Month: January 2012

R.I.P.

St. John's International School

We received the sad news that Mary McGowan, long-time purchasing officer here at St. John’s, passed away on January 19, 2012. Mary was born in 1945, in Dublin, Ireland. She came to St. John’s in 1989 and stayed with us till her retirement in the summer of 2010. We all knew Mary as a person who lived intensely, had a tremendous sense of humour, and a big heart. Not only was she dedicated to her work but she was a person many turned to for advice, for help, or for a laugh. Mary volunteered at numerous school events, helped in … Continue reading R.I.P.

Big Ideas Week on water

St. John's International School

We are getting towards the end of the second Big Ideas Week to be held here at St. John’s. Big Ideas Week is our innovative program for group-based experiential learning that allows students the space and time to recognize and stretch their innate capabilities and reach their own conclusions about their own performance.  It brings together the 7 competences which underpin our curriculum in middle school; Thinker, Creator, Explorer, Communicator, Collaborator, Contributor and Self assessor.   The week kicked off with a collaboration between the St. John’s and the organizations Green Light for Girls and Levi Strauss as well as … Continue reading Big Ideas Week on water

Don’t miss the PTP’s Casino Royale!

St. John's International School

Dear parents, A reminder to all that tickets for Casino Royale on Saturday February 4th, are now on sale in the Lion’s lair and at Reception.  Payment by Cash, Bank Contact or Credit Card accepted. The PTP would like to encourage your participation in our ‘More Bonds the Better’ dress code for the evening, and look forward to your stylish outfits that will add to the magic of the evening. You will be greeted with a Champagne cocktail upon arrival, and a full Buffet service will be in place. For your pleasure there is a live Big Band for dancing as well as a disco for those that want to dance the night … Continue reading Don’t miss the PTP’s Casino Royale!

Big Ideas week 2 in Middle School next week

St. John's International School

“Water is life’s mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” So said the Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1937. Our students will have opportunities to explore water from angles not examined before. Why do we sell water in bottles?  Is access to water a human right?  Why bother to save water when it rains all the time? Why do holiday destinations often include access to water? Why worry about pollution in water? Why worry about droughts and floods when it never happens where we are? How do we … Continue reading Big Ideas week 2 in Middle School next week

Happy 2012!

St. John's International School

It’s great to be back after a winter holiday break. Before the holiday, we had to say goodbye to the departing students whose parents’ assignments took them to new posts. But on Monday, January 9th, we welcomed numerous new students and new families to the school to start the new year: 10 new students in Elementary School and two new students in Middle School.  Some grades are now completely full, but we still have some seats available in specific grade levels. We held an orientation meeting and two coffee mornings this week for the new families and those who joined us … Continue reading Happy 2012!