Weekly Newsletter April 25, 2012

For the Sharing the Planet unit the Grade One students are studying about marine wildlife under the central idea, 'Aquatic life depends on its surrounding environment.' One of the highlights of the unit is the visit to the Marine Science Institute in Redwood City, which took place this week. The students came back very excited about their trip and used this experience for a writing assignment in German. From their point of view the highlights were:

We got to hold crabs
We put mud (Matsch) on our nose
We saw and touched Leopard Sharks
We looked at plankton in a microscope
We threw a net in the water and caught fish and jellyfish

Thanks to the parents who helped out on this field trip!

News from the Head of School

On the Friday before Spring Break the students and teachers decided to have a bit of fun during break. A volleyball match, organized by Maike Silver and the student leadership team, was a nail bitter to the bitter end and will hopefully lead to more of these teacher-student engagements in the future.

During the Spring Break the Menlo Park Planning Commission met to hear the schools request for a revision to our use permit. The major items contained in this request were the increase in our enrollment cap to 315 students and the installation of new equipment in the area in front of the tennis court. At bat for the school were Board President, Jon Kessler, and past Board Member and Facilities Committee Chair, Laura Vaughan. With such a strong team, it is no surprise that we hit a home run, which meant approval for our requests. Besides thanking Jon and Laura for their time, dedication and effort, the school was also supported at the hearing by neighboring organizations Café Zoe and Menalto Cleaners as well as some GAIS parents. Full details about this will be sent out in a letter to the community once we receive the official written communication from the city Planning Commission.

MYP Corner by Dominic Liechti

Dominic

Every year in the International Middle School (IMS) we conduct the Stanford Achievement Test 10th edition (SAT10) to compare how well our IMS is performing in the USA. In addition it's used in some high schools admission processes. The SAT10 is distinguished by different strands, which are reading comprehension, vocabulary, language mechanics, writing, mathematical problem solving and mathematical reasoning. Although some of our students are learning Mathematics currently in German, they will take the test in English. Therefore, our school philosophy is to give the students practice with structure, language and concepts used in the standardized achievement test.

Our experiences and feedback from the students last year led us to these procedures. This is a totally different approach from the well know "teaching to test concepts" where students in public school or other schools are supposed to practice during three or more weeks the content of the test during school hours and such an approach would conflict with the IB philosophy of instruction.

In fact, our goal is that the students learn to take this different testing format before entering high school. As you may know the high schools have several tests such as California High School Exit Exam (CASHEE) and SAT's. In addition our students entering high school have to take different placement tests. However, I would like to stress that our students take some pre tests to familiarize themselves with the format. As a result the teachers have prepared a binder with some materials that they are using during some lessons and at home.

Finally I would like to point out, that the school assessments are a snapshot of a student at one moment and that fact has to be taken carefully into consideration. In any case there will be a follow-up with each particular student and the parents.

PYP Corner by Maike Silver

Whether we are students or teachers, in the IB world we share a commitment to lifelong learning. During our in service day we invited Anne Evans, one of the first PYP trainers in America, to work with our teachers on an inquiry into inquiry. Together the teacher collaborated on how to scaffold higher level thinking questions, explored different types of inquiry and more ways to incorporateinquiry into the classroom. Reflecting on our own practices and sharing ideas and strategies helps all teacher construct new meaning and informs the daily teaching and learning.

Preschool Corner by Heike Schmalstieg

Heike 3 A question like "What color is that block?" evokes a one-word answer. But an open-ended question, "Tell me about the blocks you are using," encourages a child to describe the blocks or explain what he is doing. There is no right or wrong answer here. An answer to an open ended question gives us a window into what the child is feeling or thinking and requires the child to use language more fully than a question that only requires a yes or no answer. Open-ended questions have the ability to expand the child's thinking skills, as the child searches for explanations (e.g.: "Tell me about your picture", "What could you use to make the tower stand up?", "What do you think would happen if_____?"). As parents, we have all experienced the child's response when asked: "What did you do in school today?" The typical answer is: "Nothing." or "I forgot." Try asking more specific and open ended questions to elicit an answer. You could also use the information the teachers provide in their daily lesson planner recordings and weekly e-mails to talk to your child about their experience at school. Sharing good news and bad news about their day also lets them express their daily highlights and sorrows more easily. Another great way to talk about school is to look at the numerous pictures teachers take and share on class websites. Seeing what they were doing, usually jogs their memory and starts a nice conversation about their activities at school.

Student Leadership

SMV team The next few weeks will be busy for the student leadership team. Currently they are planning the Middle School Dance, get ready to organize the Walk-a-Thon May 18th (the cause will result out of the 5th grade exhibition) and prepare a book exchange for the end of the month. We are lucky to have such dedicated students at our school.

Follow the Child Summer Camp

Follow the Child Summer Camp, run by Jay Levin, the Fifth grade English teacher, is a mobile camp for children between the ages of 6 and 12 who love to be outdoors. They go to a different exciting location each day. Science based, Follow the Child Summer Camp runs between June 18th until August 17th, and is designed for active children that love to hike, draw, paint, write, explore, and learn. We pick-up in two locations in San Mateo and Palo Alto. If you would like to learn more about the camp please click here or email Jay Levin at followtchild@gmail.com.

English Book Fair Coming up

English Book Fair logo Mark your calendars - the English Book Fair is coming to GAIS! Monday May 7 to Thursday May 10, from 8am to 4pm, and Friday May 11 from 8-9:30am. We will be in the library selling books and we'll have activities, readings, and prizes!

This year we are working with a new company, bananaseed - check out their website. We will have book recommendations from GAIS English teachers for each grade level. Come and join us!

Another Workday - May 19

Work day Are you interested in accumulating some volunteer hours? We will hold our next workday on Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Tim Farris will organize volunteers in a variety of tasks including painting, sanding, cleaning and repairing. If you wish to participate please email the office by May 14 so we can set up the program. Email to: offmgr@gais.org.

GASPA Summer-School-Camp

GASPA Learn German by way of Fairytale! This year celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Grimm Brother's Fairytales. In honor of this special event, the German-American School of Palo Alto (GASPA) is taking Summer-School-Camp into the world of fairytales and everything that comes with it....in German of course.

Our four week program begins on June 25th and runs until July 20th, Monday through Fridays from 9am to 1 pm. A supplemental afternoon program for camp attendees from 1pm to 6 pm is also available. All children ages 3 to 12 are welcome. No prior German language knowledge is required! Our travels into the world of fairytales will take place at the GAIS Campus at 275 Elliot Dr., Menlo Park.

For more details, including a full program description, pricing information, and registration forms, please visit our website at www.gaspa-ca.org.

GAIS Students learn about caring for Themselves

Manu "Earth Day" is every day and the kids at the German American International school learn about the planet and themselves during important class work.

Frau Gruber is passionate about the subject and provides her class with daily opportunities to ask, to explore and to take action.

Manu Hipkins of Well Kiddos asked Frau Gruber which activities the class gets involved in around the topic, specifically nutrition.

Frau Gruber replied: "The first graders grew broccoli and radishes in October 2011 which we harvested, cooked and ate in class. We had a Kinderbenzin-Tankstelle ("Kid's gas station"), so the kids could go and 'refuel' when teachers allowed it and felt there was a need. To read more click here.

200 Years of Grimm Fairy Tales

This is a uniquely German topic. The Grimm Fairy Tales were told stories, collected by the Brothers Grimm and for the first time published in 1812. They became one of the most successful story collections in Germany and could be found in almost every household to be read by children and adults alike.

The Goethe-Institut San Francisco is celebrating the anniversary with a number of events, one of them being a month-long exhibit I have had the honor of being included. The exhibit will run from April 26 to May 25 and will be open

Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Fridays from 10:00 am to 4pm

Opening Reception THU, April 26, 6:30 pm

For newsletter information, questions or article submissions, please contact Dagmar Stullich at offmgr@gais.org or call the office at 650-324-8617.

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