STMARKS NEWSLETTER 21 (16 FEBRUARY 2024)

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ASSESSMENT (ISA) 2024 RECAP

We are delighted to share the outcome of the recently concluded International Schools Assessment 2024, where students from Year 3 to Year 8 participated in rigorous assessments encompassing mathematics, reading, and writing skills.

The ISA 2024 marked an important milestone in our academic calendar, providing an opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking abilities across diverse subjects.

Students immersed themselves in challenging mathematical problems, and literary texts, and expressed their thoughts effectively through writing tasks. The assessments not only tested their academic skills but also encouraged them to apply their learning in real-world contexts.

We commend the dedication and effort demonstrated by our students throughout the assessment process.  

While we wait for the results of the ISA 2024, let's keep cheering on our students and their love for learning.

LUNAR NEW YEAR ACTIVITY

Last Friday, 9 February, was a hub of excitement and cultural immersion as students from all levels came together to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The festivities echoed the spirit of unity, tradition, and joy with vibrant activities planned across different age groups.

In the Mandarin classes, our students immersed themselves in various activities that honored the rich traditions of the Lunar New Year. From early years to secondary students, each group engaged in unique and meaningful experiences that highlighted the essence of this occasion.

The early years students showcased their creativity by decorating bags in the form of majestic dragons. Additionally, they participated in outdoor activities that infused playfulness and camaraderie into the celebration.

Meanwhile, our primary students delved into the art of calligraphy as they meticulously wrote the character "福" (fu), symbolizing happiness and prosperity, on red paper. This ancient practice not only honed their artistic skills but also instilled in them the significance of spreading joy and good fortune. Moreover, they crafted their good luck paper bags, infusing each creation with heartfelt wishes for the year ahead. Inside the classrooms, laughter and excitement filled the air as students engaged in different lively games.

Our secondary students rolled up their sleeves and made some dumplings from scratch. From kneading the dough to filling it with savory ingredients, every step was a testament to their commitment to tradition and community. The aroma of freshly made dumplings wafted through the canteen, enticing everyone to partake in the feast of flavors.

The colorful array of traditional attire added an extra layer of festivity and warmth to the atmosphere, creating memories that will be cherished for years to come.

KINDER THAI: VOWEL "เเ - ะ"

Our Kindergarten students have been having a blast learning something new—Thai vowels! It's been amazing to see them get excited about discovering the sounds of the Thai language.

In their recent lessons, the teacher introduced our students to the vowel "เเ - ะ" and witnessed their enthusiasm. Learning vowels is a crucial step in mastering any language, and our young students have shown great enthusiasm and dedication.

One of the most exciting aspects of their Thai class has been observing the students as they eagerly attempt to read and pronounce words containing the vowel "เเ - ะ."

In addition to reading and pronunciation practice, our students have been actively engaged in writing and tracing the vowel "เเ - ะ" both on the board and in their activity books. These hands-on activities not only help reinforce their understanding of the vowel but also enhance their fine motor skills and penmanship.

Through games, songs, and visual aids, our students are fully immersed in the learning process, making each lesson a memorable and enriching experience.

YEAR 3 MATHS: COLUMN CHARTS

In Year 3, students are excited about math! They're learning about column charts, which clearly show information. First, they learned about the parts of a chart like the y-axis (up and down) and the x-axis (left to right). They also learned about intervals, which help organize the information.

The students got to do a fun activity after learning the basics. They had M&M's of different colors and counted them. Then, they sorted them by color and counted each group. After that, they made their own column charts using the colors of the M&M's.

It was cool to see the colorful columns on their charts. Each color showed how many M&M's there were of each kind.

Through this activity, Year 3 students are learning to organize data and show it in a way that's easy to understand. They're having fun while learning important math skills.

YEAR 7 P.E.: RELAY GAMES

In an exciting twist to their Physical Education (P.E.) class, Year 7 and 8 students recently participated in a series of engaging relay games that sparked laughter, teamwork, and healthy competition.

The energetic atmosphere filled the field as students divided into teams, ready to tackle a variety of challenges designed to test their coordination and teamwork skills. Among the highlights were the balloon cup relay, frisbee disk toss, and puzzle-solving race.

In the balloon cup relay, teams worked together to blow up balloons and put them in cups. Then, they lifted the cups back to the starting line.

Meanwhile, the frisbee disk toss saw students aiming for stacked cones with pinpoint accuracy, each throw met with cheers and encouragement from their teammates.

Adding an extra layer of mental agility, the puzzle race required teams to piece together puzzles under the pressure of the clock, showcasing their problem-solving abilities while fostering a sense of camaraderie.

After the games, everyone felt happy and proud. They showed that teamwork and friendship make everything better.

PRIMARY & SECONDARY THAI (TFL): DECORATING VALENTINE'S CUPCAKE

In a fun start to their Thai language class, primary and secondary students decorated Valentine's Day cupcakes. It was a friendly activity before they began learning.

The students made their cupcakes pretty using various colour frostings. They laughed and talked while they decorated.

The cupcake activity was a break for students learning Thai. It also helped them learn new words and feel more confident in Thai.

The cupcakes showed each student's creativity. They happily started their Thai lessons after decorating.