MS HS NEWS

MSHS

Written by Mr. Alex Nenes

Welcome to SWA Infobyte #5! We're thrilled to have you here once again as we keep you updated on all the happenings at MSHS. First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for the incredible support you've shown us over the past 7 weeks. Your encouragement and engagement have been truly inspiring.

As we head towards the end of Term 1, the MSHS program is gearing up for summative assessments. We wish all our students the very best in their tasks. Additionally, mark your calendars for some exciting events in the pipeline. From October 2nd to 5th, we have the much-anticipated WWW trips, followed by Parent-Teacher Conferences on October 6th. Your active participation and involvement in these events are highly encouraged.

I also want to extend my warmest congratulations to all the students who participated in various competitions and events over the past weekend, including the SWA Open House with the theme "SWA Experience," the volleyball tournament, ICAS, basketball, soccer, dance, and debate competitions. Recently 20 universities from North America visited our school to promote their programmes to our High School Students and our whole school Peace Day Celebration was a great success. Students and teachers participated in the walk for peace in SWA’s Peace Garden and placed their pinwheels for peace in a gesture to wish for peace in the world. I really appreciate your dedication and enthusiasm, which are truly commendable. I’d like to dedicate a special thumbs up to our incredible teachers for their guidance and support, and of course, to our parents for standing by our side throughout.

Thank you for being an integral part of our SWA community, and here's to more exciting updates and successes in the weeks to come. Stay tuned for more SWA Infobytes!

MYP Update
Written by Mr. Haoken

1. A Big Thank You to Our Engaged Parents
We greatly appreciate the active participation from parents in our ManageBac workshop on 14th September. The insightful sessions covered key aspects from MYP assessments to optimizing ManageBac for students, teachers, and parents. If you have any further questions or require clarification, please don't hesitate to set up a meeting with us. 

2. Stay Updated on Assessments
Summative Assessments for the coming weeks are listed on ManageBac. We encourage all parents to review this schedule weekly with their child. By inquiring about the results approximately a week post-assessment, parents can help in reinforcing accountability and academic tracking. In addition to our workshop discussions, it's crucial to have a basic understanding of the MYP assessment objectives (A, B, C, D), generally:

• Objective A (Knowing and Understanding): This objective assesses the student's depth of understanding of the subject's key concepts and how they relate to the world around us.

• Objective B (Investigating): Here, students are assessed on their research skills and ability to draw connections from the gathered information.

• Objective C (Communicating): This objective evaluates the students' ability to communicate their understanding and knowledge in a clear, concise manner, both orally and in writing.

• Objective D (Thinking Critically): Students are assessed on their capacity to evaluate information, make informed decisions, and solve problems using critical and creative thinking skills.

3. Applauding Our Future Leaders: The enthusiasm and dedication displayed by our STUCO executive team candidates were truly commendable. The campaigns and speeches bore testimony to the quality of our student body. We celebrate their commitment and the spirit of leadership they've showcased.

4. Spotlight on Service as Action: Our MSHS assemblies this month are dedicated to the pressing topic of introducing Service as Action for Grades 6 through 10. We believe in fostering a spirit of community service, and thus, the completion of Service as Action activities and a dedicated project is crucial. These endeavors also play a significant role in students securing their exam leave for the Semester 1 and 2 Exam sessions. You can delve deeper into our Service as Action Programme in the attached student handbook.

5. Grade 10's Personal Project (PP) Progress: The PP is a unique opportunity for students to drive their own learning. Students select a topic or a subject they are passionate about, set clear objectives, and create a product or outcome. Through this project, students demonstrate the culmination of their MYP journey by applying skills and knowledge they've acquired. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and personal growth. Our Grade 10 students have successfully submitted their Personal Project Objective A Planning on 29 August 2023. They're now fully immersed in the next stage: PP Objective B Applying Skills. We're excited to see their projects come to fruition.

DP Update

Written by Ms. Marta

We hope this message finds you and your families in good health and high spirits. As we reflect on the past two weeks within our high school community, I am happy to share some exciting developments and upcoming events.

CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) Fair
Our recent CAS Fair was a resounding success. Students had the opportunity to explore a wide range of extracurricular activities and community service initiatives. It was inspiring to witness your children's enthusiasm as they engaged with various CAS opportunities that promote personal growth and community involvement. 

Pizza Picnic – Grade 12
The pizza picnic held last week was a wonderful way for our IBDP students to unwind and build stronger connections with their peers. We believe that these moments of camaraderie are essential for their well-being and a balanced high school experience.

Upcoming Event and Announcements: 

1. IBDP Assessment Practices and Principles Meeting
We are pleased to inform you about an important upcoming event that will provide valuable insights into the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) assessment practices and principles.

Date       : Monday, 25 September 2023
Time       : 04:00 pm – 05:30 pm
Location : MSHS Library or Online

This meeting is designed to enhance your understanding of the IBDP assessment process, ensuring both parents and students are well-informed about its intricacies. Topics that will be covered include:

• Overview of IBDP assessments

• Assessment criteria and expectations

• Importance of internal and external assessments

• Tips for successful assessment preparation

We encourage all parents and students to attend this informative session. It will be an excellent opportunity to clarify any doubts and gain a deeper insight into how the IBDP assessments work.

2. Emphasis on Well-Being
As we navigate the demands of the IBDP and high school, we want to emphasize the importance of well-being. Your child's physical and emotional health are integral to their academic success. We encourage open communication at home and at school, and please do not hesitate to reach out to our counsellors or teachers if you have concerns about your child's well-being.

3. Continued Support from Parents
Your ongoing support is invaluable in helping your child thrive academically and personally. We appreciate your dedication to their education and growth. Please continue to engage with your child about their experiences and encourage them to make the most of the opportunities available to them. 

If you have any questions or require further information about any of the mentioned events, please feel free to reach out to me (marta_bobiatynska@swa-jkt.com). 

English Department

Written by Ms. Aleksandra

What do Everyday Leadership, the Lollipop Effect and the Marshmallow Experiment have to do with G8 ELA activities?  

Through a variety of activities that support developing visible thinking strategies and techniques, g, collaboration, organisation, and personal learning strategies, G8 ELA students have been encouraged not only to develop academically but also socially and personally. They prepared presentations, interviews, analysed texts, used a variety of speaking techniques to communicate, gained different perspectives, shared and compared their thoughts and ideas. In one of these activities, G8 students practised listening skills, analysed the titles, evaluated the speaker's point of view throughout the talk, identified leadership qualities and synthesized what they have learned. 

This is how we got inspired by Drew Dudley in his TED talk Everyday Leadership. In his talk, he refers to the idea that leadership is not limited to formal roles or positions of authority. Instead, he emphasizes that leadership can be demonstrated in everyday actions and interactions.  This concept helped students realize that they can be leaders in their own right by exhibiting these qualities in their daily lives. Discussing everyday leadership, students developed a more nuanced understanding of leadership beyond the traditional notions of power and authority. They explored how qualities like empathy, communication, and teamwork are essential components of effective leadership. 

The Lollipop Effect is a metaphor for the effect of small acts of kindness. It suggests that when one person performs a kind deed, it can inspire others to do the same, creating a chain reaction of positivity. 

The Marshmallow Experiment is a classic psychological study that explores the concept of delayed gratification. In this experiment, children were given the choice between eating a marshmallow immediately or waiting for a period to receive two marshmallows. The ability to delay gratification is often linked to future success and self-discipline. In Grade 8 ELA activities, students learned about this experiment and discussed its implications for leadership. The Marshmallow Experiment can be used to highlight the importance of self-discipline and long-term thinking in leadership. Students learned about making decisions that prioritize the greater good or long-term benefits over immediate rewards. They also reflected on the role of patience and self-control. 

We talked about the way the titles can be interpreted, starting from those with a clear message to those that are metaphors. And, the students were rewarded with candies for their patience and persistence with special messages that even small deeds may have a big impact on someone. And that is how we went from Everyday Leadership to 1+2+2 candies. 

And now, we have two prospective leaders. Guess who they are. 

Science and Design Department

Written by Ms. Michelle & Mr. Aldrin

Grade 8 students explore the science of life

Grade 8 Science students have been diving deep into the fascinating world of life this term. In their unit entitled 'Science of Life,' they have explored topics such as photosynthesis, respiration, the carbon cycle, and basic chemistry. One exciting activity involved students taking on the role of a carbon atom and moving around different stations to simulate the carbon cycle. To move around the cycle, students must flip their two coins and follow the instructions at each station depending on what combination of heads or tails they get. Some even got locked up as sedimentary rocks, emphasizing the long and transformative journey that carbon atoms undergo within the carbon cycle.

For their summative task, the students showcased their creativity and knowledge by designing and constructing personalized terrariums. Looking at the balanced carbon cycle within these miniature ecosystems, the students not only gained a deeper understanding of the intricate connections between living organisms and their environment but also learned how they can contribute to a sustainable future.

Grade 8 Students Showcase the Importance of Encryption in Digital Design

In today's increasingly digital world, the importance of cybersecurity and encryption cannot be overstated. With sensitive information being transmitted and stored online, the need to protect this data from prying eyes is more critical than ever. Recognizing the significance of encryption, a group of Grade 8 students embarked on a creative journey to highlight its importance during their Digital Design subject. Through their innovative video project, they not only demonstrated their technical skills but also raised awareness about the vital role encryption plays in safeguarding our digital lives.

The Project Idea

The idea to create a video showcasing the importance of encryption was conceived when the students were learning about data security and privacy in their Digital Design class and introduced to them the concept of encryption and its role in safeguarding sensitive information. Inspired by this lesson, the students brainstormed ways to educate their peers and the broader community about this crucial aspect of digital safety.

Mathematics Department
Written by Mr. Lukas

Empowering Grade 9 Students with Factorisation Video Tutorials

In the current math lessons, Grade 9 International Mathematics students are diving into the world of factorisation. They're learning how to factor numbers by finding common factors, understanding the difference between two squares, and recognizing perfect squares, among other techniques. To wrap up this learning journey, students have an exciting task: creating video tutorials that explain these factorisation methods.

The main goal of this activity is to empower students as both learners and teachers. By making these video tutorials, they not only deepen their own understanding of factorisation but also improve their communication skills. These tutorials will be valuable resources for their classmates, offering different ways of explaining math concepts. Beyond the classroom, the students aim to build a supportive learning community where everyone can access these resources to excel in math, creating a collaborative and inclusive environment for all.

A Fun and Educational Journey for Grade 6 Students

In a recent math class, our Grade 6 Additional Mathematics students embarked on an exciting mathematical adventure, delving into the fascinating world of prime numbers, highest common factors (HCF), and lowest common multiples (LCM). The main project for our students involved applying their newfound knowledge to real-life problem-solving scenarios. Alongside these practical applications, the students got creative with artsy factoring trees, designing, and colouring these intricate mathematical trees. This artistic endeavour not only allowed them to reinforce their understanding but also encouraged creativity and expression in the world of math. Furthermore, the students explored the playful side of math by designing their own "monster primes." These quirky and cute monsters represented numbers, making math more relatable and enjoyable.

The primary aim of these activities was to empower our students with a deeper understanding of prime numbers, HCF, and LCM. By applying their knowledge to real-life problems, creating colourful factoring trees, and designing imaginative number monsters, they not only reinforced their mathematical skills but also developed critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.

Chinese Department
Written by Mr.Andy

To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, grade 6 students actively participated in a creative hands-on craft activity during their Chinese language class. They began by collecting materials and delving into the history and cultural significance of mooncakes. Then, they unleashed their creativity, using various materials such as foam plastic boards and modelling clay, to embark on their mooncake-making journey.

During the classroom presentation, the students proudly displayed their creative masterpieces with smiles of pride. They not only shared the sources of their inspiration but also explained the distinctive features and creative elements of each mooncake. The entire class, along with the teachers, applauded these young artists for their creativity and effort.

Indonesian Department
Written by Ms. Junita

Grade 6 ILL students learned how to express their ideas by writing expository text. They discovered the importance of structure, organization, and the use of concise language to convey their thoughts effectively. One of the students' assignments was writing an expository text about Batik. They did research about the types of Batik in Indonesia. After they were done, they picked one and wrote about it. While they were doing the research, they found some processes of making Batik, such as writing, stamping, combining, painting, tie-dyeing, and printing. To hone students' creativity, they made their own batik using the tie-dyeing technique (Batik Jumputan).

At the end of our learning, students presented their work to the class. 

Individuals and Society Department
Written by Ms. Renu

In our Grade 9 Economics class, students are diving into the concept of elasticity (price elasticity of demand PED), which is fundamentally rooted in the idea of change. Elasticity allows us to measure how both consumers and producers respond to shifts in variables affecting demand and supply, enabling us to analyse market dynamics when change occurs and evaluate its consequences. To aid their understanding, students are employing creative mind mapping techniques, which are powerful tools for visualising and connecting key concepts, reinforcing their comprehension of elasticity and its real-world implications.

Visual Arts

Written by Mr. Alan

The Making Of “Silent Walk of Peace” -  PinWheels Making

In this week 6, visual art students are making pinwheels for the upcoming International Peace Day on 21 September 2023. This Pinwheel is one of a symbolic peace of hope for Sinarmas World Academy and was also one of the most memorable activities that took place three years ago before the pandemic. So I decided to reuse this idea but with serenity, where students just held their own pinwheels and walked silently to the peace garden amphitheatre and planted the pinwheels of each grade level.

Music
Written by Mr. Freddy

We are very grateful to have some strings students who are always willing and committed to spend their time to practice together consistently and contributing to school events during their busy schedules, and this year the number of members has also increased. This term, one of their project was to collaborate with the Grade 5 ES students to perform two Chinese songs to welcome the Shaolin Temple team from China at the assembly's opening, last Monday, 11 September in Trini Dewi Theatre. 

This performance is a collaboration between the Chinese and Music Departments and the strings students, especially the new members enjoyed a lot playing in a strings ensemble and with the hulusi from Grade 5 students. Hopefully, in the future, we will have more string students to complete the ensemble. 

At the beginning of September, the MSHS held an “SA and CAS Launch” Assembly coordinated by Miss Elma as the SA/CAS coordinator, and during the assembly, all the MSHS students got an opportunity to express their creativity through music and dance performances as part of this launching assembly. The Grade 6 students presented a hulusi performance, while their seniors presented their intercultural arrangements of singing and dancing performances. All were choreographed by the students themselves as freedom of artistic communication and creative expression in positive collaborative works. You can watch the highlights videos recorded by the creative SWA Design Team in the SA/CAS article below. The Timbre band closed the assembly with the much-anticipated final performance. 

By this opportunity, we would like to congratulate Woojun and Chelsea for taking the new leadership of Timbre with their new executives. And we would like to give our appreciation and gratitude to Gabriel as the sixth president of Timbre who has been working so hard the whole year together with the super creative executives, Matthew, Jason, and Chelsea. Under their leadership, Timbre has created a lot of excellent performances and made great contributions to our school events and musical adventures. Below is one of the performances they created for the Recognition Day assembly. We are all very grateful and proud to have a lot of talented and creative students in the SWA Family. 

SA/CAS
Written by Ms. Elma

SA/CAS Launch Assembly

Our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your outstanding collaborative efforts in making our SA/CAS Launch Assembly a memorable one. All students demonstrated incredible teamwork in organising an entertaining performance with their classmates. The colourful booth with engaging activities added an extra layer of excitement to the event, and the delightful spread of colour-themed potluck dishes brought joy and unity to our celebration. Not only did we come together to launch this year's SA/CAS projects, but we also had the privilege of commemorating the Brazilian Independence Day with a special performance.

We want to extend our deepest appreciation to our HR teachers, SA/CAS supervisors, and subject teachers for their unwavering support and guidance. With your mentorship, our students are well-equipped to embark on their project journeys and make a meaningful impact on our society. To our supportive parents, your presence and the delicious food and treats you shared enriched our gathering and made it even more special. Your involvement is deeply cherished. 

A special shout-out to Mr. Freddy, whose expertise and assistance were invaluable in ensuring the seamless execution of this event. Your dedication did not go unnoticed. Together, we are shaping a brighter future and fostering a sense of togetherness within our school community.

For those who couldn't join us in person, we invite you to relive the unforgettable moments through the following performance videos.

• G6 Hulusi

• Brazilian ‘Girl from Ipanema’ Performance 

• G7 ‘ASAP’ Performance 

• G8 ‘Tunak Tunak Tun’ Performance 

• G9 ‘We’re All in this Together’ Performance 

• G11 Kylie Wushu 

• G11 ‘Super Shy’ Performance 

• G12 ‘I See the LIght’ Performance 

Following the event, students have been insightfully and entertainingly reflecting on their experience, through write-ups, videos and other forms. Please enjoy reading some of them below:

Maxi G9

During the SA/CAS assembly, I learned a lot. For starters, we developed many skills which include skills teamwork and communication. Communication is one of the major aspects of the performance. In the creation of the dance, there were some major contributors in ideas, leaving the rest of us to organize and cooperate with each other to pull off an amazing performance. Although I have performed countless times, I had never actually danced before, having sung in all my prior experiences. This activity essentially helped me reinforce my lack of confidence. The other activity that me and my G8 team did was run a booth. For that booth, we decided to design and print stickers. Unfortunately, because of the ongoing Bio summative project and lack of time, I was not able to finish all of the designs. To compensate, me and my team ran a clay modelling booth, one of my teammates, Grant, brought the clay and together we created clay sculptures (in the shape of animals) to display on our booth. Overall, I think the assembly went well, however, we can improve with more communication skills and teamwork. 

Grant (G9)

For the SA assembly, every class would have to come up with a performance. Our class after a few discussions have come up with a high school musical. We practised for the performance for 2 weeks. My role in the performance is acting as one of the audience members. For many of the parts of the performance, I stood a part of the circle while our main performers did their parts in the center. It was quite fun though the strict treatment we had to practice was frustrating and annoying at times. Not only that, after the performances, we had a booth. Our SA group wanted to create some kind of game where we could bring people together. To do this, we decided to host a clay modelling game. To bring people together, we would make them find a group between 2 to 5 members. We also used popcorn to try to attract people's attention, but that backfired as this made a big mess. All in all, the experience brought our class together which I enjoyed. 

Erica G9

Although the dance may be simple, it was difficult for all of us to work together. With collaborative, communicative and leadership skills, we were able to complete the dance. Through this activity, the class as a whole was able to enhance our ATL skills/thinking skills (communication and teamwork). We thought of the positions and the movements together as a class and applied/combined our ideas. 

Victor G9

Although I had danced before, I built a lot of confidence during the class performance. Since I was new to the school and I didn't know a lot of people, I was really nervous. But I thought that being nervous is part of learning and we were together in a group. It was my first performance in this school and I really enjoyed it. It was fun and I learned a lot from it.  We should have more events like this or maybe something else different since we all get to learn new things for personal growth and socializing. 

Nathan G9

During the SA/CAS Assembly me and my classmates were asked to perform a high-school musical dance together, and afterwards having our own booth featuring our old SA activities from last year, and also an activity to keep the audience entertained. In my opinion, not only that it went well, but I also felt that I actually improved some of my own skills during the assembly. Through the dance, we are able to learn and improve our collaborative skills, coordination skills, and also boost our confidence level for future events. When we were presenting our booths, I improved my leadership skills, such as when I was helping and giving out roles to my team members. Overall one weakness and fear that I overcame was the fear of performing, or stage fright. Conquering stage fright would be really useful for me in the future, as I would just be presenting and be on stage almost all the time, and I think it would be useful for my university conference and interviews. In conclusion, I really think that these events would really help not only the community but also help us to improve our life skills that are implemented almost everywhere in our life. Really big appreciation to all my classmates for organizing the grade 9 performance, and I am looking forward to other events related to community service. 

Moreno G9

My strength coming into this activity was being able to collaborate with different types of people no matter who they are. During and after this activity I learnt to be more confident with myself. Performing in front of more than 100 people allowed me to gain more confidence. Not only that I participated in a part where I and 3 of my other friends had a part in which we were basically in the spotlight. Before doing this activity I would have been a lot less confident and shy, however during the practice I learnt to have more confidence and trust in myself. 

Keanu G9

On the 7th of September, we (grade 9) danced in front of an audience as a group, to the song "We're all in this together". This was coordinated by the girls and then approved by the rest of the class, this shows open-mindedness. I had been chosen as one of the two lead roles in this dance. In the song, the person I am meant to dance for is, Zac Efron. I had been a fan of Zac Efron, so naturally I was nervous. I humbly accepted this responsibility. I made sure that I could properly portray Zac Efron, by practicing the movements to near perfection. during the rehearsal, my legs were shaking uncontrollably, I was smiling with nervousness. I thought I was going to pass out. But during the actual performance, it felt like a weight had been lifted. I no longer needed the approval of the audience, I no longer needed the feeling of being validated by the people watching me. I stopped shaking. I moved with such confidence, I felt truly complete. I believe this will slowly bleed into other parts of my life and slowly but surely, I will be able to live my life with confidence.