I’m not much of a gambler by nature, but I’ve heard myself using the term “double down” a lot lately.  Double down is something that you might hear at a casino blackjack table, but according to the Mirriam-Webster Dictionary it also means “to become more tenacious, zealous, or resolute in a position or undertaking”.  

I feel like this is a great way to describe what is happening at ISY this week.  We are all – teachers, students, parents – ready to double down on this most recent school closure.  We’ve been here before, we know how this works, but this time around we are going to do it better.  We have been preparing all summer for something like this and now it’s time for us to become more tenacious.  

The PE department met today to talk about our plans for teaching PE LIVE and doing lessons with our students in real time.  Instead of being afraid of the unknown, we are all looking forward to the challenge (although each of us would prefer to be teaching our students in person).  We are embracing an opportunity to be better teachers, to do better lessons, to feel better about teaching your children online.

Be Better. Do Better. Feel Better.

Maybe that should be our new PE department motto.

I spent a lot of time this summer researching new ways for our students to workout at home.  In fact, being in quarantine for three weeks gave me a lot of time to “research” some of the best HIIT workouts, equipment-free strength training, and yoga classes I have ever seen – either in person or online.  It turns out the entire fitness industry on youtube has doubled down as well, and I am personally taking advantage. There is really no excuse for us not to be active.  Between PE lessons and the resources available online, our plan is to bring students back onto campus as fit as ever and ready to get onto the court or field as soon as we are allowed to do so.

I know this is not easy, but together we can all double down on wearing our masks, washing our hands, and staying home if we feel unwell so that we can be back together again soon.

As part of ISY’s Mother Tongue program, the Yangon Spanish School is offering its Spanish classes online for this session.  Classes will be taught using the Gotomeeting platform and are facilitated by instructors who are professional teachers and native speakers.  Children ages 9 & up are welcome to participate in online classes.

If you are interested in enrolling your child in the Spanish Language Mother Tongue program, contact Oriol Mayol at info@yangonspanishschool.com.  

 Please include the following information in your email:

• Age of child
• Level of Spanish (a placement test can be done)
• If your child is returning to the program from last year
• Days and times of availability each week

 Instructors will create small groups or set up private lessons based on the level of interest from ISY families.