Michelle Chaplin, Head of Junior School

 

Lower Junior School Google Meet Sessions

 

We have been thrilled to see our Lower Junior School students’ smiling faces in our Google Meets. They have really enjoyed sharing their learning with each other and have had lovely manners online, remembering to mute their microphones and to put their hands up to have a turn to talk.

 

ELC - Catch up Session on Google Meet

 

It was lovely to see so many smiling children’s faces at our ELC Google Meet. Our youngest students at school showed us that they are very clever with technology and were very happy to see their teachers and friends.

 

We sang the “Good Morning” song and introduced two new members who joined us in Term 2. The children were excited to see their teachers and friends, and were thrilled to listen to one another. It was fun to see how the children interacted and shared their experiences while they were at home. We were so impressed with their lovely manners online. We sang the rhyme “Who took the cookie from the cookie jar” and in the end we found out that Yuriel took the cookies!

 

 

“Though we cannot see each other physically, we feel connected and fortunate as learning is still progressing through the Online Continuity of Learning platform. The ELC learners really enjoyed the Google Meet catch up as well as the teachers, and the joy on their faces said a thousand words. It was a heartfelt moment to see all the children from ELC that joined the Google Meet and being given the chance to express their thoughts was a great moment to be captured.” - ELC Team (Miss Rebecca, Miss Manpreet and Miss Bianca)

 

Foundation - Weather and Seasons Quiz

The Foundation students have been learning all about weather and seasons. They all enjoyed taking part in a quiz about seasons on a Google Meet. They drew shapes in different colours before starting the quiz and used these shapes to show their answers to each question. It was so much fun! They also shared their exciting news with each other. It was lovely to hear about who had lost their wobbly teeth and who is excited about their birthday coming up soon.

 

 

 

“Throughout our Continuity of Learning journey, we have had the opportunity to reflect on and appreciate the valuable relationships we have built in the children’s first formal year of school. Our daily interactions that add so much value to every learning experience have been a great loss, however, Google Meets have provided an opportunity for the Foundation students and teachers to reconnect. We have loved hearing the student’s stories, reflections of their learning and seeing their smiling faces”. - Miss Dani

 

Year 1 - Saying Hello to Our Friends and Teachers

The Year 1 classes got to say hello to their friends and teachers on Google Meet and shared all of their exciting news with each other. They were so happy to see each other and there were so many smiles! We were very impressed with their lovely manners online and we even got to meet some of their lovely pets and see their favourite things at home.

 

 

 

“Google Meets with our Year 1 students made my day.  I’m still thinking about their comments and smiling faces now! How lucky are we to live in an age and be privileged to have access to devices which allow us to connect? Our Year 1’s were so responsive in sharing their favourite things and telling us what they have been up to. Their manners and responsible behaviour during the meet was amazing! Thank you Year 1 for making the time and effort to connect and I can’t wait to see you all again soon!” - Ms Kos

 

“Seeing the same smiles we treasured every morning though virtual kept us motivated and encouraged. We love observing how much they have grown through their short yet lovely interactions. Oh, how fortunate we are learning from these little brains!” -  Miss Amariah

 

“Google Meets provided an opportunity to see and hear the students for the first time since the implementation of the MCO. It was great to see the students and talk to them face to face; hear their concerns and what brings them joy. Nothing can replicate this type of interaction. I am already looking forward to our next meeting.” - Mr Griffin

 

“Our Google Meets were such a lovely way to connect again face to face with our learners. What a joy it was to see everyone again and to hear all of the exciting things they all wanted to share with us. We have been so proud of how good our students are at responding to feedback from their teachers. What amazing Visible Learners we have at AISM!” - Mrs McLean

 

Year 2 - Fruity Fractions

 

We have been learning about fractions in Year 2 and in our Google Meet everybody brought along a piece of fruit or a vegetable, a chopping board and a knife they could use to cut their fruit.

 

Each student demonstrated their knowledge of fractions by cutting and dividing their fruit into various fractions they have been learning about: Halves, quarters, eighths, thirds and sixths. Then we all enjoyed eating our fruit! One of our activities at home this week was making ‘Fraction Fruit Salad’. Each piece of fruit was cut into a different fraction and added into the delicious fruit salad. Yum!

Who knew that learning Maths could be so delicious and so much fun?

 

 

“The students have really enjoyed using Google Meets to connect with each other and give and receive feedback. It has been nice to see their faces and hear their voices after being so long out of the classroom environment. A highlight for me was when we all told each other jokes in 2G. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun.” -Mr Richards

 

“During the Continuity of Learning, I really missed seeing my learner’s faces and hearing their voices. The Google Meets have provided an opportunity for me to check in with all of my learners and their wellbeing, supply them with information to support their learning, and deliver feedback. A particular moment I loved during the 2W google meets was singing and dancing to one of our favourite class songs called ‘Joe’s button box’. It was great to see the learners being active, singing, engaging with their peers, and seeing their huge smiles.” - Miss Wild

 

Upper Junior School Google Meet Sessions

The Junior School is continuing to grow our Continuity of Learning platform - we have extended our Google meets From ELC to Year 5 and whilst some meets are for academic purposes - we also value meets for staying connected with friends and the community. Here’s what a few teacher’s had to say…..

 

Grades 3-5 have been holding two Google Meet sessions a day. Teachers have found it to be a positive experience and have been impressed with the mature way learners have managed this platform. For teachers and students alike, it has been a great way to connect and learn together during the MCO.

 

Parent feedback has been positive with many sharing how excited their children are to attend the Google Meet sessions each morning.

 

 

 

“Google Meets has been a great asset to myself and to my students during the Continuity of Learning program. It has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to engage with my students daily in a face-to-face environment and share information and discuss learning activities in real-time. I can tell that the students appreciate the time that they get to spend online with their classmates as well.” - Mr Johns, 5G

 

“It is fantastic to see how excited learners are to share their learning with each other during the Google Meet sessions. Every morning during roll call children also love to share stories, show each other their pets, and talk about other new hobbies they have taken up during the MCO like cooking.” - Mr Jeremy, 3G

 

“The best part of my day is during the Year 4 Google Meet sessions as it has truly allowed me to connect with my students again. From an educational standpoint, it has enabled the teaching of new curriculum content and it has been a great way to keep our learners on track. Learners have the opportunity to ask questions, receive feedback and interact with one another every day.” - Mrs Griffin, 4G