|
|
Weekly Newsletter
September 2, 2010
|
|
New Laptop Cart at GAIS
GAIS
students have been discovering a lot of new things in the world of IT this
year. First of all they have met Ms.
Amanda Rodriguez, our new IT teacher for most of the classes in the Elementary
School. Ms. Rodriguez joined GAIS this
August having moved to the Bay Area from Illinois
where she taught in a bilingual school. Not only has Ms. Rodriguez had her
hands full learning a lot of new names, but the students have had their hands
full too, with laptops. Thanks to the monumental efforts of our IT team, lead
by Michael Delay, our new laptop cart containing 18 new Dell computers, has
been put into service. Above right, students from Grade 3B are getting their first
look at the new laptops.
back to top
|
IB Corner by Maike Silver
Last
week I talked about the aim to develop international minded people displaying
the attributes of the learner profile. We do this by teaching them languages,
math, science, social studies, technology and the arts through a
transdisciplinary approach that connects their prior knowledge to interesting
units that are related to global issues. Whether it is the big idea of "How
we are organized" (grades 1,3), " Where we are in place and time" (grades
4,5), "Who we are" (Pre-School, grade 2) or "How the world works" (Vorschule)
students gain the knowledge of traditional subjects through engaging,
challenging, global, interesting topics. They are actively involved in their learning
through questioning, researching, thinking and communicating. Along the lines
they learn important social and self management skills. The skills are what the
students will apply throughout their lives. The big ideas are, what they will
remember, because they can apply these to real life situations. This
realization becomes even more clear after watching " Are you
smarter than a fifth grader" where very few contestants are able to answer
questions correctly geared towards facts learned by first through fifth
graders. On the other hand the PYP concepts of form, function, change,
causation, connection, perspective, responsibility and reflection are what
guides students in their learning whether it's math, science, language or any
other subject. Facts can change and are sometimes difficult to connect to real
life. Concepts are universal, timeless and can be represented by different
examples that share common attributes. This is knowledge that can be connected
across subjects. And through these connections learning becomes meaningful.
This is not to say that studying and stand alone subject components have
no room in the PYP. It is recognized that students need to know facts like
grammar and spelling rules, math facts, but unless they are applied in real
life context they don't make much sense to the students. So the teachers need
to find the balance when teaching skills through drills and when to use
authentic application.
back to top
|
Preschool Corner by Heike Schmalstieg
The
PYP program is a program of inquiry. In the  Preschool we want the children to
ask lots of questions and become curious about their environment. Yesterday,
the children had no trouble coming up with many questions and wonderings after
one of the children found a newborn squirrel next to one of our Redwood trees.
A large circle quickly formed around the squirrel, while the teacher was making
sure that nobody was touching the animal. The children were wondering if
the squirrel was dead, why it wasn't running away, where it came from, why
they couldn't touch it, what would happen to it, etc. The children also
made their own observation and predictions about what happened and where the
mother was. One child noticed that its eyes were still closed, another was sure
that the mother was working, another was sure it had fallen out of its nest.
The squirrel was then carefully placed in a box and dropped off at the Wildlife Rescue
Center in Palo Alto.
back to top
|
Back to School Nights
Back to school nights for
the Preschool and Elementary school have already taken place. The Middle School classes will meet this
coming Tuesday. Thanks to the GAIS
teachers for providing a wealth of information about their programs. Thanks also to those parents that stepped up
to the plate as Class reps and Helpers. This list will be published on the website in the class pages section
(log in). The first Class Rep and Class Helper meeting is set for
Thursday, September 9. We are now ready to set up the various volunteer committees and information
will be out next week.
back to top
|
Traffic Duty
When
doing traffic duty please station yourself at the 15 mph sign as you will be
most effective there.
back to top
|
GAIS Clothing Swap on October 1
The Second Annual GAIS Clothing Swap will take place
on Friday, October 1st. Last year's event was just for the Preschool and
was an overwhelming success. This year's event hosted by the GAIS Action Club
has been expanded to include all families from Preschool to Grade 8. Parents,
now is the time to start saving shirts, pants, coats, shoes, jackets and coats
that your kids have outgrown and drop them off at the School Collection Box and
Table starting on Monday 27 September. The Action Club will collect
clothes the last week of September and then set up a giant swap meet that
Friday after school on October 1. Everyone is welcome to come after
school and look at the donated clothing and take as much as they want.
back to top
|
School Attendance Procedures
Attendance
is taken each day by the teachers and recorded in the office. If your child
will miss school for one or more days we ask that you fill in a Special Leave
Request form which is available at the office.
Please advise the office by email or phone call if your child is absent
due to illness.
back to top
|
Beach Party
Please come and join us at
our annual Beach Party at Half Moon Bay on Saturday, September 11. This is a
fun event and a great way to meet other parents in the community and make
friends. The invitations have been sent out by email last week. Come prepared
to join in the fun activities, like volleyball.
back to top
|
German Bakery
Esters Bakery is back again this
year. The days are the same as always,
Tuesday and Friday. Generally the bakery
truck arrives at school by 11:30.
back to top
|
GAIS Directory
The GAIS directory, in
draft form, was sent out by email last week. All changes to the directory are
due by tomorrow, Friday, September 3rd. In
addition to helping families organize play dates, car pools, etc., the class
directories will be used in the event of an emergency school closure. Information on how the lists are used in this
event will be communicated in the next newsletter.
back to top
|
New Parents Breakfasts
On September 13 & 14 we
will hold breakfasts to welcome new parents to the school. The breakfasts start at 8:20 under the blue
tent and all are invited. New parents
are welcome to come on either day. This
is being organized by the Class Reps.
back to top
|
High School Exchange Student
Svea
Wortmann, a 15 year old student from Soltau/Germany, is looking for a Host
Family in our area. If you are interested in hosting her, please contact her at
svea.wortmann@gmx.de.
back to top
|
|
For
newsletter information, questions or article submissions, please
contact Dagmar Stullich at offmgr@germanamericanschool.org. or call the
office at 650-324-8617.
back to top
|
|
|
