Halloween & Trick or Treat: 3 November 2017

Students enjoyed dressing up and the seasonal snacks generously provided by the parents! Our gratitude to everyone who kindly donated foods and the team of Mums who decorated the lobby making it look so beautiful. The children enjoyed the Trick or Treat on Friday afternoon on 3 November. Parents, teachers, and children visited a number of houses in Graha Famili Block-O and collected some healthy snacks on their walk. Around 60 people participated including the Montessori children. Our gratitude to all the parents and staff for making this such a fun event. It was a fantastic and a fun end to the week!

Athletics Day 2017

SES Athletics Day was held on Friday, October 13th, during the last week of the first term. The weather was perfect and as a result, new records were achieved. Some of the events that the children took part in were the following: high jump, long jump, discuss, javelin, hurdles and shot put. The day concluded with relay races including a race between the house team captains/vice captains, teachers and parents. The students won the race by a fair distance.

Overall it was a very close run affair with all four houses competing closely in the track and field events. The eventual winners were Garuda, with Komodo coming a close second. The trophy and medals will be awarded by Mr. Mike and Ms. Rini during a whole school assembly at the start of the second term.

World Teachers’ Day 2017

We celebrated the importance and the role played by teachers all over the world. The responsibility for educating future generations is not a light one by any means, and we thank you for your help and appreciation not just on World Teachers’ Day, but throughout the whole year.

The theme for World Teachers’ Day 2017 is “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers”, which echoes the 2015 theme that followed the adoption of the new Sustainable Development Goals, where teacher empowerment was reaffirmed as a top priority in all education and development strategies. Many thanks to our thoughtful and generous parents who gave a rose and some snacks to all staff. In addition, we had a beautiful display of roses and lilies in the lobby. Our students succeed throughout their learning journeys as they are supported by an effective partnership between home and school. On behalf of all the staff, please accept our sincere thanks.

Drama Workshop: 2 October 2017

To the following welcome a British theatre company, Performance Exchange, to the school to deliver performances and workshops to our students. Three actors spent the day showing our students some of the skills they need to perform on stage.

The day began with a performance of ‘The Gentlest Giant’ for our primary students, followed by movement workshops and an opportunity for the students to interview the actors about acting.

In the afternoon, Daniel Foley, a seasoned actor, gave the Secondary students an Introduction to Shakespeare and a Shakespeare workshop where he focused on some key features of The Bard’s plays and the importance of his language.

Overall, the day was very entertaining and informative, and good fun was had by all.

Science Week, 25th – 29th September 2017

This year the theme for Science Week was Light. This actually covered many different interesting branches of Science. How light behaves (reflection, refraction and colour), the human eye and optical illusions, cameras and photography, solar power, and ultra-violet light.

Throughout the week each Primary class focussed on an aspect of light that was relevant to their curriculum.

Then for one lesson they came to the science lab to see some experiments and demonstrations of light. We made some photographic paper by painting silver nitrate solution onto paper and then we put stencils over the paper while exposing it to uv light. This gave us silhouettes of the objects on the paper. We also looked at how different objects glow (fluoresce is the scientific word) under uv light, including our fingernails and teeth. Even scorpions glow under uv light!

We also looked at how we can make glass objects appear invisible if we put them in the right liquid, in this case vegetable oil. Because both substances bend light in similar ways (a property called refraction), the glass will be invisible in the oil.

There were several other cool experiments that showed different properties of light, but I always like to go out with a bang so I used a laser to burst a balloon. The science here is interesting because a white balloon won’t burst as the light is reflected off the surface, but if you paint a black spot on the balloon and aim the laser at that, then it absorbs the light, heats up, and BANG! The balloon explodes.

I really look forward to Science Week each year as I get to play with cool new science toys and discover new experiments to show the students. It’s a great way to get them interested in Science and to feed their curiosity about the world around them.

SES Assembly Y9 & Y10: 22 September 2017

Our Year 9 and 10 students gave an overview of their HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign which supports our local charity Yayasan Abdi Asih. This shelter supports children and women affected by HIV/AIDS. Ibu Vera is the person who has been in charge of this shelter, and she currently needs money for renovation of the shelter, medical treatment for the kids and women, and essential items like food and clothes. Their first priority is renovating the house because they cannot live in it anymore without changing the conditions. During heavy rain, their house is vulnerable to flooding.

This project is for part of their IGCSE coursework for Global Perspectives and English, and also a part of our community service. We are trying raise money for the children’s medical support and food by having bake sales and other school events. They also plan on doing food and clothes drive at the end of the year and would like your support.

Last December, we were able to donate food, essential items and gifts to a large community of children and mothers. The Student Council also organized an auction in March to raise money to support the charity, and  succeeded in raising 70 million Rupiah thanks to the amazing generosity of SES families and friends!

Literacy week: August 2017

During Literacy Week our secondary students participated in a Readathon, a sponsored activity to read as many books as possible during the week to raise funds for Abdi Asih.

Additionally, students then had to write a review of one of the books they had read, developing evaluative and non-fiction writing skills in the process.

Currently, the students have managed to raise nearly 8 million rupiah, with some money yet to come in. I have also enjoyed reading the reviews of the books the students have read. I hope to be sharing some of them with you all in the near future.

SES Celebrated Indonesia’s Independence Day 2017

On the 16th of August, Surabaya European School celebrated Indonesia’s Independence Day with enthusiasm and spirit befitting the occasion. All the children and staff came dressed in their house team colors. The day started with everyone singing the Indonesian national anthem. After this the students participated in games that were organized by the PE teachers, Mr. Mike and Ms. Rini.

There were traditional games like Marble Race and Sack Race and then other games like Water Balloon Toss and Sponge Race. Everybody enthusiastically tried his or her best. The day finished with a fun Tug of War competition, including a staff versus secondary students. The main purpose of the afternoon was to remember this special day and have a lot of fun. The following were the placing of the house teams on the day:

 

  1. Garuda
  2. Sura
  3. Baya
  4. Komodo

SES Welcome Assembly: 15 August 2017

We had a wonderful welcome assembly where we all the primary and secondary children considered the challenges and opportunities for the new academic year. The students watched 2 video clips and we discussed many things including having fun, working hard, not giving up and taking risks on their learning journey. The school was introduced to Mrs Liza our new Deputy Principal/Head of Primary and Year 4 teacher and Mr Paul, the Year 5 teacher. Mr Mike was not present at assembly as he was teaching a Montessori class with Miss Rini at that time. However, the students know who he is from their PE classes and seeing him around the school.

Jacob in Year 2 helped Mr Nick with a mind reading card trick. He chose a card that matched the prediction made by the principal that had been sealed in an envelope before the start of the assembly! Jacob must have magical powers.

We are looking forward to a productive, enjoyable and successful year at SES with a variety of exciting events and activities.

Welcome Back to School

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to the the start of a new academic year which, I hope will be an exciting learning journey for everyone. I am sure that you had a relaxing and enjoyable summer holiday and are ready for the challenges of 2017-2018. Whether you are a new or returning family, it is a great pleasure to have you in our community.

I know that you will welcome and support our new staff who have joined us. Mrs Liza is teaching Year 4 as well as being Deputy Principal/Head of Primary. Mr Paul is teaching Year 5 and Mr Mike is our new PE teacher. We hope they will enjoy their time with us.

It remains an honour and privilege to serve as your principal and be part of a community where parents, teachers and students work together to develop both academic and social growth. We have a strong partnership and together, I know that we will make this school year one of growth and achievement for all children. If you have any questions or comments please ask.

Class Teachers (Primary) and Tutors (Secondary) should be the first point of contact for general matters with your child(ren). Academic issues should be addressed to the relevant subject teacher. You can contact Mrs Liza regarding primary matters as she is the Head of that section.  Mrs Tehmine, Mrs Aulia and I are also available should you wish to speak with us.

I am looking forward to a successful, productive and enjoyable year!

Yours sincerely,

Nick Rowdene

SES Assembly Year 5&6: 13 June 2017

The musical revue, The Case of the Missing Parts of Speech, starring Year 5 and Year 6 children, was presented on Tuesday, June 13, to parents, teachers and students. This play was a collaborative effort of Mr Thomson, Mrs Taylor and their classes, and was the culminating activity for this term’s combined Drama classes. All students had an important role to play, either as director, sound technician, or as actors and singers.

During the play, Professor McMertrue (Tanisha) has lost a part of speech. Detective Hargraves (Noa) and his trusty bloodhound, Hector (Luke), work together with nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, connectives, prepositions, verbs and interjections to find the missing part of speech. Each of the twelve scenes featured a song about a different part of speech. In the end, Detective Hargraves and his company help Professor McMertrue find the common noun, glasses, under her hat, and her speech is complete. Bravo, Year 5 and 6 students! They would like to express their appreciation to parents, teachers and students who supported their efforts with their attendance.
At the end of the play, children were honoured who will be moving away from SES in the coming school year. We have certainly enjoyed having these students with us, and we will miss each one in the future!

SES Assembly Year 11: 8 June 2017

The SES assembly this week included the distribution of many awards, a musical item and some farewells to our leavers. In March, some primary and secondary students participated in the CAT Maths competition which was organised by the Australian Mathematics Trust (AMT). The following students did very well obtaining scores in the top two categories. Michelle Harianto (Year 6) and Nicholas Kriss (Year 8) were awarded ‘Distinction’ with Viggo Akbar (Year 7) and Kelly Singgih (Year 6) received ‘Credit’. Well done to them and all those who took part.

Mrs Cecile and Miss Rini gave out swimming certificates to the whole school and also medals to the winners from the Swimming Carnival on 19 May. Year 2 Regan & Alix, Year3 Lintang, Matilda and Cally, Y4 Erwin and Ji In, Y5 Daniel and Marion, Y6 Dan and Michelle, Y7 Margot and Shehryaar, Y8 Chan Kyou, Viggo and Madalena, Y9 Matthieu and Tammia and in Shellsa in Year 11. 
 
Mr Coffey entertained us with his own interpretation of the Buffalo Springfield song ‘For What It’s Worth’ which was well received! We also saw a video clip showing many happy memories over the years with our Year 11 students. All our secondary leavers also received a DVD with videos and photographs from their time with us. I am reminded of this quote by John Dewey: ‘Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself”.  We also said ‘goodbye and many thanks’ to Mrs Cecile and Mr Thomson and wish them and their families all the very best for next academic year. I always enjoy assembly which showcases the talents of our international community.

Cultural Show & Summer Fair 2017: 24 May 2017

On Wednesday 24 May, Surabaya European School staged its inaugural combined Cultural Show and Summer Fair. This was a joint venture organised by the students, parents and staff in our community. The parents led by Mrs Juhi, put together an impressive program of events which showcased dance, drama, music, singing and presentations from various countries. Mrs Telita did a fantastic job as MC for the Cultural Show which culminated in a colourful flag parade. The show was a celebration of our cultural diversity and global citizenship. Our sincere thanks to all the parents who generously supported and helped with this event.

The Student Council and our Year 6 class worked very hard with the whole student body to devise a range of fun games and activities which were enjoyed by people of all ages. Prizes were awarded to those who had collected tokens from the games. People could choose from a variety of small gifts. Besides games, we also delighted in some delicious foods in the Bake Sale. The Summer Fair and Cultural Show raised a massive Rp15 million for our charity Abdi Asih. Many thanks to everyone for making this a success!

SES Swimming Carnival: 19 May 2017

The SES Swimming Carnival was a great success where students  competed in many different kind of races from freestyle to butterfly. Baya House team finished first and it was a close fought contest. The final scores were: Baya 139, Komodo 111, Garuda 104 and Sura 97. We also enjoyed some games in the second half of the carnival which included boat building, egg and spoon race, diving sticks and the parent-teacher relay.

Another popular game was the ‘scarecrow race’ which involved students dressing up a model with hat, socks, shirts and shorts in a fun relay race. The weather was kind to us and we had a fun day. The swimming carnival is just one of our sporting events which is part of the international school’s calendar throughout the world.

SES Assembly Year 2: 15 May 2017

The Year 2 children showcased their IPC (international Primary Curriculum) unit of ‘Celebrations’ at assembly. They shared their knowledge of different languages by singing songs of the different nationalities within their class, as well as dancing to ‘Celebrate Good Times’ as the finale to their performance. The students did a great job with their understanding and appreciation of globalisation and being part of an international school community.
The audience really enjoyed the presentations. Assemblies at Surabaya European School are always fun and regularly include celebrations of achievements and the many varied talents of our students.

SES Charity Auction 2017: 31 March 2017

This was a fantastic and entertaining evening which involved musical performances, dancing, a delicious dinner and the ‘silent auction’ itself which raised a massive Rp 70 million for Abdi Asih. This charity supports children who are suffering with HIV in Surabaya.  Our sincere gratitude for all who participated in this memorable event. The Student Council did a great job organising and planning the auction guided by Miss Allana and Miss Chris.

The whole school community were impressed by their outstanding efforts in the planning and delivery of this event.  All of the teaching and admin staff also worked hard to make the evening a huge success. We were very grateful to Mr Alam and his team at PGFC who were very generous in supporting the Charity Auction by providing both the venue and food and drink for this glittering evening.

Holi Celebration 2017: 24 March 2017

The annual Festival of Colours was held last Friday afternoon, 24 March, giving those in attendance the chance to celebrate the arrival of spring. The SES community enjoyed their Holi celebration with clouds of colour, festive music and some delicious samosas kindly supplied by Mrs Reshma. The festival, also known as the ‘festival of love’ and the ‘festival of colour’, drew a good number of people to celebrate, dance, sing and of course to throw an array of colors into the air. 

The Holi Festival of Colours originated in Nepal and India and is a celebration of sharing love. Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities outside Asia. As an inclusive community, we share our cultural diversity by celebrating a variety of events throughout the year which is part of globalisation. 

Ultimate Frisbee & T Ball: 22 March 2017

Last Wednesday, SES house teams faced each other during our Ultimate Frisbee tournament and T Ball/softball tournament.

Ultimate frisbee combines the non-stop movement and athletic endurance of soccer with the aerial passing skills of basketball. A game of ultimate frisbee is played by two teams of 7 players each, with a flying disc, on a field or court with end zones. The objective of the game is to score by catching a pass in the opponent’s end zone.

T Ball and softball are similar to baseball. For PE this year, we simplified and adapted the rules a bit. The result was a smooth and fair game for all of the students.

In Years 2 and 3, Sura came in first place, Komodo second and Baya third.

In Upper Primary, the competition was really fierce  between Garuda and Komodo. The final was a draw!

In Secondary, Garuda finished first, Baya second, Komodo third place.

The house teams offered us great sporting moments. More than this, teams showed sportsmanship and the joy of play.
PE team.

SES Assembly Year 3: 8 March 2017

Last Wednesday was an awesome day for the hard working students of Year 3.  Using the opportunity to showcase their skills from the classroom, they demonstrated number work, music, talk for reading, geographical knowledge, presenting, acting and dancing.  The children were so excited to celebrate their learning with their parents and were justifiably proud of their performance.  

Year 3 students are a lovely group of mixed personalities and skills that together make a very talented bunch. It is down to their hard work and perseverance that made the assembly the success that it was.

World Book Day: 2 March 2017

We had a range of book and film characters in school today to celebrate the 20th annual World Book Day including Harry Potter, Darth Vader, Gingerbread Man, Red Riding Hood, Peter Pan, Rainbow Fish and Mary Poppins. At break time, we paraded around for everyone to see the colourful and fantastic array of costumes.  Other characters seen were: Smurf, Chewbacca, Stormtrooper, Puss in Boots, Alice in Wonderland, a Doctor and a Spy. This beloved event often generates difficult decision-making for teachers, parents and students as to which character do they want to be? In addition, where to buy or how to make the props and costumes. It was a fun activity and we look forward to the next one in 2018.