SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 2 1 SMITIS Newsletter November 2012 Star Mountains Institute of Technology International School Our 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. Welcome to the second edition of the SMITIS Newsletter. As the inaugural Principal of SMITIS, I look forward to working with our school community to ensure a smooth transition from TIS to SMITIS. As it’s only three letters, there should not be too many hassles! Our vision at SMITIS is to provide for all its students, a learning environment that: • provides high quality educational programs, guided by skilled and dedicated teachers, using innovative teaching and learning methods and the latest technologies to promote excellence; • encourages each student to pursue personal and academic excellence to his or her maximum potential in a caring school environment; • develops a strong and productive relationship between our staff and our parents which recognises the fundamental importance of the shared responsibilities of parents and teachers for the education of the young and which responds to the expectations and aspirations parents have for their children; and provides students with an excellent foundation for lifelong learning. Students are our focus at SMITIS. The IB programs (PYP & MYP) that will be implemented at SMITIS from 2013 also have the student as a learner at the core of each. I look forward to joining you on our exciting journey ahead. Dr Ken Darvall SMITIS Newsletters The SMITIS Newsletter will be initially published monthly. A review of its frequency will occur in February 2013 to determine whether it should be monthly or more frequent. The full colour edition can be found online at: http://issuu.com/smit_international_school/ docs
Transcript
SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 2 1
SMITIS Newsletter
November 2012
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.
Welcome to the second edition of the SMITIS Newsletter.
As the inaugural Principal of SMITIS, I look forward to working with our school
community to ensure a smooth transition from TIS to SMITIS. As it’s only three letters, there should not be too many hassles!
Our vision at SMITIS is to provide for all its students, a learning environment that:
• provides high quality educational programs, guided by skilled and dedicated teachers, using innovative teaching and learning methods and the latest technologies to promote excellence;
• encourages each student to pursue personal and academic excellence to his or her maximum potential in a caring school environment;
•develops a strong and productive relationship between our staff and our parents which recognises the fundamental importance of the shared responsibilities of parents and teachers for the education of the young and which responds to the expectations and aspirations parents have for
their children; and provides students with an excellent foundation for lifelong learning.
Students are our focus at SMITIS. The IB programs (PYP & MYP) that will be implemented at SMITIS from 2013 also have the student as a learner at the core of each.
I look forward to joining you on our exciting journey ahead.
Dr Ken Darvall
SMITIS Newsletters
The SMITIS Newsletter will be initially published monthly.
A review of its frequency will occur in February
2013 to determine whether it should be monthly or more frequent.
The full colour edition can be found online at: http://issuu.com/smit_international_school/docs
2013 CHANGESSchools are schools are schools. While each school is different, as are its students, there are many similarities. As TIS transforms into SMITIS from 1/1/13, there will be the same buildings, many familiar faces and an opportunity for our Year 7 students to begin and complete their secondary schooling in Tabubil, rather than having to leave family and friends to settle into a new environment.
Specific changes that will be evident at SMITIS in 2013 include:
Calendar
• Minor changes to the start and end of Term 1.
Curriculum
• PYP and MYP will be trialled in lieu of IEA curricula. The existing Program of Inquiry will be reviewed to ensure compliance.
Enrolment
• New enrolments will be screened to determine appropriate placement.
• Enrolment deadlines will be articulated.
• Y8 and a second Kindergarten class are planned to be established in 2014.
• Students will be expected to complete 2 years in Early Learning Centre.
•New enrolments will be expected to complete their schooling at SMITIS.
Governance
•A Community Advisory Group (CAG) will replace the TIS School Board.
Grade Names/ Nomenclature
•Kindergarten instead of Prep.
•Year instead of Grade.
•The Preschool facility will be the Early Learning Centre (ELC).
• The Preschool class will cater for 3 year olds while the Transition class will cater for 4 year olds.
Preschool
•Will be known as the Early Learning Centre.
•The ELC will trial the PYP.
•Sessions days and times will change to maximise the benefits of PYP and enhance student readiness.
Uniform
• Reflects name change.
Student Leadership
• Opportunities to cover all grades.
SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 2 3
Timeline for 2014 Enrolments
DATE GROUP DETAILS1 February Secondary Applications for enrolment open1 March Secondary Applicant interviews commence1 April Secondary Enrolment offers made for Year 7 and vacancies in Year 81 June Kindergarten Applications for enrolment open
Screening commences1 August Kindergarten
Existing students
Enrolment offers made
Re-registration forms for enrolment sent home
1 September Existing students
Deadline to re-register for 2014
15 September Existing students
Places confirmed for 2014
Enrolment vacancies declared for the next academic year
1 October New enrolments
Offers made for identified vacancies
SMITIS Newsletter: Volume 1, Edition 2 4
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 lodged with IB.
At the same time, SMITIS is seeking status as an Interested MYP School when it offers Year 7 as the first year secondary education in 2013.
