2008 - 2009 Annual Report - St. John's-Kilmarnock School

Lower School Director
Mrs. Mary Perrett
Lower School Report
One of the main objectives of the Lower School is to foster in our students a love of learning. Special
days and events, which enhance the classroom learning, are often the highlights of the year. Starting
at 8:05am and ending at 5:15pm, the Lower School halls, classrooms, playground, fields, and gym
resound with young voices engaged in their activities.
In 2008-09, the students showed how caring they were through their ongoing support of the Students’
Council’s lead initiative to raise funds for the Thakani School in Nepal. This initiative tied in well with
the International Baccalaureate's Community Theme of “Sharing Our Humanity”. As a result of the
Students’ Council's very successful "buy a brick" campaign, an additional classroom will be added to
the Thakani School, with the bricks inscribed with the donors' names.
From an academic perspective, our students were involved in a diverse array of learning opportunities.
For example, in November, the students were risk-takers as they took up the challenge to speak only
French and engage in French-related activities for the entire day. Congratulations were extended to
the grade five students, for their successful PYP Exhibition inquires into inventions from ancient
civilizations, their impacts on today's society, and the students' prediction for these inventions in the
future. Their findings and actions were communicated to the entire school community in a variety of
creative and informative ways.
Many of the students have unique talents, which were shared with their peers in the classrooms, on
the sports fields and during Chapel. As social learners, two students had starring roles in Lower
School this year. Rachel Tadross, in grade five was this year's lucky student who became the "Lower
School Director for the Day". She very successfully took over the reins of the Lower School and
provided students with a dress-down day, scavenger hunt, and extended recess. This resulted in an
easy day for Mrs. Perrett! A future and most capable leader was born.
One particularly special presentation was given by Abby Lennox, in grade three, on the War Amps.
She demonstrated courage as she shared her experiences with the Lower and Middle Schools.
The busy 2008-09 year provided everyone with unique opportunities for learning, both in and out of
the classroom. Based on the excitement of the students as they arrived at school and their reluctance
to leave at the end of the day, the Lower School is certainly achieving its goal of fostering in each
student a love of learning.