Maker Space Mindedness

Watching children dive into a Maker Space is like witnessing pure creativity come to life! These hands-on spaces are designed to spark curiosity and problem-solving skills, allowing children to tinker, build, and explore with child-friendly woodshop tools and a variety of creative materials. With the support of our innovation team, students have had the opportunity to do just that. Whether they’re joining together a small wooden project, designing a cardboard invention, or experimenting with new crafting techniques, every moment is an opportunity for growth. These activities not only strengthen fine motor skills and coordination but also foster patience, perseverance, and the confidence to turn an idea into reality.

In a world filled with screens, Maker Spaces offer a refreshing place for kids to get their hands dirty, think outside the box, and discover the joy of making something from scratch. Your child will learn how to safely use tools, collaborate with peers, and embrace mistakes as stepping stones to success. More importantly, they’ll develop a mindset that values creativity, innovation, and the thrill of figuring things out. We are ready to celebrate wobbly first projects, endless ideas, and the sparkle in genius inside students' eyes when they proudly show what they’ve made—because in the Maker Space, every creation is a masterpiece in the making!

Ramadan Up for Ramadan

The PYP student council has been actively brainstorming and planning meaningful Ramadan initiatives to support those in need while fostering a spirit of generosity. Through group discussions and collaboration, they have come up with creative ideas such as food donation drives, clothing drives, Iftar distributions, and class meetings resources. They have also explored ways to involve the entire school community, encouraging students, staff and families to participate in acts of service and action. By organizing these initiatives, the student council is ensuring that Ramadan becomes a time of giving and togetherness within the school.

Beyond helping others, this process is also teaching student council members essential organization and leadership skills, essential in the PYP and life beyond. They are learning how to plan events, coordinate with different teams, and communicate their ideas effectively. Most importantly, these initiatives help instill the values of compassion and generosity, encouraging students to continue making a positive impact at beyond 

International Women & Girls In Science Day - Leaders Leading Leaders

This week we celebrated International Women & Girls In Science Day! The day centered around classroom activities for the whole PYP while Grade Four was able to interact with women leaders from a variety of science backgrounds.

Students and aspiring student leaders can gain an immense amount of wisdom from hearing adult leaders speak about science in an engaging and thoughtful way. During these presentations, we saw incredible engagement and curiosity from our students. Both our female science leaders and students alike seemed to have learned a great deal about girls in science. surely they looked to be illuminated. 

With the success of this day, we look forward to bringing more GIS community leaders to speak to our children in order to inspire and amaze!

Last, but not least, a HUGE THANK YOU to Asma Mansoori, Dr. Tamara Lukic and Iwona Zielinska for bringing so much knowledge and joy to our principled learners!

Courageous Cubs Have Arrived!

Student leadership in the early years is like planting seeds in a garden—you’re nurturing the roots of confidence, teamwork, and responsibility. Giving young students opportunities to lead helps them discover their voice, learn how to work with others, and realize that their ideas can make a difference! With that, we are please to share that the PYP student council spent the week delivering the new roles and expectations they developed for our Courageous Cubs initiative to classes in Pre-K, KG1, KG2 and Grade One. Through the week, students began receiving their new roles, that will be shared on  a rotating basis, and were already wearing their new leadership lanyards! 

At GIS, we take every opportunity to ensure our learners develop leadership skills for an ever-chaging world. We can't wait to see our young leaders grow! 

GIS Healthy Eating Week

Our very own grades 2-5 Wellbeing Ambassadors took to early years classrooms through the week, promoting healthy eating through action. Students in this leadership group brainstormed, created presentation materials, and presented their findings and strategies to young learners. They spent snack and lunch breaks celebrating healthy meal choices in the canteen and classes, promoting awareness of healthy eating. Ms. Keshia led a fun and educational campaign. These young leaders hope that through their research and action, they can make an impact on the ways PYP students look at what they eat and how they make sensible choices when it comes to food. We really are looking forward to what the PYP Wellbeing Ambassadors come up with next!

Minecraft Education Social & Emotional

Our Innovation Department is always looking for unique ways to engage students in learning and skills development. With that, they are currently piloting the Minecraft Social and Emotional Learning arm of Minecraft. These problem-solving games see students reflecting and gaining new insights into there social and emotional development. Whether it's empathy or understanding emotions, students have a wide range of agency in deciding how they can grow and develop. We hope to continue the learning journey with these students in order to later include more students as we see the benefits of incredible programs like this. 

Autumn Festival Costume Dress-Up

Student Council, with the support of House Captains, organized an incredible Autumn Festival dress-up, dance and carnival. During this event, all grade levels were able to visit our new indoor sports hall for a number of fun and creative activities. First, many students expressed themselves though a costume dress-up that certainly added energy to the school. Next, grade levels got into a large group dance that saw them moving and jumping with great excitement and enthusiasm. Finally, students in the upper primary were able to take part in fun carnival games with student showing how principled and caring they are. 

Student leaders will continue to organize amazing events through the year, showing the many skills and attitudes contained within the Primary Years Program. Thank you to all of our student leaders and to all the parents that support these student initiatives. 

Our year has truly started off on the right foot. The Primary Leadership Team along with PYP support specialists hosted a grades 4-5 assembly in which they welcomed students to a new school year! School leaders presented school policies and procedures as well as how students can contribute to the school’s mission and vision. 

Students were then taken through an empowering activity in which they explored their creativity through ideating and brainstorming. Students from upper primary  were left with a challenge to develop 100 ideas from one item. Let’s see if they can reach their goal!

Finally, the house champions cup was presented to our winners and reigning champions from last year, The Red Raptors. Along with the presentation of the trophy, students were on the edge of their seats as they were introduced to the new student leadership structure for this year which includes the addition of grade-two students as well as new leadership opportunities. 

We look forward to exploring the opportunities for school leadership and how each person can lead a positive change at any time and from any place.