Dear WIS Parents,
Another busy week here at WIS, with inquiry-based and thought-provoking learning activities throughout our school. We have also had several exciting field trips, and also the new enrichment clusters happening.
Enrichment Clusters
A great way to meet new friends, new teachers and use English in a fun new subject area!
The enrichment clusters is an initiative started by our Grade 4 teacher Bobbi Jo, which lets the student choose an activity of interest in a group of other interested students from Primary and Middle School. Students had a choice of 10 classes including: Yoga, LEGO stop motion, tee shirt design, German, Broadway, Planting Flowers, Paper Cutting, Quilting, Sports, and Slime. They got into their mixed age groups, with grades 3-9.
We will do this one lesson a week for about a month, with presentations to parents happening in April – watch this space!
PBLS
This is an initiative from a group of WIS teachers, spearheaded by our Learning Support teacher Erica. PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. PBIS focuses on creating and sustaining school-wide, classroom, and individual systems of support that improve the educational environment for all children. Our aim is to explicitly teach behavioral expectations and then recognize the positive behaviors shown by our students. WIS hopes to create a system that emphasizes the IB learner profile (caring, knowledgeable, risk-taker, inquirers, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, balanced, and reflective). This system will also help develop the IB approaches to learning (thinking skills, communication skills, social skills, self-management skills, and research skills) preparing the students for the future.
By creating and implementing a system of PBIS, WIS hopes to reduce school and classroom behavior disruptions and educate all students about positive school and life behaviors. Our PBIS implementation plan will include clearly defined outcomes, research-validated practices, supportive administrative systems, and information for problem solving behaviors.
The goal will be to establish regular, predictable, positive learning and teaching environments across the school. Teachers and staff will serve as positive role models to students as they will strive to embody the IB Learner Profile traits and engage in the IB Approaches to Learning. WIS hopes to create a plan for recognizing students and classes who exemplify the positive expected behaviors. Through this process, WIS hopes to increase learning time and promote academic and social success for all of our students.
Important WIS Dates
Here are some of our important upcoming dates for activities taking place this term:
Fingers crossed the beautiful weather stays over the weekend, for us to actively enjoy the lush Hangzhou outdoors environment!
Anders Hjelm
Executive Principal 执行校长
wischina.org