Volume No: 9

The EPC Primary Newsletter www.taipeieuropeanschool.com

Telephone: +886 2 8145 9007

10th February 2012

Welcome to the 9th edition of this years Wen Lin Journal - the fortnightly newsletter for the

European Primary Campus.

Inside this newsletter you will find all the latest goings on for the French Section, German

Section, British Infant Section and British Junior Section. We also frequently have articles

from other parts of the school community such as the library staff and PTA.

Inside this week’s journal…

• Find out how the British Infant Section Nursery children celebrated Chinese New Year

• Explore creativity through British Junior Year 3 Art

• The French Section were lucky enough to have 3 visiting Authors come and read

• The German Section loved to cook as they celebrated Chinese New Year

• We now have beautiful Jan Latta books in the Library. Come in and find out more

We also have…

Our usual letters from Mrs Martin and Ms Corry and contributions from the library staff.

British Infant Section http://www.taipeieuropeanschool.com/tbs/index.php

British Junior Section http://www.taipeieuropeanschool.com/tbs/index.php

French Section http://www.taipeieuropeanschool.com/eft/index.php

German Section http://www.taipeieuropeanschool.com/tgs/index.php

School Website Links

Dear Parents

It’s good to be back from my business trip to Bangkok and London! I hope you all

missed me while I was away!!

We have a very busy few weeks ahead of us, so I thought it might be useful for

you to have some dates:

• Years 1 and 2 Parent Interviews – Thursday 16th February between 3pm and

7pm

• Nursery and Reception Parent Interviews – Thursday 1st march between 3pm

and 7pm

• Maths Workshop – Friday 17th February at 1pm

• Book Week – Week beginning Monday 20th February

• French Section ‘Carnival’ – Tuesday 21st February—Children to come dressed

as a book character

• School closed to students – Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th February

• “Wobbles, Wants and Worries” Workshop 2 – Friday 24th February at 1pm

• Maths Workshop 2 – Friday 2nd March at 1pm

• British Infant Section Open Week – Week beginning Monday 5th March

(details to follow)

• “Wobbles, Wants and Worries” Workshop 3– Friday 9th March at 1pm

(provisional date only)

• “What is the Foundation Stage?” Workshop – Friday 16th March at 1pm

• Year 1 Annual Show—Wednesday 28th March at 1pm (details to follow)

• School finishes for Spring Break—Friday 30th March

Hello everyone,

To welcome in the new year the Nursery enjoyed various activities

focused around Chinese Lunar New Year culture and traditions.

The celebrations started off with us watching the dragon dancing in the MPR hall.

The children dressed up in beautiful traditional Chinese New Year clothes and played games during our party. They were de-

lighted with the gifts and stickers they won!

Finally, a BIG thank you to all the parents who helped and contributed to the party, it was a great success!

Happy Auspicious Year of the Dragon 2012

新年快樂新年快樂新年快樂新年快樂!!!!

Dear Parents, Students and friends of the School,

‘The Year of the Dragon is associated with the changes of Spring and thus is more like a flowing river, not a stag-

nant lake, so things happen quickly, earlier in the year. The Dragon marks progression, perseverance and auspi-

ciousness however it may also bring about unpredictable events.’ On reading this it struck me how this relates to

normal life in school - we strive to help children make progress and encourage them to persevere in their learn-

ing, however life can be unpredictable and it is an important part of our job to ensure children become equipped

with skills to deal with what life has to offer. We have many events planned for the rest of the term so please see

below for an outline. Have a lovely weekend

Kind regards

Adele Corry

Head of British Junior Section

Parent/Teacher Meetings: These will be held next Wednesday 15th February from 3:30pm-7:30pm. Your

child will be bringing their report for the first semester home today and you will have an opportunity to discuss

their progress and new learning targets with their teachers. If you have been unable to make an appointment be-

cause of technical reasons please contact the office by email.

If you have been unable to meet with a specialist teacher because his/her appointments have all been taken please

either contact them directly by writing a note in your child’s Home/Link diary.

Tribe Assembly: Children come to school on Friday 17th February dressed in

their Tribe colours. During assembly we celebrate the Tribe with the most merits so

far this academic year by awarding the Tribe Golden Cup. Merits are awarded

for keeping our Golden Rules. At the end of the year the winning tribe re-

ceive a special treat.

Carnival: On 21st February children will come to school dressed as their

favourite book character. There will be a parade, and show which parents

have been invited to. The PSC members and parents are very kindly making

pancakes for the children.

School Closure day 27th February: There is no school for children on this day. All staff will be working to-

gether to improve ways of ensuring the curriculum progresses smoothly from Nursery through to the final

years of High School. The following day is a public holiday.

FOBISSEA Primary Maths Competition 1st - 3rd March: Ms Bae and four Year Six students will be

attending this competition in Manilla The children have to work together in a team to solve mathematical prob-

lems.

Other

Events:

14th February 8:10am - 8:40am: B4JM Class Assembly

6th March 8:10am - 8:40am: B6SB Class Assembly

9th March: Please note the race Against Hunger has been postponed to 4th May

13th March 8:10am - 8:40am: B3PJ Class Assembly

16th March 7:00pm EPC Junior Music Concert

19th - 23rd March Year Six residential trip to Southern Taiwan

20th March Year Five trip to Jinguishi

22nd - 26th March Primary FOBISSEA Performing Arts Festival in Jakarta

30th March 8:30 - 12:30 SPORTS DAY

i

provides a platform to develop individuality, creativity and independ-

ence. Through exploration and investigation students become more

confident in using visual and tactile elements to communicate what

they see, feel and think.

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows upAll children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows upAll children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows upAll children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. ( Pablo Picasso)

Year 3 were inspired by Picasso’s blue period when

they created images of bottles.

All students from Year 3 to

Year 6 collaborated to create a

large mural in cool colours.

Year 4 created excit-

ing clay sculptures.

Year 6 enjoyed ex-

ploring Pop Art.

Le vingtième Salon international du Livre de

Taipei a eu lieu du 1er au 6 février 2012.

A cette occasion, de célèbres auteurs et

illustrateurs sont venus de France, et les

différentes classes de la Section française

Rencontre avec Nathalie Choux,

illustratrice

Avec l’aide précieuse de Nathalie, les élèves se transforment

en apprentis-illustrateurs…

GS

CE1

Rencontre avec Taï-Marc Le Thanh ,

auteur

Merci à Taï-Marc pour ses lectures et

nos échanges !

CP

CE2

Rencontre avec Rebecca Dautremer,

illustratrice ...

CM1 - CM2

Rebecca nous a dévoilé bien des secrets quant à son métier

d’illustratrice ...et puis nous avons pu comprendre ce que signifie

être la “directrice artistique” d’un film d’animation… Quel tal-

ent !!!! Merci Rebecca!!

… et directrice artistique du film Kerity

von Larissa Kendzia

Dreikönigsessen mit den Franzosen

Der Dreikönigskuchen (Galette des Rois) ist ein traditionelles Festtagsgebäck, das zum 6. Januar, dem Festtag der heiligen drei Könige,gebacken wird. Der alte Brauch des Bohnenkönigs

wurde in den 1950er Jahren wiederbelebt und ist heute vor allem in

Frankreich sehr verbreitet.

Im Dreikönigskuchen, wird eine Münze oder ein anderer kleiner Gegenstand eingebacken. Wer beim Essen auf diesen Glücksbringer diesen Glücksbringer stößt, ist für einen Tag König oder Königin und darf sich ebenfalls einen oder eine Königin aussuchen.

wo der Glücksbringer versteckt ist, denn manchmal ist er schon von außen zu erkennen.

Am 12.01 lud uns die französische Klasse CP von Elodie Fis zum traditionellen Dreikönigsessen ein. Zur Einstimmung sangen wir den Kindern ein deutschen Lied, dass vom „Seifenblasendrachen“ handelt und erzählten ihnen die Geschichte. Anschliessend lasen Elodie und ich den Kindern das Buch vom „Galette qui roule“ ( Das rollende Gallette) abwechselnd auf deutsch und franzöisch vor. Sie hörten mit Begeisterung zu und konnten es kaum mehr erwarten endlich ein Stück vom selbstgebackenen Gallette probieren zu dürfen. Bevor es mit dem Dreikönigsessen losgeht, wird traditionell ein Kind ausgesucht das sich unter dem Tisch versteckt. Nacheinander werden die Namen der Kinder aufgerufen, die ein Stück Kuchen bekommen, damit sie

Felix vom Kindergarten, war der Glückliche mit der Münze und er suchte sich Katharina von der französischen CP Klasse als Königin aus. Ange von den Franzosen hatte ebenfalls das „Vergnügen“ auf eine Münze zu beißen, und suchte sich Kate vom Kindergarten als Königin aus. Die Kinder hatten viel Spaß mit den französischen Kindern und freuen sich schon auf die nächste kulturelle Begegnung.

Chinesische Neujahrsfeier im Kindergarten

von Larissa Kendzia

Kurz bevor den chinesischen Neujahrsferien haben

unsere Kindergarten Eltern uns angeboten bei

der Feiergestaltung zu unterstützen. Ein paar Tage

vor der großen Feier wurde tatkräftig vorbereitet.

Der Kindergartenraum wurde mit chinesischen

Basteleien dekoriert. Unter anderem haben

die Kinder in einer Gruppenarbeit unseren

hauseigenen Glücksdrachen „Paul“ aus

recyclebarem Material kreiert.

Wir haben nicht nur einen Drachen gebastelt,

sondern auch einen Drachenkuchen für die Feier

gebacken.

Am Festtag selbst, kamen alle Kinder traditionell chinesisch gekleidet in den Kindergarten.

Die Kinder marschierten zu passender Musik ein paar Runden um den Tisch, verteilten

Süßigkeiten an die Gäste und der kleine Glückslöwe heiterte die Eltern auf.

Anschließend wurde das Buffet eröffnet, mit allerlei

traditionellen Leckereien. Die Kinder und Eltern konnten in festlicher Atmosphäre essen und

chinesischen Tee trinken.

Die Kinder sangen ein lustiges Lied, dass von einem Seifenblasendrachen handelt und

tanzten dazu einen

Drachentanz.

Zum Abschluss durften alle Kinder eine Wunderbox mit kleinen

Geschenken aufdrücken und Seifenblasen aufpusten.

Dieser Vormittag bereitete allen Beteiligten, und vor allem den

Kinder große Freude. Diese Feier wird uns noch lange in

Erinnerung bleiben.

Vielen Dank,

an unsere äußerst engagierten Eltern!

From the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Department

TES is very proud to have active and well resourced SEN departments in both the primary and secondary

sections to support students with a wide variety of learning needs. We decided to share some interesting

information about SEN with the wider school community through the newsletter.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

In a nutshell, the brain of people with autism are wired differently and this affects how they perceive and

sense the world around them. Aspergers Syndrome, as discussed last time, is on the autistic spectrum, at

the higher end of the scale and people with this condition can generally function quite independently in

life. In fact, some can be very successful because of their different way of interpreting the world.

However, others with autism can have profound learning difficulties. For example, they may be unable to

speak or communicate their feelings, and may need to be looked after all their lives. It is a very wide and

varied spectrum.

Please take the time to check out this video link about a young girl with autism – It’s guaranteed that it will

change your way of thinking about people with autistic spectrum disorders!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNZVV4Ciccg&sns=fb

Once again, if you have any links you would like to share in our newsletter, please send them so we can

share our resources.

Misha Lynn, SEN Coordinator, TES Secondary Campus

Mojdeh Burriston, SEN Coordinator TES Primary Campus

Dear Parents,

Welcome back and, though the Lantern Festival just officially ended the cele-bration of Chinese New Year, here is a little Lantern Riddle which everyone

has to guess the answer in the Chinese Lantern Festival:

Now I am a cub, but one day I will grow;

You will call me a lioness, that much I know.

I like to sleep a lot and doze in the sun,

But when I am awake, I like to run, run and run;

My teeth are very sharp and my tail is very long;

When I grow up I will be big and very strong .

Pass this to your little ones if you don’t have a clue where to start!

On February 6th, children from Year 1 to Year 6 were fascinated with Jan Latta, a wildlife photographer’s, stories with lively photos, about endangered animals. Ms Latta gave everyone a unique look into the animals’ lives in their natural habitat - in Africa, India, Borneo and China, by her exciting power point presentation. She explained how each book was created and took every-one on wild adventures. The book sale after the whole event was unexpect-edly successful, and, to a lot of people’s disappointed, many students or par-ents went home empty-handed. Weep no more, you can always go to: http://www.truetolifebooks.com.au/ and discover more about Jan Latta and her books, which

are also available for online order!

Happy Safari!

Primary Library Team

Answer to the Lantern Riddle: LENA THE LION

Diary of a Wildlife Photographer is Jan

Latta’s journal of 14 years of adventures in

Africa, India and China with over 300 pho-

tographs she has taken in the wild.

In the True to Life Book series the ani-

mals talk to children about where they

live, what they eat, and how the family

lives together. Jan’s photographs tell

the story in pictures, and there are

facts and maps at the back of the

books.

In 2007 the ABC asked Jan to write

Diary of a Wildlife Photographer. This

is a journal of 14 years of adventures in

the wild creating the True to Life Book

series.