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A special congratulations to all our swimmers who did a fantastic job at the Yr3 to Yr6 Swim Gala. You all excelled in the pool this week and, it was wonderful to see such confidence in the water. Thank you also to the PE and Swim team who always plan such impeccable events. ๐ ๐
We also welcomed Kindy parents for a welcome to Reception and a family picnic ๐งบ. Thank you for joining us, and we hope you found the session useful and informative. All the information shared is now available through the Useful Links ๐ pinned to the top of each journal in Seesaw. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to message us.
At this time of year, the temptation is to look back and to celebrate the successes (of which there have been many). Of course this is always important, but as a school we are looking forward, striving to improve every aspect of school life.
Feedback from parents and the wider community is always welcome and some of the developments for the next academic year have come from such communication. Please continue to message in Seesaw if you have any questions, comments, feedback or suggestions.
I have already shared that we have now incorporated a set of Useful Links ๐ into every Seesaw Journal. Thank you for the positive feedback so far; it's great to hear that parents are finding this useful.
We want to make sure every parent has access to a detailed overview of curriculum expectations for their child. Term 1 curriculum objectives have now been published for each year group, beginning with the Early Learning Goals in Early Years, and continuing up to Year 6. When reporting to parents, it is these curriculum objectives that we use to measure age-related expectations. The hope also is that sharing this information with parents offers a much clearer view of what their children are learning in school, and how you can help at home.
Our vision is to ensure that the Primary School at ISB is not merely a teaching school, but a learning school. That is not just a play on words but a clear statement of intent. Together, we create an environment where every member of staff has the opportunity to engage in meaningful educational research and has the opportunity and capacity to implement it. We ensure an ethos of shared best practice in which all members of the team become an expert in their field.
Education research is the field of study that examines education and learning processes. At ISB, we continue to ensure that evidence-based research improves outcomes for all students.ย Projects run for an academic year. At the end of the project, the outcomes and areas of learning are implemented across the school and continue for years to come.ย
Oracy: New project for August 2024
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Oracy refers to the development of skills in speaking and listening. It encompasses the ability to express oneself fluently and with grammatical correctness in speech, to listen attentively to others, and to engage in constructive dialogue. Oracy is a crucial component of a child's education for several reasons:
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Foundation for Literacy
Oral language skills are foundational to reading and writing. Children who develop strong oracy skills are better equipped to understand and use written language effectively.
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Cognitive Development
Engaging in spoken communication helps children develop their thinking skills. It encourages them to organise their thoughts, clarify their understanding, and engage in problem-solving.
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Social and Emotional Development
Oracy helps children build confidence and self-esteem as they learn to express their ideas and feelings. It also fosters social skills, such as turn-taking, listening, and empathy.
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Academic Achievement
Strong oracy skills are linked to better academic performance across subjects. Children who can articulate their understanding are more likely to succeed in classroom discussions, presentations, and collaborative work.
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Future Employability
Effective communication is a key skill in the workplace. Developing oracy skills early sets the foundation for future success in professional environments.
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Cultural and Civic Engagement
Oracy enables children to participate fully in society. It helps them become active, informed citizens who can engage in debates, discussions, and democratic processes.
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By prioritising oracy, we can help students develop into articulate, confident, and socially adept individuals, equipped with the skills necessary for lifelong learning and success.
History & Geography: New project for August 2024
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A good international History and Geography curriculum in a primary school should be comprehensive, engaging, and inclusive, fostering a broad understanding of the world and its diverse cultures.
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With this project, our aim is to ensure chronological understanding, with all students learning about major events in world history. All students will have a comprehensive cultural awareness, including histories of different regions and cultures from around the world and highlighting contributions and achievements from diverse civilisations.
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Our History curriculum will include primary sources and critical thinking. These primary sources (documents, artefacts) will be used to teach historical analysis and encourage critical thinking by discussing different perspectives and interpretations of historical events.
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We also aim to explore themes such as migration, trade, conflict, and cooperationโ, showing how historical events are interconnected globally.
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Within our Geography curriculum, all students will have knowledge of continents, oceans, capitals, and significant cities as well as major landforms and climates. Students will study the cultural practices, languages, and traditions of different regions and highlight how geography influences culture and daily life.
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The crucial skills of reading and interpreting maps, globes, and atlases will be a priority and students will discuss natural resources, ecosystems, biodiversity and learn about environmental issues and sustainability practices.
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By incorporating these elements of History and Geography into our curriculum we can provide students with a well-rounded and meaningful understanding of the world, preparing them to be informed and engaged global citizens.
Learning Foundations: New project for August 2024
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Every member of staff in Primary should have a good working knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Understanding early years pedagogy is crucial for fostering a seamless and supportive transition for children as they move from Early Years settings to Primary.
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Knowledge of EYFS ensures staff build on the skills and knowledge children have already developed, creating a cohesive learning journey that acknowledges and respects their previous experiences.
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EYFS emphasises the holistic development of children, including their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Ensuring all staff have an understanding of EYFS ensures we continue to nurture these aspects, ensuring well-rounded development.
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Early years pedagogy focuses on child centered learning, where childrenโs interests and choices are respected and integrated into the learning process. This approach fosters independence, critical thinking, and a love for learning.
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Teachers with a good grasp of EYFS are better equipped to identify early signs of learning difficulties or developmental delays. Early identification allows for timely interventions, providing children with the support they need to thrive.
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Understanding the principles of EYFS helps to create inclusive classroom environments where all children, regardless of their backgrounds or abilities, can succeed and feel valued.
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Gaining knowledge of EYFS contributes to professional development, enhancing teaching skills and expanding understanding of child development and early education.
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Understanding early years pedagogy encourages everyone to engage in reflective practice, critically evaluating their teaching methods and strategies to continuously improve their effectiveness.
Parents can read more about all of our Key Priorities, including Metacognition & Self-Regulation, Brunei History & Culture, Thinking Scientifically, Maths Mastery, Language, and much more....
It's been a busy week... ๐คฉ
This week everyone has visited their new class, Pre Kindy have been talking and drawing, Kindy welcomed parents for a picnic, Reception have been chalking on the walls, Year 1 have writing about the different seasons, Year 2 have been creating huge mind maps, Year 3 have been writing scripts, Year 4 have welcomed a local Bruneian artist Joanita (see below), Year 5 have been baking and tasting, and Year 6 have been Secondary students.
Year 4 Artist Visit ๐จ
Thank you to Joanita (@jellybeandreams) for sharing the wonderful art work and for helping students discover colour palettes, as well as local animals and English/Malay translations.
Just two weeks to go until the end of this academic year.....
If you have any questions about any aspect of school life, please do not hesitate to message me in Seesaw.
Mr Michael Everett | Head of Primaryย
๐๏ธ Thursday 27th June: Yr6 Bowling ๐ณ
๐๏ธ Thursday 27th June: Reception Jerudong Park (rescheduled)
๐๏ธ Thursday 27th June: Year 1 Jerudong Water Park (rescheduled)
๐๏ธ Friday 28th June : Reception to Yr1 Welcome
๐๏ธ Friday 28th June: Yr5 Young Entrepreneurs Assembly
๐๏ธ Friday 5th July: Last day of term
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