October 2015

Middle School News 1

Middle School News

September and October These have been two busy months in the Middle School. Students are counting down the days to our school trips week, 19-23rd October. Class 7 to Arles, Avignon, Orange and Nimes; ‘What did the Romans ever do for us?’, Class 8 to Cortona; ‘The Renaissance’, and Class 9 to Paris; ‘Paris through the Ages’. Extra Curricular activities are well under way, with a very varied and extensive choice for our students, including French Debating Club, Coding, Chess, Art Club and Robotics, to the Sporting pursuits which include Football, Ocean Club, Netball, Running Club and Sailng. We do ask for full commitment from all students if they have signed up to any clubs. Mrs L.Mackenzie-Wright, Head of Middle School

Middle School Trips Many thanks for your attendance at the trip meetings. Please ensure all paperwork is with the school. Trips depart as follows; Class 7 and 8 from the Digue 7.45am Monday 19th October, Class 9 from the back of school, 5.30am Monday 19th October. Curriculum Information Evening Many thanks to all the parents who attended the Curriculum Information evening on Tuesday 15th September. The presentations for each curriculum area can be found on our website at: http://www.ismonaco.org/subject-overviews

Meet the Teachers

This event was held on Wednesday 16th September in the new school cafeteria. It was very well attended, and we thank parents for their support.

Engage

You will now all have received your login details for Engage. The mid-term bulletin will be available on Friday 16th October for you to view.

Important Dates

Parent/Teacher conferences - Wednesday 4th November and Wednesday 18th November Exam Week – Monday 30th November – Friday 4th December

October 2015

Middle School News 2

INDEPENDENT READING PRACTICE and Accelerated Reader (AR) Reading is not only an essential academic skill, necessary for learning in science, mathematics, and the humanities, it is an essential life skill in our shared modern society. With this in mind, ISM Middle School provides an environment that challenges and supports literacy and reading progress by use of the Accelerated Reader (AR) programme. HAPPENING now in ISM Middle School: • STAR reading tests done for Term 1. • AR Independent Reading goals have been communicated to each student. • Students have received their individualised recommended reading ranges, or ‘Zone’ for short. • Students are encouraged to select books of interest within their ‘Zone’. • Students are expected to take AR quizzes on the AR books they have read. • Students are expected to participate in independent reading practice for a minimum of 20-30 minutes a

day at home which leads to achievement of their individualised AR Reading goals. Yes! Students may read titles outside of the ISM Library collections and in ebook format, too! Simply use AR BookFinder http://www.arbookfind.com to confirm the reading ‘Zone’ and the availability of an AR quiz. Parents may follow the AR reading progress of their child by accessing Home Connect https://hosted148.renlearn.com/1628762/homeconnect/ Login with your child’s access details.

The Middle School Hub Q. Why is the Middle School Library called ‘the Hub’

A. The Learning Hub using the full title was coined by Mrs Mary Maccaud when the library was first built a few years ago as she wanted to highlight the location of the facility as well as its uses which are central to the

Middle School philosophy of fostering international minded, successful and motivated learners. Q. What activities take place in the hub?

A. This could be a very long list due to the size of the room but the most significant activities are designed around the hub’s aims and objectives; to provide an experience of next generation learning

Q. Could you explain what this means? A. Essentially next generation learning means the students should leave Middle School as confident, creative and independent students who have a love for learning and are equipped to participate in a rapidly changing

world Q. Does the Big6 prepare students for this rapidly changing world?

A. Absolutely, the Big6 is a problem solving tool which provides students (and adults) with a set of essential life skills as a process of organizing information in 6 individual and unique steps. The Big6 helps students make better sense of how to handle the huge amount of information which is available in today’s world

Q. Why do you think the Accelerated Reading programme is so popular? A. Accelerated Reading (AR) is designed for students to develop a love for reading. Students of Middle School enjoy the challenge of reading for their allocated daily target as well as taking the quizzes after

reading their chosen book. Did you know that reading for 20 minutes a day can translate to almost 1,800,000 words during an academic year ? This is huge!

October 2015

Middle School News 3

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Science

The Middle School Science Team have had a busy term engaging students with hands on learning.

From heart and lung dissections; to looking at how acid rain affects plants; from decomposing carrots to density

calculations and ecology.

Class 8 IAEA visit

This trimester class 8 have been learning about oceanography and the chemical compositions of

our seas and oceans, during their Earth Science classes. To enrich their learning and give the students hands on experience of working in a professional lab, class 8 will be visiting the International Atomic Energy Agency for an interactive tour and a chance to interview some of the scientists who work there. The students focus is on

ocean acidification and will directly link with their BIG6 project later in the trimester.

Global Citizen Forum

Five class 9 students were chosen from a strong group of MUN delegates to represent ISM at the Global

Citizen Forum on 9th October. Crystel Saraie, Marina Nalbantis, Luc L’Heureux, Henry Quinn and Dragan Wilms observed interesting debates and listened to Mr Kofi A. Annan, 7th Secretary General of the United Nations speak to the Forum of worldwide delegates.

O.A.A outing – Rafting

On Saturday 10th October, 20 Middle School students headed to Breil-sur-Roya for a day of rafting.

This enabled the team to overcome challenges, to risk-take and to experience team-work in the great

outdoors. Many thanks to Mr Bonna for organizing the first OAA event of the school year. We look

forward to next month’s activity!

Community Captains Congratulations to the following students who have been

nominated as Captains, Co-Captains and Junior Captains for their respective communities. These students will take the lead

in organising community events, updating the community notice board, and acting as positive role models to the ISM

Middle and Whole School Community. Rafiki Captains – Luc L’Heureux and Marina Nalbantis

Co-Captain – Viviana Ponzi Junior Captian – Serafima Lakschin

Nakama Captains – Mara Gindorf and Harry Hilbert Co-Captain – Harrison Canfield

Junior Captains – Max Besozzi and Alisa Buzdalina Takoda Captain – Margherita Borla Magnetto

Co-Captain – Aiden Thompson Junior Captain – Alice Semenenko

Amiko Captains – Domenico Marzocco and Christine Dovlete

Co-Captain – Benjii Goethe Junior Captain – Gemma Griffiths

INDEPENDENT READING PRACTICE and