Primary Newsletter

NEWS#11

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Primary Newsletter | Issue 11| February 25 2011

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}3 Dear ISH News Readers,

4}6 Primary News

7 Dates for your Diary & Events

8 Events

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Dear Parents,

As this part of the term comes to a close, we can refl ect upon how our school continues to grow, not simply in numbers but also developmentally and pedagogically. We continue to be a school that others like to visit. In March, we have visitors from the International School of Antwerp, recently we had St George’s School of Luxembourg and last term we welcomed the International School of Bangkok. However, only three weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit another school myself. Together with the other members of the school leadership team, I spent a day in the International School of Prague. ISP is known, amongst other things, for a very strong I.T. programme, and it was mainly this we went to see. We had an excellent day, expertly hosted by our colleagues from Prague and learned a great deal about their technology programme. Continuing the theme, I would like to remind you that we will be hosting an evening symposium of IT developments in education on Tuesday 8th March from 17:00 – 19:00. We have guest speakers and questions will be invited. All are welcome.

This week we had our fi rst Primary School podcast. These will be uploaded to our moodle (online learning environment – just ask the children!) and shown to our children every Monday morning. The fi rst one was very entertaining and totally unscripted. Another sign that we are helping to develop confi dent, capable and talented young people. Of course there will be none next week as we are away, but look out for the next podcast which will be on Monday 7th March.

If you come into the school playground with your children you will have noticed the large area where the wooden poles used to be has been prepared for the installation of our new playground equipment. This is scheduled to happen during this holiday, so it should be ready for the children when they return. We are all excited, waiting to see this new addition and thanks go to our excellent PTA for funding this for our children. In the next newsletter I hope to have some more exciting news regarding the school building for you.

On Sunday 13th March we have the annual City-Pier-City run. I know we have many children

Dear ISH News Readers,

This Issue is made byVerona Schroder [email protected] Scott

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 11| February 25 2011

participating this year (545 in total from Primary and Secondary) so hopefully the weather will have warmed up and dried up by then! I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Finally, I will be spending most of Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th March interviewing for teachers to join us after the summer. This year we again had over 100 applicants for only a few vacancies. The shortlisting process has been extremely diffi cult but it’s a nice problem to have. We will be bringing in a number of teachers and interviewing others further afi eld by Skype. I am very confi dent that we will have a terrifi c teaching team onboard for the new school year.

I am always aware that many of you do not share the holidays we have, so I will not wish you a great holiday, but do have a great week!

Kind regards,

Graeme Scott

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Primary News

Due to a school calendar commitment the

following After School Activities WILL

NOT take place on Friday, 18th March:

• Construction Toys

• Mandala Colouring

• Up-In-The-Air Science Club

• Netball

Other Friday clubs will occur as normal.

Dear Parents,

Please remind children that they are not

allowed to bring hard bouncy balls into

school as they can be dangerous and

cause injuries.

Reception IPC Topic Let’s Pretend

On Wednesday 23rd February Reception celebrated a very successful topic, based around Fairy Tales, with a once upon a time picnic. We started with a twirl and a whirl of our costumes, and as usual, the children looked splendid. We had princesses, princes, bears, goats, wicked witches and much more. Afterwards the children decorated pancakes for their picnic. During the topic we read many traditional tales, including tales from around the world. The favourite tale though was Snow White., a favourite with the boys as well as the girls! What a great topic Let’s Pretend has been.Margaret Clough

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 11| February 25 2011

Primary News

Research into Inclusive

Education

As some of you may know I am a supply teacher at ISH. Currently I am studying ‘Research into Inclusive Education’ with the Open University in the UK. I recently conducted a series of short interviews with some Year 5 and 6 children about being an ‘English as an Additional Language’ (EAL) student. The kind of questions I asked concerned their views about the importance of their Mother Tongue language, how they found moving to the new school, and the help they have received with the EAL department to learn English etc.My question was: ‘Does a small group of EAL children feel their needs are being met by the existing support they receive, at ISH? The answer was a resounding ‘Yes’.

ISH believes as part of its’ Mission Statement in ‘recognising the importance of Mother Tongue languages and supporting their development.’ The school’s argument is that the MT programme is a valuable addition to the curriculum, and these children certainly agree. Baker (2007) writes ‘a child achieves a positive academic self-concept which derives, to some degree, from self-acceptance (e.g. feeling that the home language and culture is valued in school and in society).’ The interviewees

found the staff and support structure effective as an integral part of their experience of school; the children felt there was no difference between being an EAL and a native English student. They felt very supported by the EAL department. Finally, they enjoy the MT classes at school, as a way to celebrate their culture and spend time talking in their own language.

So, well done keep up the good work!Karen Gilmour

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Dates for your Diary

Back to School

Start of After School Activity Spring

Session

City Pier City Run

Year 6 parents meeting with secondary

principal Mr. Kotrc

Dr. JoAnn Deak presentation

Brain research and learning 15:30

Open Day from 8:30 - 10:30

Spring Fair

May Holiday, School starts again on

09 May

Mr. McCarthy

Ms. Pardo

Ms. Bradley

Mr. McCarthy

Ms. Pardo

Mr. McCarthy

Ms. Pardo

Mr. McCarthy

Ms. Pardo

Ms. Johnson

Mr. McCarthy

Ms. Pardo

Ms. Johnson

Ms. Perez Cardoso

Ms. Peck

Ms. Peck

Mr. Curiston

March CT DAYSCT DAYS

07 Mar07

Please check our website for a complete calendar

08 Mar

09 Mar

09

April

18

17

13

22

24

10 Mar

11 Mar

14 Mar

15 Mar

17 Mar

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Primary Newsletter | Issue 11| February 25 2011

events

“The hague Bridges”

With this invitation, The Hague Bridges would like to invite you for our closing event in Escamp Thursday March 3rd, 2011, at De UITHOF.

A unique possibility for everyone to enjoy a Dutch tradition called ice-skating! After this you could also be present at a reception in attendance of Mayor Van Aartsen to close The Hague Bridge Escamp. You are all very welcome!After three successful months in Escamp it is time to close and go on to the next city district Leidschenveen-Ypenburg. The closing event is free of cost

The programme consists of two parts:Part 1, ice-skating14.30 - Welcome at De Uithof by Willem Post15.00 – 15.30 - change of clothes and putting on ice skates15.30 - 16.30 - ice-skating16.30 - 17.00 - hot chocolate at the Dutch ‘Koek en Zopie’Part 2, reception 17.00 - start reception17.30 - speech Mayor Van Aartsen - speech director of De Uithof - music - fi lm The Hague Bridge Escamp - Win a trip to Vienna (price winning ceremony)

18.15 – 19.30 - receptionWe have a few rules concerning the ice-skating:- Ice-skating is fun for everyone, young and old!- You could bring your own skates- Ice-skates could also be picked up at Oomssport at de Uithof (free of charge)- You are able to use a dressing room- Lockers can be used (1 euro)- Gloves are obligatory - please dress warmly

Children are welcome for the reception, but children under the age of 16 needs to be accompanied by an adult.RegisterYou could register for the closing event of The Hague Bridge Escamp by visiting our website www.haagsebrug.org and fi ll in the registration form (will be uploaded as soon as possible)Please register before February 28th, 2011

If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to [email protected]

We would like to see you on March 3rd, 2011, at De Uithof!

Kind regards,The Hague Bridge Team

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Events

JoAnnDeakMarch 1815:30 - 18:00

Don’t pass up this mind blowing experience

Dr. JoAnn Deak will be visiting The International School of The Hague, To give a presentation on Learning and the Brain in the Theatre. JoAnn is a very powerful speaker and you are very welcome to join us.

Dr. JoAnn Deak

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