MSHS NEWS

MSHS

MSHS Update

Written by Mr. Rob

One of our goals this year in the MSHS, which came from feedback from students, parents and teachers, is to diversify the use of our assembly time and use it for the purpose of building up the community connections and school spirit. It is actually true that school should be FUN and having everyone together, students and teachers alike, to engage in physical activities and games with each other is a great way for us to meet this goal. 

We have house competitions with our newly formed teams happening this week and last week we had our wonderful student leader in STUCO plan out some team-building activities where our students and teachers could participate. It was amazing to see all of the smiling faces as we enjoyed some student vs. teacher dodgeball as well as some combined caterpillar game. I look forward to incorporating more house and grade level sports and physical activities into our monthly planning as we love to see the Mighty Macan in action!

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Written by Ms.Vera

The English Additional Language (EAL) Class is dedicated to enhancing students' English skills, helping them achieve greater success across all their subjects.

In Grades 6 and 7, students began by reviewing word classes, an essential foundation for grammar and writing conventions. Using whiteboards, they practised correct spelling and grammar usage, focusing on topics like Proper Nouns and the differences between "a" and "an." They also explored adjectives as descriptive words, enjoying activities like creating acrostic names with adjectives that best describe them. They then translated these adjectives into their native languages and shared them with the class, fostering cultural exchange, building vocabulary, and enhancing their confidence in speaking.

In Grade 10, our new students from China are developing their English skills through engaging listening exercises using an audio story. They fill in vocabulary blanks for spelling practice, identify word classes, complete reading comprehension tasks, and memorise short stories to build speaking confidence.

Through these activities, our EAL students are steadily building their proficiency in the four key English skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. We are optimistic that as they continue to strengthen these skills, they will gain the confidence needed to excel in all areas of their education.

INDONESIAN DEPARTMENT

Written by Ms. Yulia 

In the previous Term 1, Grade 6 and Grade 7 Indonesian language and literature classes were introduced to novel reading as a teaching material to develop basic literacy skills, such as reading, understanding, writing, and expressing opinions, both orally and in writing. In addition to understanding the story by discussing its elements, students also learned to transform the story into a short drama script according to its rules. After that, they practised articulating the script with proper pronunciation, intonation, and expression, so that its meaning and purpose could be understood by the audience.

Students seemed to enjoy the stories they read, showing good engagement when asked to read the stories independently or in groups, and also when asked to select and write the drama script together with their group. The students demonstrated excellent participation and cooperation throughout the teaching and learning process.

It is hoped that by starting lessons with literacy skills, it will help students understand upcoming lesson materials and, most importantly, increase their interest in reading and appreciation for literature in general, and Indonesian literature in particular

INDIVIDUALS & SOCIETIES DEPARTMENT

Written by Ms. Aleksandra

Global Perspectives in Action: A Journey through Society, Culture, and the Environment

Our Global Perspectives classes at SWA have been full of activities, with students engaged in thought-provoking discussions and collaborative projects. Here’s a glimpse into what we’ve been exploring:

Arts in Society: Students delved into how art reflects communities and their values, discussing street art, music, and theatre. They examined local art projects and considered how popular culture shapes global and national identities. 

Change in Culture and Communities: The impact of popular culture on society and the ever-evolving communities we live in provided rich discussion material. Students researched community growing spaces, comparing initiatives around the world that foster sustainable growth.

Climate Change, Energy, and Resources: Addressing one of the most pressing global issues, students analysed the path to net zero, discussed the sustainability of renewable energy, and looked at how countries are adapting to climate change. Some tackled the complex question: How sustainable is renewable energy?

Conflict and Peace: Examining the causes and consequences of conflict, students analysed historical and present-day conflicts, researching solutions and debating ways to resolve disputes.

Development, Trade, and Aid: Students looked into the impact of fast fashion on the world and discussed the rise of cryptocurrency. With their sights on action, they brainstormed ways in which charitable aid can address global inequality.

These topics illustrate not just classroom lessons but students’ growing awareness and desire to engage with the world around them. With lively discussions and research, Global Perspectives continues to be an enriching space where students share ideas, learn from diverse perspectives, and gain tools to understand and act on global issues.

MUSIC

Written by Mr. Freddy

This semester, our Grade 6 MYP 1 Music students embarked on an exciting journey with their Digital Orchestra project. As part of their summative assessment, students created their own mini digital music arrangements of favorite songs using Flat.io, developing essential skills in melodic composition, chord progressions, phrasing, dynamics, and rhythm, laying a foundation for their future compositions. With the freedom to express creativity in a supportive environment, they’ve gained progress and learned extensively, even if the results aren’t perfect, applying not only their musical skills but also key ATL skills, including collaboration, creative thinking, and time management. This helped them grow both musically and personally.

Building on our orchestra unit, where students explored the history and structure of orchestras, this project allowed them to arrange music with all four instrument families, experience conducting, and manage time signatures. Beyond enhancing their musicality, the project encouraged self-expression and creativity without pressure, and students truly enjoyed the process of creating and learning together. The ATL skills they practiced, such as reflecting on their work, communicating their musical ideas, and taking ownership of their learning, will continue to support them in future projects, fostering a fun, judgment-free space for growth and creativity.

VISUAL ARTS

Written by Ms. Jeanie 

Grade 7 Visual Art students have been drawing from observation and learning to use tools to create drawings. They learned how to make a shoe look three-dimensional by drawing their shoe using a single line. Students next  learned to draw using linear perspective and have used a triangle to draw perpendicular lines and create boxes. Grade 7 students have learned about the surreal art style and will be creating perspective street drawings this term showing a chosen place. The shoe will be turned into something new that reflects the surreal style such as a plane, car, boat or train to add visual interest. Students will finalize their drawing by adding creative details with coloured pencils to show their unique surreal idea. 

UGC

Written by Mr. Stan