• Poetry Café
The fifth grade has recently completed a unit on poetry. One source of inspiration for their writing was the Sharon Creech book “Love That Dog”. The opportunity to write poetry building upon the context of a novel and an author’s style proved very successful with the students. Fifth graders created a poetry anthology, and last Friday each student shared one piece of work, with many parents in attendance in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, at a ‘Poetry Café’ they helped to set up. Well done to the fifth graders and their teachers for their writing efforts! How nice it was to see so many mums and dads joining their sons and daughters during the school day!
Please enjoy one of the poems below:
Swimming Pool Music
(Inspired by Street Music by Arnold Adoff)
by Samantha
This swimming competition
The
Always splashing noises
From the
swimming pool
Rippling from the water
And splashing of each other
During the dives and warm up in all
V O C A B U L A R I E S
Of
Ripple
Splash
giggle
In a chorus of noises
As the whistle whistles
and the coach screams
An orchestra
of the announcer talking
And aching muscles
Hearts
Thumping loudly
With The Always
Noise of This swimming pool Swimming pool music
• “Every Day is Filled with Opportunity”
During the May Bank holiday my 3-year-old grandson flew to London to see his Auntie. It would become a memorable experience for Arthur and his parents. My grandson was very excited before his first plane ride. A picture was taken on his new Trunki in front of the airport entrance. While snapping the photograph my son noticed the big ISA advertisement above the door. It showed a lady with some special effects over her face and the caption read, ‘An eye on the future.’ Of course my grandson wasn’t interested in the sign, but sure liked running through the wide automatic doors leading into the building. I love my grandson, but wasn’t jealous of the challenge my son and daughter-in-law faced flying with an energetic toddler!
This week I thought it would be interesting to ask a group of students about their thoughts on ‘promoting’ the school, (which they love), to prospective families. I met with four fifth graders to learn their interpretation of the frequently seen tag line,
‘Developing global, thriving minds.’
I asked two questions:
(1) What is your understanding of the expression?
(2) Would you like to suggest an additional phrase to capture your experience at ISA?
(1) On the meaning of the expression:
ISA offers “better careers – become somebody important.”
ISA students “will help the world thrive.”
ISA is where “people are accepted from around the world.”
The 4th student admitted, “I’m not sure what the expression means.”
All the students were excited to promote their school. They felt they could reflect on their own experiences to convince new families to join ISA.
Here are the student tag lines:
“A personalized education, where untapped potential is explored”
(Comment made to emphasize all the new learning experienced.)
“Progress through working together”
(Comment made to reflect the extensive group work that regularly takes place.)
“Every day is filled with opportunity”
(Comment made to contrast with previous schools attended.)
“Where friendships thrive.”
(Comment made to highlight that the school environment facilitates substantial relationships.)
As always I felt inspired talking to the students about their school experiences. To me the comments reflect well on the ISA values we advocate. Hopefully, word is getting out about what a wonderful school we have.
As for my grandson, I’ve been well informed that he presented some ‘special moments’ of his own for the first ten minutes of the flight, but after that loved his first flying adventure.
Don Newbury
Elementary Principal
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