Perspectives from the PYP Coordinator

19 August

Divergent thinking is the way Sir Ken Robinson, world-renowned education and creativity expert, believes that education must develop in the 21st century. His reasoning stems from the fact that we are unable to predict what will happen tomorrow in our world so how can we know what the world will be like when our students become working professionals. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme supports the development of divergent thinking in our students. They are encouraged to construct their own understanding, pursue their own personal inquiries and reflect on the ways they can be better global citizens. All of these things are happening in our classrooms at Chatsworth on a daily basis as the students learn to work cooperatively while being principled, open-minded risk-takers. Our open door policy and this year’s parent cafes will allow you to see your children in action as they develop the skills they will need to be successful in the world around them.

Resource: Sir Ken Robinson - How to Create a Culture of Valuable Learning

Kim Riemer, PYP Coordinator

Students in action:

Week 2 of the Weekly Primary Correspondance

Week 2

Primary	2016-2017 Open House & Parent Orientation Evening More details here. JY Fun Run Tentatively, the JY Fun Run will be held on the 2 September at the Botanic Gardens. More details coming up soon. Lost and Found Lost and Found will be cleared on the last Friday of each month. Kindly check for lost items before this day
Library	Parent Volunteers The library needs parent volunteers to shelve and process books. Email Elaine in the library if you can spare one or two hours - or more a week. efong@chatsworth.com.sg
Sports	Netball Trials Netball Trials  12 and under ( year 6 and 7) Thursday 3.30 -4.30pm 18th and 25th August (J. Brennan) The Football U9 The Football U9 competition will commence in mid September. The competition is open to all children born on/after 1 June 2007. The trials for the U9 football will take place during lunchtime next Monday (22 Aug) and Wednesday (24 Aug). They need not have their football cleats/boots for the trials on these two dates. Please take note that children selected during the trials will be invited to come for the final trial on Thursday (25 Aug) after school. A letter of invitation will be given to them if they are selected for the final trial. Should your child be selected for the final trial, please make the necessary transport arrangement for them to return home. Please also ensure that they have their football gears for the final trial. From the final trial, only 20 children will be selected to join the U9 team.
CCA / ECA	Online Registration went live on Wednesday August 17 on our Primary CCA/ECA page  and will continue until Tuesday August 30 at 7pm. Thank you to all of those who have completed the online registration - we had an overwhelming number of responses the first evening. Please take some time to read the CCA & ECA Session 1 Guide  prior to signing up. Please keep in mind sign ups are based on availability, eligibility and choice. Confirmation emails of CCA enrollment will be sent to parents beginning Friday September 2. We cannot confirm the enrollment of your child in any CCA prior to this date. Please let us know if you have not received the email by Monday September 5. ECA Provider Meet & Greet: Parents are welcome to join our ECA providers on Friday August 26 from 3:45-5pm in the Main Hall. This is a great chance to speak to the providers about registration process and the ECAs offered at the school. We encourage you to come out and see what we have on offer this session! ECA providers will be in contact with parents for registration based on expressing interest in an ECA through our Online Registration.

Hazwani Hassim (Wani)

Primary Administrative Assistant

Thoughts from the Chatsworth Primary Hallway

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year.  On behalf of the Primary School community, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the new families who have joined the Chatsworth community, as well as the returning families.  The Primary School staff have been working hard since their return to school at the beginning of August to ensure a smooth start for our students. Teachers have arranged their classrooms, met in teams to plan the first unit of inquiry as well as spending a couple of day in teacher training to get ready for our first day at school yesterday., and what an exciting day it was!  So many students with smiles on their faces as they reunite with their friends, and even bigger smiles when they moved into their new classrooms.  What a beautiful Chatsworth Community we have!

We have an exciting year planned for the 2016-2017 school year.  Parent Cafés are organised to help parents understand the IB PYP, how it is delivered here at Chatsworth and see it in action while visiting the classrooms.  Once finalised we shall send you the link to mark in your diaries.  Special events celebrating the diversity of our host country of Singapore planned and the dates locked in on the school calendar. Orientation evenings scheduled for the week after next will give you the opportunity to meet the teacher, see the classroom and get down to some nitty-gritty information of your child's school year.  Our weekly blog from the Primary Office will remind you of key dates each week so please spend a few minutes each week on our page.

The partnership between parents-teachers-students is vital to your child's success.  We believe in an open door policy and open and transparent communication.  Please do not hesitate to meet your child's teachers if you have any questions or queries, as well as contacting me for further clarification. Our doors are always open.

Mario Gauci

Head of Primary

Perspectives from the PYP Coordinator

Perspectives from the PYP Coordinator 12 August

Long before students and parents are thinking about coming back to school, teachers are busy in professional development to gather new teaching ideas for the coming year. Our teachers are exceptional students - engaged, questioning and reflecting on their practice.  Check out the photos of them learning.

Kim Riemer, PYP Coordinator

Week 1 of the Primary Weekly Correspondance

Welcome Back!

Primary	Year Group Websites Our new year group websites launch today! You child’s email will share the link to it. You will find information on the website about the whole year group, the unit newsletter, updates and media from individual classes, resources used in the class, homework and a link to the Primary blog. Be sure to bookmark the link so you can check it regularly as our teacher's update it regularly each Friday. Lunch for JY students Please have your child to bring a minimum of $6 per day for his/her meal next week until we have the cashless system. Uniform Exchange Please kindly be informed that the stocks for exchanging your child’s uniform have not arrived. An email will be sent to parents once it’s ready to be exchanged. 2016-2017 Open House & Parent Orientation Evening More details here.
Library	Parent Volunteers The library needs parent volunteers to shelve and process books. Email Elaine in the library if you can spare one or two hours - or more a week. efong@chatsworth.com.sg
CCA / ECA	Co-Curricular Activities and Extra-Curricular Activities for Session 1 will run September 13 until November 25. Please find a list of the CCA/ECA programmes being offered as well as our updated 2016/2017 CCA/ECA Session 1 Guide on our CCA/ECA Chatsworth page here. Please take some time to review the CCA/ECA Guide and programmes before the registration date. Online registration will become available on the CCA/ECA page on Wednesday August 17 at 7pm. Please send any questions to Emily MacLean, CCA/ECA Coordinator at emaclean@chatsworth.com.sg. We look forward to another successful year of activities for our students!

Hazwani Hassim (Wani)

Primary Administrative Assistant