EYES NEWS

EYES

EY Kartini Day and Earth Day

Written by Ms. Yuyun and Ms. Grace

In the spirit of this year’s Kartini Day and Earth Day celebration theme, “Kartini Masa Kini, Peduli Bumi Sejak Dini,” students were encouraged to embody Kartini’s spirit by thinking wisely, acting responsibly, and caring for the environment. 🌿

The week was filled with meaningful and thoughtful activities as students engaged in making art and creative projects using recyclable materials such as tissue rolls, paper, plastic bottles, and more! ♻️ This hands-on activity was a way to teach students that even items that may seem impractical can be transformed into something creative.

The highlight of the event was surely… the Indonesian traditional costume parade and fashion show! Students proudly dressed in traditional costumes, representing the rich cultural diversity of Indonesia—from the most western provinces to the easternmost regions 🇮🇩 The celebration continued with special performances, where each level showcases to parents what they had prepared as a way of living out the spirit of Ibu Kartini.

ES Kartini Day

Written by Ms. Farah and Ms. Ayu

Kartini Day: Voices of Strength, Echoes of Change

On April 17, SWA ES department celebrated Kartini Day with the theme Kartini: Voices of Strength, Echoes of Change. The event opened with a vibrant assembly featuring student performances that honoured the legacy of R.A. Kartini. The program began with a powerful storytelling session and a heartfelt poem recitation about Kartini’s courage and vision. This was followed by a beautiful performance by our music ensemble, a colourful traditional fashion show where students showcased the rich cultural heritage of Indonesia and ended with a captivating traditional Indonesian dance.

A highlight of the event was the inspiring showcase of student-written stories, honouring women who have broken barriers, uplifted communities, and sparked meaningful change—proof that Kartini’s spirit continues to inspire across generations.

Parents were warmly welcomed and joined in celebrating this meaningful occasion. The event not only honoured a national heroine but also reminded us all of the importance of empowering voices and continuing the journey of change.

INFANT - Literacy 

Written by Ms. Anne-Jill

Blue-tiful Discoveries in Infant Class! 💙

This week in Infant Class, our little explorers had a blue-tiful time learning all about the colour blue! To kick things off, babies pulled shiny blue paper out of a surprise box—this simple activity helped strengthen their fine motor skills and sparked excitement through visual and tactile exploration. Next, we went on a blue hunt! Using a sensory tray filled with various objects, the infants practiced early colour recognition by reaching for and discovering blue items—an excellent way to develop focus and hand-eye coordination. During story time, we read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, encouraging the children to listen and engage with the story through eye contact and visual tracking. For our little artists, we had a bubbly art project! The babies spread blue paint over bubble wrap and stamped their blue horse artwork—messy fun with purpose, supporting both creativity and fine motor development. It was a week full of wonder, movement, language, and giggles—all wrapped up in a beautiful shade of blue! 💙

NURSERY - Mathematics

Written by Ms. Mary Ann

During the first three weeks, the Nursery children had a wonderful time learning about different numbers in a fun and exciting way. They engaged in various hands-on and experiential activities to help them effectively master early number concepts. One of the activities we conducted was an outdoor exploration, where the students dug in the sandpit to collect colourful pebbles using shovels, counting them as they went along. They also used real items such as numbered cups, sticks, and collected balls from a plastic swimming pool to further develop their one-to-one correspondence skills. Working in groups encouraged the children to collaborate and support one another’s learning.

The students were also invited to choose their favourite numbers to decorate and describe, for example saying, “2 is my favourite number.” Another engaging activity involved using play money to buy vegetables of their choice. Through this experience, the children explored important mathematical concepts such as ‘more’ and ‘less’, as well as the basics of adding and taking away as they managed their purchases.

Additionally, the students were introduced to how numbers are written. Interestingly, they have started singing aloud the verbal path as they practise writing numbers 1-5, making the learning process even more joyful and engaging.

PRE-KINDERGARTEN - Understanding the World

Written by Ms. Joy

The Pre-K children have been learning about the super amazing stuff up in the sky – the Sun, moon, stars, and all the planets! It's been so much fun finding out their names and characteristics that make each planet special. We even made our classroom into our very own spaceship classroom! We coloured our own planets, and they look so bright and amazing up high in the classroom. Each artwork shows how much they are learning and makes them feel super proud seeing them every day! We are also welcomed by our spaceship and astronaut photo booth by the classroom door, where we can pretend to be astronauts ourselves! 

To make the experience more engaging, we made our own cool space helmets and then hopped into our rocket ship (which was really just us pretending!). We sang our favourite space songs, "We're Going on a Rocket Ship,” “Space Race,” and “Sun, Moon and Stars” as we zoomed off into space in our imaginations. Learning about the Sun and planets is like a big, fun game, and we are having the best time discovering all the amazing things in our Solar System!

K1 - Indonesian Language

Written by Ms. Asti

In our Indonesian Language lessons, learning comes alive through experiences that are both joyful and meaningful. This term, our young learners embarked on an exciting space-themed journey as they explored the solar system, and along the way, they also grew their love for language, imagination, and discovery.

We began by introducing the children to the planets in our solar system through simple storytelling, songs, and visual aids. As they learned the names and order of the planets in Bahasa Indonesia, they were filled with wonder and curiosity. We imagined what it would be like to visit Mars, fly past Saturn’s rings, or feel the warmth of the Sun, all while building vocabulary, pronunciation, and confidence in expressing ideas.

K2 - PE

Written by Mr. Victor

We are excited to share that our Kindergarten students had a wonderful first day of swimming! From our land-based practices to finally dressing up for the session, we were so happy to see everyone present and ready to participate. It was a pleasant surprise to see how confident and excited the children were to get into the pool. We look forward to continuing to build their confidence, skills, and love for swimming in the coming weeks. Thank you for your support at home! Well done to all of us!

GRADE 1 - PE

Written by Mr. Victor

Our Grade 1 students had a great start practising team games this week! They learnt the basics of Capture the Flag and Floorball, showing lots of teamwork and excitement. Many of them also asked to try Dodgeball, and they had so much fun playing together. It was wonderful to see their energy, cooperation, and growing understanding of the games. We also use these activities to help them practise important skills for our upcoming WS Sports Day. We are excited to keep building on their skills and confidence in the next classes!

GRADE 2 - Music

Written by Ms. Melissa

This term, our Grade 2 students have been making wonderful progress in their music lessons! One of the highlights of this learning journey was exploring the beloved Indonesian song "Ibu Kita Kartini". Through this piece, students not only developed a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage but also practised playing in both solo and ensemble formats.

Using the pianica as their primary melodic instrument, students learnt to read musical notation, coordinate breath control, and play in sync with the group. In ensemble sessions, they expanded their musicality by incorporating xylophones for harmony and rhythm and angklung to bring a traditional, resonant texture to the arrangement. These sessions helped them understand the value of teamwork and listening while performing as part of a musical group.

Now, as we approach the end of the academic year, excitement is building for our Year-End Concert! The Grade 2 class is preparing their performance pieces, where they will once again take to the stage. As part of their showcase, students will perform a fun and inspiring piece using their melodicas (pianika), highlighting the skills and musical knowledge they’ve developed throughout the year.

Stay tuned and mark your calendars—this is a celebration you won’t want to miss!

GRADE 3 - English

Written by Mr. Marc

In Grade 3 English Class, students mainly use paper and pencil for their learning rather than computer. However, one of the digital platforms students use for reading is Raz-Kids.

Designed to enhance reading skills, Raz-Kids offers personalised, interactive reading experiences for students through fifth grade. By integrating technology with literacy development, Raz-Kids allows students a full range of books, genres, and reading levels for students to access.

SWA Grade 3 EL students are required to read for a minimum of 30 minutes per week and to record a read-aloud for 30 minutes per week. This is in addition to the reading students do in their homework packet, the OIE Student Book, and the novel they are reading as a class.

"It's easy because I can record my read-aloud, and it goes [sent automatically] right to Mr. Marc," a SWA student said.

Students can access these resources anytime, anywhere, making it easy to practise reading outside of the traditional classroom setting. Additionally, Raz-Kids provides a variety of supporting tools such as audio narration, vocabulary support, and comprehension quizzes to reinforce learning and measure progress.

One student said, "I like that I can look up [definitions of] words right on the site." If students would rather read physical books, then they are welcome to read physical books instead of Raz-Kids. Raz-Kids not only supports students’ learning but also allows teachers to monitor progress. By offering a personalised, interactive, and engaging learning experience, Raz-Kids helps students on their reading journey.

GRADE 4 - Science

Written by Ms. Shirley

This term, our enthusiastic Grade 4 students embarked on an exciting science journey to discover more about our amazing planet, Earth, and the wonders that surround it in space!

They began by learning about Earth’s rotation and revolution. Through hands-on activities and models, students discovered that rotation causes day and night, as the Earth spins on its axis every 24 hours. They were fascinated to learn that revolution is the Earth’s yearly orbit around the Sun, leading to the changing seasons.

The learning didn’t stop there! Students also explored satellites—both natural and artificial. They learned that the Moon is Earth’s natural satellite, orbiting our planet and affecting the tides. They also discussed artificial satellites, like those used for weather forecasting, GPS, and communication. 

The students explored the water cycle to bring their learning closer to home, discovering how water moves through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. They created models and illustrations to represent each stage, and were fascinated to see how this cycle influences weather and supports life on Earth. They also learned about innovative ways people address water scarcity, such as capturing water directly from the atmosphere in dry regions, such as in Peru and Africa.

This unit was full of awe and discovery, helping students understand the interconnectedness of Earth, space, and our environment. Grade 4 is truly reaching for the stars—one rotation at a time!

GRADE 5 - Indonesian Language and Civics

Civics

Written by Ms. Farah

Our students have been exploring one of Indonesia’s cherished values: gotong royong — the act of working together towards a shared goal. Gotong royong reflects a spirit that is deeply woven into Indonesian culture, highlighting the importance of supporting each other and strengthening the bonds within a community.

To bring this value to life, we organised several activities. Students were first divided into groups and asked to brainstorm examples of activities that involve gotong royong. They enthusiastically shared ideas such as cleaning the environment, helping neighbours, planting trees, and holding community events — showing their understanding of the power of cooperation both at home and in the broader society.

We also held a classroom clean-up activity, where students collaborated to sweep, organise, and tidy up the classroom. It was wonderful to watch them share tasks, help one another, and take pride in maintaining their learning space. Their teamwork and positive attitude truly reflected the essence of gotong royong.

Through these experiences, the students also discovered the strength that comes from working together across differences. Our classroom, with its diverse mix of ethnicities, races, religions, and backgrounds, became a living example of unity in diversity. They learned that cooperation, respect, and understanding are key to creating a harmonious community, both within school walls and beyond.

Indonesian Language Acquisition (ILA)

Written by Ms. Ayu