primary newsletter

NEWS#14

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Primary Newsletter | Issue 14| April 15 2011

The International School of The Hague

Wijndaelerduin 12554 BX The Hague www.ishthehague.nl

Primary SchoolTelephone +31 (0)70 338 4567Fax +31 (0)70 328 2049Email [email protected]

Secondary SchoolTelephone +31 (0)70 328 1450Fax +31 (0)70 328 2049Email [email protected]

In this issue

3}4 Dear ISH News Readers,

5 Mother Tongue News

6 Primary News

7 Dates for your Diary

8}12 Primary News and Events

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Dear Parents,

I have so much to share with you this week, I don’t know where to start. Our Spring Fair was a huge success. We raised over 10 000 euro, so when expenses are subtracted, our profi t will probably be around 7.000 euro. However, the main purpose of the event, to unite our international children and to have fun together, was certainly satisfi ed. Even the sun shone, although the temperature on the barbecue stand was nearer arctic than tropical! Many thanks go to Sarah and the entire PTA team who worked tirelessly before, during and after the event to make it such a successful day. From a staff perspective, I would also like to thank Mrs. Tee who has been a great supporter of the PTA ever since she arrived, and again worked extremely hard.

This Monday’s podcast announced our revised learning defi nition. We are so focused on learning at ISH, it’s important that we all have a consistent view of what learning is. Our defi nition now reads as follows:“Learning at ISH is a dynamic journey where, through rigorous thinking and practice, we develop our knowledge and skills to give us

a greater understanding of ourselves and our world.”

Over the next few days and after the holiday, we will be exploring with the children our understanding of this phrase. Perhaps you would also like to discuss it with your children – for example, can your child tell you what knowledge is and what skills are? I’m sure you will receive some fascinating responses.

Thanks to Ms. Oakley for organizing a range of events for World Book Week in our school. We were delighted to welcome the children’s author, Dennis Bond on Tuesday who shared with our children the knowledge and skills required to be a successful author. No doubt you will also have seen the attractive book covers our children have designed. They are currently displayed in the Glasshouse. On Friday, we also had an amazing performance by our teachers of the traditional tale, Cinderella. However, this was Cinderella like you’ve never seen it before! Just ask your children about it. Thanks to Ms. Pardo for directing the event – it must have been diffi cult controlling the huge egos of our staff actors and actresses! Last but not least, many of our teachers were also involved in video

Dear ISH News Readers,

This Issue is made byVerona Schroder [email protected] Scott

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Dear ISH News Readers,

Next week Lost and Found Items will be on display under the covered. Please make sure to check as all remaining items will go to charity

podcasts, reading aloud from their favourite children’s books. All of this has been in combination with Mrs. Gilmour’s Love 2 Read fortnight which was so successful last year. Thank you to everyone involved in these events.

Next week we have lots of visitors in school. We have the headteachers of the Shell schools from all over the world in our school on Wednesday. They are here to see the types of behaviour one encounters in a mastering level school. Of course, we are very proud to be able to host such an event and equally proud of our parents, children and staff who work so hard together to make this such an excellent school. This is the second year running we have hosted such a programme.

As this is the last newsletter before the holiday, may I wish you all a very pleasant break. School ends at 15:00 next Thursday and we return on Monday 9th May.

Kind regards,

Graeme Scott

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Mother Tongue News

Mother Tongue and the Power of Reading

You might have heard from your child about the exciting buzz in the air. We are building up to World Book Day across the school. A series of exciting activities, such as the author Denis Bond visiting us and the Fancy Dress Parade, will be swirling through the school. The main idea behind this push is to motivate children to read and to enjoy reading.Linked to that, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share our Language Suggestion of the Week from the ESL/Mother Tongue Conference in Dusseldorf: “To really hook children into reading, we must acknowledge and use their identities, as well as their personal interests. When they can see a part of themselves in the story, the story begins to matter and comes to life.”This reinforces how important it is for your children to have access to a wide range of reading materials in their Mother Tongue. This could be a wonderful opportunity for you to share your cultural heritage with your children. Engagement in reading makes all the difference between a child who reads because they have to and a child who reads because they want to. Remember that the more your child learns in their Mother Tongue, the more knowledge they can transfer to the language they are learning.Mrs. McCracken & Mrs. Rikers

Mother Tongue News

*After School Mother Tongue:-2nd term make up classes update:- The Lower School (LS) following classes will have a make up lesson on the 20/04: Italian, French and German.- The Upper School (US) following classes will have a make up lesson on the 21/04: the 2 French groups and German.- LS German and US French group from Ms. Edith have missed a 2nd session. That session will be deducted from the 3rd term MT fee.-Last term a registration booklet was been sent home, the registration form should have been sent to Ms. Sabrina. If you have not received it please contact Ms Sabrina as soon as possible: [email protected]. -Looking for MT tutors: We are always looking at possibilities to open other MT language classes. If you know someone who is a qualifi ed teacher or has experience working with children, is interested to teach their mother tongue and to join our MT tutors team please ask them to contact me.We are currently looking for new German and Dutch tutors for Thursday after school (3:00-4:10).Kind regards,Pascale HertayDeputy [email protected]

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Primary News

World Book Day

Celebrations at the ISH

Last Tuesday, all classes from Pre-Rec to Year 6 enjoyed a visit from UK author Denis Bond. He came to the ISH to help us celebrate our love for reading, as well as to help inspire and motivate the writer that we believe every child has within them. Denis shared with the children many fascinating stories about his life as an author, actor and teacher. It was especially intriguing to hear, for example, that his fi rst book was inspired by a little boy in a Reception class he once taught… Equally interesting - and somewhat amusing - was the fact that, for certain of his books, he was asked to write under the female pseudonym of Denise Colby. Sadly, however, and in his own words, he didn’t agree with doing that so he “killed her, (bonk!)”, as happens in many enthralling TV soap operas. He certainly had the Year 5s and 6s enthralled and laughing with that mini drama!

And while taking all children through the various stages of reading and writing a book, he also told stories about some of the famous authors that he knows – Jaqueline Wilson and Michael Morpugo to name but two – and the reasons why he thinks some of their writing is so good.All in all, an entertaining, book-focused day was enjoyed by all! If your child came home talking about Denis Bond, why not try visiting his website together: http://www.denisbond.co.uk/ ?

Still to come in the run-up to World Book Day on Saturday 23rd April:• Story telling in the library and with Captain Nosey in the Speellokaal• Surprise assemblies on Friday 15th April• Lower and Upper School sharing of books in Mother Tongue sessions• Fancy Dress Parade on Wednesday 20th April.Ongoing between now and the end of term is the

and the charity book collection in the library.

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Dates for your Diary

Earth Day

May Holiday, School starts again on 09

May

Konininnedag Queen’s Day

Year 4 Camp, returning 1 May

Year 5 cycling practice

Upper School Sports Day

Meeting with new Reception Parents at

18:00

Annual Upper School Performance

17:00


17:00


17:00

Mr. Willis

Ms. Nicole

Mr. Willis

Ms. Nicole

Mr. Willis

Ms. Nicole

Mr. Willis

Ms. Nicole

Mr. Silvester

Ms. Nicole

Mr. Abbott

Ms. Jagdev

Mr. Abbott

Ms. Jagdev

Mr. Abbott

Ms. Johnson

Ms. Ana

April CT DAYSCT DAYS

30

18 Apr21

Please check our website for a complete calendar

19 Apr

21 Apr

09 May

10 May

12

May

13

11 May25

22

20 Apr

June

07

08

09

12 May

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Primary News

Reception visit the

Kinderboederij

During the weeks of the 4th and the 11th April the Reception classes went to visit the children’s farm, a good 20 minutes walk from school. The children were so excited the walk was no distance....... until the return journey!

Our trip provided opportunities for the children to get close to the animals to pat them, feel their coats, brush them and to look closely at the different features. Some of the animals had young and it was amazing to see the lambs suckling in such close proximity, and without the mother getting fraught! The rooster complained a lot, the pigs were busy eating and snoozing in the warm

sunshine, the cows were in their stalls and the goats.... well they enjoyed the company!

We are very fortunate to have this free resource on our doorstep. Well worth a visit! Thank you to all our parent helpers who came with us and supported the children in their learning.

Margaret Clough

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Events

Fundraiser

BBQ will be from 5-6pm and then the Japanese award winning animated movie “Spirited Away” will be screened from 6 to 8pm.Tickets are 7.50 per person. 5 euros from every ticket will be a donation to the Japanese Red Cross Earthquake appeal. Could you also mention that tickets will be sold outside at pick-up time next Tuesday. Tickets can also be bought anytime at the Primary Offi ce.

Hungry Mind Events

Friday 20 May5pm – BBQ

BBQ FUNDRAISER

5pm BBQ6-8pm – movie(ISH canteen &BBQ FUNDRAISERTheatre)

Have dinner and watch the animatedHave dinner and watch the animatedaward winning movie “Spirited Away”

(PG rating) with your friends.(PG rating) with your friends.HELP JAPAN GETA BACK ON THEIR

FEET!

Spring& Summer Activities

Monday

English conversation

interm. 09.45-11.15 Kick Start

Margreet de Leth 070-3523050

€ 15 per session

Intuitive painting kids

15.15-16.30 € 15 Elisabeth Minck

0616504577

Zumba 19.30-20.30 by Paola 10 euros per session

Starts 16 May Info call Paola 0634249719

Tuesday

Nordic walking 8.45-10.00

every Tuesday Pia Fallenius

Zumba Starts May 10 8.45-9.45 & 10.00-11.00 10 euros per lesson – Paola

Pre-Ballet 15.15-16.15

Age: 4-7 (max 8) Veerle, Astrid,

Isabella contact THM 3681804

€ 5

Digital Photography lessons

12.00-14.00 adults € 20

14.30-16.30 youngsters € 15 Rolf van Koppen 0642301383

Wednesday

Yoga adults 9.30-10.30

Isabelle Denelle 10 Euros

info: 0683119268 ------------- ---

Flower arranging Wednesday

11,18,25 May 9.00-11.30

27,50 per session

Mini tennis 12.45-14.00

Petra� € 30 for 6x

(no lesson on 16/3) Age 4-6

Football 12.45-14.30�

Die Haghe Ron Matla

0614541546

Jewelery making 12.45-14.00

contact THM Lily Anne € 5 per lesson

Zumba 19.30-20.30 by Paola 10

Euros per lesson

Thursday

Warm up, jog & stretch

in dunes and woods 8.30-9.30

contact THM Petra

Yoga & meditation

9.30-10.30

10 euros Isabelle

Zumbatomic (6-11 yrs) May 15.30-16.25

Zumba 4 Teens

16.30-17.30

Info call Paola 0634249719

Friday

Dutch conversation

beginners & intermediate level

14.00-15.00 4 Eurosby Tiny

Cooking lessons-Leah

9.00-11.00 25 Euros per

session – starts May 13th

Patch work club

9.30-12.00 Karin Hands every 1st

Friday of the month

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Author visit

Photos of the International day are now available online The Author Visit and Spring fair photos will be available soon http://web.mac.com/christel.vanmeeuwen/ISH

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Spring Fair

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