(Mrs Meera Bhalla (LPD Coordinator)
This term has been an exhilarating one and
quite eventful at that. The launch of the PYP as an approach – (a philosophy
underpinning all that we do in the Primary Division ) had everyone –
coordinators, teachers and students excited. We welcomed Ms. Lynnette
Horrobin as the PYP curriculum coordinator and have since had innumerable
sessions planning the Programme of Inquiry, understanding the approach,
integrating and implementing the programme and learning, learning and learning.
We welcomed the parents into the classroom to
share their childrens’ journey and to experience what a typical classroom has
to offer. We invited grandparents to SIS and to our classrooms to appreciate
and honor them as significant members in our childrens’ lives.
The flavor of the season being festive and
celebratory we enjoyed and reveled in a host of events starting with
Rakshabandhan, going on to Janmashtami , Independence Day, Eid, Parsi New Year,
Onam, Rain Dance, Teachers Day, Navaratri, Dusshera and Diwali. As always the
Diwali Mela helped connect with the caring side of our personalities. SIS
students whole heartedly supported the different NGOs, we at SIS decided to
back. The Lower Primary Division students collected over Rs.18000/- by giving up
on TV and video games, turning out lights, becoming conscious of saving
resources etc. Their pledges were acknowledged by the parents and earned them
the amount.
We are now gearing ourselves up for the
Christmas and New Year cheer with students in LPD inquiring into ‘How We
Express Ourselves’ and equipping themselves to present the process of learning
along with their findings to parents on Dec,14th 2012. They will
also present the annual Christmas Musical and Carols to mark the festivities.
To give you a glimpse of all the changes we
have seen in SIS since August 2012 I wish to quote some of our teachers.
“The children are working independently in
small groups and in different ability groups in the classroom, giving me enough
opportunity to assess them and to work on their individual needs” says Ms.Monidipa
Das KG2 homeroom teacher.
Mrs.Archana Trivedi the Hindi language teacher
has this to say, “This year the students seem more eager to learn and they are
definitely more interested in creative activities”.
“Students have investigated, collaborated,
created, organized and communicated using the various tools on the computer”
says Ms.Twisha Patel the ICT teacher of her experience thus far.
Our teachers had an intensive weekend workshop
“Making PYP Happen” with Mr.Christopher Boreham of the New International School
of Thailand on the 12th and 13th of October 2012. This was the first in a
series planned for the teaching staff to extend their learning and to equip
them for the PYP journey.
Ms.Clancy Dias had this to say after the
workshop, “I am equipped with better techniques and strategies. I am more
confident”. She goes on to add, “It was initially difficult to let go of our
old approach towards teaching but with the passing of each day we are getting
closer towards becoming better PYP teachers”.
The sentiment has been echoed with pride.
Reinventing themselves and reworking strategies teachers are making history at
SIS leading the PYP change.
We are really proud to say that our students
are slowly becoming inquirers and thinkers while become more confident and
responsible.
Ms.Laurice Rodrigues and Ms.Pooja Panchal had
this to say about their grade 3 classroom, “Our journey has been an exciting
experience for us, as well as for the children because they are experiencing
more than observing and analyzing more than memorizing. Newspaper article and
book analysis, editing their own composition, thinking hats, math manipulative,
comparison diagrams, graphs are some of the learning activities which keep students
engaged”.
Our teachers and students are enthusiastic and
energetic as the process thus far has made their journey enjoyable. They have become
conscious of the PYP learner profiles and attributes making a concerted effort
to identify them and strive to achieve the same.
Students have had a hoard of new experiences;
K2 went shopping at Hypercity and enhanced their understanding of the system
that operates at a supermarket. K1 and Grade 1 went to the West Palm Beach
Resort to experience the outdoors and looked at farming at close quarters.
Grade 1 is also visiting places of worship in and around Dahisar extending
their learning on communities and celebrations. Grade 2 & 3 will see ‘How
the World Works’ on a day trip to Billimoria in Gujarat where they get to visit
an ink factory and a farm.
All in all a rather eventful term with promises
of more to come. There has never been a dull moment I can say with certainty.
We have kept Benjamin Franklin’s words in mind and been true to the following
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may
remember, involve me and I learn.”