When the cat is away, the mice will be play...well not exactly. This Monday teachers were students while the children enjoyed another day of Diwali break. 
Teachers participated in workshops about best teaching practices, visible thinking routines, differentiation, and technology integration. From 8 a.m.-4 p.m., teachers were learning--just like the children usually do. They learned how to be a better teacher, how to engage students and how to ensure that all students were learning and thinking using 21st century tools.
It's important that everyone is a lifelong learner, and through PD days, we try to stress this importance. We know that a key to a student's success if the effectiveness of the teacher, and when we have a professional development day, we are all engaging in learning.
In November, JVLR will be sending off a group of teachers to the IB regional workshop at OGC to participate in IB training. The rest of the teachers will join OGC staff in more learning workshops--from formative assessments to math workshops and writers' workshops. 
Our teachers strive to practice the learner profile: to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, openminded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective. 
~Kristen Blum, PYP Coordinator

The JVLR book exhibition is running now with a lot of great titles. From picture books to chapter books, there is something for everyone. There are all genres of books from science to fairy tales. Parents and students have been enjoying and purchasing books today. 
Tomorrow, October 27th, the book exhibition will run again from 7:30-5 p.m.
Next Friday, November 3rd, for parent-teacher conferences, the book exhibition will be open from 7:30-5 p.m.
As one 1st grader told me this morning...."These are books that you don't have to return. You can keep them forever." ~Kristen, PYP Coordinator

Today, Friday, October 13th, we had our final curriculum morning for parents. This time we welcomed parents of students from grades 1-4. Parents participated in a Seesaw workshop, an information session about the PYP and the curriculum on offer at the OIS JVLR campus. We had a great turnout with over 100 parents who were inquisitive, collaborative and thoughtful--just like their children.

Parents then entered the world of their children. They actively joined in with their children in Math puzzles, poetry writing, creating colorful art work, and reading. They inquired into their children's new units by exploring engineering, historical artifacts, color, photos and videos of the earth and its resources. Finally, they got a chance to see children's work and pride in their work and understand a little bit about what it's like to be at JVLR as a student.

Thank you for all of your support, parents. Have a great Diwali break, and we look forward to more interactions and learning with you and your children when we return. ~ Kristen Blum, PYP Coordinator

Dear Parents, Friends and Families, 
Happy Diwali!  We hope that you have a safe and fun Diwali break and remember that Monday 23rd October is a non-student day.

We have come to end of our first round of Curriculum Mornings, I would like to say a big thank you to all those parents that took the time to attend these mornings and I hope that you have all learnt something new about our school or your child.  

Please remember that the next time we will see you will be Friday 3rd November for Parent Teacher Conferences (PTC's).

"These conferences are designed to give parents information about the student’s progress and needs, and about the programme. Teachers will take the opportunity to gather background information, to answer the parents’ questions, to address their concerns, and to help define their role in the learning process. The parents should take the opportunity to provide the teacher with the cultural context of the student’s learning.” [PYP Making It Happen].  Added to this, the parents and teacher will collaborate to establish and identify the student’s strengths and areas for improvement. This may lead to setting of new goals, with all determining how they can support the achievement of these goals. A reflection of the first unit will also be shared with parents.

Both participants must understand the format and their roles prior to the conference. The format may differ depending on the age of the child. Students are not expected to attend this meeting with their parents.  It is important that this conference focuses on the individual child and to this end, if possible please do not bring siblings into the conference with you.

The Parent’s role is to be on time for the conference, be positive, concerned and interested, to ask questions and to listen.

The role of the Teacher is to manage the time, facilitate the conference, provide probing questions and highlight achievements and to clarify where necessary.  

The focus of this Conference is for parents to meet with the Home Room Teacher should  parents wish to meet with the Single Subject Teachers, they should email: nicola.francis@oberoi-is.org and a time will be arranged for you.  

Parents should receive a time for their PTC after Diwali and if you cannot make this time please contact your HRT to arrange another time.

​Enjoy the break!

Many thanks for your continued support,

Lisa Hughes
Head of Primary @ JVLR

Dear Parents, Friends and Families,

​Our first full week in school and what a wonderful week for student learning and student agency.
Grade 4 students decided that they had had enough of the loud noise in the cafeteria and wanted to take the time to teach the rest of the students how to act responsibly in the cafeteria.  They organised an assembly to show the rest of the students how they were behaving, how they could change their behaviour and why we should rethink our behaviour. 

As you can see from the photos above, our Grade 3 students were exploring matter and observing the behaviours of different substances once mixed together.  The students were using all their senses to explore what happens when different matter comes together.
Each grade has kick-started their units with a range of provocations to start them thinking about the concepts of their upcoming unit.  Students are excited about their learning and embarking on their next unit.  
Parents make sure you ask your child what are they learning about at school and how can you help at home.  Be sure to check the SeeSaw accounts for more information about the upcoming unit.
Thank you for your continued support,
Lisa Hughes
Head of Primary at JVLR

JVLR hosted another great curriculum morning, this time with SKG parents. Parents participated in discussions about the PYP curriculum and then entered the world of their children where they didn't want to leave. Thank you to parents for being there for your children and for supporting the school. In case you missed it, the slideshow is below. 
From a parent ~ I used to think someone else would take care of my child for a few hours, but now I think  that OIS fuels my child’s mind and heart.

Kristen Blum--PYP Coordinator