Thus, here in Saint John’s Elementary School, we have started a training program to help young children be peacemakers.  Coordinated by the Elementary School Counselor, the 18 members of the Student Council (grades 3, 4 and 5)   participated in several sessions of a very simple strategy to help resolve conflicts.  With the hope to spread the training to other groups of students, the essence of this program is that the ‘peacemaker’ does NOT solve the problem.  Instead, the ‘peacemaker’ assists the people in conflict to solve the problem themselves by leading them through a simple process using Active Listening and I Messages!

Can you imagine how many conflicts could be resolved if people really listened to one another? Through some simple exercises, the students involved in the training, practice putting themselves in the other person’s place to listen and understand what the person is saying and how he/she feels. Non verbal behaviors (facial expressions, gestures, eye contact and posture) are encouraged to show understanding and acceptance rather than the opposite.  Students learn to restate the other person’s most important thoughts and check to make sure that they understand them clearly leaving out any personal feelings or similar experiences. The students practice remaining neutral throughout the conversation.

In addition, the peacemakers help the students in conflict to use I –messages to communicate feelings without blaming the other person. Through a scripted approach and using good eye contact, the students are trained to tell how and why they feel the way that they do.

So what is the impact of such a program?  Obviously not world peace and yet, for young children in our international school, it is a step forward in believing that peace can take root in their own playground and that they have a hand in making it a possibility.

As Maria Montessori said, “Establishing lasting peace is the work of education: all politics can do is keep us out of war.”

Johanna Bambridge – Elementary School principal

As I reflect back many years ago regarding my participation in sports, I can’t help but think about the support and encouragement I received. From my parents to my coaches and others as well. Additionally, I think about the thousands of hours I put into sports. This ranged from summer camps attended at a young age, to summer leagues and camps during the high school years. The days and nights of shooting baskets in the rain all by myself, all in the hopes of obtaining my dream. I appreciate the phrases, “the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary,” and “the harder you work, the luckier you get.” I think this applies to all facets of life.

This hard work paid off. I was fortunate enough to obtain a full scholarship to play basketball at the University of Washington and it allowed me to:
· become a co-captain,
· hit a last second shot at the buzzer to beat UCLA 72-70 in Pauley Pavilion,
· score 35 points against the University of Oregon.

Once again, I was blessed. After college, I was drafted by the Indiana Pacers. Vying for a roster spot involved several brutal cuts over several months – from 30 rookies and free agents over one weekend in Indianapolis, to 12 participating a six week California summer league, to being one of 5 invited to fall camp. At the very end, right before the first pre-season game, I was cut. Naturally, I was heartbroken because my dream had ended. From the original 30 plus, the only one they kept was the number one draft choice that year, Herb Williams of Ohio State.

However, when one door closes, another opens. An opportunity to play professionally in Cologne, Germany arose. Over the course of two years, I became very fond of the culture and the people, and of course the travel experiences through Europe. It has taken me a while to get back to Europe, but I am very happy to be back, and working at St. John’s. Lastly, I would encourage young people to get involved and participate in extra-curricular activities.

The lessons I learned through sports (hard work, sacrifice, commitment, teamwork) have stayed with me, and truly enriched my life. I feel truly blessed.

Mary was born in 1945, in Dublin, Ireland. She came to St. John’s in 1989 and stayed with us till her retirement in the summer of 2010.

We all knew Mary as a person who lived intensely, had a tremendous sense of humour, and a big heart. Not only was she dedicated to her work but she was a person many turned to for advice, for help, or for a laugh. Mary volunteered at numerous school events, helped in the cafeteria with the Elementary School lunches for many years, and supported alumni.

Shortly after her retirement, Mary was diagnosed with cancer. She put up a valiant fight, entirely in line with her spirited personality.

She will be remembered as a respected colleague but more so as our friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

The family requests privacy in this very difficult time. Funeral arrangements will be communicated as they become available.

May she rest in peace.

Dr. Marjan Blok – Deputy Director

Big Ideas Week is our innovative program for group-based experiential learning that allows students the space and time to recognize and stretch their innate capabilities and reach their own conclusions about their own performance.  It brings together the 7 competences which underpin our curriculum in middle school; Thinker, Creator, Explorer, Communicator, Collaborator, Contributor and Self assessor.
 
The week kicked off with a collaboration between the St. John’s and the organizations Green Light for Girls and Levi Strauss as well as visits to the local fire station, sewerage plant and swimming pool. Students then worked in groups for the week with teachers helping and guiding their inquiry and discovery.
 
Throughout the week students had access to specially arranged workshops and outside experts which were all linked to the theme water.
 
Some highlights of the week:

 
Some insights from the student evaluation give a taste of the benefits:
“Big Ideas helped me to understand how things work in real life”
“Working as a group motivated me”
“They start listening to me by me listening to them”
“I really didn’t know I was that good in making a website”
“I can really focus when I need to”
“I learnt that if I want I can have fun by working”
“I let things go too easily.”
 

A reminder to all that tickets for Casino Royale on Saturday February 4^th, are now on sale in the Lion’s lair and at Reception.  Payment by Cash, Bank Contact or Credit Card accepted.

The PTP would like to encourage your participation in our ‘More Bonds the Better’ dress code for the evening, and look forward to your stylish outfits that will add to the magic of the evening.

You will be greeted with a Champagne cocktail upon arrival, and a full Buffet service will be in place. For your pleasure there is a live Big Band for dancing as well as a disco for those that want to dance the night away.

The ticket price also includes a free 100 dollar St. John’s voucher for playing at our 9 gaming tables supplied by ROYAL CASINO GAMES, and includes Stud Poker, Black Jack, Roulette Francaise and Roulette Americaine (minimum bet per game at 5 St. John’s dollars).

The lucky winners will be issued with Tokens which are usedto win our many fabulous prizes from our generous sponsors which include Pelugi diamonds of Antwerp, Abercrombie &Fitch, Superdry, Maserati, Film Premiere tickets, luxury vacations and spa treatments to name a few.

More St. John’s dollars can be purchased throughout the evening for those not wanting to game but who also want take advantage of the chance to win in our individual prize winning draws.

At the stroke of midnight our fantasy evening will conclude with the drawings that determine who will take home the amazing tombola prizes.

A cash bar will be open all evening with waiter service available.

IT WILL BE A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.

Hoping to see you there, Wendy Farha – PTP President

Our students will have opportunities to explore water from angles not examined before. Why do we sell water in bottles?  Is access to water a human right?  Why bother to save water when it rains all the time? Why do holiday destinations often include access to water? Why worry about pollution in water? Why worry about droughts and floods when it never happens where we are? How do we use water in agriculture?  How has water shaped our world? Why do we baptize babies with drops of water? How can a water molecule have been around when dinosaurs lived yet today the same water molecule could be in my cup of tea?  Who said the sea is within us? Why?

By delving into these and more multi-disciplinary questions, students will be discovering who they are, how they fit into this world and how their actions impact the world. Working as collaborators and creative thinkers, students hopefully will be demonstrating their respect for each other and the world around them.

Grade 7 and 8 students will be working in groups of 16 to generate more questions on their specific water angle, work collaboratively towards an understanding of the problem or issue and then develop creative suggestions and plans for solving the problems or contributing towards a greater awareness.  Students will not only have in-house coaching by their teachers but have a list of experts to draw inspiration from, as far away as Cambridge and Hawaii! Having a positive impact on the world and reaching out to our global community is part of our water mission.

We look forward — with great anticipation — to waves of exciting discoveries and a bank of creative contributions.

By Stephanie Wintjes, MS curriculum coordinator and art teacher

We held an orientation meeting and two coffee mornings this week for the new families and those who joined us in the past few months, to ensure a smooth transition. We will continue to have new students join us throughout the coming months.

Transition in international schools is a constant – for students, families and staff alike. We have had to bid farewell (unfortunately) to several staff members this year who have taken new posts, fallen ill, or been transferred with spouses. At St. John’s, we know how important great teachers are for your children, so in these trying cases of mid-year illnesses or departures, we work diligently to find excellent replacements. Our efforts this year have been fruitful, and we have successfully attracted experienced international school teachers from around the world to replace those departing. We have hired an experienced 1st grade teacher who is here locally, a high school guidance consultant from the UK, a new French language teacher who resides in Belgium, and will soon welcome a high school chemistry teacher from Australia (on sabbatical leave from Jakarta International School) to complete the year for a teacher going on maternity leave. These appointments are incredibly important to us, and we are happy to welcome our new staff members.

The Strategic Planning Process remains a great driver for our efforts, and we have made some great progress this year. We have completed the IB Diploma review, submitted the PYP re-authorization report, and are nearing completion of the CIS/MSA accreditation self-study report. Our efforts with the Diploma Program resulted in an unqualified approval for continuation, so congratulations are in order for the high school. A visiting team for the PYP re-authorization will be on-site soon, and we will wait to hear about the visiting team for CIS/MSA once we send off the report in early February.

Beyond the accreditation, the school has continued its commitment to improving the safety and security of the school with a recent contract awarded for upgrades to fire/alarm system and access control. This work will take place in summer 2012. Likewise, campus master planning has progressed with the appointment of an architectural firm to work with St. John’s in developing a visionary plan for facilities to support the teaching and learning of the entire school. The consultant will work with the St. John’s Community from the first visit the end of January. More information will be published in Headlions next week.

Dr. Tom Hawkins, Director