A U T U M N & W I N T E R , 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3

Mark your Calendar!

The

Meridian Newsletter

Healthy Food

iMeridian

Meridian English Song Contest

March 13-15

Meridian Science Fair

April 26 Meridian will host its 2nd annual Science Fair for elementary schools in Poland.

International Day

May 21 Meridian is proud to have a school comprised of pupils from 20 different nationalities.

The 6th edition of MESC will showcase Poland’s future singers next month.

iMeridian is an innovative Saturday programme which enables our students to learn new material and spend free time in an educative and enjoyable way. The programme is available for our parents as well, and also in the afternoons. iMeridian is a window of opportunity. Don’t miss your chance! EnglishSpanishPolishMathematicsand more…

Good nutrition and a balanced diet help children grow up healthy. Forphysical and mentalwell-being it's recommended to eat: Φ plenty of plant foods, such as

fruit and vegetables Φ small amounts (sometimes or not

at all) of fatty, sugary snacks, such as lollies, sweets, chocolate, or sugary drinks.

Meridian’s steps toward a healthy school:

» New Catering Company » Ban for sweets and chocolates » Promoting healthy eating

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2012/2013 AUTUMN & WINTER

SCHOOL COMMUNITY PICNIC

Nowadays, the Internet is everywhere. Our children are surrounded all the time by technological devices, which have direct access to the Internet. The question is how much time should we spend on these devices. Our ICT teachers cooperated with Orange and we had a competition in our school about how to use the Internet in education.

Orange ICT competition

A new school year starts with new students, parents and often with some new teachers. This is why Meridian organises an annual picnic in order to integrate all the newcomers with others. School Community Picnic has become a must for Meridian International Elementary School. This year many fun activities were prepared for all. Some of them include a huge blow-up slide in the shape of a castle, that proved to be a huge attraction for the young pupils. The children take part in games and competitions, which are both entertaining and physically challenging. Adults can also have fun, by socialising with other parents and teachers present. This year, all participants had a special treat prepared for them: A kebab stand where they could order kebab and watch it being made.

For Meridian Elementary students, participating in contests is part of their learning routine. Each year we take part in plenty of contests including English, Polish and Math as well as Sports Competitions. One of the latest competitions we took part in is the English High Flier Contest, in which our pupil, James Herbert 6th grade won 2nd place. Well done James!

Competitions

Meridian organizes both national and international contests

» MMC – Pangea: International Mathematics contest

» MESC: Meridian English Song Contest

» Art Competition (as a part of Meridian Festival in April)

Some of the contests we participate(d) are ŁowcyTalentówJersz, Olympus, Kangur, Alfik, FOX, KET and PET.

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2012/2013 AUTUMN & WINTER

HEALTHY FOOD Fruits and Vegetables

The majority of snacks served to children should be fruits and vegetables, since most kids do not consumethe recommended three to five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Eating fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity and high blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables also contain important nutrients like vitamins A and C and fiber.

Healthy Lunch Box Basics

» One serving of vegetables or salad and one serving of fruit (fresh, canned or dried can all count).

» One serving of a low-fat or fat-free milk or dairy item such as a low-fat cheese stick, a yogurt cup, or some cottage cheese.

» One serving of meat, chicken, fish, eggs, peanut butter, beans or another protein source.

» A healthy drink such as water or 100% juice.

Pack a Healthy Lunch Packing a healthy lunch for your children is a great way to get them the nutrients they need to power through the school day. When deciding what to put in your child's lunch box, it's a good idea to include foods from different groups. Focusing on variety not only makes lunches more interesting, but also helps your children enjoy a balanced lunch that will provide the energy and nutrients they need to grow, play, learn and stay healthy.

Snacks to Share Pack extras for your kids to share with their friends, inspiring even more kids to eat healthy. » Baked chips: Not all chips are totally bad for you,

especially when they're baked, wheat-based, and shared with friends.

» Rice cakes: Buy lightly flavored (but low-sugar) varieties, or include a small container of peanut butter for your kids to share with the carpool gang.

» Cheese and crackers: Pack cheese spreads or slices along with wheat crackers.

» Whole Grain Cereal: Mix different types of whole grain cereal together for your kids to pass around with friends.

» Oatmeal cookies: Instead of giving your child junk food, encourage them to eat oatmeal cookies instead.

Water

Water should be the main drink served to kids at snack times. Water satisfies thirst and does not have sugar or calories. If kids are used to getting sweetened beverages at snack times, it may take a little time for them to get used to drinking water.

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2012/2013 AUTUMN & WINTER

HEALTHY FOOD The Best Snacks for Your Child’s Backpack

Making sure your kids eat right as they dash between classes, after-school activities and plans with friends is tough, which is why it's important for parents to get creative when it comes to ensuring nutritional standards in their kids' lives even when they're away from home. Here we've found 50 great snacks and snack ideas that fit into the lifestyles of all types of active kids, no matter how messy that backpack is.

These classic snacks are fun to eat, kid favorites, and easy to pack in bags and lunch boxes:

» Nuts: Great for active kids who need extra calories but limited junk, nuts are easy to eat and pack. Choose unsalted nuts and nut mixes for less sodium.

» Raw Veggies: Cut up carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers and other raw veggies for kids to munch on as they break for lunch or head to practices and games after school.

» Peaches: Peaches have a lot of vitamin C, so throw a pack of diced peaches into your child's backpack for cold-fighting power.

» Strawberries and citrus: These fruits are also high in vitamin C and great for transporting. Oranges don't even have to be cleaned before eating — teach your kids how to peel an orange or clementine they can eat any time.

» String cheese: A favorite kid snack for years, this fun-to-eat cheese stick is perfect for throwing into side pockets and lunch boxes.

» Yogurt: Protein, vitamin D and calcium are just some of the nutrients kids can easily get from yogurt, a product that's well-marketed in kid-friendly packaging and flavors.

» Fruit salad: Depending on the season, you can pack chopped and assorted fruits in a hard container for your kids' backpacks, with kiwi, blueberries, watermelon, strawberries and grapes for a colorful, tasty variety.

» Hard-boiled eggs: Give your child a dose of protein power by hard-boiling a couple of eggs and putting them in plastic containers.

» Cubed cheeses: Pack an assortment of cubed cheeses for easy, portable snacking, and lots of calcium and protein.

» Raisins: Higher in calories than regular fruit, raisins do fight cavities and gum disease, and it's an effective power-boosting snack to eat before active sports.

» 100% juice boxes: Avoid juices that are mostly made with sugar.

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Our students had great performances to thank to their devoted teachers. In addition to the songs showcased by our pupils, the audience watched an entertaining short play about a teacher who was trying to teach the alphabet to 6th graders. We had the honor of hosting a very special guest, his Excellency the Ambassador of Turkey, Professor Yusuf ZiyaOzcan who gave presents to all teachers.

New Year's Celebration 2013

Every year the calibre of performances is raised higher and higher and this year was no different. The performance was divided into two parts: the youngest students sang Christmas songs in English, Polish and Spanish. Students from 2A formed a small orchestra playing on the xylophones and triangles. The novelty was a play: 'How Jack and the Seven Dwarfs saved Christmas', directed by Mr Wendell, in which we admired the artistic talents of students from 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th grade. They did an excellent job and looked amazing in their unique costumes. The final act was a song performed by the choir after which we enjoyed a meal together.

Teachers Day

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Workshops

Help for Animals For several years at Meridian school we have been organising a collection of gifts for homeless animals, which are delivered later by our pupils directly to shelters. The needs are enormous, that is why wecollect not onlyfood, but also detergents, blankets, bowls, collars and leads. Pupils from grade 3 also performed a promotion of shelter animals, as adoption is the best help that we can offer to each homeless animal. We planto have a volunteer activity for a shelter with our Eco Volunteer Club.

Workshop for our Parents

Orange organized a workshop for our parents in January. ‘How to protect our children from the ‘cyber dangers’?’ And ‘How to help them use the Internet as an educational tool?’

Safe Internet

Workshop for our students from Vinci School

The children were taught ways to effectively study at home. Various methods of self-study have been shown with the aim to help the children do their homework using modern methods: speed-reading, memorizing, effective ways of takingnotes and concentration. The kids felt the passion of studying and their imagination for solving problems has been waked up.

Vinci School for Creative Learning

Workshop for our Parents

Vinci School had also two workshops for our parents in November and in December about how to support our children at home.

How to help your child at home?

Meridian helps homeless animals. Our teacher Karolina Karaszewska organizes a charity for animals who live in shelters.

Helping your child learn English

Workshop for our Parents from British Council

It will take place in February in English and in Polish

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2012/2013 AUTUMN & WINTER

A new Custom: Harmony Breakfasts

National Independence Day

Animal Protection Day

Each year our school organizes Animal Protection Day. This year’s theme was „Let the animals live there where they were born”. Our students took an educational role and taught adults that the “21st century – is a time for a humanitarian joy”. Each class presented how animals are cruelly treated and used for our amusement in places such as, dolphinariums, tourism (for example riding an elephant), ZOOs, circuses and during the cruel corrida, or even as a souvenir brought from holidays

'Exquisite food just like music soothes the soul.'

Meridian Elementary has started a new tradition: Breakfast at school. It first started with 6th graders, and 5th graders quickly followed suit. The aim of these breakfasts at school is to integrate pupils, parents and teachers and give them a chance to get to know each other better in a less formal setting. The atmosphere is pleasant, and all enjoy this chance to share a meal together.

We would like to establish a new custom at our Meridian School: Harmony Breakfast, in order to create a real Meridian Family.

Each year in November, Meridian International Elementary School celebrates Polish of Independence Day.This important ceremony is attended by students, teachers, school principals, as well as invited guests -members of the Association of Polish Veterans' Association from Rakowiec region.The Veterans share their memories of World War II, the hardships of life andself-sacrificing struggle for Polish independence.

After the speeches of Veterans, our students recite poems and sing songs with an Independence theme, which move the audience. It is a perfect introduction to the national celebration of Independence Day.

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What is New?

We have new, colorful, high quality lockers. Our students need to memorise a 4-digit code to be able to open their locker.

The nurse’s office has been renovated and equipped with hospital bed and necessary equipment.

New blinds in classrooms

We have enhanced our security system and installed 2 more cameras in the girls and boys cloakrooms.

New catering company from the 2nd semester.

We will be using Librus as our Student Information System (SIS).

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2012/2013 AUTUMN & WINTER

White School

Holding White School in Wisla has become a tradition for Meridian International Schools. The city hosted us again this year between 21-24 January as it was already well liked by all our students. The weather was fantastic. Our students enjoyed skiing, snowboarding and sleghing. They especially enjoyed mountain climbing and exploring the area. They played different games in the evenings. Swimming in the aqua park was unforgettable. The evening parties in one of the spacious rooms with shared food and drinks helped integrate our students.

Santa Claus Swimming Competition Sports Competition

Our students came 4th in the competition, and received a trophy, certificates and other prizes. This competition was a team effort and our students demonstrated their ability to work well together.

AUTUMN & WINTER 2012/2013

Meridian Family has new members

TosinOgunleye, Native English Teacher

Mr. Tosin is a Master's graduate from the Warsaw University with a dissertation in Child Development - Attachment Styles, as well as a certified teacher of English as a foreign language. He has worked for many years in various foreign language-teaching institutions including Cambridge School in Warsaw and neighboring towns as an English teacher of children in different age groups. He has also worked with a couple of Children's Charities on campaigns aimed at enlightening children on social values, global ethnicity and tolerance. His passions include drama, writing (poetry, prose, journalism), photography, and travelling. He also loves everything French.

IzabelaWróblewska, Music Teacher

An active pianist, singer and a teacher who is dedicated to music since she was a kid. She got her experience at a classical music school (SzkołaMuzycznaim. FryderykaChopina in Olsztyn) and later at a jazz school (SzkołaMuzykiRozrywkowejijazzuim. Komedy in Warsaw), focusing on piano and vocals.Posseses a bachelor degree from Musicology (University of Warsaw) and is at the moment working on her masters degree from Polish Philology. Her knowledge about performing on stage comes from cooperating with an international group of musicians, working with the artist Julia Marcell. With her, she toured all over Poland and Europe. Currently she is sharing her passion for music with kids and youngsters of different ages, with an emphasis on improvisation as an element of creativity and musical imagination. Works as a piano teacher at the Warsaw Academy of Rock (AkademiaRocka, Warszawa) and has just joined the team of teachers at the international school Meridian.

Welcome Meridian International Elementary School is proud to welcome its new teachers.

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Meridian Family has new members

Benjamin Thomas, Native English Teacher

My name is Benjamin Thomas. I grew up in Hawaii and from a young age was active in various international schools. I attended Bethel College University, with a degree in Computer Information Systems with additional studies in English, and have stayed highly in tune with changes to English in regards to writing and speaking through the past few years. I have taught English over five years, to a large variety of different age groups. Besides teaching, I've been a photographer and a writer for numerous blogs and magazines for many years, and was most recently featured at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. I am also an artist and a traveler. I love to travel and I’ve experienced close to forty countries and over fifty different cultures. Creativity and a sense of humor are key personality traits that I find enjoyable. Other hobbies I enjoy: I love indie inventions, creative music, html coding and eating crazy foods from around the world. I speak English and Spanish pretty fluently, but I can also understand words and sentences in Korean, Italian, Chinese, and quite a bit of Hawaiian Pidgin. While my Polish is not yet so fantastic, I would love to someday be fluent. Working for Meridian International School is something that's exciting to me, as it's something I've grown up in and now get to teach from the other side; children very much like myself at that age.

Welcome Meridian International Elementary School is proud to welcome its new teachers.

PTO

Parents in the PTO volunteer to discuss school issues and give their valuable suggestions and ideas. Each semester we have at least two PTO meetings to brainstorm. Some of the actions of our PTO:

» Find a better catering company » Improving healthy food habits » New lockers and new cameras » Librus (Student Information System) » This newsletter » The school nurse will be available at

school for much longer.

Parent Teacher Organization

MESC

AUTUMN & WINTER 2012/2013

Science Fair MVC

Extra-curricular Activities

Clubs We would like for each pupil to benefit from the clubs and extracurricular activities offered by the school by helping them develop lifelong skills and hobbies. Our clubs enable our pupils to explore their interests in stress-free environments and allow them to make new friends, become physically active and learn new skills. Some of our clubs:

» Academy of English » Warhammer 40.000 » Drama » Cooking Club » Leonardo da Vinci Club » Olympic Math Club » Eco-Volunteer Club

Integration, Mutual Acquaintance, Multiculturalism…

We aim to improve family -school relations by visiting students at home which is one of the vital elements that plays crucial role in education. We try to visit families in order to get to know them better. During our visits we see the warm atmosphere in their homes. As there are a lot of international students in our school, home visits are chance for us to experience different cultures, traditional and delicious food. Especially we see how hospitable our parents are at their homes. While drinking tea we talk about the progress the students are making and the way we can assist them to ensure they continue to progress. Our visits are usually surprising ones for our students which makes them all the more exciting. We believe these warm visits will strengthen the family-school bonds.

Home Visits

Our students get excited when they see their teachers at their home to celebrate their birthdays!

Meridian Festival

Trips Lots of educational and fun filled trips to museums, theatres, parks, cinema, musical shows, botanic gardens, concerts and workshops.