STMARKS NEWSLETTER 3 (9 FEBRUARY 2023)
PM 2.5 PRECAUTION
As the air quality in the classrooms is very important to us, especially during this period of the high level of PM2.5, our school has purchased more air purifiers to ensure that all of our classrooms are safe for students to use. In addition to the air purifiers, we also wash and clean our air conditioners every couple of months.
To mitigate the risk of contagious air-borne diseases, we also disinfect each classroom daily with ozone treatment.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (FEB 8)
We would like to extend our congratulations to the following students on receiving the Award of Excellence! This award recognizes our outstanding achievements in Effort this semester.
Your achievements have made a positive impact on the school community and have set a fantastic example for your peers. We are proud to have you as a student and are confident that you will continue to make great strides in your future endeavors.
Students who received the Award of Excellence will have the opportunity to join the Award of Excellence Breakfast on Friday, 24 February.
Runchida- Year 1 (Effort)
Pakannasorn - Year 1 (Effort)
Mira - Year 1 (Effort)
Karnkawin - Year 1 (Effort)
Thanakorn - Year 1 (Effort)
Josephinaree - Year 1 (Effort)
Harinwat - Year 1 (Kindness)
Nattanon- Year 3 (Effort)
Neil - Year 3 (Effort)
Natheera - Year 5 (Effort)
Naphon - Year 6 (Effort)
Monpachara - Year 7 (Effort)
Punn - Year 7 (Effort)
Vilanphat - Year 7 (Effort)
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ASSESSMENT (ISA)
The ISA has been progressing smoothly so far. We are pleased to see the high level of engagement and dedication from all of our students. Our goal is to ensure that the assessment is conducted fairly and efficiently and that all participants receive accurate and meaningful results.
What is ISA?
ISA is an annual assessment program that specifically measures the mathematical literacy as well as the reading and writing skills of students in international schools.
ISA is based on the internationally endorsed reading and mathematical literacy frameworks of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. ISA was designed and developed in Australia by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).
ISA papers are sent from Australia prior to the test day, and those papers must be sent back to Australia for marking. The ISA reports provide descriptive information about what a student knows and can do. The results are tabulated from year to year so they can be used to track changes over time at individual and school levels.
What is ISA not?
ISA is not a competitive or comparative test, such as the IB Diploma or Advanced Placement. It is not a test that students “pass”. It will not be used for purposes other than providing data to us, you, and your child, about his/her learning. While we give opportunities for practice, students do not ‘prepare’ for the tests, since they are consistent with what students learn on a regular basis.
Who uses ISA?
A number of international schools worldwide now use and acknowledge the ISA as an international assessment benchmark that is effective in measuring students’ academic abilities in English and Mathematics. This includes many of the acknowledged world leaders in international education.
How do the assessments work?
Students complete a reading literacy test, a mathematical literacy test and two writing tests, each of which take between 45 minutes and one hour to administer. The tests include both multiple-choice and open-ended tasks.
When is ISA administered at St. Mark’s?
The tests are administered during normal school hours here in the regular St. Mark’s environment that students are comfortable and familiar with.
How will St. Mark’s use the results?
As a school, we will analyse all data about the general patterns of performance and use these as one of the ways in which we monitor and modify our educational program. These data will be one of the ‘success indicators’ to which we pay attention each year.
What information will I receive as a parent?
We will pass on all information about your child to you in the form of an individual report provided by the Australian Council for Educational Research. These reports are very comprehensive and give you a detailed record of your child’s performance in relation to scales that describe increasingly advanced skills in mathematical literacy, reading literacy and writing. You will receive them by the end of May 2020.
In Conclusion
We see participation in ISA as significant in international education as it provides you with clear information about your child’s progress against credible, objective international standards.
PRE-PREP ENGLISH: VOCABULARY
Learning spelling and words that sound like a specific letter can be an effective way to improve vocabulary and writing skills. Our Pre-Prep students have been familiarizing themselves with the sounds of the letter: Study the different sounds the letter makes in different words and practice saying them out loud. They wrote down a list of words that contain the letter and try to categorize them based on the sounds they make. Students also used some letter toys to write down the words several times until they have a good understanding of the correct spelling.
With these, students can improve their spelling and recognition of words that sound like a specific letter, and boost their overall vocabulary and writing abilities.
YEAR 1 SOSE: ABORIGINAL BASKET
Making an aboriginal basket is a fun and educational activity that the teacher incorporates into our Year 1's social studies class. The process of creating a basket helps students understand the cultural significance of this traditional art form and learn about the indigenous cultures of different regions.
It was also a valuable exercise in learning about materials and techniques used in traditional basket weaving. We believe that incorporating traditional arts and crafts into the classroom can help students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures.
YEAR 3 SCIENCE: LIFE CYCLE OF PLANTS
Our Year 3 students had another exciting topic in our science curriculum - the life cycle of plants! As you know, plants play a vital role in our world, providing us with the oxygen we breathe and the food we eat. In this class, students explored the different stages in the life cycle of a plant and how they contribute to the survival and reproduction of the species.
Students learned that the life cycle of plants is not just about individual survival but also about the survival of the species. Seeds are dispersed through various means, such as being eaten by animals or simply dropped from the plant, allowing the species to spread and adapt to different environments.
We hope this has given you a glimpse into the fascinating world of the life cycle of plants. This topic will be covered in more detail in Year 3 science class in the upcoming days.
YEAR 8 MATH: EXPANDING & FACTORING
In Year 8 Math class, students were introduced to a new topic - expanding and factoring! This topic is essential for developing a strong foundation in algebra and is a crucial building block for more advanced mathematical concepts.
Students were taught Expanding as the process of multiplying out a series of terms and Factoring, on the other hand, is the reverse process of expanding. It involves finding a common factor between terms in a polynomial and grouping them together.
We believe that these concepts are not only important for solving algebraic equations but also for understanding more advanced mathematical concepts such as polynomials and functions.
In class, our Year 8 students will be practicing more expanding and factoring expressions, as well as learning different methods for finding common factors and grouping terms.
STUDENTS' WORK CORNER
YEAR 3: BOOK REVIEW WRITING: JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
Year 3 students had the opportunity to review the book James and The Giant Peach in their English class. In this book review writing, students critique and were able to provide an evaluation of the book including its strengths and weaknesses.
This activity helped students to develop their critical thinking skills and improve their writing skills.
YEAR 4: ESSAY WRITING - KOREA
Year 4 students were able to write an essay about Korea. Korea is a country located in East Asia and is comprised of two separate countries: North Korea and South Korea. Both countries have a rich cultural heritage and a unique history, making them interesting subjects for an essay.
In this writing activity students were able to choose a specific aspect of Korea to focus on. They were also able to gather information from different reliable sources such as books, articles, and the internet. Their works show that students were able to organize their ideas and provided some introduction and background information about Korea that made it more interesting to read.
YEAR 5: INFOGRAPHICS- PM 2.5
Making an infographic is an excellent activity for our Year 5 students as it helps them develop their creativity, critical thinking, and communication skills. Students used infographics to present their research findings, and summarize their topic about PM 2.5. Additionally, creating infographics is a fun and engaging way for students to learn about the said topic.
YEAR 6: EXPOSITION WRITING - THE INTERNET
Exposition writing is an important skill for our Year 6 students to learn as it helps them communicate their ideas and knowledge effectively. In this activity, students used exposition writing to explain or provide information about a particular topic which is the Internet. They were taught to write in a clear and concise manner to inform their readers about their ideas/opinions regarding the topic.
In conclusion, exposition writing is a valuable skill for our students to learn. It helps them develop their writing skills, critical thinking, and research abilities and provides a practical and effective way to communicate information and ideas.