The Informer - the International School of Stavanger

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The Informer November 28, 2003 Primary School News November 28, 2003 Primary School News The Informer Our Primary School students are working hard, preparing for the Winter Concert on Thursday, December 11th at 7:00 p.m. (The students need to be at school by 6:30 p.m.) Our kindergarten through fifth grade students will be performing. This is always a wonderful event and we encourage all families to attend. On December 5th, our Dutch students will present a traditional Dutch "Sinterklaas Fest". Sinterklaas and his helpers will be here. The Primary School students will travel to the Soma Farm on December 4th (K-2) and December 12th (3-5). They will have hands-on experiences with the animals, go caroling, meet the Norwegian Santa Claus (Julenissen), play in the straw, and also taste a bit of Norway with warm rice pudding and julegrøt. December 9th at 8:30 is our Santa Lucia celebration. Some of our primary school children will be dressed in white, carrying candles and singing the traditional Lucia song. The procession will visit all elementary classes and hand out buns. An explanation of this tradition is mentioned in the Norwegian News following the PS School News. Also on December 9th, "Santa Claus" will visit the primary school students when they will have their picture taken with him. The Parent Association will be donating these pictures and give them to each child to take home at the end of the week. FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AND PARENTS – An informational meeting will be held Monday, December 15th at 7:00p.m. for our Fifth grade experience at Gullingan Leirskole. This trip is scheduled for January 19th-23rd. We will discuss the program and activities planned along with supply list and cost, and of course, questions and/or concerns you may have. This year the students will be having a "skiing experience" along with orienteering, nature study and outdoor play. Should you not be able to attend this meeting, we will be sending home a summary of this information. (Fourth grade will have an information meeting later in the school year.) The ISS Primary School Reading Class Challenge, Soar into Reading, sponsored by the Parent Association ends November 28th. An incredible amount of reading is going on in the Primary School. Students are anxiously watching their grade-level soar. Monday, December 1st is the last day for the student to turn in their reading sheets. The Parent Tip for this week comes from the National Parent Information Network with information from an article (The Respectful Child) written by Elizabeth Pantly. Webster defines "respect" as …, "to show honor or esteem for. To treat with deference and regard." How can we raise respectful children? 1. Teach through actions "Do as I say, not as I do" sounds like a fun idea, but as a parenting tool it rarely (if ever) works. You are your child’s first and most important teacher. Just as children learn to talk by listening to us talk, they learn how to treat others by following our lead. Watch how you treat, not only your own children, but other people you come in contact with during the day. What are you teaching your kids? 2. Teach more than just manners. "Thank you" can be said as a polite compliment, or can be said with sarcasm and attitude fit for a back alley. When we teach our children manners, we must also discuss the not-so-obvious details – such as using a polite tone of voice, and using real words (such as yes instead of "uh huh"). These are not things our children are born knowing. We need to teach these important facets of good manners. 3. Provide positive and consistent discipline. Parents with knowledge and skills to tackle the job of raising children will find it easier to raise respectful children. When you have good parenting skills you will find that discipline is an easy task. This means reading a few good books or taking parenting a class to help maintain control of the parent/child relationship in a way that fosters respect in the family. You may find a selection of excellent resources in our High School Library. Mrs. Donna Seymour will be glad to assist you in choosing and checking out a reference book. 4. Be firm but fair. Letting children get away with bad behavior only breeds more of the same. Make sure your child knows the rules of the family and that you discipline appropriately when rules are broken. Firm and fair discipline is not haphazard and does not change depending on your mood. It requires a consistency that your children can count on. (They may not like it, but they can count on it!) It is not the severity of a consequence that makes it effective, but the certainty of it. When your children know exactly what your expectations are, and that there will be a penalty for failing to meet those expectations, they will more likely behave in an appropriate manner. 5. Praise good behavior. Your praise and encouragement have a tremendous impact on your child. "Praise" messages are not all verbal either. An "OK" hand signal, a wink, a smile, a hug all speak volumes to a child who has just done something right. These positive messages reinforce a child’s goodness, and encourage more of the same positive behavior. Thursday and Friday, November 20th and 21st, a group of our teachers attend- 10 11
The Informer November 28, 2003 ed the annual conference of European Council of International Schools in Hamburg, Germany. This was an excellent opportunity for our teachers to meet with other teachers from international schools from around Europe, and to attend presentations about current issues in education. This is just one opportunity our teachers utilize to enhance their professional development. Mark your calendar with the following dates: December 3 MS/HS Concert December 4 Grades K-2 go to Soma Farm December 5 Dutch Assembly December 9 Santa Lucia December 9 Pictures with "Santa Claus" December 11 PS Winter Concert December 12 Grades 3-5 go to Soma Farm December 16 Juletrefest December 18 End of First semester December 19/ Christmas Vacation January 6 January 7 Return to School Beginning of second semester As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or your child’s teacher with any comments or questions you may have. Primary School News Dr. Linda Zielinski Primary School Principal LZielinski@isstavanger.no Dear Parents, Please let me know if your child is withdrawing from ISS. A "Withdrawal Form" needs to be completed by you so school transcripts and health records can be available for you on the last day of school. If you wish the records to be mailed directly to the new school, please let me have the address. Thank you for your help. Mrs. Kimble Walsh-Knarvik Primary School Office KWKnarvik@isstavanger.no November 28, 2003 From the Norwegian Department Soma farm – December 4th and 12th - The ISS primary students will visit a Norwegian farm on Thursday the 4th of December (Kg through 2nd grade) and Friday, the 12th of December (3rd through 5th grade). The children will get to greet and cuddle piglets, chicks, mice and bunnies as well as take a look at other farm animals. They will also jump in the hay, go caroling around the Christmas tree and meet the Norwegian Santa Claus, Julenissen. Rice porridge, julegrøt, will be served. Please dress the children in warm clothing! The barn can be very cold in December! The school will cover part of the expenses, but each child will need to bring NOK 50, - and give this to the classroom teacher. We look forward to an exciting day! The Informer Sankta Lucia Sankta Lucia – Lucia means light, and Scandinavians treasure it especially during the darkest months of the year. Legend has it Lucia was a young woman in Italy who was martyred for her faith and love for the poor during the 3rd Century. She is celebrated throughout Scandinavia with a light procession on the morning of December 13th. Coinciding with Santa Lucia is the old, norse LUSSI NATT. Norwegians used to believe the darkest night of the year to be between the 12th and the 13th of December. Evil spirits were about and people stayed indoors. Baking was to be done prior to this evening. Today we find the Lucia tradition in homes and schools around Norway. At ISS, children from 2nd grade will be dressed in white, carry candles and sing the traditional Lucia song. The procession will visit all primary classes and hand out boller (buns). Due to scheduling challenges we will celebrate Lucia on the morning of December 9th. Anne Lise Riedel Tove Karin Sørvåg Randi Øglænd-Sandved Liz Bannister 12 13
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The Informer - the International School of Stavanger

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