FEBRUARY EDITION 2015

ISGR PYP Newsletter

Dear PYP Families,

This month’s PYP newsletter focuses on assessment and reading in the PYP.

On March 10th there will be a PYP parent coffee morning in the lower level

conference room from 10:30-11:30 led by both the PYP Coordinator Ellen

Trelles and Deputy Principal Moragh Randall where we will explain how we

assess here at ISGR as well as some helpful information about the School

Soft program. This month’s learner profile is open-minded and attitude is

appreciation. If there is something you would like to see in the PYP

newsletter, do not hesitate to contact your coordinator at

ellen.trelles@isgr.se.

Assessment in the PYP

Here at ISGR we greatly value the school- home connection and assessment is an

important place to connect! Our approach to assessment involves answering the

question ‘How will we know what we have learned?’ We believe that assessment is

beneficial to all teaching and learning. The main goal is to provide feedback on the

learning process.

Teachers use pre-assessments to plan effective learning experiences that allow all

ability levels to learn and succeed. Pre-assessments also aide in addressing different

learning styles within a class. Teachers collaborate within grade levels to share

assessment ideas and practices. Planning a well-designed learning experience can

also be a vehicle for planning formative and summative assessments.

We assess the following areas of our curriculum with summative assessments, Written

Language, Reading, Swedish, Maths concepts and skills, understanding of central ideas

within the units of inquiry, and application of Art, Music, and Physical Education skills.

Formative assessments are used throughout the year to shape and guide the next stage

in learning and helps teachers to show progress over time.

Please join us on March 10th at 10:30 for an informative coffee morning where we can

look in more detail about assessment at ISGR. Questions are welcome!

www.isgr.se

Letter from the Principal

Dear PYP Families

During the first 6 weeks at school this term we have experienced a number of exciting events. The Equal Opportunities Weeks were a great success and students were able to talk about their wishes and hopes for the school and how they can best work and play together. We are now in Culture Week/Reading Week. Reading Week is an opportunity to highlight reading in a fun and special way. Culture Week also highlights the Arts and we can especially enjoy the Annual Cross team Art Exhibition. PYP Student Developmental Talks Day Thursday March 26th: This is an opportunity for students to discuss their successes and their learning goals. Our aim is for students to lead a conference with their parents and teachers with the aid of their PYP Student Portfolios, an important assessment tool as well! “Evidence of learning in a portfolio is from a range of experiences and curriculum areas. The portfolio is used to show the development of knowledge, conceptual understanding, transdisciplinary skills, attitudes and the attributes of the learner profile over a period of time.” – IBPYP Making It Happen 2009. The student portfolio leaves school with the student at the end of the school year. Our experience is that students enjoy lining up their annual portfolios at home so that they are able to see what they have done over time. It will be possible to request the last 5 minutes of the meeting as parent and teacher only. School Soft for reporting student absences: We continue to use School Soft for reporting of student absences and for updating emergency information. Moragh, Ellen, Vanessa and I will be in the Reception area on the student developmental talk’s day. We ask that all parents who need support with updating school soft information come by and see us so we can help you. Arriving and leaving school each day: Please expect to see myself or one of the other principals or deputy principals at the school entrances at arrival or leaving school time. We will be checking the drop-offs in front of the school. You must use the rear entrances and exits in order to increase safety and also reduce congestion of traffic at the front of the school. The rule is – Use the rear entrances unless you are leaving students at the Early Years Centre by car! Information Evening about Differentiation at ISGR Tuesday 31st March in the Aula Molinsgatan: The PYP and MYP principals and deputy principals aim to enlighten parents as to what we mean by differentiation and how we do this at ISGR. One of my favourite definitions is, “In the context of education, we define differentiation as a teacher's reacting responsively to a learner's needs.” – Carol Ann Tomlinson. Swedish Education Authority School Survey for all parents and for students in grade 5: All parents should have received an information letter and login code for this survey which is to be completed by February 27th. This results of this survey help the Swedish Education Authority in their work with checking of the standards and practices in Swedish schools. Grade 5 students have completed this in school. We appreciate your participation in this survey! We are looking forward to spring time coming and lighter days! Thank you for your continued support here at school. We greatly value the connection between home and school. PYP Principal, Marilyn James

Transdisciplinary Theme: How we express ourselves

Central Idea: Stories are a way of communicating.

The kindergarten students are beginning to investigate the many

ways to tell a story! They will start by reading Room on the Broom

by Julia Donaldson and explore the elements that make a story.

Kindergarten News

Transdisciplinary Theme: How we organize ourselves

Central Idea: Food goes through a process to reach our

table.

To begin their inquiry about the process foods go through to

reach our table, the grade one students will visit a local dairy

farm to learn about milk!

First Grade News

Second Grade News

Attitude of the month is

APPRECIATION

Grade 4 student,

Annika Hagwal

shows her

appreciation for

some of the

decorations in the

school as she

carefully fixes one

on the staircase.

Brett Stein

Grade 1 Teacher

‘I really love how much Sweden

appreciates different types of

athletics and especially the hockey

culture! I also have an

appreciation for the commitment

that it takes to be a competitive

athlete.’

PYP Newsletter Grade Level News

Third Grade News

Transdisciplinary Theme: How we share the planet

Central Idea: All living things are connected.

In grade two students are discovering how humans have an

impact on animal habitats.

Transdisciplinary Theme: How the world works

Central Idea: The design of buildings and structures is

dependent upon the properties of materials.

The third grade students are making predictions about how

materials can be changed to make stronger support systems.

See examples of their experiments on the display board in the

main corridor!

ng

Monthly Spotlight: Grade 4

The fourth unit of inquiry is all about How the World Works! Students have

been investigating the human body and its complex systems. Our inquiry

has led students to learn about six of the main body systems and how

they work together. During the inquiry into the joints students looked at

the range of joints they have and were challenged to complete different

activities without the use of their thumb joints! Students developed their

understanding of the mechanics of joints by creating model legs and

arms. They enjoyed discovering how useful our joints are in our everyday

lives and how they work together with our brain, bones and muscles.

The grade 4 students will be presenting their research findings about a

chosen body system in a mini-exhibition next week as their summative

assessment!

Library media Centre; LMC cultivates and supports child’s curiosity. LMC is an Inquiry lab

aimed at developing its users’ improved skills for investigation and research.

LMC supports its educational leaders and learners of one internationally minded school;

with collaborative learning cultures, to explore the future and become responsible digital

citizens. LMC serves the intellectual, cultural, technical and social changes and needs of

students and staff. LMC is a place to practice information science; Interaction between

information, communication and technology. Children work independently and with

others.

Library Media Centre & Inquiry Lab

The following information is

about some of the

important procedures in

the Library Media Centre;

LMC. The students are

coming to LMC not only for

loaning books but also for

researching and learning

library and information

science.

LMC provides lessons that

focus on literature,

classification, information

literacy and evolution of

information, critical

thinking, miscellaneous

and cultural lessons. During

each library lesson students

may hear a story in

connection to their unit of

inquiry, watch a movie and

learn where and how to

find the correct

information.

Our Library Media Centre is

also online;

http://www.isgr-lmcguld.se

here, you can find out

about new books,

programs, databases or

inquire about every kind of

educational service in the

school. The Library media

Centre is also available

through a link on our

school website.

Online Resources Available to you at our online library:

http://www.isgr-lmcguld.se/digital-library-3128261

The New World Book Kids:

Username and Password: isgr

Pebble Go:

Username and Password: isgr

National Geographic for Young Explorer

Sylvan Dell Publishing

Britannica School: Learning Games

The hope is for our young readers to adapt and use the resources in their research, readings and learning process.

Please remember Reading week dress up on Friday 27th

of February. The theme for this year is fables. There is a

document about fables in both English and Swedish

with different links on http://www.isgr-

lmcguld.se/news/projects-7549985

The LMC opening hours:

Monday: 08.30-16.00

Tuesday: 08.30-16.00

Wednesday: 08.30-16.00

Thursday: 08.30-16.00

Friday: 08.30-14.30

We welcome

Camilla

Martinsson who

is teaching PYP

1F!

We welcome

Vanessa Molina

Gabinus who has

joined us in

Admissions &

Communications

at ISGR.

New Staff

PYP Newsletter Grade Level News

Transdisciplinary Theme: How the world works

Central Idea: The human body is made of

complex and versatile systems.

The fourth grade students are busy researching

for their mini exhibition on systems in the human

body.

Fourth Grade News

Transdisciplinary Theme: How we share the planet

Central Idea: Conflicts occur when sharing the planet

The grade five students are investigating how conflict can

occur on the school football pitch. They are collaborating to

find possible solutions. What a fantastic application of

knowledge in a real life setting!

Fifth Grade News

School News and Updates

Dates for your Calendar

Week 9 Culture Week and Reading Week

February 25th Art Exhibition

March 2nd Teacher Professional

Development Day - No Classes

March 10th PYP Parent Coffee Morning

March 26th Development Talks (Sign-up in

Reception from Monday March 16th)

March 31st Parent Information Meeting:

What is differentiation at ISGR?

April 3rd -April 12th Easter Break

May 12th Grade 5 Exhibition

Grade 4 teacher, Mike Howlett

‘I am open-minded when

planning new lessons by trying

out the latest in educational

tools and best practices.’