SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 11 1

SMITIS Newsletter

26 July, 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.

All students and staff have returned refreshed after the mid-year break and settled in for a busy Term 3. I welcome the following new staff at SMITIS: Mr Amos Wagl (Year 3 teacher); Mrs Callie McRae (Year 1 teacher); Ms Francesca Ganisi (Kindergarten teacher); Ms Cynthia Neofa (ELC teacher); Mr Kevin McRae (Release teacher); and Mrs Julie Hovob (ELC teaching assistant). Ms Ure resigned at the start of term without notice. Mr Hovob replaces her as the Y5 teacher. Mr Michael Weaver is the new Deputy Principal.

Our Semester 2 class leaders received their leadership badges at our first weekly assembly for Term 3 on Friday, 19 July. CAG Chairman and Magistrate, Mr Patrick Monouluk, presented the badges to the students who will now be their class representatives in the SMITIS School Parliament.

Wrong Direction, the crowd’s favourite performers at the Term 2 Talent Night, was invited and performed prior to the start of the scheduled Tabubil and Kiunga rugby league match last Sunday. The crowd was impressed and appreciative, with one person commenting that their performance caused a riot! Their next challenge is to build a repertoire so that there may be more invitations for live performances.

Our second interschool sports day was held last Tuesday (Remembrance Day) at SMITIS with soccer and tball games against Tabubil Primary School. Once again, the emphasis was on what sport should be about: skills, teamwork and fun. All four games that were played demonstrated many talented players, outstanding teamwork, and an abundance of natural skills that delighted those in attendance. PNG talent scouts for soccer and softball need to visit Tabubil to see their future sporting champions. I thank the staff and students of Tabubil Primary School for their involvement. We look forward to our next sports day.

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_26july_2013_

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 11 2

Inquirer is one of the attributes of the Learner Profile and one of our core values at SMITIS. Who is an inquirer? Inquirers develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research, and show independence in learning.

! ! They actively enjoy learning and this ! love of learning will be sustained through ! their lives.

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

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

School FeesParents are reminded that school fees are due on 2 August.

Invoices have already been handed out.

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.

PostcardsHave you seen the P&W postcards yet? They look sensational. These postcards are on sale at K3 each or K15 for the set of 7, and are available from the Main Office. Get your copies while stocks last.

NuikickThe focus for Term 3 Saturday sport will be AFL (Nuikick). The program will run for 6 weeks, commencing on Saturday 10 August.

Nuikick is an activity for boys and girls from the age of 5 upwards. Notes will go home during the next week.

Saturday SportOver the next two weeks, 27 July and 3 August, Saturday sport will be divided into 4 sessions:• 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.

I know all students, boys and girls, will really enjoy the skills and action in a safe version of the game.

P & W MeetingA reminder that the next meeting of the Parents’ and Wantocks’ Association will be held next Tuesday, 30 July, in the school library, commencing at 1.00pm.

Key Dates

Next fortnight or so....

27/7 Saturday sport (Boys: 9-10.30am; Girls 10.30 -12.00 noon)

30/7 ASA’s commence (2.30 - 3.30pm)

Parents‘ and Wantoks Association meeting (Library@1.00pm)

CAG meeting @ 6.30pm

31/7 ASA: (2.30 - 3.30pm)

1/8 ASA: (2.30 - 3.30pm)

Reregistration forms for 2014 sent home

2/8 Weekly assembly @ 1.30pm [Y5 assembly item]

3/8 Saturday sport (Boys: 9-10.30am; Girls 10.30 -12.00 noon)

6/8 ASA: (2.30 - 3.30pm)

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SMITIS Progress Report - July, 2013Seven priorities for 2013 were articulated at the beginning of the academic year. These were: IB (International Baccalaureate); upskilling; identity and reputation; lighthouse school; teamwork; internet and intranet; and SMITIS development.

I present this update for your information.

IB• Applications were made in November 2012 for approval to become a PYP Candidate School and an Interested MYP School. These were granted in February 2013.

• A consultant, Andrew Bradtke, has been appointed to the school as part of the verification process. Mr Erico Hovob and I are having meetings with Andrew every second Tuesday to ensure our timeline for authorisation is on schedule and that all requirements are being met. This is a rigorous but worthwhile process. At this stage, we will seek the consultant’s onsite visit to determine our verification timeline.• An application is being prepared currently for candidacy as a MYP School (the next step in the authorisation process).• ManageBac, an online curriculum management system, has been implemented at SMITIS. In addition to its core function, ManageBac is also being used for attendance, assessment and reporting.• Mr Shane Murphy, a PYP Coordinator and IB Visitor, commented on our advanced stage of development when he conducted an inschool workshop for staff in June.

Upskilling• Most ancillary staff have been completing subject courses through the Community Learning Centre, with pleasing results.• Teachers and teaching assistants attended a 2-day inschool workshop in June.• Three staff have attended IB regional workshops to date, with more expected to attend regional workshops between now and January.• Our second inschool workshop had been booked for mid-January 2014.

SMITIS Development• A maintenance upgrade has commenced with the internal painting of the school, prior to the start of the academic year.

(Maintenance of the school had been neglected over the past few years.)• Faulty air conditioners (approximately 60% of existing units) will be replaced in August.• Reception area and IT lab have been renovated.• Architect drawings for the future development of SMITIS to include up to Year 12 and double steaming in the primary school

have been finalised.• The purchase of two new classrooms has been finalised for completion by January 2014, to cater for the establishment of Year 8

and a second Kindergarten class.• A new satellite dish has been installed to upgrade our internet connectivity, something that has been almost non-existent prior to

this installation.• The Early Learning Centre now has internet connectivity.• Weekly Saturday sport commenced in Term 2, catering for boys and girls. Interschool sporting activities have been conducted on

the past two public holidays. These activities have demonstrated the way sport should be played anywhere.• Attendance at Parents’ and Wantoks’ Association meetings has skyrocketed from an average attendance of 4 parents in past years

to an average of 25 parents at each meeting. Parents have successfully organised a fortnightly canteen, Tabubil postcards and an annual Market Day that was so successful, that there have been many requests to make it a more regular event.

We are looking forward to a busy and successful second half of the year. Dr Ken Darvall

NUT FREE ZONE William (Y1) and Matthew Thomas (Y4) have a severe nut allergy. To prevent a medical emergency, there can be no nuts or foods containing nuts at SMITIS. This includes, especially Nutella and hazelnut products, and anything containing tree nuts.

SMITIS and the Thomas family appreciate your assistance in making our school a nut free zone.

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SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 11! ! ! ! 1

New Staff - July 2013

Ms Francesca GanisiKindergarten

Ms Cynthia NeofaELC

Mr Amos WaglY3

Mr Kevin McRaeRFF

Mrs Callie McRaeY1

Mrs Julie HovobELC

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Star Mountains Institute of Technology International School

Page 7

Class Reps -Semester 2

Jayjay OnneKindergarten

Daniel KaputinKindergarten

Keilanie SaluapYear 1

Glen TagaiYear 1

Anne KumanYear 2

Polangou SiskiYear 2

Sunaim EllisonYear 3

Patrick ApamumuYear 3

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Star Mountains Institute of Technology International School

Page 8

Class Reps - Semester 2

Konjim AndreasYear 4

Emmanuel KelekaiYear 4

Shorntelle TaiyeYear 5

Jacob Akuzakano JrYear 5

Nathalye KaputinYear 6

Jimmy MestanYear 6

Delma KaraYear 7

Kevin Nengabo Year 7

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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 11 8

IB

The International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an exciting set of educational programs offered in

more than two thousand school schools in over 120 countries around the world.

The programs focus on student-centred inquiry-based learning and global concerns. They challenge students to think in sophisticated ways

about the connections between ideas in different areas of study. They put learning into an international context.

IB @ SMITISIn 2011, Tabubil International School (TIS) hosted a Preliminary Visit by IB as an Interested PYP School. At the time, TIS decided not to pursue

Candidacy status.

As TIS transformed into SMITIS from 1/1/13, an application for PYP Candidacy status has been approved by IB.

At the same time, SMITIS has gained status as an Interested MYP School from 1/1/13 as Year 7 commences their first year of secondary education.

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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