The Tiger, February 2nd, 2024
Head of School Message
Education Outside the Classroom
Over the past two weeks, both divisions of the school have been engaged in activities and events that help students develop a deeper understanding of the world around them, at both a local and global level.
On the 24th and 25th of January, our P8 students shared their PYPX presentations with the Stonehill community.
The students worked collaboratively in groups to explore global issues that they were interested in and the presentations were an opportunity for them to confidently share their learning with parents, teachers, students, and visiting schools. All of our students did a wonderful job and parent feedback of the event was very positive, particularly with regard to the confidence that their children displayed when talking in front of an audience.
This week, the Secondary School has taken all students from M1-D1 on class trips around India. This year’s destinations are Pondicherry, Wayanad, Trivandrum, Rishikesh, Mangalore and the Andaman Islands. These trips are always some of the most memorable experiences that students enjoy at school, and the four days that they spend together inevitably help create more friendships for many of our students. Despite the stress of organising and supervising the trips, the teachers are generally pleased that they participate in such experiences. The trips allow our students to experience Indian History, Culture, Geography, etc, in places that they may not necessarily visit on family holidays.
PYPX Presentations and Secondary Class Trips are perfect examples of how the IB takes a more progressive, modern approach to education. Educational experiences need to be meaningful for students, particularly with so many other distractions in the lives of young people. Trips, projects and presentations put students in situations where they have to reflect on their own personal attributes and characteristics, and develop skills and competencies that will serve them well in the future. Of course, it is much easier to just put students in a classroom and teach them content from a textbook; however, we are firmly convinced that providing our students with more meaningful experiences is the best approach to education.
Don’t forget, the International Food Fair is on Saturday, 10th February between 4.00pm - and 8.00pm. It would be great to see as many different stalls as possible so that we can all try delicious food from all over the world.
Joe Lumsden
Head of School
Whole School News
PTA News
Primary School
Primary Parents Literacy Workshop
Wednesday, 14th February, 2 pm – 3 pm
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
My last Tiger article was long. This is short but important as it was what 58 parents asked for in response to my ‘Primary Workshops for Parents’ survey.
Our Primary Parents Literacy Workshop will happen in the Primary Hall, on Wednesday, the 14th of February, from 2 pm – 3 pm.
We have split the workshops so that you can attend one of three focussed literacy sessions; P1-P4, P5 to P8 or Our Multilingual Learning Community (P1 to P8).
This will enable you to attend the session most relevant to your child(ren).
Ms. Zita is also running a language session, so if you have a child in P5 to P8 you are welcome to join her group from 2:15 pm to 2:35 pm. If you have a child in P1 to P4, and no children in P5 to P8, you are invited to join Ms Zita’s second session.
If you have children in both P1-P4 and P5-P8, and would like information about our Multilingual Learning Community, we will make this available to you.
Our agenda on Wednesday, the 14th of February, from 2 pm – 3 pm will be as follows:
- 2 pm- 2:15 pm Welcome and Introduction from Mr Peter
- 2:15 pm - 2:35 pm Ms Reema & Ms Mary - Reading and Writing from P1 to P4
- 2:15 pm - 2:35 pm Ms Zita - Our Multilingual Learning Community (P1 to P8)
- 2:35 pm - 2:55 pm Ms Devika and Mr Eduardo - Reading and Writing from P5 to P8
- 2:35 pm - 2:55 pm Ms Zita - Our Multilingual Learning Community (P1 to P8)
- 2:55 pm - 3:00 pm Questions and Answers, in your groups and/or in the hall
I will be available to talk with you between 2:14 pm and 2:55 pm, should you have any questions for me as Primary Principal.
I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, the 14th of February.
My best wishes,
Peter Spratling
Primary School Principal
PYP Coordinator
Approaches to Learning
In the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), the development of Approaches to Learning (ATLs) is a crucial aspect of education. ATLs encompass a range of skills that empower students to become effective learners.
Fostering the development of ATLs in the IB PYP is designed to lead students toward becoming skillful researchers, deep thinkers, confident communicators, empathetic collaborators, and self-managed learners. Let's explore how each of these attributes is nurtured through the promotion of ATLs:
Skillful Researchers
PYP encourages inquiry-based learning, which involves posing questions, conducting research, and making connections across different disciplines. Research skills emphasise processes such as gathering, evaluating, and organising information. The students learn to use various sources critically and ethically.
Deep Thinkers
PYP learners are expected to analyse and evaluate information, demonstrate a deep understanding of concepts, make connections across different disciplines, and reflect on the implications of their findings. They learn to reflect on their thinking processes, promoting a deeper awareness of their own learning.
Confident Communicators
ATLs focus on developing effective communication skills, including oral, written, and visual communication. PYP encourages the use of various media forms, helping students become adept at expressing ideas through different mediums, and engaging their audience. They learn to articulate their thoughts clearly.
The photos show P8 learners during last week’s PYP Exhibition presentations when they successfully demonstrated their transdisciplinary skills and readiness for their transition to the MYP.
Primary News
P4 - Writer's Workshop
In our P4 classrooms, the students are becoming authors by exploring the world of 'How To' books during the Writer's Workshop. They are discovering the art of teaching others through their writing. This writing journey not only sparks creativity but also sharpens their ability to be good communicators.
The students studied various 'How-To' books, paying attention to what makes them effective. They learned about detailed pictures, labelled items, time connectives, 'bossy' words, and more—elements that make teaching books engaging and easy to understand.
PYP Counsellor
Helpful Hints For Transitioning to a New School
A new semester is here and with it we welcome a big bunch of new students. While some may be excited to start school in a new city/country, and will slowly get accustomed to the new routine, there are a few who might be struggling a little.
If you’re dealing with a child who is not as excited about school or is experiencing home-sickness, here are a few tips that may help:
Take it easy!
Allow your children the time to adjust to the new situation. While change and transitions can be challenging, granting yourself and your child some time and understanding is a good way to begin.
Talk it Out
Address tantrums and tears promptly. When both you and your child are in a calmer state, perhaps after the school day, inquire about the underlying issues. Ask what they need to navigate the transition, and collaborate on strategies to make it less stressful.
Empathise
As a parent, it's natural to feel exasperated. However, try to see the situation from your child's perspective. Validate their feelings, empathise, and let them know you comprehend the difficulties they're facing.
Provide Support
Explore ways to make the transition smoother. Consider if ensuring your child gets adequate sleep or offering assistance with academic tasks would help. Integrate enjoyable activities after school to lighten the mood.
Help your child establish a support system
Your children are not home for most part of the day, so it is important to help them identify other children in their class, a teacher/the counsellor who they can reach out to if and when they’re feeling overwhelmed at school.
If you or your child need additional support through this transition phase, you could write to me at neeti.sarkar@stonehill.in
Neeti Sarkar
PYP Counsellor
Secondary School
Environmental and Sustainability Project at Puttenahalli Lake and Bird Conservation Trust
Nestled between Stonehill and RMZ on the outskirts of Yelahanka, Puttenahalli Lake stands as an ideal location for community involvement.
Over the past year, our students along with their families, have actively supported and learned from this local project. Gandhi House, P8, boarding, and M1 students have united to tackle the challenge of clearing weeds from the lake. Having already made impactful visits in December ‘23 and January ‘24, the next scheduled cleanup is on Sunday, the 11th of February.
National Astronomy Challenge
The National Astronomy Challenge (NAC) emerges as a distinctive and interactive Olympiad tailored for students worldwide, spanning Grades 4 to 9 (P7-M4).With a STEM-centred curriculum, the NAC is committed to nurturing the scientific curiosity of young minds. Serving as the only Olympiad to provide innovative and engaging programs, it seeks to develop students' interest in comprehending the principles of space science.
Recently, the M1-M4 students actively participated in the NAC by joining online classes and engaging in activities throughout December. The culmination of their efforts saw them write the National Olympiad Paper on the 13th of January.
Early round college placements for the Class of 2024
The Class of 2024 filed over 620 applications in the early round and received offers from across the globe for a wide array of courses and study destinations. Approximately 50% of the class has applied to colleges in the US, followed by 30% of the class applying to UK universities. Australia has emerged as the new favourite. Some of the early round offers include Imperial College London for Biological Science, University of Toronto, Canada, for Psychology, University of Melbourne, Australia, for Psychology, King’s College London for Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE), Purdue University, US, for Computer Science, Syracuse University, US, for Industrial Design and University of Southern California,US, for Arts and Sciences.
Many students are considering India as yet another favourable option in view of cost effective education offered in highly selective institutes. Some offers from India include Plaksha University for Biology and Systems Engineering and Flame University for Psychology, among others. While we see an eclectic combination of courses that our students chose, we also have seen a strong inclination towards newer destinations, more emphasis on “value for money” education and scholarship opportunities.
One of our students received a full tuition scholarship from Oberlin College in the US. We currently have a cumulative scholarship of over 800K USD in scholarships so far. We eagerly anticipate more exciting offers in the regular round that will be released in late March.
Updates: IB Career-Related ProgrammeÂ
Keeping in mind our values of being an inclusive school, we felt offering a wider subject choice at the DP level was imperative. This not only allows students to learn in a more flexible manner but also provides them with the opportunity to express themselves holistically. Hence, the IB career-related programme was an organic progression for us at Stonehill. This makes it one of the few schools in the country to offer the entire IB continuum.
We are excited to offer the IB CP (IB career-related programme) starting August 2024.
The programme not only promises a flexible curriculum but also invites students to develop projects in their chosen areas of interest.
With a network of universities and career-related study providers, Stonehill is confident to offer a world-class learning experience to all our students.
Students can choose 2 to 4 subjects at the DP level, add up college credits through our study providers, pursue internships to boost their expertise, and progress to universities to pursue their dream careers.
New DP Subjects Unveiled
In an ever-evolving academic landscape, we are pleased to bring forth updates on the introduction of new subjects for the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in our school.
1) Sports, Health, and Exercise
This academic year marked the inaugural offering of the Sports, Health, and Exercise subject for the DP, with seven students enrolled in the D1 class. Progress thus far has been exceptionally positive, setting the stage for these pioneering students who will undertake the official IB exam in 2025. The addition of this subject not only broadens the academic horizon but also emphasises the significance of holistic well-being within our curriculum.
2) ESS HL (Environmental Systems and Societies Higher Level)
Exciting developments await as the International Baccalaureate (IB) has recently announced that, commencing in 2024, Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) will be available at both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). Consequently, our school is poised to offer ESS at the higher level starting from the upcoming academic year, providing students with an enriched understanding of environmental challenges and solutions.
3) Hindi A Literature
In response to the diverse linguistic needs of our student body and a commitment to fostering cultural inclusivity, we are thrilled to introduce Hindi A Literature in Group 1, alongside English A for the next academic year(2024-2025). This strategic expansion of our language offerings aims to cater to local students' requirements, providing them with increased linguistic options. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact these additions will have on our students' academic journey.
Manpreet Kaur
Secondary School Principal
Secondary News
The Math Voyage
The M1 Math class saw Approaches To Learning (ATL) skills- research and collaboration as students delved into the length, perimeter, and areas of polygons and extended it to find the total surface area of the various platonic solids. Hexahedrons, tetrahedrons, octahedrons, and dodecahedrons were made using nets of solids and origami.
On Fibonacci Day, Mr Saji, our guest speaker, taught the M2 students multiplication through puzzles and introduced Fibonacci and Shakuntala Devi also through puzzles.
Analysing the data, reading the graphs, and interpreting the information from statistical infographics are currently in use extensively. However, data can be misleading and can result in unreliable conclusions with this the Grade M3, Standard1 students were introduced to Statistics. As a starter activity, the students engaged in finding the average height of the students in their section with some inquiry questions.
After understanding the different types of data, the M3 Standard 2 students collected data of their pulse rates before and after running.
They understood the process of collecting and organising the data and representing it on a Stem and Leaf Plot.
The students were able to reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of the Stem and Leaf Plot.
To test the rigour of the M3 Math Enrichment class, the students were asked to guess the number of squares on a chess board. The most common answer was 64. The whole exercise aimed at how mathematics links to pattern finding and generalisation. The students appreciated the beautiful results that emerged which is an outcome of simple thinking and connecting the links which already exist in their mind.
Dr. Jaya Kumar, from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), served as a judge and guest lecturer at our Fibonacci Day celebration. Emphasising the significance and applications of Fibonacci numbers, he connected theoretical concepts in Complex numbers and Trigonometry to real-world scenarios, igniting curiosity. Dr. Kumar's engaging lecture aimed to inspire students to delve into the beauty of Fibonacci numbers and consider mathematics for research.
In the world of Math competitions:
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Jinho Kim qualifies for The American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) after excelling in the AMC 12 high school mathematics examinations in the top 5%.
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Keshav(D2), Sohee(D2), Anhad(D1), and Jinho(D2) receive recognition at the advanced level- Infinity, by Aditya Birla World Academy.
English A
Happy New Year from the English Department, or if it’s too late, Happy February! We sincerely hope 2024 brings our students and their families health, happiness, and plenty of interesting learning experiences. In English classes, we know there will be lots of opportunities for students to read, write and learn more about the world, while building appreciation and analytical skills relating to what they study.
Please have a look at what is happening in some of our classes, and ask your child to share more about what they are learning in English!
M1: Emotional Intelligence Podcasts
Currently, M1 is digging into the Inquiry question, “What do we need to survive in the 21st century?“ The students are trying to understand their ever-changing world and different skills that can help them to lead balanced and happy lives. They viewed a TED Talk about how people with high Emotional Intelligence (EQ) have developed social aptitudes to build relationships and resolve conflicts. Following this, the students undertook secondary research into subskills of EQ, such as positive self-talk, heart-brain coherence, meditation, and positive affirmations, topics on which students presented to each other as formative tasks. The students will now interview their parents and make a podcast episode on, “How Adults use EQ to Connect'', in which they will present their findings to their class community.
M4’s Essay Writing and Literary Analysis
After diligently preparing for their semester exams, the M4 students recently reviewed their knowledge of the structure of an analytical essay. They have been using the skills acquired in Unit 2 to further practise their poetry analysis and organising their content in the PEEL paragraph structure within the basic 5-paragraph essay, making sure the thematic statement is clearly outlined and well-supported by the topic sentences. Analytical essay writing skills will help students transition to the subsequent grade levels.
D2’s The White Tiger: Staff Interviews
In the interest of building global citizenship and increased knowledge of our host country, the D2 English students took two classes to read recent current events from Indian newspapers, comparing these to issues raised in Aravind Adiga’s scathing social commentary, The White Tiger, one of our students’ most popular texts.
This activity not only allowed students to delve more into the themes of the novel as an exam preparation but also helped them build communication skills, which included learning some new vocabulary in various Indian languages. Many of our students appreciated getting to know more about the backgrounds of different members of our school community, with whom they have little opportunity to otherwise interact.
The students then shared their findings with the class, considering the relevance of the novel to our local context.
Boarding News
It has been a fast-paced three weeks since we resumed school after the winter break. The boarding students have been busy with semester exams and sporting events including the BAASC Inter-school basketball tournament and swimming competition. It's been heartening to witness many of our boarders showcasing their talents as they represent our school teams with pride and determination.
In the spirit of unity and patriotism, Stonehill students and staff came together to commemorate the 75th Republic Day on Friday, 26th January. Our Head of School, Mr. Joe Lumsden, and Secondary Principal, Ms. Manpreet Kaur, unfurled the national flag. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Ghouse and the facilities team for organising the event, and fostering a deep sense of national pride amongst our community.
On the 27th of January, the boarding staff organised team-building activities for those who remained on campus during the weekend. These activities are an excellent way to build genuine connections with peers, foster creative thinking, learn to collaborate and develop communication and leadership skills. All had a fun time! A heartfelt thank you to Elvis and the boarding staff for making the activity a success.
The spirit of achievement extends beyond the confines of our school grounds, as demonstrated by Raghav, M3, and Dev’s, M4, commendable performance at the Universal Tennis Ranking (UTR) tournament held at Topspin Tennis Academy, Bangalore, on January 21st and 22nd. Their dedication and hard work have resulted in a significant improvement in their overall ranking. Congratulations on their well-deserved success!
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