News from our PYP Coordinator, Mike Hopaluk
Grade 5 PYP Exhibition
In previous years, every successive year has seen the bar lifted for the PYP Exhibition at GAA. Without a shadow of a doubt, the 3rd annual GAA Grade 5 PYP Exhibition, which took place May 3rd and 4th, was no exception. After nearly 8 weeks of hard work, the students produced a truly magical expression of their learning, spanning issues from Abu Dhabi’s stray cat problem to human rights. The sheer volume of presented information alone was a sight to behold and certainly something students and teachers alike could be very proud of.
The initial ground-work was firmly laid through the students developing their own Lines of Inquiry and key questions to help focus and guide their inquiries. From this point the grade was then immersed in deep research and investigation. Field trips were conducted, experts were interviewed and surveys were distributed. In short, no rock was left unturned in an unrelenting quest for knowledge and understanding.
Due to the cross-class grouping system many student were thrust into entirely new collaborative settings; naturally the process wasn’t always smooth sailing. However, in much the same way as gold is purified by being exposed to extremely high temperatures, the students were able to grow and mature immensely in the furnace of collaboration. Giftings and talents were discovered and new confidence was forged as students began to operate in allocated/adopted roles within the their respective groups.
Once the students had completed the research phase, they turned their attention to the most important aspect of Exhibition- Action. Across the board, the various Actions derived by the groups were pragmatic, purposeful and ultimately powerful.
As it has been in the past, the beauty of students uncovering their true potential was clearly apparent at GAA this year. Again, the process and outcome of PYP Exhibition unequivocally reassured the wider school community of it’s value and immovable place as the culmination and crowning glory of the Primary Years Program.
You can view some photos of the evening here:
https://goo.gl/photos/tvZrByms5WKjQ75DA
Mike Hopaluk
PYP Coordinator
[email protected]
In previous years, every successive year has seen the bar lifted for the PYP Exhibition at GAA. Without a shadow of a doubt, the 3rd annual GAA Grade 5 PYP Exhibition, which took place May 3rd and 4th, was no exception. After nearly 8 weeks of hard work, the students produced a truly magical expression of their learning, spanning issues from Abu Dhabi’s stray cat problem to human rights. The sheer volume of presented information alone was a sight to behold and certainly something students and teachers alike could be very proud of.
The initial ground-work was firmly laid through the students developing their own Lines of Inquiry and key questions to help focus and guide their inquiries. From this point the grade was then immersed in deep research and investigation. Field trips were conducted, experts were interviewed and surveys were distributed. In short, no rock was left unturned in an unrelenting quest for knowledge and understanding.
Due to the cross-class grouping system many student were thrust into entirely new collaborative settings; naturally the process wasn’t always smooth sailing. However, in much the same way as gold is purified by being exposed to extremely high temperatures, the students were able to grow and mature immensely in the furnace of collaboration. Giftings and talents were discovered and new confidence was forged as students began to operate in allocated/adopted roles within the their respective groups.
Once the students had completed the research phase, they turned their attention to the most important aspect of Exhibition- Action. Across the board, the various Actions derived by the groups were pragmatic, purposeful and ultimately powerful.
As it has been in the past, the beauty of students uncovering their true potential was clearly apparent at GAA this year. Again, the process and outcome of PYP Exhibition unequivocally reassured the wider school community of it’s value and immovable place as the culmination and crowning glory of the Primary Years Program.
You can view some photos of the evening here:
https://goo.gl/photos/tvZrByms5WKjQ75DA
Mike Hopaluk
PYP Coordinator
[email protected]
Grade 3, 4 & 5 Drama Community Share
On Thursday morning, students in Grade 3, 4 and 5 had the opportunity to view some of the learning that has occurred in Drama classes over the last few months. The Grade 3 students were showcased through a movie demonstrating their commitment to creating a dramatization of a given script and how they were able to take their own ‘script to scenes’. The Grade 4 movie demonstrated how students have learned to use neutral masks to rely on their intentional movements to demonstrate mood and action. Finally the audience was treated to a couple repeat performances from the Grade 5 PYP Exhibition evening.
The Community Share was completed with the celebration of the students who received a Star Student award this week for their demonstration of PYP attitudes and/or IB Learner Profile attributes in Drama throughout the year. These students got a front row view of the sharing in the “VIP Section” before they were called up to be recognized on stage. You can see many more photos of the event here.
On Thursday morning, students in Grade 3, 4 and 5 had the opportunity to view some of the learning that has occurred in Drama classes over the last few months. The Grade 3 students were showcased through a movie demonstrating their commitment to creating a dramatization of a given script and how they were able to take their own ‘script to scenes’. The Grade 4 movie demonstrated how students have learned to use neutral masks to rely on their intentional movements to demonstrate mood and action. Finally the audience was treated to a couple repeat performances from the Grade 5 PYP Exhibition evening.
The Community Share was completed with the celebration of the students who received a Star Student award this week for their demonstration of PYP attitudes and/or IB Learner Profile attributes in Drama throughout the year. These students got a front row view of the sharing in the “VIP Section” before they were called up to be recognized on stage. You can see many more photos of the event here.
KG Corner
This week in KG1 F:
In celebration of Earth Day we traveled around campus to help clean up the school environment. Ms. Louise was so excited for us and provided us with gloves.
We’re making Earth Day posters stating what we can do to help care for the Earth every day.
Picking up pollution from the playground.
We’re taking our clean-up boxes and bags to the upper grade floors.
Working together to clean up near the pool.