Talanoa - International School Suva

Newsletter of International School Suva
The last day for our IB students
Ta l a n o
a
Counselors
Corner
Volume 2
Do you remember your last day at school? It is such a significant event and yet the IB examinations which begin today are th e focus and for most of our Year 12 students leaving school does not seem quite real yet. It
14 March, 2014
25 May 2012
Electronic copy available at http://www.international.school.fj/docs/talanoa.pdf
Electronic copy available at http://www.international.school.fj/docs/talanoa.pdf
Volume 8
Inside This Issue:
* Principal’s Report
* Secondary Camp
* Sports
* Model United Nation
* Service Club
* Primary Perspective
* Counselors Corner
* Year 9 Article
* PTFA Report
Principal’s Report
Firstly, on behalf of the School council, I invite you all to the International Schools Association
AGM which will be held in the MPH at 6pm on Thursday 20th March 2014. At the AGM the 2013
International School Suva audited financial accounts will be presented and reports will be given
by Jacquelyn Terry, Chair of Council, and myself. You will also have the opportunity to listen to
and vote for new Council members. Documentation pertaining to the AGM has already been
uploaded to the school website and you can access it through this link. Furthermore, details
regarding electronic voting for Council nominees have been sent to you in a separate email.
In addition to the AGM next week the school is also hosting its 7th Model United Nations
programme. The MUN programme is keenly awaited by the seven schools who will be
participating. This year we are delighted to have Greg Fry, Associate Professor in the School of
Government, Development and International Affairs at USP, as our Chief Guest. I also take this
opportunity to thank Milika Waqainabete, Sereana Baleilevuka and Selaima Veisamasama for
their hard work in putting this together. MUN will then be followed by our Western Association of
Schools and Colleges accreditation visit in the final week of term.
Looking back the last four weeks have been very busy. Our student leaders received their
badges at our leadership assembly and we held out first blood drive for 2014 where 24
successful donations were made. The Fiji Blood Bank thanks all members of the school
community who donated and we were reminded that with the current dengue outbreak the Blood
Bank is fearful of running out of blood. Dengue remains a focus at school. With 11,000 cases
being reported we continue to take measures at school to minimize the chances of staff and
students being bitten and also encourage everyone to help us pouring out pooled water and
informing staff if they see potential mosquito breeding areas.
Earlier this term the PTFA held its AGM and I am delighted to congratulate Patricia Evers as she
takes on her second year as PTFA President. In addition, Mary Bythell was voted in as Vice
President and Nigel Dowdeswell as Treasurer. The PTFA play a huge role in our school in
promoting communication between parents and staff, organising events and fundraising. I take
this opportunity to thank the outgoing PTFA team and welcome the incoming team. The first job
of the new team is tomorrow‟s Arts and Craft market. We have over 50 confirmed stalls and it is
poised to be a great success.
Anna Marsden
Principal
17th and 18th March 2014
Next week 130 students from Adi Cakobau School, International School Nadi, Marist
Brothers High School, Saint Joseph's Secondary School, Suva Grammar School and
Yat Sen Secondary School will join our students in a Model United Nations program.
Students have been assigned countries in five different committees: General
Assembly, General Assembly - Disarmament Committee, ECOSOC, International
Criminal Police Organization and Security Council. Each committee has a specific
agenda and they range from human trafficking, diminishing water resources to the
Syrian conflict. Students are being trained on the rules and procedure and will be
presenting their country's position on the agenda.
Please feel free to attend any of the sessions during the two days.
Milika Waqainabete
HOD Humanities
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The school‟s annual Careers Expo was held on Thursday 13 March and was another huge success.
This was made possible with the support and attendance of generous individuals, organizations and
schools. Judging from the response of students, parents, teachers and Expo participants, the event
was definitely a good learning experience for all those that attended. We could comfortably say that
there were at least 500 people that passed through the Expo door this year.
The Expo featured 28 booths manned by enthusiastic personnel from the various organizations who
had so generously come along to share their experience and knowledge in the career fields that they
worked in. ISS was also very happy to share this great opportunity of planning towards future career
goals with 15 other schools in the greater Suva area.
We are indeed thankful to all those who have contributed to the success of this annual event. There is
no doubt that each student that passed through the Expo is now more enlightened on the career
options that are available to them. This will certainly enhance students‟ decision making for their
future.
We wish to acknowledge the contribution and presence of the following individuals and organizations,
for without this special group the Expo would not have been possible:
Holiday Inn (Tourism & Hospitality), Erasito Consultants (Civil & Structural Engineering), Mai TV
and The Fiji Times (Media & Journalism), Westpac Banking Corporation (Banking), Fiji Fashion
Week ( Fashion & Design), Carson Young & Team ( Visual/Digital Arts), TeamFiji & STOP HIV
(FASANOC), MindPearl (Business & Marketing), NatureFiji-MareqetiViti (Environment
Sustainability), University of the South Pacific, Fiji National University, Ministry of Industry &
Trade, The Fiji Police Force, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions & Munro Leys (Law),
Ernest & Young (Accounting), Nursing (United States Embassy), Pacific Islands Forum
Secretariat (International
Relations), Ministry of Agriculture (Land Resource & Development,
Crop Extension, Animal Health & Production Service Division), Ministry of Fisheries & Forestry,
and International School Suva (Laboratory Technology, Library, IT, Teaching)
There was also an information session held in the library on Wednesday 12 March, for Years 11 and
12 that were interested in overseas university studies. We had an official from the Queensland
University of Technology (QUT) to talk about future study prospects at QUT. This session was very
informative and well attended by the senior students (30 students and 3 parents).
We look forward to working with students as they plan for future
career goals.
Fenella David
School Counselor
[email protected]
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IF IT DOESN’T CHALLENGE YOU,
IT DOESN’T CHANGE YOU! -Fred Devito
SECONDARY CAMP UPDATE
Please take note of the following camp dates as some of them have changed.
Year 6- Tuesday 18th March–Thursday 20th March. Week 9, term 1.
Year 7- Tuesday 22nd July-Thursday 24th July. Week 2, term 3.
Year 8- Wednesday 27th August-Friday 29th August. Week 7, term 3.
Year 9- Wednesday- Friday. Week 1, term 3.
Year 10- Wednesday 11th June-Friday 13th June. Week 9, term 2.
Year 11- Monday 5th May-Wednesday 7th May. Week 4, term 2.
Year 12- Monday 16th June-Wednesday 18th June. Week 10, term 2.
WHAT IS REQUIRED!
Quality Backpack (lined with a garbage bag to keep the contents dry)
Good walking shoes (joggers are fine)
Flip flops (For around camp at night)
Waterproof Tent (can share with friends)
Sleeping bag, blanket or sheet
Sleeping mat (optional)
Raincoat
Jumper
Change of clothes/underwear
Spare socks
Swimmers
Dinner, Breakfast, Snacks
3 ltrs of water
Cooking pot (you can share)
Plate or bowl and utensils
Basic first aid- insect repellant, sunscreen, band aides etc
Torch
Hat
Toilet paper
Toothbrush/paste, sunscreen, deodorant, soap, shampoo and towel etc.
KEEP FIT!
It’s important that your child/ward
keeps fit and healthy in the
preparation for camp. They will be
doing lots of physical activity
including hiking, swimming and
camping.
Service Club Tuesday Afternoon Activities
Children‟s Ward, Colonial War Memorial Hospital
By W.Vaciloa
Fifteen secondary and two primary students have truly demonstrated the
IB/PYP learner attitude of showing empathy, compassion and respect
towards the needs of others. By choosing to be part of the Service Club,
they have made a personal commitment to service, and act to make a
positive difference to the lives of others as they travel down to the
Children‟s Ward at the CWM hospital every Tuesday at 2.30pm, to read
and bring alive stories using puppets, in addition to other educational
activities. The presence of our Service club members brings joy not only
to the sick children but also to their parents and the hard working staff
of the Children‟s ward.
Last week, our primary students helped to make colorful get well cards
during their lunch break at the library, which we later gave to the sick
children we visited this week. The happiness in the sick children‟s faces
has given encouragement to a lot of our students. Here‟s what Tamena
Evers of Year 801 has said about her experience so far. “Going to the
hospital is a lot of fun, meeting kids and learning their names. I just feel
really good on the inside because I know that I have made a sick child
happy. It was worthwhile to see them happy when we gave them little
cards to stick by their bedside.” Camelia Ionascu of Year 602 says, “The
first time I went, I felt really bad when I saw kids sick and in pain, but
when I started reading and talking to them, they smiled and I understood
that I have made them happy.” The rest of the Service Club members
echoed that it is indeed a privilege to be able to bring joy to the sick
children.
Lastly, the satisfaction and pride that comes from helping others is
reward enough for our students and we look forward to more similar
visits and hope that this experience will mould our students into caring
and compassionate adults.
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What is on in Physical Education and Sport?
Outdoor Education: This semester the intrepid „Outdoor- Eders‟ are studying skills and leisure activities to do with
the Ocean. They have been honing their snorkeling skills in the aquatic centre pool and researching the fish and
coral that they will need to identify on their field trip next term. This topic includes a strong focus on conservation of
the environment as well as the use of the environment in leisure pursuits.
Sports Studies: This semester focuses on Coaching. All the students are completing an online Aus sport
„Beginning Coaching Course‟ which will help them in their practical coaching assessment of coaching a team in the
sport of their choice over a minimum period of 10 weeks. The coaching sessions are closely monitored by the PE
staff and are designed to complement the regular team training programs in the school.
Later they will be required to complete a Level 1 coaching course that is offered by a National Sporting Federation.
In the past we have had students gain Level 1 qualifications in triathlon, table tennis, beginner swimming and
soccer.
At the moment Joshua Uluiviti is coaching the basketball squad. Their first phase of training is developing aerobic
fitness and speed. His challenging sessions are Mondays and Fridays after school in the Hall from 4.00pm to
5.00pm. This year all those interested in playing basketball for the school will be required to pass a fitness test. So
attendance at these sessions is vital. Joshua is drawing on his experience as a national rep to assist in his
coaching.
Strength training is being offered in the school weight gym otherwise known as „the Cage‟. Coaching through a
progression of programs is being offered by Chris Koop and Ryan Saphore. The times when they are available are
5.00am to 6.30am at school, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Fitness is a strong focus in all of our
PE programs this year and those interested in improving their fitness levels to supplement their PE classes, need to
see Chris and Ryan to be part of their program.
A number of Sports Studies students are assisting in coaching athletics. In this respect they are working alongside
Mr Mario who is the head coach of our Suva Zone 1 team. These students have been instrumental in proposing the
set up of an ISS athletics club which will operate throughout the year. Athletics is the base of all sports and
developing high fitness levels. Training sessions include gym work with Chris and Ryan and training at the stadium
every afternoon. Jumps training happen every lunch time in the MP Hall. The ISS Spartans Athletics club will allow
middle school and primary students to train for the Chow Games in term 4 and develop a long term plan for their
skill development in track and field for senior students, to the next Coke-a-Cola games. Organizing small Saturday
competitions or participating in small competitions held by Fiji Athletics Federation is part of some of the activities
being planned for the year.
The Suva Zone 1 qualifying athletics championships.
Each year a school within the zone is given the responsibility of organising and hosting the Games. The Zones are
held to give all schools an opportunity to have students qualify to compete in the finals otherwise known as the
Coke-a-Cola Games. There are 22 schools in Suva Zone 1.
This year ISS and Suva Christian School are co-hosting the Zone which will take place on the 27th of March in the
ANZ National Stadium. Already the PE department has organized two meetings, and a coaches‟ skill development
workshop in “throws”. A clinic/workshop for officials and a meeting for team mangers are scheduled close to the
date of the Games. At present all schools have submitted their entries for the event.
The Sports Studies students have been instrumental in the planning of a simple but meaningful student-led opening
ceremony using our head students and those of Suva Christian School. This will be the first time that a student-led
program will have been tried at a meet of this kind in Fiji. Those of our Sports Studies students who will not be
competing will be trained to officiate during the meet.
ISS has a team of about 25 students who will be competing. There are a number of potential medal winners in the
mix. However all secondary school athletes around Fiji will find it challenging this year as for the first time there are
qualifying times to participate in the Coke. So regardless of your place in the Zones only those who have completed
the qualifying times, heights or distances, will be allowed to continue through.
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Soccer.
Congratulations to all those very keen junior soccer players who on Wednesday 12 th March played their first
friendly match against Veiuto Primary School. The final score was 1-1. There is a possibility of more matches and
of registering with the Suva Primary Soccer organization. Watch this space for more news on this development.
The school has enough players to field an U12 and an U10 team.
Netball.
After a successful season last year the U14 netball will this year be graduating to the more challenging secondary
competition. The squad of very keen and dedicated netballers has been training very hard on developing their skill
and fitness since week 2 of this term. Training days are Mondays and Fridays 2.30pm to 4.00pm. Fitness tests will
be the key to qualify for any school representative team and the netball girls and some boys have been determined
to reach the required levels. The competition season will start in late April and run for two months. Training is open
to all those who are keen and dedicated. Boys are also welcome to come along. There is a very serious boys‟
netball division as well. Those in middle school (both boys and girls) who wish to play basketball this year should
make every effort to attend these training sessions to fine tune personal fitness, and catching and throwing skills
before considering playing basketball for the school.
Swimming.
Primary is completing their 2014 swimming program and secondary PE classes have now moved into the
swimming component of the syllabus. Swimming is an important life skill in this country and one that many of our
students utilize in the weekends. The Primary program is essentially a learn-to- swim program and it is important to
note that the school program of 8 lessons a year is not enough to ensure that swimming competency is achieved.
Parents are encouraged to get further lessons outside of school to build on these sessions rather than waiting a
whole year before the next 8 sessions. The PTFA has a list of Swimming Clubs and contacts that offer swimming
programs.
Primary will be holding their swimming carnival on Tuesday 18 th March at the Damodar Aquatic Centre in the 25m
pool. The program is designed to give the students the challenge of applying the skills they have learnt this year.
From this competition the school will also select a squad of swimmers from which a team will be selected to
represent the school in the Fiji Schools National Swimming Championships which are scheduled for May 31 st and
June 1st. Each school is only allowed to enter 2 swimmers in each event per gender and each swimmer may only
compete in 4 events with relays being extra. Last year our small primary team did extremely well in the competition.
The move this year to restrict swimmers to 4 events will open the door to more students having a chance to
compete.
The secondary PE program moved from Athletics to swimming. It is expected that when students move into
Secondary that they are reasonably capable swimmers. The program gets students to experiment with and look at
the biomechanics of swimming, swimming as a sport and as a cross training, fitness and rehabilitation exercise.
This is a compulsory program and students who miss classes for whatever reason will be expected to do 'make-up‟
classes. The details regarding this will be distributed in class. Sunscreen, drinking water, proper swimming gear
and goggles are required. Those students who are beginner swimmers will need to organize extra classes to
improve their skill as beginners; swimming is not generally part of the program.
Swimming for the Disabled.
This year our CAS swimming project has expanded to include teaching swimming to the students of the Fiji School
for the Blind, Hilton Special School and Hilton Early Intervention School. Altogether we have about 90 students
from these three schools who have signed up for the classes.
How does it all work?
Our senior students as part of the IB CAS and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme do a crash course in how to
teach swimming to beginners and we then supply a one to one instructor system for each of the students from the
invited schools. We have been supported by the Fiji Swimming Federation in this venture. They have managed to
source funding that is to pay for the transport and pool entry. The benefits of the program have been two fold. Our
students have found the experience challenging and very emotional. The students from the three Special schools
have thrived on the experience. The opportunity to have any sort of swimming lesson in these schools is very
limited as there are too few teachers to give one to one teaching. The disabilities range from multiple sclerosis,
deafness, blindness and Downs syndrome. Our senior students have developed a better understanding of their
young charges and the challenges they face in life. We have only two more weeks of this program. It is hoped that
we will be able to offer it again next year.
Jennifer Liew
Head of PE and Sport
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Primary Perspective
As we near the end of Term 1, we take the time to
reflect on the many activities and learning experiences
students have participated in and look forward to what
is coming in the near future.
We hope you all enjoyed our first edition of the Primary
Press for 2014 and found some time to explore our
new primary webpage which will always be evolving.
We encourage your feedback and welcome any
suggestions for further inclusion in this site. It is to
better our communication with all stakeholders so
please let us know what you think! For those of you
who are new to the school, you can find the new primary website via our whole school website by simply
clicking on the primary tab. In the near future, classes
will be setting up their own web pages. Isn‟t that
exciting!
Our Tavola Tree of Inquiry has been relocated to
outside the primary office this week. This will allow all
students to add their leaves at any time during the
week, therefore unrestricting how many leaves can be
handed out by teachers and students for displaying
our focus PYP attitude. Two trees are on display and
once painted, one tree will host our happy award people, the other our students who are caught displaying
the focus PYP attitude. The selection of happy award
people will then be drawn from the bucket on Friday
assembly for the weekly award as per usual.
This week we welcome another teacher assistant to
primary and secondary. His name is Mr Navin and he
will be in all classrooms at different times assisting
throughout the week.
Thank you to all of our parents who have offered to be
the PTFA year level liaisons for each of our year levOur swimming program for Reception to Year 5 els. These people will help teachers to organize activistudents has now finished and we are very excited ties etc. for the PTFA events that occur throughout the
about our upcoming swimming carnival on Tuesday at year including our Fun Day and Halloween.
Laucala Bay. Details regarding the swimming carnival
were emailed to all parents and caregivers earlier in Last week, we had a super time with the Year 4 stuthe week. We thank the parents who have helped us dents and their families at their Family Breakfast. After
out with our swimming program and encourage some rather intense Zumba exercise, students disparents to also help us at the carnival next week if you played their assessment pieces to their parents and
are able. We are sure that Mr Waqa will find a job for afterward, enjoyed a delicious, healthy breakfast kindly
you to do and at the same time you can enjoy the car- supplied by the Year 4 parents and teachers. A terrific
morning!
nival spirit and watch your children swim.
We look forward to seeing some of you at our
swimming carnival next week. Our next primary
update will be the Primary Press in Week 10.
Until then,
Karen Whittaker
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ISS Parents Teachers & Friends Association (PTFA)
Your 2014 PTFA Committee has been elected. Its Office Bearers are:
President – Patricia Evers
Vice President – Mary Bythell
Secretary – Nigel Dowdeswell
Social Committee Coordinator – Lydia Sprankle, assisted by Christine Canton & Laura Lejeune.
The revised and adopted PTFA Constitution has been uploaded on the ISS Website.
We thank all „Year Level Parent Liaison‟ volunteers – it is now implemented, hence parents please liaise with your YLPL on whole-class matters.
Social Forums for Term 1, 2014:
TOMORROW
This event has diversified to now
offer international food stalls, artists selling paintings as well as a
variety of homemade arts and
crafts, all under one roof at ISS.
Bring family, friends & colleagues
to enjoy foods for lunch or takeaway, fine art or amazing crafts.
befriend your PTFA on
!! created by request of new ISS families
a list of afterschool activities organised OUTSIDE of ISS
is available shortly on FB & ISS
website.
FUN DAY in Term 3 is on 2 August!
Its Poster Competition will start
next week.
Next PTFA meeting: Wednesday 30
April, 2.40pm, Primary Staff Room.
All parents & teachers are invited to attend.
Vinaka,
Patricia Evers, PTFA President 9364802, [email protected]
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tud
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a
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n
Calli
.
…
ents
Unleash your
creativity
We
want
Design the
to
change
new
ISS Logo Competition And have your Logo
feature in all ISS Brands.
Competition closes on
Tuesday, April 22nd.
??
to
Upcoming Events : Term 1
Week 09
Monday 17 March
Model United Nations
Tuesday 18 March
ISS BAGS, Polo Shirts &
Umbrellas now available
from the Uniform shop.
Bags
- $ 1.50
Umbrellas
- $15.00
ISS Polo Shirts - $ 35.00
Model United Nations
Y6 Camp
Primary Swimming Carnival
Thursday 20 March
20 Proposed ISA AGM date
FOR SALE: HONDA CRV 2.4Ltr
Week 10
Monday 24 March
WASC
Tuesday 25 March
WASC
Wednesday 26 March
WASC
Thursday 27 March
WASC
Suva Zone 1 Athletics Competition
Friday 28 March
WORLD WATER DAY ASSEMBLY






Late 2008 model
Fully loaded with leather interior
Less than 13,000 km
Regularly serviced by dealer
One expat lady owner
Excellent condition
Price: $57,000 o.n.o
Tel: 860-5687
Talanoa Advertising Rates per 1/4 page:
ISS Members (Parents, Teachers & Students): $20
Non-ISS Members:
$40
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