The Tiger, May 3rd 2024
Head of School Message
Learning From Other Schools
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a professional development conference in Windsor, UK, organised by NEASC (the New England Association of Schools and Colleges) and ECIS (the Education Collaborative for International Schools) for three days.
I attended the conference along with our two divisional Principals, our Head of Marketing and Admissions, and two Governing Council members.
The conference focussed on the missions and visions of international schools and there were different sessions run by consultants, senior and middle leaders in international schools, and some teachers. As the missions and visions of schools are often very similar, there were some broad themes running throughout the sessions.
Particularly inspiring was a keynote speech given by a representative from CASEL (the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) in the United States. Drawing on experience working with principals, teachers and students in some of the most challenging circumstances in the US, the presenter was able to provide a very useful framework for thinking about, conceptualising and addressing social and emotional learning in all of our schools. This keynote was followed by several other sessions on a similar topic.
Obviously, at Stonehill, we are already aware of the importance of SEL (Social and Emotional Learning). We have expanded our Student Support Services departments over the past years and now have a very strong support network for our students. I think we all understand that success at school starts with belonging and feeling supported; however, this area of school life is so complex that it rarely feels as though you are doing enough to support students with so many challenges, fears and concerns. The sessions in Windsor have provided us with some good food for thought on how we can support our students and teachers more effectively, and how we can communicate in this area more clearly.
Other sessions at the conference were very much aligned with the areas of focus in our new Strategic Plan. There were day-long workshops on developing leadership in a school community, a range of workshops on the integration of technology and AI in schools, sessions focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion, and a round-table discussion and supporting workshops on child protection. All of these areas are included in our Strategic Plan and we will be unpacking the learning from the conference with the leadership team over the coming weeks.
Having people attend these conferences and workshops is always invaluable for schools. We don’t exist in a vacuum and many of the challenges that we face at Stonehill are also experienced in other international schools around the world. Hopefully, we will be able to take the learnings from the conference and use them to further improve our support for our students.
Joe Lumsden
Head of School
Whole School News
PTA News
PTA Charity Gala
On behalf of the PTA, we would like to thank you for coming to support our young artists at the annual PTA charity gala.
Here are a few pictures from the evening.
Primary School
Sparking Your Child's Writing Adventure at Home!
Hello wonderful parents. Today I’d like to share some ideas on engaging your child with writing at home.
Are you ready to embark on an exciting journey to boost your child's writing skills?
Let's dive in and explore some fantastic ways you can make writing a fun and engaging activity right in the comfort of your own home. Here are some ideas:
Create a Writing Nook: Set up a cosy corner with colourful pens, pencils, and notebooks where your child can let their imagination soar. Add some cushions and fairy lights for extra magic!
Story Starters: Kickstart your child's creativity with story starters. These can be simple prompts like "Once upon a time, there was a talking unicorn named Sparkle..." Encourage them to continue the story in their own words.
Picture Perfect: Inspire writing through art by asking your child to write a story based on a picture they draw. It could be a scene from their favourite book or a wild adventure of their own invention.
Pen Pal Fun: Encourage letter writing by helping your child find a penpal. It could be a family member, friend, or even a fictional character! Writing letters is not only fun but also helps improve communication skills.
Reading and Writing Go Hand in Hand: Encourage your child to write book reviews of their favourite stories or texts. This not only reinforces their writing skills but also helps them think critically about what they've read.
Role Play Writing: Encourage dramatic play and storytelling by letting your child dress up as their favourite characters and create their own scripts. They can even perform their plays for the family!
Please remember, that the key is to make writing a joyful experience filled with laughter and creativity. With your support and encouragement, your child will blossom into a confident writer in no time. Happy writing adventures.
Peter Spratling
Primary School Principal
PYP Coordinator
The Language Learning Community
We want to express our sincere gratitude for parents' support during our recent Lit Fest. Your participation made it a huge success and a valuable experience for our learners. Thank you for joining us for the Book Character Parade and the Community Reading session.
We especially appreciate the parents who shared their multilingual stories, adding a special touch to the event.
Please take a moment to watch the summary video below of all the exciting experiences during the Lit Fest week, such as The Gruffalo Shadow Theatre, Harry Potter Zone, Book Cafe, Script-Camera-Action, Author’s sessions, and the book fair.
Primary News
Exploring the Boundaries of Music Creation: A Revolution in Electronic Music-Making
The recent workshop led by Chris Koelma in Performing Arts has left an indelible mark on our learners across the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP).
With an immersive and hands-on approach, Chris introduced a revolutionary method of integrating music technology into the classroom, igniting creativity and collaboration among all participants. Learners used Roland synths to create loops, beats, patterns and soundscapes. They explored the built-in effects such as delay, reverb, chorus and distortion integrating sound effects in their music creations. As always, the support and participation of both learners and teachers were greatly appreciated. Overall, the workshop proved to be an enriching experience, paving the way for further exploration, creativity and innovation in electronic music making.
Secondary School
Empowering Students For Self-led Learning and Growth
In today's dynamic educational landscape, fostering self-directed learning has become a cornerstone of student success. Empowering students encompasses creating an environment where students feel encouraged and empowered to take the onus of their learning journey.
In the past few months, we have witnessed not just academic achievements but also significant personal growth and development in our students, which is a testament to their resilience and determination.
Aanya's (M3) journey in swimming has been nothing short of remarkable. Participating in competitions across the United States was a testament to her dedication and talent. Among her notable achievements was securing two medals (Silver in 200m Backstroke and 4th in 100m Backstroke) and a ribbon for 6th place in the relay at the Oregon State Meet in February. These victories were complemented by several top-three finishes and a qualification for an invitational meet in Washington, where she competed among world-class athletes. Witnessing Aanya excel against seasoned competitors in a foreign setting was a proud moment for her parents.
In the Business and Economics classes for DP students, the session on 'Money Matters' was an engaging and enlightening experience for students, covering a range of pertinent topics. From banking and borrowing to investment strategies and digital responsibility, the talk was designed to resonate with students' lives and aspirations.
The ICICI Bank representatives' session also touched upon areas like risk protection, marketing, and human resources, providing valuable insights into real-world scenarios. Understanding financial concepts and learning about handling money is crucial for young adults, especially as they prepare for college and beyond. This proactive approach not only equips them with essential life skills but also encourages responsible financial behaviour, empowering them to confidently make informed decisions and navigate the complexities of the financial world.
Lastly, one of Stonehill’s most significant inter-school events, the Hackathon, is a testament to student initiative and collaboration. This design sprint-like event brought together tech enthusiasts from across schools together. The students are judged on their creativity, innovation, feasibility of the created products, and ability to lead their teams.
What sets Stonehill’s Hackathon apart is its student-led nature, where our students take charge on multiple fronts. They created compelling content throughout the fest and played crucial roles in organising events, judging entries, and extending support to other participating schools. It pushed students to explore their potential, tackle real-world challenges, and showcase their talents on a dynamic and competitive stage.
Secondary News
Individuals and Societies
M2’s Learning Journey
The M2 students have embarked on an exciting journey delving into "the importance of natural environments for individuals and societies." The students began exploring this unit by understanding the relationships between living things in different environments, and the imperative need to safeguard these environments through sustainable practices.
To gain deeper insights into the impact of the natural environment on human activities, including farming practices and sustainability, our students embarked on an integrated field trip led by Ms. Shelley Milstein, encompassing both the realms of Individuals and Societies (I&S) and Sciences.
They visited two local farms located adjacent to our school, where they had the opportunity to interview two local farmers renowned for their utilisation of permaculture and organic farming practices alongside conventional methods. In preparation for these interviews, our students engaged in brainstorming sessions and formulated inquiry-based questions utilising visible thinking routines. Following the farm visits, our students also ventured to Tarahunise Lake to gain a deeper understanding of the ecosystem and its vital role in the environment. The students diligently worked on crafting a comprehensive case study based on their field trip experiences, meticulously following a step-by-step process.
Moving to a historical context in Unit 2, the students explored the topic, "Life in the Middle Ages" through the perspectives of the people who lived in past societies, their identities, and their development.
Perspectives: The study of the Middle Ages encouraged students to explore diverse viewpoints held by individuals during this historical period. By analysing primary sources, the students connected the perspectives of different social classes, regions, and cultures. Understanding how various groups perceived and interpreted events helped students develop empathy and critical thinking skills.
Identity: The concept of "Identity" is central to the exploration of the Middle Ages. The students delved into the identities of mediaeval societies, considering factors such as social structures, cultural practices, and technological advancements.
While exploring the unit, the students also focused on Source Analysis through OPVL (Origin, Purpose, Value, and Limitations), Compare and Contrast, Using PEEL structure for writing about historical topics, and constructing arguments.
On the lesson topic of the Black Death, the M2C students created and acted in a play comparing the Black Death to Covid-19.
As part of MYP Service as Action, the students are working on creating awareness of plastic and e-waste. Some of our students also attended the Farm Trail with Annadana Seeds Savers Network, Bangalore, to understand the importance of indigenous seeds and growing their own food. The M2B students are also working on a Meme show to create awareness on plastic and e-waste.
Our students are engaged with these units through a wide range of in-class learning activities, including Socratic Seminars, Escape Room challenges, comprehension of latitudes and longitudes, and a consistent awareness of current events. They actively demonstrate their learning by creating digital posters aimed at raising social awareness, group presentations, essay writing, infographics, and podcasts.
M4 - Anti Food wastage campaign
A group of passionate M4 students took the initiative to raise awareness about the issue of food wastage within the school community. In their role as sustainability warriors, they took up positions near the entrance of the cafeteria, at the food counters as well as the plate disposal counters and advised students to be cautious about how much food they take on their plates.
They created posters and put them up around the cafeteria to draw further attention to their cause.
M1- Civilisations
The M1 students are at it again! They have taken what they have learned in class about ancient civilizations and physical maps and combined that with the research and creative communication skills that they cultivated all year to produce board games for everyone to play. Working in small groups, the students were tasked with researching one of the following ancient civilizations, Minoan, Mayan, Yangtze, Egyptian or Roman.
To build their game board they had to first understand the physical environment and the resources that were available to the people who lived within their particular civilization. Then, decisions had to be made about the building costs for roads, settlements, cities and development cards. All of the decisions had to be based on research and justified. Finally, they determined significant signs of development (i.e. systems of writing, government, trade, education, and religion) within their civilization to use as development cards.
Secondary Arts
As another academic year draws to a close, the artistic growth in our students is commendable.
In Visual Arts, our M4 and M5 students meticulously prepare for their end-of-year portfolio presentations. These collections of their finest artworks serve as testaments to their growth and dedication throughout the year. Meanwhile, our D2 students have completed their visual arts course and are now immersed in the flurry of final exams. We loved seeing their final exhibition last month.
Our budding artists in M1B are engrossed in the sometimes frustrating art of composing portraits, capturing the essence and individuality of their subjects. It’s been a pleasure to watch them develop their skills and complete some excellent pieces. Simultaneously, our M2B students delved into the world of surrealism, drawing inspiration from the works of renowned surrealist artists as they create their own artworks that challenge perceptions and ignite the imagination.
Boarding News
As we near the end of another academic year, it's time to reflect on the remarkable achievements and experiences within our boarding community.
From academic excellence to acts of service and adventures beyond the classroom, the spirit of global citizenship and the pursuit of personal growth continue to thrive within our boarding family.
Our Global Citizenship Club has been at the forefront of fostering a culture of empathy, service, and inclusivity within our boarding community. Throughout the semester, they have embarked on various initiatives aimed at making a positive impact locally.
One such initiative took place on the 21st of April, when the Elder Club visited 'Little Drops' - an Old Age Home. They distributed toiletries in special pouches to 70 residents. This gesture not only brought joy to the residents but also instilled a sense of compassion and social responsibility in our students. A big thank you to Elder Club Members and Ms. Glenda for organising this meaningful initiative.
Amidst the academic fervour of examinations and e-Assessments, on the 1st of May, the boarding staff organised a day outing for our M1-M4 and D1 students to Area 83 in Bannerghatta, a resort known for its adventure sports.
The day was filled with diverse team-building activities that challenged our students to collaborate, communicate, and problem-solve. From building resilience to forging stronger friendships, the experience was not only enriching but also immensely enjoyable and fun. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Elvis, the boarding staff, the nurse, our Boarding Rep-Nirvan for their support in organising and facilitating this outing.
It was great to welcome back two of our former boarders, Bhavik Jain, Class of 2019, and Anshul Natekar, Class of 2023. It is fantastic to see so many alumni visit us when they are in Bangalore. It was great to catch up!
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