SCHOOL LOGO

Our Mission for Excellence: The American School of Kinshasa provides dynamic and individualized educational challenges and opportunities that promote diversity and empower each of its students to develop into independent global community leaders.

The American School of Kinshasa TASOK TALK March | 2020

In This Edition: • Message from the Director – Health & Safety • How the World Works - Kindergarten • Poetry for Change – Grades 5 & 8 • TASOK Arts Festival – March 14 • Action in the PYP: The PYP Exhibition (PYPX) • ‘Say NO to Bullying’ • SAISA Basketball Tournament • MYP In a Nutshell • The 2020 TASOK Gala – ‘Field of Dreams’ • ES Soccer Tournament at Maarif • Earth Day Cleanup

Message from the Director Keeping our Community Safe & Healthy! As more and more countries are impacted by the COVID-19 Coronavirus around the world, we are taking proactive measures here at TASOK to protect our students, staff, and school community. While this is only precautionary, they include:

• Increased frequency of cleaning • Focus on frequent hand washing and provision of hand sanitizer • Nurse hygiene workshops with student grade levels • Nurse hygiene workshops with staff groups (cafeteria, security, assistants,

and maintenance) We will keep you updated should we need to increase our precautions, but In the meantime, please help by:

• Keeping your child at home if they have any symptoms of illness • Not coming to campus yourself, if you are sick and the same for your domestic staff (drivers, nannies, etc.) • Staying aware of CDC travel advisories when planning trips

Most importantly, please reinforce with your child the importance of frequent hand washing with soap and water:

• Before leaving home • On arrival at school • Before food preparation • Before eating • Before leaving school

This is a team effort at home and at school -Thank you! Dan Mullen TASOK Director

TASOK Soccer 2nd Place Coach David & Coach Wilson

Gymnastics ASA Trimester 2 -Coach Kyle Jessop

How the World Works: Weather patterns impacts how we live. Kahindo Mbodwam, Kindergarten Teacher In Kindergarten, we had an exciting and engaging unit on weather patterns and their impact on our lives. Here are a few highlights. Air is all around us experiment: Although not visible, air affects weather patterns.

Kindergarteners investigated and proved that although we cannot see air, it is all around us, even inside a cup! Students put water in a container and stuffed a paper napkin into the bottom of it a cup. They turned the cup upside down, keeping it straight up and down, and pushed the cup all the way under water. They waited a few seconds and then lifted the cup out of the water, turned it right side up and took out the paper napkin. The napkin was dry! Why is that?

Students spent time observing and recording weather patterns. The weather in Kinshasa can be cloudy, windy, sunny, or rainy. Changing air pressure can even cause storms!

In Kinshasa students know that we only have the dry and rainy season; however, we briefly studied seasons around the world.

In mathematics students looked at patterns and learned to compare numbers. This skill helped them predict the weather and analyze temperature. During “I Love to Read and Write” week, kindergarten students collaborated with Grade 4.

Students learned about weather instruments and visited the weather station.

Kindergarteners made several trips to secondary school to observe, record, and learn about the weather station. They got to meet a special science teacher. Can you see the weather station suspended above the science building?

Students then made their own weather instruments and weather stations.

And when the rain finally came pouring down, they were well prepared and put into practice all they had learned about what to wear under various weather conditions!

The unit will wrap up with students taking on the role of a meteorologist. Enjoy the weather!

Poetry for Change Julie Baxter, Ingrid Chavez, and Timothy Hatcher

Here’s how it worked

Grade 8 has just completed their Poetry For Change unit. They have been focussed on protest poetry and how it can inspire change in the world. Next they created their own poetry based on the inquiry question: Can art effect change? These poems were embedded in visual representations of their ideas. Grade 5 students then attended an exhibition of the final pieces and participated in Roundtable discussions led by the Grade 8 students.

Poetry for Change Grades 5 and 8 discuss how the arts can change the world

Grade 5 took part in a gallery walk completing the visual

thinking routine : I See, I Think, I Wonder. Grade 8

students responded to their questions and justified their thinking behind their poetry.

1

Roundtable discussions followed. Each table was a mix of Grade 5 and 8 students. Grade 5 students had prepared questions and these were in a jar in the centre. Some thoughtful discussions ensued as students shared their thoughts.

2

“This was a truly memorable hour where students shared, discussed, collaborated, and reflected.” ~ Timothy Hatcher, Grade 5 homeroom teacher

“It was amazing to observe both an MYP and a PYP grade level together in the roundtable discussions, they were agile debaters and everyone shared some great insights.” ~ Dan Mullen, Director

After the Roundtable discussions, each group

was tasked with summarising their

discussions using only six words.

3

Exit ticket : Grade 5 students completed a visual thinking routine: I Used To Think…

Now I Think…

Do these words CHANGE your perspective of the

line of inquiry?

4

5

“ I was blown away by the MYP students' poetry, the strong messages they shared, and the depth to which they were able to discuss it with Grade 5 students. “ ~ Paula Baxter, Elementary Principal

“I was also highly impressed with the Grade 5 students and thought their comments were very mature and well articulated. I look forward to them being in Grade 6 next year. “ ~ Lesley Peacock, Secondary Principal

“We used to think pairing figurative art with poetry might be a step too far for Grade 8 students…And now we think we will continue to

raise the bar for these thoughtful, creative writers/artists.” ~ Julie Baxter & Ingrid Chavez, Grade 8 team teachers

TASOK Arts Festival: March 14 Come celebrate the First Annual TASOK Arts Festival with us Saturday, March 14 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm with our theme: EXPRESSIONS. Various performances and exhibits will be set up around campus showcasing the brilliance and creativity of the Visual and Performing Arts for grades 2-12. Food will be available for purchase along with TASOK memorabilia from the SS Student Store.

Action in the PYP: The PYP Exhibition Grade 5 are underway with their exhibition! Paula Baxter & Timothy Hatcher In last month’s TASOK Talk there was an outline of what the PYP Exhibition (PYPX) is and why it is such an important process for our Grade 5 students at the end of their primary years. As you read this our Grade 5 students are diving into their third week of their PYPX journey.

PYPX timeline: Week 1 17-21 February: Tuning in Week 2 24-28 February: Finding out Week 3 2-6 March: Sorting out Week 4 9-13 March: Going further Week 5 16-20 March: Making conclusions

SPRING BREAK Week 6 6-10 April: Taking action Week 7 13-17 April: PYP Exhibition Some of the steps in our student’s exhibition inquiry process

Unpacking the transdisciplinary theme Sharing the Planet: An inquiry into the rights and responsibilities in the struggle to share finite resources with other people and with other living things; communities and the relationships within and between them; access to equal opportunities; peace and conflict resolution.

Library lessons to review citing protocols With Ms. Kraft, using a RAPAC Test (the re-worked CRAP Test) Grade 5 tested validity of online sources. The Natural History Museum of London site was debunked by many and the Tree Octopus site was proven to be real by many students….

Visible Thinking Routine: I See, I Think, I Wonder With 20 images related to the transdisciplinary theme, students commented on their observations, thoughts and wonderings.

Roundtable discussions Using the roundtable discussion technique, students responded to prompts drawn from the box related to the transdisciplinary theme.

Question Formulation Technique (QFT) Using one image, students developed questions related to the transdisciplinary theme. Next students categorized their questions into open-ended or closed questions. They worked together to see if they could change one type of question into the other. Whilst understanding that they both have value within the inquiry process. Key concepts Students were introduced to the seven key concepts: form, function, causation, change, change, connection and responsibility. They explored the questions related to the concepts and the worked to create their own definitions of them. To consolidate their understanding, students were given 25 teacher generated questions from units already taught, and categorized them under the relevant key concepts.

Using a galley walk, students agreed or disagreed with each groups’ question selection, and defended their stance. Photo sort In two groups, students placed the images in order of priority, from most important issue to least important (according to the transdisciplinary theme). They merged the two groups to observe the overlap, and discuss what was important to all students.

Grade 6 advice Last year’s Grade 5 students spent time explaining the highs and lows of the first TASOK exhibition last year.

Teacher mentors Exhibition inquiry groups were each assigned teacher mentors, whom they have met already to set up a weekly mentor meeting. Central idea Students were presented with the central idea: By developing a deeper understanding of our world, we can seek solutions and take action. And then collaborated to create an exhaustive list of all the topics that could fit with the transdisciplinary theme.

Lines of inquiry Next each group worked on a short QFT to develop their questions around the central idea. These questions were then upgraded to statements and became their lines of inquiry. Key concepts After agreeing lines of inquiry in each group students then explored which key concepts fit best.

Here are some of the students’ lines of inquiry and key concepts: ● People have solved problems to create peace (function) ● Conflict is a big part of this world (causation) ● Conflict has a negative and positive impact on the world (change) ● Ways human trafficking is connected to war (connection) ● Sustainable ways to stop human trafficking (function) ● Ways human trafficking affects other people (perspective)

Parent workshop Thank you to all the Grade 5 parents who joined us in the elementary library on February 28 to learn more about the PYP exhibition! If you have any questions about the exhibition ~ ask your child!

‘Say No to Bullying!’ Lesley Peacock – Secondary Principal The other day I noticed two ninth grade boys gossiping about another ninth grader’s love life. The conversation was about a girl who told her friend that she had a crush on a boy. The girl’s friend then betrayed her trust and told other students in the grade through Google Chat, including the boy that the girl fancied. It was obvious that the two boys were talking about these events just for the sake of gossip, and that they were not thinking about the effects their gossip might have. Rather a convoluted scenario, they usually are, but very typical of any school, anywhere in the world, where you have young adults. There are many definitions for “bully” and many degrees of bullying. The reasons are equally numerous, but the outcome remains the same, someone gets hurts along the way. It is important to recognize that any pupil can be bullied or can engage in bullying behavior. The role of the school is to provide a balanced, appropriate and well-designed education for all its students and a safe and secure learning environment is an essential requirement to achieve this goal. Bullying behavior, by its very nature, undermines the quality of education, as it can have short and long-term effects on the physical and mental well-being of students, their engagement with school, their self-confidence and the ability for them to pursue their interests and future ambitions. School-based initiatives, such as counseling workshops, parent forums, and Life Skills classes can help to reinforce positive efforts and provide strategies to identify bullying and respond appropriately to it. On Friday 28th, Mrs. Mullen offered parents a ‘Stop Bullying’ workshop, in which the types and forms that bullying may take were discussed, including ways in which both families and the school can support and empower children to ‘Say No to Bullying’. In addition, the school’s new Bully Guidelines were introduced focusing on student wellbeing, safety, and behavior. This can be found on the TASOK Website: https://tasok.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Secondary-School-Student-Handbook-2019-2020-updated-11.2.2020.pdf All reported incidents of bullying, harassment or other forms of anti-social behavior by an individual or group of students will be taken seriously at TASOK and dealt with sensitively. Students and parents are asked to bring their concerns directly to the School Counselors.

SAISA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Stefan Bergh – Athletic Director/PE In April of 2019, the Southern Africa International School Association was formed with six international schools (TASOK, AISJ, ISL, LIS, AISCT, and WIS). TASOK was given the honor of hosting the 1st SAISA Basketball Tournament, on February 7-8, 2020. Unfortunately, all six SAISA schools were not able to attend the tournament, however the remaining spaces were filled with local and other international schools. The tournament began on Friday, February 7 with an opening ceremony. The visiting schools were well received by the TASOK crowd as they paraded around the covered court.

Friday’s Round-Robin competition was fierce from the opening tip-off as each team was vying to be well seeded heading into the playoffs. When the dust had settled, TASOK boys were second, and the Lady Condors were first in their respective divisions. Saturday morning started well, however the rain quickly came forcing the tournament onto only 1 court and rain delays throughout the morning to ensure the safety of the court. Thankfully the rain stopped and we were able to dry the court and continue the tournament with some minor schedule changes. Although the TASOK boys were hungry and determined, they could not get past Lycée Prince de Liège in the first round, losing by 2 points. The TASOK boys’ team is young and full of potential and sure to be a team to watch at next year’s tournament. The boy’s final was a back-and-forth game between the American School of Brazzaville, and the International School of Lusaka with neither team able to take control of the lead. ISL’s poise and experience came through in the end as they were able to win the gold by a slim 3-point lead. The Lady Condors started the season with an attitude and aggressiveness not seen in past years and kept that resolve throughout the tournament as they cruised through the Round Robin undefeated. They were met in the finals by a Club team from Kinshasa, compromising of some of the best female players in the city. Although the Lady Condors never gave-up and persevered through the match, they could not keep up with ABKAS and came away with a proud second place.

Thank you to all the TASOK community for your support and helping ensure the tournament was a success. We look forward to continuing to compete in and host SAISA events.

HOMESTAYS Part of the SAISA agreement is that host schools will provide homestays for visiting internationals students. This is a new concept to TASOK as we have rarely hosted international schools in the past. Although some students and families were nervous about the experience, I believe it was positive for all those involved and allowed TASOK and other international students to make new friendships. “It was a first for us, as well, and we really enjoyed having the two boys from the AISB at our house. We hope that it was an equally nice experience for them. We will gladly volunteer for a next time!” – TASOK host family A HUGE THANK YOU to all host families and TASOK students that took the time to ensure the visiting students were comfortable and well taken care of. All TASOK athletes competing in SAISA tournaments will be hosted while travelling or will act as host families during events that TASOK will host.

MYP In A NutShell: During February, a consultant from the International Baccalaureate Organization, Eifion Phillips, visited to evaluate the state of our MYP implementation. Over three days, he met with groups of administrators, teachers, students, and parents to learn more about what teaching and learning looks like at TASOK. In the report that he wrote for the IBO and shared with the school, Mr. Phillips had a glowing review for our progress in developing the Middle Years Programme. He also had a few suggestions for us to continue to improve, and we will be incorporating his advice in the near future. Thank you to all the parents that were able to meet with him during his visit!

Get Ready for the 2020 TASOK Gala!

“A Field of Dreams” TASOK Gala 2020 The TASOK gala will take place again this year right next to the TASOK upper field, looking over the multiple possibilities for the future. This is another opportunity to rally support from the greater community for a fantastic project centered on the 2020 “green” perspective, enhancing our outdoor facilities, and making the “Field of Dreams” a reality. Our main upper field is one area that brings our community together, soccer fans, football fans, softball fans, Track & Field, Ultimate Frisbee, and Physical Education classes alike. 2020 Project: TASOK Soccer Field Upgrade Based on an alumnus launched fundraiser idea, our goal is to make one of TASOK’s most used facilities a top-notch athletic area. This project would include upgrading the current field with a top-notch field maintenance system involving rain capture from the basketball court roof, a large water storage cistern, an automatic sprinkler system, leveling and re-seeding, and a rigorous grass mowing plan. His goal was to make the TASOK field a space where regular and special tournament opportunities could be held for all of our students. What started as an appeal to the alumni is now catching the attention of the entire TASOK community. The project ties in well with the recycling program at the school and the green approach of its Campus Master Plan. Tickets available in the main administration building Cashier’s office. These investments and your contributions will turn our field into the Field of Dreams!

ES Soccer Tournament at Maarif Coach David Tshibangu and Coach Neil Wilson A BIG THANK YOU to our coaching staff, parents, students, and TASOK fans that joined for Saturday’s Soccer Tournament at the Turkish School. Our players represented TASOK very well, ultimately going to the finals and taking 2nd Place! Well done!

Upcoming Events: • Picture Retakes & Senior Pictures: March 4 • TASOK Color Run: March 6 • International Women’s Day: March 8 • Trimester 3 ASAs Begin: March 9 • TASOK Arts Festival: March 14 @ 11am – 3 pm

• SPRING BREAK: March 23 – April 3 • TALENT SHOW: April 9 • TASOK GALA: April 18 • EARTH DAY CLEANUP: April 22 • STUDENT CONFERENCES: April 29

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela

Website:

Contact:

Email: Twitter

www.tasok.net +243 818 846 619 info@tasok.net @TASOKinshasa

THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

EARTH DAYOF

On Wednesday, 22 April, join millions to stand up for the planet.

SHOW UP.Join us on campus for Earth Day. Walk

the trails and help cleanup as you go! Fresh air, gloves and trash bags provided.

TASOK Trails Cleanup https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tasok-trails-cleanup-tickets-97064902737