ISU NEWS - International School of Ulm
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ISU NEWS 11 DECEMBER 2020
Important Dates:
Friday, 18 December normal release time at 2 pm. Normal After-School Care
Monday, 21 December normal school hours for all Distance Learning for Lower, Middle and Upper
School
EYP students regular classes at school
Tuesday, 22 December dismissal at 1 pm Half Day - Distance Learning for Lower, Middle and Upper
School - NO AFTER-SCHOOl CARE
EYP students regular classes at school dismissal at 1 pm
Winter Break- 23 December until 10 January, school resumes on Monday 11 January
News from the Director
As we come to the holiday season and we find ourselves nearly halfway through another academic year, it provides
us with an opportunity to pause for reflection about what the past months have brought and what lies ahead. Over
the past 10 months, we have had major restrictions as to how we live our lives. Like others, ISU has adopted
distance learning, hybrid learning, and various reiterations of COVID-19 measures over this calendar year.
Throughout 2020, parents and teachers maintained an even and steady tone as role models become even more
critical in an unexpected rupture to our society. Like always, we set the tone and in doing this our actions influence
and sustain the children in our care.
I was recently reflecting on an article from Kevin Ruth, the Executive Director from The European Council of
International Schools. In it, he reminded us that we are living in a complex world, one that encompasses a great
deal of “discord and hate” and as I sit and take the time to reflect on Kevin´s words in light of everything that has
happened, I am struck by at least three global issues, or, as I would rather call them: challenges, that I feel are
generational in nature, namely:
How we have all had to rewire and re-think in light of the current global pandemic
The search for peace within conflict
An ongoing search for environmental sustainability
When faced with such broad, global and complex challenges, it seems very difficult to know where to start in order
to meet or address these challenges. Clearly in education, and most specifically in international education, where
all races, creeds and religions are represented, it is up to us to ensure that we are contributing to a response that
addresses these challenges. In doing so we are re-assessing the purpose of education and getting to understand
that one of the key ingredients must be to creatively and imaginatively meet these current and future needs and
challenges. As Kevin Ruth noted, “To be sure, we want those leaving our schools as young adults to influence the
world by making decisions with moral direction”.
As I reflect on whether it will ever be possible to make a difference on a practical level and day-to-day basis? I am
heartened as I walk the corridors of ISU and despite the restrictions, see what is going on in classrooms, and reflect
on curricula and programmes led by the work of our faculty and staff. They work on the deliberate inclusion of these
issues and students are challenged to examine different perspectives and intentions; different actions and different
outcomes in order to be able to develop creative and sustainable options and potential solutions to these global
challenges.
This recognition of micro-moments reminds us that
• our intentions need to be ethical and noble in nature
• our actions need to be positive and constructive
• our outcomes need to make a difference
Some recent micro-moments included our EYPs looking at their sense of place in the world, Grade 4’s Unit of
Inquiry on human body systems, our PTG putting up festive decorations late week, LS virtual assemblies, Grade 5
coding and robotics, our UNICEF group commemorating Children's Day, Ecolympics in MSUS, Grade 12
Extended Essays, LS virtual musical rehearsals, and our Morning Connections that epitomise the three elements
of micro-moments listed above in a collaborative and authentic way. Eleanor Roosevelt when speaking about
human rights stated that “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home -- so
close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. [...] Unless these rights have meaning
there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall
look in vain for progress in the larger world."
This is the same at ISU, where we relish these micro-moments that are part of our deliberate and core aim to
promote a whole child and inclusive approach, fostering student participation and encouraging new challenges. It
is not only about academics but more, much more. Our experiential and service-learning opportunities epitomised
this and really showed all elements of our community coming together. This is the culmination of a great deal of
hard work and engagement, by both students, parents and teachers, and not only demonstrates individual skill
and progression, but an opportunity to learn collaboratively. There are many, many more such micro-moments and
I am heartened by these opportunities to recognise and challenge unkindness, resolve conflict, and nurture
kindness and empathy in daily interactions. I encourage you as families to explore your own micro-moments over
the festive season.
This is our last issue of our newsletter for the calendar year 2020. We wish all members of our ISU community a
safe, happy and healthy holiday and I look forward to seeing you all in 2021.
Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr.
“Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise”
Dr Liam Browne
Director
EYP students share their festive spirit
Handmade Soaps and Candles
Dear Students, Teachers and Families,
Are you still looking for a last-minute Christmas gift? We have the perfect gift idea for you!
For our CAS project, we decided to make handmade candles and soaps which we now are selling and will donate
all of our profits to the Hieroniemuß Doctor Clowns e.V, whose mission is to cheer up sick children in Ulm’s
Hospitals. We have already sold some of our products and made some profit. However, we still have some soaps
and candles left and would really appreciate it if you would have a look if you would like to buy any. To order these
there is a google form on our website.
Thank you,
Lavinia and Angelika (Grade 12)
Website link:https://sites.google.com/is-ulm.de/soapandcandles/,
More EYP joy
Grade 4 STEAM
Challenge Week 1
In the new Grade 4 UOI, students are inquiring about Explorers.
In STEAM class, the question of inquiry this week was: How can we build a skeleton of a vessel?
Students started by drawing a plan on paper to help them brainstorm about their idea within their small
groups. Students then used K’NEX building materials as well as rubber bands, tape, and wires to build their
vessels. After only 30 minutes of tinkering, students had a variety of unique designs to show off.
Ms Anglika Schäfer
Art and STEAM teacher
Student Artwork
Stop Motion Animation
In Art class, Grade 8 students have created some lovely stop motion animations
using charcoal. You can see all their work on this Youtube playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUNaBCXgCZBaxZ42uO_rBqRs_vSk-T
Here’s some great work our Grade 9 & 10 artists have recently made:
Ms Lee ann Thomas
Art Teacher
Advent Doors of ISU
Catching up on CAS
Craft Club ASAP
ISU offers after school activities which entertain students from lower and middle school even after school.
Last year, my friend Katharina and I offered one of these “ASAP’s” to EYP 1-3 and Grade 1 students, in
which we created fun crafts and played games with the kids. The kids got the chance to have fun and
explore their artistic spirit while being with their friends. Since my friend and I enjoy being around children,
we immediately bonded with them and inspired each other.
The ASAP gave the children and us the opportunity to let loose and enjoy the hour, whilst learning about
ourselves and the others. I learned a lot about myself, especially regarding my social skills, and how
much we can learn from each other, even from the little ones. It was delightful to see the kids enjoying
themselves, hence I would denifety host another ASAP!
Although my friend and I had to face challenges regarding the supervision of 20 six year-olds, we feel like
we mastered them successfully. As we got to know each other better, we knew how to help the children
and realized what kids need more support than others, hence collaboration got easier and we felt like the
kids felt safer and calmer.
Challenges, like solving small conflicts between students and making sure everyone had equal
accessibility to supplies helped us to understand children and their behaviour. I really miss the
Wednesday afternoons and spending time with the little ones. Even after the ASAP ended I am still
delighted by the smiles and waves I get whenever I meet the kids in the school’s hallways.
By Amelie, Grade 12
Counsellor's Corner
Helping Your Child Manage Their Stress and Prep For Exams
Thank you to those of you who were able to join Mr Tomes and me on December 10th for the Morning
Connections on exam preparation and managing stress levels. This was a collaborative presentation with the
goal of informing parents and students of some best practices when it comes to studying and managing the
stress related to exams. As those of you with students in grades 10 and 12 knows, high stakes exams are
looming in the late spring and preparation for that begins now.
As you can see in the
image on the left, the
attention span is highest
at the beginning and
end of a lecture, study,
or any learning session.
With that in mind, we
suggest that breaking
study sessions into
smaller and more
manageable chunks will
allow for a more
productive study
session.
Another item to consider in planning these study sessions is the location (this will be entirely reliant on your
child’s personal learning style and personality). Some students prefer to work in near-silent locations while
others prefer background noise and an unconventional setting like a couch, bed, outdoor seating and so on.
Making allowance for this and negotiating what works best for your student prior to a revision session can
increase the likelihood of success for them and also a reduction of tension and stress for all.
It’s also worth discussing what the
specific and intentional goals of each
smaller study session will be. Are the
students looking to review a particular
topic for a subject, a whole unit, or do a
practice test? Making sure they are
able to plan intentionally for each
session will also increase productivity
and reduce stress.
Additionally, we want parents and students to know that not only should study sessions be scheduled but that
they should be scheduled around their other activities. Students should be kept to a 2.5 to 3-hour study session
per day, even when on holidays (of course there should be some study-free days during longer holidays in order
to allow for a full recharge). It’s important that they still learn to balance themselves with appropriate sleep,
activity, and nutrition so that they are in the best condition for their studies and for their lives.
Finally, we’d like to leave you with the image below, which can be a potential conversation starter with your
children when negotiating how to plan study sessions and set goals for them.
This image illustrates that the most effective study is continuous and cyclical. Students should try to put
themselves into a consistent pattern of review. At the end of a school day, they may make quick notes from
what was covered or discussed in class that day, the next day they may look back at those and refine with
other details learned, a week later continued revision down to keywords, phrases, and definitions or practising
a particular type of problem or question, and so on a month after that. This revision schedule allows students
to retain much more of what they learned over a longer period of time and will aid in their recall of information
during exam times as they will be intimately familiar with the topics, concepts and content.
Above all, help your children recognize that stress and feeling a bit anxious is part of the process but that if
they employ efficient and consistent study strategies, they will have a much higher success rate.
Ms Angela Collins
School Counsellor
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