ISN NEWSLETTER October 18, 2019

Week 3 Dear parents, guardians and friends,

Our Diploma 2 students are heading into their last week of formal classes next

week as they prepare themselves for their exams which start on November 4. It

can be a stressful time for them: four weeks of exams which will play a big part in

what happens for them next year. Having said that, it’s important that they realise

that in ten years’ time, they will probably look back on the next six weeks and think

it wasn’t as significant as they thought at the time. Please be encouraging and

positive when you see them.

Diwali Assembly and Mufti Day: When we set the calendar for the year, we try to

stick to what has been advertised. That is sometimes impossible to do. We have

had to change the End of Year Concert date because the venue was not available.

In the same vein, after suggestions from the PTA, we have decided to move the

Diwali Assembly so that it is closer to the actual date of Diwali and to ensure it is

the colourful event it should be. The Assembly will now occur on Friday October 25

from around 1.30 onwards. That coincides with the Diwali Mufti day – it makes

sense and, in fact, should have been the day scheduled in the first place. Please

accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused by this change. The PTA lunch

at Indigo on Tuesday will continue as planned. (See the flyer further down)

Mobile phones: The school has a policy concerning the use of mobile phones

which essentially bars students from having them turned on during the day though

DP students do have some privileges. The enforcement of this policy has perhaps

not been as vigorous as it could have been. After discussion with the staff, we will

be much more observant about this. Please see the section below which outlines

what we are expecting.

PYP Exhibition: Students in PYP6 have been working hard for the last few months

preparing their research projects for the PYP Exhibition, the final part of their PYP

journey. This year’s Exhibition is based on the theme “How We Express Ourselves”.

On Thursday next week, the students will be presenting their work in the Assembly

area from 5 pm onwards. Please join us as they explain the significance of what

they have been researching.

Uniforms for 2020: As noted in previous newsletters, the High School uniform will

be standardised for all students except final year DP students starting from

SCHOOL CONTACT

INFORMATION:

Landline: 7762960

Email info@isn.school.fj

Website

www.isn.school.fj

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/

groups/isnfiji/

UPCOMING EVENTS

Week 3

Oct 18-19

District Games Meet

Week 4

October 22

Diwali PTA Lunch @ Indigo

October 24

Exhibition Evening from 5pm

October 25

Exhibition Display

Diwali Mufti Day and

Assembly at 1.30 pm

October 28

Diwali Public Holiday

Nov 1

MUN Halloween Fundraiser

PTA AGM

Pinktober Mufti Day

January. The Shirt Shack has some stock but it may be a good idea to place orders soon to ensure they don’t

run out. Order forms can be obtained from the Front Office.

Best wishes,

Erik Hoekstra

Principal

Mobile Phone Policy

1. Phones should be switched off when students arrive at the front of the school and not turned on at any

time, subject to the exceptions in Part 2.

At the end of the day, students should be in the area immediately outside the Admin office before switching

their phones on. Phones should not be switched on in any other area.

2. Students in the Diploma Programme may use their phones when in their assigned classrooms only. Phones

which are switched on should be visible to the teacher at all times.

Students in MYP 4 or MYP 5 may use phones in class when given permission by their teachers. Phones which

are switched on must be visible to the teacher at all times. Breaches of this means the phone will be

confiscated. The teacher giving this permission will ensure that all phones are switched off at the end of the

lesson.

If videos or photos need to be taken in class and the student does not have a phone or is in MYP3 or

below, the teacher will make suitable arrangements to ensure all students are able to complete the task.

3. Students who are found with their phones turned on contrary to the above will have their phones

confiscated. The phone will be switched off when it is confiscated. The teacher confiscating the phone will

hand the phone to the Deputy Principal for collection at the end of the day, and enter the details on

Managebac. Uncollected phones will stored in a secure place. The Deputy Principal will keep a record of

students whose phones are confiscated so that repeat offenders can be dealt with as per Parts 4 and 5.

4. If a phone is confiscated a second time, parents will be called by the Deputy Principal to collect the phone.

The phone will not be returned to the student by the Deputy Principal.

5. Repeated breaches of these rules will be dealt with according to the Student Welfare Policy

Weekly Updates

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop opens every Thursday from 2 – 2.45pm. Payments are only accepted until 10.30am daily. For any

further queries, please email isnptacommittee@gmail.com

Students leaving ISN at the end of this year

As we approach the end of another year, we ask that you notify the school if your child / children will not be returning in

January. Please email Ms Kyrie for an Exit Form or pick one up from the Admin Office.

Diwali Mufti

There will be a Diwali Mufti on Friday October 25th. Students are encouraged to come in their Diwali Attire if they have

something suitable. If they do not, they must come in their School Uniform. Sweets will also be distributed to every

student on that day.

PYP 6 Exhibition

The PYP 6 Exhibition will be held on October 24TH at the Assembly Area from 5pm onwards. Please see Poster below for

more details.

MUN Halloween Fundraiser

The Inaugural ISN Model United Nations will be taking place on 17th and 18th February, 2020 at Westin, Denarau. The

money raised from the Halloween Fundraiser will go towards the costs of this event.

The Halloween Fundraiser will be held on November 1, 2019. The Primary event runs from 4.30pm – 6.30pm and the

Secondary event from 7.00pm – 10.00pm. Payments can be made at the Business Office from Monday 21st October in

the morning and during morning tea.

PTA Diwali Lunch

Please see the flyer attached.

Term 4 School Fees

A friendly reminder that Term 4 fees were due today 18/10/19.

DP ART EXHIBITION

The five DP students, who exhibited their artwork, Kenny, Lilia, Caray, Joslyn, and Margo, showed off their artistic and curatorial abilities when they selected a small sample of their work to share with the school community and public. The students create a wide range of artwork during their two year course, but for their exhibition, they need to develop and select work that shares a common thread. This reflects the work of practicing artists when developing a gallery show or public exhibition. The students made artwork that spoke about many issues of great importance to them; the climate crisis and their concerns about the changing natural world, body image, life and death as well as work exploring visual concepts such as contrast and perspective. Kudos and Congratulations all upon completion of another important step in your IB Diploma journey!

‘Disposal’ - Kenny Lin

MYP3 & DP1 Nadi Hospital Excursion

A key goal of the IB programmes is to develop students who will make a meaningful contribution to the world, both

during and after their education. This aim is supported through the Service as Action and Creativity Activity Service

programmes which see students engage in community service alongside their academic studies.

Last Friday some of our secondary students spent the day at Nadi Hospital working as a team to install a vegetable

garden. This will provide a sustainable and healthy source of food for the kitchen catering team. The students worked

tirelessly to complete the project ahead of schedule and even had time to further assist by cleaning up the hospital

grounds.

The hospital team was delighted with the outcome and we have made a

commitment supporting the maintenance and development of the garden

project over the coming years.

A big thank you goes out to Mike and his team from Flame Tree who worked

with the students to provide soil and plants for the project.

FIJI DAY CELEBRATION SNAPS

PARENT & TEACHER ASSOCIATION

PTA MONTHLY MEETING

Facilitators: Katrin, Kanchan, Sheryn Notetaker: Sheryn Time Keeper: Sheryn

TIME Date : 2 October 2019 Prepared/Assisted by:

1:00 pm

Katrin opened the Meeting

Katrin

Finance Report :

$12,600 funds raised for PTA

Spent year to date outgoings $36,497

$41,700 left in PTA funds

$5,000 will go to playground, which then leaves $36,000 for PTA

$8,000 income for PTA that was questioned was a combined funds from raffle and uniform shop.

Kanchan

Principals Update :

3 -4 new students in Term 4

Kyrie resigned from reception, will finish at the end of the year – advertisement already out.

New Year 5 teacher, still waiting on visa.

Erik will be sending home a letter outlining new uniform requirements for 2020.

Dates for calendar:

22 October Diwali Lunch

1 November PTA AGM

20 November final PTA Meeting 10.30am followed by lunch at Dan Dan

Fundraisers: No more planned for this year

Erik Katrin Katrin

Uniform shop:

Possibility that Toni Hoekstra will be interested in running the uniform shop from 2020. Still looking for help to run the shop, job involves manning the shop once a week, more if required. PTA will do a full inventory count before handover.

Ideally we open the uniform shop in the holidays for new students. Particularly in January.

Reminder will be sent out to parents to start ordering new uniform for Term 1, 2020.

Canteen:

1 tender received, tender document to be sent

out

Feedback received re menu is that $7 is too much for mall hot meal item

Process of tender will go in the newsletter

Other matters raised:

Need for new basketball posts/backboards as others are deteriorating. School will be hosting a basketball comp involving other schools

Cost: Adjustable basketball posts backboards AUD $5000.00 to replace existing basketball setup as tournaments will be commencing next year. Plastic Perspex backboard $5000.00 AUD, we can possibly save an extra $1000.00 with installation and freight. The equipment may be sent with the playground equipment coming from Melbourne saving us further in costs.

Kanchan moved to spend the funds for new basketball, approved expenditure for $5000 AUD. Joanne 2nd.

It will be a great new addition to the playground for next year and will suits primary and secondary kids as they setup is adjustable.

Project for next year – new/additional basketball/netball court

Erik agrees more can be done in the school play areas

As the New captains being elected on Friday – they can talk with SRC and see what the students want.

Open questions/discussion:

PTA Committee received resignation from Lala Sowane due to other work commitments and we thanked Lala for all her hard work this year.

Advertising for the new PTA Committee – ideally having someone from the PYP & MYP/DYP

Attendees: Katrin Dressino, Kanchan Chadha, Sheryn Macquet (Committee), Joanne Tomasi, Erik Hoekstra (Principal),

Apologies: Lala Sowane (resigned)

Next Meeting Date: AGM 1 November

Meeting Closed at 1.50pm