MYP

Jordan Hattar - Learning Their Stories and Inspiring Others

​Last week, Grade 10 students had the opportunity to interact with one of the most inspirational guest speakers they have ever encountered. Jordan Hattar, is the founder of Help4Refugees, which focuses on improving the conditions in Al Zaatri Refugee Camp in Jordan. Since 2011 he has been meeting with Syrian refugees and giving talks around the world in order to raise funds to provide pre-fabricated homes (caravans) to Syrian refugees in Al Zaatri. The session that each class got to have with Jordan was highly interactive and was based on the research students conducted before the lesson and the questions they composed. Jordan was very impressed by the questions students asked and the empathy they showed. He talked about the importance of learning peoples’ stories, following your passions, the challenges he himself faces, and what keeps him motivated. Jordan even provided each class the opportunity to hear from a Syrian refugee and to ask them questions about the challenges they themselves face. One of the most heartbreaking statements was when one of the guests, a father of 3 said, “My children have no future.” It is clear from the refugees that students spoke with that they want their stories to be heard. One Grade 10 student said it was their favorite lesson of the year, and a number of students have been inspired to take action themselves. If you would like to learn more about Jordan, the work Help4Refugees does, and/or donate, please take a look online at https://www.help4refugees.org/. 

​MYP Exams/Timed assessments
This year most MYP subjects have had or will have timed assessments in order to practice exam taking skills in an effort to prepare students better for the Diploma Program. Some subjects will hold Grade 9 and 10 exams/timed assessments between the 24th and 28th May. Students will be advised of the subjects and dates shortly if they have not been already.  ​

The Learner Profile attributes
Finding BALANCE - sleep and digital hygiene
“The learner profile is the IB’s mission in action. It requires IB learners to strive to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective. These attributes of internationally minded people represent a broad range of human capacities
and responsibilities that go beyond a concern for intellectual development and academic content. They imply a commitment to implement standards and practices that help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.” (From principles into practice 9)

Teenagers tend to go to bed late. This is said to be due to the disruption of melatonin as they go through puberty and to increased freedom to make decisions for themselves. Decisions such as texting late into the night or watching videos on a small screen, and gaming especially results in sleepy learners in the classroom. Gaming electronically at night is directly linked to sleep disruption.  It is also linked to being more aggressive, being victimised, poor academic grades and to reduced memory for materials exposed to after a gaming session. Interestingly watching TV does not affect sleep and memory as much as gaming however, melatonin secretion is suppressed if screens are overly used. 
 
Here’s what is interesting in the research: Educating students about sleep and technology raises awareness but change does not occur. What is more successful is parent intervention at home.  Please help your child to find BALANCE so that they can learn optimally here at school with us!
 
References
 
Applying the science of learning in the classroom | impact.chartered.college [WWW 
        Document], n.d. 
MYP: From principles into practice. May 2014 (updated September 2017).
 

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