Dear Primary Families,
Another busy week has come to an end in Primary, with plenty of opportunities to see our students learning, connecting, and growing in confidence. As we move further into the school year, it is lovely to see our classrooms becoming increasingly settled and our students embracing the learning opportunities around them.
There was no better way to finish the week than with our first Learning Celebration Assembly of the year, with our Grade 5 and Grade 6 students sharing learning from their current Units of Inquiry.
Grade 5 shared learning connected to their Who We Are unit, exploring the feelings and emotions that can sometimes sit below the surface and influence the way we think, feel, and behave. Grade 6 then shared learning from their Where We Are in Place and Time unit, highlighting some of the different push and pull factors associated with migration.
It was lovely to see our students confidently sharing their learning, and the assembly provided a great example of the transdisciplinary nature of the PYP at ABIS, bringing together knowledge, concepts, skills, and different subject areas within meaningful contexts.
Thank you to all of our students who were risk-takers by taking to the stage and performing in front of the Primary community. Thank you also to our Grade 5 and Grade 6 teaching teams for the time and effort that went into preparing the students, and to our Grade 6 MCs, Mohammed and Muna, for guiding us through the assembly.
Connecting as a Community
Earlier in the week, I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with parents during our Parent Coffee Morning on Tuesday. It was particularly nice to hear about the positive starts many children have enjoyed to the school year, as well as to see new families and parents meeting and connecting with one another. It was a very visible reminder of the importance of our ABIS community and the relationships between students, families, and school.
Tuesday also included our Parent Workshop, which focused on the importance of structures and routines at home and the positive impact these can have on children’s wellbeing, learning, and behaviour. Thank you to our counsellors, Ms. Maitha and Ms. Sharouq, for leading this valuable session and sharing practical ideas with our parents.
Knowing Our Learners
Across Primary, homeroom teachers have continued the important process of getting to know their students as learners. This has included completing a range of beginning-of-year baseline assessments in areas such as phonics or reading, writing, and mathematics.
As inquiry teachers, knowing our students is every bit as important as knowing our curriculum. These early assessments, alongside teachers’ observations and conversations with students, help us to understand individual strengths, identify areas for development, and make informed decisions about the learning experiences and support our students need.
If you have questions about your child’s learning or progress, please use the Seesaw app to contact your child’s teacher. Maintaining open communication between home and school is an important part of supporting our students throughout the year.
As always, thank you for your continued support. Wishing you and your families a wonderful weekend.
Best regards,
Matthew
Primary Principal
Dates Ahead
- Thursday, 1st October (12:20–1:00 pm): Grade 3–4 Learning Celebration Assembly
- Tuesday, 13th October (8:00–9:30 am): Parent Coffee Morning
- Thursday, 15th October (12:20–1:00 pm): Grade 1–2 Learning Celebration Assembly