June 10-14 Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: June 10-14 2019

Dear Parents,

This is our final G5 Weekly Newsletter for the 2018-2019 school year. Thank you for your support this year. Goodbye and good luck to families who are leaving ISKL. To families returning to ISKL in August, enjoy your summer/winter break with family and friends and we hope to see you around ISKL when school resumes.

We have four teachers leaving G5: Clarrissa Chavez, Andrea Bongazone, Karien Hoogenboezem and Cath Bae. Clarrissa is taking a leave of absence and will remain in KL, Andrea and her family are moving to Prague in the Czech Republic, Karien is moving to Prep Reception and Cath is our new ES Librarian. Special thanks to Clarrissa, Andrea, Karien and Cath for their wonderful contributions to G5 this year.G5 would also like to acknowledge and thank Loreena Burns, who took over Clarrissa’s class when she was on maternity leave. 

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy & Unit of Study:The students have completed their reading and writing units. Please take a look at your book shelves at home and have your child return any book club, classroom library or library books that you find before Friday. The students have also completed their Social Change social studies unit. Special thanks to all parents who attended the blackboard presentations in G5 classrooms and common area last Tuesday afternoon. 

Math:The students will complete our final math unit: 2D Figures, this week. They will classify 2D shapes according to their attributes and arrange them in a hierarchy. They will also review the unit and then complete the end-of-unit assessment by Thursday. 

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

• Our Librarian - Suji Dehart - has updated the Summer Reading list page on the ES Library website. This page gives you a wide range of books to choose from, both in age of your kids, and also from different places. Also, here is a list of questions you can ask your child about their reading.
• Monday June 10:Our second Moving On Ceremony practice in the RBG Theatre from 11:30am-12:30pm. Also a Visiting Author Presentation with Anu Sethi from 1:45-2:35pm
• Tuesday June 11:KIVA loans day, where all ES classes will use the Red Hats KIVA account to lend money to people in need around the world. See www.kiva.org. Our third and final Moving On Ceremony practice in the RBG Theatre from 1:30-2:30pm.
• Thursday June 13: G3-5 Farewell Assembly in the Melawati Theatre from 11:00am-12:00pm.Also High School Social Change Maker’s Conference. Five HS student presenters will share their work with G5 students and teachers from 1:30-2:30pm in our classrooms.
• Friday June 14: Last day of the 2018-2019 school year.G5 Moving on Ceremony from 8:30-9:30am in the RBG Theatre, followed by a reception in MPR5/6, also known as the Community Room, from 9:30-10:15am. Parents, you are welcome to take your child home after the reception. Please inform the bus office if you are planning to do this.

Highlights from last week

The Social Change Blackboard presentations were a great success last Tuesday. Thanks to all parents who attended for your interest and commitment. The students presented with confidence and pride in their work. Also, we had our first Moving On Ceremony practice in the RBG Theatre last Friday afternoon. 

Wishing you all a brilliant week of celebrations!

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: June 3-7, 2019

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy & Unit of Study: This week students will complete the presentation portion of their Social Change Blackboards. This not only includes the physical blackboard, but also working on our verbal presentation skills. 5JV will share with their grade 2 buddies on the afternoon of Monday, June 3. The next share is on Tuesday morning for the 4th graders and the parents are invited for the afternoon presentation. We would love to see you. The boards are looking fabulous and the students have been working hard to culminate their research and presentation.

Parents are invited to attend a ‘G5 Social Change Blackboard Project Share’ on Tuesday 4 June from 1:30-2:30pm in G5 classrooms and common area. 

Math: Students are continuing to review the properties of polygons this week. If not already, they will be identifying similarities and differences among two-dimensional figures and understanding that attributes belonging to a category of two-dimensional figures also belong to all subcategories of that category. 

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

• Our Librarian - Suji Dehart - has updated the Summer Reading list page on the ES Library website. This page gives you a wide range of books to choose from, both in age of your kids, and also from different places. Also, here is a list of questions you can ask your child about their reading.
• Tuesday 4 June: ‘G5 Social Change Blackboard Project Share’ from 1:30-2:30pm in G5 classrooms and common area. (blackboards and art portfolios will go home afterwards) 
• Wednesday June 5 and Thursday June 6: No School-Hari Raya Puasa holidays
• Friday June 7: Final Red Hat Free Dress Day-suggested RM5 donation for a local charity
• Thursday June 13: High School Social Change Maker’s Conference. Five HS student presenters will share their work with G5 students and teachers from 1:30-2:30pm in our classrooms.
• Friday June 14: Moving on Ceremony from 8:30-9:30am in the Robert B. Gaw Theater, followed by a reception in MPR5/6, also known as the Community Room, from 9:30-10:15am. Parents, you are welcome to take your child home after the reception.
• There was some confusion about the MS 1:1 Laptop Program for next year. Each student will be supplied with a school laptop on loan. No parents are required to purchase a laptop. 
• There are a number of accessories that are recommended for students to have for the laptop. Please refer to the images below. If you have any questions please email Bronwen Narsiman bnarsiman@iskl.edu.my 

Highlight from last week:

• The students had an excellent visit to the Middle school on Monday. They got to visit various locations: the library, music rooms, art room and Design Technology room, and met with some of their teachers along the way. They now have a timetable they can refer to as well.

Weekly Newsletter 5/27-5/31

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: May 27-31, 2019


Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Students have chosen a social change issue of interest, done their research and taken notes.  They have written their essays linking their social issue to a notable person/people who have worked on or are working on improving their social issue. The students will continue working on various other pieces of work to be included in their Social Change Blackboard Project, such as poems, magazine covers and timelines. Parents are invited to attend a ‘G5 Social Change Blackboard Project Share’ on Tuesday 4 June from 1:30-2:30pm in G5 classrooms and common area.

Math: Students are now doing their final math unit of the semester, Unit 8: 2D Figures. They are reviewing the properties of polygons and will use this knowledge to help categorize them.

Unit of Study: Students are immersed in understanding the impacts of social change on a society. The four main areas of focus are…

• Understanding the rights and responsibilities of the individual
• Understanding how some people can influence the lives and thinking of others
• Developing open-ended questions to guide research and understanding
• Using the research process to answer inquiry questions

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Summer Reading list page (also see GLC Updates)
Our Librarian - Suji Dehart - has updated the Summer Reading list page  on the ES Library website. This page gives you a wide range of books to choose from, both in age of your kids, and also from different places. Also, here is a list of questions you can ask your child about their reading.

Looking ahead...

• Friday, May 24: ABC’s and Rice Free Dress Day (sponsored by 5KH students)
• Monday May 27: G5 Orientation Visit to the Middle School. G5 students and teachers will be involved in a MS Orientation Visit. The orientation program will be conducted from 9:00- 11:00 am. All G5 students will be involved in the program. G5 students will not go to their usual PE or World Language lessons on this day. Even if your child is leaving ISKL at the end of this school year, they are expected to participate. The main purpose of the visit is for the students to meet the MS Administrators, their G6 teachers, learn about the Middle School 1:1 laptop program and be introduced to their G6 schedules. The MS will make a snack available, so the students will need to bring RM10, or a snack from home. Since it’s Ramadan, alternative arrangements will be made during snack time at the MS for those G5 students who are fasting.
• Tuesday 4 June: ‘G5 Social Change Blackboard Project Share’ from 1:30-2:30 pm in G5 classrooms and common area. (blackboards and art portfolios will go home afterwards) 
• Wednesday June 5 and Thursday June 6: No School-Hari Raya Puasa holidays
• Friday June 7: Red Hat Free Dress Day-suggested RM5 donation for local charity
• Thursday June 13: High School Social Change Maker’s Conference. Five HS presenters will share their work with G5 students and teachers from 1:30-2:30pm in classrooms.
• Friday June 14: Moving on Ceremony from 8:30-9:30am in the Robert B. Gaw Theater, followed by a reception in MPR5/6, also known as the Community Room, from 9:30-10:15am. Parents, you are welcome to take your child home after the reception.

Highlight from last week:
Amazing ES Music Concert, thank you to our Music Department!
THANK YOU to the PTA, our G5 GLC John Beattie and all our Room Parents for all of your support for a fantastic ‘Wet and Wild Day’. These amazing events take place because of YOUR support!
ISKL Parent Agung Fauzi documented the day...click HERE for his photos - thank you Agung!

Weekly Newsletter 5/14-5/18

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: May 13-May 17, 2019

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Students will continue to learn about Social Issues and Notables. They have chosen a social change issue or notable of interest, done their research and taken notes. They will now work on creating an information or opinion essay about their chosen social issue or notable.  In addition, to writing their essay, the students will continue working on various other pieces of work to be included in their Social Change Blackboard Project. Parents are invited to attend a ‘G5 Social Change Blackboard Project Share’ on Tuesday 4 June from 1:30-2:30 pm in G5 classrooms and common area.

Math: Students will continue our Volume and Measurement Unit. They will select appropriate units, strategies, and tools for solving problems that involve estimating and measuring volume. They will decompose three-dimensional shapes and find volumes of rectangular prisms by viewing them as decomposed into layers of arrays of cubes. They will measure necessary attributes of shapes in order to determine volumes to solve real world and mathematical problems. Students will also convert like measurement units within the metric system and solve word problems relating to those conversions. Assessment this Friday.

Unit of Study: Students are immersed in understanding the impacts of social change on a society. The four main areas of focus are…
Understanding the rights and responsibilities of the individual
Understanding how some people can influence the lives and thinking of others
Developing open-ended questions to guide research and understanding
Using the research process to answer inquiry questions
Assessment this week.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the  Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
Looking ahead:

• Monday, May 20th:   NO SCHOOL ISKL Holiday in lieu of Wesak Day 
• Tuesday, May 21st:  NO SCHOOL ISKL Faculty In-Service
• Wednesday, May 22nd: NO SCHOOL Nuzul AlQuran
• Friday, May 24- ES Wet + Wild Day. Parents please sign up HERE
• Monday May 27- G5 Orientation Visit to the Middle School, from 9:00-11:00am. G5 students and teachers will be involved in a MS Orientation Visit. The orientation program will be conducted from 9:00- 11:00am. All G5 students will be involved in the program. G5 students will not go to their usual PE or World Language lessons on this day. Even if your child is leaving ISKL at the end of this school year, they are expected to participate. The main purpose of the visit is for the students to meet the MS Administrators, their G6 teachers, learn about the Middle School 1:1 laptop program and be introduced to their G6 schedules. The MS will provide our G5 students with a morning snack. Since it’s Ramadan, alternative arrangements will be made during snack time at the MS for those G5 students who are fasting.

Highlight from last week:
THANK YOU! The NON performance was a success because of your support. Below please see the link to the video and pictures taken by Fauzi Agung and Max Wright.

VIDEO

PICTURES

5/6-5/10 Weekly Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: May 6-10, 2019


Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Students will continue to learn about Social Issues and Human Rights. This week they will chose a social change issue of interest and begin using their research to create an information or opinion essay about their chosen social issue. They will also link their social issue to a notable person/people who have worked on or are working on improving their social issue. In addition, to writing their essay, the students will also begin working on various other pieces of work to be included in their Social Change Blackboard Project. Parents are invited to attend a ‘G5 Social Change Blackboard Project Share’ on Tuesday 4 June from 1:30-2:30pm in G5 classrooms and common area.

Math: Students will continue our Volume and Measurement Unit. In addition to exploring volume by building and counting unit cubes as well as learning the relationship between different units of volume measurement, the students will understand that a 1-unit by 1-unit by 1-unit cube is the standard unit for measuring volume. They will select appropriate units, strategies, and tools for solving problems that involve estimating and measuring volume. They will decompose three-dimensional shapes and find volumes of rectangular prisms by viewing them as decomposed into layers of arrays of cubes. They will measure necessary attributes of shapes in order to determine volumes to solve real world and mathematical problems. Students will also convert like measurement units within the metric system and solve word problems relating to those conversions.

Unit of Study: Students will continue our Social Change unit by preparing for ‘Night of the Notables’ 2019 presentation. We will be conducting our final practice sessions in the RBG Theatre this Monday and Tuesday afternoons. Our practice schedules have been shared with students. Students will continue to dig deeper into the social issue and the social change makers they are exploring for their ‘Social Change Blackboard Projects’. The Night of the Notables presentations will be on the afternoon of Tuesday, 7 May in the Robert B. Gaw Theatre from 5-6pm. We look forward to seeing parents at the show!

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the  Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

• Monday, May 6- Ramadan begins. It’s also Night of the Notables yearbook pics time with Max Wright from 10:45-11:15 in the RBG Theatre. We’ll also do a Dress Rehearsal from 11:15-12:15, followed by a presentation to a G4 audience from 1:45-2:40 pm, which will be videoed. 
• Tuesday, May 7- Interschool Novel Knockout for participating G4 and G5 students. It will be held at ISKL. 
• Tuesday May 7- G5 ‘Night of the Notables’ Presentation, in the RBG Theatre from 5-6pm (G5 students will stay at school after dismissal at 2:45pm but will not be attending ASAs or baseball on this day.

Schedule:

• 2:45-3:00 Students enjoy a snack (popcorn and watermelon) provided by the school in classrooms and common area.
• 3:00-3:15 Students change into black & white presentation clothes
• 3:15-3:30 Students and teachers walk to RBGT and get ready for final practice
• 3:30-4:30 Final whole GL practice
• 4:30-4:50 Bathroom & relax in theatre
• 5:00-6:00 Our NotN Presentation for parents
• 6:00-6:10 Parents can take photos
• 6:00-6:20 Students and teachers walk back to G5 and students get changed into school uniforms. Students give black or white tee shirt to Ms Bongazone or Ms Burns.
• 6:20 Students go home with parents

• Thurs. May 9: Semester 2 ASAs finish
• Friday May 10: Next Red Hats Free Dress Day - suggested donation RM5. Also, it’s the ES Music Concert Rehearsal - for performers only - from 9:00-9:45am in the Melawati Theatre.
• Looking ahead:
• Friday, May 24- ES Wet + Wild Day. Stay tuned for volunteer sign up!
• Monday May 27- G5 Orientation Visit to the Middle School, from 9:00-11:00am. Further details TBA.

Highlight from last week:
Last Tuesday afternoon, we conducted our first whole grade level practice of our Night of the Notables Presentation in MPR4. It was wonderful and exciting to see what all our G5 classes have been working on!

April 29-May 3 News Letter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: April 29th - May 3rd

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Students continue to learn about Social Issues and Human Rights.  They will continue researching about a variety of people and topics and begin narrowing down their ideas. They will reinforce and build on their note-taking skills as well as learning more about trustworthy resources and identifying perspective.  As they research, they will be writing down their ideas to help them solidify their thinking around the topic.

Math: We will continue our Volume and Measurement Unit.  Students will explore volume by building and counting unit cubes as well as learning the relationship between different units of volume measurement.

Unit of Study: We will continue our Social Change unit by preparing for ‘Night of the Notables’ 2018 presentation.  The script has been finalised and we will begin our practice. Students will dig deeper into the Change Maker or Social Issue that they are exploring for their blackboard presentations. The Night of the Notables presentations will be on the evening of Tuesday, 7 May.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
Tuesday, April 30-MAP Math testing
Tuesday, April 30-PTA Annual General Meeting (AGM), MPR 1, 9:30-11:00, for details and RSVP click  HERE  for RSVP (not required but appreciated for catering purposes)
Wednesday, May 1-Labor Day holiday - no school
Monday, May 6-G5 Night of the Notables Dress Rehearsal with G4 audience in the RBG Theatre from 1:45-2:40 pm.
Tuesday, May 7- Inter-school Novel Knockout. It will be held at ISKL.
Tuesday May 7- from 5:00-6:00 pm-Grade 5 ‘Night of the Notables’ presentation, RBG Theatre (students will not be attending ASA’s on this day)
Friday, May 24- ES Wet + Wild Day, stay tuned for volunteer sign up!


Highlight from last week:
We had our first assembly in RBG Theatre for Earth Week. We discussed our goal in reducing plastic and food waste. Please encourage your child to bring less plastic for snack and lunch.

April 22-26 News Letter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: April 22-26th       

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Students continue to learn about Social Issues and Human Rights through picture books, historical fiction, biographies and autobiographies. Classes have been diving further into Informational text while focusing one social issue and/or a Human Rights Issue. Ask your child which human rights issue his/her class is exploring. Classes have been building a thesis with a focus on a social issue including different social change makers. All of this is in preparation for creating our class presentations for Night of the Notables, May 7th.

Math: This week we will begin our Volume and Measurement Unit. Students will estimate and measure shapes. Students will also explore liquid volume using water and make comparisons. Students will explore volume by building and counting unit cubes in order to understand volume.

Unit of Study: We will continue our Social Change unit by preparing for ‘Night of the Notables’ 2019 presentation and begin writing our scripts as a class. Students will begin to think about a Change Maker or Social Issue that they would like to explore for their Social Change Blackboard presentations. The Night of the Notables presentations will be on May 7th at 5:00pm in the RBG Theatre. We will continue preparing for our Night of the Notables this week.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page..

The Summer Activities website is ready. If you’re going to be in town from 17-28 June, you can sign up your child/ren.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

• Tuesday April 23- Blue + Green ES Earth Day Dress Up Day - no donation expected 
• Tuesday April 23-ES Earth Day Assembly, Parents Welcome!, 8:45 AM PR-G2, 2:00 PM G3-G5, Melawati Theater
• By Friday April 26- all G5 students need to bring to school a black or white-colored bottom (Long pants are preferred...NO SHORTS...skirts, pants or leggings are acceptable). 
• Students’ clothes need to be labeled with your child’s name and class and brought in on a labeled hanger. 
• Thursday, April 25-all G5 classes will practice our ‘Night of the Notables’ class items in the RBG Theatre from 10:30-2:00.
• Friday, April 26-MAP Reading testing
• Saturday. April 27-G5 & HS Drama Workshops from 8:00am-5:30pm in the RBG Theatre        Students only!
• 8:00-9:30 am - 5JV (Please arrive at 7:45, and plan to arrive back at the school at 915 to ensure you are on time)
• 10:00-11:30 am - 5CC/KH
• 12:00-1:30 pm - 5CB
• 2:00-3:30 pm - 5DH
• 4:00-5:30 pm - 5KC
• Monday, April 29-PTA Annual General Meeting (AGM), MPR 1, 9:30-11:00, for details and RSVP click  HERE for RSVP (not required but appreciated for catering purposes)
• Tuesday, April 30-MAP Math testing
• Wednesday. May 1- Labor Day holiday - no school
• Monday May 6- G5 Night of the Notables Dress Rehearsal with G4 audience in the RBG Theatre from 1:45-2:40 pm. 
• Tuesday, May 7- 5:00PM  Grade 5 ‘Night of the Notables’ presentation, RBG Theatre (students will not be attending ASA’s this day)
• Friday, May 24-ES Wet and Wild Day, stay tuned for volunteer sign up

Highlight from last week:
The April 19th Free Dress Day donations were forwarded to Dr. Hartini, one of our Social Change Makers, who is a Children’s Rights Activist.

April 15-19 Weekly News Letter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Date April 15-19


Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Students will continue to learn about social issues, human rights and activists through historical fiction, biographical and autobiographical texts. They are also focusing on informational texts in their Book Clubs throughout this unit. Students will also continue to review and practice informational and opinion writing in this unit. Readers at this level will be asking themselves about author bias, comparing varying opinions and learning how to summarize more complex ideas.This work all culminates in our Night of the Notables performance on Tuesday May 7.

Math: The students will continue the unit titled ‘Order of Operations’, practicing this skill using daily warm ups, math lessons and in their math review home learning sheet. Students will continue to evaluate how to use numerical expressions with parentheses, brackets and braces. They will explain how to use these symbols in order to identify, write and describe simple numerical expressions.

Unit of Study: The students will continue our unit titled, ‘Social Change’. One of the highlights of the G5 calendar - the “Night of the Notables” presentation, will be held on Tuesday May 7, from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Robert B. Gaw Theatre. All parents of G5 students are invited to attend. G5 students took home a hard copy of a parent letter two weeks ago, which explained our plans for the Night of the Notables presentation and also our plans for our drama workshops with Tim Howe and his HS drama students on Saturday 27 April. This week the students will continue reading historical fiction read alouds and historical fiction and social issue picture books. They will also continue researching their class social change topic for the Night of the Notables presentation and begin creating a class script. Here is a list of the social change topics each G5 class has chosen:

5JV - Child Labor
5CB - Gender Equality
5DH - Plastic Pollution
5KC - Education for All
5CC/KH - Animal Rights

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

The  Summer Activities website is ready. If you’re going to be in town from 17-28 June, you can sign up your child/ren.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

• Friday, April 19, Red Hat Free dress dayTuesday 
• April 23, Blue + Green Earth Day Dress Up Day ES 
• Tuesday April 23, ES Earth Day Assembly, Parents Welcome!, 8:45 AM PR-G2, 2:00 PM G3-G5, Melawati Theater  
• Apr 30, PTA Annual General Meeting (AGM), MPR 1, 9:30-11:00, for details and RSVP click  HERE for RSVP (not required but appreciated for catering purposes)
• ES Dress Up Days: plan your days in advance click HERE for dates and details 
• Tuesday May 7 - 5PM  Grade 5 ‘Night of the Notables’ presentation, RBG Theatre 

4/8-4/12 News Letter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Date April 8-12

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Students will continue to learn about social issues, human rights and activists through historical fiction, biographical and autobiographical texts. Students will also continue to review and practice informational and opinion writing in this unit.

Math: The students will continue the unit titled ‘Order of Operations’, practicing this skill using daily warm ups, math lessons and in their math review home learning sheet. Students will continue to evaluate how to use numerical expressions with parentheses, brackets and braces. They will explain how to use these symbols in order to identify, write and describe simple numerical expressions.

Unit of Study: The students will continue our unit titled, ‘Social Change’. One of the highlights of the G5 calendar - the “Night of the Notables” presentation, will be held on Thursday 9 May, from 5:00-6:00pm in the Melawati Theatre. All parents of G5 students are invited to attend. G5 students took home a hard copy of a parent letter last Friday, which explained our plans for the Night of the Notables presentation and also our plans for our drama workshops with Tim Howe and his HS drama students on Saturday 27 April. We expect all G5 students and teachers to attend their class Saturday drama workshop, so please complete and have your child return the reply slip to their class teacher by this Friday 12 April, so we have a firm idea of student numbers for the workshops. They will also continue researching their class social change topic for the Night of the Notables presentation and begin creating a class script.
Here is a list of the social change topics each G5 class has chosen:
5JV - Child labor
5CB - gender equality
5DH - Plastic Pollution
5KC - Education for all
5CC/KH - Animal rights

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
**Please return your child’s drama workshop attendance reply slip by this Friday 12 April, which is attached to the parent letter sent home last Friday with your child.

Highlights of the week:

• Inclusive Schools Week was a great success!  
• It was great to meet and listen to our final four social change makers last Thursday morning at our G5 Social Change Makers’ Conference:
• Dr. Hartini Zainudin - works for UNRWA (United Nations Relief Work Agency for Palestinian refugees and volunteers at Yayasan Chow Kit in KL (Street Kids of Chow Kit)
• Arief Fauzy - works at the Selangor SPCA
• Mareena Yahya Kerschot - volunteers at Tak Nak Straw - an organization dedicated to protecting the environment by reducing the use of plastic straws
• Suji Dehart  - is our ES Librarian - advocate for minimizing waste in landfills and composting
• **Ask your child what they learned about human rights, discrimination and social change makers last week.  

4/1-4/5 News Letter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Date April 1 - 5

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Students begin to learn about Social Issues and Human Rights through historical fiction, biography and autobiography texts. We will focus on Informational text throughout this unit.  Students will revisit informational and opinion writing in this unit.

Math: The students will begin the unit titled Order of Operations. We have been practicing this skill using daily warm ups, so they are familiar with these skills. Students will evaluate how to use numerical expressions with parentheses, brackets and braces.  They will explain how to use these symbols in order to identify, write and describe simple numerical expressions.

Unit of Study: We are beginning our unit on Social Change. This will conclude with the famous “Night of the Notables” in May.
This week we will:

• Start a historical fiction read aloud
• Begin reading historical fiction and social issue picture books
• Tune in to ‘Social Change’ learning about the ‘Human Rights’ UDHR and the Global Goals
• Review the presenters from our ‘Social Change Makers Conference’ in semester 1

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
First week of April - Inclusion week-April 1 is a day 6
April 1-5, 2019,  Inclusive Schools Week. ##kaleidoscopeoffriends. The ISKL Community Schoolwide will celebrate the progress that we have made in providing a supportive and quality education to an increasingly diverse student population. The week will also provide an important opportunity for educators, students and parents to discuss what else needs to be done in order to ensure that ISKL continues to successfully educate all children. Events will be planned to engage the students, teachers, and parents.

April 1, 2019- Coffee Chat & Resource Fair. To kick off Inclusive Schools Week there will be a Coffee Chat and Resource Fair in the Community Room from 8:15 - 9:45 am.  This is a great opportunity for your parents to learn about the resources that the Student Resource Team (SRT) offers to support students in their learning and development at ISKL. In addition to learning about speech and language therapy, educational psychology, and counseling available at ISKL, parents will also have the opportunity to learn about additional supports that can be accessed outside of school to support their child and family.  Coffee and snacks will be provided. Please RSVP - Click Here.

April 2, 2019-Autism Awareness Day is World Autism Awareness Day. #LightItUpBlue The ISKL ES community is encouraged to support the Autism Speaks Light it up Blue Campaign by wearing blue to increase understanding and acceptance of Autism.

April 4-10:30-12:30-Social Change Makers Conference (part 2)
April 5, 2019- Diversity Day As Inclusive Schools Week wraps up, ES students are encouraged to dress in clothes that highlight them as unique individuals. #kaleidoscopeoffriends

Highlight of the week:
Students celebrated end of Writing unit by sharing their stories with other Grade 5 students.
It was great to meet and listen to Aisha sharing her story about Down Syndrome, and how she is growing and learning at ISKL.

3/19-3/22 News Letter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: March 19-22         

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Grade 5 students conclude the fantasy unit. They will be finishing up their fantasy book clubs and taking end of unit reading and writing assessment. Students will also be celebrating their writing by sharing it with other classes.  This will be an opportunity to share what we have covered during this unit, including wonderful examples of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE, GREAT BEGINNINGS, INSPIRING DIALOGUE, LOTS OF FANTASY ELEMENTS, and an ENDING THAT WILL HAVE US WANTING MORE!

Math: The students continue working on Unit 5: Multiplying & Dividing Fractions. The focus continues to be on conceptual understanding of these skills using a variety of manipulatives and also drawing models to show their thinking. The assessment will be at the end of this week. After the break, the students will begin the unit titled Order of Operations. We have been practicing this skill using daily warm ups, so they are familiar with these skills. Students will evaluate how to use numerical expressions with parentheses, brackets and braces.  They will explain how to use these symbols in order to identify, write and describe simple numerical expressions.

Unit of Study: We are starting our Social Change unit by tuning in to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as looking at the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Classes will be researching a social issue to be presented at Night of the Notables on April 30th.


For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
Monday, March 18-No school for students (teacher work day)
Tuesday, March 19-School reconvenes (Day 2)
Math, Science, Reading and Writing assessments will be conducted this week
Friday, March 22-Writers’ Celebration
March 24-28-No School-Spring Break
Monday, April 1-School reconvenes (Day 6)
Thursday, April 4 (10:30-12:30)-Part 2 of Social Change Makers’ Conference (parents welcome)


Highlight last week:
The middle school counselor and peer helpers presented information to our grade 5 students about next year....and we are all excited about our course selections! (Due Tuesday, March 19th).

3/11-3/15 News Letter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: March 11-15           

Dear Parents,

Conferences- Our Highlight from LAST Week
Parents, thank you for the time and celebrating your student’s continued learning in 5th grade. The students were certainly the stars of the show. As teachers we are certainly proud when our kids can share their growth with you. Always feel free to contact your child’s teacher if there are questions or celebrations!

Curriculum Information for this Week:
Literacy: Grade 5 students are wrapping up their fantasy stories. This can be an intense process. The revising (adjusting content and structure) and editing (cleaning up grammar and spelling) process is a vital part of the writing process.

Here are some questions you can ask your son or daughter about revising their story: 

• What details can you add?
• What words or sentences can you remove?
• What words or sentences can you move to a different section?
• What words can you change from bland words to vivid words? 
• Do you have a combination of short, medium and long sentences?
• How are your details connected to the theme?

Math: The students are beginning Unit 5 in Math - multiplying and dividing fractions using a variety of manipulatives to show their thinking. This is unit is about developing a BIG idea understanding. Words that your child will be using in this unit are...
fraction, numerator, denominator, operations, multiplication/multiply, division/divide, mixed numbers, product, quotient, partition, equal parts, equivalent, factor, unit fraction, area, side lengths, fractional side lengths, scaling, comparing.


Unit of Study: Matter
The students explored the concept and explanation of sediments and how it applies to our food as salad dressing. They will be further exploring solubility in the coming week, to find and read information about how properties of the molecules in sugar and citric acid affect the properties that are observable in a substance. The students will then explore why liquids stay mixed or separate.



For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page
Slice of Life
Many classes are participating in the Slice of Life blogging challenge. 5th graders are tasked with writing every day in the month of March. Checkout our 5th grade blog which links many of these young author’s blogs.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
Monday March 11 is day 5
Monday 11 March: ES Book week begins.
Monday 11 March: G6 Parent Orientation Night in the MS, 7-8pm (for parents of current G5 students)
Wednesday 13 March: ES Book Swap
Wednesday 13 March: G6 Peer Helpers will present to G5, from 10:30-11:15 am, with a Q&A
Friday 15 March: ES Book Character Dress-up Day-Suggested donation 5myr

3/4-3/6 Weekly News Letter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: March 4-8           

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

G5 students will be spending much classroom time on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week preparing for their student-led conference (SLC) on Thursday, March 7 or Friday, 8 March. Students will be reflecting on their reading, writing, math and science work and preparing work samples to share with you that show learning growth. They will also be reflecting on their learning behaviors, work habits and attitude in a variety of areas and will prepare and share their learning goals to address areas of need. Learning in our reading, writing, math and science units may be temporarily suspended in the early part of this week, while teachers prepare their students for success at the SLCs.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page..

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
Monday. 4 March is Day 8
Wednesday, March 6-Friday, March 8- Book Sale. Students and parents can buy books on sale before or after their SLC.
Thursday, March 7 & Friday, March 8: G5 students and parents will attend Student-Led Conferences (SLCs)
Monday, March 11: ES Book week begins.
Monday, March 11: G6 Parent Orientation Night in the MS, 7-8pm (for parents of current G5 students)
Wednesday, March 13: ES Book Swap. Classroom teachers will/have communicated organizational details with parents.
Wednesday, March 13:G6 Peer Helpers will present to G5, from 10:30-11:15 am, with a Q&A
Friday, March 15: ES Book Character Dress-up Day

Highlight last week:

Thursday, February 28: ‘Always Changing’ - G5 puberty presentations from 1:30-2:30pm

2/25-3/1 Weekly Newsletter

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: February 25-March 1           

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Grade 5 students are continuing to generate ideas for their fantasy stories. They will be taking all their great ideas and choosing the best one to write a story. They are including all the elements of a fantasy story including: themes, life lessons, quests, magical creatures, metaphorical and literary dragons.

Here are some questions you can ask your son or daughter about their story: 
Who are your main characters? 
Describe the setting of your story. 
Is there a quest in your story? 
How is your story connected to real life problems? 
What is the life lesson? 
What are the struggles your character is facing?
What will come of the protagonist? How will s/he change?

Math: The students are beginning Unit 5 in Math - multiplying and dividing fractions using a variety of manipulatives to show their thinking.

Unit of Study:  Matter: The students explored the concept and explanation of sediments and how it applies to our food as salad dressing. They will be further exploring solubility in the coming week, to find and read information about how properties of the molecules in sugar and citric acid affect the properties that are observable in a substance. The students will then explore why liquids stay mixed or separate.

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the  Parent Learning Connection page.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)
Next week we start on Day 3
Monday, Usha, puppeteer and storyteller
Thursday, Always Changing Presentation
Student Led Conference sign up 25th (through PowerSchool)

Highlight last week:

• Grand Opening: 21st February marked our Grand Opening of the new campus. The students were surprised with a mini concert featuring a band and student dancers performing for us. #ISKLUnited 
• Author visit: On Monday we had a photojournalist named Richard Sobol visiting us, sharing his story about his four-day trek to meet a silverback gorilla. We enjoyed his story telling and sharing of his experience with us. Thank you Ms Suji for organizing this event. 
• CNY Assembly: It was great fun watching the Lion Dance in the gym. Thank you, parents, for coming along to watch the amazing acrobatic moves of the lion. The activities offered fun and delicious kiosks for all to enjoy.

Weekly News Letter 2/18-2/22

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: February 18-22           

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: Grade 5 students continue to work on their fantasy stories. This week we focus on making our stories believable by adding details to our settings, internal and external character traits and making sure to show not tell throughout our stories.  Fantasy book clubs continue as students analyze their books through the focus on metaphors, symbolism and thinking about how fantasy helps us understand the real world.

Math: The students will conclude Unit 4: Place Value and Decimal Operations. Students have explored multiplying and dividing decimals using a variety of manipulatives to show their thinking. The assessment will be giving this week.
(See last week’s news letter for helpful video links.)

Unit of Study: Students will continue their second science unit: Modeling Matter: The Chemistry of Food from the Amplify Science program. During the unit, the students are involved in a simulation, where they take on the role of food scientists working in a lab for a large food-production company: Good Food Production Inc. The students will continue to work in their classrooms and conduct hands-on experiments in the science labs, investigating the different properties of matter. Chapter 2 of this unit focuses on why some mixtures have sediments and others do not.
These lessons include:
2.1 Investigating Flavor Ingredients
2.2 Investigating Dissolving
2.3 Reading about Dissolving
2.4 Models of Solubility
2.5 Making Sense of Solubility

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the Parent Learning Connection page.

Parents, please also check out the SERVICE CHANNEL, which is a forum for the ISKL community to share ideas and information about how we can contribute to our community and planet.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

• WIDA testing for all EAL students (letters have gone home)
• Monday, February 18-Richard Sobol, traveling photographer and photojournalist will talk about informational writing
• Wednesday,  February 20- Faculty Appreciation Lunch
• Thursday, February 21-Grand Opening Ceremony-many activities are planned throughout the day (including photo booths, popsicles at lunch, and music and dance performance at Zurich field)
• Friday, February 22-ES CNY Cultural Day and ES CNY Dress Up Day as well as the Lion Dance in the ES Gym.

Highlight from last week:
On Friday, February 15th we raised over RM2000. This will be presented to Siti Kasim, one of our Social Change Makers. She and her team of lawyers advocate for the rights of the Orang Asli.

Weekly News Letter2/11-2/15

Weekly Newsletter Grade 5

Dates: 11-15  Feb. 2019             

Dear Parents,

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: This week the students will continue their reading unit on the Fantasy genre. They will also continue working in their fantasy book clubs where they will discuss elements of fantasy, keep track of characters’ development and problems and identify internal and external character conflicts and themes that run through their fantasy books. Questions which you can ask your fifth grader,
How can you relate to the character?
What character traits the character have and how do you know?
Can you compare the character or theme to another story you have read?

Students will continue to work on their Fantasy writing. As we navigate the Fantasy writing, a few key concepts we will focus on are how the setting impacts the story, power in the story as well as identifying a deeper social issues that the character has to navigate throughout the story.

Curriculum Information for this Week:

Literacy: This week the students will continue their reading unit on the Fantasy genre. They will also continue working in their fantasy book clubs where they will discuss elements of fantasy, keep track of characters’ development and problems and identify internal and external character conflicts and themes that run through their fantasy books. Questions which you can ask your fifth grader,

• How can you relate to the character?
• What character traits the character have and how do you know?
• Can you compare the character or theme to another story you have read?

Students will continue to work on their Fantasy writing. As we navigate the Fantasy writing, a few key concepts we will focus on are how the setting impacts the story, power in the story as well as identifying a deeper social issues that the character has to navigate throughout the story.

Math: The students will continue Unit 4: Place Value and Decimal Operations. Last week, the students reviewed multiplying decimals (whole number X decimal) using the area model and the standard algorithm for multiplication. This week they will continue to work on multiplying decimals and begin to practice and master division of decimals.

Check out these videos to help you understand how students show their thinking with models.

• Multiply a Decimal by a Whole Number Using Grids
• Multiply a Decimal by a Decimal Using an Area Model
• Divide a Decimal by a Whole Number Using Grids
• Divide a Decimal by a Whole Number Using Base Ten Blocks
• Divide a Whole Number by a Decimal Using Base Ten Blocks
• Divide a Whole Number by a Decimal Using Grids
• Divide a Decimal by a Decimal Using Grids
• Dividing Whole Numbers Using Partial Quotients

Unit of Study:  Students will continue their second science unit: Modeling Matter: The Chemistry of Food from the Amplify Science program. During the unit, the students are involved in a simulation, where they take on the role of food scientists working in a lab for a large food-production company: Good Food Production Inc. The students will continue to work in their classrooms and conduct hands-on experiments in the science labs, investigating the different properties of matter.

Lessons completed so far:

Lesson 1.1 Pre-assessment - classroom

Lesson 1.2: Introducing Food Science - science lab

Lesson 1.3: Made of Matter

1.4 Separating a Food Color Mixture

1.5  Exploring Chromatography

1.6 Nanovision Models (of molecules)

1.7 Break it down (making inferences in Science)

1.8 Evaluating Chromatography Models

1.9 Revising Chromatography Models

For more information and ways to support your child please visit the

Parent Learning Connection page.

Parents, please also check out the SERVICE CHANNEL, which is a forum for the ISKL community to share ideas and information about how we can contribute to our community and planet.

Important Reminders/Information: (also see GLC Updates)

• Mon Feb 11: ES ASAs start, check your ISKL inbox for an email from Gail Smith
• Thur Feb 14: Red Hat Free Dress Friday! Dress in Valentine's Colors! Suggested donation 5 RM to charity

Highlight from last week:

On Friday, February 8th we welcomed illustrator and coauthor of Babymouse and Squish Matthew Holm. Fifth graders were excited about his new books coming out soon and inspired by the amount of time and dedication it takes to be an author!