Students and staff have returned refreshed from break ready to embrace continued learning opportunities this semester. In the week prior to break, students were engaged in a range of performances and learning exhibitions that showcased the innovative and engaging learning that makes Bayside so special. Read the reports below to find out more about how our middle and high school students showed their research, design, art making, public speaking and dramatic performance skills in truly impressive ways! Upcoming events include virtual middle and high school Model United Nations in the coming weeks and excitement is continuing to build for our move to the new campus at Net Valley after Spring break. We are also looking forward to a week of experiential learning with our modified and localised Week Without Walls program in the coming weeks (see below).
Week Without Walls, Shenzen-Based Day Trips (March 29-April 1)
We are pleased to let you know that SIS’s Week Without Walls will be held in various locations in Shenzen from March 29-April 1, 2021, around the central ideas of sustainability and service learning. While we are not able to run our usual Week Without Walls trips that typically include overnight travel to different locations, we are planning to offer various local day trips for students in grades 6-11.
For students in grades 10-11, the week will also include IB Diploma Programme workshops.
Grade 12 students will sit mock DP examinations during this week, to help them consolidate their learning from the two-year program and prepare for the external exams in May.
Compelling explorations connect politics, history, art and our lives
Grade 7 geckos wowed audiences before the break when they ended their unit with an Exhibition of Learning that showcased inquiry into the novel, Escape from Aleppo. Students examined this storythrough the lens of Syrian politics, history, culture, and current events. This culminating project gave students the opportunity to explore a compelling question related to the unit's concepts, to conduct research, and to demonstrate their learning in a medium of their choice. Projects ranged from inquiry into the role of graffiti and social media in the Arab Spring, the Syrian refugee crisis, the influence of philosophers on modern Syrian ideology, and to the role of the spice trade in Syria's deep history. The breadth of student engagement and learning was certainly impressive as students shared their inquiries to audiences including their middle school peers and teachers. Maya Strzempka, Middle School Humanities
Mindful Movement Opportunities for SIS Diploma Students “The mind is like water. When it’s turbulent, it’s difficult to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear”
(Mindful Momentum).
The PHE team would love to provide some movement opportunities for our wonderful Grade 11 and 12 students. Our aim is to embrace the beautiful nature of being a balanced Iearner within the IB program, while also providing a valuable opportunity for activity within the CAS (creativity, activity and service) element of the diploma framework. To enhance the emotional wellness of SIS Diploma students, we would like to offer a movement session once per week on Tuesdays (8:15am - 9:15am). The sessions would include yoga or an outdoor walk/run along the board walk. If you are interested, may you please show on the attached form. If we have enough participants, we will get the program up and running. Many thanks in advance for taking the time to express your interest here - SIS Morning Wellness - Expression of interest form. Dani Klinge, Physical and Health Education Teacher
A Midsummer Night’s Dream collaboration
Last newsletter, we mentioned a collaboration between 3D Art and Drama and wanted to share with you a little how that project finalized. To reiterate, we wanted to create on a small scale, an experience for our students that mirrored industry standards and led them to face design and performance challenges with creative solutions. And this is exactly what they did!
Below are some images of grades 9 and 10 performing monologues from A Midsummer Night’s Dream set in a shadow realm created in conjunction with a student-directed design team.
We are extremely thrilled with the work these students put in and the outcome of this collaboration. Stay tuned for many more fun projects and our full-length Shakespearean play coming this May as these students will compile all that they have learned for a full production.
Our SIS Broadcast media team has also been busy making sure that the SIS community stays informed about all the amazing things our school has going on. Comprised of some very inspiring and committed students and led by Jessie, Seojin, and Sunny; this club puts students in every area of media production: the planning phase, writing, set design, camera work, reporting, and interviewing, this club has quickly become a well oiled machine committed to keeping students, teachers, and the community at large in the know, whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes. Trey Hobbs, Drama
Housebuilding Club Service Initiatives
SIS Housebuilding Club has been part of direct service to support communities in the Philippines over the past 5 years and has a range of current initiatives to continue this relationship. Prior to the COVID outbreak, club members were invited to the Philippines to support Gawad Kalinga. Due to travel restrictions, the team have taken on a new role to provide funding for the project “Kusina ng Kalinga” to support communities who have been unable to afford proper meals for children, due to the impact of the outbreak and recent natural disasters.
Our Club’s Goals:
Goal #1: 2675 Meals
Goal #2: 5350 Meals
Current Fundraisers to Help Support Our Goals:
Valentine’s Day Acapella Group
Calendar Group
Run for Kalinga
Bob Ross Day
The Indigo Magazine
A little more about Gawad Kalinga and how it
achieves its goals:
Develops and distributes products and services that include Gawad Kalinga community
Provides a permanent space and builds a caring community for the homeless families by reducing crime, raising productivity, and improving the quality of their lives
Organizes a community of 1000 families relocated from the riverbanks
Leverages resources to make good will place impact on the ground
Volunteers people to donate, fundraise, or help to build a community
Gathers and raises funds for poverty-stricken areas
The Housebuilding Club Executive Committee
SIS Athletics & Activities Update
Bayside is buzzing with sports and activities this week as we return from Chinese New Year holiday. MS Volleyball practices and competitions are resuming. The MS/HS Badminton teams continue to practice in preparation for our first competition (March 13). The HS Soccer team has just started trainings this week. The SISxMayTown Wednesday Program will resume next week (March 3). A number of our students are participating virtually in BEIMUN this Thursday and Friday. Plants are growing, the Indigo magazine is launching, and all of our activities are enjoying a sense of satisfaction and success as we continue our march back to reinstituting our programs safely and within the given constraints.
One specific note: The current Winter ASA Trimester will end March 19 for MS & HS. The Spring ASA Trimester will begin on April 12. More information soon to come regarding what is on offer and a link to sign-ups. Thomas Mathews, Director of Athletics & Activities
Please pre-register for school photographs
The Do's and Don'ts of Motivating Your Teen
Sometimes we look at our adolescent children and internally scream, "Why are you so lazy!!!" It might seem like you need to constantly remind your child what to do and it would be so helpful if they were just self-motivated. Some of the techniques that parents rely on to motivate their teens can actually have the opposite effect. Here a few do's and don'ts to keep in mind when motivating your child:
DO:
Link your teens personal goals to the task at hand. For example, writing a paper for English will help them to become stronger writers and may make writing college application essays easier.
Talk through problems. About how to take responsibility for their actions and make responsible choices based on what they have to do.
Work with your teen to find a solution rather than imposing one on them. They are at an age where they can think critically through their choices and deal with the reality of situations.
DON'T
Nag or lose your temper. It ends up creating distance between you and your teen and shows them an example of how to respond to others.
Bail your teen out. It is important for your teen to face the consequences of their actions. If you come to their rescue to make excuses for them they will learn to make excuses for themselves. Expect them to own their actions and make improvements based on mistakes.
For some ideas to stay on the right track towards your goals check out the visual from www.fearlessmotivation.com
Remember, if you have questions, a great idea for a "Counselor Connection" topic, need a resource or want to schedule a meeting scan the QR code below to connect with your child's counselor!
Upcoming events
25-28 February 2021 - BEIMUN (HS Model United Nations)
5-7 March 2021 - DIMUN (MS Model United Nations) Online @ Bayside
22-26 March 2021 - Spring Break
29 March - 1 April 1 2021 - Week Without Walls, Shenzen-Based Day Trips
29 March - 2 April 1 2021 - Grade 12 DP Mock Examinations
12 May 2021 - Virtual University Fair, 8:30am-11am
All the best,
Craig Ortner (Secondary Associate Principal)
Cindy Barnsley (Secondary Associate Principal)
