Meeting with Erica McWilliams

I have just met with Erica McWilliams from MYSA - a link to her slide show from the conference is on the right tool bar. It was so great to meet her in person. She is an educator (classroom teacher), turned researcher and is now a Professor at the University here in Singapore. She was very interested to hear about what we're doing at SMC and particularly about the shared language we have created by using the Habits of MInd. Some of her most current work is around the idea of 'flocking'. She talked about flock mentality of birds and how the can move quicker and more effectively together. Apparently the birds in a flock 'talk' with the birds immediately around them, but also to the whole flock and are acutely aware of the fact that every other bird in the flock is doing the same thing. She is going to send me a paper explaining it in more detail, which I'll post here to - so you don't just get my water down version of what she is saying. She is very interested in developing a 'flock' with the 10 of us from SMC and 4 other Australian girls schools (50 in the flock). This is an incredibly exciting opportunity as we navigate our way through the uneven terrain of what it means to be educators in the 21st Century. Great news for us - I'll keep you posted, fellow flock mates!

Minutes 24/6/09

Present: WI, TF, ST, FZ, MR, AS, CP, BU, SR

Apologies: WH, WO

1) Joseph - dates and what people can do to help

2) Elizabethan day - dates for this and discussion on who can do what to help - MR introduced the idea of an Elizabethan Day following the Year 9 students study of a Shakespearean play.

Ideas for Workshops - ENSS - performance; PE/Health - sport; Sci - medical stuff or Science issue at time; Visual - specific angle; PArts – Dance, Maths – Geometry

Organisation - Need to look at how we would manage numbers – ENSS classes or Maths classes? Smaller groups?

Timing - possibly during tournament week? Term 4 before exams? Or last week of Term 3 (Tues, Wed or Thurs)? MR and FZ to talk through with 9ENSS teachers.

MR to email MS Coordinators with info next week.

3) End of year "Monster Garage" - Theme= Developing World - starting to plan what we'll do and when - TF introduced - Year 9 Cross curricular activity to take place in Term 4 (this needs to be confirmed re actual timing) - also need to consider staffing for this activity e.g. part timers

Need to spend some time exploring what each subject would do and needs to do… planning etc. Have clear aims.

It was decided that  we need more time to think about what we actually want to achieve for this activity.

4) Feedback on Janette Strang's email to MS Co ordinators - SG not hearing about the positives (or concerns) from the Year 9 cohort. SG should call meetings for all Year 9 teachers or specific class teachers – MR will email Janette about feedback from this meeting.

5) Preparation for TOD next term – meet on the last Friday of holidays – 17 July (Robin might not be able to attend) 10-12ish at school (then lunch) to plan what we are going to share on TOD.

WH needs to put across where we are at and where our thinking has gone in terms of structure… what we envisage the curriculum to look like…. visually and where it goes up and into the Senior school – the vertical aspect.

We then we share our ‘passion’ stuff or we do it first and then WH can  explain the curriculum.

Can everyone send notes on M Anderson (from conference) to SR.

Please bring some slides about your ‘passion’ for meeting on Friday 17 July.

AOB Feedback from BK – Year 7 and 8 teachers are very upset and feel that they are missing out on important communication. Need to have a talk about this next term – possible on agenda for first week back?

No meeting for next week – last week of term.

Agenda for Wed 24 June

1) Joseph - dates and what people can do to help (10mins)

2) Elizabethan day - dates for this and discussion on who can do what to help (10mins)

3) End of year "Monster Garage" - Theme= Developing Countries - starting to plan what we'll do and when

4) Feedback on Janette Strang's email to MS Co ordinators

Third Language?

Head line in todays Malaysian Newspaper = " Take up third language - The Prime Ministers wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor encourages Malaysian children to take up a third language. It is important for them to take up a third language so that they can move forward alongside developed nations, it also gives them the edge as they will be in demand in the work force - she said."

Agenda Wed 17th

1) Joseph - dates and what people can do to help (10mins)
2) Elizabethan day - dates for this and discussion on who can do what to help (10mins)
3) End of year "Monster Garage" - Theme= Developing Countries - starting to plan what we'll do and when

Working Interdependently at Kids Congress

Kids Congress - A Monster Garage project...

Some of our girls designing an advertisement for the new Nike iPod accessories

Timetable

What is the best timetable for the Middle School? Some of the things we are trying to improve with a new timetable are:
1) less interruptions to teaching time
2) lack of equity in some learning areas
3) losing lessons for public holidays
4) assembly and chapel services run over time and affect the same lessons each week
5) Wednesday shortened lessons
6) possibility of common lunch hour
7) some learning areas would like longer periods of time especially practical subjects
8) creating possible common meeting times for interdisciplinary teaching teams