iMovie First Try: IST Birthday Movie!!!

During the first week of school, while sitting in our in-service training, I thought of this great idea and believe it or not, my brain remembered it a month or so later. As many of you know, IST turned 50 this year and it is a big milestone, especially for an International School in East Africa. I thought, wouldn't it be fun to make a video. Grade 3 had an assembly to host and it was the perfect time to get in gear.

Now, I've never created a video, but I gave it a go... I know, I hear you "Risk-Taker!" One of my teaching partners assured me it was easy so I gave it a go. I gathered some creative brain juice, my new iPhone (that now looks like it was run over by a bike) and some eager students and colleagues. The movie was set in motion. It took many days of filming (and re-filming,) but it got done and came together quite nicely. My tech coordinator came in on the last crunch day to help, but do you know what, it was mostly done... it was that easy.

I am eager to give it another go and also make some minor adjustments based on what I learned, but all-in-all, I am pretty proud of it. Enjoy!

 

Math Day Photos

While I was sick in bed last Wednesday, Miss Irene and the kids had a great day week going around to all of the stations for Math Day. It looks like everyone had so much fun! To all of the teachers and parents who helped make this such a successful day, thank you!

 

Grade 4 PYP Photo Exhibit

On Friday, we had a chance to go visit the Grade 4 Photo Exhibit. It was great to see my students from last year and their photo projects. The images were amazingly creative and their writing was fantastic. They have grown so much in a years time.

I believe that my students this year were enthusiastic about the projects. They kept pulling me over toward images they liked and one of my students was even featured in a project. Congratulations Grade 4 to a job well done!

 

Let's Continue The Dance Party!

Today was AWESOME! Why? Well, shall I make a list using bullets? Yes!

• Watching rockets launch while it drizzled. Thanks grade 5... nice work
• Photographing my students swim and run in the pouring rain and finish the first "Aquathon" of the year for grade 3. Thanks Awesome Owls!
• Publishing our letters to our new student who joins us on Monday
• Eating a treat from the Bake Sale grade 4 put on to raise money for CCBRT, a cause near and dear to our hearts. Thanks Arran, especially since after our Economics unit you understood the direction "Get me something, anything chocolate... but make sure it is a good value for my money!"
• Eating a second surprise treat from the Bake Sale. Thanks Omar
• Enjoying our indoor recess dance party. Thanks MJ
• Cracking open the new math Student Journals and listening to cheers from the owlets
• Receiving high-fives from all of the students for a great week before they all departed to start their weekends
• Participating in a good student/parent meeting after school
• And last but not least... keeping the dance party going throughout the weekend with this video. Thanks Kid President

Have a productive, successful, enjoyable weekend 3R and I will see you rested and ready for another awesome week on Monday!

Intrenational Day 2012!

Better late than never right? International Day was so fantastic this year. Bright and early, the kids were all dressed up and pumped up for the parade. The kids waved flags, sang songs and cheered their country on while parading in front of the parents and flashing camera lights. We were ushered into the covered court for the assembly to begin. It was a fun filled event full of music and dancing. I was so surprised that 5 of my students were in performances and I didn't even know it. What a bunch of "risk-takers" I have in my class.

After the assembly we went back to class to wait for our turn to go out to the booths. We turned on the Smartboard, searched for some world maps on the internet and did some work on world geography. The kids did really well with their map skills. By the time we were finished, we were ready to go visit the booths. The parents did such a wonderful job of setting everything up and organizing fun food and events to teach the kids about different countries. There were so many highlights including the ice block bath, the origami sumo wrestlers, and the election for king of the jungle! Thank you so much parents for organizing such a wonderful event!

 

Bake Sale Results!!!

Thank you to all of the families and students who helped bake goods for our CCBRT Bake Sale! It was a wonderful event. There were so many tasty treats and one of my girls even made some earrings to sell! The kids were thrilled to sell their goods and watched as their blue frosted cupcakes, chocolatey brownies and homemade breads slipped through their fingers in the name of a good cause.

Overall, we raised 422,500 Tsh for CCBRT. One generous grandmother from the US even sent a donation all the way across the oceans right into our collection can! After the baked goods were sold, Yuna and her mother took the left overs to CCBRT and gave the patients and their families some treats as a surprise. All in all, it was an amazing day and I am happy to be part of such a fantastic student led event. My class is truly.... electrifying!