The Tiger, March 31st 2023
Head of School Message
Greetings!
Welcome back after a week-long break.
Our school community is back together for the next ten weeks up until the end of this academic year with more action-packed learnings, assessments, activities, and celebrations.
Our PTA is planning a fun Movie Night on the 1st of April. It will be a great opportunity to meet other families. Popcorn and Cotton candy will be served.
Whole School News
Important Reminder
Dear Parents,
We request families who may leave during this semester to please notify the Admissions Department by email: 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.
Thank you for your support,
Admissions and Business Offices
Congratulations To All Our EIRS Riders!
Geethika, Grade 10, won junior Dressage gold, Jaiveer, Grade 8, won the children 1 jumping gold, Dishant, Grade 5, won children 2 Dressage gold, and Sresht, Grade 6, won children 2 Jumping gold at the Auroville Horse Show 2023 as a part of the Embassy International Riding School (EIRS) Team. Congratulations!
Congratulations Avinash!
Avinash Kumar, our PYP Physical and Health Education teacher, competed in the Indian National Master's Badminton Championship, recently held in Goa, and won a bronze medal in the Men's singles 45+ category. He will now represent India at the World Badminton Master's Championship in South Korea later this year. Congratulations and wish you the very best!
Primary School
It’s nearly April and I sit here and wonder what has happened to this school year - it seems to have flown by; however, I look at the progress our learners have made and I am impressed with their commitment, resilience and willingness to communicate.
I have listened, observed and questioned their learning. I have viewed the materials they shared with you during the Student Led Conferences and I am proud of how they have bounced back after being at home for so long.
There are still learning gaps in places, especially in the emotional and social realms but we are committed to building the skills and strategies they need in order to be successful.
Thank you for committing to Student Led Conferences and making the day so successful. It was a delight to see parents fully participating in every aspect of their child’s day - including playing in the sandpit and having a go at handball!
The Primary Leadership Team debriefed this week. Some grades asked for feedback on the day, others sent out a Google Form. All of this information will be gathered, disaggregated and utilised to make the experience even better for you next year.
All the best,
Karen Crooke
Primary School Principal
PYP Coordinator
Thinking like a Scientist
The inclusion of science within the PYP encourages curiosity and ingenuity and enables the learner to develop an understanding of the world. Reflection on scientific knowledge helps learners to develop a sense of responsibility regarding the impact of their actions on themselves, others and their world. Inquiry is central to scientific investigation and understanding.
Learners actively construct and challenge their understanding of the world around them by combining scientific knowledge with reasoning and thinking skills.
Scientific knowledge is made relevant through its innumerable applications in the real world. The scientific process, by encouraging hands-on experience and inquiry, enables the individual to make informed and responsible decisions, not only in science but also in other areas of life.
It is recognised that learning Science as a subject, while necessary, is not sufficient. Of equal importance is the need to learn Science in context, exploring content relevant to learners, and transcending the boundaries of the traditional subject. The transdisciplinary themes provide the framework for a highly defined, focused, in-depth programme of inquiry, and as science is relevant to all the transdisciplinary themes, Science learning takes place within units of inquiry.
What do we want learners to know and understand about Science?
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Living things - The study of the characteristics, systems and behaviours of humans and other animals, and of plants; the interactions and relationships between and among them, and with their environment.
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Earth and space - The study of planet Earth and its position in the universe, particularly its relationship with the sun; the natural phenomena and systems that shape the planet and the distinctive features that identify it, the infinite and finite resources of the planet.
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Materials and matter - The study of the properties, behaviours and uses of materials, both natural and man made; the origins of man made materials and how they are manipulated to suit a purpose.
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Forces and energy - The study of energy, its origins, storage and transfer, and the work it can do; the study of forces; the application of scientific understanding through inventions and machines.
What do we want learners to do in science?
All curriculum areas provide an opportunity to utilise the approaches to learning (thinking, communication, research, self-management and social skills).
The Science component of the curriculum also provides opportunities for learners to:
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observe carefully in order to gather data
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use a variety of instruments and tools to measure data accurately
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use scientific vocabulary to explain their observations and experiences
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identify or generate a question or problem to be explored
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plan and carry out systematic investigations, manipulating variables as necessary
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make and test predictions
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interpret and evaluate data gathered in order to draw conclusions
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consider scientific models and applications of these models (including their limitations).
PYP Counsellor
Helpful Hints For Developing Good Screen Time Habits in Children
We’ve been in physical school for a reasonable amount of time now. Yet, the number of parents telling me that their children are addicted to their electronic devices only seems to have increased. Considering there is no escaping using our devices, the only way around the issue is perhaps for you to use some tried-and-tested strategies as a whole family to develop a healthy relationship with screens.
Set limits
Do you have a screen-free zone at home? Do you limit weekly screen time and try to balance different activities? Instead of always having to say “no” to your child, why not draft a family media agreement together that each member of your family respects and follows? Make adjustments as needed. Balance is everything.
Choose age-appropriate content
This might be a little more time consuming but rather than having your child watch anything and everything that is readily available on TV or online, engage them with age-appropriate entertainment. Find their interests and shows that they can watch that are wholesome.
Make it a family activity
Watch a show together/ join your child in playing an online game that you know is safe for your child to play. Make an effort to understand their likes and dislikes, and be curious and open-minded when they let you into their world. You could set aside time weekly/fortnightly to catch up on a family movie together.
Treat tech as a tool, not a treat
Do you bribe your kids with more screen time when you need them to get other tasks done? If children view tech only as a treat and not as a tool, chances are they will develop an unhealthy relationship with screens. Show them how they can use tech as a tool for various things, be it for learning how to use Canva for designing, Procreate for brush lettering, or Audible to listen to an audiobook.
Model good digital citizenship
Are you a responsible digital citizen? Are you on your phone for hours on end? Do your kids see you binge-watching your favourite TV show at the cost of spending time with them? Your children are watching you and they will emulate what they see. It is important to make sure we use technology responsibly before we expect our children to do so.
Neeti Sarkar
PYP Counsellor
Primary News
Design Thinking Process - Action
Our young P5 designers were challenged to create a car that could fly, move on its own, and float. This provocation engaged all learners as active observers, collaborators, and creators.
When asked which skills they needed and used to complete the tasks, the learners agreed that they needed to be patient and work with a team, be responsible and respectful of the ideas of others, be a risk-taker; approaching uncertainty with forethought and determination, confidence to try new things and to show grit, self-management skills and time management skills.
Learners connected to the key concepts of change and responsibility. They articulated how their thinking changed throughout the process and how they used and changed materials by folding, cutting, and joining them to create something new. They demonstrated responsibility by helping their team complete the task on time, using the tools responsibly, and cleaning their workspaces.
This experience took learners through some of the steps of the Design Thinking Process designers use daily to solve real-life problems. The creativity and resilience of our P5 designers shone through.
P5 Team
PYP Spanish
¡Seguimos aprendiendo en español!
In Spanish class, we are constantly developing our understanding of the language as a tool to communicate, and transferring knowledge and skills across subjects. This semester, the students have shown enthusiasm, curiosity and a great ability to make connections. It is great to observe students respond spontaneously in Spanish for most of our routine communication, such as checking attendance, sharing how they are feeling, talking about the date and the weather or asking to go to the bathroom.
A song by P4
The Spanish students have shown great independence, sharing their understanding, skills and knowledge. In different grades, we have learnt about the cultural celebration of “Carnaval”. We have learnt to describe and predict patterns. We have read about animals and practiced describing them and we also learnt about the animal species. We have developed our conversation skills by practicing the “question of the day”. We designed schools and communities and developed our writing and speaking skills to describe them. We sang songs together and shared presentations to explore the concepts and central ideas of our units. It has been a pleasure seeing the students develop their ability to make choices in how they want to creatively share their work.
Gwenola Colleu and Neris Naranjo
PYP Spanish Teachers
Secondary School
I hope everyone enjoyed the short holiday last week. It is always good to recharge the batteries in preparation for the surge towards the finish line of the academic year. We now have an ten week stretch of time, which, as always, is going to be full of events, exams, plans for next year, goodbyes, and everything else that makes up life in an international school.
Shortly before the break, however, the Secondary School had one of its ‘mission-driven’ weeks, in which we were able to connect very strongly with our guiding statements.
On the 15th of March, we were finally able to run our Secondary Music Expo (it was postponed due to the aero-show a few weeks ago). During a delightful hour in the Secondary Hall, our musicians from the MYP music classes and music ASAs performed a range of pieces culminating in the ASA orchestra entertaining us with several top-quality performances. It was particularly pleasing to see some of our singers performing numbers in Korean, Japanese and Hindi during the recital. We are already looking forward to the next music performances from our Extended Music Programme students.
MYP - Music Expo
On the same day, our Language Acquisition department treated us to an Upcycling Fashion Show with students modelling clothes made from recycled materials in the MYP Courtyard. Again, to add the Stonehill international touch, our students were confidently commentating on the event in Spanish, French and Chinese as the models walked along the catwalk.
The day before, we were visited by a start-up company, Genex Space, in order to look for opportunities for our students to get involved in workshops to design rockets. Our Design department has also shared an opportunity for our students to attend a Tech Radiance competition at IIT Hyderabad in April, and the Stonehill Hackathon is only weeks away.
When you combine all of this with the upcoming BAASC football matches and tournaments for our Middle School students, I think we can confidently claim that Stonehill is providing students with ‘enhanced opportunities in the arts, sports and technology’ and aiding in developing global citizens through the exposure to internationalism, different cultures and a variety of languages.
This is what we are here for. Please continue to encourage your children to get involved in every opportunity that comes up. They have been terrific participants so far this year.
Joe Lumsden
Deputy Head of School and Secondary School Principal
Secondary News
English Language and Literature
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, in order to revise Paper 1 skills for the upcoming Mock Exams. The students had the chance to practice cooperative skills in planning and delivering their lesson, as well as developing necessary terminology and analytical skills.
D1: Global Issues and India
The D1 students recently began reading Arvind Adiga’s novel, The White Tiger, which explores many social issues prevalent in modern India. As an introductory activity, the students explored global issues related to the field of politics, power, and justice, specifically examining how these issues are manifested in India. The students presented their findings on subjects such as caste discrimination, nutrition, and education in rural areas.
M4: Peer Review
In order to improve drafts of their recent Original Opinion Articles, the M4 students were tasked with completing a rough draft, on which they provided feedback to each other. Feedback was based on checklists adapted from the task rubric, focusing on organisation, production of language, and language use. The students gained valuable feedback on their work and practiced their reading and critical thinking skills in providing insights to their peers.
M3: Songs of Our People
As part of their current unit, “Songs of Our People”, the M3 students studied songs from around the world looking at the authors’ use of techniques and the effects these can have on audiences. As a summative task, the students had to write original songs based on themes related to freedom, justice and world peace. Take a look at some of the final songs here.
M2: Poetry Books
The M2 students recently completed their unit on, “Why Is Poetry Good For Your Soul?” in which they learned about different genres of poetry as well as poetic techniques and their uses. As a summative assessment, the students showcased their learning through creating poetry books, in which they chose an overall theme, creating poems in different genres (and illustrations) which related to these. Take a look at some of their creative work below:
M1: EI (Emotional Intelligence)
As part of their unit on “What do we need as a 21st century student?” the students have been learning about elements of Emotional Intelligence, and how and when to practice these. In order to develop their understanding of this concept, as well as their reading comprehension skills, the students were tasked with comparing texts in two genres, fiction and self-help. After reading these, the students found moments in which fictional characters could have better implemented the principles of EI, as well as tips for being more Emotionally Intelligent from self-help authors. Take a look at their findings below:
2023 Immerse Education Essay Competition: Stonehill Scholarship Winners!
We are pleased to announce that our secondary students Durriya (D1), Samvita (D1) and Tamanna (M5), have been awarded partial scholarships for the Immerse Education 2023 Summer Programmes, based on their essays. This recognition is quite an achievement as there were 10,000+ entries globally and almost 600 students from India.
Ms. Jenni has taken the initiative to promote various writing competitions and we have had an increasing number of students entering such contests and winning prizes. Please discuss these opportunities with your child. Announcements are posted regularly around the school campus and on Managebac.
Kailash Mani
MYP and DP English Language and Literature
Secondary Student Services
Peer Pressure and Unhealthy Habits
Peer groups play an important role in the lives of teenagers and often students may worry about fitting in. Situations of peer pressure are often based on the need for a person to seek approval from others or a result of bullying.
Students want to feel valued and accepted by their friends. Regardless of the situation, it is important to speak with your child and discuss how they can respond if they are caught in a tricky situation. Being open with your teen by providing a safe place for them to come and talk about clear and realistic expectations surrounding situations they may face involving peer pressure can empower your teen to make better choices.
One of the popular topics relating to peer pressure these days includes the use of e-cigarettes or vapes. A vape or e-cigarette is a handheld electronic device used to breathe a mist of flavoured nicotine into your lungs. The use of these devices can potentially have negative long term effects on a child’s health. A recent survey conducted in the US included that over 2.5 million high school students had used a vape in the past thirty days. This trend is quickly spreading around the world, creating unhealthy habits for teens and also opening doors for students to experiment with other harmful substances.
Think about what you might have done in the following scenario: Two peers you admire invite you to hang out after school and vape. You hate drugs. What do you do?
In our Personal Social Development (PSD) classes our teachers are discussing peer pressure and the effects of choosing unhealthy habits.
In the DP classes, the students have looked at how their identities can help them in situations of peer pressure.By having an understanding of who they are, their values and beliefs, the students can advocate for themselves and know when to walk away from tough situations.
The students have also uncovered various types of peer pressure and participated in role playing using different scenarios (like the one above) to encourage them to use specific strategies to support them in these situations.
To support your teen further at home, use some of the tips provided below:
- Check in frequently with your teen to see how they are doing. This can be done informally during car rides, while watching TV or during dinner time.
- Establish family agreements together for social and extracurricular activities.
- Be clear and consistent regarding your expectations.
- Create an “exit plan” to support your teen if they happen to face a challenging situation with peer pressure.
- Let your teen know you care and are there for them.
If you have any questions or need support, please reach out to our Student Support Services team.