MS HS NEWS

MSHS
Written by Mr. Alex Nenes

Welcome to Infobyte #4!

Time flies, doesn't it? We've already wrapped up the first month of school, and we all have been quite busy with all the activities here at our campus. The school has been bustling with energy, and it's been wonderful to see our students engaged in their studies and various activities. 

I'm excited to share that our extracurricular activities and support lessons have started. We believe these opportunities will greatly benefit our students, helping them explore new interests and excel in their learning journey. 

On Thursday, 24 August, all MSHS students and teachers gathered in the MSHS Sports Centre for a fun day activity. The SWA Student Council led the activity and everyone had lots of fun with the different games and activities which are part of our commitment to community building and well-being.

STUCO election campaigns will start soon and it is very exciting to see our students participating in this democratic exercise in which they will choose the next SWA student council office for the academic year 2023/2024. 

The CAS/SA showcase has just concluded on 7 September, and our talented students have been diligently preparing to present their projects. All parents were invited to join us in celebrating our students' achievements in their commitment to Service Learning, a vital aspect of SWA's mission, which promotes a "strong sense of social responsibility." The CAS/SA Exhibition occurred during our MSHS Assembly, held from 2:00 to 3:00 PM in the ES Gym.

We recently had some special visitors – a couple of our alumni, Chris and Grace from the class of 2022, dropped by to say hello. It's always a joy to see our former students thriving beyond our campus. 

Here's to a fantastic upcoming month filled with learning, growth, and exciting moments. Thank you for being a part of our school family.

MYP Update

Written by Mr. Haoken

Greetings MYP Families,

A Balanced Approach to Learning

The foundation of our academic strategy revolves around the belief that a happy child learns best. Our curriculum, while intellectually challenging, is not just about academics. It is equally about catering to the social and emotional needs of our students. We accomplish this balance through a triad of Academic, Pastoral, and Values in Action.

Key Notices and Reminders for upcoming weeks:

1. Homework Guidelines: Homework is designed to extend learning beyond the classroom. We have specified time limits for homework in each grade level, ensuring that students have a balanced workload. Please consult the specific time allocation for each subject and grade level in MYP, and reach out if you have any concerns.

   •  Grade 6       : 60 minutes per week per subject (except Math which is 90 minutes per week)

   •  Grade 7 - 8  : 80 minutes per week per subject (except Math which is 120 minutes per week)

   • Grade 9 - 10 : 100 minutes per week per subject (except Math which is 150 minutes per week)

2. Parental Partnership: Thank you for the overwhelming participation in our 'Selamat Datang' MYP Grade Level orientation. Your involvement is invaluable to us, and we look forward to our follow-up workshop.

3. Extracurricular Activities: Our EX/Service as Action (SA)/Sports Teams sessions have commenced. Please coordinate with your child to ensure timely pickup.

4. Academic Support Classes: For students who need extra help, we offer support classes in Math, English, and Science. These take precedence over non-paid EX and CAS activities.

5. Safety Drills: We've completed a round of disaster preparedness drills. Please take time to discuss these essential safety measures with your child.

6. Managebac: This platform is crucial for tracking academic progress. If you're facing any login issues, do not hesitate to get in touch with our admin.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we jointly foster an environment where academic excellence coexists with emotional well-being.

DP Update

Written by Ms. Marta

It seems that we have just started this school year and suddenly we are in the middle of the first term. This only shows that time flies by really fast. Our senior class students are intensifying their work on Internal Assessments as well as the Extended and TOK essays, while Grade 11 students are at the beginning of this journey. With the CAS programme launching this week, I want to encourage you to support our varsities. We are still waiting for passionate volleyball and football players to join the school team. 

While focusing on academics, we shall not forget about the students’ well-being. Dealing with stress is not always easy for adults and as such, even more for teenagers. A lot has been written about how parents can support their children who are IBDP students especially during the final year of high school. On this occasion, I would like to recommend the following article - Helping your children through exams.

Last but not least, please see below information about upcoming deadlines for Grade 12 students:

11/09 - HL: Chinese A, English A, Indonesian A, Korean A - Essay Rough Draft

19/09 - Economics HL/SL - IA Commentary #2

25/09 - 29/09 - HL + SL: Chinese A, English A, Indonesian A, Korean A - Individual Oral Exams

30/09 - Early University Applications Deadline

Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions or concerns regarding the IB Diploma Programme at our school.

English Department

Written by Ms Katherine

This term the English Department are delving into the ever-evolving world of media literacy. In today's digital age, understanding how media influences our lives is more important than ever. During this unit, students explored various aspects of media and analysed how each campaign is created with a particular purpose, message, target audience and certain persuasive techniques. Grade 8 immersed themselves into the world of public service announcements (PSAs). These short, persuasive videos or messages play a crucial role in raising awareness about social issues.  

For their summative, they were tasked with analysing existing PSAs and for the culminating activity, which is the most exciting part, students will have the opportunity to create their own public service announcements based on the dystopian world that is portrayed in the novel The Hunger Games. Armed with the knowledge gained from their analysis, they'll craft powerful, thought-provoking messages that reflect the themes and values of "The Hunger Games." This hands-on project empowers them to be both media consumers and creators, fostering essential skills for the digital age.

Science and Design Department

Written by Mr. Chitty

It is hard to believe that the first month has flown by so quickly. The department has been rather busy of late, with experiments, explorations and various classroom activities across all the grades. As a new member of staff at SWA, I must say how impressed I am with the engagement of the students. They have been asking so many varied and interesting questions. Their willingness and confidence to ask questions is worthy of note as this is an essential part of the learning process. 

We have now also begun our extracurricular and support sessions and these are a valuable opportunity for students to extend and challenge themselves, as well as obtaining some individualised support if necessary. I would encourage all students to make use of the support sessions - come along to ask even more questions or delve deeper into approaches to learning strategies that will be beneficial across the subjects.

In DP Biology the grade 11s extracted DNA from different fruits and the grade 12s extracted chlorophyll from spinach leaves to carry out a chromatography lab. Grade 10 biologists have been learning about the different types of reproduction in both plants and animals. Grade 6 science students have been working incredibly hard as we learn how to design an experiment and then analyse and evaluate the results.

Mathematics Department
Written by Ms. Olive

In Grade 7 International Mathematics class, students take an active approach to learning about statistical graphs. They formed expert groups to discuss assigned graph types, and through group discussions, they explored the advantages and disadvantages of various graphs like pictograms, bar charts, pie charts, and line graphs. By actively engaging in these discussions, they not only identify when and where each graph is used but also understand how and why they are chosen in different situations. This hands-on, group-based learning helps them become mathematically confident in interpreting and creating data representations.

Chinese Department
Written by Mr Xia

Grade 8 students were divided into groups to do language and literature exercises in class. How to describe a character in a literary work, the important contribution of environment description, language description, action description, and appearance description in constructing the meaning of the work is an important content for students to learn and share. Through these activities, students not only improved academically but also practised the skills of cooperation and sharing

Indonesian Department
Written by Ms. Yulia

This time, the 9th-grade Indonesian language and literature class engaged in a group presentation activity. They presented the results of their thoughts and discussions on the topics of health, sports, and diet, which are the titles of the Indonesian language and literature unit in this first term. They were given a prompt to imagine themselves as both athletes and students. 

They discussed together how to balance these two activities in their lives. The purpose of this activity was to sharpen their imagination, critical thinking skills, and ability to communicate verbally effectively on topics related to it. The students have demonstrated good performance at the beginning of a series of oral activities they will carry out in the future. Most of them have shown good cooperation to achieve the results they desire. 

In general, all students have the potential to achieve maximum results because they have demonstrated a willingness to listen to the feedback provided by the teacher.

Individuals & Society Department
Written by Ms. Katherine and Mr. Alex

Exploring the Causes of World War I: Engaging Learning in Grade 7 Individuals and Societies

In the vibrant classrooms of Grade 7 Individuals and Societies, students have been investigating the history of the 20th century, with a special focus on World War I (WWI). The curriculum has been designed to spark curiosity and cultivate critical thinking skills, all students learn of events that shaped our world. 

During these recent lessons, our young G7 historians have been looking into the causes of WWI. This topic has provided an incredible opportunity for lively class discussions, allowing students to analyse sources, exchange ideas, and develop their analytical abilities. The students' enthusiasm and engagement have been great, creating an atmosphere of excitement and learning within the classroom.

As the summative assessments draw near, we hope all students are well-prepared to showcase their knowledge and skills. By skillfully combining historical context, source analysis, and classroom interactions, our Grade 7 Individuals and Societies students are well-equipped to present a comprehensive understanding of the causes that led to the events of World War I. 

Accompanying the lessons, thought-provoking images have been presented to visually enhance the students' learning experience. These visuals help students develop their understanding of the complex historical landscape and make the content accessible to all learners, regardless of their level of English proficiency. 

The Grade 7 Individuals and Societies curriculum's exploration of the causes of World War I has ignited a fire of curiosity and knowledge within our students. By fostering class discussions, critical thinking, and visual aids, an engaging and enriching learning environment has been created. 

Music
Written by Mr. Freddy

All the Grade 6 MYP1 Music students this term are working on the unit of Orchestra from Western Art Music and the other types of orchestra. They worked in groups to discuss and explore more knowledge from the history, instruments classification, and the notations to be presented in front of the class. As the practical project, they prepared some performances using the classic wind instrument from China, hulusi. They will perform in the CAS Launch Assembly as the opening on Thursday, 7 September 2023, and also in the Mid Autumn Festival Assembly at the end of September 2023 presenting pop music and Chinese music. 

They will record the preparation process in the journal for their reflection to always improve their music creativity in the future. They feel happy and enthusiastic every time they do collaborative work in Music with the whole class and it helps them to improve musicianship and communication skills among others to produce successful performances in harmony. 

Visual Arts
Written by Mr. Alan

This term in Visual Art class, students are learning about the elements of art, with a focus on lines and cultural identities. Grade 7 and Grade 8 students are exploring the concept of identity and how it can influence our culture. To kickstart this exploration, we began with a formative assignment that delves into the most significant culture in China: the Mid-Autumn Festival, where mooncakes play a central role as a symbol of reunion, family, and peace.

This activity was coordinated with the Chinese department, and there will be a Mid-Autumn Festival where students' mooncakes will be displayed. Grade 9 students are currently exploring and sketching various mythical creatures, delving into what they represent and how they influenced the beliefs of people in ancient times. Meanwhile, DP1 students are focusing on photorealism and portraiture drawing. Here are some snapshots:

SA/CAS
Written by Ms. Elma

SA/CAS Launch Assembly

This Thursday’s combined "Service as Action (SA) and CAS Launch Assembly" with class performances, booths, and potluck is hoped to inspire and celebrate the contributions of SWA students to their communities and beyond. It aims to emphasise the significance of holistic student development through creativity, physical activity, multicultural understanding and community engagement. 

There were class performances that provided a platform for students to receive recognition for their efforts in creative pursuits, personal growth and communication. Different booths showcased various student initiatives and acknowledged the commitment of students to making positive changes. Interactive displays, demonstrations, and presentations at the booths offer hands-on learning experiences. The engagement with other students and discussions about the projects is to motivate students to actively participate and take action to address societal issues.

The potluck symbolises students, parents, teachers, and community members coming together and appreciating multicultural diversity.

Preliminary Korean - Indonesian Exchange Programme

On 25 August, Jaeyi, Grade 11, attended SDN Ujung Menteng 01 Pagi and served as an interpreter, effectively bridging the language gap between Korean and Indonesian. She played a pivotal role in unpacking the "culture box" prepared by Korean students for their Indonesian counterparts. This box contained traditional food, snacks, clothing (Hanbok), and even games like Yutnori (윷놀이), a traditional board game played with special wooden blocks. 

This visit was part of a preliminary exchange program initiated by the Jeollabuk-do Office of Education with two local schools in Indonesia, Jakarta SDN Ujung Menteng 01 Pagi and Yogyakarta SDIT Salsabila Al Muthi'in, which has been ongoing since July 21st. 

Jaeyi's active involvement in the SWA CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) program and her vision to deliver a lecture during the upcoming offline event was warmly received by the principal, headmaster, and local teenage scouts. 

This project is highly anticipated by both the Korean and Indonesian governments as a significant component of post-pandemic education reform. Additionally, 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and South Korea. Jaeyi's role as an ambassador of cultural exchange, driven by her participation in CAS programs and her international education at Sinarmas World Academy, exemplifies the transformative power of these programs in fostering global citizens who bridge cultures and promote mutual understanding.