
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Events
allow them to sing along to the computer!. Here are some of the things you can fi nd there already:- The choir lyrics- the Tuesday choir – I’ve made and arrangement of “What a Wonderful World”. I’ve change it into sound fi les so they can each practice their voice making the rehearsal smoother.- the Sinterklaas songs (sound fi les)Soon the choir will start singing in other languages than English (yes, this is for the show) so you will fi nd the correct pronunciation of the words in sound fi les as well. Have fun with your kids learning it!YEAR 5 TRIP TO THE ORCHESTRAWe again had a lot of fun – even though it was very cold. We listened to the rehearsal of Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony conducted by a very young Venezuelan musician. Very international experience: luckily music is a language of its own right cause the children kept on asking me which language the conductor was using to talk to the orchestra. It was English!! The kids were very curious making very interested and interesting questions to both the Educational Coordinator and to the cellist that came to talk to us. Of course the percussion room was a bit success again as the children were given the chance to play on the instruments. For a lot of children it was the fi rst time they ever been to a concert hall and heard and orchestra so this tells me I still have a lot of work to do. I will try my best to keep them informed of nice concerts and events in town as to develop a greater cultural awareness in our school kids.
Here are some pics
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Primary Newsletter | Issue 07| November 19 2010
Events
Christmas Market Trip
Dear parents/guardians and colleagues,This year we have organized a day trip to the Christmas-fair in Düsseldorf in Germany for families of students as well as for staff and their families. It is on Saturday 11 December 2010. The bus will leave from Kijkduin Deltaplein (where the shops are) as the school is closed and there is free parking. We will leave at 08.00 am and will return at 21.00 pm.It is a nice way to get us into the Christmas spirit, to enjoy being outside with nice people. We won’t have to drive ourselves and we won’t have parking problems. We will simply enjoy Dusseldorf in December. At this time of the year the Town Hall will be a magical setting for the Christmas Market on the Marktplatz where craftsmen and -women working in wrought iron, glassblowers and candle-makers will be offering their handmade wares. The art-nouveau style “Engelchen-Markt” (Little Angels Market) will be enchanting visitors on Heinrich-Heine-Platz in the Old Town. The Bürgermarkt (Bourgeois Market) on Flinger Straße will link Marktplatz and Heinrich-Heine-Platz. Here, the facades of the huts will be modelled on Düsseldorf’s old town houses. The traditional mulled-wine pyramid will again constitute a striking and popular meeting place this year. At the Sternchenmarkt (Little Stars Market) located at the
Stadtbrückchen, giant crystals and sparkling stars will immerse the stands painted in sky-blue in an impressive winter landscape. We will give you a map with interesting locations and some background information to make it easier to fi nd your way. All you need to bring is good spirit, warm clothing, your identity card or passport and a packed lunch. (For more information search: www.duesseldorf.de/en/index.shtml)There is one thing you need to do before you join us...Please fi ll in the answer slip below and return it to the primary offi ce as soon as possible together with the 27,5 per person (exact money, no change will be given) in an envelope with Düsseldorf Trip and the names clearly printed on it. Please sign the list on the board in the offi ce as well. There are limited places.Yours sincerely,Mrs. L. MaesCommunity & Events Offi cer...................................................................................
More photographs of Kika and Sinterklaas will be online soon
http://web.mac.com/christel.vanmeeuwen/ISH
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Events
Return this slip to the Primary School Offi ce
Day Trip to Düsseldorf, Germany - Saturday 11 December 2010We/I will participate and we/I enclose 27,5 per person in full payment of the trip.Please do not send children alone since there is no supervision.
1............................................................2............................................................3............................................................4............................................................ or more.................................................................Signed parent/guardian/staff Date..........................
“Unto Us A Child Is Born”
The Cecilia International Choir conducted by MaNOj Kamps is going to perform a wonderful programme of carols including a number of choruses from Handel’s Messiah.This year’s concerts are taking place on two different nights and at different locations to convenience our public as much as possible. In the interval you will be served seasonal refreshments like mulled wine and mince pies, with no extra charge.1. Saturday 11 December at 19:30 in the Dorpskerk, Plein 3 in Wassenaar. This church offers the atmosphere of an old British country church. You are encouraged to bring your children. Tickets are 15,- and again only 10,- for anyone under 12. 2. On Tuesday 14 December we will perform at 20:15 in the Oud-Katholieke Kerk, Juffrouw Idastraat which is in the centre of The Hague. The venue is a beautiful Baroque “schuilkerk” (hidden church) worth the price of admission in itself. Tickets are 17.50 each. Since there are only two concerts this year there is a limited opportunity to attend these concerts. Therefore please order your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. You can order tickets in advance from John den Exter: j.denexter@ ishthehague.nl We hope to see you on one of these evenings! Seasonal Greetings from
John den Exter
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