green-school-mepantigan

“Respond to every call that excites your spirit.” – Rumi

After a full-on week of celebrations, including an incredible circus and fantastic cabaret performances, followed by a very special Saraswati ceremony, Green School continues to inspire us with its endless energy for even more activities. Kenny Peavy, author of The Box People visited our students on Wednesday to do a reading of his book to a variety of classes. His words left the children inspired to write and to be creative. The Middle School is continuing their thematic unit about ‘Water’. Next week they will partake in a water activity, where they will collaborate with Kopernik to raise money for a water filtration installation project in a neighbouring local school.

This weekend, Green School will have another busy list of exciting activities to chose from. There will be a Sacred Tour of Bali family day on Saturday, a bamboo instrument-making workshop with Rüdiger Schödel on both Saturday and Sunday, and a Mepantigan Fullmoon performance on Saturday at 7.00pm. Mepantigan is a martial art fusion of traditional Balinese Pencak Silat, dance and Capoeira; the performance will be held at Green School mud pit. Everyone is welcome to come and join the fun evening of muddy wrestling under the full moon!

In this issue:

Green School News

Upcoming Events

Ongoing Events

Also in the Green School Community

Green School News

Parent Information and Events Calendar

Gebogan-Bali
Photo credit: Anastasia Kurokhtina

Parent Information
Weekly Assembly
The Middle School Assembly will run next Friday, March 21. The assembly will be a celebration of experiential learning. Students will showcase Coral projects, thematic units, lab experiments, and reflections from the middle school camp. Grade 6 will give a pecha kucha presentation in celebration of world water day and the Bye Bye Plastic Bag team will have a short surprise to keep our attention on this important project.

International SOS Rabies Vaccination
International offers a special programme for Pre Exposure Rabies Vaccination and Booster valid until end of April 2014. Click here to find out more.

After School Activity Reminder

The Circus Club
The Circus Club after school activity begins Monday, March 17 and will run for 6 weeks. Cost is 800,000 Rupiah. Email Pak Andy to reserve a space: andys@greenschool.orgThe Circus Club is organised by Bali Circus that specialises in teaching children and adults circus skills. There will be a series of fun workshops where students learn how to juggle three scarves and bean bags, spin a plate, a poi, a hula hoop, throw a diabolo and much more.. A fantastic way to relax, exercise and get creative!The Circus Club emphasis on playing and encouraging teamwork – through these activities, students develop their coordination, balance, rhythm, imagination, confidence and positive self expression. Step by step everyone will learn how to do things that they did not think was possible for them to achieve.
World Dance (Journey Around Movement)
World Dance class with Ibu Nicole Barrote is open to all students Grades 1-8. Discounted fee to 500,000 Rupiah for a 6-week session. There are still few space available, please email Pak Andy to confirm your space at andys@greenschool.orgWorld Dance is a journey around movement–students will travel to diverse continents immersed in music and authentic moves from African Dance, Argentine Tango, American Hip Hop and Country, Cuban Salsa, Brazilian Samba, and French Ballet. Check her Ibu Nicole’s profile at: http://LearnPure.com/. *There will be opportunities for students to perform in the community.

Events Calendar
March
March 15 : Green School Family Day – The Sacred tour of Bali
March 15 : Mepantigan Fullmoon Performance, 7.00pm at GS Mud Pit
March 21 : International Snack of the Week – Germany, Austria, Swiss, Italy
March 24-27 : Spirit Week – read more here
March 25 : Parent Education Offering – Modern Yoga
March 26 : International Snack of the Week – United Kingdom
March 27 : Green Ogoh-ogoh Parade
March 28 : No School, Parent – teacher conference
March 29‐April 6 : Mid‐semester break
March 31 : Nyepi – Balinese “Day of Silence”

April
April 11 : GS Family Days – Beach Weekend to Bukit
April 18 : Good Friday
April 25 : Parents Morning

Parent Reminder
Make sure to check our Lost and Found for missing hats, water bottles, etc..
An important link to our school calendars: http://www.greenschool.org/calendar/.

From the Head of School

john Building Mental Toughness – Positive Psychology Strategies

My wife – a great writer – hates me writing too much. She’ll shriek when she reads this, “It is too long!” But I just want to share my ‘Byron Bay verbiage’. Over the Christmas break, I read Martin Seligman’s Flourish. It is a book I would recommend all educators read, be they parents or teachers. Seligman was the founder of positive psychology. The book’s title is what I believe in – allowing people to flourish. What are the important elements needed to bounce positively through life? What’s Tigger’s secret? read further…

Parent-Teacher Conference on March 28

Photo credit: Anastasia Kurokhtina

Dear Parents,

We have student conferences coming up on March 28. We are always excited to have this opportunity to meet with you to discuss your child’s progress and to share highlights from the past few months. By the end of the week you should receive an invite from your child’s classroom (or homeroom) teacher inviting you to select a time to meet. Please return your invite as soon as possible to secure a time that works best for you.

Please be sure to prepare for the conference ahead of time by making notes about the following: observations about your child and their development over the past few months, academic gains you are noticing, things your child has accomplished of which you are proud, concerns that you may have, and any questions you want to be sure to ask. This preparation will give you a chance to reflect on your child and their year so far, and to notice the amazing ways in which your child is growing and changing.

Please also remember that the 28th is a non-school day for students.

See you at conferences!
Pak Andy.

A Week of ‘Earth Day’ Celebration at Green School

Earth-Day The High School Earth Day class preparations for this year’s Earth Day celebration at Green School are already underway! This year, instead of honoring the Earth for just one day, Green School is going to celebrate it for an entire week. Now we are looking to the community for some help with outreach. On Earth Day, April 22nd, the committee needs speakers and people who would like to run workshops for adults and also young children. We are looking specifically for local organisations and NGO’s.

If you are interested or know anyone who would be good for these positions, please email us on rose.guthrie@student.greenschool.org or sophie.goslinga@student.greenschool.org

Green School Hosts Students from Safe Childhood Foundation

Green-School-Hosts-Students-from-Safe-Childhood-Foundation Last Wednesday the high school students were lucky enough to host some of the young students from The Center for Street Children in Denpasar. 6 students and 3 members of staff travelled up for an afternoon of Ibu Kadek’s food, classes in the primary school and a tour. All of the students had an amazing time and we hope to host many more of them in the future. We would like to thank Ibu Sarita for donating all of the proceeds from the cabaret to Safe Childhoods Foundation, thank you to everyone that attended as we raised a massive 5.8 Million Rupiah.

However our efforts are not going to stop there, we are currently looking into buying specialized Bahasa Indonesia books for the children at the center so our fundraising efforts will be continuing. Please feel free to donate school items to our cause and thank you to everybody in the Green School Community who have contributed to our efforts so far. Please contact Ibu Emily at emily.ferguson@greenschool.org for information on contribution.

Upcoming Events

Green School Family Day Tomorrow: Sacred Tour of Bali

Green School parents, kids and friends are invited to join Green School parent Robert Lonsdorf on Saturday, March 15 for an all-day adventurous trip for a blessing in a sacred mountain waterfall; to see a quiet and peaceful spring temple; and to visit a member of the Ubud royal family who will teach us about Balinese medicinal herbs (hands on, with samples!), and lead us on a short walk around his family’s property (including a sacred spring temple where we will receive another blessing and learn about the 5 elements and traditional ways to make holy water). Tjok says, ‘Being born in Bali and living in Ubud during my young years has infused me with a deep connection to the land, the water, the plants, and rocks. In rural Bali living with the rhythms of nature is simply part of life, and using nature to heal has always been a necessity, not a luxury. My ancestors have been the custodians of knowledge, philosophy, and ritual for centuries, and it is this heritage that lead me to pursue a profession in natural medicine.’

09.00 Meet in Ubud at the Pura Dalem Puri parking lot (Jalan Sukma, across & up from Jazz Cafe)
10.00 – 12.00 Sebatu Waterfall, for a wet purification ritual
12.00 – 01.00 Pura Gunung Kawi, a quiet spring water temple
01.00 – 02.00 Lunch over-looking rice terraces at Tegal Alang
03.00 – 05.30 Visit with Tjok Gede, member of the Ubud royal family and herbal healer
5:30 Back in Ubud

Please note that TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE. People should bring a change of clothes, and ideally 2 sarongs per person – one to get wet in at the waterfall and one to keep dry. There are semi-private changing areas at the waterfall. We will stop for lunch, so people may but do not have to bring one. Price – 350.000 Rupiah per adult, kids for free. All donations and local fees included (lunch not included).

To sign up for the tour, contact Robert at +6282 144 799 708 or email robertlonsdorf@gmail.com.

March 24th-27th Spirit Week!

March-24th-27th-Spirit-Week! The high school student council is planning a vibrant, energetic spirit week before we all take off on spring break. This means all students and faculty members are encouraged to dress up on the 24th, 25th, 26th, and the 27th of March. We have themes!

Monday will be OUTER SPACE DAY! This is your chance to paint your body silver, make your hair metallic, put on your galaxy boots or dress up like an alien with a third eye on your forehead. Your choices are out of this world! During lunch time Middle School & High School students are invited to play a game of basketball against Green School staff.

Tuesday is NERD DAY! Put on your dorky glasses, along with your overalls and your pants hoisted up to your hips. Channel your inner geek and get your nerd on!
High school student council will also be hosting a series of tug-of-war games on the field during lunch.

Wednesday: Find a friend who looks a bit like you because Wednesday is TWIN DAY! Dress up in clothes that are just like your twin, do your hair the same! Look as similar as you possibly can! At lunch time there will be a lost and found fashion show in the Mepantigan. Be sure to come out and see your teachers strutting their stuff with items from the lost and found. If you see anything that previously belonged to you go up and grab it at the end!

Thursday: This day we will be celebrating Nyepi. Put on your beautiful, yet respectable Balinese dress. It is a day to honour the beautiful culture that we all are blessed to live in. Activities to be announced by the Nyepi committee.

Ongoing Events

Weekly Sports Update

Weekly-Sports

BSSA Basketball:
Well done to all our teams for a great season!
The 9/10s go unbeaten and the 11/12 boys, 11/12 girls and 13/14 girls go through to Semis/Finals Day!

Here are the details for the semis Wednesday 19 March:
11/12 girls play Dyatmika at Canggu (bemo leaves 2pm)
11/12 boys play Dyatmika at BIS (bemo leaves 2pm)
13/14 girls play Dyatmika at Dyatmika (bemo leaves 2pm)

Thursday 20 March Senior Basketball Tournament 1pm at BIS

BSSA Cross Country:
Green School hosts the annual BSSA cross country on Wednesday 23 April.
Practice days are Wednesdays: 19 March, 26 March, 9 April and 16 April.
3.30-4.30pm. Meet on the field.

Mozzie Mondays!

green-leader Last month, Green School implemented an ongoing mosquito education program called ‘Mozzie Mondays’. Each Monday morning, every class takes 10-15 minutes to learn a new mosquito fact and then surveys the perimeter of their classroom in search of potential pools of water where eggs and larvae could be hiding. Mosquito larvae can be found in standing water in any empty can, a rounded leaf, an upturned half coconut, or a variety of places that can hold water, even as shallow as 4 – 5 mm deep.

With the rainy season upon us and small pools of water collecting everywhere, we are grateful for all those extra pairs of eyes as they are handy to have around campus keeping any eye out for these potential mosquito breeding grounds. Alongside Green School staff, each of our students is learning how to reduce the numbers of pesky mozzies and protect the community.

The ‘Mozzie Mondays’ program will continue to run throughout this semester until the holiday break in June! Let’s start hunting! Taking just a few seconds to empty any standing water from wherever you may see it will help to greatly reduce the mosquito population….it removes places for them to breed, not only here on campus, but around your homes and businesses, as well.

Here are some informative links to videos that can help you to identify mosquito larvae:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/mosquitoes/
http://www.pestworldforkids.org/mosquitoes.html

Working together we can make a significant impact on the mozzie population!

Also in Green School Community

Kul-Kul Connection: Race to 300 Update

Kul-Kul-Connection-Race-to-300

We just wanted to send out a BIG thank you or Terima Kasih! For everyone who attended the Race to 300 Kick-Off family Reunion! The event was a great success; with around 20 Green school Parents joining in the fun, playing learning games, sharing their input, and showing their enthusiasm to learn Bahasa Indonesia!

We would like to mention that Kul-Kul Connection is now up on Facebook so we can all get more involved and have more open communication with one another. You are welcome to share your thoughts, post your availability, and/or mention anything you find interesting in Indonesia; the more involved the better!

Check on the Facebook sight for future events to come: https://www.facebook.com/groups/raceto300/

If anyone is in need of a Race to 300 speaking partner, please contact Emma Titley for matchmaking assistance! (emma.titley@greenschool.org)

“Essence of Humanity” Documentary Photography Workshop

suki The National Geographic inspirational photographer, Sebastian Suki, is going to lead another photography workshop this March 28-30. After a successful workshop on “Above the Clouds”, this workshop will focus its theme on “Essence of Humanity”, where you will learn how to take photograph using natural light, capturing majestic landscapes and document the everyday life of Balinese people.

For more information and a full schedule of the workshop, please email tallersuki@gmail.com. Limited space. No experience required in photography.

Level 1 First Aid Training

Course topics including Cardiac Arrest, CPR & Defibrillator Usage, Choking, Management of Bleeding, Management of Fainting and Shock, and Personal Protective Equipment.
Course Price: 600,000 Rupiah / person
Schedule: Bahasa Indonesia: April 29 & June 26 | English: March 21 & May 14
Please see poster for more information, thank you

Level-1-First-Aid-Training

Raw Food and Yoga Retreat for Green School Community

Raw-Food-and-Yoga-Retreat-for-Green-School Green School Community, are you keen for a sneaky week away from the kids? Come join Natalie Bondine, Green School Parent, in conjunction with OneWorld Retreats as they have an amazing offer to coincide with Bali Spirit Festival. Immerse yourself in a feast for the senses: A week of Yoga, Living Food & Ritual spent in the lush jungle north of Ubud for just US$1,495.

The all inclusive retreat will include daily yoga and meditation classes to gently open the body and mind. Enjoy luscious Living Food meals (raw) that will gently cleanse and nourish your health, along with Raw Food Workshops including a Chocolate making workshop. Luxurious spa treatments and ample rest time, along with visits to sacred sites including bathing at Tirta Empul in the still of the night. This retreat is not to be missed… Natalia has been gently guiding this Retreat for the past 5 years, so let’s dive in a little deeper on the Island of the God’s.

To reserve a spot visit: http://www.oneworldretreats.com/ubud_bali_yoga_retreat_natalie_bondine.php
Enter “GS” in the booking code.

India Arie Brings Her Voice and Soul to Fund Education in Bali

Photo credit: Rio Helmi

On Sunday night, March 9th, India Arie brought together the communities of Pelangi School, Green School, BaliSpirit Festival and the Yoga Barn for a fantastic evening of story and song. Over 500 lucky fans sat on the beautiful patios of the Yoga Barn and were treated to an evening of “SongVersations” where India shared her soulful recollections of her life, her dreams, her accomplishments, and her vision. The crowd was awed by her beautiful voice, her messages of introspection and hope, and her fantastic accompanying musicians and special back up singer, her mother, Simpson. Parents, students, teachers, yogis, many community leaders, and an enthusiastic public joined together to raise over $8000 USD that will support the Indonesian scholarship programs at the Pelangi School and Green School Bali.

Submitting Newsletter Items

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