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GEMS World Academy (Singapore) Friday, 5 December, 2014
Message from Head of School Our programmes continue to flourish as the school gathers momentum and maturity. The football teams tasted success earlier this week but most impressively, displayed high levels of sportsmanship in their interactions with the opposing athletes. It is this commitment to the values and ethos of GWA, beyond the simple sporting result, that gives us great solace that we are developing a culture of kindness, respect and understanding. !Our first strings concert was held at the school and was a great commencement to our developing orchestral programme. The concentration and delight on the face of children as every student had the chance to perform in front of peers, parents and assembled guests, was a great testament to the commitment of the school to the emerging Arts programme. !Earlier in the week a letter was sent home with each student, communicating the decision to move the Uniting Nations Concert night to the 29th January. The decision-making process included the Senior Leadership Team, Parent Association and Uniting Nations Concert Committee. The adjusted date allows us to launch this wonderful school-wide event in our new auditorium, ensuring that families and guests better viewing capacity, as well as a more enjoyable venue for students. !The Honorable Mr Peter Chandler MLA, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Education of the Northern Territory (Australia) met with our education leadership team to understand more about the GWA approach to international education. The discussions and site tour were a key part of his regional tour, with the intention to guide education reform and development in the Northern Territory. !Enjoy the messages within this week’s newsletter, which explores the many offerings at the school. !David Edwards - Acting Head of School/CEO [email protected]
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Upcoming Events
19 December - Half day dismissal and start of school holiday 5 January 2015 - Student free day
Please note the UN Concert has been postponed to 29th January 2015
Public Speaking
What does it mean to bring words TO LIFE?
Our group of young ‘Let’s Go Public!’ performers has been working on oral interpretation, the art of performing literature. Using vocal expression and body language to interpret the words of their favourite writers, students have given meaning to literature using facial expression a n d v o c a l q u a l i t y . S h e l Silverstein’s ‘Peggy Ann McKay’, Roald Dahl’s ‘Twits’ and Charles Shultz’s much-loved creation ‘Charlie Brown’, have been brought to life as our speakers have embodied, and then communicated, the experience of the writer’s words.
Our young performers look forward to sharing their talent at the Student Assembly on Wednesday, 10th December at 9:00am.
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THIS WEEK’S NEWS Shaping tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers and doers.
GEMS World Academy (Singapore) Friday, 5 December, 2014
Sports update!It has been an exciting week of sport for many of o u r t e a m s . O u r success begun on S a t u r d a y 3 0 t h N o v e m b e r w h e n students competed in the Aquathlon at the French school. With 4 schools in attendance it was a great event that i n v o l v e d b o t h p r i m a r y a n d s e c o n d a r y students. The G W A t e a m c o m p e t e d ex t re m e l y w e l l , with the highlights being Emma Middleditch (G7) and Nirvaan Nagaldinne (G4) coming 1st in their respective age groups, and Elliot Hogklint (G3) achieving 3rd place. !O u r G i r l s 1 4 U a n d B o y s 1 0 U F o o t b a l l teams both had games on Thursday a f t e r n o o n . T h e g i r l s p l a y e d Marlborough c o l l e g e a t G W A , finishing with a 3-0 victory in front of a cheering crowd of supporters. The boys 10U team playing in their first tournament against three schools, winning all of their games, without conceding a single goal! !Congratulations to all our athletes on an amazing week. !Ken Barker - Athletics Director/ASA Coordinator [email protected]
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!Arts update !Congratulations to the PYP students who performed in GWA-S’ inaugural strings concert. All students in Grades 1 through 5 got a chance to display some of their new skills on the violin and cello. The musicians did a great job musically and their concert deportment was impeccable. In addition to the grade-level performances, our audience was treated to some solo works played by Baptiste, Dai, Georgia, Julie, Katherine, and Ashling. GWA-S string programme is off to a great start and we’re looking forward to a whole year of musical events.
Daniela Rodnite - Music Teacher
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GEMS World Academy (Singapore) Friday, 5 December, 2014
!SY Curriculum Update
At GEMS World Academy (Singapore), we recognise that teaching, learning and assessment are fundamentally interdependent. Students have individual learning styles and perform differently according to the context of learning. It is important that students see self-assessment and peer-assessment as a natural part of the learning process . Students need to know thei r achievements and areas for improvement and should receive feedback that is positive and constructive. !Assessment is designed by teachers to incorporate a variety of methods and to be relevant and motivating to students. Assessment should be geared towards appraisal of a broad range of concepts, attitudes, knowledge and skills which are appropriate to an international and increasingly complex world. Finally, assessment here at GEMS World Academy (Singapore) is criterion-referenced and is made clear to students by teachers before the coursework begins. !Neil White - MYP Curriculum Coordinator [email protected]
KEY DATES: • WEDNESDAY 10TH DECEMBER - 14U
FOOTBALL TEAM PLAY OFS AT GWA-S CAMPUS
• SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER - HUSKY SWIM MEET AT THE CANADIAN SCHOOL
• FRIDAY 19TH DECEMBER - 1.30pm DEPARTURE FOR START OF SCHOOL HOLIDAY
• MONDAY 5TH JANUARY IS DESIGNATED AS A STUDENT FREE DAY.
• TUESDAY 6TH JANUARY - RESTART OF SCHOOL
• UN STUDENT CONCERT POSTPONED TO 29TH JANUARY 2015
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EY/ PY Curriculum Update
As a school we use different modes to establish effective communication with parents, including communicating through the student diary, through ManageBac, Parent-Teacher meetings and in format ion n ights , GWA-S newsletters and having an ‘open-door’ policy.
We encourage parents to read the classroom newsletters that are sent home each week by t h e t e a c h e r s that highlight the teaching and learning focus with an emphasis on literacy, mathematics and the unit of inquiry.
At the start of each unit of inquiry a short newsletter with information regarding the unit is sent home to families. This newsletter provides parents with a range of suggestions for ways in which parents can support the learning at home and make real-world connections to the unit of inquiry. Working in partnership and communicating to families, builds on what occurs each day at school
!Jacqueline McNalty
Head of Early Years/PYP Coordinator [email protected]
