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Welcome to the monthly update from the Northbridge International School Cambodia Parent Council, which follows their regular meeting and discussion. Here are the topics that were addressed at this month's meeting.
Christmas Fair
The Christmas Fair is on this Friday from 3 to 5.30pm at the Secondary Cafeteria. The PC has prepared various activities including gingerbread man decoration, DIY Christmas accessories, face painting, photos with Santa, and gift stalls. Please bring your kids to come and enjoy this wonderful time!
Click here to view and share the Facebook event
Plastic Waste
Unnecessary use of plastic has been identified as one of the major causes of environmental pollution globally, and our school has already reacted by banning most disposable plastic in our campus.
However, the Parent Council has noted that Café North - although not part of the school - still uses plastic cutlery and cups. The school will pass on these concerns to Café North, but also suggests the PC officially issue a concerned letter.
Composting
One of the parents raised a concern about how the school and contracted catering company disposes of left-over food and suggested introducing the idea of composting.
Composting is when organic matter such as food or plants are biological decomposed by bacteria, fungi, worms and other organisms under controlled aerobic (occurring in the presence of oxygen) conditions.
This process recycles various organic materials otherwise regarded as waste products and produces a soil conditioner (the compost). Compost is rich in nutrients. It is used, for example, in gardens, landscaping, and organic farming.
The school is interested in this topic and will learn more about this idea and how it could maybe be introduced on campus.
Updated Security Access
The PC wanted to clarify parent access to campus following recent notices, and the school explained that restrictions have been put in place because some drivers or nannies used the Parents access card to stay in school during school hours, and some parents stayed in school with their children for the whole day in Early Learning. However, parents are still welcome to visit school any time as long as they have a reason to be on campus.
Breaks for Grade 6 to 8 students
Parents have heard that students from Grades 6 to 8, especially boys, were prohibited to go the toilet during class. The school explained students are given 5 minute toilet breaks every hour, which is sufficient time. The rule was already in place for grades 9 to 12 without problems.
International Life Skills (ILS)
Parents are concerned whether there are students in our school vaping, and how school can help educate our students to avoid the common problems that teenagers face such as vaping, drugs, alcohol, and sexual behaviors.
The school advised we have introduced International Life Skills (ILS) to our Secondary students this year, and all these topics are covered and discussed under this programme. Our students have two hours of ILS every week, and the school will introduce ILS to parents at the next Parent Coffee Morning on Friday December 6. Please don’t miss it.
In Primary, the school also introduces 'Safe Touch Talk' to students starting from KG, and “Puberty Talk” to Grade 5.
Chinese Classes
Following up on the topic of Chinese classes, the school advises that all students, regardless whether they are native speakers or studying it as a second language, are combined in the same class starting from Grade 4 because there are only four native students this year. However, the school will have separated Chinese classes for native and second-language students next year.
Traffic Jam
The PC complains that serious traffic jams happen at the main school gate every morning during school days. The school is aware of this problem and has sought the assistance of a traffic consultant for proposed solutions. The school also will install CCTV and give warnings to those cars causing traffic issues.
Next Meeting
The Parent Council meets 8am every first Tuesday of each month in the Hub Boardroom. If you have any important school-related topics or concerns that you would like to have discussed, feel free to join the meetings or send an e-mail with details to: pc@nisc.edu.kh
This is the last PC meeting of year 2019 and I hope all of you enjoy the coming Christmas season.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The NISC swimming and sports department has been working tirelessly to ensure that every child at Northbridge becomes water safe and understands the dangers of water from an early age.
By Donita Bell
PYP Co-ordinator/Assistant Principal
The importance of home-school partnerships have long been documented as having positive impact on student wholistic development, wellbeing and life-long learning. Research shows that the role of the relationship between Parents and Educators creates the conditions conducive to student success.
'No school can work well for children if parents and teachers do not act in partnership on behalf of the children's best interests' - Dorothy Cohen