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Quarter Three, 2008
Focus on Schools
We like to feature a few schools in this section in each issue. If you wish to submit an article to ibap@ibo.org, it should be about ¾ of an A4 page with a picture(s). Please ensure the pictures are sent in a separate jpeg file with captions, with your name and email contact . Please note that the publishing of these articles is subject to the final selection of the editor.
Carey Baptist Grammar School, Australia
International Community Service on the island nation of Nauru
A group of student and staff travelled to Nauru during the two weeks in the June school holidays. This was the sixth time that students from Carey have travelled to Nauru with each trip building on the previous.
Whilst on the island:
- We re-painted the inside and the outside of the Congregational Church in the district of Nibok (pronounced ‘Nibek’) with a lot of help from many local Nauruans. Denise was quite in her element and, in spite of some minor frustrations complete the supervision of this in grand style!
- Margaret and Lucy taught flute and Ryan and Pri taught clarinet to both new students who received new instruments and those who have been learning for some years – at one point there were 16 instrumentalists all having lessons together in Orro Church.
- We produced a 40-minute extract from the musical ‘Joseph’. There were 43 Nauruans in the cast and it was completed in nine rehearsals! It was great fun even though we were working in rehearsals of three hours each (in stifling heat and humidity and without a break!)
Nevertheless, it was another wonderful experience. Tash choreographed the 10 musical numbers; Daniel was our ‘technician’ and Brydie did another splendid job with some of the drama. This was only the second time in the nation’s history that any part of a musical had been performed on the island (the first being ‘Godspell’ last year!). It was performed in front of the Australian Consul-General (Mr George Fraser) and a number of ministers from the Nauruan Government.
- Immediately after the performance we were ushered into the Small Hall for the formal dedication of the newly named ‘Carey Grammer Hall’. What a great tribute to the work of the students over the years – this is the first time on Nauru that a building has been named with an ‘off-shore’ name, and it is the first Carey (the School) named ‘structure’ outside Australia. It was a very proud yet humbling occasion.
- We presented some footballs and football jumpers to the Minister for Sport and some medical supplies to the hospital – both were extremely grateful for our thoughtfulness and consideration.
- We presented a ‘cross’ to the little church at Anabar which meets outside each week and uses an ordinary table as a communion table – it was a complete surprise to them and they were so pleased to receive it.
The people of Nauru are thankful for the provision of money that was used as a contribution toward paint and painting equipment for the Church at Nibok, new flutes, clarinets, music stands and music for students on the island, and for the provision of resources for their ‘musical’ performance.
We look forward to working with the islanders again in 2009.
Natasha Ascui, Daniel Donovan, Lucy Maxwell and Piyanka Vitor (year 11)
Ryan Jacobsen (returning) (year 12)
Margaret White and Brydie Carmichael (third trip) – first year University
Denise Pennings and David Crawshaw (staff members)
United Nations International School of Hanoi, Vietnam
The Olympics in Hanoi?
The Olympics Games came early to the United Nations International School of Hanoi. In June, 360 students from PYP Year 5 to MYP Year 5 were immersed in a holistic, cross-grade team building experience rather loosely modeled after the Beijing event. In this case the games included collaborative challenges that were physical, creative, academic, and even messy!
Students were randomly assigned to one of 30 countries and, in preparation for the big day, the teams of 12 students worked together to become experts on their country. Through raft building, poetry writing, egg dropping and other events, the aim was to promote international mindedness by presenting students with engaging opportunities to demonstrate the 10 learner profile dispositions and approaches to learning proficiencies such as organization and collaboration.
This was the culminating event of a Grade 9 interdisciplinary unit that explored the Olympics from many perspectives through several subjects. UNIS Hanoi is grateful to Qatar Academy who generously shared many tips for how they organize their own Challenge Day.
Jane Alteman, United Nations International School of Hanoi
Carey Grammar School
UNIS Hanoi
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