Elementary News

• Friendship 

While waiting outside with students at 8:04am on Thursday morning I asked a couple of third graders, “What Do You Like Best About ISA?”

One boy shouted, “There’s always something fun happening in my class!” 

Another girl added, “My friends.” 

The second comment brought a number of nodding heads from the girls within earshot of the conversation. In just two answers I felt I’d revealed two important aspects of an ISA experience; our teachers work with great dedication to create a sense of excitement each school day and nothing is more important to our elementary students than friendship.  Before I could gain more data it was time to dismiss the children for the start of the day. Of course they all darted quickly along, chatting happily with each other, to their classrooms.

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that friends are vital to school age children's healthy development. In the Elementary School, friendships provide children with more than just fun playmates. Friendships help children develop emotionally and can strongly influence behaviour patterns. In interacting with friends, children learn many social skills, such as how to communicate, co-operate, and solve problems. Interactions with each other allow children the essential practice required to learn how to control their emotions and respond to the emotions of others. Sadly during the pandemic this has been a restricted experience and for some children has impacted upon the natural development of their social skills. This is particularly true with the ability to think through and negotiate different situations that arise in peer relationships. Having friends also affects children's school performance. (Research has shown that the biggest influence on learning comes from peers.*) Children tend to have better attitudes about school and learning when they have friends there. In short, children benefit greatly from having friends. 

In our classrooms, we recognise the importance of working with each other and structure much of the day around interaction, often through group work. Consider your child’s after-school schedule. Now that Covid rules are more relaxed make time for your children to have unstructured play dates with friends. These are wonderful opportunities to develop critical social skills.

Next week, the elementary classrooms will have their friendship parties. This is organised at this time of year to coincide with Valentine's Day, an event celebrated by many of our families. At ISA, we choose to focus on ideas about how to form and develop friendships and encourage our students to show appreciation towards each other, including writing little notes or cards that they can hand out.

* John Hattie ‘Visible Learning’2013

• Making Each Day Count

This week our students celebrated the hundredth day of school. In one class the students drew portraits imagining themselves at 100. There were quite a number of bald heads, along with white/gray haired people and some walking sticks. When asked how their lives would change, several students felt they would become less active, but they would enjoy the companionship of a pet, particularly a dog or cat.  

Next Monday our 5 to 11 year olds, who are very active, will be participants in FIT KIDS, an afternoon event to get the students moving and thinking about what makes a healthy lifestyle, (to live beyond 100), all the while working together. We ask that your child dresses in appropriate P.E. clothing (i.e. no dresses or skirts) and P.E. shoes that will allow them to participate in these various physical activities, indoor for grades K-2, and weather permitting, indoor and outdoor for grades 3-5. 

Don Newbury

Elementary Principal