6th GRADE Learning Community

Welcome to the Grade 6 Learning Community! Click here for the Quarter 1 newG6 LC Quarter One sletter!

The Grade 6 LC teachers have compiled this Newsletter to communicate with parents of Grade 6 students. In this newsletter, you will find an overview of the topics and themes that will be covered in the core classes this quarter. You will also find pictures of many students working in their core subject areas of Social Studies, Science, English, and Math.

Please note that Peter Gibson and Adam Fox are the team leads for this Learning Community, and they will be happy to answer any questions you may have. If you have any queries, please contact Peter at pgibson@jisedu.or.id or Adam at afox@jisedu.or.id. You may also contact any teacher directly if the question is specific to their class.

Here are some resources that can help from home:

PowerSchool (Go to JISnet to access) - Attendance and performance grades/comments are recorded here. It is recommended that you and your child check this together to see how they are progressing.

Google Classroom - Teachers use this to support learning in class, this is a tool which students can refer back to for support at home as well. Parents, please ask your child to show you their Google Classroom.

MS Student Handbook

Online/Home Learning Guidelines for Students and Parents

Meet the Teachers in Grade 6:

Peter Gibson - English & Co-Team Lead

I come to Jakarta from Melbourne, Australia. I studied in Melbourne, earning degrees in both Commerce and Arts, as well as a teaching diploma. Since then, I have completed a Masters degree in Education from the University of Wollongong, as well as additional Masters units in teaching elementary reading, writing, and mathematics. I began teaching in 1992 and have been lucky enough to teach a variety of grade levels in a range of interesting locations that include country Victoria, Indonesia, Belgium, and China. I began teaching in international schools in 2001 at St John's International School in Belgium, before moving to Beijing to teach at the Beijing BISS International School. I then came to Indonesia to work at Jakarta Intercultural School, where I spent four years teaching in the high school and middle school, before returning to Guangzhou, China to teach 4th grade.

I returned to JIS in 2012 and spent four years teaching 5th grade at PEL. It had long been a goal of mine to return to the middle school, so I was delighted to transfer here in 2016 and to now be teaching 6th grade English. Away from the classroom, I like to watch and play sports, especially tennis, walking, cycling, and Australian Rules football, and try to go to the gym as often as possible. Some of my other hobbies and interests include film, reading, history, traveling, and food.

If you have any questions please contact me at: pgibson@jisedu.or.id.

Adam Fox - Science/Health & Co-Team Lead

My name is Adam Fox and this is my seventh year in the JIS community. My hometown is Ann Arbor, Michigan. I attended the University of Michigan and earned a BS in Biology and MA in science and math education.

I have been teaching internationally for 20 years. I moved to Jakarta from Dubai and have previously taught in Caracas, Shanghai, and Cape Town. In my spare time, I love playing and watching sports, observing animals, cooking, fermenting stuff, and woodworking.

My wife Andrea teaches Art at PIE. I have a daughter Vivian in 11th grade and a son Lewis in 8th grade. I am looking forward to exploring and learning together. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at afox@jisedu.or.id

Moon Jang - English

Your children will call me Miss Moon ” and I sincerely hope they will learn from and love our time together. I will be one of the grade 6 and grade 7 English teachers this year. I am a Korean-American teacher who was raised in the “south” (Northern Florida/South Georgia) and who may, at times, have a ‘twang’ to my words, which tends to confuse students (at first). I was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States when I was a child. I know first-hand how it felt to not understand nor to be understood; and these perhaps have shaped the value I place on communication and possessing the confidence to share one’s thoughts and ideas.

I have been a teacher at the Pattimura campus for 7 years before moving to the middle school. In addition to my years at JIS, my instructional experience includes teaching in the United States and teaching grade 5 at the American International School of Bucharest, Romania, and the Anglo-American School of Moscow, Russia. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Master of Arts in Literacy and Curriculum, and a Master of Arts in Gifted Education. Beyond the years and degrees, I hope you will soon learn that I love working with kids. I will do my very best to help each child realize and reach their potential.

Contact: mjang@jisedu.or.id

Jenny Zenick - Social Studies

Hello, my name is Jenny Zenick, and I am excited to join the JIS middle school team this year. I know that JIS is a special place since I was a student here from 7th to 10th grade, way back in the 1980s! I am thrilled to return with my family and make this country and school my home again.

I attended Emory University, where I earned a BA in English Literature and Anthropology. As part of a Teacher Corps program, I earned an MA in Secondary Education from the University of Mississippi. Since then, I have taught for 25 years in a variety of places in the US and overseas (Nepal, Ecuador, UAE, and Switzerland). I love reading, hiking, and learning about new cultures. I look forward to a great school year! Please feel free to contact me at jzenick@jisedu.or.id

Nathan Berry - Social Studies

We've lived in Jakarta on and off for seven years, and it’s a city we enjoy. My wife also teaches at JIS, and together with our two children, Nahla (10) and Taj (8), we love the unique and vibrant experiences Indonesia has to offer and the warmth of the JIS community.

With many years of experience teaching 6th grade, I'm excited to return to this age group and join the Middle School division to teach Social Studies. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening, watching Formula 1, and cooking. I’m looking forward to working with you all!

Courtney Berry - Math

This is my 12th year teaching internationally and my 7th year teaching at JIS. I am returning to grade 6 mathematics again this year. Before coming to JIS I taught in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. I hold a bachelor's degree in education from Black Hills State University as well as a master of teaching degree in mathematics education from the University of Alaska Southeast. I love volleyball and am fortunate to be the head coach of our middle school girls. I can also be found coaching the high school as an assistant coach to the JIS golf team. When I am not teaching or coaching, I enjoy being in my yard attending to plants or reading and learning more about them. I also enjoy playing golf whenever I can and scuba diving.

I am very excited to continue teaching in the middle school and look forward to working with you and your child.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at, cberry@jisedu.or.id.

Jeff Jacobsen - Math

My name is Jeff Jacobsen, and this year, I will be teaching grade six and grade seven mathematics. I am originally from Seattle, Washington, in the United States, but I have been living abroad for the past 15 years. I completed my undergraduate degree at Washington State University and my master’s degree at Seattle University. Prior to coming to JIS, I taught at international schools in Colombia, South Korea, and the Philippines.

When I’m not teaching, I enjoy traveling, golfing, surfing, and making Youtube videos. I am very excited about the new school year and can’t wait to meet my new students.

My email is jjacobsen@jisedu.or.id

Shaneika Johnson - Science

My name is Shanieka Johnson, and this is my second year at JIS. I am originally from Huddersfield, UK, but I now call Nottingham my home in England. I earned a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Nottingham and a PGCE in Science with Chemistry Specialism, and I am currently pursuing an MA in Special and Additional Learning Needs.

I taught in Nottingham for five years before moving to Cairo American College, Egypt, where I taught DP Chemistry for three years. I then joined the International School of Dakar, Senegal, as a Middle School Science Teacher for four years before moving to Jakarta.

In my free time I enjoy exploring new countries, learning about different cultures, and trying new foods. I am an avid reader, and I also enjoy playing basketball and netball.

If you have any questions please contact me at: sjohnson@jisedu.or.id

Robert Setiawan - PE

My name is Roberts Setiawan, and I am excited for another amazing year teaching physical education at JIS.

I started teaching PE in 2011 and have had the privilege of being a part of the JIS community since 2019. I'm passionate about guiding young individuals to understand the advantages of exercise, which include building strong bodies, enjoying the process, and fostering teamwork!

In my classes, I hope to encourage sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal growth, over a must-win attitude. I find sport/exercise to be a great stress reliever, an escape from frustrations, and an opportunity to strengthen one’s self no matter winning or losing.

Jason Tiefel - Design Technology

My name is Jason Tiefel (I go by Mr. T), and I'm very excited to join the JIS community as a new Dragon this year! This is my 16th year teaching overseas, and my journey has taken me to China (twice - Shenzhen and Shanghai), Thailand, and most recently Oman. I'm originally from Texas and am joined by my wife Jenny (an art teacher at PIE and former JIS student), our son Charlie (entering grade 5 at PIE) and our dog Georgie (the cutest dog ever).

I have a wide range of teaching experience all related to creating/making. I've taught Design Technology, Computer Science, Physical Computing, Robotics and Game Design. I'm passionate about promoting the joy of learning with your mind and your hands, and am very excited to introduce students to the Design Technology space.

When I'm not working I love video games, podcasts and traveling with my family.

Rae Merrigan - Health

Hi, my name is Rae and this is my 5th year teaching at JIS and 12th year teaching internationally. I'm originally from Melbourne, Australia. Previously I've taught in Brazil and Peru and I feel so fortunate to be teaching Health classes at JIS. I am here with my husband, Alvaro Pena (HS Biology and Photography) and my 2-year-old daughter, Alaia.

I'm passionate about health and wellness, education for sustainability, and social and emotional learning. In my free time, I love to read, cook, run, and spend time with my family. I love learning languages and travelling to experience different cultures.

David Schneer- EAL (English as an Additional Language)

This is my second year at JIS. Previously I taught EAL and English in Singapore for six years. That was actually my family’s second time in Singapore. Before that we were in Japan for four years, which was also our second time in Japan. In total, I was in Singapore for 12 years and in Japan for 14 years. If you add the two numbers together, you will discover that I am old. I can now honestly say that I have spent most of my life in Asia. However, before coming to Asia, I lived in the United States, mostly in Texas. In university I studied English literature and music, and I later went on to do a master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). When I have free time, I love spending it with my family, studying languages, reading (I love manga.), playing guitar, playing video games and writing.

Rahayu Matruno (Ibu Ayu) - Bahasa Indonesia

Hi! My name is Rahayu Matruno; I always go with Ibu Ayu. I am Bahasa Indonesia teacher for the 6th, 7th, and 8th - grade levels. This is my 4th year joining Middle School. Prior to joining Middle School, I taught Bahasa Indonesia at Pondok Indah Elementary (PIE) for seven years. I was born in a small beautiful village near Surabaya, East Java. I have two grown-up children and one grandson.

Outside the classroom, I love doing Bikram Yoga for my regular exercise, cooking, and gardening. I also like traveling, particularly exploring Indonesia, to get to know more about the cultures of my beautiful country. I look forward to getting to know each of you more.

If you have any questions, please contact me at rahayu@jisedu.or.id

Anne Ariane - Visual Arts

My name is Josefine Ariane, but everybody calls me Anne. This is my third year at JIS, and I'm really excited to meet all the students and work with colleagues. Prior to joining JIS, I worked for five years at North Jakarta Intercultural School.

I'm originally from Indonesia, and art has been my passion since I was a little kid. I love being outdoors and capturing the many beautiful moments in nature in my paintings.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at jariane@jisedu.or.id

Giovanni Bobisse - Strings

My name is Giovanni Bobisse and I teach Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Strings.

I’m from Italy and before becoming a teacher I have been a professional violinist for 10 years. During this time I had the opportunity to collaborate with a number of amazing artists in my own Country and abroad.

This year marks my 6th year at JIS and my 17th as a strings teacher in several schools in Italy and in the Philippines.

Together with my wife Gemma, I have created and directed an orchestra for the unprivileged children of the slums of Manila, and I am an active coordinator and performer during Summer music festivals in Sicily, Italy.

I love nature, playing my violin, cooking, and reading, and I never get tired of learning anything about music.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at gbobisse@jisedu.or.id

Rick Beder - Band

Hello and welcome to another wonderful school year. My name is Rick Beder and I am one of the band teachers here in the middle school. Looking back on my career as a music teacher, I am excited to say that this is my 33rd year teaching and my 22nd year here at JIS. I am originally from the USA (Jacksonville, Florida) where I was a trombone player as a band student in middle and high school. I attended Florida State University where I participated in the symphonic, marching and jazz bands. After earning my degree in music education, I taught middle school band in Ocala, Florida and both middle and high school band in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Besides music, I enjoy tennis, bowling and dining out. After so many exciting and successful years here in the middle school, I am looking forward to yet another fantastic year for 2025-26! If you have any questions you may contact me at rbeder@jisedu.or.id.

Ignatius Soedjadi (Ai) - Band

Hello! My name is Ignatius Soedjadi, and you may refer to me as Pak Ai. I am one of the band teachers here in middle school. This is my 10th year at JIS and my 18th year teaching music overall. I am from Indonesia and taught music at two local schools in Jakarta before coming to JIS. I graduated from the University of Indonesia in 1999 and Suling Bambu Educator's College with my degree in music education in 2014.

Outside of school, I am a professional bass player. I have been playing at many places in Jakarta since 2001. Besides music, I enjoy sports, particularly soccer. I am a happy husband with a lovely wife and a daughter.

I am looking forward to another great year in 2025-2026 and making some memorable moments with the middle school students. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at isoedjadi@jisedu.or.id.

Sarrah Nadya- Dance

My name is Sarrah Nadya, but you can call me Ms. Sarrah or Ms. S. I am originally from Indonesia, and this is my second year as part of the JIS community. I teach PE and Movement Sport Culture for Grade 6, as well as Dance Exploration, Drama Musical Theater, and Dance Performances for Grades 7 and 8. I love being a PE and dance teacher because I enjoy sharing skills in a way that makes learning fun and engaging. I look forward to working with the 6th graders this year!

Russell Jones - Learning Support

Hello, my name is Russell Jones and I am the Learning Support Specialist for 6th, 7th and 8th grade as well as the Support Services department head.

Prior to moving to Jakarta Indonesia I was an Assistant Principal and Supervisor for Special Education (Learning Support) in the state of Texas. In addition to my experience in the field of Student Support, I am also a musician with a background in Music Education and trumpet performance. I have served as the department head for both Pondok Indah Elementary school and JIS middle school.

I am proud to be a JIS Dragon and to have the opportunity to continue my 25 year career at Jakarta Intercultural School. I have two wonderful children who attend JIS and my wife teaches Visual Arts at JIS High School.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me anytime. rjones@jisedu.or.id

Kristin Wegner - Counselor

Hello! I am Kristin Wegner and I am from Wisconsin, USA - the land of cheese! I have been a school counselor for over 20 years, working with both elementary and middle school students. I have taught in the US, Qatar, Malta and Vietnam.

I have a husband, Todd, who teaches Theatre Arts in the States. We have a 26-year-old son, Will, who lives in NYC and is a musical lyricist. Here in Indonesia, I live with 2 rescue dogs - George and Gracie.

In my spare time, you can find me watching videos of dogs being adorable, reading, singing show tunes, travelling, or costuming theatre productions.

Kris Carlson-School Therapist

My name is Kris Carlson and I am the school therapist for the middle and high school. As a part of the Student Support Services team, I work to support the social, emotional and psychological well being of JIS students and their families by offering individual, group and family therapeutic interventions to those in need. I am originally from the United States, but I spent eleven years living and working in Taipei, Taiwan and am now in my eleventh year at JIS along with my husband, who works in the high school and my two children who are attending the HS . I feel grateful to be a part of this vibrant and supportive parental community and look forward to meeting you and your children. My door is always open so please feel free to contact me at any point in time at kcarlson@jisedu.or.id.

Report abuse