SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 13 1

SMITIS Newsletter

23 August, 2013

Star Mountains Institute of Technology International SchoolOur purpose is to develop internationally-minded and life-long learners who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect, and strive to be: inquirers; knowledgeable; thinkers; communicators; principled; open-minded; caring; risk-takers; balanced; and reflective.

SMITIS is making a difference in its inaugural year.

Academically, Ethan Montaner, has won the University of NSW Medal for the highest score in Year 4 in the international schools that participated in the ICAS spelling test. Andrew Tami (Distinction), Raynester Balagawi (Credit) and Leilani George (Credit) also performed well in this international exam.

Professional development has been a priority in terms of improving skills and qualifications. Twelve teaching assistants have been undertaking further studies through the SMIT Community Learning Centre during 2013. By the end of Term 3, six teachers will have attended IB regional workshops in Australia, Malaysia and Hong Kong. In June, all teaching staff , including assistants attended a two-day in-school workshop that focused on implementation of the Primary Years Programme (PYP). Shane Murphy from Mercedes College, Adelaide, was the workshop leader and he was impressed with how much had been achieved in six months.

Junior sport is non-existent in Tabubil, so SMITIS commenced a Saturday sports program that caters for boys and girls from Kindergarten to Year 7. The talent on show has been awesome and the manner in which students play is an exemplar for sport across the globe. SMITIS also initiated

interschool sport with Tabubil Primary School with a focus on skills, teamwork and fair play. Nuikick, a program that introduces students to AFL has commenced in Term 3 and, as expected, students are demonstrating outstanding skills that should lead to future PNG representation.

Michael Weaver, SMITIS Deputy Principal, has been developing the natural musical ability of students, and the range of ability was on display at the Term 2 Talent Night. The school band, Wrong Direction, has since performed at the Intertown football match and stirred the crowd up into a frenzy. Meanwhile, Year 7 has produced a song, My Home, that it is expected to be available on iTunes within the next few months.

On August 31, SMITIS will host and coordinate a meeting of local and district principals with an aim to foster professional collaboration and leadership development.

I appreciate your support.

Dr Ken Darvall (Principal)

SMITIS Newsletters

The full colour edition can be found online at: http://issuu.com/smit_international_school/docs/smitis_newsletter_23august_2013_

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 13 2

YEAR%1%@%SMITIS%

For the 4th unit of inquiry, Year 1 students have been learning about rules and laws in the community. This unit is under the transdisciplinary theme “How we organise ourselves”. The students have been inquiring about how rules and laws protect people at work and Leisure.

%%%%

%

%

Students%enjoy%the%Sunshine%online%Literacy%programme.%They%are%able%to%login%and%located%reading%activities%at%their%level%independently.%

%

Our%assembly%will%be%held%on%September%1

Students were thinkers when they created a map of the community.

%

%Students%are%developing%their%understanding%of%the%PYP%Key%Concepts%by%describing%%the%features%of%a%cube.%The%Key%Concept%was%form.%

Students%have%been%engaged%in%writing%activities%to%demonstrate%their%prior%knowledge.%Students%worked%cooperatively%to%list%rules%and%laws%in%our%community%

Students%showed%their%respect%and%their%communication%skills%when%listening%to%our%quest%speakers.%%

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 13 3

MYP Humanities

This%term%the%Year%7%class%is%studying%a%History%unit%as%part%of%our%MYP%Humanities%course.%%The%unit%

question%is%“What&can&we&learn&from&the&ancient&world?”%%To%answer%this%question%we%will%examine%a%

number%of%concepts%along%the%way.%%

These%concepts%will%guide%our%enquiry:%

• What%is%out%of%Africa?%

• How%did%ancient%societies%emerge?%

• What%were%the%key%features%of%ancient%societies?%

• What%have%we%inherited%from%ancient%societies?%%

• What%have%we%learnt%from%ancient%societies?%%

One%of%the%unique%aspects%of%the%MYP%is%the%Areas%of%Interaction%(AOI).%Areas%of%Interaction%provide%a%way%of%connecting%learning%for%students%between%their%studies,%their%personal%life%and%the%world%

they%live%in.%%Our%History%unit%focuses%on%two%AOI’s;%Community%and%Service%and%Human%ingenuity.%

Community%and%Service:%Through%the%study%of%the%ancient%world%students%will%make%the%connection%

between%ancient%civilisations%and%their%own.%%They%will%come%to%see%that%the%concept%of%community%

and%service%was%developing%among%ancient%civilisations%and%that%we%have%inherited%and%learnt%from%

them.%

Human%Ingenuity:%%We%will%study%the%ancient%societies%to%discover%how%they%developed%the%world%of%

their%time.%%How%societies%developed%their%culture%and%technology%in%order%to%constantly%adapt%in%

overcoming%many%problems.%

%

Assessment:%Students%will%develop%a%500%word%research%assignment%relating%to%a%'Legacy'%left%to%us%

by%an%ancient%society.%%Students%will%be%expected%to;%include%relevant%pictures,%work%that%is%in%their%

own%words,%reference%their%work%using%a%simple%reference%system.%%This%research%assignment%will%be%

assessed%using%three%of%the%MYP%assessment%criteria;%knowledge,%concepts%and%communication.%%The%

research%assignment%will%use%an%assessment%rubric%to%clearly%describe%to%students%what%the%

assessment%criteria%are%and%what%is%required%to%meet%those%criteria.%

Kevin%McRae%%Humanities%Teacher%%

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 13 4

Risk-taker is one of the attributes of the Learner Profile and one of our core values at SMITIS. What is a risk-taker? Risk-takers approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies.

! ! Risk-takers are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs..

Weekly awards are presented to students who demonstrate Learner Profile attributes.

Other attributes include: communicator; caring; thinker; knowledgeable; balanced; reflective; inquirer; open-minded; and principled.

Public Holiday: 26/8/13Monday, 26/8/13, is a public holiday (National Repentance Day). There will be no school on this day.

NuikickOver the next three weeks, Nuikick sessions will be held at SMITIS.4 sessions are held:• 9.00 - 9.45am: senior boys (Y5-7)• 9.45 - 10.30am: junior boys (Y1-4)• 10.30 - 11.15am: senior girls (Y5-7)• 11.15 - 12.00pm: junior girls (Y1-4).

The focus of these sessions will be introductory AFL skills followed by a modified game to finish each session.

INTERSCHOOL SPORTTo take advantage of next Monday’s public holiday, our next interschool sports day will be held on next Monday, 26 August, at SMITIS.

Scheduled games will be:• 9.00am -9.45am for senior AFL (boys in Years 6-7);

• 9.45am – 10.30am for junior AFL (boys in Years 4-6); • 10.30am – 11.15am for senior AFL (girls who are Years 6-7); and • 11.15am – 12.00 pm for junior AFL (girls who are in Years 4-6).

For AFL, a team would comprise up to 12 players with 9 on the field at any one time. A game would be 3 x 13 minutes.

Cash HandlingStudents are not allowed to bring in a big amount of money to purchase uniform or pay school fees. This is a parent’s responsibility.

Sunshine OnlineSunshine Online is a digital resource for English literacy, providing over 550 levelled ebooks and 1000 interactive activities and games. SMITIS has purchased a school and home subscription so that families with internet access may be able to access this online resource free. To do so, visit: www.sunshineonline.com.au To log in use sm332 for the username and password.

Key Dates

Next fortnight or so....

24/8 Saturday sport: Nuikick (9.00am - 12.00 noon)

26/8 School closed - Public Holiday

27/8 ASA: (2.30 - 3.30pm)

CAG meeting @ 6.30pm

28/8 ASA: (2.30 - 3.30pm)

29/8 SMITIS Independence Day celebrations regional groups’ practice sessions (1.15 - 2.15pm)

ASA: (2.30 - 3.30pm)

30/8 Mufti Day (K1 donation)

Weekly assembly @ 1.30pm [Y1 assembly item]

31/8 Saturday sport: Nuikick (9.00am - 12.00 noon)

13/9 SMITIS Independence Day celebrations (9.00am-1.00pm)

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 13 5

P&W MEETING – 20/8/13 Attendance: 17

Principal’s Report

• There have been cases of chicken pox in Kindergarten and at the ELC.

Students must remain at home until the last scab is healed.

• SMITIS Independence Day celebrations will be held on 13/9/13. We

appreciate the assistance of parents with the dancing and singing.

• The last day of Term 3 is 20/9/13 and school will finish at the normal time.

• Tetanus booster shots will be given to selected students (In Kinder who are

7years + and Y6 who are 13 years+) on this Thursday.

• SMITIS caps are on sale for K20

Treasurer’s Report

• K13643 in bank.

Trivia Night

• This was a successful night with K3675 raised on the evening.

School Photos

• These will take place on 23/24 October and the price will be K20-25

Tabubil’s Got Talent

• The lack of a coordinator means that the P&W will no longer organize this

activity.

• Set down for Thursday, 31 October (6.00 – 8.00pm), Ken indicated that

SMITIS will still conduct the event.

Market Day

• Saturday, 9 November, (9.00am – 12.00 noon). Stalls will be K20 each.

Next Meeting

• Tuesday, 22 October. (1.00pm)

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 13 6

Say hello with a photo! Missing families and friends? What better way to say hello than showing the beauty of Tabubil and the culture of Western Province!

A project of the SMITIS Parents & Wantoks Association

You may purchase the postcards at the SMITIS Office for K3 each or K15 for a set of 7.

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 13 7

Star Mountains Institute of Technology

International School Newman Road, TABUBIL. 332

Western Province, Papua New Guinea

P: (+675) 6499 233

F: (+675) 6499 324

E: smitis@smit.ac.pg

www.smit.ac.pg