NEWSLETTER

From Mr Ball: Head of Secondary
Hello,
This has been a busy opening first full month in school. There is as usual much that is
happening in many different areas. I would however like to take the opportunity to
congratulate Mr and Mrs Shiells on the birth of their new daughter Maisie.
Big congratulations to the IB2s who have, arguably, just completed the most difficult,
allegedly, part of the IB syllabus, the Theory of Knowledge presentation. These
presentations are ten minutes long, involve the students presenting on a topic of their
choice, deconstructing the topic, and giving the presentation to a variable audience. At the
end of each IB student’s time at the school they are asked what the most difficult thing
they had to do whilst in the IB was. The answer is invariably the Theory of Knowledge
presentation. Yet satisfyingly, when asked what one of their proudest moments was whilst
in the IB Diploma course they also say the Theory of Knowledge presentation.
The U-Smile photographs went along swimmingly. The students have had their
photographs taken in a wide range of scenarios. I am always interested in the hidden
curriculum that exists within schools. The U-Smile photographs are a classic example of
this. In the UK, when I last taught there, the students stood nervously in front of the
camera and grinned in a slightly awkward manner. Our students are given a wide range of
instructions by the U-Smile photographers and it is clear to see the students who have
been at the school for a number of years as they are, as a bunch, very confident in front of
the camera. The development of confidence in all its facets is part of the development of
our students and feedbacks into their education learning in the long term.
We have Peace Day activities on Friday. These promise to be exciting, rewarding,
entertaining, and challenging. Best of all they are designed by the students for the
students. The students will be competing in Houses, so they will need to wear their House
t-shirts. There will also be house activities at lunch time on Friday, for a double House
whammy. These activities at the time of writing are a closely guarded secret, and I look
forward to finding out what they will be.
Regards
Sage Ball
Head of Secondary
headsec@gardenrayong.com