In the grade 7 media course students learn the language of video through the creation of self-styled tutorials. The process involves storyboarding, scripting, training for (voice) acting, video basics, shot language and shooting sessions followed by peer review. Continue reading Grade 7 students produce tutorial videos
The 8th grade low intermediate French class went to the Carrefour supermarket recently to practice the quantity vocabulary. Here is what students said about the trip: “We had to make an approved shopping list prior to our departure… In the store, when we did not understand something or did not know where something was, we asked someone who worked there in French, which helped my French a lot, because we practiced asking questions.” “I have to admit I probably learned about food better being there than in a classroom” “The trip to Carrefour was really fun because it is a way … Continue reading Eighth grade goes shopping to improve their French vocabulary
This past Saturday, I had the chance to accompany 15 students on the fourth grade 9 Service Saturday. The mission was to spend the afternoon volunteering with Serve the City in the Marolles, in the center of Brussels. Once in the Marolles, one of the groups went to work at the Little Sisters of the poor and my group went to a women’s shelter. At the shelter, our students played with a number of small children while some girls gave manicures and facials to the women. I wanted to share how impressed I was with these kids, who were fantastic … Continue reading Ninth graders volunteer at a women’s shelter with “Serve the City”
On Saturday 15th March 2014, Ms. Montgomery with her 4th grade students Ruby, Nicholas, Emilie and John presented at the 2014 Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) in downtown Brussels. This is what the students said about their experience: “We presented in front of a group of women and a few men who are interested in human rights. Even the FAWCO President was there! We explained about our units of inquiry, the books we have read in class and about human rights in general. We had a great time sharing, even though we were all a bit nervous. We are really glad … Continue reading Fourth grade students dazzle adults with human rights presentation
Mr. Strycker’s IB Music class was treated to a jam session with Ziggy, drummer of popular rock band Puggy, yesterday. Ziggy first met with the students and answered their questions before doing a 45-minute jam session together with the students. It was a great opportunity for the students to work with a professional. The band Puggy has toured all over the world, opening for prestigious bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Incubus and Deep Purple. They will also play at the famous music festival of Rock Werchter this year. Thank you Ziggy, for inspiring our students! Continue reading IB Music class jams with drummer of popular band Puggy
Eighth grade science students are investigating cell structure in a variety of ways. They have been learning how to use microscopes and make their own slides to study cells. They continued their studies with research into the different types of microscopes and how they are used in cell research. The culmination of this section of study will be researching the contents of cells. The students were asked to provide a five minute presentation which included pictures and a model of their cell part. By Maggie Adams, Middle School science teacher Continue reading Learning about cell structure in 8th grade science
The 8th grade has been engaged in a community project to sensitize sighted students to the world of the visually impaired since 1999. Therefore an exchange is organized every year with IRSA (Institute for Blind and Visually Impaired Children). A group of students was selected to visit the Institute during the school day Thursday, March 20th. Different activities allowed the children from both schools the opportunity to communicate and interact. One group made a fruit salad which they all shared afterwards, another group learned how to use the different tools blind children use in their learning. There was a Torball game and a walk in the forest … Continue reading Eighth graders experience the world of the visually impaired
You will have the opportunity to see a wide variety of performing arts events in the next 10 days! Starting off with the Middle School drama production of “Darcy’s Cinematic Life” which will be performed tomorrow, Friday, March 21 at 19:00 and Saturday, March 22 at 15:00 in the theater. Tickets are 5 euro for adults; 3 euro for children and are on sale in the Middle School office and reception and 30 minutes ahead of the performance. On Monday, March 24 at 19:00 is the chamber orchestra concert. Refreshment will be served before the concert begins and during the interval, entry to … Continue reading Many performing arts events coming up for you to enjoy!
Swimming at the London Aquatics Center was an incredible experience. What I found most exciting was simply the fact that we were swimming in the same pool as the one that world’s top swimmers had competed in during the 2012 London Olympics. The pool really did look like the one we saw on TV! Our ISST was actually the first official meet to take place in that pool since the Olympics. When we first arrived, the pool seemed tiny, dwarfed by the massive structure around it. But once we started swimming laps, it became painfully clear how huge the pool … Continue reading Swimming the ISSTs in the London Olympic pool!
This past Saturday, the gyms were full of action, fun and sportsmanship all day in support of a great cause. The Tom O’Donnell tournament brings students, parents, teachers and alumni together for a day of indoor soccer and fun, in memory of a former student, while raising well over 1200 Euro for two cancer charities! The first Tom O’Donnell indoor football tournament took place at St. John’s in 1998 in memory of Tom O’Donnell, a student from our school who lost his battle with cancer. While Tom was ill, it was brought to the attention of his family and friends … Continue reading Tom O’Donnell tournament: fun for a great cause!
The spring sports season will officially start tomorrow with our traditional Green and White Day at St. John’s. The spring sports teams this year are: track and field, softball, baseball, tennis and golf. Tomorrow’s schedule is as follows: 09:30 – Baseball team meets on the baseball diamond; Softball team meets on the softball diamond and Track and Field team meets on the Arts Field. The coaches will introduce themselves to the parents who are in attendance, explain basic guidelines and expectations for the upcoming season and will be able to answer any questions. This will be followed by games for the baseball/softball … Continue reading The spring sports season starts tomorrow!
We will have a “Belgian Week” from Monday March 17 until Friday March 21 in the Elementary School. Thursday, March 20 is “La journée de la Francophonie”. We will have special activities on that day and throughout the week to enhance the contacts with the Belgian community surrounding us. On Monday and Tuesday, March 17th and 18th we will have a special guest: Mr. Michel Van Zeveren, a Belgian author and illustrator living here in Waterloo. He will spend time with the grades 1-3 French classes. The ES French department Continue reading Next week is “Belgian week” in Elementary School!
MS Theater Arts presents: Darcy’s Cinematic Life. Darcy struggles with issues that most teenagers deal with on a day-to-day basis. What makes her unique, however, is that she experiences the events in her life as short movies – or “daydreams,” as her teacher calls them. Often these movies grow out of her desire to fit in and be accepted. But during a class trip to a museum — complete with a romance, an evil nemesis, and a nerd fashion show. Darcy is able to find her way with the help of both her intelligence and her unwillingness to change who … Continue reading What if the little movies in our mind turned into reality?
On March 28, St. John’s will host the third edition of its TEDx event. This year’s theme is “The Sustainable Future” and will look at the future of sustainable energy through a series of inspirational talks by leaders in the industry. Speakers include Josche Muth, secretary general of the European Renewable Energy Council, Sandrine Dixson-Declève who teaches executives on sustainability and climate leadership at the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership, Hans Josef Fell, a German politician and architect of Germany’s renewable energy policy, often considered the “father of sustainable energy”, Maarten Michielssen, CEO of EcoNation, winner of prestigious international awards including “2014 Technology … Continue reading TEDx “The Sustainable Future” on March 28 at St. John’s
In the summer of 2013, High School students Christina, Katerina and Giulia, decided to visit the environmental projects of Inkaterra Association (ITA) in Machu Picchu. They spent two weeks working as volunteers with local children in the village of Aguas Calientes in the pristine Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, a world heritage site. During their visit, they planned and managed activities and implemented environmental awareness classes for over 50 children aged between 5 to 13 years of age from the vicinity. The classes were also tailored to suit handicapped children. Christina and Giulia were inspired by the commitment and dedication of Carmen Soto, the project leader at ITA and … Continue reading High School students raise money for environmental project in Peru
The “Napoleon Trail in Wallonia” – a tourist trail retracing the steps of the Emperor in Belgium during his hundred days campaign in 1815 – was officially opened recently by the Walloon Minister for Tourism Paul Furlan. The trail, extending over 94 kilometres from Beaumont to Waterloo, was conceived with the help of historians and follows the footsteps of the Emperor made nearly 200 years ago. A Michelin trail guide, co-written by the Belgian historian Philippe Raxhon, accompanies the new Napoleon Trail and includes historical anecdotes, event listings, cycle routes and a selection of locations for food and lodging. Those … Continue reading New trail retraces Napoleon’s historic steps in Wallonia
The CAS project about the extended math club in 4th grade, organized with the help of Ms. Montgomery, has been a very good experience so far. The kids are very motivated and exited for the extra work and try to work out each problem. It is a great pleasure that there is no need to make them do the extended math questions, but they themselves have the willingness to improve and work. We always discuss a problem together to make sure it is understood and then correct it together as well on the white board to make sure everyone follows. … Continue reading High School student runs extended math club for 4th graders
Over the last two months I have attended various ES Assemblies in the PAC and I would recommend every ES parent to at least once attend one of those Assemblies, because those gatherings are a sheer joy to witness. The Math Assembly of Mr. Motwani was a gem of teaching math in a way that made the students think and excited. Mr. Mo presented a range of math challenges on the screen that offered something for every grade, and indeed also for the parents attending. In the PYP Assembly for the 5th grade, the teachers gave an excellent introduction to … Continue reading The Elementary School Assemblies – St. John’s at its best!
The spring sports season is just around the corner. We have the following teams in the spring: Baseball (boys, minimum age 13 on September 1, 2013) + Softball (girls, minimum age 13 on September 1, 2013) Tennis (boys and girls, minimum age 13 on September 1, 2013) Track and Field (boys and girls, minimum age 12 on September 1, 2013) We have re-established a golf team which has been practicing since December, no tryouts will be held for this. Baseball and softball (at St. John’s) – Tuesday, March 11, Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14 from 15:45-18:00 Green and White Day … Continue reading Spring sports season tryout information
That was the challenge given to the 7th grade extended math class just before the break. They did it and have the photos to prove it! But it did not stop there – the students made different shapes out of their “paper loop” and measured the perimeter and area of them. This led to great discussions – would the area and perimeter be the same for every shape? What shape would give the greatest area? Do you need to measure everything or can you model the problem using algebra and then use that calculate the perimeter and areas? Says student … Continue reading Could you walk through a piece of paper?
St. John's International School Blog 