Dear Parents

What a super “drop-in” session we had  last week. It was really lovely to see so many parents in school and for the children to be given the opportunity to share their learning with you.  Thank you for being so supportive!

Over the past couple of weeks the staff have been thinking about the characteristics we would like to develop in pupils to prepare them for life in the 21st century. This forms part of regular discussions to agree shared outcomes about the kinds of children we are helping to develop. As the world becomes an ever smaller place to live, helped by the advances in technology, predicting the skills children will ultimately need to help them enter the world outside the school gates is not an easy task! Below you will find a summary of the suggestions made by staff and children. I would like to survey your opinions too! Please circle the 5 most important to you. Feel free to add your own as well. As part of the International Primary Curriculum we teach these characteristics through the 8 personal goals  of enquiry, adaptability, resilience, morality, communication, thoughtfulness, co-operation and respect.

 My first two assemblies this term were spent talking with the children about the international composition of our school and the type of people we are. We talked about how we would expect children at Piasau to behave towards one another. It was a really interesting discussion and reflected the wonderful children we already have here! They then put the statements into the following acrostic poem. 

At:
Piasau School, we are kind and helpful, we
Involve others in our games and play nicely
Always care for our environment
Share our ideas and listen carefully
Always tell the truth
Understand and appreciate others

We are coming to the end of our Culture Module on Oman next week and what an interesting module this has been! Both children and parents have shared with others their experiences of living in Oman and have really brought the country to life. Our culture display board at the old entrance to school has been carefully decorated by our Omani parents and thanks goes to them for all their efforts. As part of our vision for the future we have been rethinking our definition of International Mindedness. Following discussions amongst the staff we have tweaked our definition which I would like to share with you.

‘Piasau School promotes the bridging of social and cultural differences as well as celebrating the similarities. Our children are encouraged to develop a sense of universal responsibility. Our aim is to create global citizens with an awareness of both their immediate and the wider world. We stimulate curiosity about the world through our Cultural Module and the International Primary Curriculum, with its “Personal and International goals”. Concurrently we develop own culture self-awareness.’

Why not share it with your children too and discuss what it might mean for them?  Our next Culture Module will be a celebration of Thailand. Lots of children are really excited about this topic as they have either lived or holidayed there. If you have any resources you would like to share or if you would like to come into school and be more involved, then contact Mr. Stuart or Miss Julie. There is also the blank canvas display board by Mr. Nic’s office that you could contribute to! 

The rain has yet again had a part to play in school activities. We were all disappointed that the Fox Hunt had to be cancelled especially after the work that the PTA members had put into organising the event. Thank you. We shall be discussing the possibility of holding this event some time later on in the year. 

As always, our doors are open to you. Do not hesitate to pop in and see us if you have any queries.

Yvette

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Please circle the 5 characteristics you feel are most important in preparing our children for life in the 21st Century. There is space to add your own too. Thank you!

Characteristics: