Month: February 2013

Ten common words that are probably made up

St. John's International School

No authoritarian authority exists that determines whether a given word is valid. In any language, there’s a complex and imperfect vetting procedure; at least in English, most serious writers agree on the correct or preferred form of a word that is one of two or more variants or on whether a word is acceptable at all. Here’s a list of words that have been under scrutiny in this approval process: 1. Administrate: A back-formation of administration and an unnecessary extension of administer 2. Commentate: A back-formation of commentator and an unnecessary extension of comment 3. Firstly: As with secondly and thirdly, erroneous when enumerating points; use first and so on 4. Heighth: Rarely appears in print, … Continue reading Ten common words that are probably made up

“The Tutorial Project” encourages student interaction and peer-to-peer learning

St. John's International School

One of the most successful pedagogical decisions this year has been to upgrade our grade 7 media course with the “Tutorial Project”. Our goal was to encourage student interaction and peer-to-peer learning within the classroom. In general we always do our best to make sure that there exists a classroom atmosphere where all sources and forms of knowledge are welcome. What pointed us in the direction of tutorials is the growing presence of video tutorials in online space, and the fact that, in our view, Google searching has practically become a key competence. So we asked students to create video … Continue reading “The Tutorial Project” encourages student interaction and peer-to-peer learning

Exciting collaboration with local school

St. John's International School

Friday before winter break, Madame Vinçotte, Charlent and Richard’s French classes welcomed their friends from the French speaking school of Maransart for the first time. After a lunch together where we communicated with each other, St. John’s students taught an English song to their buddies. We then  listened to a great French song written by them. What a great opportunity to become an English teacher! Time flew and after a good snack, it was already time to say good bye…until the next time! By Joy Richard – 6th grade teacher Continue reading Exciting collaboration with local school

More than 15 parents and teacher exhibit their artwork this Friday

St. John's International School

Please come and join us in the St. John’s Art Studios on Friday from 18:00-20:00 for a glass of wine, delicious finger food and live music. You can enjoy a wide variety of artwork from a diverse group of St. John’s community artists. They will be offering their work at an affordable price, of which 15% will go to Art Support Group. The exhibition will continue daily until Friday, March 15. See you on Friday! ASP Team Continue reading More than 15 parents and teacher exhibit their artwork this Friday

The Need for Inquiry

St. John's International School

Inquiry is an intrinsically motivated, student driven method of learning. It focuses heavily on the use of student questions and involvement to facilitate the learning process. Inquiry uses a collaborative, hands on and socially driven approach that stresses critical thinking. St. John’s adopted the International Baccalaureate’s inquiry based curriculum as a purposeful choice over a more traditional, western style education. The question is then raised, why inquiry? The model of education currently used in the majority of western countries is a remnant from the industrial revolution. It often looks like this – a teacher dispensing the necessary facts for a student to … Continue reading The Need for Inquiry

Winners of Grade 7 animation movie showcase announced!

St. John's International School

We are thrilled to announce that Grade 7 Sam C. and Carson M.’s animation movie “Square Eye’s Dream” has won the Middle School Animation movie showcase. The jury’s spokesman Mr. Tom Ryan has announced the vote during lunch recess in the Performing Arts Center to an audience of 80 students, teachers and one parent. Coming in closely to take the second place is the touching and truly inspiring story by Valerie F. entitled “The Miracle“. A total of 9 animation movies were produced in the autumn semester of the Media7 course. The course included a special event titled “Story Bang”, where … Continue reading Winners of Grade 7 animation movie showcase announced!

Today is International Mother Language Day

St. John's International School

This Day is observed every year to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. It was created by UNESCO (the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation) in order to promote the dissemination of mother tongues and a fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue. International Mother Language Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. The date represents the day in 1952 when students demonstrating for recognition of their language, Bangla, as one of the two national … Continue reading Today is International Mother Language Day

Common words with little-know relatives

St. John's International School

Take a look at these familiar words and learn about their much less known counterparts: EXHAUST/INHAUST While “exhaust,” from the Latin for “draw out of,” was first attested in 1540 and went on to a great career in the English vocabulary, “inhaust,” with the meaning “draw into,” was attested in 1547 (something about a “flye inhausted into a mannes throte sodenly”) but soon became obsolete. OMNISCIENT/NESCIENT You know about “omniscient,” which comes from the Latin for “all knowing,” but did you know there was a counterpart meaning “not knowing”? You can now consider yourself more-scient! RESUSCITATE/EXSUSCITATE “Exsuscitate” was around in … Continue reading Common words with little-know relatives

In the creative flow of things…

St. John's International School

Grade 8 students are fully immersed in creating their chosen objects in our Art and Design Technology course. Their energies are focused, they are fully involved and therefore, they are in complete creative flow. This is a mental state described in psychology as positive energy in the service of a learning experience. Some students are working with carving Ytong blocks, others are working in wood and clay, others are using textile and glue… in fact the energy is tangible as you come into the MS Art studio. On every level our senses are alive with awareness and the enjoyment of … Continue reading In the creative flow of things…

The top 10 “I wish I had known before my first expat posting”

St. John's International School

St. John’s conducted a survey among expats to uncover what people wish they had known before going on their first expat posting. Here is the top 10: These can be the best years of your life -for you and your family. Enjoy! It is harder to adjust when you come back than it is when you arrive. The people in an expat community are more welcoming than any other you will experience! Make sure to negotiate the circumstances and details of repatriation with your company before you sign and leave for the assignment. It will be so much better than … Continue reading The top 10 “I wish I had known before my first expat posting”

Belgians hoarding eurocents in jam jars

St. John's International School

This year the Royal Belgian Mint will have to produce more eurocent coins because too many people are hoarding them in jam jars and the like. Hoarding must be in Belgians’ genes. Belgians have a hard time spending money and countless eurocents too are out of circulation because people are not spending them. The daily La Dernière Heure reports that this year alone the Royal Mint will have to produce 34 million new one eurocent coins and 22 million new two eurocent coins. Hundreds of thousands of euros in eurocent coins are stashed away in Belgian drawers, piggybanks or in … Continue reading Belgians hoarding eurocents in jam jars

Mrs. Macleod visits the Sisters in their new home in Manchester

St. John's International School

Retired Middle School Principal Mandy Macleod and her husband Roy paid a visit to Sister Barbara and Sister Pat McKeown in their new home, Kersal Hill Convent FCJ in Salford near Manchester. It was a lovely surprise to see Sister Beatrice there too. Sister Barbara and Sister Pat moved recently from Broadstairs in Kent and will be living there permanently from now on and Sister Beatrice hopes to return to Ireland at some point. The sisters were in great spirits and are happy in their new home. They give their best regards to everyone at St. John’s and all the … Continue reading Mrs. Macleod visits the Sisters in their new home in Manchester

Distance and time away from family and friends main drawback of expat life

St. John's International School

A new poll by St. John’s International School among expats shows that distance and time away from family and friends, the language barrier and culture shock when moving back are seen as the main drawbacks of expat life. The distance and time away from family and friends was considered the main drawback of expat life by 63.2% of respondents, followed by the language barrier (44.1%) and the reverse culture shock (42.6%). Comments included that the “constant need to start again for each move” is difficult to cope with. Another said: “The effects of having been an expat as a child … Continue reading Distance and time away from family and friends main drawback of expat life

Today is Safer Internet Day

St. John's International School

For the tenth edition of the Safer Internet Day themed ‘Online rights and responsibilities’, volunteers from Microsoft and Belgacom will be sharing safer internet trainings with our grade 4 and 5 students at St. John’s International School. Safer Internet Day is the occasion to raise awareness and remind all citizens and organizations that online safety is a shared responsibility. Children love the internet: they send e-mails, chat, game, share pictures, and so on. But as in real life, it is important to teach them how to avoid risks and stay safe. Making the online world a safer world needs everyone’s involvement. … Continue reading Today is Safer Internet Day

St. John’s carnival gala a big success

St. John's International School

Thank you to all who attended or supported the Carnival Gala in the Château du Lac Saturday night. The sold-out event featured Brazilian dancers who help create a wonderfully festive atmosphere, the centerpieces on the table, produced by talented St. John’s moms, were stunning and the auction showcased many great items donated by individuals and organizations. Your support and generosity at the auction in which we raised more than 20,000€. All funds raised will be used to enhance the school and the projects will be decided upon by the PTP and the School Administration. We would be delighted to hear … Continue reading St. John’s carnival gala a big success

It is Mrs. Wallace’s half birthday, you know?

St. John's International School

We are proud and privileged to have so many amazing students in this school. They keep surprising us with gestures that show their maturity, understanding of our values and care for the St. John’s community. Today, for example, as I was doing a recess duty in grade 4. It was raining outside and so the recess had to be indoors. As I was walking the halls, some of the students were frantically working on something. When I asked why they were so busy with this piece of paper, they responded “It is Mrs. Wallace’s half birthday, you know?” It turns … Continue reading It is Mrs. Wallace’s half birthday, you know?

Fascinating math and chess presentation for students by “Mr. Mo”

St. John's International School

This morning, students from Elementary, Middle and High School had the pleasure of attending a presentation by Mr. Motwani (third grade teacher at St. John’s and and International Chess Grandmaster). The presentation was a combination of Mathematics, Chess, Mystery and Magic that delighted the audience and provided everyone with lots of fresh, fun, stimulating ideas. Chess masters think in very logical, powerful ways which can often be applied to Mathematics. International Grandmaster Paul Motwani is an expert in both Chess and Mathematics, and for many years he has been utilizing techniques from one field to solve problems in the other. … Continue reading Fascinating math and chess presentation for students by “Mr. Mo”