The Tiger, April 5th 2024
Head of School Message
The Mid-Year Governing Council Retreat
On the 20th of March, the Stonehill Leadership team came together with five members of the Governing Council for the second GC Retreat for this academic year. The purpose of the retreat was to engage everybody in meaningful conversations about educational change and how to ensure that initiatives in schools are both successful and sustainable. This was particularly important to do now as we are about to embark on our 2024-2028 Strategic Plan.
The 2024-2028 Strategic Plan includes seven key areas of focus, all of which have been identified in parent surveys, teacher feedback, student discussions and ongoing reflections with the leadership team. Our strategic objectives are:
- Ensuring continuity in leadership
- Evaluating and ensuring the quality of events, programmes and teachers
- Leveraging technology to personalise learning and reporting
- Integrated use of technology in pedagogy
- Coordinated approach to environmental sustainability initiatives
- Establishment of external partnerships in sports, arts, technology and service
- Development of new facilities and upgrade of current facilities
While we will continue to ensure that Stonehill delivers a genuinely international IB experience for all our students and that well-being remains a top priority, the strategic objectives listed above are more idealistic. They will require a lot of energy to have a meaningful impact on our students’ lives.
Whole School News
REMINDER-LEAVING STUDENTS NOTICE
Dear Parents,
To continue providing the best educational programmes, we need to have a good idea of class sizes throughout the academic year. To help achieve this, we request families who may leave during this semester, to notify the Admissions Department by email at: admissions@stonehill.in
This notification should be initiated two months prior to the last date of attendance of the student. If the notification is less than two months prior to the last date of attendance, US$ 300 will be withheld from the refundable security deposit as a late notice fee, in accordance with our Fee Policy.
We thank you for your support,
Admissions and Business Offices
Stonehill Hackathon 2024 - Register Now!
Congratulations, Sarah!
We are thrilled to announce that Sarah Anjum, our Whole School Technology Coordinator is now an Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE).
Apple created the ADE Program to recognise K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using Apple technology to transform teaching and learning in powerful ways. Celebrating twenty-nine years, the program has grown into a worldwide community of visionary and innovative leaders in education, helping other educators rethink what’s possible with iPad and Mac. Learn more about the contributions of ADEs worldwide at https://www.apple.com/
Congratulations Ms.Preethi!
Our Secondary English Teacher, Ms. Preethi Menon’s book, When The Jungles Whisper, has been translated into Italian and will be showcased at the Bologna Children's Book Fair from the 8th to the 11th of April. We are thrilled to see her work reaching a wider audience!
Additionally, the book will also be showcased at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair [ADIBF 2024] from the 29th of April to the 5th of May.
Congratulations Ms.Preethi!
PTA News
PTA Charity Gala
We are excited to invite the members of our community to the upcoming PTA Charity Gala.
The event promises to be an enjoyable evening at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Proceeds from the sale of tickets will go towards supporting Colours of Life, an initiative that helps underprivileged children by providing education from early school until college.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing you!
Tickets are limited, so be sure to grab yours TODAY!
Please sign up HERE.
Primary School
Kelso's Choices: Building Positive Relationships and Conflict Resolution
Creating a positive and inclusive environment in a primary school is paramount for your child’s social and emotional development. There are many ways we seek to create a positive and inclusive environment, but today I would like to share with you a method we use to foster positive relationships and teach conflict resolution skills.
This method is known as ‘Kelso's Choices’ and it was developed by Barbara Clark, Ph.D., & Diane Hipp, CPS. Kelso's Choices provides children with a framework for addressing conflicts, independently and constructively.
I should mention that our Primary staff team are always supervising children. To keep students safe we have recently increased the number of staff on duty at the start of the day, at lunchtime and during the afternoon break. We encourage children to seek staff intervention if they cannot resolve a matter themselves. We also seek to empower students to resolve lower level issues themselves, as I explain below, so, back to Kelso’s Choices.
At its core, Kelso's Choices empowers students by offering them a range of strategies to resolve conflicts without always resorting to adult intervention. These strategies, often depicted as the ‘Kelso's Choices Wheel’, include simple yet effective options such as talking it out, walking away, ignoring, telling the other child to stop, sharing and taking turns, waiting and cooling off, or apologising.
PYP Coordinator
Primary News
P5: Publishing Writing through Filmmaking
In the final step of the writing process, the students often publish their work, showcasing their ideas, organisation, voice, and conventions of writing. Published work often comes in the form of a written piece, such as a book. However, the P5 students recently discovered that their published work can also take a very different form.
Throughout their recent unit, “Sharing the Planet,” learners inquired into how living things have adapted to survive. They investigated how living things have features that help them meet their needs. They also discovered that many living things have symbiotic relationships, which can be beneficial or harmful. Finally, they found that living things are impacted by changes around them.
The P5 learners applied their understanding of these inquiries to living things in their surroundings. By focusing on a living thing of their choice, the learners developed their research skills by locating information in books, videos, and websites. They utilised safe search engines to find appropriate information, and they used this information to write a report about their living thing.
Following the writing process helped them organise their writing and develop their voice as a writer. For this piece, the students took on the role of a nature documentary presenter. They had to consider how to begin their documentary in a way that grabbed their audience’s attention. Using real documentaries helped them identify various ways to begin documentaries and how to present information. Once their writing was complete, it was time to publish! Rather than publishing their writing as a book or report, the P5 learners became real documentary filmmakers by creating videos that showcased their learning about their living thing.
PYP Spanish
¡Seguimos aprendiendo en español!
In the PYP Additional Language classes, students constantly develop their understanding of the language as they learn about the language and through the language. In Spanish class, the students have shown enthusiasm, curiosity and a great ability to make connections. It is great to observe the students respond spontaneously in Spanish for most of our routine communication, such as checking attendance, sharing how they are feeling, talking about the time, the date and the weather or asking to go to the bathroom.
The students showed a strong understanding of their learning, as they reflected on their work to prepare for the student-led conferences; they set up learning goals, by looking at our daily tasks and Learning Experiences on Toddle. The students also used the evaluation checklists and rubrics on Toddle to help them understand their strengths and weaknesses.
The Spanish students have shown great independence, sharing their understanding, skills and knowledge. In different grades, we have developed our conversation skills by practising the “question of the day”. We learnt to describe and predict patterns with colours, numbers and shapes. We read about animals and practiced describing them; we also learnt about animal habitats. We learnt to describe people and what they wear, and considered how what we wear is a way to express ourselves.
Secondary School
From shaping the dynamic environment of our classrooms to influencing the wider school community, student experiences and voices are crucial in how we function at Stonehill. We actively encourage them to speak up and share their perspectives, recognising the invaluable contributions they bring to the table.
Our commitment goes beyond mere encouragement; we proactively create spaces and opportunities for students to lead discussions, initiate projects, and support their drive for positive change. Whether engaging in lively classroom discussions, participating in open forums, or spearheading community initiatives, we provide platforms for students to express their thoughts and aspirations, nurturing a culture of respect, inclusivity, and empowerment.
As we are drawing close to the end of this academic year, let’s hear from some of our new students on their journeys at Stonehill so far…
“I recently joined Stonehill in September, but I love everything, so far. I like my teachers because they are so helpful and understanding about everything and they always make the class enjoyable. Another thing I love about Stonehill is that all the students are so nice and kind. Stonehill has a good environment and I enjoy being here.” - Haylie (M2)
“One thing that I liked about the school year was the Holi celebration. That was my favourite, so far. I know there's more to come throughout the school year and I'm excited for it. Another thing is that everyone here is kind. The teachers and students help each other and there's barely any argument. I'm enjoying this school and am glad that my parents chose this school. I love being a part of the football team. Everyone is inspirational and motivated and the coaches are kind. Stonehill is a good environment to be around. I look forward to coming to school every day.”- Iphy (M2)
"As I stepped into the embrace of my new boarding school both with excitement and anxiety, I felt adventurous on one hand and fear on the other. To my surprise, the academic staff and boarding staff were supportive and boarding felt like a home away from home. In just a few months, I not only made lifetime friends but also changed my worldview. I express my deepest gratitude to all my mentors and I am grateful that I can be a better person with each passing day. Stonehill has been a transformational experience.” - Sangama (D1)
Manpreet Kaur
Secondary School Principal
Secondary News
Secondary English
With spring upon us, the English students have been engaged not only in the routine joys of their classes but also in preparing for eAssessments and DP Final Exams. Please have a look at some of the fun below.
D2: Student Teachers
As part of their current unit, “What Does it Mean to Move On?”, the D2 students considered the idea of transitioning from their roles as students by teaching a lesson to their peers, to revise for their May exams. The students had the chance to practice cooperative skills in planning and delivering their lessons, as well as developing necessary terminology and analytical skills.
M5: What’s on Your Watchlist?
As part of their current unit, “What’s on your Watchlist?”, the students have been viewing and analysing various films and documentaries focused specifically on issues of social justice in India. First, students viewed two documentaries on poverty and caste, using these to build skills in Compare Contrast Analysis, an important component of the English eAssessment and DP course. The students also worked with the genre of Film Reviews, viewing examples and then writing their own on an Indian film of their choice. Please have a look at a few excerpts below:
M2: Poetry for the Soul
The M2 students recently completed their unit, “Why Is Poetry Good For Your Soul?”, in which they learned about different genres of poetry, as well as poetic techniques and their uses. First, in order to practice their creative skills and explore new poetic genres, the M2 students created Newspaper Blackout Poems, which created a lot of buzz in the classroom. They were asked to choose specific words from a newspaper article and black everything else out, considering their choices as authors. The students then wrote poems, in genres they have studied, using the selected words.
Dedicated Book Matchmaker and Book Week
What if your soulmate is a book?
This April, for Book Week, students will be asked to complete a Google Survey and the answers will help them find the perfect book.
Take a look at this fun video.
Secondary Student Support Services
Prioritising Self-Care
With the end of the school year on the horizon, many students will be preparing for exams, and final projects and getting ready to transition into the next grade level. This time of year often proves itself to be an exciting yet sometimes stressful time for many students. Amidst these end-of-year pressures, it’s important for students to prioritise their schedules and academic tasks while also ensuring they set aside time for their own self-care.
Boarding News
Welcome back!
We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful and restful mid-term break. We’re really happy to have our boarders back.
There's something truly special about the energy our boarders bring back with them after a break. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and it rejuvenates the boarding houses.
As we dive into the remaining weeks of this academic year, we're gearing up for an array of exciting activities for students, parents, and teachers alike. Among the highlights are the much anticipated D2 Farewell Dinner, followed by the Leavers' Assembly and Boarding Dinner. These events promise to be memorable occasions as we bid adieu to our graduating seniors.
On the academic front, our students continue to demonstrate their dedication and perseverance. The M5 students are gearing up for their practice exams starting from Tuesday, 2nd April. We wish them the best of luck.
Our pursuits extend beyond academics. As responsible global citizens, it's crucial for us to engage with and address pressing issues affecting our communities. The Global Citizenship Club will be meeting the boarding community to discuss the current water crisis in Bangalore and brainstorm ways in which we can contribute to water conservation efforts on our campus.
Be sure to follow us @BoardingSIS for all the latest updates.
Have a lovely weekend ahead!
Glen Johnson
Head of Boarding
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