Author: trindadecamara

Dear Parents

We are slowly but surely moving towards the end of the term.  I wish to let you all know that your efforts and support of our teachers has not gone unnoticed.  It has taken courage, commitment, and tenacity to accomplish what we did this past term and for that, I thank you.

As communicated in our ‘Return to school’ letter, as well as in our Health and Safety Policy document, Blouberg International is ready for the next step.  Although we do not have all the answers, I wish to put your minds at ease that the staff of Blouberg International is committed to the safety and education of our children as we enter this next phase of lockdown.

We all have managed to make the best of a difficult situation and we cannot sugarcoat the situation we find ourselves in.  There has been many frustrating moments, disappointments, and heartaches.  I am particularly mindful of our class of 2020 as there are so many things they are missing out on.  There is uncertainty as to whether we can hold their 2020 Valedictory Service and Matric Dance (to some this might seem insignificant, but it is an important event for the matric students).

So how do we help our children process the anger and disappointment they are feeling?  They have not been able to socialize with friends for over 60 days and miss their friends, sports, school (bet they never thought they would).  They have all had to adjust to a new type of abnormal normality.

We can assist them by:

1.  Validating what they are feeling and their emotions.  We are validating the emotion, not the behavior.  It is important to understand what they feel is real and therefor they need to talk it through to overcome it.
2. Create a sense of security within them.  They should always be aware that there is a safe haven with you.  Reassurance, routine, and regulation is important.
3. Increase children’s self-efficacy.  Children often feel more in control of their emotions when they can play an effective role in helping themselves.

ENCOURAGEMENT
“In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile.  In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, and invincible calm.  I realized, through it all, that in the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer.  And that makes me happy.  For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger- something better, pushing right back.”  – Albert Camus

I wish you all a wonderful weekend ahead.

Regards
Edna

Goethe

As one of the arguably most famous German authors said – You can only achieve success through doing. This term has proven this to me again.

Eight years ago I did a course in modern language learning methods using technology. We learned about blended learning, flipped classrooms and different websites to use. Since then a lot has changed and throughout the years I always wanted to implement more technology in teaching. Unfortunately, it never came to fruition since teaching the traditional way was just easier and more accessible to students. This lockdown has forced us as teachers and students to finally use all those technological tools out there.

Learning German with online tools has never been easier. The German government has supported the teaching of German in other countries for years now and therefore we have many different online platforms to choose from. Sites such as Deutsche Welle and Lingoni offer great Video learning tools. Duo Lingo is a fun way to support what is learnt in class with fun activities. Additional to this it has become a lot easier to create your own online Quizzes or videos to share with students.

Even though this time has been trying and difficult it was a great step forward. Practicing a language does work better in a classroom setting, and will never become unnecessary, but the past couple of months have shown me how language learning can also be successful through other means. If you never try you will never learn.

Sabine Jahnke
German Teacher

To end off our science chapter, “Material Changes”, for the term the Year 6 students explored how to make their own filtration system. Their goal for this activity was to discover that ground materials can clean and purify water before it is returned to the surface.

The criteria for the investigation was that their filter system needed to be durable and easy to use, have three layers and the layers needed to be made of ‘natural’ materials that they could find in their yards or nearby park. They could also make use of recyclable materials.

Let’s see what the Year 6’s had to say about their experience:

I really enjoyed my filtration project. It was so fun making the filter because you had to make important decisions on how you were going to layer your materials. It was really fun and I hope we get something like it again. – Maia Davies

What I liked most about the project was collecting all the materials especially the gravel because people were looking at us very weirdly. I enjoyed all of it and it was a great experience.  – Glanville Morgan

What I enjoyed the most was experimenting with the different materials and finding out if they filtered the water. Knowing that a material that I tested worked and filtered the water made me fill with joy. I learnt that if natural filtration did not exist most of the fresh and clean water we have would be dirty. I also learnt that different materials have a different impact on how it changes the water. – Saumya Maharaj

I enjoyed making the actual filter, choosing what to put inside it and what should go in first. I learnt about how natural items ,like sand and rocks, can actually clean dirty water and about how charcoal removes toxins from dirty water without removing important minerals. – Faith Chivaka

The thing that I have enjoyed the most was how filtration works. We have learnt that the filtering system removes redundant or unwanted particles in dirty water. Filtration is a process used to separate solids from liquids using a filter medium that allows the fluid to pass through but not the solid. – Teeyana Shaik Mahomed

We would like to congratulate our students for doing a phenomenal job at completing this project.

Katherine Nel
Year 6 Teacher

In Year 2, we have been encouraging our students to read as much as possible. We love to meet on Zoom with them and listen to how much they’re enjoying their favourite stories.

Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. Then the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child’s life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.

Studies find that most children enjoy listening to many types of stories. When stories are complex, children can still get the idea and can be encouraged to ask questions. When stories are easy or familiar, children enjoy these “old friends” and may even help in the reading.

 

Here are 10 reasons why reading is important for children:

1. Improves concentration.
2. Improves memory.
3. Discover other parts of the world.
4. Brain exercise.
5. Boosts critical thinking skills.
6. Develops empathy.
7. Develops & expands language skills.
8. Enhances imagination.
9. Better performance in school.
10. Source of entertainment.

https://www.readingrockets.org/article/reading-your-childhttps://www.edarabia.com/why-reading-important-children/

 

Siobhan Hendry
Year 2 Teacher

If I think back a few years, maybe more than a few… and I compare how I learned English as a foreign language at school and how students learn nowadays, experiencing a lock down period back then would have been a lonely learning experience. No online resources to listen to news, to read about current issues, no live meetings with classmates and teachers, no social “whatsapping” on cell phones, no Wikipedia to help me with research… Just me and my textbook.

I read recently that human intelligence is the ability to adapt; an intelligent and solidary society will only take the good and discard the bad out of these difficult times we are all crossing.

From a learning perspective, there is a lot of good which has come from the lockdown. The current circumstances have forced many educational institutions and platforms to offer free online courses, free access to libraries, virtual museum walks, online concerts … all available to us from the comfort of home.

I still believe learning a foreign language online is not the ideal method; the personal, face to face contact of our daily lessons is irreplaceable, but if we combine both, learning online platforms can be extremely helpful.

My Year 7 and 8’s are currently enrolled in Rockalingua (courtesy of our eager Spanish Primary teacher, Javier Vidal); although some of them prefer Duolingo. These online platforms promote fun and interactive learning through games, pictures, videos, and some form of goal to keep them motivated and engaged.

Another free online platform that has particularly good feedback is called Memrise.  It offers lessons from beginner level to advanced Spanish. Memrise also teaches grammar and is particularly helpful in learning specific vocabulary by placing the new words in context. This is a more effective way for the brain to assimilate new knowledge, as it is now a meaningful task to complete, as opposed to having to memorize random lists out of context.

Whatever the choice, let us stay safe, focus on the good and make the best out of our online learning experience.

Elena Berger
Year 7 to Year 13 Spanish Teacher

The Year 4’s have been showing amazing dedication during this lockdown period, so their teachers decided to reward them by changing Fridays to fun days.

Some of the things we do on Fridays include:

1. We dress up, including themes such as funky hair/hats, bring a book, superhero’s, cool shades, character day and wear your favourite colour.

2. We played online games such as scavenger hunt, funny face screenshots, charades and amazing race.

3. We go on virtual tours all over the world. Recently, we visited the Amazon, Universal Studios Orlando, NASA and Pirates of the Caribbean.

4. We learn to draw. Our Year 4 students have created amazing drawings following ‘Art Hub’ on YouTube.

5. We do some amazing art. Learning about Picasso and Cubism and One Point Perspective.

6. Story time. We read some inspirational books using ‘Storyline Online’ on  YouTube. We listened to Oprah reading the Hula Hoopin’ Queen and practiced our own Hula skills. We also listened to the inspirational story ‘The house that Jane built’ and our students shared some ideas of what they can do to help people in need.

We miss our friends and we miss our school, our teachers miss us too, BUT it hasn’t been all bad and we will get through this stronger than ever.

Marlize Keyser
Year 4 Teacher

“Public Speaking: it is never too early to learn how to speak effectively and with confidence. An essential life skill.”
– T.J. Webber

We all know that children love to talk. Any opportunity given, will find children in groups happily chatting away. Put them in front of a classroom, and suddenly, for some, it becomes a nightmare!

Show and Tell is one way in which we encourage our students to practise public speaking. Most are keen to talk about what they have brought to school and show it it their friends. This could be in the form of a poster, a researched subject, or even a favourite toy.

The Year 2 teachers have been trying to keep Show and Tell alive during this e-learning experience, by giving the students topics to plan for and present to their classes. This exercise has resulted in some interesting experiences! I found the ‘mute’ button on my laptop and was incredibly pleased with myself, until I realised that the students could ‘un-mute’ themselves, leaving everyone trying to talk at once. A week later, after some diligent technological research, I discovered that there was also a button which allowed me to stop them from ‘un-muting’ themselves. We continued in full swing, until my internet crashed, leaving my class wondering where I was. So, I have been told, one of the students acted as ‘host’ for the meeting and they carried on without me.

In this time, we find ourselves in, I have discovered that the importance of Show and Tell is profound. Not only are they practising their public speaking skills, it gives them a chance to see their friends and just interact with them.

The topic for our last Show and Tell was making a poster, based on a Science Shadow Puppet experiment. They certainly enjoyed this project and did a fantastic job of completing it and presenting their findings.

Kim Coetzer
Year 2 Teacher

In Reception, the students have been learning how to write addition and subtraction sums. Leading up to learning to write sums, the students learnt about more and less. We practised finding numbers that are more or less than a given number using a number line. The concept of ‘one more’ helps students understand that numbers can be increased or added to, to make them bigger. ‘One less than’ teaches students that numbers can be decreased to make them smaller.

The students were introduced to Mr Plus using an online video lesson on Google Classroom. Mr Plus is a very friendly fellow who drives a big red bus. He always wants to add the numbers together so they can play together in a bigger group. So he puts the numbers together to make his sums. The students started out with picture sums. They also practised making sums in fun ways with games, dice, dominoes and play dough mats. The students then progressed to working out sums by drawing their own pictures above the number. They were taught to count on when adding the numbers together. The students had a lot of fun trying to write their own sums on a whiteboard. Addition sums were also practised on worksheets at home and during focus group lessons with their teachers via Zoom.

Last week the students were introduced to Minnie Minus. He is friends with Mr Plus and all the numbers, but the numbers have to keep a close eye on him, because he is always taking away. The numbers taught him to always ask permission to take away from the bigger numbers. This made everyone in Number Land much happier.

The students have started off with picture sums. They are learning that the pictures refer to the first number in a subtraction sum. The second number shows how many to take away and the answer is what is left over. These sums have been practised again this week by following online videos on Google Classroom and during their focus groups on Zoom with their teachers.

The students are extremely excited and proud to be writing their own sums and this is really evident in their smiling faces when sharing their work on Google Classroom. We look forward to having a lot more fun learning about our super sums.

Bronwen Nuthall
Reception Teacher