Hello everyone! Welcome to the first blog of the ISN PIC Program. Grade 6 and 7 students started their new journey enthusiastically, and the teachers, parents and the entire community were there to support them!

On Tuesday, the students had an eventful morning first. All classes joined the Welcome assembly, where this year’s homeroom teachers were announced. After that, they joined the Grade 1 and Middle School welcome ceremonies, where we all greeted the students joining the school for the first time, as well as our Middle school members. 

Following our introductions and having bentos for lunch, we spent the afternoon discussing all the new and old school regulations, playing team-building games, and creating their self-introduction drawings.

Soon after that, we will start inquiring into our April monthly concepts: Community values and Environment. The students will inquire into the concept of community, different types of communities, how communities are interconnected and determined by various historical and cultural factors. Furthermore, we will discuss the connection between communities and their natural environments and the importance of sustainability and maintaining our environments long-term.

On Wednesday, Grade 6 and 7 students spent the first part of their day discussing the importance of setting classroom essential agreements and deciding on them together. Everyone seemed to understand the importance of activities such as this for their student agency and has joined the discussion. It took some time, but after a long discussion our essential agreements were finalized, agreed upon, and signed by everyone.

Following this, Igor held a short presentation showcasing a poster he made. This was used to inform the standards that will be used for the students’ own presentations for the remainder of the school year. The students were quick to comment on things a good poster (e.g. sources of information, impactful design, interesting topic) and presentation (e.g. big and clear voice, eye contact, being well-rehearsed) need, and have also discussed using the SOLO taxonomy to assess their own progress.

In the afternoon, it was time for Grade 6’s first Japanese lesson with their new Japanese teacher Ms. Ayuko. Grade 7 had a double period of literacy and we practiced writing simple discursive essays. This was the first time for the students to write handwritten essays.

Thursday was a lovely day in the PIC classroom. The students (and their new teachers) seem to be getting more and more accustomed to the routines and rules of the classroom and they are able to manage their time very well.

We had our first P.E. lesson of the year, playing dodgeball at the gym. After that, our classmate Kiana organized a school tour for new (and “old”) classmates and teacher, explaining the purpose of each room and any special rules related to each one.

In Literacy class, the students chose a novel each of them will be reading at home for a book report project. They will have a month to complete it and will then present the book they read to their classmates in May and June. We have also started our guided reading with the book “Front Desk” by Kelly Yang. It is a story about a 10-year-old who starts helping in a motel after moving with the family from China to the USA. We will use it to explore topics of community, the importance of one’s culture, and tolerance.

After lunch, it was time for Japanese lessons for both classes.

A very rainy Friday had the students full of energy regardless and were able to get a lot of work done! Today, they have started their inquiry into the monthly topic of “Community values” by defining communities and discussing how the members share their values, goals, and interests. They saw two videos depicting different communities (linked below) and also talked about the communities they belong. The students practiced their essay writing skills and learned about proper computer text formatting as well, and finished some of the work that was left unfinished from earlier in the week. If the students wish to finish their school work at home as homework, this is encouraged.

Monday was a beautiful, sunny day, and the cherries in the campus yard are in full bloom. We’re excited to have you see them next week at the Spring Festival.

Today marked the students’ first Computing lesson. The students used a software called Figure to create a simple 3D model of a house. They had a lot of fun experiment with the multitude of creative options the software offers. Starting next week, the students will connect their houses into a town, create the interiors of their houses, and program a character that can explore them. Lots of fun awaits! The software is free, so feel free to try it out from the link below.

https://www.figuro.io/Home/Welcome

A fun day was had by the class on Tuesday! We got on the bus and visited Storyhouse Cafe & Bar, a business with who we will collaborate on a previously announced community collaboration project for this semester. The entire staff greeted the students and the owner, Mr. Chris explained in detail about the business of hospitality and his personal motivation for starting the business and his unique vision. The students seemed to enjoy the tour of the business, seeing their guests go about their everyday activities, and especially enjoying a delicious strawberry soda. 🍓

From June, the students will collaborate with Storyhouse Cafe in creating a unique product to offer to their customers and a promotional campaign to go with it. Before that, in May, they will join a short work placement experience, where they will try their hand at helping out in kitchen, the hall, and the connected guesthouse. More details will follow.

In the afternoon, the Grade 7 students started a discussion on what our environment means to us and the concept of sustainability and how to achieve it. We talked about the responsibility each of us has for maintaining our environment, but also about the responsibility other people, businesses and governments may have. We will continue this discussion, as well as reflect on today’s bus excursion, tomorrow.

After our interesting excursion, the students spend the first half of their Wednesday morning inquiring deeper into the workings of StoryHouse Cafe, preparing presentations about the business for their classmates in order to better prepare for the upcoming community collaboration.

After morning break, Grade 6 inquired into our secondary monthly concept, “Environment”, just as Grade 7 has done yesterday. The students shared their observations and opinions about the importance of sustainability and what each one of us can do to help, but also noticing that it’s important for everyone in society to do their part and work together.

We started our Thursday off with an all-school assembly in Gojo Skyroom. All teachers presented the interest clubs they will be leading once a month on Friday afternoons. There were many new clubs established since last school year, so the students were excitedly thinking about which one would be the best for them and selecting their options. The first club sessions will take place next Friday.

It was also the first Music lessons with Ms. Misayo. The students talked about their experiences with Music last school year and started practicing a new song: “Best Day Of My Life”. After morning break, the school was visited by our eye doctor who checked the students eyesight. Everyone seems to be of good health! 💪 We also continued reading our book “Front Desk” and had Japanese lessons in the afternoon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y66j_BUCBMY

In the next two weeks, the students will deepen their inquiry into the concepts of Community Values and Environment, including several exciting projects. Thank you for joining us on our exciting inquiry journey!