Wellbeing takes many forms at GIS, oftentimes in creative and engaging ways. Above, our local principled pirate Captain Bluebeard is engaging our Pre-k students in conversations about being principled and balanced. He discussed the many ways to be kind to one another while learing to share. Students felt empowered and gave their best principled pirate roar!

Students also explored inclusivity through discussion about Captain Bluebeard's eye patch and how our differences are what make us unique and strong!

We are sure Captain Bluebeard will visit many more classes through the year as he helps to develop self-regulation skills and principled decision making in students. 

Students, parents and staff alike were over the moon with this week's Back-to-School Connection Event. This year, the primary team wanted to enhance our "Back-to School Night" with something exciting, new and innovation for GIS families. Indeed, it seems that new approach worked with hundreds of parents coming and taking part in their student's learning. 

This event offered parents an opportunity to take part in class meetings and learning directly in the homeroom classes. With Positive Discipline, connection, and self-management skills as the central themes of class meetings, parents gave compliments, spoke in the foreign tongues and had the opportunity to see their own children in the midst of learning and community building. 

As a staff, we are more than pleased to see the community members growing tighter through events like this. Sharing our truly international nature only benefits the children, and intimately families, at GIS. We hope to continue developing more ambitious, interactive and meaningful events with GIS families as we strive to help children grow and learn. 

In our commitment to student wellbeing and safeguarding, the GIS PYP has rolled out an interesting, unique and transformational class space called the “Calm Corner.” As part of our Positive Discipline initiative towards students’ social and emotional learning, each classroom now hosts a Calm Corner where students can practice self-management skills. 

Calm Corners are designed to create a space and moment for students to process thoughts and emotions using skills gained during “Class Meetings,” another of our major Positive Discipline initiatives. 

Calm Corners are centered around the idea that students learn and develop skills to work and problem-solve their way through common, unique or complex situations, moments or emotions. 

Finally, Calm Corners will contain an increasing set of universal emotions graphics in a various translations, along with practical skills developed by classes to grow in social, self-management and communication skills. 

We look forward to sharing much more in our Positive Discipline journey throughout the year.