Maps Away!

Grade 2 has recently begun a new POI titled, “A Sense of Europe”.  We started by asking ourselves, where is Europe?  What is Europe?  Each member of the class was then given a blank sheet of paper and attempted to make a map of Europe.  The finished maps were very insightful.  Afterwards, we examined a real map of Europe and discussed the definition of a continent.  The class then proceeded to examine the individual countries in Europe.  Did you know there are 42 countries in the continent of Europe?  Plus, an additional five countries that are in both Europe and Asia.  That’s a lot for a small continent!  We then began to learn about the different parts of a map, including title, compass rose, symbol, scale and legend.  By the end of our POI, there is no doubt Grade 2 will have a true sense of Europe.

 

 

Dads Breakfast

Just a quick reminder that this year’s Dads Breakfast is on Tuesday January 29 at 845 in the cafeteria.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Kind regards,

Ms. Christine Aberley

Fireworks

Grade 2 is back to work!  This week we welcomed in the New Year with a series of fun activities.  To begin, we did a quick pair and share speaking exercise.  Next, we read a non-fiction book and learned about how the New Year is celebrated in different cultures around the world.  Then each member of the class wrote a short text about what they did to celebrate, focusing on the 5 Ws (Who, what, when, where, why).  Whether in India or Argentina or at home here in Switzerland, everyone had the opportunity to watch colorful fireworks launch in the night sky.  To accompany their text, we drew fireworks using oil pastels onto black paper.  The results were explosive!  Grade 2 also thought about the remaining school year and wrote “resolutions” to help them be best students in 2013.

 

Happy New Year,

 

Ms. Christine Aberley

Parent please see below…

 

Schoolwide Opinion Survey

You will by now have received an e-mail asking you to spare a few minutes to complete a survey. Please, please, please do it! Your feedback, together with that of the staff, the board members and the students will help us to evaluate our performance as a school and from that we will be able to identify where change/improvement is needed. Here are the basic instructions, the link to the survey and the code you need.

Please complete the survey for each child individually, to enable us to get detailed feedback. Indicate the Number of Children in the School as 1 and disregard the other choices.


Go to the website http://www.endicottresearchcenter.net/


Enter the following survey code: CNP329310 and click GO


Ignore the last three questions (57-59).


When you reach the last screen, click SUBMIT.

THANK YOU!

Happy Holidays

This Thursday Grade 2 celebrated the end of the semester and upcoming holidays with a class party.  The boys and girls enjoyed delicious homemade treats and drinks.  They also had a chance to play a balloon toss game and compete against Grade 1 in musical chairs - which we won!  The event was kindly organized by Mrs. Agarwal.  Grade 2 would like to give a big thank you to her and all the parents that joined us.  The afternoon was a lot of fun.

 

 

I wish you a happy and restful winter break.

Kind regards,

Ms. Christine Aberley

Ho Ho Ho

 

This week Grade 2 had a surprise visit from jolly old St. Nick.  Seated comfortably in the Literature Corner, he took time out of his busy schedule preparing for Christmas to read comments about each student from his famous magical book.  St. Nick knew everything!  For example, he knew who was kind on the playground and who needed to work on their times tables.  Overall, Grade 2 worked really hard this year and St. Nick only had positive things to say.  Before leaving, he also gave everyone a special bag of treats.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Ms. Christine Aberley

Happy Diwali!

This week Grade 2 celebrated the Hindu New Year, Diwali, also known as the “festival of lights”.  Mrs. Agarwal came to visit with us and she shared some of the Indian traditions associated with the annual celebration.  For example, we lit a class set of candles and then listened to a short story about an Indian Prince that rescues his Princess.  Later in the day we watched some videos on Diwali and listened to Hindu music, while decorating our own diyas or oil lamps that are lit by Indian families to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness.

Thanks again to Ms. Agarwal and Aarav for sharing about their culture with Grade 2.

 

Happy Diwali,

 

Ms. Christine Aberley

Mother's Breakfast

Dear Grade 2 Moms,

 

You’re invited to the ISW PYP Mother’s Breakfast on Tuesday November 13, 2012 at 8:45am in the cafeteria.  We look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Ms. Christine Aberley

Painting with Scissors

This week Grade 2 learned about the life of “The Beast” or Henri Matisse, an artist that pursued colour in all of his artistic endeavors.  We learned that one of the ways he used colour was by painting large sheets of paper, cutting shapes and then arranging them onto a canvas.  Later termed, “painting with scissors”, Grade 2 had the chance to try their own version of Matisse’s famous technique using colored construction paper.  We also listened to jazz music just like Matisse did when he worked.  The results were very colorful and full of imagination!