From the Head of Secondary 11.12.2021
With the end of term rapidly approaching we have been thinking about the last day of term. Traditionally this is a half-day for students and this year will be no exception, with Secondary students departing at 12pm. That Friday morning will be given over to some fun activities and a celebration assembly where we will acknowledge those students who have gained a range of awards, from the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh to Bronze Merit certificate. Whilst parties will not be the theme of the day we are planning that students will be able to experience an exciting time in the House teams, and so we ask that students wear their PE kits on the 17th, so that they are in House colours.
Ends of terms are always very busy behind the scenes in schools around the world and we are no exception. There are reports to write, be checked and sent out, planning for Term 2 to be completed, curriculum statements to be compiled, class topics to be completed. The Year 11 Mocks will be taking place immediately after the Chinese New Year break so teachers are currently preparing the exam papers for those. A reminder here that our Year 11 students [and indeed Years 12 and 13 whose mocks come a little later] should be spending lots of time revising during the Christmas holiday, making sure of course that they leave room for having fun with family during this festive season.
We were delighted to receive a letter this week from Cambridge Examinations which informed us that two of our students had been awarded High Achievement Awards for their A Level results, Ethan McElhone [A Level] for Physical Education and Hitoshi Iguchi [AS Level] for Informational Technology. Many congratulations to Ethan and Hitoshi! KIS has been very successful in gaining IGCSE and A Level awards, going back to when we started the A Level programme eight years ago. The recipients of ‘Top in World’, ‘Top in Country’ and ‘High Achievement’ can be seen on our Honour Board as we enter the school gates, and Ethan and Hitoshi’s photographs will soon be joining them.
KIS is a school that encourages life-long learning for its staff and this week you can read all about a two-day online event which Ms Tretter attended recently: FOBISIA – Music Education for the Future.
See also the fantastic ‘snowflakes’ created by 8S in PSHE as part of a team-building exercise created by Ms Beresford, the form tutor, and for your entertainment some rather striking photos of our Year 13 students as they practised their striking model moves in preparation for their section of the 2021 – 2022 Year Book!
Mrs Margaret Renshaw
Deputy Principal / Head of Secondary
FOBISIA – Music Education for the Future
On Nov 25-26, as part of my continuing professional development, I had the opportunity to attend this year’s FOBISIA Music Teachers’ eConference 2021. Music conferences have always been a chance to connect with other music teachers and learn about new and different approaches to teaching, and this event was no different. Although it was online, there were many invaluable topics covered in the many sessions, led by experienced musicians and educators.
I had the chance to attend several sessions and expand my scope of pedagogical practice in the field of music. One of the most interesting topics was about songwriting techniques using sound-sequencing software and digital audio workspaces (DAW’s) for Key Stage 3. This is an area that not only interests me, but allows students to be connected and exposed to techniques in line with the current music industry. Listening to other teachers’ approaches has helped me refine the approach I will take moving forward. There are many chances for our students to embrace their musical creativity and I hope to use these new ideas to expand and develop a vibrant musical culture at KIS.
The online format was sufficient to learn and attend the sessions; however, the ability to connect and network with other attendees cannot compare to the in-person conferences I’ve attended in the past. I’m certain our students can relate to this. So much of learning happens from observation and the slightly ‘casual’ moments between the more formal learning. I certainly gained a lot and enjoyed the eConference, but will look forward to the discussions and sharing that happen between sessions when the Conference is face-to-face again.
Ms Kristel Tretter
