Primary News Issue 5

亲爱的SIS家庭，

希望大家度过了一个名副其实的“黄金周”假期——充满了与家人团聚、休息放松以及让人微笑的美好时光。这样的假期总会提醒我们，放慢脚步、重新连接、创造共同的回忆是多么重要。研究表明，回忆幸福的时刻不仅能带来当下的喜悦，还能在很长一段时间内增强我们的幸福感与归属感。希望你的假期中也留下了许多值得珍藏的回忆。

很高兴再次看到校园里回荡着学生们的欢笑与活力。感谢各位在假期前因台风导致的突发状况中给予的支持与理解——这真是一个自然力量不可预测的提醒！正是你们的灵活应对与细致关怀，让我们得以安全、顺利地度过那几天。

请注意以下日程更新：补拍的校园照片日将于 2025年10月14日（星期二）在太子湾校区 举行，10月15日（星期三）在鲸山校区 举行。

同时，请关注由家委会（PSA）组织的即将到来的校园活动。我们非常幸运能有他们的支持，让校园生活充满欢乐与温暖。

随着新一阶段学习生活的展开，愿我们都能将假期中的那份平和与连结继续带入日常。

温暖祝福，

Erin Threlfall

10 Grade 2 students were selected to participate in the September iMADSZ (International Music, Arts, Dance, Drama in Shenzhen) Workshop: "The Patterns That Connect Us," where they discovered how artists Yayoi Kusama and Romero Britto use patterns to connect with the world. Inspired by their work, Miss Susan, art teacher at SIS, guided the students to create individual mandalas, explore textures through frottage, play with dots, and collaborate on a vibrant mural titled "Patterns Around Us." Through engaging discussions, hands-on art stations, and a gallery walk to showcase their masterpieces, students celebrated creativity, teamwork, and the joy of discovering patterns in art and everyday life. 

Mrs. Grabenhofer, music teacher at SIS, engaged the students in singing a welcome song and had all the students out of their seats greeting each other. She also lead a dival using hand drums and Orff instruments using the theme of rain.  Each group chose their own rain poem to focus on, explored, improvised and added their own ostinato patterns to the poems.  

Miss. Lexi, from ISNS, guided the students in singing and moving with patterns, which led into the introduction of Obwisana. They analyzed the song to discover the melodic patterns inside it. Using rhythm sticks, the students played a circle game while learning to sing the song. Finally, the groups worked creatively to make their own musical patterns, defining the meaning of “patterns” with different musical elements, while the others listened and guessed the meaning of patterns. 

SIS students had the pleasure of hearing and seeing so many patterns of dots, ostinatos, melodies, and rhythms and look forward to more iMADSZ workshops throughout the year. 

10名二年级学生被选中参加九月举行的 iMADSZ（深圳国际音乐、艺术、舞蹈与戏剧）工作坊，主题为“连接我们的图案”（The Patterns That Connect Us）。在活动中，他们探索了艺术家草间弥生（Yayoi Kusama）与罗梅罗·布里托（Romero Britto）如何通过图案与世界建立联系。受到他们艺术风格的启发，SIS美术老师Susan老师引导学生创作了属于自己的曼陀罗（mandala），通过拓印（frottage）探索纹理，以点绘形式进行创作，并共同完成了一幅色彩斑斓的合作壁画《我们周围的图案》（Patterns Around Us）。通过生动的讨论、互动的艺术体验站以及展示作品的画廊漫步，学生们共同庆祝了创意、团队合作以及在艺术与日常生活中发现图案的乐趣。

SIS音乐老师Grabenhofer老师带领学生合唱欢迎曲，并鼓励他们离开座位互相问候。随后，她引导学生使用手鼓和Orff乐器开展分组活动，以“雨”为主题。每个小组选择一首与雨有关的诗，进行探索、即兴创作，并为诗歌添加自己的固定节奏（ostinato）图案。

来自ISNS的Lexi老师则带领学生通过唱歌和律动学习节奏图案，进而介绍了加纳传统歌曲《Obwisana》。学生们分析歌曲中的旋律模式，并在使用节奏棒的同时玩起了圆圈游戏，在唱歌与节奏中学习合作。最后，各小组以创造性的方式创作属于自己的音乐图案，运用不同的音乐元素来表达他们对“图案”概念的理解，其他小组则聆听并猜测其含义。

SIS的学生们在本次工作坊中体验到了丰富多样的“图案”——从点与节奏，到旋律与和声。他们期待在这一学年中，继续参加更多富有启发性的 iMADSZ 艺术交流活动。

By Karen Bown-Miller, Assistant Principal-Early Primary  

As we return to school after the October holiday, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the role of play in our children’s lives. Play is not just a way to pass the time; it’s a powerful tool for learning and development. Understanding how our children engage in play can help us appreciate its importance in building essential skills that prepare them for the future. 

Play is defined as any enjoyable activity done for its own sake. In education, it’s recognized as a crucial avenue for learning. Research shows that play is the cornerstone of early childhood development, and at SIS, we honor this through our Playful Inquiry Approach. We are dedicated to providing the time, opportunities, and guidance that nurture the essential skills children develop through play, ensuring they grow into balanced and well-adjusted individuals. 

Play and the IB Curriculum: Learning Happens Through Play 

When children engage in activities like building, inventing, or strategizing, they strengthen their ability to navigate challenges. Emotional skills such as resilience, self-regulation, and empathy are nurtured through both solitary and group play, helping children manage their feelings and understand those of others. 

At SIS, playful inquiry is woven into our daily curriculum. Teachers design learning experiences that encourage exploration and inquiry through play, making learning enjoyable and impactful. For example, children might dress up to role-play events from a book, conduct science experiments using Legos, or collaborate on art projects—all through playful learning. 

Types of Play 

Play encompasses a wide range of activities, including imaginative play, physical play, and structured games. Each type serves a unique purpose. For instance, solitary play promotes self-discovery, while group play fosters cooperation and communication. Research shows that through play, children explore, create, and build relationships with peers and their environment. It’s essential for adults to support children at different developmental stages and with varied play preferences. 

Essential Skills Developed Through Play 

• Social Skills: Play teaches teamwork, sharing, and communication. Group play helps children practice negotiation and conflict resolution. Family activities like playdates or board game nights enhance social interactions and nurture a sense of belonging and connection, both of which are important for developing psychological safety. 

• Cognitive Skills: Play fosters problem-solving and critical thinking. Strategy games, such as puzzles and board games, challenge children to think critically. Family game nights or collaborative puzzles can be enjoyable ways to strengthen these skills. 

• Emotional Skills: Play provides a safe space for children to express emotions and develop empathy. Activities like storytelling or role-playing help children understand different perspectives and process their feelings. Encouraging children to act out stories allows them to explore emotions in a supportive environment, fostering emotional intelligence and resilience. 

• Physical Skills: Physical play is vital for developing motor skills, coordination, and overall health. Activities like climbing, biking, or playing tag enhance physical development and promote a sense of adventure. Additionally, these physical skills are crucial for developing the muscles involved in early writing and self-regulation, laying the foundation for academic success. 

The Role of Adults 

Creating a play-friendly environment at school and home is essential for supporting children’s holistic development and preparing them to be future-ready learners. Play helps children become critical thinkers and problem solvers while fostering a sense of self-directed engagement with the world. By setting aside time for unstructured play, we empower children to choose activities that encourage independence and creativity. Providing materials like blocks, art supplies, and sports equipment enriches their play experiences, allowing for exploration and skill development. 

To foster our children’s future academic success and overall development, engaging in play is crucial. The most effective activities are often the simplest and most enjoyable—like singing, playing games, reading, storytelling, and simply talking and listening. These shared moments not only enhance learning but also strengthen family bonds and support emotional growth. Encouraging play in our children’s lives is one of the best investments we can make for their future. 

“The activities that are the easiest, cheapest, and most fun to do—such as singing, playing games, reading, storytelling, and just talking and listening—are also the best for child development.” -Jerome Singer, a Yale University Professor and Professor of Psychology Emeritus 

作者：Karen Bown-Miller，小学副校长

国庆假期结束返校之际，我们正好可以思考游戏在孩子生活中扮演的角色。游戏不仅仅是消磨时间的一种方式，更是一种强有力的学习与发展的工具。了解孩子如何参与游戏，有助于我们认识到游戏在培养孩子必备技能方面的重要性，为他们迎接未来做好准备。

游戏指的是任何为享受乐趣本身而进行的活动。在教育领域，游戏被公认为一种重要的学习途径。研究表明，游戏是儿童早期发展的基石。在SIS，我们通过"游戏化探究教学法"践行这一理念。我们致力于提供时间、机会和指导，培养孩子通过游戏发展基本技能，确保他们成长为全面发展和适应良好的个体。

游戏与IB课程：在游戏中学习

当孩子们参与搭建、创造或制定策略等活动时，他们应对挑战的能力得到了加强。复原力、自我调节能力和同理心等情感技能通过独立游戏和团队游戏得到培养，帮助孩子管理自己的情绪并理解他人的感受。

在SIS，游戏化探究已融入日常课程。教师设计通过游戏鼓励探索和探究的学习体验，使学习变得愉快而富有成效。例如，孩子们可以通过角色扮演书中情节、用乐高做科学实验或合作完成艺术项目——这一切都通过游戏化学习实现。

游戏的类型

游戏形式多样，包括想象游戏、体力游戏和有组织的游戏等。每种类型都有其独特作用。例如，独立游戏促进自我探索，而团队游戏则培养合作与沟通能力。研究表明，通过游戏，孩子们可以探索、创造，并与同伴及周围环境建立关系。成年人对处于不同发展阶段、有不同游戏偏好的孩子给予支持至关重要。

通过游戏培养的关键技能

• 社交技能：游戏能培养团队合作、分享和沟通能力。团队游戏帮助孩子练习协商和解决冲突。像游戏日或棋盘游戏之夜这样的家庭活动可以加强社交互动，培养归属感和联系感，这两者对建立心理安全感都很重要。

• 认知技能：游戏能培养解决问题和批判性思维的能力。策略类游戏，如拼图和棋盘游戏，能挑战孩子的批判性思维。家庭游戏之夜或合作拼图是强化这些技能的有趣方式。

• 情感技能：游戏为孩子提供了表达情感和培养同理心的安全空间。讲故事或角色扮演等活动能帮助孩子理解不同观点，处理自己的感受。鼓励孩子表演故事，让他们在支持性环境中探索情感，培养情商和韧性。

• 身体技能：体力游戏对发展运动技能、协调能力和整体健康至关重要。爬行、骑车或捉迷藏等活动能促进身体发育，培养冒险精神。此外，这些身体技能对培养早期书写和自我调节所需的肌肉至关重要，为学业成功奠定基础。

成年人的角色

在学校和家庭中创造有利于游戏的环境，对支持孩子的全面发展和培养面向未来的学习者至关重要。游戏帮助孩子成为批判性思考者和问题解决者，同时培养他们自主参与世界的意识。通过留出时间让孩子进行非结构化游戏，我们让他们能够选择鼓励独立性和创造性的活动。提供积木、美术用品和体育器材等材料可以丰富游戏体验，让孩子有机会探索和发展技能。

为了促进孩子未来的学业成功和全面发展，参与游戏至关重要。最有效的活动往往是最简单、最有趣的——比如唱歌、玩游戏、阅读、讲故事，以及简单的交谈和倾听。这些亲子时光不仅能促进学习，还能增进家庭纽带，支持情感成长。鼓励孩子参与游戏是我们能为他们的未来做出的最佳投资之一。

"那些最简单、最便宜、最有趣的活动——例如唱歌、玩游戏、阅读、讲故事，以及交谈和倾听——也是最有利于儿童发展的。" ——耶鲁大学教授、荣誉退休心理学教授杰罗姆·辛格