This week in Savanna class, we discussed our roles and responsibilities within the school community. To begin, the students looked at picture cards showing different situations that might happen in the classroom, such as lining up, sitting nicely on a chair, not sharing toys, and pushing a friend. They worked together to sort the cards into two categories: “Helpful” and “Not Helpful.” As in previous activities, the children talked with their group members and collaborated to decide where each card belonged before attaching them to the chart.
Afterward, we looked at the completed charts together and discussed the students’ choices. When asked why they placed certain cards in the “Helpful” or “Not Helpful” category, the children confidently shared their ideas. Some comments included, “They are caring because they are sharing toys,” and “It’s helpful because they are sitting nicely.” The students were able to explain their thinking clearly and express their opinions to others.
For some of the pictures, there were different viewpoints. One student might say, “This is helpful because the child is trying to help a friend,” while another might respond, “No, it’s not helpful because the other child got pushed and fell down.” The Savanna students listened carefully to one another’s ideas and demonstrated the Learner Profile attribute of being Open-minded. They showed respect for different perspectives and were willing to consider opinions that differed from their own.
Good job, Savanna!
To help us learn about the different roles and responsibilities within our school community, we invited two guest speakers: Ms. Richine, the Head of Campus at Shimauchi Campus, and Ms. Eri, who works in the school office.
The children were already familiar with some of Ms. Richine’s responsibilities as a Rainforest class teacher. They shared that she helps the children, sings songs, and dances with them. But what does a Head of Campus do? Ms. Richine explained that she is like a mother or father to the ISN community. Her job is to help make sure everyone is safe, happy, and able to enjoy their time at school. She does this by communicating with many people and planning activities and events that support the whole school community.
Next, we learned about the role of an office staff member. When asked what they thought Ms. Eri does, the children shared ideas such as, “She talks on the phone,” “She stays with visitors,” and “She is always eating lunch!” We then asked, “Why do you think Ms. Eri eats lunch before everyone else?” After thinking carefully, one student came up with the answer, “Checking the food!” The children learned that Ms. Eri checks the safety of the food to make sure it is safe for everyone to eat and helps keep the students healthy.
The Savanna students listened attentively, asked many thoughtful questions, and discovered that everyone who works at school has an important role and responsibility. Through this experience, they gained a deeper understanding of how different people contribute to making our school community a safe, caring, and enjoyable place for all.
The Savanna students have been enthusiastically observing the vegetables they are growing every day. Each time they look at the peppers, they notice how much they have grown and excitedly exclaim, “Wow, they got bigger!”
However, the children recently learned that these are actually bell peppers, not green peppers, so they will need to wait patiently for them to change color to red or yellow before they are ready to harvest. The students have been taking great care of the plants by watering them, adding fertilizer, and topping up the soil whenever needed.
Gym Lesson
During Gym class, the students began practicing for the upcoming Sports Festival. They learned how to get ready for a race by standing with both feet behind the line, taking one step back when they hear the starting command, and then running as fast as they can. Everyone worked hard to keep their eyes facing forward and run their best. After each race, the children were excited to talk about who came first and what place they finished in.
To help strengthen their legs and arms, the students also participated in activities that involved moving in different ways. Although some children said, “My arms are tired!”, they continued to persevere and gave their best effort until the end. It was also wonderful to see classmates encouraging one another with kind words such as, “You can do it! Just a little more!”
We were very happy to see the growth the Savanna students have shown—not only in their physical skills, but also in their perseverance, kindness, and support for one another.
We are sure that next week will bring many more discoveries and exciting moments for the Savanna class! Thank you for your continued support.
Have a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone again next week!
