Message from the Principals 1/24/2025

School Account

Jan 243 min read

Good morning, Hope Community!

1: Important Reminders

2: Curriculum Focus - Entry Points

3: New Staff!

4: Guest Speaker

5: House Points

6: Photos of the week

1: Important Reminders

Feb 9 - Friends of Hope: Beach Clean-up
Feb 17 - NO SCHOOL (Presidents' Day)
Feb 24 - Open School
Mar 14 - Hope Family Day

2: Curriculum Focus - Entry Points

This week we will discuss the Entry Point part of the learning process. An Entry Point is an activity at the start of a new unit of learning that serves as a way of giving the students an understanding of the new unit theme or Big Idea. Every Entry Point may look different - some may be small class activities, some may be whole day events, some may be field trips but the purpose of all of them remains the same - to get everyone excited about the new unit. The hook of the Entry Point is something all teachers can refer back to when building connections all throughout that unit.

An example of a recent IPC entry point:

Grade 5 began their new unit 'Existing, Endangered, Extinct' where they collaborated in breaking down what each word means using movement and symbols. They were tasked to create a poster to advocate for an endangered animal of their choice. They had to include images, causes and think of their own solutions to conserve those animals. They then had the opportunity to present their posters to the class.

In IMYC: Grade 7 had an entry point activity for their new unit, Communication: "When information is shared accurately and clearly, the result is more effective." The students participated in a scavenger hunt that challenged their problem-solving and teamwork skills. They were tasked with decoding ciphers and riddles to uncover clues that led to puzzle pieces hidden around the school. Through this activity, the students discovered how challenging it can be to share information when it is encoded or unclear. At the end of the scavenger, they reflected on how the clarity and accuracy of communication can significantly impact outcomes.

3: New Staff!

We are happy to introduce a new member of our teaching staff: Mr. Dennis Ng. Please join me in welcoming him to our school community. He will be teaching the Health & wellbeing classes and assist in other roles around the school for this school year. Next school year, he will be a homeroom teacher.

"Greetings, I’m Dennis, an educator with a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Economics. I specialize in elementary education and have taught since 2018, though my work with children began much earlier. Originally from Singapore, I moved to Japan out of a deep appreciation for the country and a desire to make a difference. My goal is to nurture resilience, creativity, critical thinking, quick thinking, ethical values, and a thirst for knowledge in every child I teach."

4: Guest Speaker

We had a guest speaker visit the school for 2 days and discuss the connection of Art and Civil Engineering to our students. Ms. Margarita Ivanova is a Civil Engineer specializing in designing cycling networks in urban and rural areas, with a focus on creating safe spaces for walking, cycling, and wheeling. Passionate about combining engineering and creativity, she aims to exchange experiences with children and demonstrate how engineering can be applied in innovative ways by integrating artistic and creative skills. Thank you for your time and insights, Ms. Margarita!