The Crane, 14 February 2025
Love is in the Air! Happy Valentine’s Day!
It is hard to believe that we are more than halfway through the school year. It seems to be going so fast.
What does it mean to have “grit”?
Essentially, grit, or GRIT, can be short for four words: growth, resilience, integrity, and tenacity.
Watch this video below.
Why Grit is Important for Kids
Grit is a powerful trait that helps kids develop resilience, perseverance, and a strong work ethic—qualities that are essential for success in school and life. It’s not just about working hard; grit is about sticking with challenges, pushing through failures, and staying motivated even when things get tough.
One of the biggest reasons grit is important is that it teaches kids how to handle setbacks. In school, students will face difficult subjects, tough assignments, and even moments of failure. A child with grit doesn’t give up easily; instead, they learn from their mistakes and keep trying. This mindset helps build confidence and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for future success.
Grit also plays a major role in developing a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can improve with effort. When kids understand that their skills grow through practice, they become more motivated to take on challenges instead of avoiding them. This is especially important in academics, sports, music, and any area where progress takes time.
Beyond school, grit helps children develop self-discipline and long-term goals. Many achievements—whether learning an instrument, mastering a sport, or excelling in a subject—require sustained effort over time. Kids with grit stay committed to their goals and understand that success doesn’t come overnight.
In a world full of distractions and instant gratification, grit helps kids stay focused, patient, and determined. Teaching children to embrace challenges, learn from failure, and keep going when things get difficult will prepare them for a lifetime of growth and achievement.
MYP Exhibition – February 24th – 2-4pm
Parents, we invite you to visit our MYP Exhibition. The students have been working hard on their Personal Projects.
Counselor’s Corner Update
This week, we celebrated Empathy and Kindness across both PYP and MYP. We’ve started meaningful conversations about what it means to consider others’ feelings and how small acts of kindness can make a big impact.
In the PYP, students expressed their understanding of kindness through posters and storytelling, bringing to life the power of empathy in their own creative ways. Meanwhile, MYP students are preparing for their SEL Assembly next week, where they will launch campaigns, videos, and initiatives to spread kindness throughout our school community. We can’t wait to see their inspiring ideas in action.
Parent Coffee Reminder: Grade 3/4 parents, join us for our next Parent Coffee Morning on February 21.
Let’s continue to foster a culture of kindness, empathy, and understanding.
Save the Date:
Feb. 17, 2025 – DP 2 Mock Exams start
Feb. 24, 2025 – MYP Exhibition – Regular School Day
March 6, 2025 – Early Dismissal – 12:00pm NO LUNCH, Parent conferences 1:00pm-4:00pm
March 7, 2025 – Parent conferences with students start 8:45am
March 10-16, 2025 – Spring Break
April 12, 2025 – International Day – start getting your recipes ready
PTA Wolfpack
Happy Valentine’s Day!
The Finnish word for Valentine’s Day is “Ystävän päivä,” which means “Friend’s Day.” This was certainly a week of friendship and fun. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped bake, decorate, sell, and more. Thanks to you, we were able to put on a great Valentine’s Day festival, complete with a themed bake sale, friendship bracelet making, a math challenge, heart origami, and a photo booth. There was a lot of fun and friendship between the students and the adults. Thank you for making it possible.
Tomorrow is HIS Ski Day. We hope you can join us at Mizuho Highland on February 15 for a day of fun in the snow. Because we are expecting a large number of people, participants requiring a lesson might want to reserve it in advance.
Our next General Meeting will be Friday, February 21 at 10am (right after the Grade 3/4 parent coffee). Please join us to discuss the upcoming International Festival and ways we can work together to make it great. In the meantime, please let us know if you have any ideas for raffle donations, games or activities, International Cafe, or stage performances. International Festival is a chance for all of us to share our culture and skills, so please let us know your ideas.
We hope you have an enjoyable Valentine’s Day weekend filled with friends and fun.
The PTA Wolfpack
Photo Gallery
Click here to view the Crane photo album: