Welcome to Year 6

Rebecca ClimieBarbara Brock Hollinshead

Justine TaylorGeorge Li

Pauline Uden

Doris Chun

Kim StanyardJudith Tang

Diana Wong

Diana Cheung

Medium TermMedium Term For your child to succeed in Secondary school, For your child to succeed in Secondary school,

completing the IB diploma, he/she needs the completing the IB diploma, he/she needs the relevant knowledge, understanding and skills and to relevant knowledge, understanding and skills and to develop thesedevelop these he/she needs to:he/she needs to:

Work smart:Work smart: Have good work habits (save time and stay on track)Have good work habits (save time and stay on track) Think creatively and critically (we are not sponges)Think creatively and critically (we are not sponges) Value and accept the need for hard work (no Value and accept the need for hard work (no

shortcuts)shortcuts)

Play smart:Play smart: Have fun (develops creativity)Have fun (develops creativity) Develop networking skills (it is about who you know)Develop networking skills (it is about who you know)

Long Term - Finding Long Term - Finding their thingtheir thing

Ultimately what I hope is that your child Ultimately what I hope is that your child through working smart and playing smart through working smart and playing smart will learn about themselves and will find will learn about themselves and will find the thing that they are good at and the the thing that they are good at and the thing that they love. When they pursue this thing that they love. When they pursue this passion, it will lead them to satisfaction passion, it will lead them to satisfaction and success.and success.

If your child is not already on this path If your child is not already on this path then Y6 should be the start of this journey.then Y6 should be the start of this journey.

We Are All In This We Are All In This TogetherTogether

Your child will do best when he/she, you and I are Your child will do best when he/she, you and I are working smart and playing smart and sharing how working smart and playing smart and sharing how we do this.we do this.

Have you helped your child to develop:Have you helped your child to develop: independent work habits;independent work habits; an acceptance of their responsibilities;an acceptance of their responsibilities; a desire to work and a desire to play;a desire to work and a desire to play; creative and critical thinking skills;creative and critical thinking skills; social skills that have led to groups of friends.social skills that have led to groups of friends.

If not, then let us start today, to work together to If not, then let us start today, to work together to achieve these goals.achieve these goals.

Independent learnersIn Year 6 we encourage your child to be as

independent as possible.

Independent learners should: Be ready to learn Be prepared (bring all necessary

equipment listed on the resource list) Be responsible (for their own possessions) Be creative and critical thinkers Be active in lessons

Please encourage your child to be an independent learner!

School Guiding Statements

A learning community working together to develop internationally minded students

who act to make a better world.

Pillars of PurposeAchieve potential, Respect individuality,

Make a difference

IB World School

All IB schools plan teaching and learning around the essential elements.

Learner ProfileTransdisciplinary ThemesKey ConceptsTransdisciplinary SkillsAttitudesAction

And Knowledge (subject areas)

Learner Profile (Trick Crop B)

We want to develop each student so that he/she is:

Communicator Risk-takerPrincipled

KnowledgeableOpen minded

ReflectiveBalancedCaringThinkerInquirer

Transdisciplinary Themes

Themes central to humanity:

Where we are in place and timeWho we areHow we express ourselvesHow the world worksHow we organise ourselvesSharing the planet

The Key Concepts (2Fs3Cs2Rs and a P)

FormFunctionCausationChangeConnectionPerspectiveResponsibilityReflection

and many related concepts

Transdisciplinary Skills

Thinking SkillsSocial SkillsCommunication SkillsSelf-Management SkillsResearch Skills

Attitudes

AppreciationCommitmentConfidenceCooperationCreativityCuriosityEmpathyEnthusiasmIndependenceIntegrityRespectTolerance

Learning through Units of Inquiry

Different transdisciplinary themes, concepts, transdisciplinary skills, learner profile

attributes and attitudes guide the children’s inquiries.

Teachers provide initial input and then children are encouraged to ask their own questions, so

that children can follow their own lines of inquiry with teacher guidance and support.

Children are required to be active and independent learners – and are expected to

take action!

PYP Coordinator

If you want to know more about the PYP approach to primary education then look out, in the newsletter, for the events in school where Ms Salter, the school’s PYP coordinator explains aspects in more depth.

The first Transdisciplinary Theme

this year“Where We Are in Place and Time”

The central idea is : Technology impacts human activity; past, present and future

Lines of inquiry are: How technology meets needsHow simple machines function

The circumstances and impact of the development of technology over time

Concepts: Connection, Change, FunctionLearner Profile: Knowledgeable, Communicator

Attitudes: Curious, Confidence Transdisciplinary Skills: Research, Communication

How you can help the class

In this unit you can help by letting your child bring and share some old technology that you have. For example one of the first mobile phones, a record player, an original Biro…

You may have expertise in or access to some new technology that you could present to the class. For example - nanobots.

You may be able to help in a different unit of inquiry and so the next slide outlines the central ideas of some of our other inquiries and we would like you to sign up on the sheet at the door if you can help.

Units of Inquiry in Y6Where We are in Place and Time(Aug to Oct)

Technology past, present and future

Who We Are

(Oct to Dec)

Making decisions, resolving conflict

How We Express Ourselves(Jan to Feb)

Chinese art and culture

How the World Works(Feb to Mar)

Energy

How We Organise Ourselves(Apr to May)

NGOs and their role in society

Language: EnglishIn English we follow the IB scope and sequence document. English is taught is

linked to our overall central idea wherever possible.

This involves your child in reading and writing in a range of forms including:

classic fiction, poetry and drama by long-established authors including, where

appropriate, study of a Shakespeare play; adaptations of classics on film/TV.

autobiography and biography, diaries, journals, letters, anecdotes, records of observations, journalistic writing, non-

chronological reports.

ReadingChildren are expected to read at home

every day – this may be their own reading book , a newspaper, guided reading book or other appropriate material. They should record their reading daily in their school diary.

Guided reading books will be sent home and children may be asked to prepare specific chapters for the group session.

Children may be asked to complete tasks in their reading journals.

Your children will have one library lesson weekly and are also able to access books before and after school.

Mathematics

In maths we follow the IB scope and sequence document for mathematics.

During the year children will be working on different targets.

The children are taught to self assess through, for example ’Traffic Light System’.

How children learn mathematics:•Constructing their own meaning-starting with exploring their own personal experiences, understandings and knowledge.•Being taught in relevant, realistic contexts-so that it can be used in real life situations

Transferring meaning

Applying with understanding

Constructing meaning

AssessmentAssessment

Your child will be bringing their Your child will be bringing their main English and Mathematics main English and Mathematics exercise books home periodically exercise books home periodically throughout the year, so that you can throughout the year, so that you can see how they have done at the end of see how they have done at the end of a unit. a unit.

Do get in touch if you want to Do get in touch if you want to discuss your child’s progress.discuss your child’s progress.

PE: Physical Education

Two lessons per week

Building team work and technical skills

Important that children have the correct equipment:

PE kit, hat, water bottle

Home LearningHome Learning

We have an essential agreement for home learning that took effect from September 2008.

This agreement was ratified fully in July 2009.

The Home Learning Grids The Home Learning Grids Will…Will…

• Be differentiated;

• Contain elements of choice and tasks that must be completed;

• Be expected to be completed over a period of time that includes a number of school days and at least one weekend;

• As much as possible be linked to learning being undertaken at school and at home;

• Include Chinese language and sometimes other specialist subjects.

Home LearningFeedback will be given to all children about the quality and quantity of their home learning. This feedback is given in different ways.

In Y6 this year we will use two websites to support home learning. (Screen shots on the following slides.) We will provide guidance as to how these tools should be used. These sites do allow children to work independently.

In order to prepare your child for homework at secondary school, home learning will become more internet based as the year progresses.

Reading, spellings and number facts are all ongoing throughout the year.

Supporting Tools – My Supporting Tools – My MathsMaths

Support Tools - Studyladder

And of course The Learning Gateway

http://cwbs.lg.esf.edu.hk/login/logout.php?sesskey=l59m8HhWZo

Bits and PiecesBits and Pieces We have children who have allergies in school so We have children who have allergies in school so

please please do not send nuts do not send nuts or food with nuts into class. or food with nuts into class. Please Please inform the officeinform the office if your if your child is sickchild is sick or away or away

for any reason.for any reason. Reminder, that there is a requirement for children Reminder, that there is a requirement for children

(male or female) to (male or female) to tie long hair backtie long hair back.. Thank you to everyone who made sure that their Thank you to everyone who made sure that their

child had the new uniform on (including the hat) child had the new uniform on (including the hat) and for making sure that and for making sure that mainly white trainers mainly white trainers are are used for PE. used for PE.

Book bags – I do encourage children to Book bags – I do encourage children to store itemsstore items, , that they often needthat they often need, in their book bag, in their book bag, which is , which is then kept in their bag or in class, as a simple way to then kept in their bag or in class, as a simple way to get organised. This system can be easily extended get organised. This system can be easily extended for secondary school. for secondary school.

Key Y6 Dates for Term 1Key Y6 Dates for Term 1

Friday September 2Friday September 2ndnd Y5/6 Assembly Y5/6 Assembly Monday October 10Monday October 10thth - Theatre trip - Theatre trip

“Private Peaceful”“Private Peaceful” Thursday October 13Thursday October 13thth - Y6 3-Way - Y6 3-Way

ConferencesConferences Tuesday October 25Tuesday October 25thth – Outward Bound – Outward Bound

Information EveningInformation Evening Friday October 28Friday October 28thth – Y5/6 Assembly – Y5/6 Assembly November 14November 14thth – 18th Outward Bound – 18th Outward Bound

CampCamp

We Are All In This We Are All In This Together Together

(A Reminder)(A Reminder)We are working together to help your child We are working together to help your child

to developto develop

independent work habits;independent work habits; an acceptance of his/her responsibilities;an acceptance of his/her responsibilities; a desire to work and a desire to play;a desire to work and a desire to play; creative and critical thinking skills;creative and critical thinking skills; social skills that help them to have groups social skills that help them to have groups

of friends;of friends;

Contact

Information from school website

Communicate through student diary

Telephone

Email