ISGR PYP Newsletter

FEBRUARY EDITION
2015
www.isgr.se

Dear PYP Families,

This months 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 months 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!

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 talks 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 31 st 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

PYP Newsletter

Grade Level News

Kindergarten News
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.
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.

First Grade 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!

Second 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

Attitude of the
month is

APPRECIATION

impact on animal habitats.

Third Grade News

Transdisciplinary Theme: How the world works

Grade 4 student,
Annika Hagwal
shows her
appreciation for
some of the
decorations in the
school as she
carefully fixes one
on the staircase.

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!

Monthly Spotlight: Grade 4

The fourth
ng 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 & Inquiry Lab

Library media Centre; LMC cultivates and supports childs 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.

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.isgrlmcguld.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

PYP Newsletter

Grade Level News

Fourth Grade 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.

Fifth 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!

Grade 4 teacher, Mike Howlett

I am open-minded when
planning new lessons by trying
out the latest in educational
tools and best practices.

School News and Updates

New Staff
We welcome
Camilla
Martinsson who
is teaching PYP
1F!

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

We welcome
Vanessa Molina
Gabinus who has
joined us in
Admissions &
Communications
at ISGR.

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