Foundation Stage & Key Stage 1: Sustainability Week - thinking about the environment

Last week was a challenging one, with the air-pollution levels resulting in some changes to playtime and timetabling. This coincided with Sustainability Week and provided a very graphic illustration of how important it is that we make some changes to the way we live.

With the high pollution levels last week, you will be aware that we have made some scheduling changes to PE and swimming, and also reduced playtimes on some days. The Foundation Stage children have also had a limit on the amount of time they spend outside.  Primary children are not able to regulate their activity levels in the same way that older students can, so teachers have to do it for them by reducing time outside.

For more details on how we are monitoring the pollution levels each day, please read Mr Roo’s section of the newsletter.

Markus Pukonen stops off at STA on his round-the-world trip

To launch Sustainability Week we had a visit from Markus Pukonen. Markus is circumnavigating the globe without motorised transport to draw attention to the need to work together towards creating a healthy future. His talk, though entertaining with its photographs of his travels, was certainly thought-provoking, and the children really seemed to take his messages on board. You can find out more about Markus and his expedition here. It might be nice to follow up with your children at home by looking at his website together.

Bobo the Whale Visits us from the Sang Foundation

A few months ago when we opened the playtime junk modelling station for KS1 children, we couldn’t believe the amount of plastic - especially bottles - that came into school following our appeal for junk. We received so many of them that we couldn’t use them all for models and had to send them off to be recycled.

Last Sunday, when the last traces of Fun Day had been cleared away, we saw the arrival of Bobo the Whale to the Primary School. Bobo is part of an environmental project that helps to raise awareness about the amount of plastic that is finding its way into the environment, encourage recycling and search for solutions.

More information can be found here.

This week the children have been adding to the Bobo installation with posters and their own messages. Hopefully, they have been bringing some of these messages home with them and encouraging you to use a Bag for Life and where you can, say no to plastic

FOBISIA Primary Maths Conference

On Friday and Saturday St Andrews International School Bangkok hosted a Maths Conference for Primary Teachers, attended by around 30 teachers from around the South East Asian Region. The two days were packed with the sharing of good practice, delivered by not only our own teachers but also the visiting schools.

The networking opportunities provided by events like this ensures that teachers can work together to develop outstanding curricula. Thanks to Ms Lauren B and Ms Jo for leading the event and also to Mr Dai, and Ms Tracey for their contributions.