Friday 25 August 2017

Thoughts from the Chatsworth Primary Hallway

This past week the Primary School hosted Parent Orientation evenings. The purpose of these meetings is to provide the parents with important information regarding their child’s academic, social and emotional development for the year.  We feel that clear and consistent communication between the school and home is essential for student success.  These meetings are one way we try to keep parents informed, promoting positive school-home communication.
After one of the meetings, a mother told me she felt comfortable in her ability to help her daughter, but wanted to know if there was anything she could do to support the teacher from home.   Listed below are just a few ways parents can help their child’s teacher: 
  • Share with the teacher any pertinent academic, social or emotional information regarding your child
  • Read all correspondences that come home
  • If you are confused or have questions regarding the teaching and learning of your child, please ask for clarification immediately and directly from the teacher
  • Ensure your child has a healthy snack and enough food to get through the day
  • Ask for ways to become more involved with your child’s learning
As stated in the Parent Orientation meetings, we at Chatsworth support an open door policy.  Should you have any questions, concerns or simply want to share something about you child or family, please contact us.  The triangular relationship between home, school and students is important and something we value deeply.


Warm Regards,

Michael Berry, Ed.D.
Head of Primary

Week 3 of the Primary Weekly Correspondance

Week 3
Primary
  • Class Parent Invitation
    More details here.
  • Whole School - Sports Uniform
    More details here.
  • Y3 & Y4 Canteen Wristbands
    More details here.
    The wristbands will be given out during school time as below
    Y3 - Thursday, 31/08/17
    Y4 - Wednesday, 30/08/17
  • ​School​ ​Photographs​ ​2017/18
    Letter here.
CCA / ECA
  • Register your child’s CCA/ECA here.
  • Important date:


Hazwani Hassim (Wani)

Primary Administrative Assistant

Friday 18 August 2017

Thought from the Chatsworth Primary Hallway

In our Primary assemblies today, we welcomed all students back to school.  The students took the opportunity to “interview me” and did so with complete confidence.  The children also proved to be risk takers by presenting, through role-play, the expectations we have while at recess in order to keep all of us safe.
Previous to the first day of school, we had the opportunity to meet our Chatsworth students at the Open House.  That day also provided us the opportunity to greet our new students as well.  In speaking with families new to Singapore, as you can imagine, many were feeling anxious.  A common reason for the nervousness was that they wondered how easily their children would adapt to a new school.
In reading a few articles on the subject, I uncovered a few tips that new families to Chatsworth may want to keep in mind.  In regards to adjusting to a new school, author Hannah Boyd suggests that:
  • The first few weeks may be “stormy” and that is nothing unusual.  They may be more withdrawn and sensitive; this will pass
  • In these trying times for children, having a routine at home will help put them at ease as they know what will be coming next
  • Find any excuse to have a party.  Boyd suggests having an early birthday party encouraging children to come to your child’s “home turf” where meeting new kids may be easier
  • As a parent, getting involved with the school (CPG) is a good way for parents and their children to meet other families
  • Be patient.  Children may take longer than six weeks to begin to settle in.  If children still have not settled in by then, do not panic.  Speaking with the teacher and school counselor for support may help.
In the coming week, we have scheduled two Parent Orientation meetings.  The Early Years (K1, K2, Yr1 and Yr2) will meet on Wednesday, August 23 while the Junior Years (Yr3-Yr6) will meet on Thursday, August 24.  Both meetings will begin in the Main Hall at 6pm and should end by 7:30.  
The purpose of the meetings is for parents to come to campus, learn a bit about the school community and to meet their child’s teachers.  After a short presentation in the Main Hall, parents will be asked to make their way to their child’s classroom area.  There, the grade level teachers will address the parents in the following locations:

Grade level / Classes
Location
K1
2A (K1 classroom)
K2
1A (Mrs. Kong’s classroom)
1.1 and 1.4
3B (Ms. Cattell’s classroom)
1.2 and 2.2
3K (Mrs. Gupta’s classroom)
2.1 and 2.4
3H (Mrs. Serong’s classroom)
2.2 and 2.3
3I (Mr. McKenna’s classroom)
3.1 and 3.4
3M (Mrs. Sansom’s classroom)
3.2 and 3.3
3N (Mr. Shepherd’s classroom)
4.1, 4.2 and 4.3
3O (Mr. Meyer’s classroom)
5.1, 5.2 and 5.3
5D (Mr. Rive’s classroom)
6.1 and 6.2
2B (The “pool house”)

Week 2 of the Primary Weekly Correspondance

Week 2


Primary
  • Year 4, 5 and 6 Swimming
    The swimming module will start the week beginning 21st August. All pupils will have one swimming lesson each week and one land based activity.
    More details here.
  • Lost and Found
    Lost and Found drawers will be cleared and cleaned at the end of each month. Kindly check for items lost before this day.
CCA / ECA
  • Register your child’s CCA/ECA here.
  • Important date:


Primary
Parent
Event
  • Parent Cafè: Meet the Primary Leadership Team
    Meet up with the new Primary Leadership Team for coffee and a chat.

    Date: 23rd August 2017
    Time: 0900 - 1100
    Venue: Room 5D
    RSVP your seat here.
  • Parent Orientation Evening (No Students)
    Information regarding this event is in the parent handbook which is available on the school website. This evening includes important information about school policies and procedures, a presentation by your child’s teacher about classroom procedures and events, and an introduction to the Primary Years Programme by the Primary Leadership Team.

    EY Parents (K-Y2)
    Date: 23rd August 2017
    Time: 1800-1930
    Venue: Main Hall

    JY Parents (Y3-Y6)
    Date: 24th August 2017
    Time: 1800 - 1930
    Venue: Main Hall

    RSVP your seats here.

  • Chatsworth Parent Group CPG Introduction to Singapore (for new parents)
    This is for Chatsworth families who are new to Singapore, who wish to understand the various cultural aspects and life in general, in our sunny city. This is facilitated by Mr Sherwood (Head of Schools) and Mr McCallum (Vice Principal Campus & Head of Secondary) and Dr Berry (Head of Primary).

    Date: 25th August 2017
    Time: 0900
    Venue: Main Hall
    RSVP your seat here

Hazwani Hassim (Wani)

Primary Administrative Assistant

Friday 11 August 2017

Thoughts from the Chatsworth Primary Hallways

Dear Parents,
Welcome to another school year at Chatsworth International School.
My name is Michael Berry and I am the (new) Head of Primary.  Although I was born and raised in the United States, I have not lived there for more that 2 decades.  In that time I have taught and served as an administrator in Mexico, Costa Rica and in the Middle East in Oman.  
After graduating High School I attended Longwood College in Virginia where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education grades 4-8.  I also attended extra classes enabling me to earn a Reading Certificate allowing me to teach Reading / English in grades K-12.  Later at Longwood, I earned my Master’s degree as a Reading Specialist.  In February 2016 I successfully defended my Doctoral dissertation at Wilkes University in the United States.
For me, teaching is more than transferring content knowledge to students.  Rather, I believe that it is paramount for educators to take responsibility for teaching the whole child, enabling them to become knowledgeable and compassionate human beings.  This is an ideal that I have held dearly since teacher’s college.  I also knew early in my career the importance of connecting with children.  
At the same time, I acknowledge that students today learn differently than those before them.  As children and their learning styles change with modern society, so must the methods educators use to teach evolve and change, as well.  For example, there should be more focus on skill development and transfer of knowledge, rather than teaching for rote memorization.  I believe the best way to accomplish this is by scaffolding learning, constructing meaning, and cultivating an environment where children can seek answers while thinking critically and creatively.
The mission statement at Chatsworth recognizes the importance of teaching the whole child and sculpting them to be caring individuals with a global perspective and responsibility.  Academics are merely one aspect of education.  As a father and educator, I firmly believe that teachers, along with the student and the parents, work together in triangular collaborative relationship always keeping the student’s best interest in mind.  It is this important and interconnected relationship that enhances the development of children academically, socially, and emotionally.  As such, one of the hallmarks for Chatsworth is the pride we feel as our students demonstrate compassion and caring for others.
I believe in the power of inquiry teaching as educators seek to develop skills that will prepare our students for the 21st century.  Students must be empowered with critical thinking, communication, social awareness, research and self-management skills, all of which are taught contextually in an interdisciplinary manner.  In this way, students understand that the skills learned are not isolated within one discipline, but rather they recognize that these skills can be transferred to a multitude of situations beyond the school environment.  Teachers must also use technology effectively to promote contextual learning and engage students in meaningful ways.  For this to be successful, substantial technology integration combined with an interdisciplinary approach is vital.  As an administrator, I strive to find creative solutions that enable our specialist and classroom teachers to collaborate and identify ways for interdisciplinary connections across the curriculum.  Drawing from these connections can help students not only retain meaningful information as they assimilate the interconnected ideas rather than isolated skills, but also gain broader understandings of topics for future use in creative ways.  

As my role as an educator has evolved, so has my philosophy of education. Consistent throughout the years, however, is my firm belief that teaching is a relationship between educators, families, and students that is centered on creating meaningful experiences for children.  Learning is an active and engaging process whereby children construct and manipulate learning, rather than sit passively merely receiving information.  The goal of an educator, regardless of content area, should be to instill a curiosity and commitment to lifelong learning so that a passion for the pursuit of new knowledge transcends the walls of any classroom.  Teaching in the 21st century must encourage growth, compassion, critical thinking, creativity, innovation, collaboration, communication, cross-cultural global awareness, technology fluency, and problem solving.  As educators, we should recognize and act upon the resounding need to develop the powers of thinking in every student.  Essential to the educational process is the cultivation of the maximum human potential of all students in such a way that equally promotes both competence and conscience.  The best education will produce individuals with a genuine concern for themselves and others, in addition to an awareness that lifelong learning is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Dr Michael Berry Head of Primary

Week 1 of the Primary Weekly Correspondance

Week 1
Welcome Back!
Primary
  • Welcome Back Letter More details here.
  • Lost and Found
    Lost and Found drawers will be cleared and cleaned at the end of each month. Kindly check for items lost before this day.
Primary
Parent
Event
  • Parent Cafè: Meet the Primary Leadership Team
    Meet up with the new Primary Leadership Team for coffee and a chat.

    Date: 23rd August 2017
    Time: 0900 - 1100
    Venue: Room 5D
    RSVP your seat here.
  • Parent Orientation Evening (No Students)
    Information regarding this event is in the parent handbook which is available on the school website. This evening includes important information about school policies and procedures, a presentation by your child’s teacher about classroom procedures and events, and an introduction to the Primary Years Programme by the Primary Leadership Team.

    EY Parents (K-Y2)
    Date: 23rd August 2017
    Time: 1800-1930
    Venue: Main Hall

    JY Parents (Y3-Y6)
    Date: 24th August 2017
    Time: 1800 - 1930
    Venue: Main Hall

    RSVP your seats here.

  • Chatsworth Parent Group CPG Introduction to Singapore (for new parents)
    This is for Chatsworth families who are new to Singapore, who wish to understand the various cultural aspects and life in general, in our sunny city. This is facilitated by Mr Sherwood (Head of Schools) and Mr McCallum (Vice Principal Campus & Head of Secondary) and Dr Berry (Head of Primary).

    Date: 25th August 2017
    Time: 0900
    Venue: Main Hall
    RSVP your seat here

Hazwani Hassim (Wani)

Primary Administrative Assistant