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GSIS Gazette – Issue #52
11th June 2021
Dear Members of the School Community
Put yourself back into the role of being a student. Imagine yourself sitting in a literature lesson in which you are learning about the beauty and depth of a poem and you become acquainted for the first time in your life with, for example, the poem "Abendphantasie" (evening fantasy) by Friedrich Hölderlin.
The teacher, motivated by the good intention to guide the students according to student-centred and student-activating methods, presents a printed worksheet with the text of the poem and tasks to be completed in partner or group work. On the worksheet, you are asked to complete a checklist of questions with your classmate, i.e. "Is this a sonnet, an ode, a ballad, a hymn?", "What is the theme of the poem?", "Name the stylistic elements and rhyme forms of the poem" etc.
Surely our Secondary students would dutifully set to work answering the questions one by one and filling the worksheet. But would this approach also reach their hearts with what this "Abendphantasie" actually is, namely a series of mood pieces from the point of view of a lonely person melancholically contemplating the world?
Our example shows what absurdities we may encounter when looking at the teaching methods often expected today in teacher training and also by school inspections. School quality inspectors usually reward schools with good ratings if student-activating methods dominate in the classroom. However, prioritising the teaching methods over the actual content, which has been practised for a long time, falls short of the awareness that the appropriate teaching methods are often immanent in the object of study. The complex content of the poem, its mood and effect as well as its composition can only be developed in an inductive classroom discourse. Possibly, the poem must first be skillfully presented by the teacher to have its full effect kick in and then it is time for the class to discuss that effect. In the second step, the students can become active themselves, for example by working in partners to analyse the semantic field and the rhetorical figures used by the author.
I do not want to advocate the old-school one-sided, monologue-based frontal teaching style. But it would also be wrong to condemn the teacher-directed classroom discussion as too teacher-dominant, because excellent results can be achieved with it.
The one-sided focus on student-oriented teaching in teacher training and lesson observation has often led to a kind of method-fixation. As a result, the skilful use of teaching methods becomes the goal of the lesson rather than the actual intellectual demands of the subject matter. It is not the type of teaching, i.e. its surface, that should count, but its quality, i.e. the profound elements in its deep structure.
In his study "Visible Learning" (2009), the educational researcher John Hattie focuses on the effectiveness of pedagogical tools and states that the only approach to selecting a teaching method is its effect on student learning. This refers to what Hattie calls "cognitive activation". Students are presented with learning content that they access under the guidance of the teacher. In other words, it is about intellectual understanding and storing what they have learned in their memory. According to Hattie's study, the primacy of the teaching method, the "surface", distracts from the crucial question that must be asked of every lesson: Does the teacher succeed in conveying the material in such a vivid way that students experience a measurable increase in knowledge at the end of the lesson?
I do not want to diminish the value of learning circles such as the fishbowl method or the learning desk here, because they are a component of the necessary repertoire and variety of methods. However, to return to the "Abendphantasie", I would like to emphasise the often diminished importance of the intrinsic value of the subject matter, which can itself be captivating. And, of course, there is the extraordinary significance of the teacher's personality, in this case the literature teacher, who can powerfully facilitate the expression of this value.
Students love an intriguing lesson by a teacher who understands his or her subject matter, possesses a high level of professional competence, teaches with enthusiasm and thus not only engages the students, but captures them. If the teachers succeed in releasing this potential, which lies both in the subject matter they teach and in themselves, their teaching will surpass any lesson organised in numerous changes of method.
Should our students be asked later in life to put themselves back in their student role and remember their experience, I hope that they have many such fond memories of their former teachers.
I wish you a nice weekend.
| Ulrich Weghoff Principal |
Dear Parents
Last Friday, I held my final coffee morning of the term and it was lovely to catch up with parents in person over coffee. It was also particularly useful to hear your thoughts, suggestions and encouragement of several aspects of our school. Thank you.
On Friday, 26th May, we announced the new bus company in the Gazette, and this news was also included in the following week’s Gazette. We’ve also reminded parents that the school bus enrolment for next academic year has started through the school website, my coffee morning and via our diligent KPRs. As the end of term is fast approaching, please don’t forget to register your child for the new bus service here by 30th June to ensure that the new bus company, Synergy, has sufficient time to finalise bus routes and pick up/drop off times etc.
I hope you all have a great, long weekend.
| Clare Chiu Managing Director |
Schoolwide News
German International Stream
Kindergarten Corner
Dear Parents
Today all our Kindergarten classes celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival with pretend dry Dragon Boat races. The children had a fantastic time competing against their classmates and other classes. We hope the photos of the races uploaded on Seesaw by the class teachers will give you a glimpse of the celebration and excitement.
After the long weekend, the children will return to a “Plastic Free Seas” workshop https://www.plasticfreeseas.org , tailor made for our young learners about plastic marine pollution issues affecting green sea turtles and how we can help to change that. The workshop will include a presentation and an art and craft activity. The workshop will be held over the week in individual classes. To ensure the safety and health of our students we obtained the vaccination record of the workshop facilitator.
Please find the schedule for your child’s class below.
Tuesday 15 June
- Lesson 4 (10:05 – 10:45 am): Ladybirds
- Lesson 5 (11:05 – 11:45 am): Tausendfüssler
Thursday 17 June
- Lesson 2 (8:25 – 9:05 am): Bumblebees
- Lesson 3 (9:20 – 10:00 am): Crickets
- Lesson 4 (10:05 – 10:45 am): Dragonflies
Friday 18 June
- Lesson 4 (10:05 – 10:45 am): Schmetterlinge
- Lesson 5 (11:05 – 11:45 am): Raupen
Kindly send in bottle caps and used plastic bags, and fruit nettings, anything that you would generally discard and you only use once, for the art and craft activity. We hope that the workshop will educate our young ones to use less plastic and better understand the 4Rs of refuse, reuse, recycling and reduce.
Library books during summer break
As many of you will stay in Hong Kong during the summer break, we are pleased to offer interested families the option to borrow four Library books during the summer holiday. As we have a limited amount of books in our PFL library, we cannot offer more books.
To participate, your child must be a returning student and must have checked in currently loaned library book(s) by Friday, 25 June. Parents should ensure that all replacements or payments for replacements are complete before any borrowing can occur. In addition, parents must fill in the agreement form below before 25 June. The class teachers will select the books, and all summer break books must be returned on 19 August (Kindergarten Welcome Coffee Morning) to the Pok Fu Lam Campus.
Agreement to the Summer Loan Program
If you have any questions please contact our PFL Secretary Simone Bannon -PFL_Secretary@gsis.edu.hk
Wishing you all a happy Dragonboat Festival.
 Head of Kindergarten |  Deputy Head of Kindergarten and Deputy Child Protection Officer Pok Fu Lam Campus |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Primary Corner
Library
We have excellent news to share with you. We are pleased to offer a summer library loan program to you all this year. Students will be able to borrow ten books for the summer. In order to participate, students must have returned all library books. All replacements and fees must be taken care of as well. In addition parents must fill in the agreement form below. The borrowing will take place during the students’ regular library time.
Peak library (K01- K04, Y02 - Y06)
- All book must be returned by 18 June 2021 before they can borrow the summer break books
- Summer break books must be returned by August 30th to the Peak library
PFL library (DVOR, Y01)
- All books must be returned by 28 June before they can borrow the summer break books
- Summer break books must be returned by August 30th to the Peak library
If you have any questions please contact Muriel Roquette. (mroquette@gsis.edu.hk)
Have fun reading your books!
Agreement form for the summer library loan program
Sports Carnival
The past two days our primary students had the chance to be part of a fun event - the Sports Carnival. It was great to see how the students played in teams and supported each other with loud cheering!
Thanks to Manuel Deingruber and Andrew Champion who prepared this exciting event. As announced, please check out the coming Gazette to see some photos.
 Head of German Primary Department |  Deputy Head of German Primary Department |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Secondary Corner
Dear Parents
Highlights at the end of the academic year:
The last class tests and exams have been written, the report cards are in preparation - and now there is still enough time for special activities until the end of the school year:
- On 21 June, the students of K04A and K04B will spend a taster day in our K05. They will not only explore their future classrooms, but also participate in lessons and get to know their "buddies" from the future K06.
- On 21 June, K08A and K11A will take part in a field trip to the Geopark in Sai Kung as part of their Geography lessons.
For all classes, we will be conducting project days from 22 to 24 June. There will be no regular lessons during this time. The teachers have come up with a wealth of creative ideas and have put together a separate programme for each class with workshops on different topics:
- The classes in lower Secondary will explore criminal cases in history as well as digital working methods, create their own exit games and puzzles, do artistic-creative work and get plenty of exercise in dance, acrobatics and team sports.
- The programme for middle and upper Secondary includes "Zeilenschmiede" workshops on creative writing, literature projects, a multiplayer game on climate policy, coding and an interdisciplinary project in the subjects of Chemistry and Art on the topic of "Nature and Chemistry - Colours and Forms".
We are looking forward to these special activities!
Farewells and new beginnings
As in every school year, we have to say goodbye to some teachers. Mr and Mrs Weghoff, Mr Mariaca, Mrs Nicolaus and Mrs Rötsch, who is currently on parental leave and has already returned to Germany, are leaving us.
We would like to thank Mr and Mrs Weghoff for the good and trusting cooperation over the past years and wish them all the best for their well-deserved retirement! We wish Mr Mariaca, Ms Nicolaus and Ms Rötsch all the best for their personal and professional future.
There will also be a change in the Head of Department, as I will also be returning to Germany.
For the new school year we welcome
- Dr Bennhardt (Principal, Mathematics, Physics)
- Mr Weinhardt (Head of Department, History, Geography, PE)
- Mrs Weinhardt (English, Physical Education - maternity cover for Mrs Cox)
- Mr Gresch (Geography, Ethics)
- Mrs Fehse (Music, German)
- Mr Fehse (Music, History)
- Mrs Grab (Psychologist, Learning Support)
We welcome the new colleagues and wish them a good start at GSIS!
 Head of German Secondary Department |  Deputy Head of German Secondary Department |
Departmental News and Announcements
English International Stream
Kindergarten Corner
Dear Parents
Today all our Kindergarten classes celebrated the Dragon Boat Festival with pretend dry Dragon Boat races. The children had a fantastic time competing against their classmates and other classes. We hope the photos of the races uploaded on Seesaw by the class teachers will give you a glimpse of the celebration and excitement.
After the long weekend, the children will return to a “Plastic Free Seas” workshop https://www.plasticfreeseas.org , tailor made for our young learners about plastic marine pollution issues affecting green sea turtles and how we can help to change that. The workshop will include a presentation and an art and craft activity. The workshop will be held over the week in individual classes. To ensure the safety and health of our students we obtained the vaccination record of the workshop facilitator.
Please find the schedule for your child’s class below.
Tuesday 15 June
- Lesson 4 (10:05 – 10:45 am): Ladybirds
- Lesson 5 (11:05 – 11:45 am): Tausendfüssler
Thursday 17 June
- Lesson 2 (8:25 – 9:05 am): Bumblebees
- Lesson 3 (9:20 – 10:00 am): Crickets
- Lesson 4 (10:05 – 10:45 am): Dragonflies
Friday 18 June
- Lesson 4 (10:05 – 10:45 am): Schmetterlinge
- Lesson 5 (11:05 – 11:45 am): Raupen
Kindly send in bottle caps and used plastic bags, and fruit nettings, anything that you would generally discard and you only use once, for the art and craft activity. We hope that the workshop will educate our young ones to use less plastic and better understand the 4Rs of refuse, reuse, recycling and reduce.
Library books during summer break
As many of you will stay in Hong Kong during the summer break, we are pleased to offer interested families the option to borrow four Library books during the summer holiday. As we have a limited amount of books in our PFL library, we cannot offer more books.
To participate, your child must be a returning student and must have checked in currently loaned library book(s) by Friday, 25 June. Parents should ensure that all replacements or payments for replacements are complete before any borrowing can occur. In addition, parents must fill in the agreement form below before 25 June. The class teachers will select the books, and all summer break books must be returned on 19 August (Kindergarten Welcome Coffee Morning) to the Pok Fu Lam Campus.
Agreement to the Summer Loan Program
If you have any questions please contact our PFL Secretary Simone Bannon -PFL_Secretary@gsis.edu.hk
Wishing you all a happy Dragonboat Festival.
Head of Kindergarten | Deputy Head of Kindergarten and Deputy Child Protection Officer Pok Fu Lam Campus |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Primary Corner
Dear Parents,
Library
We have excellent news to share with you. We are pleased to offer a summer library loan program this year. Students will be able to borrow ten books for the summer. In order to participate, students must have returned all library books prior to borrowing their summer books. All replacements and fees must be taken care of as well. In addition, a parent must fill in the agreement form below indicating you are aware that your child will be borrowing up to ten books. The borrowing will take place during the students’ regular library time.
Peak library (K01- K04, Y02 - Y06)
- All book must be returned by 18 June 2021 prior to borrowing the summer break books
- Summer break books must be returned by August 30th to the Peak library
PFL library (DVOR, Y01)
- All books must be returned by 28 June 2021 prior to borrowing the summer break books.
- Summer break books must be returned by August 30th to the Peak library
If you have any questions please contact Tabitha Johnson @ tjohnson@gsis.edu.hk.
Have fun reading your books!
Agreement form for the summer library loan program
Sports Carnival
The past two days our primary students had the chance to be part of a fun event - the Sports Carnival. It was great to see how the students played in teams and supported each other with loud cheering! Thanks to Andrew Champion and Manuel Deingruber who organised this fun event for the students!
Enjoy your long weekend!
 Head of English Primary Department |  Deputy Head of English Primary Department |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Looking for what's been going on in class this week?
Secondary Corner
Departmental News and Announcements
Alumni
Upcoming Events 2021
Class of 1996 25 Year Reunion
Thursday 17 Jun 2021
18:00 - 21:00 HKT
Online
More Info »
Community Networking Breakfast
Friday 17 Sep 2021
08:00 - 11:00 HKT
LRC, Mid Levels
More Info »
Annual Alumni Reception
Wednesday 24 Nov 2021
18:00 - 22:00 HKT
Watermark, Central
More Info »
Community Committee's Christmas Bazaar
Saturday 27 Nov 2021
German Swiss International School
More Info »
