New Ways of Thinking
"Curiosity and an open mind are surely amongst the most powerful and important dispositions to nurture not only in our learners but in ourselves." - Kath Murdoch
As part of my role as PYP Coordinator, I observe and take part in classes across the Junior School. I truly feel part of our St Leonards community and pride myself in knowing each individual learner. This has been enhanced in recent months by being able to take the children to the PYP Library and getting to know them independently through our visits. It is a privilege to be so immersed in the pupils' learning, observing the skills and knowledge the acquire each day. But observing is about more than watching from afar: it is asking questions, engaging in conversations and most importantly, reflecting.
The Primary Years Programme is rooted in child-centred education, and the focus for this term was to pay particular attention to inquiry-based learning here at St Leonards. This week, I have had the pleasure of observing Years 1 and 2 in their learning. Incorporating inquiries into all areas of the curriculum and linking them into their lessons, watching our teachers facilitating inquiries into numbers to 20, ordinal numbers and simple machines was incredible. A Maths class does not simply include numeracy but literacy and social skills. A Literacy lesson presented as learning about the six simple machines, and an ordinal number Olympic Games that the Year 1 children organised. Even touching upon those three examples, it is clear there is so much going on to get excited about.
Each young person in our school is on their own learning journey and we pride ourselves on being lifelong learners. Our teachers are role models in the school and we endeavour to embody the IB Learner Profile Attributes each day.
Observations help us to learn and become more Knowledgeable, be Principled within our practice and be Reflective on methods. The class teachers have weekly development sessions where we share good practice, plan events, learn about new documentation, and prepare for our upcoming PYP Evaluation, amongst many other areas of professional development. It is truly an honour to be part of the innovative, creative and reflective teaching staff at St Leonards.
So please, when you hear, "I'm finished!" or "I'm done!". Think... learning is an ongoing process. Teachers - just as much as pupils - continue to learn every day and we are grateful to our young people for teaching us new ways of thinking.
Catherine Brannen, on behalf of the PYP Leadership Team
Island of the Week
We are pleased to announce that we have a new flagbearer this week, having been awarded the most Island points. A big round of applause to Mull who have been working especially hard to earn their points and be crowned Island of the Week!
Special Assembly
It was wonderful to welcome the RNLI, The Glasgow Children’s Charity and The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to the school on Tuesday for a special assembly. Organised by Mrs Arkwright and the Parents Association Committee, the charities were invited to receive their donations from the money raised at the PA Christmas Fair in December. It was wonderful to hear about the amazing work each charity does and how our donation will support those in need. With thanks to the Parents Association for organising such a successful fair and to all who attended and donated to these causes.
Year 1
1C
Lanterns and Dragons
1C have been getting crafty this week, creating beautiful Chinese New Year decorations for the classroom. The children used scissors and cellotape to create lovely lanterns and paper chain linked dragons. Both of their creations are on display in their classroom, dangling from the ceiling for all to see!
Goldilocks
1C have been retelling the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They were tasked with creating a storyboard, using their phonics knowledge to help break down the tricky words. The children tried to use their best handwriting and remember their capital letters, finger spaces and full stops. The pupils produced some excellent writing, well done 1C!
Numicon & Numerals
The children have been learning to match their numerals to written words for numbers 11-20. They started by matching the Numicon to the numeral before matching it to the written word.
The pupils then played a game to music, finding their numeral to the written number, just like musical chairs! There were lots of groovy moves on show, dancing to the song Happy!
1P
Ordinal Number Olympics
What a busy week 1P have had exploring the Lunar New Year. In Maths, they have been exploring ordinal numbers linking to the story of the Chinese Zodiac. The pupils designed their own Ordinal Number Olympics where they created an event and then used ordinal numbers to work out everyone's position in the event. Great work 1P!
Welly Count
The children have also been exploring counting in 2s using their welly boots to practise. Each pupil took it in turns to count down the line, counting each pair of welly boots as they went.
Snail Trail
As part of their development in the Learner Profile Attribute of Thinkers the pupils used their problem solving skills to try to work out how to protect a snail from the rain, linking to their phonics sound of the week. The children had to use their knowledge of materials to create a waterproof shelter, keeping their Playdough snail dry.
Lunar New Year
During their inquiry into the Lunar New Year the pupils enjoyed creating decorations kindly gifted from Andrew's family. The children enjoyed using their thinking skills to work out how to put the decorations together. They were also curious about the food eaten at Lunar New Year so had a special Lunar New Year party where they tried noodles, dumplings and other traditional food. Year 1 showed some great open mindedness when trying lots of different kinds of Chinese food, they even tried eating with chopsticks!
Year 2
Violin Initiative
And they're off, Year 2 have all demonstrated the Risk-Taker Learner Profile Attribute this week as they started their violin initiative! The pupils were very excited to get started and loved hearing Mrs Ritchie playing her violin. She also showed them her viola and used their Thinker Learner Profile to discuss the similarities and differences of each instrument.
The pupils have had lots of fun so far learning how to hold their instruments. They have named the different parts of the violin and understand how the sound is produced. The children have been using their knowledge and their pizzicato plucking finger to play 'Marching Men' together. Next week they will be learning how to hold their bow - well done Year 2!
Paper Flowers
As part of their inquiry into Simple Machines and how they impact our everyday lives, Year 2 divided into three groups to make a simple paper flower. One group had the use of just coloured paper and blue tack, one group had the use of coloured paper and a stapler, whilst the third group had the use of coloured paper, scissors and glue. Although all three groups did themselves proud, coming up with some impressive flower designs, the children discovered that the task was far easier for the group who had a pair of scissors at their disposal - a lever in action to cut the paper, rather than have to tear it. Great experimentation, Year 2, learning how people depend on simple machines to perform tasks more efficiently.
Woodworking Tools
Mr Hunter came back to visit Year 2 this week, bringing with him Mr Stanfield from the Estates Team, plus a workbench and some woodwork tools. They worked with the children, enabling them to apply their knowledge of Simple Machines by learning to use a Screw (hand drill) and a Wedge (saw) safely. A big thank you to Mr Hunter and Mr Stanfield for taking the time to visit.
Partner Weight
Year 2 thoroughly enjoyed PE this week, creating weight bearing balances with their partners in Sports Acrobatics. As part of their aesthetic unit, the children were encouraged to display both body, form and shape. Well done Year 2!
Moving Boxes
Year 2 was set a task to move a box of books from the Year 2 classroom to Mrs Abubaker's office. Three groups worked on this challenge, cooperating as a group to find a workable solution to the problem, sharing their ideas and thoughts with one another.
Group A had simply the heavy load of books to move and discovered it took several of them using a large force, pushing and pulling to move the box at all.
Group B discovered that if they put some cardboard tubes under the box, they could move it more easily, with the tubes rolling underneath, rather in the manner of the Egyptians, thousands of years ago when attempting to move slabs of stone on revolving tree trunks.
Group C found that the easiest way of all was to put the box of books on top of a box with rolling castors and it took just one person with a light push to move the box up the corridor.
Reflecting on this activity, the children saw how the wheel (and axle) made their challenge far more efficient and set them wondering what other simple machines make their lives easier and save them time.
Year 3
Temperature Table
The Year 3 children started their investigation into temperature this week by collecting data at the school and at East Sands beach. They had to record their data in a table and draw conclusions from it. The children looked for causation, discussing questions like why it is warmer in the French classroom than in the Year 1 classroom? and why the temperature in the sun is warmer than in the shade?. They then worked out the difference in temperature in the various places they had collected data. Plenty of new mathematical vocabulary was learned and fun was had - well done, Year 3!
Solar System
'My Very Excited Mother Just Served Us Noodles' has been heard numerous times in the classroom this week to remember the order of the planets. The children have continued their research to find out facts, for example; 'How far is this planet from the Sun?' and 'How many moons does this planet have?'. Some of the questions have been posted on their Wonder Wall as more investigation is required. If anyone in our community is able to share any expertise, Year 3 would love to welcome a visitor to answer their questions!
The children have been incredibly kind in helping each other with sharing information and cutting out this week. They have now started to investigate space exploration and have began by creating their own 'selfies' in Space!
Harp Initiative
Year 3 have come to the end of their harp initiative and their time with Miss Russell. Some very excited pupils have opted to carry on, which is fantastic to see. Thank you for teaching Year 3, Miss Russell, they’ve had lots of fun!
Year 4
Clarineo Clarinets
Year 4 are making good headway on their clarineos. They’ve been learning about embouchure, posture and performance and can't wait to compose their own music for the clarineo after the Half Term.
Green Week
A big thank you to the University of St Andrews and the Transition team for visiting St Leonards as part of their Green Week initiative this week. Year 4 were lucky enough to get involved and help plant 100 trees with support from the Pupil Leadership Team. With gloves, spades and shovels at the ready, the pupils thoroughly enjoyed planting the young whips along the full length of the astro pitches. Year 4 are excited to watch their trees grow and look back in years to come!
Reflection and Refraction
Our Year 4 pupils took a special visit to the St Leonards Science Labs this week to learn from Mr Smith all about refraction. The children conducted an experiment with a beam of light looking at how it passes through a variety of transparent shapes. The pupils were in spooky darkness for their experiment so they could clearly see the refraction. Great work Year 4 and thank you to Mr Smith for the engaging lesson!
Clock Hats
Year 4 have also been making clock hats this week to test one another on what time it is. The children have been asking time related questions, such as;
Is it in the a.m or p.m?
Is that when I eat my breakfast, lunch or dinner?
How many different ways can I tell the time?
Year 5
St Andrews Aquarium
Year 5 had a wonderful time this week visiting St Andrews Aquarium. Throughout the afternoon the children learnt about many different marine animals and ways in which the ecosystems they live in are affected by pollution, climate change and deforestation. During their talk with one of the keepers the pupils explored how climate change could wipe out some ecosystems completely; highlighting the importance of taking action. The pupils were keen to learn more, asking relevant and interesting questions at the end of the afternoon. The highlight of the visit was watching the penguins and seals whilst they were being fed. It was very entertaining, particularly Doug the seal!
Year 6
Figurative Language
This week Year 6 have continued their work on creative writing and looking at figurative language. Here are the beginnings of two pieces of writing from 6P:
Elena:
The moon scowled down at Korra. Without warning, a burst of flame scarred the night sky, accompanied by birds scattering away. Bombs. Korra Cormwell was seventeen years old, another refugee escaping the fate of war. Being the only one alive left in her family, she preferred to become a lone wolf, and not to join a new pack. It was too much. Another inferno blazed up in the sky, licking the clouds viciously. It was closer. She had to get going, or she could be caught in the crossfire. Under the cover of the tree canopy, Korra ran towards the sound of cascading water.
Eleanor:
Dust and sand flew across the desert. Cracked cliffs frowned down upon the mess. It seemed nearly the whole world had slowed down. The sun was still beating down as warm as an oven but no living thing could notice that after what had just occurred. None of the wildlife could have foreseen what the settlers would do to each other. There was no reason for them to know. That was the way the cycle of life worked, sometimes you could predict exactly what was going to happen. In those moments, were you know what is going on the world is peaceful. Yet sometimes the balance is tipped and something that knowone could predict happens. And when this happens for a few precious minutes the world is still. There is no sound, no smell. Just silence. Then those minutes end, and the silence is broken. Once silence is gone there is only way it can be filled. And the only way it is ever filled is with chaos. Commotion. Anger.
Dragon’s Den
In Year 6’s Unit of Inquiry project, the children have chosen their groups this week and are busy preparing their presentations for the Year 6 Dragon’s Den. The groups will have to come up with a business plan and present it to the Dragons (their peers) next week. The Dragons will then decide whether to invest in their business or not.
On the Astro
Well done to our Under 11 Boys Hockey squad who played at home against Strathallan Prep on Wednesday. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the game, grinning from ear to ear for their team photo!
Birthdays
Thea S, Beatrice C and Elena S, we hope you have a wonderful day!
The Imaginarium
We are looking forward to our February Half Term art and play camp at St Leonards - limited places remain. Open to pupils and all school age children in the wider community. Book online using the button below and do spread the word!