Week 9: Distance learning in Primary

Dear Families,
With two weeks to go with students, our teachers and students are busy wrapping up their final projects in different subject areas and preparing for the upcoming transitions. As shared in last week's newsletter, we have many transition projects in progress for students and families as we conclude the 2019-2020 school year.

Supporting the transition process

Monday, 1 June: Ms Driekie Smith, our Middle School Counselor, will be joining the G5 Guidance Meet to address the questions that students asked via a survey regarding their transition to Middle School.
Monday, 8 June: We will be hosting a virtual G5 Transition Ceremony to recognize the completion of the Primary Years Programme for our G5 students. The ceremony will include certificates, speeches, and the announcement of the Learner Profile award winner through a pre-recorded video compilation. This format will allow all G5 students and families to share in this moment regardless of their time zone. 
Tuesday, 9 June: Our ELC2-G5 returning students will have the chance to 'visit' the next grade level by connecting with the teachers via a Google Meet. The Google Meet will take place from 16:00-16:30 on Tuesday, 9 June and will be a chance for students to listen to a brief presentation, ask questions and connect with teachers of the next grade. Each returning student has been sent a invitation which can be accessed through their Google Meet app on their iPad.
Ongoing: Ms Stephanie is working closely with all of our leaving students on a three-part RAFT (Reconciliation, Affirmation, Farewell, and Think destination) process to help students with their upcoming move. If your family will be leaving AISL and you have not already signed up for these sessions, please send an email to our Primary Guidance Counselor, Stephanie Sawchuk (ssawchuk@aislusaka), so she can include your child(ren) in this process. 

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Innovation and inquiry

​Over the past two months, our  teachers and students have continued to push innovative boundaries with regards to teaching and learning via the distance learning program. One of those examples is how the G3 Performing Arts program has grown and evolved through the weekly choice board. What started out as simple text instructions at the start of our distance learning, turned into boards with choice, video connections and, most recently, a virtual classroom. Our students were able to push their connections with the performing arts through synchronous sessions with the teacher, inquiry through rich resources, and student agency in what and how they shared back to the teacher and peers. 

Celebrating students' work

What is imagery in poetry? This is a question that our G2 students have been inquiring into in creative writing. Students are learning that poets often use imagery to create pictures, which help the reader or listener to imagine something clearly. By reading some examples and practicing with a few scaffolded examples first, students were then encouraged to try writing two original poems of their own. Here are a few examples from our G2 poets. Well done, N'yomi, Philippa and Caitlin for helping the reader imagine the moment by tapping in the senses of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell. 

Please let us know how we can support your child and family in these final weeks by reaching out to your child's teacher, the Primary Principal (dhuson@aislusaka.org) or the Primary Office (primaryoffice@aislusaka.org). As always, if you need any support tech support, please complete the tech support form so that we can provide assistance. 

Until next week,
Darlene Huson, Primary Principal
Christine Kelly, Primary Assistant Principal of Teaching & Learning and PYP Coordinator
Tony Potts, Primary Assistant Principal of Systems & Innovation and IT Integration Specialist