Dear Families,
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in our Parent-Teacher-Student conferences! We truly appreciate your support and the collaborative spirit that makes our school community so strong. We’re incredibly proud of the progress we’ve seen from both students and teachers. And what a fantastic MYPX showcase from our 10th graders! Their work was truly impressive. Don’t forget to mark your calendars for our Art and Music exhibition after spring break! Enjoy a restful break, and we look forward to seeing you back on March 17th!
International 🌍 Month is in full swing! We encourage you to visit your student’s classrooms and see what they’re creating.
What to do over Spring Break???
At-home “Chopped Dinner Challenge.”
Split the house into two teams and select a few required ingredients to be used for dinner and dessert, and see where the imagination takes everyone! If you have an odd number of people in the house, even better, because that odd person out can select the ingredients and be the final judge! (This one came from my “secret weapon”–my sister-in-law who is a guidance counselor and has three children to keep entertained!)
Go through old photos.
Use this time to connect your children to their extended family by sharing stories of growing up. Break out those old photo albums. Take the boxes of loose photos and get them organized. Or go through the thousands of digital photos you have stored and decide which ones you want to get printed. Make a scrapbook!
Have a campfire in the backyard.
If you’re apartment-bound, make your s’mores in the oven (we actually prefer them this way!) and sit on the floor with pillows and blankets. To make a s’more in the oven, take a graham cracker square, layer on a few pieces of chocolate and a marshmallow, and top it off with another graham cracker square. Bake it for a few minutes at a mere 250 degrees until the marshmallow is gooey, and you’re all set!
Family Game Nights.
I know, not very original, but here is a twist to make it a bit more interesting: Work your way through every single game in the closet, no matter how old or how silly or how terrible! After each (if you make it all the way through), decide whether to keep it in the family or put it “aside.” Whether that means heading for the yard sale, the thrift store, or the garbage, I’ll leave to you to decide.
Put on a play or a concert.
Most kids missed out on their spring performances. So if it was music, create a stage, set up the camera, and let them perform for you live (and for relatives virtually)! If it was a play they missed out on performing, can you and the rest of the family fill in parts and come up with some props? Turn a loss into a family victory!
Counselor’s Corner Update! 🌟
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the parents who took the time to meet with me recently. Connecting with you provides invaluable insights into our students’ social and emotional needs and offers an opportunity to share what they’re learning during SEL lessons. Together, we can create a unified approach to support their growth.
Engaging your children in activities that promote empathy and kindness can reinforce their SEL learning. Here are some resources and ideas to explore over spring break:
📖 Stories
“Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña – A story about gratitude, kindness, and seeing beauty in everyday life.
“Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” by Carol McCloud – A fun and simple way to teach children about kindness and emotional awareness through the concept of “bucket-filling.”
“Each Kindness” by Jacqueline Woodson – A powerful book about missed opportunities for kindness and the impact of our actions on others.
“The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld – A simple yet powerful book about empathy, active listening, and emotional support.
These stories are also available as videos on YouTube for you to access should you not find physical copies.
🎥 Videos & Films
Wonder (2017) – A story about kindness, empathy, and acceptance, following a boy as he navigates the challenges of bullying at school due to his physical differences.
Up (2009) – An animated film that highlights friendship, grief, and resilience as two individuals embark on a special adventure.
“The Present” – An animated short film that explores empathy, resilience, and acceptance.
🎨 Arts & Crafts Activities
Kindness Rocks – Paint small rocks with uplifting and positive messages, place them around your neighborhood or school to spread kindness.
Empathy Maps – Create a simple four-section chart where your child draws or writes how someone else might feel in different situations.
📱 Interactive SEL Apps
“Mojo’s Growth Mindset App” (ClassDojo) – Engaging and fun lessons that help kids develop resilience, empathy, and decision-making skills (available on web browsers as well).
As always, feel free to reach out if you need any additional resources or have any questions or concerns.
Wishing you a wonderful and reflective spring break! 💛✨
Save the Date:📅
- March 10-16, 2025- Spring Break
- March 27, 2025 – Art/Music Exhibition
- April 8, 2025- TOKX
- April 12, 2025- International Day
- April 26- May 6, 2025- Golden Week
- April 26-May 18- 12th grade DP exams
- May 23, 2025- Sports Day
- June 1, 2025- 12th grade- Graduation
- June 21, 2025 – Last Day of School – 1:00pm dismissal
PTA Wolfpack
Hello HIS!
Happy Spring Break!The International Festival flyers are in and they look great! Thank you, again to G8 Sun Park for the design. Flyers are available in the office, so please stop by to grab a few to distribute in your local community. There are also still volunteer and performance spots available, so please sign up when you are able. On March 20th HIS will be starting a New Year (again!) with Nowruz, persian new year. Did you know that in Iran, you can find 3 different calendars. We are now in 1403, 1445 and 2025! We are lucky to have such a diverse community and learn about different cultures.This is your last chance to order from the spring Scholastic Book Club!
Don’t forget that orders are due on Monday, March 7. Place your orders through the link below.
https://world-shop.scholastic.co.uk/schools/hiroshima-international/digital-book-club
Thank you for your continued support. We hope you all have a safe, enjoyable spring break.The PTA Wolfpack.
The PTA Wolfpack