Happy Holidays
December 17, 2021
2021 has challenged all of us in many different ways. As teachers and parents, we step up and meet those challenges for the good of our students and children.
It takes a lot of energy and resilience to keep stepping up and sometimes it might feel like we are running low on both. Fortunately, our students and children have plenty of energy and resilience to share!
They share their energy and resilience with us through their attendance, participation, and good humor. I am sure that you are inspired by your child(ren)’s efforts this year. We certainly have been and we have also been grateful for your support.
On behalf of our Elementary School team, we wish you a safe and enjoyable holiday and we look forward to seeing you in 2022.
Classes begin after the holiday at 8am on Monday, January 10.
Holiday Assembly
We celebrated the end of 2021 with our annual holiday assembly – complete with stories, songs, and a fun drawing activity. The traditonal Teachers Holiday Dance was a hit again this year!
COUNSELOR’S CORNER with Ms. Patty:
The Importance of Routines Over the Holidays
Soon the winter holiday will be upon us. For many a break from the school routine is a welcomed time to relax and unwind but for many children the lack of structure can breed uncertainty and anxiety. In general, most people benefit from routines but children, in particular, find comfort in knowing what is expected. Further routines help children regulate socially and emotionally.
So how do we enjoy the holiday and yet maintain some structure to support our children? Here are a few ideas:
- Make a plan: Before or at the start of the holiday, sit down with your child and develop a plan of what will happen over the next 3 weeks. Make a calendar of events & activities the family expects to participate in. Have your plan include daily activities, such as wake up time, meals and bedtime.
- Maintain daily activities: It’s easy over the holidays to let the little things go but maintaining routines, such as daily bath, teeth brushing or bedtime stories provides security for children and helps them maintain healthy lifestyle choices.
- Prioritize sleeping & eating: Elementary children need 9-12 hours of sleep each night. Maintain daily bedtime schedules as much as possible. Keep regular meals. Eating healthy meals on schedule will help maintain energy and help avoid irritability. Encourage moderation of unhealthy snacks and treats.
- Develop a screen time schedule: Children have more access to unstructured time with devices during the holidays. Make a plan with them to determine how much, when and what type of device time they may have. Remember not all screen time is equal. Quality and quantity are different.
I hope these tips enable your family to have a truly restful and enjoyable holiday. I hope the coming year brings peace and comfort to you as well. As always, I am available to the ISY community for support. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at escounselor@isyedu.org
Warmly, Ms. Patty
Ms. Patty is available to support all ISY families. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at escounselor@isyedu.org.
Patty Amundson-Geisel
Pre-K to Grade 6 Counselor
Semester 1 Ends Friday, January 21
Today we break for the Winter Holiday. Classes will resume on Monday, January 10 at 8am and our first Semester will finish on Friday, January 21. Semester 1 reports will be available on Friday, January 28.
Internet Issues
Offline Learning Activities
Every Friday, your child’s homeroom teacher will email you a PDF of offline learning activities that your child will be able to do if they lose access to the internet.
Please only use these plans if your child is unable to access the internet. If you have the internet, your child will be able to attend online classes as usual.
To make sure the offline learning activities stay connected to what is happening in class, our teachers will review and, if necessary, update the offline learning activities each week. Please download the PDF document attached to the email as soon as you receive it on Friday. The email will also have a link to this instructional video:
Elementary School Blog – February 11, 2021
Over the last two weeks, our Early Elementary team has been working with Dr. Linda Henke. Dr. Henke has a wealth of experience in many school settings and has a particular interest and expertise in developing a capability and love for deeper learning in our youngest children.
Elementary School Blog – February 5, 2021
Even in the context of 2020-2021, this week has been a particularly challenging one. But we got through it.
Elementary School Blog – January 29, 2021
Today marks the end of our second semester. We are halfway through this academic year and the first year of our SDG-inspired interdisciplinary approach to learning.
Elementary School Blog – January 22, 2021
It is challenging work at times but it is exciting for us to be working alongside our students as we create a new normal.
Elementary School Blog – January 15, 2021
All three of our grade level Transition Days went very well from both student connection and safety points of view.
Elementary School Blog – December 18, 2021
We go to the break not quite having finished the first semester. At the end of January we will have got to the halfway mark of the year.
The International School Yangon
20 Shwe Taungyar Street
Bahan Township
Yangon, Myanmar
+95 (0) 9 880 441 040