Head of School
During the student break from March 23 – 25 our staff participated in school-wide professional development. One of the topics was Student Agency, the shifting of the responsibility for learning to students so they embrace ownership of learning as a process. Previously I have written about instructional examples of agency in the classroom, but today I will write about how agency impacts the learning environment.
The other morning I was watching some students playing football and basketball before breakfast. When the teachers signaled it was time to line up for the cafeteria, the students threw the balls on the ground and went on their merry way. After they returned from breakfast I gathered the students I observed and asked them why they did not return the balls to where they got them. As expected, their reasons were creative and entertaining, but what it came down to was they didn’t feel like they were responsible for the play area and that someone else would pick up the balls. We ended up having a great discussion about the learning environment, their role in the learning community, and why they should want to return the balls to the correct area.
This is the essence of student agency; students take ownership of their physical surroundings because it is part of the learning environment. This is especially important in the classroom. In order to create the environmental conditions necessary for inquiry and discovery, students need to be able to feel comfortable so they can take risks, reflect on their mistakes, and make adjustments. This requires every student to embrace their role as a contributing member of a community and their responsibility to respect themselves, the environment, and the other members of the community so everyone has an equal opportunity to learn.
Because educating a child requires a partnership between school and home, it is important they get the same message about their responsibilities in the community. Agency is an essential aspect of the PYP learning process and understanding what it means is the first step in creating this environment. Please support our efforts to develop your children into leaders of tomorrow and help them understand the importance of taking ownership of their environment.
Kindest regards,
Tim VanderpoolHead of School
Science Teacher
We had a wonderful Science Fair hosted by students. Science fairs are not exhibits or mere displays of projects. Students presented their science project results in the form of a report, display board, and models that they have created. Science fairs allow students in Tesla schools to compete in science. Moreover, the Science fair is an opportunity for students of all ages to ask big questions, conduct meaningful research, and make exciting discoveries.
KG Homeroom Teacher
It’s wonderful that KG students got to experience many new and interesting things with recent events. They made their own body wash from natural ingredients and learnt to use material in the lab. In the Technology Day, they confidently controlled the Robot to win many contests. Besides, KG students supported Earth Day by planting and caring for trees from recyclable trash to share the message of environmental protection to everyone.
The students also participated in the “Water spinach picking” activity to develop dexterity and practice the work they often see at home.
Art Teacher
On the 22nd of April, Tesla’s students and teachers were excited to celebrate Earth Day. Students showed their work through all of the subjects, especially their posters which were formed by each painting. Students had many meaningful activities such as getting some plants by giving some empty plastic bottles, designing Earth Day’s logos, creating T-shirts by reusing the old ones, creating some educating games, painting on canvas … Students also had their performances as the messages to everyone and wished we have good actions to protect Mother Earth and reflecting what they have learned and have done for the current Unit Sharing the Planet.
Early Years Teacher
“How to protect the environment?” – is a topic that draws a lot of attention in children education. Despite being at a young age, Little Explorers children have early access to this learning project through simple and familiar lessons. Not only providing knowledge, but activities such as experiments to filter dirty water, folding milk cartons after use, classification of paper bags – plastic bags,…. also helped the students shape their awareness and skills to protect the environment from the simplest things in daily life.
Early Years Teacher
Outdoor activities are one of the exciting activities that children are most interested in. These activities provide them with a lot of fun and essential knowledge about the world. When participating in outdoor activities, children are aware of the world around them by touching, learning, discovering, and paying attention to what happens in the world around them. Through outdoor activities, children satisfy their need for learning, observing the world around them, discovering new things from nature, and helping them increase life skills and be free.
Outdoor activities give children agility and adaptability to the natural environment and help them be confident in life. Playing is the main activity that children have the chance to learn through play. Thereby, children gradually develop intellectually, physically, emotionally, and socially to comprehensively develop their personality.
Through outdoor activities, children promote their positivity and initiative. At the same time, children have the comfort of being outside to breathe in the fresh air of nature around them. In addition, children can also explore and practice experiments with “soap bubbles” and “color-changing napkins”… at their school in the fresh air.
Content: Charity fair hosted by Korean Community at Tesla Education.
Time: At 9:00 am on May 21, 2022.
Parents are cordially invited to participate in the Korean charity fair. This event is held once a year. This year Tesla Education provides the venue for hosting the event.
Purpose: Donating to poor children in Vietnam.
Location: Tesla School – 171B Hoang Hoa Tham, Tan Binh District (Main gate C3).
Dear Tesla Parents,
Tesla School would like to thank you for your trust, cooperation, and support throughout this time.
This year, We will run Tesla Summer Camp that will take place from Monday, 13 June 2022 to Friday, 05 August 2022.
Please note that the Summer Early Payment Discount by 30 April 2022 will be extended to 15 May 2022 (saving 20% tuition fee).
If you are interested in Tesla Summer Camp 2022, please contact Ms. Ngan – Tesla Care via email teslacare@tesla.edu.vn or phone number 028 7307 9889 (Ext 102) / 0987 599 267 to register.
Thank you for your cooperation.
