The school year is off to a great start and we are well into our second unit of inquiry in the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). 

Units of Inquiry

Pre-School & Pre-Kindergarten - Theme: Who we are

Kindergarten - Theme: How we organize ourselves

First Grade - Theme: Sharing the planet

Second & Third Grade - Theme: How the world works

Fourth & Fifth Grade - Theme: Where we are in place and time

Please see your classroom Newsletter for the details of each one.

This school year, Shepherd is implementing the Passport to Peace program. The Program uses the IB PYP Attitudes to encourage students to develop as caring, peaceful and responsible citizens in our world. Students have begun to take part in a fascinating trip, using a passport of twelve IB PYP Attitudes.  They will be learning, developing and applying each of the attitudes in their everyday lives.Thus far, students have learned about confidence, independence, and empathy. This week, the journey will continue with cooperation.

• Home Connections: Traveling with my Family            Depending on the grade level, students have a Passport or a Planner with activities for each attitude. If your child is recognized for demonstrating one of the traits that have been covered, they will get to wear the lanyard for that trait during the day and come home with a certificate and a parent reflection sheet. Please keep the certificate at home, sign and return the parent refection sheet to your teacher for filing in student's IB Portfolio. The final activity for each attitude is a family reflection page. Parents, please be on the lookout for this reflection page to complete with your child.  If you have questions about the program, please contact your child's teacher or Mrs. S. Hart.

Learner Profile

The Learner Profile for the month is Thinker. A thinker exercises initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to make sound decisions and to solve complex problems.

Curiosity nurtures thinking. When curiosity is present students are thinking.  Therefore, let's help students make meaningful connections to validate their thinking. As a school community, our charge this month is to help develop and encourage student's curiosity.  

At home, you can stimulate student's curiosity by:

• Listening and responding to what they care about and by,
• Structuring activities around their interests, their preferences, and their sense of challenge.  

Suggested Reading Books (Thinker)

• The Dot, Reynolds, Peter 2003, (5-9yrs)
• Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!, by Fleming, Candace (PreK-2)
• Best Friends for Frances by Russell Hoban illus by Lillian Hoban
• Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Anholt, Laurence (8-11 yrs)
• Baseball Bats for Christmas by Kusuqak, Michael (Canadian)
• I will not ever never eat a tomato by Lauren Child
• Elephants Can Paint Too! by Arnold, Katya (5-11yrs)
• Alexander Graham Bell: an inventive life, by MacLeod, Elizabeth (9-11yrs)
• Katie and the Mona Lisa, by Mayhew, James(8-11yrs)
• Katie Meets the Impressionists, by Mayhew, James (8-11 yrs)
• Catkin, by Barber, Antonio and Lynch, Patrick
• Swimmy, by Lionni, Leo

Awards Day

The First Awards Day Assembly will take place on Friday, November 7, 2014.  We will begin at 9:00 am for students in Pre-School to First grade and 10:00 am for students in Second through Fifth grade.  Please join us.

Have a super week!

Sandra Hart

IB Coordinator