St. Nicholas

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www.stnicholas.com.br :: October I :: 2011

NovemberWed 2nd

All Souls Day (Holiday)

Fri 4th

8:00 PTA Meeting

Tue 8th

15:30 Years 11 and 12 Parents' Evening

Thu 10th

Parents Day Years 7, 8, 9 and 10

Mon 14th

School Holiday

Tue 15th

Proclamação da República (Holiday)

Tue 15th to Sat 19th

Mun Conference Salvador

TripsYear 8 - ItatiaiaYear 9 - Paraty

Ensino Fundamental GraduationThe Ensino Fundamental Graduation Ceremony attended by students, teachers, parents and other guests took place on Wednesday September 21st. The purpose of the ceremony was to celebrate the achievements of our current Year 10 students in successfully completing the Ensino Fundamental stage of their

education at the end of Year 9. Stephanie Geller and Julia Herzog spoke confidently and eloquently on behalf of the students, reflecting on their memories of school and the skills and qualities they have so far developed in their education at St. Nicholas. Students were also awarded their Ensino Fundamental diplomas.

Year 1 - Make a Difference Day

Year 1 had the opportunity to host the last 'Make a Difference Day' (September 30th). Children participated in all the steps from advertising and promoting the event to sorting the donations and counting the money. They were very excited to help in any possible way. The Year 1 teachers had a chance to visit the institution ‘Sinhazinha Meirelles’ where they met children and members of the community who were very grateful for the action taken by St. Nicholas community. Thank you all once more, Year 1.

Vertical GardenYear 5 have used recycled bottles to help them create St. Nicholas' first vertical garden. Vertical gardens can take various forms and enable areas of green to exist in locations where space on the ground is limited. Empty plastic bottles brought to school by Year 5 children were cut to shape and filled with a mixture of sand to help drainage and compost to provide essential nutrients.Plants, kindly supplied by Sanay, were then placed inside the

bottles that were then suspended in cradles fixed to the wall of 3Y´s classroom. The project took place during their recent PYP Unit 'Go Green' during which children learnt how plants are fundamental to all life on earth. Year 5 are currently taking care of the garden but, as summer approaches, if you see a plant that needs watering, please feel free to give it a drink of water or tell a Year 5 child who will help show you what to do.

InternationalDay

Coming soon!

2011

November 26th

On October 4th twelve Spelling Bee finalists battled it out to be crowned the best speller of their house…

All of Year 7 and 8 participated in the first round of the Spelling Bee which took place in their English lessons. The English teachers were very impressed with the skill and dedication all students showed in learning a range of difficult words.

The final took place in an assembly, hosted by Kabelo Tolong and Julia Herzog. Each participant showed confidence and excellent spelling skills! The three winning spellers were Gustavo Borges (London), Filippo Del Stabile (Cambridge) and Pedro Camargo (Oxford).

Congratulations!

Year 11 vai ao teatro discutir literatura

Entre o Paraíso e o Inferno

Matheus Carpinelli de Jesus

Os alunos do curso IB Português/Literatura, do Year 11, estudaram em aula o romance Memórias de um Sargento de Milícias, escrito no século XIX por Manuel Antônio de Almeida. Percebemos que este romance permanece atual no século XXI, pois aborda características intrínsecas do povo e da cultura brasileiros que não mudaram até o presente (a corrupção, os interesses pessoais sobrepostos aos interesses coletivos, a malandragem e a alegria dionisíaca). Para aprofundar a

compreensão do romance, na quinta-feira, dia 29 de setembro, os alunos de literatura do Year 11, sob a orientação do Mr. Costa, foram ao teatro assistir à peça homônima “Memórias de um Sargento de Milícias” no teatro Lucas Pardo Filho, no centro de São Paulo. A iniciativa de ir ao teatro para assistir a uma interpretação do livro foi muito boa e poderia trazer novos elementos não analisados em aula. Porém, a trupe do teatro em si foi infeliz na tentativa de recriar a história no palco.

Os personagens do livro são caricaturados, mas foram interpretados hiperbolicamente pela trupe, o que tirou a ênfase dada pelo autor a cada personagem. Houve uma ridicularização da obra de Manuel Antonio de Almeida, que traz um enredo que critica a sociedade do século XIX, e que, acima de tudo, permanece sendo muito atual em vários aspectos.

Em nome dos alunos, eu agradeço a iniciativa da ida ao teatro, pois pudemos exercitar, de maneira crítica, a tradução de uma obra literária para o placo.

Giovanna Theme (Year 10)

Durante a grande parte da quinta-feira, dia 06 de outubro, nós, alunos do Year 10, fomos assistir a uma peça escrita há quase 500 anos. Essa peça se chama O Auto da Barca do Inferno e foi escrita por Gil Vicente. Talvez esteja se perguntando: Qual seria o motivo dessa visita ao teatro? Como resposta, digo que fomos assistir à peça, pois a lemos recentemente durante nossas aulas de Português e achamos que seria interessante ver a peça ao vivo para aprofundar nosso conhecimento sobre a época em que foi escrita. Além disso, o roteiro original está escrito em galego-português e pode muitas vezes ser difícil de compreendê-lo e como a peça foi apresentada em um português mais moderno, muitos de nós achamos a peça mais fácil de ser entendida.

O teatro é localizado no centro de São Paulo e se chama “Teatro Lucas Pardo Filho”. Esse teatro só é sustentado pelo dinheiro arrecadado por meio de visitantes e não possui patrocinadores. Apesar disso, a instituição possui atores que provaram para nós que conseguem cumprir sua principal missão: entreter.

A obra narra a vinda de personalidades ao um cais de porto. No entanto, esse não era um Porto ordinário: os únicos que chegam até ele são os mortos, fantasmas. Quando estes chegam ao Porto, descobrem se

irão pagar por seus pecados no Inferno ou se irão ficar em paz no Paraíso. Lembre-se de que essa obra foi escrita há mais de 500 anos, porém, suas personagens continuam presentes na sociedade de hoje: temos a cafetina, o rico, o juiz corrupto, o sapateiro ladrão, o parvo, o padre infiel e aqueles que servem a Deus somente. O que torna as histórias dessas personagens tão cômicas é a forma como são interpretadas e suas falas. O Diabo era particularmente engraçado e o parvo nos manteve entretidos por grande parte do espetáculo.

Por último, outro aspecto interessante da peça é como o seu autor nunca insulta a Igreja diretamente, ele somente critica seus integrantes. Algumas pessoas se perguntariam por que isso seria importante. Pois bem, durante a Idade Média, a Igreja dominava a sociedade e todos cresciam com medo de Deus, por isso, quase ninguém ousava desobedecer ou desafiar a Igreja. Os que faziam justamente isso costumavam ser queimados ou torturados de acordo com a Inquisição.

Finalmente, acho que escrevo em nome de muitos alunos do Year 10 quando afirmo que após assistir à peça, meu conhecimento da época e o quanto compreendi sobre a peça certamente melhoraram.

Every Friday a group of future diplomats and world leaders meet for the Model United Nations ECA.

What is the MUN?The Model United Nations

is a simulation of the work of the United Nations Organisation. Students represent a prescribed country and defend the concerns of their country passionately. Students learn about the history and organisation of the UN, how to deal with official language, complex political issues and the rules of formal debate.

Last year nine St. Nicholas delegates journeyed to Rio de Janeiro to sit on the Human Rights committee, the Economic and Social committee and the Security Council. This November nineteen delegates will represent their respective countries at the Pan American School of Bahia's 11th annual conference debating a range of issues from cyber freedom in Asia to promoting democracy in Latin America.

To test your skills come to the MUN ECA on Friday from 13:40 - 14:10.

Delegates prepare for the 2011 MUN conference in

Salvador

Senior Spelling BeeYears 7 & 8

There is a large amount of unmarked uniform items and also plenty of casual clothes such as, jackets, t-shirts and sweatshirts in the 'Lost and Found'.If these items are not collected, we will be selling these items at International Day and the proceeds will go to Charity. Please come and check if your long lost favourite piece of clothing is in the 'Lost and Found' which is located in the reception area.

Lost & Found

Year 9 - Descriptive WritingYear 9 have been looking at John Steinbeck´s description of settings in "Of Mice and Men" as part of their English curriculum. The year 9 students then had to describe a setting familiar to them. Nodoka Matsumura and Esther Hwang describe São Paulo and Dokdo Island in Korea respectively.

São Paulo

Dokdo Island, Korea

It’s a very early morning in Sao Paulo. The sun is blazing down on the dusky city. The school bus is running on the bumpy road, not letting the sleepy students fall asleep.

When I looked through the window of my school bus, I saw many gray buildings towering high over the city. This is a huge concrete jungle. Everything in this capital is man-made. Everything is absolutely perfect but monotonous.

There are almost no trees but there are some colourful flowers planted to welcome the spring. The air is a bit murky, and the exhaust gasses were disturbing the sweet fragrance of flowers. As my bus passes

a bakery, there was a pleasant aroma of Brazilian coffee beans roasting, and savory smell of toast. With the breeze, I could also smell the perfume of fashionable women walking elegantly and glancing at the show windows. In the show windows, the latest clothes are displayed; bright pink blouses and very vivid violet skirts.

On the other hand, the main business street of Paulista area was crowded with businessmen who were walking briskly, and choked with fumes.

There was an endless amount of cars flowing through the street and honking their horns. Caught in a traffic jam, my bus

driver grew impatient and also beeped the horn. I could hear the sound of engines ready to move on, and people talking enthusiastically on the street.

There is a very small island called Dokdo in Korea. People can’t live in this island, though Dokdo is not secluded, because it’s having positive attention from Korean citizens. Outwardly, this island might not

be important. However, this island is very magnificent and helpful for us.

The sun starts to glow as the island awakes. Some sparkling dewdrops fall from the fresh leaves. The blazing sun raps the edged, spiked rocks of the cliff side. I can see the gentle waves smoothly laying back at the sea's edge. Dried seaweed is hung on the slippery surface. All kinds of marine animals race under the glinting water with delight. They are with all different colors. Red, blue, green, yellow fish jumps toward the air and smells the wind full of salty moisture. Some are heading for the horizon in shoals. However, the color of the sky is getting darker and darker.

Then the waves get more and more wild.

The air is heavy and dark. Instead of a clean blue color, the sky is covered with deep, gloomy clouds. There are no more delightful animals out, but a heartless storm. Rain knocks on the ground and suddenly, a stream of light flashes through the moist ground and follows the howl of thunder. The waves are frightened and beat the rocks stronger. For a quite long time, there was a pause with only the rain beating the ground.

After the storm, the rain drops have weakened, and only a few dewdrops and moist air has left. A warm stream of sunlight again came out between the clouds. I can hear the crumbling sound of animals creeping out of everywhere.

That boy and those girls are a bit special!Kyle Sogl (Year 10) participated last week in the World Indoor Archery Championship in Pretoria, South Africa. He participated in the Junior (13-16 years) Male Freestyle (Compound) category and won the gold medal. Kyle also established a WIAC record and achieved better results than all the adults who were participating in the same category.

This builds on Kyle's success in the previous World Indoor Archery Championship in San Fernando, Argentina in 2009 when Kyle won the gold medal in the Junior Male Barebow (Compound) category and set WIAC records for both a single round and the overall event. Kyle currently holds three WIAC records. Congratulations to Kyle on

his impressive achievements in archery.

We also wish Luiza Marangoni and Sofia Soares the best of luck and injury free travels after being selected by St Nicks for their potential and ability to represent Florida Excel Sports Academy next month. They are to travel with the Florida Academy to play in Maryland USA in a prestigious Football Tournament, where approximately 140 coaches are selecting future scholarship talent and opportunities.

Mr Moss

You are what you read!

Year 9 Japanese students

I’d like to recommend a Japanese writer, Jiro Akagawa. He is a famous detective story writer in Japan, and is a king of mystery. His novels involves horrible murder case, however they are full of humour and creativity. He has something about him that fascinates others, and his novels are the best entertainment with many surprising tricks. (Nodoka Matsumura)

I recommend the book named “Hanayoi douchu.” This is a book based in the last years of the Edo period (1850), and telling the tragic but beautiful life of Yujyo. After reading this book, you will probably be able to know the culture and lifestyle of old time Japan and how mysterious and exquisite Yujyo was. (Sakiko Yazawa)

I’d like to recommend the book named “Chumun no ooi ryouriten” (“The Many Orders Restaurant”) written by Kenji Miyazawa who is the most popular author of fairy tales in Japan. (Midori Hirayama)

During Miss Pare’s Geography class on Monday October 3rd the Year eight’s (and some Year 11 students) received a very special visit from two anthropologists and man named Tupã from the Guarani tribe.

Tupã told us that his tribe was one of the first to be contacted 500 years ago as they are located in the Mata Atlantica rainforest. Although they still maintain their customs, traditions and prayers, his tribe has less and less land every year due to increased development.

Many indigenous people, he told us, opt to use jeans now and other items; there are also bilingual schools in the tribal villages teaching their language but also

Portuguese. This development in the tribes results in prejudgment, prejudice because some people say they are not Indians anymore. Nevertheless, Tupã said “Não é a roupa que faz o índio um índio”, meaning that it is not the clothes they wear that makes them Indians.

Additionally, Tupa told us that there are still thousands of different tribes in Brazil with more than 400 million Indians. There are tribes in almost every state in Brazil, even in big cities like Sao Paulo. But, he warns us, the tribes are getting smaller and that the indigenous people are losing their culture.

Tupã said he was a mediator between both words trying to fight for his people´s rights

but still maintaining an Indigenous lifestyle. He said to do this he must learn to live in two worlds and must adapt to both.

Indians in Brazil

A visit from Centro de Trabalho Indigenista (CTI) and Tupãfrom the Guarani tribe.

Tribal Make a Difference Day - 28th October

Clarissa Natel (Year 11)

Make a Difference day is not just about raising money but a way to spread awareness leading to informed action.

After our visit from CTI and Tupã the Year 8 Geography class decided to help raise money and awareness for the Guarani.

The Guarani are struggling for survival

Their land, destroyedTheir leaders, killedTheir children, starving

Guarani lands are being destroyed, their leaders are killed and their children die of starvation. Yet the Indians are not asking for money or food. All they want is for their lands to be returned so they can regain some control over their lives and futures.

In association with Birdwatchers, a Marco Bechis film, Survival International has opened a fund to support the Guarani. Every cent donated will go towards helping the Indians to defend their rights, lands and futures

http://www.guarani-survival.org/.

Guarani Survival Fund

After Make a Difference Day

● Join ‘PeaceJam’ ECA Wednesdays 1.45pm. PeaceJam is an award winning, Nobel Peace Laureate affiliated organisation which aims to inspire young leaders to take informed action.

● Visit the library where you find many new books on indigenous people

● Visit www.teacherlp.tumblr. Use the ´tribes´ tag to watch videos and read more about the indians in Brazil.

● Visit http://www.guarani-survival.org/ for further donations and to read more.

On Make a Difference Day (28th October)

● Celebration of Indigenous Culture – Come to school wearing face paint in an indigenous style or wear your own feather badge.

● Information leaflets produced by the class.

● Official Survival International badges and stickers for donations over R$10

● A talk from the Brazilian Representative of Survival International via Skype at 1.10pm. Venue to be announced. Everyone is invited, first come first serve.

● Tribe quiz in tutor time

Before Make a difference day(informed action)

● Look out for information posters made by the class.

● Assembly on Wednesday 26th October. Presentation of the enquiry into the Indians of Brazil completed in Geography and Art. Information leaflets produced by the class will also be handed out.

● Various book week activities inspired by the book; ´The Last of the Tribe´ by Monte Reel.

● Tribal Workshop organized by the class. This will take place on Thursday lunch time at 1.45pm H1. Come along to learn about indigenous face painting and to make your own feather badges.

The ever improving U15 girls have continued their solid start since the USA Tour. Beating PACA 5-0 on grass and scoring 13 goals at Alphaville (good to see Alice and Claudia on the score sheet)

contributed to winning convincingly the tournament with a definite 'goal of the season' contender from Luiza Marangoni.

The U18 Boys who have been invited to return in 2012 to compete in Helsinki and Gothia have seen their campaign at Chapel consolidate their obvious potential with a 7-2 win and a fine performance from a mixed match squad and 5 quality taken goals from Kenji and Kabelo.

Thirdly, there is the small matter of the U14 Boys who have age and experience against them, but are learning quickly! With only one win against Cidade Jardim Playpen in five games, mistakes have been costly and focus on a work ethic is a must no matter the opposition and score. There is a lot of work to do but I am convinced that the

8-0 loss against PACA will be the platform to build improvements and success. We await eagerly the performances at EAC Campinas from the Yr3/4 and Yr5/6 Junior Futsal squads.

October31st October - Halloween is celebrated on the eve of All Saints Day. It is celebrated by such activities as trick-or-treating, costume parties, viewing horror films, and visiting "haunted houses."

November1st - All Saints' Day also known as the Festival of All Saints, All Hallows or Hallowmas is a feast honoured by the Roman Catholic Church of all saints. The day before is Halloween and the day after is All Soul’s Day when the death of faithful Catholics is commemorated.

2nd - All Souls' Day, or the Feast of All Souls, also falls on the day when Brazil commemorates dead ancestors known as Dia de Finados.

3rd - Culture Day (Bunka-no-hi) is a national holiday in Japan promoting culture, the arts, and academic endeavours through art exhibitions, parades, and award ceremonies for artists and scholars.

5th - Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night is celebrated in the United Kingdom, and some former British colonies. Firework displays and bonfires are held during this night. Guy Fawkes is a historical figure who attempted to carry out an attempt to blow

up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I of England, to destroy Protestant rule by killing the Protestant aristocracy, on 5 November 1605.

11th - Remembrance Day in Australia, Canada and United Kingdom, also known as Poppy Day, Veterans Day in the United States, and Armistice Day in France, New Zealand, and many other Commonwealth countries, is a day to commemorate the sacrifice of veterans and civilians in World War I, World War II, and other wars. In many parts of the world, people take two minutes of silence at 11:00 in the morning as a sign of respect for the millions who died in the war. In the United States, Veterans Day is celebrated to thank living veterans for their service.

14th - Children's Day in India is commemorated on India’s first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday. Prime Minister Nehru was known to like children and was known to them as Chacha Nehru or Uncle Nehru.

15th - Proclamação da República Brasileira or Republic Proclamation Day is a national holiday in Brazil when the country first proclaimed its being a republic in Rio de Janeiro back in 1889.

16th - International Day for Tolerance was first observed in 1996 following the United Nations Year for Tolerance in 1995. The day is observed to promote tolerance and the practice of tolerance through education.

Commemorations, celebrations and events around the worldAction Committee / International Committee

Football & Futsal

Basketball

Sports Mr Moss, Ms Beck, Ms Bouvier & Mr Santos

Goals galore, new faces, hat tricks and a half way line "screamer".

Nail biting stuff and the ever importance of a free throw.The Basketball U15 Boys and Girls both won gold at the 5th Sports Tournament at Alphaville. There was good form from both teams so early in the season, with praise for the team's defence and "character", after a normal slow start. Huge credit also goes to Rafaela for the game winning free throw and Jason, Diego, Alex and Job for all their crucial points on offence. Sadly due to a lot of missed shots the U18s couldn’t bring home a triple Gold.

It was a first for St. Nicks to field a U18 Girls team in a richly entertaining game at Chapel. It was St. Nicks who made the brighter start leading until the middle of third quarter. Despite missing 12 points of this period and it all going Chapel’s way, the final quarter highlighted with a fine performance from Julia Herzog that this squad has so much talent although losing 27-21.