ISY ISY Elementary School Blog - 3rd April

ISY Elementary Blog

Elementary Update – April 3rd, 2020

Sandy Sheppard, Elementary School Principal

Dear all,

I hope your week of virtual learning has gone well in your household. Please see below for feedback from the last survey that went out.

I also hope you enjoyed the music video put together by some of the faculty, you can find the link below.

I am sure you will all join me in thanking our super star teachers for the amazing job they are doing. If you would like to email me a message for our faculty I would be happy to share it with them. My email address is below.

Enjoy your weekend wherever you may be. Virtual Learning will start again on Monday.

We are thinking of you all. We miss our students so much.

Take care

Sandy Sheppard

Intention to Return Survey

The ISY Director and Board of Trustees are currently in the process of gathering information to help make the decision whether to re-open the school on the 4 May. One aspect of that decision is knowing how many families are still available in Yangon and the status of families in Yangon on 4 May. We have therefore created a short survey to help gather this information and would appreciate as many families filling it out as possible so we get a good picture.

If you can fill it out by the end of the day this coming Monday 6th April, that would be great.

Intention to Return Survey

A Musical Message

If you could do with a smile then have a look at this video made by the faculty at ISY. Wherever you are in the world, you can count on us! It’s on both the Facebook page and the YouTube Channel. Enjoy.

Message from the Director

Dr. Hedger has recorded a message for the whole community. His message can be viewed both on our Facebook page and on our YouTube Channel

SURVEY RESULTS

Thank you to those who responded to the parent survey on virtual learning. Your feedback is so important as we continue planning for future learning opportunities. We are all learning and adapting together during this time. Nothing will replace the opportunity to be in the classroom , but for now we will continue to provide the best learning opportunities we possibly can during this time. The survey results indicated that the majority of students are accessing virtual learning and are able to follow instructions given. It was also evident that parents are appreciative of the work that teachers are doing to ensure learning continues.

The information gathered has been reviewed and shared with teachers and we are looking at ways to:

make more personal contact with students and to ensure regular feedback through Seesaw
to add more creative activities that do not require screen time
to make sure our instructions are clear
to adjust our pacing as needed

We would also like to ask you to:

let the teacher know if a link does not work so that this can be fixed
email or send Seesaw messages whenever you have a comment on any of the tasks, especially if you or your child does not understand the requirements. The teachers are more than willing to communicate with families and support understanding
encourage your child/ren to take regular breaks when working on virtual learning

Thank you again, we really miss our students.

UPCOMING DATES

13th – 17th April – no school

23rd April – Progress Messages will be sent out via Seesaw.

24th April – No Virtual Learning – this day is set for an opportunity for parents to talk to teachers – more information to come

EMAIL

Principal – ssheppard@isyedu.org

Counselor – escounselor@isyedu.org

Office – office@isyedu.org

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

Mindfulness: What is it?

In recent weeks, I have found many moments in which mindfulness has helped me through the difficult and often fluctuating emotions associated with a world with Covid-19. I have asked my students to be mindful and gentle with themselves as they struggle with the many changes that surround them. Many parents may have a deep understanding of what it means to be mindful but I thought a short description may enlighten some to the topic.

Mindfulness is a quality of being fully present and aware of ourselves. It has many forms, a state, a trait and a practice. Being in the moment, an accumulation of moments and a skill to be rehearsed. It is acknowledging ourselves in what we are doing and how we are feeling. Fortunately, it is also a basic ability we all possess but not always acknowledge. So how can parents use mindfulness practices to help our children during difficult times?

Acknowledge their feelings without judgement. Accept their feelings. Teach them that uncomfortable feelings are just a part of who we are and can learn to not only endure them but accept them as a part of ourselves.
Practice deep breathing. When your child is having a strong emotion, try counting from one to five and back down five to one, asking your child to focus only on the air filling the lungs.
Mindfulness can cultivate curiosity. Allow children to ask questions as they come and try to be fully present as you respond.
Model mindfulness. In this fast paced world, it can be difficult for parents to be in the moment and nonjudgmentally acknowledge feelings but children need examples to follow. So when you are stressed or having a strong emotion, verbalize it and articulate how you are going to respond to that emotion. For example: I’m feeling overwhelmed by all the noise. I need to take a few deep breaths, calm my body, so I can make a proper choice.

Obviously, this article only begins to articulate mindfulness and fails in many ways to explore mindfulnesses complexities but I hope I have sparked some curiosity and ideas to support your family.

As always, I am available for further discussion or questions. I can be reached at escounselor@isyedu.org.

Patty Amundson-Geisel

Elementary School Counselor

Sources for Article

Mindful schools: Mindfulness Fundamental Course https://www.mindfulschools.org/ March 2020

The Greater Good Magazine: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/mindfulness/definition April 2, 2020

What is Mindfulness? By Mindful Staff at Mindful, healthy mind, healthy life October 8, 2014 https://www.mindful.org/what-is-mindfulness/

Resources for Helping your Children

Headspace Meditation for Kids

Mind Yeti Mindfulness for Kids and Their Adults

Virtual Learning

Please feel free to send in virtual learning photos that I can put in this blog. See Nway Ei from Grade 2below working hard at home.