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.

IAYP PPLH May 27 & 28 2017

Over the weekend four intrepid adventurers from Year 9 set out to complete a practice journey for their International Award for Young People (IAYP).

The International Award requires participants at Bronze level to complete a two day, one night adventure where they explore an area under their own steam and prove themselves self sufficient in that time.
For this practice, our team went to explore Gunung Bekel and surrounding areas with a scientific purpose in mind, to collect data about how altitude and temperature can affect plant growth.
Day One saw an attempt at scaling Gunung Bekel, and while the team didn’t make it to the top, they did manage an enjoyable hike and collected lots of data (and learnt a lot about exploring in the process!)
When the team returned to base at PPLH they then had to prepare their own dinner before they could chill out and reflect upon their day. Their exploits in the kitchen proved that they still have a bit to learn about cooking for a hungry team, but they did manage a good feast in the end!
Day Two required a further 6 hours of activity from the group and once they had cooked breakfast and prepared their lunch they headed out again to explore the lower reaches of the mountain and gather further data, comparing their experiences from the day before and working well as a team to reach their goal.
The group returned home on Sunday evening, tired but happy, having completed a very useful practice journey. In the future, they will have to apply all they have learnt to another trip to qualify for the Adventurous Journey section of their award. And you know what? I think they’ll do very well.

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.

Secondary Trip April 2017

SES school camp to Bali in April was an adventurous time for everyone. We spent five days in Eastern Bali experiencing a wide range of outdoor activities including trekking, white water rafting and cycling as well as some more local activities like a market visit and cooking challenge. Great fun was had by all!

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.

SES Assembly Year 4 & 5: 9 February 2017

Year 4 & 5 Share the Love

This month’s assembly given by the Year 4 & 5 class was based around Valentine’s Day. 

The classes joined forces to share a brief history of how Valentine’s Day came about. The children also shared a couple of traditions from Japan and Scotland and how they have been celebrated throughout the years. 

At the conclusion of the assembly both classes took the stage to share a short poem about love and friendship. 1 last treat from the classes was to hand out their ‘hearts’ to members of the audience to show their friendship and love for everyone.

Well done Year 4 & 5! 

International Day: 3 February 2017

On Friday, February 3, SES celebrated diversity during our 2017 International Day. Students, teachers and staff came to school dressed in clothing that reflected their cultures. As children entered the school, they were greeted by the sound of national anthems from around the world. Flags were also on display throughout the school to represent some of the many home countries of SES families. Parents were gracious enough to prepare food from their home countries, and many parents came to the school to serve the food they had prepared. Students thoroughly enjoyed the delicious variety of snacks and were most grateful for this opportunity to have fun and celebrate together.
Thank you, SES families, for preparing and serving amazing delicacies from your homelands and for allowing us to borrow your flags!

Chinese New Year 2017

For Chinese New Year activities we made a colouring competition for Years 2 and 3 and the other primary children practiced writing spring couplets such as ” 恭喜发财”，“万事如意“etc. Our secondary students made clay models of New Year foods including spring roll, noodle and dumplings. Many students wore traditional clothes to celebrate the year of the rooster. 

SES Assembly Year 6: 20 January 2017

On Friday, January 20, Year Six students provided learning and entertainment through the first assembly of the new year! As people entered, Year Six iMovie presentations about home and host countries were played. Students performed three poems that challenged us to make this year the best we’ve ever had. They sang two songs to emphasize mathematics concepts, including one about prime numbers and another that taught geometric translations. Their drama, based on a Javanese cultural story that was presented by Raditya, was also entertaining. To close the show, each audience member received an ang pao envelope that held a list of gifts we have been given, including special abilities (art, music, sports, mathematics, etc.) and traits (kindness, compassion, honesty, humility, etc.). Audience members were challenged to think of ways they could use gifts that they have received to make the world a better place.
Following the Year Six performance, Ayumi and Wenny did a great job sharing about cooperation in both Mandarin and English. Several students received awards for great effort and work in their classes. Finally, Mr. Nick performed a few magic tricks to close the show.

SOS Training Secondary: 11 January 2017

On Wednesday 11th of Jaunary seventeen secondary pupils participated in a morning training session led by SOS International to learn some essential first aid skills. Most of the students are completing their bronze Duke of Edinburgh award so the training will come in handy when they are completing the expedition aspect of the award, and others came along because they were interested in learning some useful skills.

The morning was jam packed with theory, quizzes and practical sessions that taught students CPR; how to use a defibrillator; what to do in a chocking situation and the recovery position.

Students worked together to understand how to cope with an emergency situation and not panic, but take control and do their best to help while keeping safe themselves. These skills were then tested in a practical examination, which everyone passed with flying colours.

Overall it was a very enjoyable experience and one that the students found challenging and useful.

Christmas 2016

This year our Christmas Show was outstanding and we received many positive comments from all those who attended this event. We had a range of acts which involved all the primary and secondary students and included music, dance, hip hop, singing, magic, drama and sketches.

Year 2 gave a great performance of an Australian version of Jingle Bells and then played Jingle Bells on the reorder.

Year 3 & 4 sang ‘The 12 Days of SES’ which was amusing and enjoyable. A fantastic square dance was done by Years 5 & 6. All the primary children sang ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’.

The Year 7s and Mr Lawrie Christmas Café (Stomp) presented a dramatic and musical piece which was very well received. Our Year 8s performed a rhyming Cinderella pantomime which was funny and entertaining. The Year 9 students amused us with some Christmas-themed offbeat short sketches throughout the show. We concluded with everyone singing ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’. A fantastic festive event that was a great end to the term. An enjoyable evening that concluded with food and drinks.

Movember 2016

Movember 2016 was our first Movember in Surabaya European school.  Despite having only a few male staff, we decided to give it a go and make a target of £500.  So we looked at various styles of moustache on the Movember website and made a start.  The first job was to explain exactly what the aims of the charity were.  Once that was achieved, the team all contributed to get things started.  Having convinced various people that it was for a good cause; Mr Nick, Mr Neil, Mr Phillip and myself began the task of cultivating our facial hair.  For some it was a challenge, for others it was difficult!

However, the bristles soon began to appear and the team were well on the way.  At first we were greeted with curiosity, disbelief until finally acceptance.  The money from charitable parents and children began to build up. As the month drew to a close, we had reached our target!! Thank you all for all your donations and to the team for their perseverance.  We plan to do this again next November with lots more fun events to participate in.