From Primary School:
Information letter from Mr. Paul, Head of Primary School
Dear parents and students,
Another snowy week at CIS Gorki! This doesn't stop the teaching and learning across both our buildings, however, and the attitude of the students remains really positive and thirsty for education. Whilst Covid cases continue to have an effect on classes, with both Zoom and hybrid learning needing to be used though only when absolutely necessary, I am still very pleased with how this term is going. Illness took me out of school for a large part of the week, and this meant I could not host the planned School Council meeting, but we will catch up with that next week. Minutes from the meeting will be shared with parents.
Mr. Paul Curry
Head of Primary
Now some news from teachers. Firstly, Ms Lydia hasn't been with us very long but has settled into life at Gorki extremely well, getting to know all about her Year 1 students. She says:
Dear parents and guardians,
Year 1 have had a fantastic week; we have been reading and retelling the story of Jack and the Beanstalk! Students have been acting out the giant shouting ‘fe fi fo fum’, and are doing some very convincing impersonations! Drama lessons with our young learners are always a lot of fun, and are a great way to encourage the vital skill of spoken language, especially a second language. I am really pleased with all the students.
In Science and Project we began learning about plants and the environment; here you can see students learning about the different parts of a plant, and using their senses to explore the flowers. Students have consolidated their learning about parts of a plant, and begun to explore what a plant needs to survive. We looked at how water is absorbed through the roots, travels up the stem, and is used in the leaves for photosynthesis. We discussed how amazing it is that plants can use light to produce their own food!
Well done everyone and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend in the snow!
Miss Lydia
Year 1 Teacher
In addition, Miss Stacey returned to the classroom after two weeks of successful Zoom lessons. Unfortunately, the class had to quarantine almost immediately, so it has been more Zoom for most of the week - let's hope everyone is back on Monday. She says:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
What an interesting start to the year Year 6 have had, with Zoom lessons and online learning. The adjustment was an easy one for us all with the class have kicking off the new year with loads of enthusiasm.
We have started a few new units this term, with Science focusing on “Material Changes”. We have lots of exciting and fun experiments to look forward to over the course of the term which will enable us to develop our practical skills further. We have started looking at how we can mix and separate soilds and next will examine solutions.
In Maths, we began the term by investigating data handling. We are showing confidence with using line graphs and are now more familiar with interpreting pie charts and how to draw them. We have just moved on to decimal numbers and how to multiply fractions. We have been also been consolidating our understanding of inequalities.
During English, working through our animated film-based unit called ‘The Alchemist’s Letter’. We have analysed how the creator used symbols within the film e.g. a key and what it could represent and pathetic fallacy for how the character’s emotion could be displayed through changes in weather. We are now incorporating more elements of the figurative language studied into our writing.
We are looking forward to what the rest of the term has in store for us. Thank you for your continued support -
Miss Stacey
Year 6 Teacher
From Secondary School:
Information letter from Mr. Christopher, Head of Secondary School
Dear Parent, Guardians and Students,
I hope that you are all well and that you are staying safe.
It is no secret that Russia has been experiencing a surge in COVID cases recently, with these affecting our community. However, as a school and as educators, we continue to strive to deliver the best education to your children that we possibly can.In Secondary school, if your child is COVID positive or if someone in your household is COVID positive, please contact via Edupage. We can discuss hybrid learning options so that your child can still take part in classes.
The successful development of this part of the school is paramount, so any feedback that you can provide is always appreciated.Thank you to all parents and students for their understanding during the last few weeks. We aim to provide the best possible education whilst keeping everyone as safe as possible is our utmost priority.
I would also like to congratulate some of our Year 10 girls for their achievement relating to an Art Cafe. More news on this next week.Have a lovely weekend.
Christopher Kingshott
Head of Secondary
Message from Mr Chris Mackin (English Teacher and Year 9 Form Tutor)
Dear CIS Community.Returning to school after the winter break, our students have been reflecting on what they have already learnt this academic year, and hardening themselves to the challenges ahead.
The main focus of the English department during the next term is poetry. Poetry is something that learners can find difficult and persistence is key. To that end, alongside the typical model for analysising works of literature, we are pushing the students to truly explore their own ideas and bring their own experiences to each piece. This rounded approach to learning is already proving fruitful and it has been great to witness the growing confidence as students begin to develop their interpretations, coupling their own views with their understanding of poetic structure and device.
It is Shakespeare for Year 7, with perhaps his most famous play. While the students were aware of Romeo and Juliet, this is their first attempt at scaling the language that can prove as difficult as it will be (ultimately) rewarding. Mr. Jackson has been impressed with the level of engagement the play has generated.
Year 8 are focusing on poetry written in the trenches during the First World War. These poems are tough and forthright, with frank truths that the soldiers wanted the wider world to hear. They also demonstrate the tragic waste of life, given that several of the men who wrote so beautifully about the conflict were destined to die in it. The poems have led to energetic discussion and impressive written analysis from the students.
Year 9 have been focusing on the brighter side of poetry, the era or romanticism. These poems are odes to the beauty of the world around us, but within this cheerful remit there are also more searching questions about the nature of existence itself. The students have enjoyed delving into the themes of each poem, and considering how they are linked and what separates them from other types of poetry.
Year 10 have continued their preparation for next year’s exams. At the moment we are focused on Paper one. Using an extract from Robinson Crusoe, the students developed their ideas about the nature of implied and explicit. These are terms that children are familiar with from a young age, but in exams students will be expected to answer how and why some information is concealed, as well as make appropriate inferences which link to their wider knowledge of story and structure. I have been impressed at how well Year 10 have approached the task this week.
Year 11’s exam preparation continues with their study of the proscribed text. Othello is seen by some as one of Shakespeare’s lesser tragedies, but- as with all his work- it contains a bounty of beautiful language and the type of universal themes and comments on humanity to still resonate strongly. Mr. Jackson reports that the students are forming solid views and finding the best way to express them.
More good news: The efforts to improve on uniform have been noted by form teachers. Students now come in looking smart and ready to work. This is the type of small improvement in standards that will have beneficial ripples across the entire school and we would like to thank you, as parents and carers, for your continued support with this.
Thank you,
Message from Mr Alejo (Spanish Teacher)
The theme of the month is team work. In the past, teams were not so important as people in the cities were craftsman and in the fields the teams consisted of the family members. But as society and economic evolved, the complexity of the problems and the size of the tasks increased, the teams became essential and they increased their roles. Now teams are everywhere and they could be very diverse with members of different countries, religions, background, etc. even can be working together at the same time in different places using various languages.So languages emerged as tool and a way to communicate and they are vital in team working as they can join people and help to share knowledge, culture, values and ideas, not limiting us to only one country.
In our school we try to promote teamworking involving our students in many projects to get used to this form of working, to be prepared to integrate teams in a satisfactory way or to lead it.
Regards
Mr. Alejo (Spanish Teacher)