Primary Newsletter
A look back at what has happened in September 2019
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRIMARY PRINCIPAL - MS. SANDRA KELLEC
Dear Parents,
We are now well into the new academic year, and what an exciting time it is in the Primary. We have welcomed many new families to our Ajman Academy community. Our Primary school has been fortunate enough to have a 29.45% increase in student admissions this year.
The first weeks of school have been very productive. Students have worked collaboratively with teachers to create essential agreements on behaviour and expectations both in the classroom across the school.
All children have been assessed to provide a baseline level, that is used to differentiate teaching and learning for every child.
At the Pre-KG and KG levels, children have been assessed using checklists and observations. In grades 1-5 children were assessed in Arabic, English (reading, writing and spelling) and mathematics.
Students in grades 3 and 5 have also taken the CAT 4 assessment as per the UAE National Agenda framework. Field trips and assemblies have already started, and our first book fair of the year will begin on the 1st of October.
Several parent meetings have taken place, including our Meet and Greet the Teacher and parent Information mornings/afternoons for (Pre-KG - G5). A big thanks to those parents who attended and will attend our initial workshops such as Early Reading (in both English and Arabic), Read, Write, Inc and Moral Education. Workshops will continue throughout the year to build our partnership with you as parents.
Communication is important to us, so please make sure that you have downloaded the D6 School Communicator App to your mobile device. All letters, newsletters, weekly homework and any additional information, will always be uploaded to D6. If you have not already done this, you may check our school website www.ajmanacademy.com for instructions.
Please make sure to read the information that has been sent to you regarding SeeSaw digital portfolio, Showbie App (Grades 34-5) and our new Kutubee online platform for Arabic reading.
Mathematics practice is now on the weekly homework sheet (Grades 1-5) to be completed daily. We believe that daily practice is necessary to enhance and solidify mathematics skills. Your assistance with this is valued,
We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing the successes of every child.
Regards,
Sandra Kellec
Primary School Principal
Parent Reading Workshop
A message from our PYP Coordinator, Ms Rachel
What goes into designing the Units of Inquiry?
As pupils start back to school and become immersed in their units of Inquiry, the teachers are already thinking about Unit 2 and developing the units to deepen the learning experience for the children.
When we design the Units we firstly have to make sure that we really capture the interest of the children. Teachers take time to think about ways in which we can engage the pupils in their learning. Grade 4 set up a ‘candid camera’ to catch children making the right choices; Grade 3 started with a story ‘The beautiful Oops’ which had led into art discovery.
KG2 had a magic show to explore their senses. Once the children are invested in the unit, the teachers have the demanding job of creating experiences for pupils that help them think about big ideas and concepts, that develop their skills and also deepen their knowledge and understanding.
We do this by working together, sharing our expertise and using the guiding documents of IB PYP to plan how the children will learn.
We also use the UK National curriculum to then build in all the learning objectives matching the objectives to the unit of study.
This style of learning takes a great deal of thought, planning and expertise from the teachers.
Our plans also enable children to work in groups, problem-solve together and work on their skills of communication, research, self-management, social and thinking. This type of authentic learning provides a rich environment for development that cannot be gained from a textbook.
I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand. Confucius
We also link the language learning to the unit as much as possible so that the children can make connections easily and understand all the new vocabulary. Children read stories to give more context and understanding of their learning.
Hopefully, your children are engaged in their unit, and you will start to see evidence of their learning appearing all around the classrooms, pods and by the end of the unit, in the PYP gallery upstairs.
Message from our Assessment Coordinator, Ms Emma
In grades 3 and 5, we have been conducting CAT4 assessments as per the requirements from the MOE and National Agenda. These are tests of academic potential and again help us to target support if necessary but also identify children who are gifted and who would benefit from more challenging activities.
Additionally, grade leaders have been designing appropriate assessment criteria from which to measure your child’s accomplishments against the PYP criteria and how well they have understood the central idea for Unit 1. They have also been busy planning exciting and engaging summative assessment tasks for Unit 1 for your child to be able to showcase their understanding and effort throughout this unit. We endeavour to make these assessment tasks relevant to your child, based on real-world situations and where your child can take action following on from what they have learnt in class.
Students taking their assessment in the iMac Lab
Message from our Technology Integration Specialist, Ms. Kerry-Lee
We are very excited about the successful iPad deployment in the Primary School through the start of our 2019/2020 academic year. Students and staff have been provided with the latest in devices and carefully selected and curated applications that will add support and innovation to the teaching and learning environments.
The success of integrating technology into the classroom is an effective way to connect with students of all learning styles.
This academic year we will continue to use platforms such as SeeSaw and Showbie to highlight and showcase the achievement of every student while providing parents and family with the opportunity to have an inside look into the children(s) learning journey.
This can enhance relationships between teachers, students and parents. Technology in the learning environment’s helps students be more responsible. Owning their own device allows students to improve their decision-making skills as well as taking ownership of a valuable device, this is complemented by digital citizenship training through interactive and collaborative activities set by teachers to see the best results.
Message from our Science Coordinator, Ms. Samantha
Science within the Primary School…
The reason for this is so that we can ensure that the children have the appropriate and recent subject knowledge needed in order to achieve their full potential in their formative assessments.
Throughout the Primary school, there is a progression of both subject knowledge and also the skills needed to become a great scientist.
Every week, each child from Grades 1-5 will have an allocated lab lesson, where they will go to complete an investigative and hands-on activity.
Primary Teachers ensure that Science is relevant, fun and challenging at Ajman Academy!
A message from our Arabic Coordinator - Ms Karima
عاد طلاب أكاديمية عجمان إلى المدرسة متحمسين لبدء العام الدراسي الجديد 2019- 2020 بجد ونشاط، كما التحق طلاب جدد وتعرفوا على نظام ومنهاج مدرستنا، وقاموا بكتابة اتفاقية الصف التي تتضمن أسلوب تعاملهم مع أقرانهم ومعلميهم في الصف وخارجه، كما عرّف كل طالب عن نفسه وهوايته تحت عنوان ” من أنا؟“.
بدأنا بمراجعة بعضا من المهارات التي تم تدريسها مسبقا لربطها مع المنهاج الجديد متبعين فلسفة منهاج السنوات الإبتدائية الدولي وكذلك من خلال الإبداع والبحث وطرح الأسئلة ومشاركتهم في عملية التعلم والتعليم، ومازلنا مستمرين بإثراء مفكرة تلاميذنا اللغوية من خلال ملف القراءة الإثرائية التي يرسل مع أبنائنا كل أسبوع.
A message from our Librarian, Mr. Bob
The primary library is in full swing, with over 700 children visiting this week. Activities have ranged from our older children working on research skills that will prepare them for a lifetime of independent learning, to our KG children extending their writing skills and imagination by creating extra adventures in the ‘Dear Zoo’ story.
The loaning of books is rapidly reaching full speed and next week will see us send nearly two thousand books home! Please check that your children have a library bag that is robust and waterproof. Specially designed library bags are available in the uniform shop.
We have also started preparing for the first of the years’ Bookworm International Book Fairs, which will be taking place during the first week of October. (see event details below)
Mr Bob and the library team
A message from our PE Teacher & ECA Coordinator, Ms Maysoon
I would like first to welcome Ms Luiza joining the PE department as a Primary PE teacher.
We have already started this term with KG1, KG2 and G1 swimming lessons. Children are learning about the different rules they need to follow in the pool such as I can be safe in and around the swimming pool by following the rules, and I can be safe in the swimming pool by using basic pool survival skills. The students are having fun learning to kick and float, which will help them to swim. We also use floating device equipment to keep them safe in the water, fully supported by our swimming coaches.
Grades 3-5 have started their new unit of inquiry in PE, which is Invasion Games. Students have enjoyed their lessons this block and have been continuing to learn and develop their basketball skills and new team games. They are not only developing their dribbling and shooting skills in basketball, but it has also been an excellent unit to encourage them to work on their teamwork and interpersonal skills. Children have also been playing games as warm-up activities such as relay races where cheer and support their teammates.
Message from our Primary Music Leader, Ms Ruby
At Ajman Academy, we integrate music with other subjects to improve the student's skills and love of music. They are acquiring listening skills through various musical games and activities.
We have leant how we can use our voices to mimic sounds and that this skill can be used to sing songs.
We have seen that we can accompany the music with simple percussion instruments or respond to music with movement, sometimes just our hands, sometimes our feet, sometimes our whole body.
Upcoming Events such as National Day and Mothers Day inspire us to use music and musical instruments in a variety of ways to express ourselves.
Music in the Primary school can help students of all abilities to improve a range of skills including but not limited to:
* Cognition
* Eyes contact
* Verbal skills
* Perceptual/ Motor skills
* Body coordination
* Social Skills.
Bookwork Book Fair
Wednesday 2nd October 8.00 AM - 3.30 PM
Thursday 3rd October 8.00 AM - 3.30 PM