by Graeme Scott
graemes@isb.ac.th
Dear Parents,
We are getting nearer to 8th November, Passion Day. In the enews sent out
on 10thOctober, we explained a little about the day. Here, we will explain
more. This article is lengthy but the key points are in bold for quick
reference.
A key element of our school mission is to ‘*develop passionate, reflective
learners*.’ We have learned from research that students learn more
effectively when they are passionate about the content or perhaps
passionate about the way they learn. This will not come as a surprise but
what is surprising is how many schools throughout the world have not used
this key finding to improve student learning. We also know that many
students have real difficulty finding their passion.
Since the beginning of this school year, we have been working with students
and teachers to plan this Passion Day. The idea is that students are given
a greater degree of choice in what they learn on that day. They may choose
something they have prior experience of and are passionate about, or it may
be that they are simply curious to try something new. It would have been
easier to ask teachers what they were prepared to teach, and then ask
students to align to one of these choices. However, we wanted the
students’ own passions to drive this day, which has made the organization
much more difficult but ultimately, it will make the day more rewarding and
worthwhile.
We now have all 1950 students allocated to an activity for the day. Our
PreK – 2nd grade children will have a slightly different day but it will
still involve more choice. Our teachers have worked hard to provide these,
our youngest children, with a range of diverse and fascinating experiences
albeit in a more structured setting within their own quad area.
For children in grades 3-5, their day will be much like that of our middle
or high school students in that they will be in either a full-day activity
or two half-day activities. The vast majority of students are in one
full-day activity. Grades may be mixed as most activities are deliberately
designed to appeal to children of varying age ranges. Some activities
however have been restricted to certain age ranges for reasons of safety
and appropriateness.
Some activities will be off campus. If your child is involved in one of
these, they may have an earlier start time. This information will be
communicated to you by a consent form that we require before any child
participates in an activity.
Group leaders (most of these are ISB staff) are currently sending out
invitations to students – many have already done this. *If your child is
in middle or high school and participating in an off-campus activity,
please remind them to check their emails and return consent forms. If they
do not respond, they will not be allowed to participate. We must have all
consent forms signed and returned. If they are participating in on-campus
events, they must reply to their teacher leader to confirm receipt of the
information.*
*The schedule for the day for students participating in on-site activities
looks like this:*
* *
*7:20 – Students arrive and register. All ES students will go to their
homeroom for registration. MS and HS students will go to the assembly
point designated by their teacher leader (the teacher organizing their
activity).*
* *
*7:40 – Our day will formally begin with a gathering in the Rajendra Hall
for all students in grades 3-12. Of course, groups that are off-campus for
the day and leaving earlier will not be present, but these students apart,
it will be the only time in the year where we have elementary, middle and
high school students all together. For that reason alone, it will be
special. *
* *
*8:00 – After this short assembly, students will be taken by their teacher
leader to their chosen activity.*
* *
*8:00 – 8:30 – Each activity will start. *
* *
*10:30 – 11:30 Students in grades 3-12 will have lunch in the main
cafeteria in their activity groups (unless they are off site for the day).
MS and HS students will need their ID cards to pay for their lunch as
usual. Lunch will be as normal for PreK-2 children, in the ES cafeteria.
As always, any student can bring a lunch from home. *
* *
*11:30 – The afternoon session will begin. For the vast majority of
students in grades 3-12, this will be part 2 of their morning activity. *
* *
*14:00 – Afternoon sessions will end and all students will be dismissed. *
* *
*Any ES students who are off-campus for the day are required to wear an ISB
uniform to help with quick identification. For all other students, this is
a free-dress/non-uniform day. Teacher leaders may stipulate certain dress
requirements depending on the activity.*
* *
*If you have any general questions about Passion Day, please contact me at**
graemes@isb.ac.th* <graemes@isb.ac.th>* but if your questions are specific
to your child’s activity, please email the teacher leader.*
Our teachers have been extremely supportive and have really entered into
the spirit of Passion Day by working hard to plan a great day for your
kids. It has been a huge undertaking to provide alternative and exciting
learning experiences for almost two thousand students. Thank you to those
parents who volunteered to help out with Passion Day. Your help is
invaluable and greatly appreciated. We hope your children enjoy the day
and that they learn something new. Who knows, maybe some of our children
may discover a lifelong passion on 8th November.
Best wishes,
Graeme Scott Elizabeth
Rossini
Deputy Head of School for Learning Director of Curriculum
Graeme Scott
Deputy Head of School for Learning
*International School Bangkok*