SMITIS Newsletter 31 May 2013

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 9 1

SMITIS Newsletter

31 May, 2013

Star Mountains Institute of Technology International SchoolOur purpose is to develop internationally-minded and life-long learners who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect, and strive to be: inquirers; knowledgeable; thinkers; communicators; principled; open-minded; caring; risk-takers; balanced; and reflective.

Mark in your diary: 5 June, 5.30 -7.00pm, SMITIS. Our Talent Quest is on next week and I am sure you will enjoy what you will witness. The starting time has been pushed forward so that NRL tragics can enjoy a double header: Talent

Quest and State of Origin!

The P & W Market Day was a great event with plenty of bargains available to those in attendance. Special thanks to organisers and helpers, as well as those who attended the Market Day. Don’t forget that the P&W Association has produced a beautiful set of postcards. The postcards are selling at K3 each, or the set of 7 for K15, and are available from the Main Office.

I am hoping that inter-school sport will commence in June with a soccer (boys) and T-ball (Girls) game with Tabubil Primary School. Details should be confirmed by early next week with a possible date being Monday, 10 June (public holiday for the Queen’s birthday). The emphasis for interschool sport will be on skills development, team work and fair play.

A final reminder that school will be closed next Thursday and Friday, 6-7 June, as staff will be involved in a PYP workshop.

Don’t forget, the P & W Trivia Night is just around the corner! It will be held on Saturday, 15 June at 7.00pm at the HASH Club. There are plenty of great prizes to be won.

Semester 1 reports will available by 21 June, the last day of Term 2. Term 3 will commence on 15 July.

I appreciate your support.

Dr Ken Darvall (Principal)

SMITIS Newsletters

The first two pages are sent home with the eldest child each fortnight. Bulletins and class notes will be sent home as required.

If you would like to receive the newsletter or bulletins by email, please advise Grace.

The full colour edition can be found online at: http://issuu.com/smit_international_school/docs/smitis_newsletter_31may_2013_

http://issuu.com/smit_international_school/docs





Caring is one of our core values at SMITIS and one of the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. Being caring means that students show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

We encourage all of our students to be caring at home and at school.

Weekly awards are presented to students who demonstrate Learner Profile attributes. Other attributes include: inquirer; communicator; thinker; knowledgeable; balanced; inquirer; principled; open-minded; and risk-taker.

At SMITIS we adopt the 48-hour rule. If there is an issue or problem, let the relevant people know within 48 hours so that issues can be resolved.

Weekly AssembliesWeekly assemblies are normally held each Friday, commencing at 1.30pm. Each week, a class performs an item, Learner Profile awardees are recognised, students celebrating their birthdays share their moment, and the barrel draw is conducted for weekly winners for those students who ‘do the right thing’ at school. Assemblies usually conclude with the Y7 singalong. Please join us on Fridays.

Level AwardsLevel awards are presented to successful students at the end of each term. There are four criteria for a Level Award nomination. Consistency is required for attendance, wearing the school uniform, behaviour, and class effort/achievement for the term.

Spelling ChampionsCongratulations to the following students who are the 2013 spelling champions, following the spelling bee as part of our Term 2 After School Activities program:

School Champions:Kila Domki (Y7) and Vakona Cedric (Y6)Class ChampionsLana Gamu (Y5); Leila George (4); and Ellis Toaligur (Y2)

Key Dates

Next fortnight or so....

3/6 2014 Kindergarten enrolments open

5/6 Talent Quest (5.30 - 7.00pm)

6 &7/6 School closed for staff training day (PYP Inschool Workshop)

8/6 Saturday sport (Boys 9-10.00am; Girls 10-11.00am)

10/6 Public Holiday (Queen’s Birthday) - School Closed

Possible interschool games 10.00am-12.00 noon(TBC)

11/6 P & W meeting (1.00pm)

13/6 School Parliament

14/6 Weekly assembly: K item (1.30pm)

Canteen Day

15/6 Saturday sport (9-11.00am)

Trivia Night (7.00pm)


2013 Market Day

What a great morning!The Parents’ and Wantoks’ Association conducted another successful Market Day on Saturday, 18 May, with a good crowd in attendance.

The keen bargain hunters were lining up early so they could view and purchase from the myriad of stalls.

Of course, there was something for everybody. Children probably thought the fairy floss and popcorn were the highlights, while boys would argue that seeing how far they could make Mr Hayen stretch in front of the soccer goals was worth admission.

Can it be a regular event?Apart from the bargains available on the day, there were also four lucky winners, who took home a mobile phone, a jar full of lollies or some cash

(K100 & K50).

Special thanks go to the organisers, helpers, stall holders, as well as teachers and their classes who each conducted a special stall on the day.

Perhaps, the best success indicator was the numbers of calls to the school on the following Monday saying how great the day was, as well as inquiring when the next Market Day would be held.


TALENT QUEST

Something special is happening on 5 June.....Our inaugural Talent Night will be held next Wednesday, 5 June, at SMITIS.

This showcase of talent will commence at 5.30pm and conclude at 7.00pm (to allow all keen NRL fans time to go home and watch State of Origin 1.)

Students at SMITIS are given opportunities to be risk takers. This is one such time when participation is in a supportive, fun environment.

At least two acts from the ‘Talent Night’ will be asked to represent the school at the P&W ‘Tabubil’s Got Talent’ night to be held later in the year.

All parents and wantocks are invited to attend with their participating children. Admission will be by donation with funds from the night to be used for additional musical instruments for student use.

Come along, enjoy and be inspired by the talent.


Say hello with a photo! Missing families and friends? What better way to say hello than showing the beauty of Tabubil and the culture of Western Province!

A project of the SMITIS Parents & Wantoks Association

You may purchase the postcards at the SMITIS Office for K3 each or K15 for a set of 7.


!PO Box 408, Tabubil, 332.Western Province, Papua New Guinea www.smit.ac.pg P: +675 6499233 [email protected]

Developing internationally-minded and life-long learners who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding

and respect, and strive to be: inquirers; knowledgeable; thinkers; communicators; principled; open-minded; caring; risk-takers; balanced; and reflective.

SMITIS CAG MEETING – 21/5/13

6.30-7.30pm (School Library)

Minutes

Attendance Roland Katak; Desmond Rahiria; Naomi George; Raylene Ignatius; Simon Thomas; Michael Weaver; Erico Hovob; Ken Darvall. Apologies Patrick Monouluk; Felix Giveng Note This meeting was chaired by Roland Katak, in the absence of Patrick. Previous Minutes Discussion • There were no matters arising. Verification • Naomi George moved that the previous minutes were a true and accurate record. • Michael Weaver seconded the motion. • Motion was carried. Internet Connectivity • Main campus: New satellite dish installed and new internet plan commenced on 13 May. It is a vast

improvement on what we had, but it still requires monitoring to ensure we are receiving the connectivity that was guaranteed. Staff is accessing an online literacy resource to determine its effectiveness.

• ELC: Classes are connected to Wi-Fi. We will strengthen the connectivity in the first room by an additional router.

P&W Initiatives • Market Day: held on 18 May with about 250 adults attending; very successful with positive feedback. • Postcards: these have been produced and are now available for sale @ K3 each or K7 per set. • Trivia Night: will be held on 15 June at the Hash Club starting @7.00pm. Tickets are available from Main

Office. • Canteen: operating successfully each fortnight. Question raised about a separate canteen facility on the new

plans. • Tabubil’s Got Talent: to be held in Term 3. • Meetings: Great attendance, averaging about 25 parents; effective participation through a team approach. Draft Enrolment Policy Outline • Enrolment priority reflects a class per capita ratio. • Reduced fees (with an exception for Transition)


!PO Box 408, Tabubil, 332.Western Province, Papua New Guinea www.smit.ac.pg P: +675 6499233 [email protected]

Developing internationally-minded and life-long learners who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding

and respect, and strive to be: inquirers; knowledgeable; thinkers; communicators; principled; open-minded; caring; risk-takers; balanced; and reflective.

Discussion • The starting age at the ELC is rolling, based on their actual birthday (e.g., a 3yo can start in October if a vacancy exists.) • ‘Other SMIT’ refers to SMIT Corporate, Technical College and Community Learning Centre staff. • The 10 day/1 February rule is to ensure students on waiting lists are not disadvantaged by enrolments that

may not eventuate. • Expat students will always be accepted at any time of the year, as they have no alternative schooling option

in Tabubil. Draft Homework Policy Outline • Homework is just one aspect of student after school activities. • Meaningful, relevant and consistency are important parameters. • The ‘should nots’ must ensure balance. • SMITIS students and their families demonstrate a strong ethos for homework. This is a notable distinction

when expats first teach here, as it is rarely experienced elsewhere.) Discussion • The idea of a ‘homework centre’ was raised in terms of accessing the improved internet at the school. It was

mentioned that students do so currently until 4.00pm. AOB

Staffing • The SMIT/IS plan is to fill all positions. • The timing of staff resignations impacts on the pool of possible replacements and is out of our hands. • As a transition year, an irregular rate of staff turnover was anticipated, given the incentives to do so. It is also

typical as a school seeks IB authorization. • All the current political mayhem about the mine beyond 2013 is not conducive to recruitment. • The issue of pay scales and grades was raised, and it was confirmed that these have been drafted and will be

will be finalised for implementation in 2014. • Parent members were assured that there was a back up plan, in terms of Murphy’s Tabubil where, if anything

possible could happen, it will, and there is no such thing as a perfect plan. • There will never be a guarantee provided to anyone that all staff will remain for a minimum of 12 months,

because of the many factors that can arise that are beyond the control of SMIT/IS. However, our priority is to ensure a smooth and successful year, with minimum fuss, and the focus on students at the core of everything we do.

• Ken pointed out that staff are in breach of their contracts by discussing confidential matters.

Meeting closed at 7.28pm

The next meeting will be held in Week 3, Term 3 (Tuesday, 30 July)


15th JUNE 2013, 7 P.M. HASH CLUB

Witness Tabubil’s Einsteins go head to head in this year’s Battle of the Brains!

Tickets are K20 and can be bought individually or as a table of 8.

* Drinks can be purchased using Hash tickets. * Hash Club tickets can be bought at the venue on the night. * Please bring nibbles to share with your table.

Tickets are available at the SMITIS Office (649 – 9233)

Proudly brought to you by SMITIS Parents and Wantoks Association

Great prizes await lucky guests!


IB

The International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an exciting set of educational programs offered in

more than two thousand school schools in over 120 countries around the world.

The programs focus on student-centred inquiry-based learning and global concerns. They challenge students to think in sophisticated ways

about the connections between ideas in different areas of study. They put learning into an international context.

IB @ SMITISIn 2011, Tabubil International School (TIS) hosted a Preliminary Visit by IB as an Interested PYP School. At the time, TIS decided not to pursue

Candidacy status.

As TIS transforms into SMITIS from 1/1/13, an application for PYP Candidacy status has been approved by IB.

At the same time, SMITIS has gained status as an Interested MYP School from 1/1/13 as Year 7 commences their first year of secondary education.

SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 2, Edition 9 11 !

The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

IB learners strive to be:

Inquirers They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.

Knowledgeable They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

Thinkers They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.

Communicators They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.

Principled They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

Open-minded They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.

Caring They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

Risk-takers They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

Balanced They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

Reflective They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.

The IB learner profileThe IB learner profile

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2006 5

IB learner profile booklet


The IB Learner Profile is the

attributes and descriptors that

define the type of student that IB

hopes to develop through its

programs (for example, PYP and MYP).

At SMITIS, we strive to be....

CaringRisk-Takers Communicators

Reflective

Inquirers

BalancedPrincipled

Knowledgeable

Open-Minded

Thinkers


Star Mountains Institute of Technology

International School Newman Road, TABUBIL. 332

Western Province, Papua New Guinea

P: (+675) 6499 233

F: (+675) 6499 324

E: [email protected]

www.smit.ac.pg

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.smit.ac.pg

http://www.smit.ac.pg

SMITIS Newsletter 31 May 2013

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Transcript of SMITIS Newsletter 31 May 2013