STMARKS NEWSLETTER 4 (27 SEPTEMBER 2024)

PROHIBITION TO BRING SMART DEVICES TO SCHOOL

As we continue to foster an environment of focused learning at St. Mark’s, we kindly request your attention to an important matter regarding the use of smart devices such as smart watches, smart phones, iPads, tablets and all forms of digital devices within the school premises.

In recent times, technology has undoubtedly transformed the way we interact and access information. While we acknowledge the numerous benefits that smart devices offer, we also recognise the potential challenges they may pose to the learning environment. It is with this concern in mind that we reiterate our school’s policy PROHIBITING ALL PRIMARY STUDENTS (YEAR 1 TO YEAR 6) to bring smart devices to school.

We sincerely believe that by adhering to these guidelines, we can collectively create an environment conducive to effective teaching and learning. Your support in this matter is highly appreciated as we strive to provide the best educational experience for all our students.

PRE-PREP ENGLISH: OBJECTS THAT BEGIN WITH THE LETTER "B"

In Pre-Prep, students had an exciting Show and Tell activity in their English class, where they brought in objects that started with the letter "B." From brightly colored balls to miniature buses, the room was filled with excitement as each student introduced their special toy.

During the activity, each student took turns standing in front of the class, proudly sharing what they had brought. They described the color, and the type of toy it was, and explained what it does. Some students even demonstrated how their toys worked! The Show and Tell was a great way for our young learners to build their confidence, practice speaking, and expand their vocabulary—all while having fun with their favorite toys!

YEAR 4 ENGLISH: THE GREAT PIZZA MYSTERY

Our Year 4 students in their English class wrapped up the reading unit "The Amazing Idea" in a fun and creative way! As part of their language learning, they wrote their own pizza mystery stories and put on a student-led play called "The Great Pizza Mystery."

The students worked hard on character development, stage design, and teamwork. They collaborated to create colorful sets, bringing their stories to life in the classroom.

The performance was filled with humor and surprises, showcasing each student's enthusiasm and creativity.

YEAR 5 MANDARIN: DATE

In our Year 5 Mandarin class, students reviewed what they learned last week, focusing on how to say the year, month, and days of the week in Mandarin. This helped them refresh their memory and reinforce their understanding of basic time-related vocabulary. 

The lesson then progressed with the introduction of two new sentence patterns: "What year were you born?" and "What is your birthday?" The students were taught how to express these questions and how to answer by stating their own birthdays in Mandarin, helping them apply the concepts in a practical context. 

After practicing speaking, they began writing the new words, focusing on proper stroke order and character formation. This hands-on writing activity deepened their understanding and strengthened their familiarity with the characters. By the end of the lesson, the students had a stronger grasp of both speaking and writing these important phrases, setting a solid foundation for future learning.

YEAR 6 ENGLISH: SPELLING

In Grade 6, students fully immersed themselves in an engaging spelling lesson this week. They moved around the classroom, actively using dictionaries to uncover the definitions of their weekly spelling words. This hands-on approach sparked curiosity as they worked independently to expand their vocabulary knowledge. 

After finding the definitions, students took it a step further by creating detailed vocabulary word maps. These maps included the word's meaning, synonyms, and antonyms, as well as complex sentences that demonstrated their understanding of each word in context. The lesson fostered collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity as students explored new ways to express their ideas. By taking an active approach to learning, students discovered the power of words while building essential language skills in a dynamic and fun environment.

YEAR 9 MUSIC: UKULELE

In their recent music class, Year 9 students learned the basics of strumming patterns and keeping a steady beat using the ukulele. The teacher introduced different strumming techniques and showed how timing and rhythm are key to playing music smoothly. Students practiced by strumming slowly, then gradually speeding up while staying in sync with the beat.

The class applied their skills by playing along to familiar songs, focusing on maintaining a steady rhythm together. By the end of the lesson, they had improved their coordination and timing, gaining confidence in their ukulele playing. 

YEAR 11 MUSIC: GUITAR

Our Year 11 students recently began their journey into guitar playing during their music class. The lesson started with an introduction to the different parts of the guitar, helping students become familiar with the instrument's structure. They learned about the headstock, fretboard, strings, and body, gaining a better understanding of how each part contributes to making music.

Following this, students practiced some basic chords and worked on their strumming technique. By the end of the lesson, many were already strumming simple chord progressions, showing impressive progress. We're excited to see how their skills develop in the coming weeks!