Lontar - June 4
SWA UPDATE
A very busy last few weeks of the school year, with so much to celebrate, as we look forward to a well deserved end of year vacation. Many thanks to students and parents for making us all feel so ‘loved’ at the recent ‘Teacher Appreciation Evening’ – what a great event and one that I hope will become a permanent feature of our school culture. Congratulations and thank you to all students for a very successful year and to all staff and the PTA for their hard work and commitment to SWA.
Of course any chance to take to the stage in the Trini Dewi Theater (have you noticed the new lights?) is always welcome, and the end of year gives lots of opportunities to do just that. After months of practice we look forward to the performance ‘The Bangers and Chips Explosion’, with special thanks to Bruce and Rens and all other staff and students involved, for their commitment and passion. Our end of year assembly next Wednesday from 12.30 – 2.15, will be a great chance for some great entertainment including a few of this years favorite acts - so don’t miss out! It will also feature end of year’s awards and farewells to all our leavers.
You are invited to join us for ‘Hi Tea’ in the Gallery after the Assembly from 2.15 -3.00pm. Please come along, this will be a great opportunity to get together informally before the holidays, and to say farewell to those who are leaving.
There’s lots to look forward to in the new school year. Many of us will be working hard over the coming weeks to get the new buildings ready and welcome new teachers and students. Landscaping will soon be commencing on the new park, adjacent to the new buildings and the sports field, which will include an outdoor stage and amphitheater and a peace pagoda overlooking a small lake. Meanwhile work at JWA will soon be complete and will ‘soft open’ in mid June, so if you are in the city, give us a call on 29937234/5, and drop by to say hi.
Finally, we extend our best wishes to all those staff, students and families who will leave us for new adventures. Thanks to you all for all your contributions and please stay in touch. A very special thanks to Kathryn, Mida and Robin, members of our founding team, we will miss you.
Our year book ‘Gargita’ is set for distribution to all students on Friday morning, (additional copies available in the Shop for Rp. 50,000), enjoy the memories – we look forward to welcoming you back to school on Tuesday 10 August!
Farewell!
Farewell to our leaving staff. We extend our many thanks and best wishes to: Kathryn, Robin, Mida, Sheila, Meldawati, Hugo, Jummy, Herry, Rachman, Erick, Felicia and Frida.
E/X 2010-11
E/X will be back next year, bigger and better than ever with its own office and staff in the new Sports and Aquatics Center. Gavin Robinson our new Athletics and Activities Director was visiting last week from Stuttgart, Germany for a planning and handover meeting. Gavin was very excited by the outstanding facilities that are in the final stage of completion, but more so by the vision that surrounds it as a real community center that will promote an active balanced life for students, staff and families.
Gavin met with various groups of students to get their impressions and set to work with one group to start developing a new logo for our sports mascot, as we become the SWA ‘Tigers’!
During his visit, Gavin also took all the data that has been collected over the past few months from new and returning teachers to map the new E/X program. Some of the new activities and Clubs that will be featured include – Model United Nations, Reading, Debating, Bike Riders and International Leadership Award. Planning is also underway for a new weekend Adventures Program. The 2010-11 E/X program will commence on Wednesday 15 September, after the fasting month and Idul Fitri holiday. The program will be distributed to students in Week 1 with ‘E/Xpo’ – which will include presentations by teachers and display booths to help students make their choices. Our new E/X sports program will follow a three-term schedule of the major international school sports leagues, which Gavin is working hard to have us included as a member.
E/X SPORTS ACHIEVEMENTS
Jakarta Open Badminton National Circuit
Fransisca Grade 8 and Nalinica Grade 5 completed the Jakarta Open Badminton National Circuit 2010 recently. Congratulations to Nalinica who received a bronze medal for achieving 3rd Place.
Golden Dragon Wushu Home Tournament
Keshia from Grade 4, participated in the Golden Dragon Wushu Home Tournament in the Individual Junior A category on May 2. She followed both the Traditional and Weapon styles. There were many local and international schools around Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi) who joined this tournament as well including: Highscope (TB Simatupang, Kelapa Gading, Bintaro), Pakistan International School, PSB Singapore, Harapan Bangsa, SD Marsudirini.
Keshia represented SWA and was the only participant from our school. Though Keshia has only studied Wushu through the SWA After School Activities E/X program for 6 months, she participated well and successfully achieved 3rd Place in the Traditional category. In the Weapons category she used a fan while others used swords and different weapons. We congratulate Keshia for being a risktaker!
CORBAN UNIVERSITY WOMEN SOCCER TEAM VISIT SWA
An ‘invasion’ of female soccer players from Corban University in the US, arrived at SWA on May 6. The university Soccer Coach had heard about our new soccer pitch and asked if his women’s university team might come along and work with some of our ES and MS/HS students. A variety of training and mini games were played providing a thorough workout for all! It was a great opportunity for the students and the coach and women soccer players complimented them for their efforts.
MYP PRE-AUTHORIZATION VISIT
Curtis Beaverford the Regional Manager for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) visited SWA for two days recently. Curtis assessed the developments made in the SWA MYP for Grades 6 to 10. He spent a busy time touring the campus and then meeting with various groups and looking through documentation and resources at SWA. The Pre-Authorization Visit is an important step towards authorization of the MYP at SWA, and provides good feedback for future development of the school’s programs.
SHANGHAI SCHOLAR’S CUP
Motivated and encouraged by their performance in Singapore, 15 students have made a bold decision to join the Scholar’s Cup World Finals in Shanghai from June 18-20. Among them are three new students. The students who are taking part are: Andrew Toto Soebagio, Chelsie Lin, Christabel Kelly Lauw, Christy Zakarias
, Daud Alexander Gary Lauw, Elena Lie, Hanna Park, Marc Soedibjo, Muhammad Reyhan Anwar, Nathalie Istanto, Phoebe Sulistio, Reihana Fakhry, Sean Lin, Stacy Lin, Won Jun Kong.
Miss Cynthia from the Chinese Department and myself will be accompanying them. By joining this competition, the students are required to read hundreds of pages of materials on six different knowledge areas. They will be competing with the top schools from around the world representing various countries. We meet almost every week to keep up with our readings and practice the required competencies. Based on our previous results, we are currently focused on improving our Debating and Essay Writing Skills. I appreciate all the students who are joining the competition, as it takes a lot of sacrifice on their part. At the end of the day, win or lose, they will have gained so much experience, friendship and confidence by participating in such a prestigious International Academic Competition. I hope their exploits will encourage many more students to take part next year. Wish us luck in Shanghai, China!
Manoharan Karthigasu - Teacher
PYP PRE-AUTHORIZATION VISIT
In May, the Pre-Authorization Visit for the PYP at SWA, was conducted by Visiting Team members Ms. Kathy Derrick, the IB Asia Pacific Associate Manager and Ms. Richel Langit-Dursin, the PYP Coordinator from Binus International School, Simprug. The purpose of the visit was to look at the PYP practices implemented by SWA and to provide support and feedback to the school. The Visiting Team met with representatives from all sections of the school community.
As stated in their report, a lot has been achieved by SWA in its second year of operation. This was definitely a reflection of hard work, commitment, and dedication of all academic staff. They provided valuable feedback to further assist the school in its preparations for the Authorization Visit scheduled for November 2011.
PYP EXHIBITION 2010
The PYP Exhibition presented by Grade 5 students, from May 23-24, was the culmination unit in the final year of the PYP. The Exhibition was made up of work that had been prepared over several months. The students worked together under the trans-disciplinary theme “Sharing the Planet”. Students worked in groups researching a variety of topics including minerals, gemstones, air pollution, forestry, water and rubber.
The process of putting together the PYP Exhibition involved a lot of hard work but was very rewarding for everyone. The PYP Coordinator, Ms. Frida Dwiyanti together with teacher Mrs. Jan Kean, brainstormed the idea of the trans-disciplinary theme in the initial stages of planning. Ms. Mida, the Elementary Principal, also visited the Grade 5 classroom to have some discussions to help stimulate the students’ thinking.
As part of the process, students organized themselves for field trips. They had the first-hand experience of collating and compiling data from their research, and interviewing experts and people with specific information. Their results were then transformed into this year’s PYP Exhibition, a colorful display of projects and interactive presentations using a variety of media, including Keynote and Comic Life, to name a few. Visitors to the PYP Exhibition from Sekolah Tunas Muda, Sekolah Al Jabr, and Sekolah Cikal, shared in the excitement and confidence demonstrated by the SWA students, and were very impressed.
Grade 5 students should be proud of their levels of excellence and confidence shown in presenting this exhibition, which was a great culmination to the 2010 academic year in the Elementary School. Congratulations!
CAMBRIDGE RESULTS AT SWA
SWA students once again recorded impressive levels of achievement in the Cambridge ESOL Young Learners examinations. There were three different levels of examinations - Starters, Movers and Flyers, which were taken by students in Grades 2, 4 and 6 respectively in March of this year. The examinations measure a student’s proficiency in three language areas: Speaking, Listening and Reading/Writing.
This year, 50% of the Grade 2 students achieved the highest total score possible, as did 32% of the Grade 4 students and 21% of the Grade 6 students. SWA students’ excellent communicative language skills were also shown in their scores in the oral section of the test, with 86% of the Grade 2, 96% of the Grade 4 and 72% of the Grade 6 students achieving the highest level of proficiency in each of their levels.
On June 3, the students received their certificates in award ceremonies at SWA, attended by their parents and teachers. Congratulations to all the test candidates!
ESOL ACHIEVERS
Congratulations to the following students in ES and MS/HS for exiting the ESOL program. This is a great achievement, and is a result of their hard work and commitment over the last semester. Keep it up, guys!
Elementary School: Jinny (Grade 2), Alex (Grade 3), Min Ji (Grade 3)
Middle School and High School: Cho Kyoung Jun, Ko Dong Kon (Grade 6R); Jesslyn F. Liwang, Vania, Lee Ha Young (Grade 7B); Sophia, Khansa Qonita (Grade 8M); Yoo Jae Jun, Sisca, Kevin (Grade 8R); Amily Huang Yun, Kim Dae Ho (Grade 9); Gillan Fadillah, Priscilla J. M. S (Grade 10)
PORSENI SPORTS AND ARTS FAIR
Recently, three SWA students were involved in a regional competition for students in the South Tangerang area. The purpose of the competition was to select potential students in sports and the performing arts including dancing, singing and music. Fransisca (Grade 8) and Nalinica (Grade 5) participated in Badminton with Nalinica achieving 1st Place in her level and Fransisca achieving 2nd Place. Both of them will play again to represent South Tangerang in the Porseni Province level.
Steven (Grade 8) participated in the Track and Field event and came 1st Place overall winner.
In Popda (Pekan Olahraga Raga Pelajar) Regional Students Olympic Game, Steven will compete with other students from another area in Banten, representing South Tangerang. Both events will be held during the summer vacation from July 13 - 16, 2010. We wish them good luck!
