INSIDE THIS ISSUE…..

Page Table of Contents

1 Upcoming Events

2 Primary School information

3 Primary School Athletics Competition Grades 2-5

4 Secondary School information

5 Head’s Corner

6 Information from the Counsellor’s Office

8 COMUN Practice Debate

9 Children’s Art Exhibition

10 SCN News

11 Canteen Menus

22-24 February SAISA Visual Arts - OSC

26 February Parent Workshop “Assessment in the PYP” - PMPR

7.45 am

28 February SCN Coffee with Content 7.45 am

1-3 March Colombo Model United Nations 2019

2 March MS Production Rehearsal - Black Box 10.30 am

2 March Duke of Edinburgh First Aid Course 9.00-4.30 pm

3-6 March Backyard Theatre Ensemble (Student Workshops) - Auditorium

5 March “Meet the Administrators” 7.45 am

8 March Primary 3-Way Conferences (All day)

8 -10 March SAISA Music (Band/Choir) - Lincoln School, Nepal

9 March SAT Test - SMPR 7.30 am

9 March SCN Food & Fun Fair 3.00-6.00 pm

12 March OSC Environment Day

13 March PSAT (Grades 8 & 9) 2.00 pm

14 March Tech Talk #6 - SMPR 7.45 am

14 March Secondary Art Shor Opening - PMPR 4.30 pm

15 March Secondary Art Shop - PMPR

15-16 March Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey

(All day event)

Issue 24 - SY 2018-19 22 February 2019

Primary School Principal

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International Mother Language Day Thursday, February 21st marked International Mother Language Day and our Library staff needs to be congratulated for organizing this fantastic event. In our School’s Mission we look at developing the whole person as a responsible learner, striving for personal excellence within a culturally diverse environment. On the morning of our Mother Tongue Reading event, over 30 different languages were gathered and represented through our diverse student population. Children had 30 minutes where they could immerse themselves in literature written in their mother tongue language. I would like to thank all the parents who volunteered their time to come and read to their children. Without this group of volunteers, this day would be impossible to organize. Parents, thank you for your continued support and devotion to your children and OSC. Responsible and Respectful Play I would like to remind our parents and students to be advocates for responsible and respectful play when using OSC facilities, particularly when playing outside of school hours. OSC has some wonderful facilities and equipment that are open to the OSC community, but they won’t stay that way if we don’t look after them. One area that is very popular during weekends is our Preschool playground. Unfortunately, this is an area that is often left in a mess and a place where the toys are misused. We encourage our community members to use the facilities, thus need to be mindful to ensure our children play responsibly, respectfully, and tidy up when they are finished. Thanks in advance for your support. Have a lovely weekend. Regards, Jason Grandbois Primary School Principal

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PRIMARY SCHOOL ATHLETICS COMPETITION FOR GRADES 2-5 This will be a fun and friendly inter-class competition for Grades 2-5, next Wednesday 27th February, from 7.30-9am. Below is an outline of the event schedule. All children will take part in a sprint race, the long jump, throwing competition and the relay. Some children will also be doing their long run.

TIME GRADE 4 AND 5 GRADE 2 AND 3

7.30AM MEET ON FIELD UNDER CLASS TENTS

MEET ON FIELD UNDER CLASS TENTS

7.45 AM GRADE 5 - LONG JUMP

GRADE 4 - THROWING

TRACK EVENTS

GRADE 2 - 400M

GRADE 3 - 600M

GRADE 2 - 50M

GRADE 3 - 60M

7.55AM GRADE 5 - THROWING

GRADE 4 - LONG JUMP

8.10AM TRACK EVENTS

GRADE 4 - 600M

GRADE 5 - 800M

GRADE 4 - 75M

GRADE 5 - 100M

GRADE 2 - LONG JUMP

GRADE 3 - THROWING

8.20AM GRADE 2 - THROWING

GRADE 3 - LONG JUMP

8.40AM ALL MEET FOR RELAYS ALL MEET FOR RELAYS

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Secondary School Principal

This week has been short but action packed in the Secondary School. Wednesday saw us welcome parents to our Week Without Walls exhibition where students shared their experiences with one another and our visitors.

Thursday started off with our annual Mother Tongue Language Assembly which this year was very special indeed. Students shared their poetry and songs, some shared their experience of endangered languages whilst others shared their culture through dance. It was truly a lovely experience and a great reminder of the many languages and cultures that make OSC such a special place. A huge thank you to Ms. Lockwood who took this event to a new level this year.

Also on Thursday, our SAISA artists arrived and joined their host families for the coming 3 days of artistic endeavor. Whilst Ms. Morgan is sadly not able to join us for the actual event due to a family bereavement, we are carefully following her well laid plans and hope to do her proud. Please follow all the action on the following link: http://osc.lk/saisa/art There will be an exhibition of all the art work produced on Sunday at 4pm in the auditorium, please do join us to celebrate all the creativity of OSC students along with their peers from Dhaka, Bombay, Lahore, Kathmandu and Chennai. On Friday we continue with the artistic theme in the evening when we host this year’s Gecko Factor in the Auditorium. This event is an SGA run talent show taking place at 5pm in the auditorium. The students, under the guidance of their mentor, Ms. Leddy have put together a great programme and I believe the teacher band may also be putting in an appearance…. I can’t wait! Best wishes, Claire McQuillan secondaryprincipal@osc.lk Upcoming events: February 22nd Gecko Factor 22nd – 24th SAISA Art

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Head’s Corner

This brief article synopsis is actually packed with several important topics for consideration. Any insights to be gained to better understand how your teenager thinks and processes can be helpful to parents who consistently note the behaviors, but don’t fully understand the motivations. I suggest this is one time where you may gain a little more useful insight from reading the full article that can be reached by the hyper-link at the bottom. Phil Joslin Head of School

Insights on Teenage Behavior In this Edutopia article, Stephen Merrill says that recent research has given us important new information on the adolescent brain. • The limbic system (the seat of primal instincts like fear, hunger, lust, and pleasure) is hyperactive during adolescence, while the prefrontal cortex (the seat of self-control, planning, and self-awareness) is still developing. “It’s not youthful irrationality or a flair for the dramatic at work,” says Merrill; “teenagers actually experience things like music, drugs, and the thrill of speed more powerfully than adults do.” • The brain’s neuroplasticity at this stage of life makes kids sponges for learning. “The same emerging circuitry that makes teenagers vulnerable to risky behavior and mood swings also confers significant advantages on adolescent learners,” says Merrill. • Being with peers increases risk-taking, most dangerously with automobiles and alcohol consumption. “It’s never been a question of feeling invulnerable,” says Merrill; “for teenagers, there’s just something about the presence of peers that is transfiguring. They understand the risks and take them anyway.” • Kids at this age respond well to direct explanations. “Talking to teenagers frankly about their brain development can provide useful context for their emotional worlds,” says Merrill, “and reset their expectations about their potential for continued intellectual growth.” This includes explaining the limbic system, the malleability of their brains, and the peer effect. • Similarly, teens are receptive to learning about self-regulation, managing stress, and considering the feelings of others. Instruction in these areas is more effective than trying to scare kids about risky behaviors. • Peer culture and teens’ keen sense of fairness and justice can be powerful levers. Preaching about smoking’s health consequences is usually ineffective, but talking about bad breath, peer disapproval, impact on younger children, and the way the tobacco industry hooks and exploits people can change teens’ attitudes and behavior. “Decoding the Teenage Brain (in 3 Charts)” by Stephen Merrill in Edutopia, January 31, 2019, https://www.edutopia.org/a. I don’t think the rticle/decoding-teenage-brain-3-charts

From the Secondary Counsellor

UNIVERSITY VISITS

UNIVERSITY DATE TIME/PLACE

University of Calgary

Thursday, 28

February

Lunchtime

Location to be announced

PSAT FOR Grades 8 and 9 Dear Grade 8 and 9 Students and Parents, We are pleased to announce the opportunity to sit the PSAT exam on March 13th. This exam is optional for students in Grades 8 & 9 only and is used to prepare students for the SAT, an entrance exam for college admissions in the USA as well as some schools in Canada. The exam will take place on March 13th at 14.00hrs (students should arrive at 13.45hrs) in the SMPR. The fee for the PSAT is 3,800.00LKR, payable in advance to the Cashier’s Office. Space is limited! The exam is proctored by Mr Pradeep Karunaratne. The PSAT 8/9 tests the same skills and knowledge as the SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, and PSAT 10—in a way that makes sense for eighth and ninth graders. It measures what they’re already learning, shows them whether they’re on track for college, and lets them know where they need the most improvement. That means students have time to tackle these areas long before they take the SAT. By taking the PSAT, students receive free access to the College Board’s Skills Insight which informs students about what they are already likely able to do, and how they can improve their skills. Students over age 13 can share their scores with Khan Academy to create a personalized practice experience. It’s the best way to prepare for other tests in the SAT Suite of Assessments, and it’s free. Any questions? Contact Ms Natalie or Ms Fleming in the Student Centre. Warm regards, Andrea Fleming Secondary Counselor

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The Third and Final Practice Debate held on February 16th at OSC attracted approximately 300 students from various schools in Sri Lanka. OSC Senior and COMUN 2019 Secretary General Virath De Alwis and his EXCO team chaired the sessions skillfully and succeeded in exciting heated debate and positive feedback from delegates in all the 7 different councils. COMUN 2019 is working with the Historical General Assembly 1, General Assembly 3, General Assembly 4, the Group of 20, the Presidential Cabinet, The International Press Corps and the Security Council to find ways to “Reconstitute Global Perspectives” on critical issues and concerns. The conference itself will be hosted by OSC on March 1st, 2nd and 3rd. The first 2 days will be held on campus at the OSC and the last day and the closing ceremony will be held at the Cinnamon Lakeside. Delegates are expected to follow school dress code and are expected to come in formal wear for the first two days and national attire on the third day. The session timings are as follows:

Day 1—March 3rd—Registration starts at 6.00 am and the day ends at 5p.m - at the OSC

Day 2—March 4th—Registration starts at 8am and the session ends at 6 p.m. at the OSC

Day 3—March 5th—Registration starts at 8 a.m and the session ends at 7. 30 p.m.

Parents are welcome to attend the Closing / awards ceremony at the Cinnamon Lakeside. The Opening ceremony is limited to delegates only but will be livestreamed on the day. The link will be mailed to parents at the start of next week. More details are available on the website created by OSC Senior Anuda Weerasinghe http://osc.lk/comun/ or you can contact me at jasmine@osc.lk The COMUN DESK.

THIRD AND FINAL COMUN 2019 PRACTICE DEBATE 16/02/2019

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Invitation to Children’s Art Exhibition

“Wake up for Mother Nature”

A Children’s Art Exhibition of the recently concluded island-wide art competition for promoting environmental awareness among the public, especially school children.

The Exhibition will include numerous activities like: *Viewing about 350 artwork submitted for the competition. *Creating Nature Art with the help of professionals. *Learning to identify different species of Sri Lanka’s butterflies and dragonflies. *Browsing/purchasing books and posters on Nature at the Exhibition’s book stall. The exhibition will be open to the public from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm from Tuesday 26

th February to

Friday 1st March 2019 (9:00 am to 12 noon on Saturday 2

nd March) at the JDA Perera Art Gallery,

46, Horton Place, Colombo 7. For further particulars, call the SPEARS Foundation office (0112854215 or 0773576802)

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