Dear Parents and Caregivers

Term 4 is well underway now and our learners are fully immersed in their learning. Our younger learners have recently enjoying a visit from author and illustrator Trevor Lai and our Y6 team are embracing all aspects of the Primary Exhibition. 

As part of our term 4 programme we seek to prepare our learners as much as possible for the next academic year. This involves transition days, visits to future learning areas and careful placement of learners in new classes. When putting the classes together the teachers discuss and consider many different factors: working relationships, friendships, developing independence, teacher-leamer dynamics, learning styles, learning needs, productive learning relationships, and even gender balance.

As part of the process your child will be asked to name their friends and who they work well alongside. We endeavour to ensure all learners have someone they have named as they move up into the next academic year. The goal is to create diverse, well-balanced classes with a mix of learners.

The allocation of learners takes a great deal of time and thought as each individual learner is considered, to create the best, balanced environment for everyone. Unfortunately with so many different elements to take into consideration we are not able to accommodate specific parent requests with regards to classroom placement and appreciate your understanding with this.

We never like saying goodbye to families, however if you know you will be leaving us at the end of this academic year we respectfully request that you complete a withdrawal form (found on the Parent Portal), to enable us to plan appropriately for next year.  May I also take the opportunity to remind all parents that we finish at 12:00 midday on the last day of term, Friday, 14 June.

Have a great weekend.

Best wishes

Fiona Lewis

Head of Primary

Through the IB PYP units of inquiry, we focus on embracing our diverse community and nurturing our little ones to become global citizens.

We begin the school year delving into our first unit of inquiry, ‘Who we are’, focusing on building our community and fostering strong relationships. We believe this sets the foundation for our children to develop a strong sense of identity and belonging, which are essential for their growth and development. The children learn about the similarities and differences between themselves, and we celebrate different cultures, languages, and traditions that make us unique. It is an authentic way for the children to learn about empathy and understanding. 

During ‘How we organise ourselves,’ we inquire into communities and teamwork. The children learn how everyone contributes to making a community work smoothly. We investigate and think about our local community in an age-appropriate way, focusing on kindness and being an inclusive friend. This lays the foundation for developing understanding as the children grow.

‘How we express ourselves’ is all about getting creative! The learners explore different ways to express themselves, whether through art, language, or storytelling. Learning through play provides many opportunities for the children to explore, problem-solve, and collaborate while developing their social skills and confidence.

We focus on taking care of our environment and the creatures we share it with in our final unit, ‘Sharing the planet.’ Our goal is to teach the children about sustainability and how they can make a difference. The children have been involved in composting, recycling, and taking responsibility of the class snails by maintaining their habitat and feeding them.

The units also tie into the UN's Global Goals. We specifically focus on Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Goal 4 (Quality Education), and Goal 15 (Life on Land). 

We are so proud and excited to see our little ones grow into compassionate and engaged individuals who are ready to make a positive impact on the world.

This week the Kindergarten learners connected with learners from Year 12 who are going on their CAS trips to Indonesia, Nepal and Cambodia soon.  We met with these learners to find out more about where their journeys will take them, how they will get there and what the purpose of these journeys are.  The learners asked our Year 12 friends if they would take our Nexus class bears on their journey’s with them.  We made this connection to another year group at Nexus through out unit of inquiry and we also have a chance to take our inquiry, our learning around the globe, with the help of Year 12.

It was great to meet other learners from a different part of our school, the learners in Kindergarten were very excited to meet Year 12.  We were ready with some questions, "Where are you going?"  "Why are you going there?"  "How will you get there?"  We heard that they would be helping to fix and building clean water supplies and would be working in schools.   We talked about what they might see in these different places, the food they will try, the animals they might encounter and the modes of transport they might take. The learners made notes on the information they gained during this session. The Year 12 CAS learners have promised to take lots of photos of their journey and service with Max, Ricky Blue and Fluffy.

As we continue our final term, the Unit of Inquiry, How we express ourselves focus of ‘Celebrations are a form of expression’  has illuminated our classes with rich discussions, colourful projects, and an enhanced appreciation of the diverse tapestry that makes up our classes and school. This exploration not only broadens our learners' understanding but also strengthens the bonds of community and togetherness. By finding the similarities within the celebrations we allow our learners to delve into the multifaceted aspects of celebrations, exploring their roots in religion, culture, and personal expression, fostering a greater sense of belonging. 

Learners are embarking on a journey into the world of global festivities, uncovering the meanings and traditions behind celebrations. By examining how different cultures express joy, reverence, remembrance, and community spirit through festivals, our learners gain insights into the universal yet unique ways people mark important occasions. This journey enhances their sense of connectedness, both within our community and with the wider world. As we continue to nurture our young global citizens, we are reminded of the importance of understanding and respecting the many different ways people celebrate around the world. The insights they are gaining will undoubtedly serve as a foundation for our learners to become thoughtful, informed, and compassionate members of the global community, united in their diversity and strengthened by their shared experiences. 

1R and 1P look forward to sharing their learning journey with you at their class assembly… Save the date for Friday, 10th May. 

Did you know that Year 2 comprises 29 nationalities! We truly represent all areas of the globe and this was reflected during our Mathematics Time Calls this week. Thank you to the extended family members from around the world who took time out of their schedules to video call us. For some people it was the middle of the night! This provocation sparked the learners curiosity about time, time zones and understanding day and night. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet extended family members and learn about the time and activities they were participating in. We analysed maps and used Google Earth to help us understand the locations and why there were time differences. This learning engagement allowed Year 2 to celebrate diversity and promote global citizenship as we respectfully listened with open-minds and one class even saw freshly made brioche for breakfast. This learning engagement is powerful because there are implicit, as well as explicit, academic and cultural connections being made. The Mathematics concept of time is being addressed and the learners are also sharing their familiy stories, traditions and routines.

Earlier this term we asked the Year 2 learners to challenge the stereotype of what a scientist looks like. Learners chose their passion and become that scientist, drawing themselves and identifying the skills and attributes they require. This task helped learners understand that anyone can be a scientist, emphasising the importance of diversity and inclusion in the field of science. By showcasing a variety of scientists from different backgrounds, genders, and cultures, learners gained a deeper appreciation for the diverse perspectives and talents that contribute to scientific discovery. This activity highlighted the fact that scientists come in all shapes, sizes, and identities, inspiring learners to pursue their interests in science.

A classroom serves as a melting pot of diverse interests and experiences. In our ongoing Unit of Inquiry, students are given the opportunity to choose a natural landform or phenomenon they feel connected to and curious about. Moreover, the manner in which they present their research varies according to each student's preference. Teachers have provided a range of presentation options, fostering student agency and demonstrating our appreciation for diverse perspectives and modes of expression. As we approach the Exhibition in Week 6, students will continue to pursue their inquiries in various ways, such as through creating models both in class and at home.

Building on our recognition of the diverse experiences among Year 3 students, we recently had a student share their journey with cancer during our Year 3 assembly. Cole from 3B has bravely volunteered for Hair for Hope, intending to raise awareness for this charity through his personal story. Students showed great curiosity and posed many questions to Cole, who demonstrated openness and courage as he shared his experience for the first time.

In Year 3, we celebrate all forms of diversity and encourage students to embrace their unique awesomeness!

We are very proud of our Year 4 Learner Leadership Group and their achievements this year. Under the guidance of Mr T representatives from each class meet during their lunch breaks each week and discuss lunchtime activities they can provide for their peers in Year 4.  Each week a small group from the Learner Leadership Team run an activity during, their midday playtime. The activities have ranged from Team Games in the sports hall to Origami and from a Penalty Shoot-out competition to a Book Club. A Drawing Club was very popular as was a host of other activities the learners have organised for their peers with 40+ often attendings.  Learners are eagerly awaiting the Rubik's Cube Speed Challenge which is fast approaching.  At the end of our Year 4 pod, a beautiful mural of a tree is branching out and our Learner-led Painting Group is planning ways for every member of Year 4 to represent themselves on the design.  It has been wonderful to see our Year 4's take on leadership roles, both within this group and in other ways within their homerooms. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes from encouraging a classmate to join in a game when they are feeling lonely to making announcements in our Year 4 assemblies. From assisting a friend learn a new Maths strategy to helping peers solve disagreements in the playground.  

Our 'Swim Fest' is fast approaching in two weeks times.  We look forward to celebrating, not only the learners' swimming strengths, but their teamwork skills and support for each other.

At Nexus we value and embrace diversity in all that we do. This year our Year 5 learners have had many opportunities to take action in ways that have positively contributed to a wide range of communities. 

In our Who We Are unit, learners experienced first hand how individual efforts, collaboration and teamwork can benefit families and communities. These families now have access to higher quality sanitation and as a result their health and well being will be improved. Our service project in Bintan was a highlight of our Loola residential trip and is wonderful way for Year 5 to contribute to a global service project each year. 

Currently in our How we Express Ourselves unit learners have chosen one of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals to focus their inquiry on. They have become more knowledgable about their goal and zoomed in on a specific area that they would like to raise awareness of. Examples of these include Life Below Water-plastic pollution, Life on Land-habitat loss, No Poverty-food waste and Gender Equality-the pay gap. Learners are applying their research skills, as they use a range of sources to find information that will help them to persuade their audience and encourage them to care as much about their goal as they do. Our brochures are nearly finished. 

Each term this year, a group of Year 5 learner leaders have taken action in different ways. They have planned and organised a range of lunch activities for their peers to participate in. It has been wonderful to see learners choosing what they would enjoy the most. Examples include yoga, drawing, board games, design and recycled crafts. Thank you to our leaders for their time and effort with these. 

On a Monday lunchtime we have also had a range of volunteers enjoying some outdoor time in our vegetable gardens on level 5. They have kept the weeds under control and ensured that our plants are healthy and happy. 

Congratulations to our learners on every action they have taken this year. An inspiring quote that helps us to realise how important our actions are. "I may only be one person, but I can be one person who makes a difference."

We are excited to share that we've had a fantastic week of exhibition preparations! Our students have been organised into groups and have started reaching out to their mentors. Next week, we are aiming to hold mentor meetings and dive deep into the exhibition process.

We encourage everyone to have in-depth and focused conversations with your children to support the in deciding how they can move forward effectively. Over the coming weeks, your support will be crucial in the as we work to develop our knowledge and skills  for our exhibition.

Additionally, if you have the opportunity to help your child find a place to visit or a person to interview, it would be greatly beneficial. Direct engagement and exploration can really enhance their understanding of their chosen field.

A big thank you to everyone who has signed up for the expert wall. Some of our students will be reaching out via email to seek further support and guidance in their learning journey, if your areas of expertise align with their inquiries.

Exhibition is always an exciting, fun, stressful, and challenging time for everyone involved. It will take all of us working together to support our children and ensure they have a successful exhibition experience.

Thank you for your ongoing support and involvement.

The Year 6 Team