We are excited and waiting eagerly for the arrival of students in the upcoming days. Our counselors have been busy orienting new families to our school and we have been busy orienting a group of new teachers as well. This year we have 5 new teachers who will be working within grade levels and specialist areas at the Primary and Early childhood Center. They were brought in early to ensure they could be well settled in their homes and have their personal lives organized in order to focus their thoughts on the business of teaching. They are a great group of individuals and will be eager as well to meet all of our new and returning students.
There are many opportunities to familiarize you and your children with our school and their teachers over the next week or so. This Saturday is the annual Open House and PTA Ice Cream Social which is held throughout the entire campus. It is held from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Teachers will be on campus and located within their respective classrooms. Teachers are beginning to call the parents of their students and set up individual meetings for you to bring your son or daughter by on either Monday, (August 18th), or Tuesday (August 19th), for a brief 20 minute meeting. These meetings are meant for the students to come by and meet and say Hi to their new teacher. We hope this introductory meeting will ease some anxiety that may sometimes be present during that first day of school which for Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd Grade will be on Wednesday, (August 20th). Our Preschool has a similar schedule but rotates the students in two groups on Wednesday and Thursday. They will let you know which schedule to follow.
We are eager to get the year going. Over the summer some of our teachers attended workshops and conferences and they are eager to share their new learning with students. The teachers are also working diligently in their grade level groups and finalizing their plans for the year.
Our teachers will be working hard to provide the most nurturing, positive and challenging environment for your children. We know we cannot do that without your support and invite you to be as involved as you can be within your child’s classroom. Please join us as well on August 20th (Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten) or August 21st (Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade) for our annual Parent Night Open Houses. At this time we will be sharing much more about our curriculum and grade level programs.
Thank you for choosing to send your child to the Singapore American School. We will do our best to demonstrate why our attention to the vital few:
Why Play Matters: the Link Between Play & Learning
From birth to adolescence, “constructive play” is vital to most aspects of children’s intellectual, emotional, social, and physical development.
Consequently, play prepares children for academic learning – as they begin their school years and at each step along the way. Ultimately, play prepares children for rewarding adult lives. Many experts believe that adult personality may very well have its foundation in the play of the child.
Through “constructive play,” children expand their intelligence – their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. Play is a testing ground for language and reasoning skills – a laboratory for learning to connect to challenges children face in school, such as literacy, math and science concepts. “Constructive play” stimulates the imagination – encouraging creative problem-solving and providing opportunities for accomplishments that help children develop confidence, self-esteem, a sense of their own strengths and weaknesses and a positive attitude toward learning.
These are the tenets of emotional well being. Where would any of us be today without the ability to imagine – to “paint” a picture of the future we want and the steps we need to take to get there? Where would we be without the desire to continue learning and the skills to overcome obstacles throughout our adult years? “Constructive play” encourages children to fully realize their potential – in school and beyond.
“Constructive play” is also a catalyst by which children learn to develop relationships with others. Through play, children learn to take the perspective of another; they learn self-control and the ability to take turns, negotiate, compromise and work out conflicts. In fact, studies show that children who play make-believe or games with rules are more empathetic, less physically aggressive and more cooperative with other children and adults – essential behaviors that help children succeed in school and throughout life.
Through play, children develop gross motor skills (physical mobility and muscle control) and fine motor skills such as eye-hand coordination – a critical precursor to reading and writing skills. Equally important, play helps makes learning fun! Play fuels children’s imagination and sparks creativity, making the learning journey pleasurable and joyous.
