“The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.”
Moliere
Dear Green School,
The weekly newsletter is back and better than ever! Below you’ll find stories and photos about the recently completed rice planting project (which concluded with my favorite part of the process, the rice eating!), the Grade 12 trip to Cambodia, and the recent visit by the John Fawcett Foundation mobile eye clinic to these parts. But wait, there’s more: Fairy Houses! Bamboo roller coasters! Battle of the Bands! School buses! Yearbooks!
Enjoy the newsletter and have a great weekend. Terima kasih and thanks…
In this issue:
Green School News
1. Rice Planting Project!
2. Grade 12 Cambodia Trip
3. John Fawcett Foundation Comes to Sibang: I Can See Clearly Now…
4. Middle School Physics Thematic: Shake, Rattle, & Roller Coaster!
5. Grade 1B Fairy House Opens!
6. 2012-13 GS Yearbook Order Forms Now Available
7. BSSA Sports Update from Pak Colin
Upcoming Events
1. Get on the (School)Bus, Gus: Wednesday, May 22 @2:00 PM Meeting
2. Battle of the Bands, 24 May 5-8 PM @BIS: Rock on, Green School!
3. Wednesday, June 12 @ 9:00 AM: Grade 12 Green Stone Conference
Ongoing Events
1. After-School Activities Now Include Soccer for MS and HS Students
Media and Links
Also in the Green School Community
1. Celebrate World Oceans Day with Odyssey Institute, 7-9 June
2. Mural Painting by Ratri
3. Bamboo Project in India
4. Our own weekly news
Green School News
Rice Planting Project!
Here’s a beautiful piece by GS parent and eco-warrior Ben Brown that looks at the rice planting project on campus in the context of some larger rice issues:
Grade 12 Cambodia Trip
The same week the rest of the high school was in Java,. the Grade 12 class was exploring Cambodia. Here are some photos and updates Ibu Leslie sent back to parents:
Day 3 Update: April is the hottest month in Cambodia. It is also the month everyone remembers when the Khmer Rouge took over the country in 1975. There are some very difficult stories we are hearing and images that challenge all, but the ability of our students to ask thoughtful questions and to reflect is incredible.
The students are also living their learning too. Example, buying a large refillable water jug to refill their small bottles so as not to use plastic, Always eating the food or giving it to someone in need if there happen to be some leftovers. And culturally curious and polite. I love seeing all of that.
Every night we have story time together and reflect on the day a bit while planning for the next. And last night, Isami and Azhar played and sang for an open mic night very near our hotel. Isami is pretty popular already, hair+music = popular.
All is well. Tired and some very slightly upset tummies but nothing big so far. It is a pleasure to be on this trip.
Day 5 Update: Day 5 in the Khmer Kingdom and all is still going incredibly well. The students spent time talking to a group of English students at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, all of whom were their same age. It was a festive atmosphere and many Facebook connections were made.
We also visited one of Asia’s most exciting markets, the Khmer Rouge Tribunal courts where the KR leaders are being tried for crimes against humanity, and the Documentary Institute, which is Cambodia’s house for all trial transcripts and depositions stating the horrible details of that time period. The founder of the Institute and driver of bringing in the International Tribunal gave us a presentation on the court and on the current social and environmental issues facing the nation.
The day ended at the Killing Fields where a light rain, the first in months, wet the ground. The students were deeply touched and horrified, it is not easy to be there for anyone. Our students continue to be amazing and reflective.
Today we will have lunch with a Pol Pot survivor and the only trained librarian in a country where there were no books or even paper for that matter for decades. A huge job that pays him 50 USD a month.
Than we go north about an hour to Phnom Oeung, the ancient capital of Cambodia and considered one of the wealthiest and most well developed cities in the world at one time.
8am tomorrow, we will be on a bus for Siem Reap and the temples of Ankor Wat. I can’t wait to see their faces when they see these incredible temples.
All are healthy and rested though their legs are tired!
Day 9 Update: My silence does indeed indicate how tired we are. Tired but happy! The sun has been brutal these past three days at Angkor Wat but we managed to see the ancient ruins and see the sun come up over Angkor. What a mighty and humbling place.
All are rested and healthy now, which is great as we have a six hour bus ride ahead of us back to PP today. Joel and I bought lots of picnic goodies and plan a roadside picnic, which gives road trips a sense of adventure and family.
Yesterday, we went on a long hike to the waterfall and river that feeds all of Angkor. A cool fully clothed shower under the cool waters was a huge highlight.
John Fawcett Foundation Comes to Sibang: I Can See Clearly Now…
Here’s a report on the visit two weeks ago of the JFF mobile eye clinic to Sibang Jaja. Many people were helped, and it was great to see GS classes getting to observe and participate. Special hats off to GS Middle School teacher and space legend Pak John Glenn!
Middle School Physics Thematic: Shake, Rattle, & Roller Coaster!
Ibu Sarah tells us about a very interesting science project that 8th Graders worked on recently. I don’t think I ever looked this happy in physics class!
To culminate their thematic unit on the physics of motion through the study of roller coasters, 8th Graders held an open house on Monday to celebrate their design and engineering achievements. Laden with bamboo, rattan and glue, students were challenged with building the fastest, safest and most fun 3 meter high and 12 meter long roller coaster in specific locations around Green School. Using their problem solving skills and creativity, groups of three students constructed roller coasters that had loops, corkscrews, jumps into funnels and ladders, water endings, rings of fire and other fun additions. The aim of the project was to apply their knowledge of speed, acceleration, gravity, force, friction, and potential and kinetic energy to a practical construction project. 8th Graders were also able to spend two thematic lessons in the art room with Ibu Margot capturing the feeling of the thrill of the roller coaster ride through painting. Their artwork is currently on display in the Green School Art Gallery. Way to go, 8th Graders, on your focused enthusiasm during this science thematic!
Grade 1B Fairy House Opens!
Last month we presented a photo-essay here on the Grade 1B Fairy House project done in conjunction with Elora Hardy and other friends from PT Bamboo Pure. The house is finished, and it’s beautiful! Elora shares a few details about the project below:
Grade 1B students each designed a fantasy fairy house concept, then visited PT Bamboo Pure to learn about all the different types of bamboo and search for inspiring scrap material from around our workshop. We collaborated with our bamboo craftsmen to design and build the house onsite. The roof shingles are made from bamboo sheaths, the first time we have used them for a bamboo house.
2012-13 GS Yearbook Order Forms Now Available. Yearbook Advertising Space Also Available!
The high school design team, guided by Ibu Jan and a tireless team of parent volunteers, are busy at work on what promises to be another excellent Green School Yearbook. Pre-order forms are now available from Yani at the welcome desk, and advertising space is also available. Please see details on the attached flyers
BSSA Sports Update from Pak Colin
BSSA Athletics
We’re underway with Athletics training for the annual carnival that takes place in Kompyang Stadium, Denpasar. This year’s event takes place on June 4th and we have a record number of over 40 students signed up to compete!
Training is every Thursday 3.30-4.30pm for Middle and Primary School and in the BSSA Athletics block for High School
BSSA Multi-Sports Day: 22 May 1-5pm
The following will be on offer- Parents please let me know if you’d like to enter your child(ren).
Entries need to be e-mailed to schools prior to the events.
We request that parents drop and collect students from the events- Thanks!
Junior Badminton at Canggu School: 10/U and 11/12 age groups
Senior Badminton at Dyatmika: 13/14 and 15+
Chess at Gandhi School: 12/U and 13/O
Surfing in Kuta(At Bali Learn to Surf Co in front of Hard Rock Hotel): 12/U and 13/O:
This event will be 29 May, 1-5pm due to favourable afternoon tides
Upcoming Events
Get on the (School)Bus, Gus: Wednesday, May 22 @2:00 PM Meeting to Discuss Bus Possibilities
We got this letter from Shanti in Grade 9 this week. As per below, she has identified an area where as a community we can certainly be more green, and she is proposing that we take action. All parents are invited to a meeting on the subject of school transport to be held Wednesday, 22 May at 2:00 PM in the Mepantigan. Details follow. Go Shanti!
Dear Green School community,
Lately I have been noticing the number of vehicles we use everyday to get to and back from Green School. For an environmental studies class we were asked to choose something we thought could be changed in the community and do something about it. So, I got to thinking, it seems that all the energy we are saving at this school by using sustainable sources is off balanced by all our cars and motorbikes.
For instance, if the average Green School family drives 20km to school that means that they travel a total of about 40km per day to and back. On average, that totals about 3.7 tonnes of carbon emission a year for each individual. Now, if you are going to multiply that the 200 kids that drive to school by car every day then we are creating about 740 TONNES of carbon emissions a year! I believe that it would not be hard at all to cut our emissions down by a large amount.
I am aware that we had a bus system a while back but that the school had to shut it down because of children being unsafe while driving. This is due to there being no adult supervision. What I am proposing, is that we get a discussion going within the community where we can talk about ideas and get more safe carpooling going in order to reduce our carbon footprint. Everyone who is interested or has an idea please come! The discussion will be held Wednesday, May 22 at 2pm in the Mepantigan. Come help Green School be greener!
Thank you,
Shanti Belaustegui Pockell
Battle of the Bands, 24 May 5-8 PM @BIS: Rock on, Green School!
Come support the High School Band as they rock it out playing for the Inter-school Battle of the Bands Competition at Bali International School on Friday the 24th of May!!! Part of the judging is scored by audience appreciation so the more people we have to cheer and scream for our band the better! For security reasons, I need a list of everyone who is planning on attending. If you think there might be even the slightest possibility that you’ll be attending please e-mail me at anna.overeem@greenschool.org I need all names of students, mums, dads, brothers, sisters, grandmas, friends, etc.
Wednesday, June 12 @ 9:00 AM: Grade 12 Green Stone Conference
A few weeks ago we ran a piece introducing the Green Stone Conference, a capstone experience for our Grade 12 students in which they present a project they have spent the year working on. You can see the details and presentation topics in this beautiful flyer. All GS parents and friends are invited to attend. Please come out to support our graduating seniors and honor their hard work over the course of this year!
Ongoing Events
After-School Activities Now Include Soccer for MS and HS Students
Brazilian soccer is being offered by Pak Eduardo now also to Middle and High School. The next set of lessons runs from 3:30pm to 4:45pm on Fridays from May 17. Drop-in price is Rp. 75,000 per lesson. Pay in advance at the welcome desk or directly to Pak Eduardo before or after (not during) practice, please
Media and Links
Email/Blog of the Week
A few weeks ago we were visited by a young Brazilian woman who spent a few nights in the Bamboo Village and learned as much as possible about Green School during the days. Here’s a great letter she just sent us, along with a blog post. Don’t worry if your Portuguese is rusty, as there is also an English version!
Dear Andy, Shaun and Ben,
How are you? As far as I remember I told you all that I write a blog, about some of the experiences that I’ve had while travelling in Asia, sharing new insights with different points of view, interviews with change makers and the amazing diversity of cultures that the world has. It’s called Terceiro Olho (www.terceiroolho.com), that means the Third Eye. I’ve started writing it in english also, still adapting the whole website to be more functional. When I left Green School I wrote about my experience there and I invite you to have a look at it: http://terceiroolho.com/2013/04/24/green-school-usando-a-educacao-para-mudar-o-mundo/ (Ben, I hope I was a good “student” at your presentation!).
The feedback was so positive that I’ll definitely write about it again. There’s one person that I met before going to India that is bringing an international investment fund to Brazil focused in social businesses that got really interested in the idea of bringing the concept of Green School to Brazil. As I said, if there’s anything going on here in this side of the world, I would be more than happy to participate.
Now I’m back home, very happy to see family and friends and planning new adventures with positive impact!
Keep in touch and feedbacks are more than welcome!
Also in the Green School Community and Beyond
Celebrate World Oceans Day with Odyssey Institute, 7-9 June
Our Friends at Odyssey Institute have created a very special opportunity for us to take part in a celebration of World Oceans Day.
Community members around West Bali National Park have been getting together to clean West Bali National Park and celebrate the beauty and importance of the ocean on this special day for the past few years. This year, Odyssey institute is turning this event into a special service adventure weekend for middle and high school students of International schools on the island the weekend of June 7-9.
Please contact Glenn at glenn@greenschool.org for more information and/or to register.
Mural Painting by Ratri
Ratri in Grade 12 has come up with a creative and enterprising way to fund her gap year travel to Europe.
Bamboo Project in India
It’s always good to hear about projects our bamboo comrades in other parts of the world are working on. In recent months we’ve had visits from several people involved in a big bamboo project in Auroville, India. Here are some details on what they are up to. Bamboo soap sounds like a great HS enterprise project for 2013-14! Anyone?‘
Our own weekly news
To submit your own news updates for inclusion, please send it to communications@greenschool.org by 12 noon each Wednesday.We cannot always guarantee inclusion and we may have to delay for a week at times.
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