What an amazing full week back! A huge thank you to the PTA for organizing such an outstanding Halloween 🎃👻 event! It was a blast for everyone! The Secondary students wowed us with their incredible performances, while the Primary students danced the afternoon away. We’re so grateful for the strong sense of community at our school!
Bus riders:🚌
Please email buschange@hiroshima-is.ac.jp when NOT riding the bus by noon each day. Let’s be considerate of others. Please aim to be on the bus by noon each day. Waiting for latecomers holds up everyone.
Parent Coffee ☕
Don’t miss our next Parent Coffee on Friday, November 22nd! Learn valuable strategies from the SEL Counselor to support your child’s well-being.
Do you eat dinner 🍱 as a family?
ROSE BUD THORN is a great dinner conversation piece!
Here’s how to do Rose Bud Thorn!
Each person takes a turn sharing their Rose Bud Thorn for the past day or past week.
A “Rose” is something good that happened. This could be something that went well, something that they are proud of, or something fun they did.
A “Bud” is something that they are looking forward to. This can be anything coming up in the next few days or week that will be positive, fun, or rewarding.
A “Thorn” is something that didn’t go well. This could be a disappointment or something that they could use help with.
Rose Bud Thorn at Home
Here’s an example of how parents can introduce the Rose-Thorn-Bud reflection activity at the dinner table to build communication and connection with their teen.
Parent:
My ROSE today is that I had a work meeting that went well.
My BUD is that I have a yoga class tomorrow that I’m looking forward to.
My THORN is that there’s a lot of laundry to fold tonight. Would love help with that if anyone can spare the time.
Student:
My ROSE today is that I got my math quiz back and got an 88.
My BUD is that it is almost the weekend and I’m looking forward to sleeping in.
My THORN is that I have a lot of homework tonight. But I can help with laundry for a few minutes.
Parent:
Thanks, I’d appreciate that. And well done on the quiz!!! I’m proud of you. Do you need any help with homework tonight?
Student:
No, I’ve got it, thank you though.
Rose Bud Thorn is an easy way for parents to stay connected with their teens’ lives, as well as develop good communication and social support skills. This quick reflection activity makes it easy to ask for support, and also to give support or kudos to others.
Benefits of using Rose Bud Thorn
Acts as a reflection activity, prompting students to reflect on their current experience.
Helps adolescents practice sharing positive experiences.
Provides opportunities for gratitude and welcoming the feeling of looking forward to something.
Creates space for teenagers to identify when they need support.
Computational Thinking Challenge ➕➖✖️➗
On November 11, MYP and grade 5 students will take the Bebras challenge, which is a set of logic puzzles which test aptitude for programming. It would be great if students could practice at home using the review challenges on this page:
https://bebras.uk/index.php?action=user_competitions
Bonfire Night November 8th 🔥
What is Bonfire Night? by Nigel Barker
“Remember, remember,
The fifth of November.
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
We see no reason,
Why gunpowder treason,
Should ever be forgot!”
Guy Fawkes was a member of a group of Catholics who plotted to overthrow the Protestant government and King of England. He was caught in a cellar full of gunpowder beneath the Houses of Parliament in London early in the morning of the 5th November, 1605. He was tortured until he confessed the names of other “Gunpowder Plot” members, and they were all beheaded for treason.
The King decreed a national holiday, and compulsory celebration. People lit bonfires to begin with, but over the years effigies called “The Guy” began to appear. Wikipedia can tell you more:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night
When I was a child we used to push our Guy around the neighbourhood in a wheelbarrow, shouting “Penny for the Guy!” People would give us money which we would give to our parents to buy fireworks. In those days we had a bonfire at the bottom of the street. My father and the others would build the fire. My mother would usually make treacle toffee and a kind of ginger cake called ‘parkin’. She would only make these things on Bonfire Night, and not at any other time of the year. We would also eat baked potatoes, cooked in the fire. The dads would light the fireworks after the Guy had been burned.
Nowadays few people celebrate Bonfire Night at home. Instead there are organised events like the one at HIS. Every town and village in the whole UK has at least one Bonfire Night event. Some of them have big carnival-type parades also. In other countries the UK Embassy or British Council often hosts the celebration.
When I first came to HIS, I held a private Bonfire Night in the school playground (with permission of course!), because I wanted my children to experience this event which I had enjoyed so much as a child. There was quite a bit of interest in what we were doing, so I teamed up with a British parent, and we held the first PTA-sponsored Bonfire Night. We have held it every year since. (In 2020 we held it more informally on Miyajima, some of you will remember).
Sometimes people of other nationalities ask whether it isn’t barbaric, and whether we couldn’t skip the burning of the Guy. My answer is that we don’t think of it like that. Its just the Guy, and the Guy is always burnt, and always has been. This is completely normal for British people. Perhaps you have strange customs in your country too?
Save the Date:
Nov. 4, 2024- Regular School Day
- Nov. 8, 2024- Bonfire 🔥
- Nov. 22, 2024- Parent Coffee 8:45-10am- Meet the Counselor
- Nov. 27-29, 2024- Grade 5 Camping Trip 🏕️
- Dec. 6, 2024 – Festive Eve Dress rehearsal
- Dec. 7, 2024- Festive Eve 🎭
- Dec. 9, 2024- No School
- Dec. 18, 2024 – Early Dismissal 13:00- start of Winter Break
- Dec. 18-19, 2024 – DP Study Camp 📚
The Junior Crane
Click to read the student newsletter.
Wolf Pack PTA
Happy Halloween! 🎃👻
Today is the Halloween Carnival here at HIS and I already see a lot of happy, festive children! A huge thank you to all of the volunteers that made this day possible! All the hard work is worth it when we see so many happy faces. Thank you for being a community so willing to help. We appreciate you!
Now, it’s time to get ready for our event next week, Bonfire Night! This event promises to be just as fabulous, and will require just as many volunteers. Because it is so soon after Halloween, we will need everyone who plans to attend to please sign up this weekend! Unfortunately, if you are not signed up by the deadline, there is a chance that you won’t be able to join the event. After you have filled out the registration form, please have your money to the office by Wednesday.
Bonfire 2024 Details
Bonfire Participation Registration Form
https://forms.gle/jVmFRug1zihLjcEM9
Deadline: Monday, November 4
Bonfire Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1KOln2Of2PULNwwUmNAnIiPYQBl70p-9RSHbgZ9g9fMc/edit?usp=sharing
Deadline: Wednesday, November 6
Payment Deadline: Wednesday
We are looking forward to another great event with our HIS community!
The PTA Wolfpack
Photos of the Week!
