From the Preschool/Elementary School Principal

 

*This week's images come from the Grade 5 Band's First Note Day, further water explorations in the KG-G2 Science Club and a notice of next week's Harvest Sale (put on by the ES Veg Club).

Reflections on our Preschool & Elementary Open Houses: Partnering for an ambitious year

Thank you to all the parents and carers who joined us for our Preschool Open House and Elementary School Open House on Thursday, 3 September. These two events provided us with wonderful opportunities to share our collective vision for what success looks like across our classrooms this year. At ISA, we are deeply committed to nurturing the whole child, balancing curiosity, wonder, rigorous academic learning and all that goes into their social, emotional, and physical development.

We hope the evening gave you a clear picture of grade-level expectations, actionable ways you can support your child at home, and a genuine feel for the joy, inquiry, and energy that fill our learning spaces every day. If you were unable to attend, our classroom teachers will be delighted to share their presentation slides with you.

A huge congratulations must go to the extremely efficient, energetic and enthusiastic team of Grade 5 student ambassadors who were on hand to lead groups of families around the school from classroom to classroom, keeping to a very tight schedule. They did an incredible job of sharing their knowledge of the building, as well as the pride they take in their school. 

High expectations and student agency

While we love seeing our students' enthusiasm as they settle into the term, our ambition for them remains intentionally high. A thriving educational partnership depends on a shared agreement between home and school to hold high expectations, both in the quality of work children produce and the independence they build along the way.

Through our IB PYP framework, we focus on developing student agency and essential Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, particularly self-management and responsibility. We want our students to take active ownership of their learning, taking pride in their growth and navigating challenges with confidence.

Continuous, proactive dialogue: the "No Surprises" approach

Throughout the year, our teachers will keep you informed about your child's progress, strengths, and goals. We encourage you to reach out to us whenever you have questions, updates, or accomplishments to share from home.

Our guiding principle for home-school communication is simple: "No surprises." By carefully observing how children learn and engage, and by maintaining continuous, timely feedback loops between teachers, parents/carers, and students, we can clearly identify each child's vital "next steps." This ongoing alignment ensures every learner receives the precise support and challenge they need to flourish.

PowerSchool updates

PowerSchool serves as our central hub for school records, official communications, and essential administrative forms. Please take a moment to verify that your family’s contact information is up to date and that all necessary forms are completed (especiallly the Student Update and MED2 forms).

If you experience any issues accessing or navigating the portal, please contact our Elementary Assistant, Diane McBain (dmcbain@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk), who will be very happy to help.

ES Veg Club Harvest Sale

The ES Veg Cub is having a harvest sale on Wednesday 9th September from 3-4pm. They will be selling garlic, carrots, potatoes, herbs, and flower seeds grown in the ISA veg plot. Cash and card accepted. All proceeds will go to the RSPCA, a charity of the students' choosing. Contact Jory Bolton at jbolton@isa.aberdeen.sch.uk if you have any questions.