The Weekly Bulletin of

Stonehill International School Volume 7, Issue 116

12th October 2018

FEATURED STORIES

Stonehill Tigers are ISACI 2018 Champions!

CONTENTS  

01/FEATURED STORIES 

05/MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL 

08/WHOLE SCHOOL NEWS 

09/PRIMARY NEWS 

10/ SECONDARY NEWS 

13/BOARDING NEWS 

14/SPORTS NEWS 

18/INTRODUCING… 

19/PTA NEWS 

  

THE TIGER IMPORTANT DATES

OCTOBER 16th - PYP & MYP INTER-HOUSE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 17th – PYP PARENT WORKSHOP - PARENTS AS PARTNERS 18th & 19th - SCHOOL CLOSED FOR DUSSEHRA HOLIDAY 22nd – SCHOOL CLOSED FOR STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY 23rd - 26th - P8 FIELD TRIP 25th - MYP PARENT WORKSHOP - ASSESSMENT IN THE MYP 26th - DP PARENT WORKSHOP - HOW TO BEST SUPPORT YOUR CHILD 27th – STONEHILL FOOTBALL 7s 27th – STONEHILL COMMUNITY DIWALI PARTY – 7:30pm ONWARDS 31st – PTA DIWALI MELA 31st – PYP MID-SEMESTER REPORTS PUBLISHED

Congratulations to our Senior Girls’ Football team on their outstanding performance in Season I of the ISACI Championships. Hosted by Stonehill, the tournament was held from 4th – 6th of October. Participating teams included the Eagles of Mercedes-Benz International School, Pune (MBIS); the Panthers of The British School, New Delhi (TBS); the Vipers of International School of Hyderabad (ISH); and our very own Tigers.

Day One – SIS Vs MBIS

The Senior Girls team has been training hard these past two months under the able guidance of Coach David Gostelow. Part of that training included two friendly matches against Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology and Vidyashilp Academy the weekend before the ISACI tournament.

The first game our Tigers played was an intense match against MBIS that ended with a score of 3-2 in our favour. The second game against ISH had the team making more risky and challenging plays, which resulted in Stonehill winning 4-1. This was a great way to end the first day of matches as the girls left feeling positive and ready to take on any challenges that they may face in the second day.

Day One – SIS Vs ISH

The first game the Stonehill Tigers played on the second day was against the Panthers from TBS Delhi. Though the girls played hard, TBS beat them 1-0. However, after regrouping as a team with their Coach, the Tigers walked onto the field for the Final match against TBS with confidence and a positive state of mind. The game was gripping and intense, with the spectators on tenterhooks as our girls played their hearts out. All that training and working together as a team paid off amazingly when they overpowered the reigning champions of the ISACI Football Tournament with a spectacular 3-1 win. It is safe to say that this was the most successful year yet for the Stonehill Tigers ISACI Senior Girls’ Football team!

Day Two – SIS Vs TBS

We are extremely proud of our girls for playing with passion, commitment, tenacity and sportsmanship. Special thanks to Coach David Gostelow for training and mentoring the team. We would also like to thank our wonderful PTA for organising a tuck shop on both days of the tournament. Finally, a big shout-out to all the parents, students and staff who came out to support our Tigers. It was gratifying to have our community come out and cheer and encourage our team.

Sportsmanship Awards - Michelle, Skye and Molly

2018 Champions

Ms. Vandana D’Cruz Whole School Sports Coordinator

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

5 Year Synchronised Evaluation Visit

The CIS, NEASC and IB School Evaluation Team

This week at School we welcomed 11 School Evaluation Visitors arriving from eight different countries. The visitors were here for a Synchronised School Evaluation Visit. The team included representatives from the International Baccalaureate (IB), The Council of International Schools (CIS) and The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). During the week, the Evaluation Visitors observed lessons and interviewed teachers, students, support staff, members of our PTA and the Governing Council. The evaluators will now submit their reports and recommendations to each organisation and the outcome of the visit will be communicated to the school in around 6-8 weeks. During their time at school, the Evaluation Visitors made it very clear that we have much to celebrate and many things that we can be proud of. I would like to thank all parents who participated in the school improvement process this week.

Sport, Creative Arts and Technology - School Improvement

We are always reflecting on the opportunities we provide for our students in order to find ways to make improvements that will enhance learning and well-being. Here are a few examples of school improvements that have taken place over the past few weeks. We have now installed a new LED lighting rig and programmable DMX light controller in our Drama Studio. This adds an exciting new dimension to drama lessons for our students.

We recently took delivery of a new laser engraving and cutting machine for use with resistant materials. The new programmable laser cutter, along with our digital printers, will provide exciting new opportunities for innovation, design and technology for students using our design lab.

This month we drained the swimming pools and completed maintenance work on the ceramic tiling. We also completed the construction of a large new poolside shade canopy. The children have very much enjoyed using the pool again this week.

You may have noticed that our campus now includes a selection of student artwork on display. We are aiming to showcase student work and include artwork that reflects the culture of the host country.

Last week we installed safety matting underneath our new outdoor adventure playground. The new playground is now a very popular feature during PYP playtimes.

Last month we purchased a class set of MacBook Air computers which are stored in a moveable trolley in the PYP Library. All students in the Primary School already have their own iPad to use in school. The additional class set of MacBook computers now enables teachers to prepare older primary students to manage the use of MacBooks to support them as they transition into the secondary school. The MacBooks can also be used by primary students whenever they are using software which requires a screen and keyboard. Have a great weekend. Best regards, Simon McCloskey Head of School

WHOLE SCHOOL NEWS

Dussehra Break

Please note that the school will be closed for the Dussehra holidays from Thursday, 18th to Sunday, 21st October. We hope you are able to enjoy the Dussehra festivities in this region of India.

Professional Development Day for Staff On Monday, 22nd October, there will be a Professional Development day for staff. The school will be closed on that day for all students – regular classes will commence on Tuesday, 23rd October.

PRIMARY NEWS

Helping Your Child to Look After their Mental Health

Supporting your child as they grow and mature is an essential part of the school curriculum through the Personal Social and Physical Education (PSPE) scope and sequence. Increasingly we are seeing young children being racked with anxiety, feelings of worthlessness and stress. Life balance is seen as a key indicator of living a healthy lifestyle. Our decisions to have playtime included in the school day, reduce home learning, encourage down-time and to overtly teach coping skills, self-care and wellbeing through our in-school programmes all support the concept of life-balance. Best regards, Karen Crooke Primary Principal

Congratulations Samara!

Samara participated at the Outperformers 2018 competition, a national level Western vocal competition, held in Mumbai. The competition was conducted by the Asawari Music Foundation in collaboration with The True School of Music, Mumbai. You can watch her incredible performance HERE.

SECONDARY NEWS

ISACI Senior Girls Football

Stonehill successfully hosted the ISACI Senior Girls Football Tournament on 5th and 6th of October. Participating teams included Mercedes-Benz International School, Pune; International School of Hyderabad; and The British School, New Delhi. Thank you to the Whole School Sports Coordinator, Ms. Vandana, for organising this event at Stonehill. Our girls played excellent football and won the tournament. Congratulations to Coach David Gostelow and all the girls who participated. Many thanks to the PE department and all the teachers who helped and supported our students.

ISACI Boys Basketball

Our ten-member ISACI Boys Basketball team travelled to Mercedes-Benz International School, Pune to participate in the tournament. Despite coming in 4th at the tournament our boys played to the best of their abilities, with two SIS students receiving the Sportsmanship Award. Thank you to Coach Karan and Mr. Avinash for chaperoning the team.

Secondary Assembly

The Secondary Assembly, held on Thursday, 11th October was a wonderful celebration of the achievements and activities in the Secondary School. Presentations included ISACI Girls’ Football by Ann-Sophie; ISACI Boys’ Basketball by Bhavik; ISTA Drama Festival by Sarah, Jonathan, Antariksh, and Mr. Jonathan; Personal Project by Neil and Shreya; Flute performance by Gia and Aiisha; musical performance by Clara and Andrea; D2 Psychology class skit on addiction; mental health by Will; and the Student Council world news by Marie. I would like to thank the Student Council and Ms. Preethi for organising this wonderful assembly.

Early Leave/Late Return for School Holidays

Parents are not encouraged to withdraw children during term-time for vacations. Parents are also asked not to ‘leave early’ or ‘return late’ in order to extend scheduled school holidays. In cases where students will miss routine classes because of voluntary absence, the school does not provide extra work for them to take on vacation. The school is sometimes asked to ‘authorise’ absences during school time for family vacations or other trips. It is not the school’s policy to do so.

Attendance

If a student’s attendance falls below 90% during the year (without extenuating circumstances), parents will be asked to attend a meeting with the Principal. The school reserves the right to request students to repeat the year if attendance is lower than 90% by the end of Semester Two, as stated on page 36 of the Parent-Student Handbook.

Late or Absent If your son/daughter is absent or late, please send an email to the Secondary Secretary with a copy to the homeroom teacher by 7:30am. Email: secondary.secretary@stonehill.in or tanuja.arora@stonehill.in Telephone: 080-4341-8300 Ext. 8511 (Ms. Tanuja Arora) Have a good weekend. Best regards, Narendra Mehrotra Secondary Principal secondaryprincipal@stonehill.in

M3 English Language and Literature - Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard

As part of our exploration of ‘Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard’ by Kiran Desai, the boys of M3B decided they wanted to understand the character of Sampath further by trying on sarees! In the novel, the wearing of a saree is a symbolic moment when the main character breaks free from the constraints of society and chooses not to conform.

We then explored the beautiful descriptions in the novel, and tried a few of our own. “Golden vines just climbing up the dragon fruit coloured satin.” – Dana “The sequins shone from the reflection of the light and attracted the eye like a moth to a light,” – Trusha “The gold treats shine like the brightest star in the night sky.” – Lucca “Fish swimming in the deep tailored ocean of blue.” – Amal “As colourful as a tropical fruit salad.” – Jonathan “I could see vines of golden stitches that wrapped around the delicate fabric.” – Ellie “On the edge, a series of tassels adorn like a horse’s mane.” – Fanny Ms. Jennifer Browne Language and Literature Teacher

Expressing Myself through Visual Art

In the MYP Visual Arts programme, we are encouraged to seek a variety of ways in which to be creative. I came across this quote by Arthur Ashe, a well-known American Sportsman – “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”, Arthur Ashe.

The above image is an original piece of artwork that I created in my sketchbook. The starting point for me was simply being a teenager and reflecting on certain injustices that I see in the world. For me, feminism is something where both the genders feel empowered, united and equal. I have observed that at times, some women in some cultures have to be strong in order to seek equality. Through this artwork, I hope to show my viewers what feminism means to me. I have observed that at times, some women in some cultures have to be strong in order to seek equality. In this piece, I tried to blend three types of cultures to create the face of the woman depicted. I wanted the woman to look confident and to project the idea that she was comfortable being who she was. I tried to visually represent this giving her fierce eyes. The eyes are powerful forms of expression in portraiture, therefore, it is one of the main features. The animals that came to my mind were fierce werewolves and bears. Both these species, I feel, are mystical creatures that fight ferociously when threatened; both animals are a part of her. I wanted her to be seen as a role model to other women. She can be strong when it comes to getting what she wants. The background was once white – representing that it was once blank, but now that she is finding strength in herself the blocks of puzzle pieces are beginning to fit together to form a cohesive fabric. She knows that “she can either be a victim of her life, or the master of it.” She can choose what she thinks is right for her; she can be assertive to make herself and those around her have a higher quality of life.

In conclusion, what I have tried to create is this message: Her journey is not an easy one, there may be times where circumstances and people could hinder her; however, she is determined to forge on ahead. I hope to reach out to women and girls who feel they are being put down and help them understand that they are the ones who control their lives; be happy; everyone in this world is equal, deserves to be treated equally and to feel empowered. Vanshika M5

BOARDING NEWS It was a great experience attending the 2018 ABSA International Boarding Conference held in Melbourne, Australia from 1st – 4th October. The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Boarding – Opening Doors to the World’.

The conference had four sessions over three days. Several of these sessions, delivered by keynote speakers, were very informative and insightful on a wide range of topics, such as ‘Making Sense of this New Generation’, ‘Decoding the Millennial Mindset’, and ‘Responding to Child Sexual Abuse’. The conference was an ideal platform for boarding staff to exchange ideas, share views and gain experience on topical issues with practical relevance. Working in a small boarding community can often be isolating and without exposure to a variety of points of view, we can miss new ideas and trends that can impact future results. The conference was a delightful change in direction for my personal growth and development as a House Parent. I came across several highlights and points of learning. I am confident in stating that Stonehill Boarding meets the expectations of a 21st century boarding school.

Ms. Glenda with Richard Stokes-ABSA Executive Director I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Richard, Tom and the entire ABSA team who made this conference possible and to all those who have shared their experiences during that one exciting week in Melbourne. I have benefited very much from this fantastic event. Ms. Glenda Johnson House Parent

SPORTS NEWS

ISACI Senior Boys Basketball in Pune

Senior Boys Basketball Team with Coach Karan and Coach Avinash

Mercedes-Benz International School, Pune (MBIS) hosted the 2018 ISACI Senior Boys Basketball Championships from the 3rd – 5th of October. Participating teams included Mercedes-Benz International School, Pune (MBIS); The British School, New Delhi (TBS); International School of Hyderabad (ISH); and Stonehill International School, Bangalore (SIS). Coach Karan and Coach Avinash accompanied our 10 member team to Pune.

Team warm-ups

Though our Tigers placed 4th in the tournament, their spirits held high throughout the games. It was especially gratifying to see how our students took initiative and stepped in when one of the original team members had an unfortunate accident and couldn’t participate. While this might have brought down morale with another group, this team embodied our values by being confident and caring of each other and representing the school despite challenges.

SIS Vs TBS

Through the tournament there were examples of impressive game strategies, great team spirit and discipline. Congratulations to Phuriphat and Hayden who were presented with Sportsmanship Awards.

We are very proud of the hard work and commitment shown by the team throughout tournament. We have now started ISACI Season II tryouts. The next Season will see the Senior Boys Football team hosting the tournament at Stonehill. The Senior Girls Basketball team will travel to The British School, New Delhi. The tournaments are scheduled for 29th November – 1st December. Go Tigers! Ms. Vandana D’cruz Whole School Sports Coordinator

Sportsmanship Awards - Hayden and Phuriphat

INTRODUCING… Each week we will feature a Stonehill Teacher in our weekly bulletin. This week we interviewed Dorothée Chareyron, Head of Department for Language B. Name: Dorothée Chareyron Qualifications and certifications: MA in English Civilization and Literature - French as a Foreign Language Teaching Degree - QTS (Qualified Teacher Status - UK) What do you teach at Stonehill? I am the Head of Department for Language B and I teach Spanish for PYP and MYP and French for MYP and DP. Where are you from and where else have you lived? I’m from Lyon, France. I have lived in the USA, Hong Kong, China, Turkey. What inspired you to become a teacher? I’ve always enjoyed working with children and teenagers. It seemed logical to me to choose a job where I would work with children. What is your educational philosophy? Be curious about everything around you and learn as many languages as you can – languages are useful for your social and work skills. What made you choose Stonehill? After my job interview with the school, I felt that it was a place with people who knew what they wanted and where they were heading. As soon as my dad learnt I was going to India, he started to plan his trip to that country to come and visit me! What is the best part of your job? Learning every day from my students and their energy. You never get bored when you work in a school! What are your hobbies and interests? I enjoy traveling, sports, doing fun stuff with my friends and discovering new cultures. What is your favourite book? I do not have only one! At the moment I’m reading ‘Midnight at the Pera Palace’ by Charles King. I recommend it if you want to discover Istanbul’s history and how this city became what it is now. You learn a lot about Turkish and European cultures. If you are a fan of history and travels, that book is for you. What is your favourite music? Jazz, soul and a bit of pop music.

PTA NEWS Dear Parents, Diwali season is upon us! For those of you unfamiliar, or perhaps a bit confused by all the invitations to Stonehill Diwali events, the PTA team has put together a timeline of events to guide you.

Saturday, October 27th – Stonehill Community Diwali Party, 7:30 pm onwards

Hosted by Jitu Virwani and his family, this event takes place at the Stonehill campus for all parents and staff of the school. It is a wonderful opportunity for members of the Stonehill community to interact in an informal setting. Traditional Indian party attire is required for both women and men. Do note that NO students or children are allowed for this event.

Wednesday, October 31st - Stonehill Diwali Mela 10:00 am – 3:00pm

This is a wonderful family event with a carnival like atmosphere! ALL children should be dressed and sent to school in traditional Indian attire – if they do not wish to do so, they must wear their school uniforms. There will be music/dance/dramatic performances by students, staff and parents. There will also be a variety of high-end vendors setting up stalls for you to shop at. These especially make for wonderful gifts when you go back home over the Winter Break. If you do not plan to attend, do ensure to send in some money with your kids so that they too can purchase some treats provided by the various vendors. It's a wonderful Stonehill tradition that is not to be missed! We look forward to seeing you at these events. Best regards, Team PTA⠀⠀⠀

Stonehill International School

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