From the Director’s Desk Service learning is an important part of a QSI education. Starting from even the young age of 3, our children learn about the world around them in and the role we can play in it. As students get older, we begin to investigate the inequalities that exist and our human responsibility to address those challenges. Our Eco School focus allows us to learn about human impact on the environment and how we can make changes in our own behaviors to lessen the impact. Our work with the Down Syndrome group helps our students see that children with disabilities are really just kids like they are with wishes and needs. Throughout the year we have different drives and fundraisers to address different community needs. With each event, learning is supported in the classroom. This week we are doing a food drive. It gives us an opportunity to serve in a different capacity, addressing a very basic human need. Here is an article from the World Health Organization about world hunger: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/world-hunger-report/en/ While the picture on hunger had been improving, climate change and world conflict has caused an increase in the past few years. It is important for our students to see the connection between climate change (Eco Schools) and hunger (food drive). It is these connections that help students to realize that we aren’t just doing the food drive because we are good citizens, but because it is a real need. Since most of us are in a position to be able to help, in my mind, it becomes an obligation. Along the same line, ACTED, a French NGO, is having a toy and clothing drive. Please see specific information in this newsletter for your donations. Tomorrow our teaching staff will participate in a day of professional development. We have a guest from our school in Kyiv with us. Colleen Malone is the Learning Resource Center coordinator, and she is here to share information about how students learn differently and the ways we can support them. Wednesday is the 100th day of school, and our primary building has some great activities planned. The rest of the school will be involved as well, so I hope everyone is here on that day! We do still have influenza B working its way through our classrooms. Just a reminder, please keep your child home unless they have been fever-free without medication for 24 hours. Finally, on Monday, a paper copy of a brief communication survey will come home (English and Russian). It will have your name on it. Please complete the survey promptly and send it back to school. If you wish for it to be anonymous, feel free to cut your name from it. There is a class competition going on to see which class brings back all the signed papers – only the youngest in the family will bring the form home. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this important yearly survey. It evaluates one of our MSA accreditation goals. Enjoy your weekend QSI community! Kim Black and QSID Staff Dearest QSI parents, The Horticulture activity students started to collect rain water. They cleaned and placed mesh fabric on the lid of a water tank that will filter the water from the unwanted dirt from the roof. They placed the water tank under the gutters. Water from the water tank will be used for gardening.
Intensive EnglishEvery day, as part of their regular study of English, the Upper IE students read books for 15-20 minutes. They do peer reading, group reading, silent reading, and so forth. This week, we decided to read books to younger children. The students were so excited to read books to the 4 years old preschoolers. The young kids chose their favorite books and found their partners to read for them. The little kids eagerly listened to their readers and asked them questions about the books. At the end, they asked their names and gave their readers a hug.
The QSI Student Council is organizing a Lock-In night on Friday February 16th for middle school and secondary students (12 year old class and older). Pizza, games, movies and different activities will be organized, students are encouraged to bring games and food to share with the group. Tickets are 20 somoni. For further information, seek out the posters hanging around the school. We hope to see you there! |