WHOLE SCHOOL NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS!

IB MYP STUDENT INNOVATORS' GRANT - 2022

Two students from Sinarmas World Academy (SWA) were chosen to be awarded the International Baccalaureate’s (IB) Middle Years Programme Innovators’ Grant! The grant seeks applications from MYP years 4-5 students who are motivated to start or continue a social impact initiative. Only a handful of 30 students were selected from across IB schools around the globe and the winners are eligible to receive Dr Siva Kumari MYP Student Innovators’ Grant. Two students from SWA won the award: Sanandha and Ayden. Their projects were selected after a competitive two-stage application and review process and are required to exercise advocacy for authenticity, social impact, and personal connection towards the initiative. Each winner is entitled for a funding of up to USD 10,000 to support project financial needs and ensure project success.

Ayden’s project, “Reimaging Agricultural Vehicles: TeZoid: Auto-Regulated Wireless Recharging Mechanism with A.I. to surge agricultural growth”. His passion in reducing carbon emission led him to his project of TeZoid that involves the creation of a working model of the project that can wirelessly charge agricultural vehicles powered through his custom-design of a solar tracker. Through the use of the inductive sliding wireless charging system, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), he plans to reimagine the way agricultural vehicles are powered, not through carbon-based fuel but through an auto-regulated wireless charging mechanism. “The rapid advancements in the sphere of agriculture have led to the development of agricultural vehicles, which has played a central role in increasing agricultural competence and minimizing chronic hunger rates around the globe. Be that as it may, the growing human population has placed immense pressure on agricultural vehicles, of which have grown over-dependent on diesel fuels - a major contributor to global emissions and deteriorating health worldwide. Through this grant, I aim to change the lives of many communities to alleviate the sufferings and hunger of millions around the globe” explain Ayden.

Unlike Ayden fellow winners of MYP Innovator's Grant, Sanandha focuses her project in the challenges faced by women during menstruation among “Manusia Gerobak” or the cart people. As the world flattens, globalization and modernization rise, overshadowing many underprivileged. Sanandha refused to forget these people, and through her project, “I completed a study on the prevalence of period poverty among the gerobak women in my community. The study proved that women who live below the poverty lines do not prioritize their hygiene and health. There was enough information to conclude that period poverty is indeed high among the homeless women. After the completion of the study, I distribute hygiene packages to the homeless women. But to take the initiative to the next level, a pilot project was undertaken to install a sanitary napkin vending machine in Bandung to dispense napkins” said Sanandha.

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD DEALING WITH NEW ROUTINES

Coming to a new environment, or adjusting to a new routine can be overwhelming for children. Your children might be getting used to having you around all the time at home while they joined online learning. This academic year the children are coming back to a new normal way of school, such as waking up early, traveling to school, interacting in person with friends and teachers, and most of all separated from the comfort zone at home.

To deal with the challenges, children need their #1 support, and here are some tips for the parents on how to support the children:

1. Prepare their school stuff together

Children need real examples of how to deal with their days. Guiding your children preparing their stuff will reduce some of their stress and make them feel that you are present for them.

2. Regularly ask about their days and listen attentively

Sometimes children are not willing to express how they feel and sometimes they show it in certain expressions, such as crying, easily feel irritated, or refusing to do things when they come back from school. Parents may ask about their days using these concrete prompts: “Which lesson that is interesting today?”, “Who were playing with you?”, “What makes you feel bad or happy?”. Listen attentively and be patient when they give responses that might not be pleasing. Consistently approaching your children in this way, will help them to feel safe and willing to be more opened with you about their situation.

3. Keep calm and set yourself to be reassuring

As parents, we might feel worried on how our children can survive at school. Don’t let them sense your anxiety and make them feel uneasy at school. Take a deep breathe and stop for a while. Set your tone to be calm and reassuring. Reassure them that everything will be alright and you will be there for them when they come back home.

4. Teach them how to take care of themselves

Equip the children with strategies in dealing with challenges, will help them to be more confident and resilient. Calm down strategies, how to talk to the teachers or friends and do the toilet training are some siimple but important skills that they need to survive at school.

5. Connect with the teachers and other parents

Having a good communication with your child’s homeroom teacher, will help to ease your worries and get the appropriate responses to your concern. Talking to the other parents will benefit you in getting the information and partners in discussion, or even just to cheer up each other.

There are times that as parents, we might not be able to handle our own burdens and that’s the right timing for you to get a support from the school. Parents, please do not hesitate to contact the counsellors if you need the support. Book a meeting with us for in-person meeting at school, or visit our webpage to book an online meeting through this link:

https://www.swa-jkt.com/life-at-swa/parents-online-counselling/.

Reference:

https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/support-child-covid-reopening

https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/features/COVID-19-helping-children-transition-back-to-school.htm