I have just come back from 5 days with the HS Model United Nations conference that is held annually here in Beijing. It was a great experience for these students and really goes to show just what can be done with students who have a passion for something. The debate was extensive and included the Antarctic, problems in Lebanon and Syria, destruction of homelands, climate problems and economic sanctions. In total there were 71 resolutions that were debated. At this time I am not sure of the number passed.
Our week plans to be very busy with a lot going on all over the curriculum board. First off is the weekly Current Events;
Monday - Kevin
Tuesday - Elgin
Wednesday - Jungle
Thursday - Arianna
Friday - Haewon
Tuesday - Elgin
Wednesday - Jungle
Thursday - Arianna
Friday - Haewon
With the CPC over now, I anticipate that the Internet will return to normal. I was able to get to Newsela while at the hotel and again this morning at home.
This week is Puberty week. It is part of our Human Body unit and an important step in students beginning to understand the physical, social and emotional changes that will most likely start within the next year of their lives. This unit is taught co-ed with everything to be learned by both the girls and boys. There is a time on Friday where boys and girls will be split to answer specific questions. Students will have a chance all week to ask questions about things they want to know more about by writing them anonymously and placing them in the question box. Anything that is beyond the scope of the program will be turned to the parents to make a decision about explanation.
AS part of the Human Body unit there is also an assembly this week about nutrition and eating healthy put on by Chartwells.
The grade four folk tales program is this week and we will support them with attendance at one of their performances. This is usually a great show and one that some of the students will remember from last year if they were at ISB.
Friday is Grade 2 Circus and always promises to be a spectacular show filled with color and excitement. It starts at 2:00 on Friday afternoon and students will be dismissed form the Gym at the conclusion of the performance.
This week I expect students to complete their first draft of Speculative Fiction story #2. This will given them the rest of the week and next week to complete the final draft. They will share it with three other students first, make revisions and then hand it to me for final edits.
We are also well on our way to complete the Human Body report which is due to me on Monday so that students can then prepare their presentation. This presentation must involve the audience and be about 5-7 minutes long. We will be sharing presentations with Ms. Handy's class. I am looking forward to seeing what the student come up with.
With Student Led conferences two days after Spring Break, we have been busy preparing for the time you will spend with your student learning about their year so far in Grade 5. We are doing the presentation part electronically this year using Evernote and Piktochart. You will see the work in its original form - some electronic and some on paper. It always promises to be a great time of learning for parents and students.
In music class the students are quite fortunate to have two professional Musicians working with them for a performance which will be next week. While I am never with the students during music class, it always amazes me to see what they do in the performance.
If you are planning on leaving early for the Spring Break could you please let me know so I can plan accordingly.
That is it for this week. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me to set up a time we can meet.
Harold Daw
