*This week's photos come from the Grade 3 play (The Magic of Dr. Seuss), as well as the
Kindergarten-Grade 2 and Grade 3-5 Thanksgiving meals.
The Value of In-service Days
Our staff, like our students, strive to be lifelong learners. This Friday, the staff at ISA was involved in the first of three in-service days during the 2023-2024 school year. These days are incredibly valuable opportunities for us to come together as a team to improve our practice and to develop ever more effective ways to engage and challenge the children at ISA. It seems like I’ve made a habit of including lists in recent Thistle Talks, but I keep myself reminded of the importance of the lifelong learning that in-service days make possible with the ideas in this poster that sits on the wall of my office.
If, as a teacher…
I do not visit or observe other adults as they teach;
I do not share the work of my students with colleagues for feedback, suggestions and critiques;
I do not visit other schools or attend particular workshops or seminars or read professional literature on aspects of my teaching;
I do not welcome visitors with experience and expertise to observe and provide feedback to me on my
classroom practice…
Then, I have absolutely no way to become better as a teacher.
(Carl Glickman, professor of education and author)
The overall list is longer than this, but I’ve kept the four key points related to the types of things we do during in-service days at ISA. On this particular day, we were host to a Google Education Summit, with topics that included the use of iPads in preschool & elementary school classrooms; using Google tools such as Docs, Slides, Sheets, Sites and Classroom to meaningfully enhance student engagement and learning; the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on teaching and assessment and more! The staff and teachers at ISA will certainly return to school on Monday with new ideas and inspirations for improving the learning experiences of the children - whether that includes the use of technology or not.
The Magic of Dr. Seuss
This week, the Grade 3 students performed The Magic of Dr. Seuss in front of parents, siblings and a range of classmates and members of the wider ISA community. The performers put on an amazing performance, dazzling the audience with their expression, poise, team effort and, of course, their drama skills in bringing their characters and the story to life. An ensemble piece such as this takes an enormous amount of time and effort, but the pay-off for this investment is clear and will pay dividends that go beyond academic progress and that will enrich their development over time. In addition to developing drama and dance skills, the benefits of this type of project include:
- Developing confidence;
- Improving communication skills (speaking, listening, nonverbal communication);
- Working as part of a group;
- Building friendships;
- Learning the importance of commitment and dedication
The play, in the end, was so much more than a play for these children. It will resonate through their childhood as a poignant reminder of what they can achieve when they push through their self-doubt.
Congratulations and thank you to the Grade 3 students, Mr. Walter (who had the vision and was the teacher/director, as well as the organiser of the Middle School tech crew who took care of sound, lights and backstage duties), the Grade 3 teachers (Ms. Stewart & Mrs. Davies), the ISA art teachers (Ms. Goynes & Ms. Rea), the teachers who helped with supervision, the catering/cleaning/security staff, the parent volunteers, the high school students who helped with hair and make-up - and all of the others responsible for such a successful show.
Thanksgiving
A form of Thanksgiving exists in many countries around the world. It almost always includes time off to celebrate an important achievement, such as a successful harvest. Canada, for example, has their big celebration every October. Similarly, as mentioned in our recent assembly, countries such as Ghana, Japan, Brazil and South Korea also have their own versions of thanksgiving celebrations. In the Preschool and Elementary School, we welcome the opportunity to feature cultural celebrations from around the world. Thanksgiving is a good example of how we can bring an appreciation for international traditions into the classrooms. Discussing Thanksgiving afforded a great context to conversations about gratitude and for student writing about ‘things I am grateful for’.
On Thursday, students in Preschool and Elementary School captured the joy of the Thanksgiving tradition with a family-style meal including turkey, roast potatoes and vegetables. Teachers and students sat together to enjoy conversations and the wonderful food prepared by the amazing kitchen staff. Some parent volunteers/CECs were also on hand to share in the celebrations, too!
Preschool & Elementary School Ceilidh
A week from today (Friday, December 1, 2023) marks the return of the annual preschool/elementary ceilidh. All students have been busy preparing for this wonderful community event. Remember to have the students come prepared with a “touch of tartan”. Parents and teachers will be encouraged (or, should that say “expected”?) to join in the fun. Please arrive at the large gym hall for 1:10pm.
I hope all of our ISA families enjoy the long weekend.
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