“We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.”
Francis Bacon
Dear Green School,
Hard to believe perhaps but there are officially only four weeks to go in the school year. How did that happen??? We have lots going on in this week’s edition, including some new and inspiring examples of integrated learning up and down the grade levels. It’s amazing how our teachers consistently manage to interweave academics, the environment, social justice, and the creative arts into the same lesson! We have exciting news on the Greenest Student on Earth campaign as the clock ticks down towards the announcement of the winners, plus a scholarship offer for this summer’s Green SuperCamps that will be held right here on campus. We also have announcements about numerous upcoming events– don’t miss next Friday afternoon’s performing arts assembly and stick around for a few hours until the 2nd Annual Guerilla Film Festival takes place that same evening (as always, the popcorn is free but you do need to purchase a ticket to get in), and the 4th Annual End of Year GS Rafting Armada down the Ayung on 8 June. Plus more… so much more!
Selamat berakhir pekan everyone, and terima kasih banyak…
In this issue:
Green School News
1. Grade 3 Thematic Unit: Sea Turtle Conservation
2. Grade 7 Odyssey Trip
3. Greenest Student on Earth, plus Green SuperCamp Scholarships
4. Grade 2 Green Studies “Up-cycle” Arcade
5. HS Guerilla Media Projects
6. BSSA Update from Pak Colin
Upcoming Events
1. May 31 @ 2:15 PM Assembly: Performing Arts Showcase
2. May 31 @ 6:30 PM: 2nd Annual Guerilla Film Festival!
3. June 3: Grade 8 Shadows High School
4. May 31: Grade 1A Bake Sale in Support of Dr. Ating Foundation
5. Saturday, 8 June @ 9:00 AM: GREEN SCHOOL AND FRIENDS RAFTING TRIP!!!!!!
6. June 13, 3:30 PM: “Defining Green” Meeting with Pak Andy
Ongoing Events
1. Grade 1B Paper Making Workshop
Media and Links
1. Green School Media Coverage
2. Email of the Week
3. Other Links
Also in the Green School Community
1. Photo Workshop with Suki, 4-10 June– Learn from a Pro!
2. Yogi Times
3. Wed, 29 May 2013 6:30 pm Meet and Greet dinner with Sri Lestari at Betel Nut, Ubud.
4. Our own weekly news
Green School News
Grade 3 Thematic Unit: Sea Turtle Conservation
Pak Mark updates us on Grade 3’s latest thematic unit, evidence of which can be seen on display on the floor in HOS!
Grade 3′s thematic work for the last four weeks has been conservation: Learning what it is, why we need it and how it affects food webs/cycles and systems. They have used the plight of sea turtles to focus a lens on conservation overall. After a visit to Sarangan Island and two sea turtle parks there they developed a very clear idea about what conservation is and what it is not (Turtle Park is definitely not!). They became strong advocates for changes in the way we treat marine reptiles and they desperately wanted to help the work being done by WWF in conserving these beautiful animals. As part of this work they created a large mural on the floor of the heart of school. The mural shows 1000 small yellow turtles and one large green turtle. The stamped work illustrates the survival rates of sea turtle eggs. An alarming statistic that has reached such alarming levels as a result of human activities. Sea turtles are increasingly vulnerable to egg poaching, drowning in nets, habitat encroachment from buildings, pollution and motor boat propellers. They are also susceptible to death from ingesting plastic bags which they mistake for jellyfish their natural prey. They have become inspired to work towards saving this endangered species and hope that their work will inspire others too. They will be raising money on Friday after assembly and will be selling puppets and other artworks to aid conservation.
Grade 7 Odyssey Trip
Pak Noan fills us in on the latest Grade 7 expedition:
Last week the students on Grade 7 adventured up to Landih Ashram near Mt. Batur for their Odyssey trip. With a focus on healing, the students got straight into it. After a not so long bus ride we arrived a Landih Ashram, a wonderful site with a large diversity of plants surrounding the sleeping and meeting cabins. The view over the adjacent bamboo forest made us Greenschooligans feel right at home. The first day started with yoga and meditation, two known ways to move towards a more healthful mind and spirit. Students shared their concerns and problems, moving from global issues down to the personal. The afternoon rain did not deter the students, as they got riled up and then filled buckets of hot water for their mandi afterwards. The following day we started our pilgrimage, also known as a journey with intent. We were to head to the rim of the Batur crater, right next to Mt. Abang. At the top we would reflect on the good and bad, and performed a ritual to bury our problems. Interestingly, the weather played along, giving us a day that remained half blue sky and half dark clouds for our duration on the mountain. Up where the air was thinner (well, slightly) the students wrote letters to somebody important, almost always their parents. So parents of Grade 7… you should be delivered a letter written at altitude anytime! The trip was phenomenal in so many ways, and I found myself connecting with the class in a way that our day to day schooling simply does not allow. It only reinforced the feeling that I am a lucky person to have the chance to teach this group of kids.
Greenest Student on Earth, plus Green SuperCamp Scholarships
Greenest Students on Earth-last chance to vote!
More than 50 students from 20 countries entered the Greenest Student on Earth Scholarship Competition, and many have experienced amazing results just from the exposure of their videos on the Green School website. The students have been given donations of supplies for their projects, partnerships with non-profit organizations supporting their initiatives, celebrity endorsements, sponsorship offers, media attention, local community awards, and have been asked to give public presentations. If you haven’t seen their inspiring videos yet, you have until June 4 to view the videos online and show your support for these amazing kids: http://www.greenschool.org/greeneststudentonearth/page/vote.html
Three winners of one-year Green School scholarships will be chosen by the panel of judges shown below and will be announced on June 5, World Environment Day.
Green SuperCamp
Green SuperCamp is being offered at Green School this July for the third year, with a Junior Camp for kids age 10-13 and a Senior Camp for kids age 14-17. Many Green School middle and high school students have been through Green SuperCamp and can attest to the remarkable and lasting experience they had. They report results such as an average increase in reading speed of 144%, as well as average increases in academic skills of 53%, 35% in communication and relationship skills, and 35% in personal skills and self-esteem.
2 scholarship places are being offered in the next week, one each to the Junior and Senior Camps. Parents who would like their children to win a free week at Green SuperCamp must go to the website at http://www.greensupercamp.com/global_comp and write (in 400 words or less) why they want their child to attend Green SuperCamp and what this opportunity would mean for their life. The deadline to enter is June 2.
GSE Judges
Our selection of judges come from a diverse range of backgrounds within education and community organizations – and together have a solid collective knowledge of what it takes to be a spokesperson for green causes and make a real difference.
Nadya Hutagalung
environmental activist, founder of Green Kampong, global Earth Hour Ambassador, and host of Asia’s Next Top Model, as well as a member of the Green School Board of Directors.
Kris Bronner
19-year-old co-founder of UNREAL, a company he launched with five reinvented natural versions of America’s favorite candies in 25,000 stores nationwide.
Rachel Gutter
Director of the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, the organization that awarded Green School as the “Greenest School on Earth” in 2012.
Emma Bowen
editor of Green Lifestyle Magazine, Australia’s leading environmental lifestyle magazine.
Putu Monica Christy
Outreach Officer for the Bali-based NGO Kopernik, leading the charge to introduce simple life-changing technologies to Indonesians living in poverty.
Matt Shroads
dedicated Green Studies teacher at Green School Bali where he spends his days unlocking the mysteries of the natural world with the next generation of green leaders.
Sarita Pockell
Drama teacher at Green School Bali, singer/songwriter, and parent of 2 Green School students.
David Porteus
Director of Green School’s Student Village, the residential program for Green School students in Grades 8-12, and also a parent of 2 Green School students.
Gika Savitri
Grade 12 student at Green School, soon to be among Green School’s first high school graduates, and also an active member in the student council as well as a small business owner.
Grade 2 Green Studies “Up-cycle” Arcade
Here’s an announcement and a request from Pak Matt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq96U
Grade 2 will be building an “up-cycle arcade” as a culmination of their 3R’s unit this year… we did this last year as well so this will be version 2.0
Here’s the video that went viral last year and inspired myself as well as numerous other students and educators around the world to create up-cycled arcades and other products.
And also a link from our project which made it to the Imagination Foundation’s blog:
http://www.imagination.is/cardboard_in_the_classroom_the_future_of_trash
If you have any used toys (balls in particular), cardboard or any other piece of “trash” that you think we could turn into “treasure” please bring it in and drop it off at the Green Studies area
HS Guerilla Media Projects
Ibu Emily sent along some great projects from a recent high school media class that combined digital literacy skills with social activism. Integrated learning in action at Green School!
Here are some projects that the students finished for ‘Guerrilla Media’ last block. The class focused on examples of activist media from all around the world. Then, for their culminating activity, students created their own activist media messages. They chose a mission to which they felt a connection and produced and distributed pieces accordingly.
BSSA 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 : Senior Badminton
Congratulations to Shannon who made the quarter finals in the 13/14 competition and to Emmet and Avalon who made the finals in the 15+ doubles division. They played really well in the final and narrowly lost 12-15, 13-15 to a strong Dyatmika team.
Next up the following on 29 May 1-5pm:
-Junior Badminton at Canggu School: 10/U and 11/12 age groups
-Surfing in Kuta(At Bali Learn to Surf Co in front of Hard Rock Hotel):
12/U and 13/O boys and girls
Cheers
Pak Colin
Upcoming Events
May 31 @ 2:15 PM Assembly: Performing Arts Showcase
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Parents, friends, neighbors: please join us for next Friday’s powerhouse assembly, featuring a preview of the upcoming “Mulan” musical, an original play by grade 5 culminating their thematic unit on Ancient Egypt Mythology and a special song featuring grade 7 from Green School and friends from YPK (a school for disabled children) drumming and singing ‘Laskar Pelangi’.
May 31 @ 6:30 PM: 2nd Annual Guerilla Film Festival!
It’s back– the event many of us have been waiting 12 months for. (I still have nightmares occasionally about last year’s chilling feature, “The Ballpit”…) Please come out and see what Ibu Sarita and the HS film class have gotten up to this term. This promises to be a great evening.
June 3: Grade 8 Shadows High School
On Monday, June 3rd grade 8 students will shadow the High School as their introduction to the High School programs. The previous Friday (May 31st), Ibu Leslie from the High School will present to Grade 8s about the programs and the shadow day. A parent meeting on the same material is in the works. Details to come… watch this space
May 31: Grade 1A Bake Sale in Support of Dr. Ating Foundation
From Pak Jerry:
Grade 1A will be holding a popcorn and bake sale on May 31st to support the Dr. Ating Foundation. Dr. Ating has worked in many areas of Indonesia over his lifetime and is now focused on helping the people, plants and animals of Sulawesi. The Lore Lindu National Park is home to the tiny tarsier and many other endangered animals. Please help to support the Dr. Ating Foundation while having a tasty snack! We will be set up in the Bale at snack and lunch times. Thank you very much. Grade 1A
P.S. To read about some of the amazing things that Dr. Ating has done over the years, see his blog here: http://www.dratingfoundation.org/blog/
Saturday, 8 June @ 9:00 AM: GREEN SCHOOL AND FRIENDS RAFTING TRIP!!!!!!
Calling all friends and families of Green School for the 4th annual end of the year GS rafting trip. All ages welcome! This is a trip for the whole family.
Saturday June 8st 9am meet at the parking lot above Sobek rafting.
WHAT TO BRING:
WATER BOTTLE
Bring water shoes or tennis shoes.
Rash Guard
Sun Screen
and your big smile!
The cost per person is 300,000. This is a good deal as the trip on your own is 750,000.
Lunch will be provided at the end of the trip.
Plan to be at the parking area early so that we can get everyone on a bus to head up to the place where the rafts are put in. They provide life jackets and helmets.
Please RSVP by the 31st of May.
Payments can be given to Maureen Gilbert, 4th Grade mom, on Tuesday morning, and Friday afternoon.
Michelle Frasher 3rd Grade mom, will be at the Warung Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings.
Payments are due before the rafting trip on June 1st.
Ok hope to see you on the river! Come join the fun and meet some new families and friends! If you have any questions do not hesitate to call Michelle at 081246171971!
June 13, 3:30 PM: “Defining Green” Meeting with Pak Andy
I am beginning discussions with staff and students about Defining Green for GS. I’d like to invite parents to a June 13 meeting from 3:30-5pm in the High School area.
Being Green obviously means different things to different people, so it would be great to get inputs from as many community members as possible as we begin to more fully document this concept that is vital to the life of Green School.
Please join us!
Ongoing Events
Grade 1B Paper Making Workshop
Hello everyone!
1B has set up a Paper Making Workshop in conjunction with the Reuse/Recycle Center and in collaboration with local Balinese artist, Pak Made.
The Paper Making Workshop is located next to the Reuse/Recycle Center in 1B and will be open at the following times until the end of this school year;
Monday to Wednesday 8:00am – 10:00am
Thursday and Friday 1:15pm – 3:15pm
Pak Made will be on duty in the Paper Making Workshop during these times. He is working on producing a Paper Exhibition for the final week of school and there will also be a recycled paper sale. Profits from the paper sale will be used to pay Pak Made’s salary and the rest will be used to buy bins and signs for the community, as part of the ‘Clean up the World’ campaign.
Students, parents or teachers who are interested in learning about paper making are very welcome. If possible, please email me ahead of time, so I can advise Pak Made that you will be coming. You are welcome to turn up spontaneously, as long as you are prepared to adapt to the situation when you arrive.
Thank you,
Ibu Muria
muria@greenschool.org
Media and Links
Green School Media Coverage
This week saw an article about GS in the Daily Mail Online (UK) and mention of GS being featured in a new Taschen publication on contemporary green architecture:
http://goo.gl/fB4It
http://goo.gl/ZA6yn
Email of the Week
We received this via Facebook a few days ago:
To all the staff, kids and support team of Green School
just wanted to say hi and that i think you are doing an amazing job from what i see on FB. Truly inspirational. I have been travelling to Bali for 20 yrs and it has become my second home.
I am also a teacher and it really warms my heart to see such an awesome global / environmental perspective running through all that you do. If only all schools were this way. I keep an eye on all the great things happening at the Green School always and would love to come visit and help out perhaps next time i am there. I teach Senior School Design and Technology (basically product & graphic design using wood, metal, electronics, textiles, plastics and integrated IT) which is not only very creative and innovative but a lot of fun.
Please pass on my professional respect to your staff and my utmost congratulations to your students for showing us that there are little people making a big difference.Keep up the great work!I envy your surroundings, your school culture and your ethos…
Shae xx
Other Links
Pak Andy sent along the latest TED-gem from Ken Robinson. Have a look:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley.html
Also in the Green School Community and Beyond
Photo Workshop with Suki, 4-10 June– Learn from a Pro!
Green School parent and professional photographer Sebastian Belaustegui (father of Shanti, Grade 9) will be leading a documentary photography workshop retreat in early June. Besides his many books, “Suki” has been published in magazines such as National Geographic, Newsweek, Time Magazine, Camera Arts, and the Sunday Times. His workshop is open to all levels and ages. To see his work and get inspired go to his website: www.photosuki.com. For more information contact him at tallersuki@gmail.com. Your children’s school photos were taken by Sebastian earlier this year and besides being featured in the yearbook, they will be made available for purchase in early June. More information about the workshop:
Yogi Times
You might not have met GS parents Sophie Parienti and JC Gabler (Enzo, Grade 1A), but if you spend any time around Green School during the day, you have probably seen them hard at work on their laptops in the Heart of School. Last week we sat down and learned a bit more about their “Yogi Times” project, an online magazine and community that is building a worldwide presence in the field of yoga, sustainability, and health & wellness. We thought enough GS parents have an interest (either personal or professional) in these areas that we asked JC and Sophie to send us a short piece describing their work. Here it is:
Yogi Times offers inspiring, provocative, unique information and news on yoga, health and sustainability in a modern, urban manner. It is the online lifestyle media written BY and FOR the wellness community worldwide with a focus on the LOHAS demographic (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability.)
Inspired? passionate about healthy and mindful living? Yogi Times welcomes writers, photographers, and all creative spirits from all over the world to report on the healthiest, most green, organic, exclusive workshops, restaurants, hotels, spas, studios, shops, events, and more. Green School parents (and anyone else) are welcome to promote their eco, yoga, health and wellness projects, etc. for free.
Their mission to drive social positive change is expressed in their recent
I AM DOING IT project - (http://www.yogitimes.com/article/quotyogi-times-is-your-media-you-are-doing-itquot/)
check it out and start “doing it” too! You can contact them at info@yogitimes.com
Wed, 29 May 2013 6:30 pm Meet and Greet dinner with Sri Lestari at Betel Nut, Ubud.
GS parent and Hubudian Peter Wall sent us info about an event supporting an amazing young Indonesian woman’s project. Please see Sri Lestari’s letter below. The dinner is Rp 125,000 per person (Rp 50,000 of which goes to help fund her journey). Tickets are limited so book now through tara@dekco.com. Only pre booked tickets are available.
Hi, my name is Sri Lestari. I am from Klaten, Central Java, Indonesia. I’ve been paralyzed from the chest down since I was in an accident when I was 23. Watch the video http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/from-jakarta-to-bali-by-modified-motorbike-a-journey-to-inspire to hear my story, and learn about my mission to inspire other Indonesians with disabilities.
I think every Indonesian with a disabilty should be able to do the same kind of things that people without disabilities do (and that I do!).
I’ll do this by an inspiring trip, travelling 1,212 km from Jakarta to Bali on my modified motorbike. I want to show that people with disabilities in Indonesia can live free, independent, productive and happy lives!
The impact of this campaign
In 2009, I started working as a social worker for an international organization called United Cerebral Palsy, Wheels for Humanity. I spend my days visiting people with disabilities who just stay at home. They are surprised that I can live independently, go everywhere by myself on my modified motorcycle, and work a normal job. They are happy when they see me, because I am ‘diffabled’, (differently abled), and I am a woman and I can work. I really want to share my experience – how I can be independent and healthy as a diffabled paraplegic.
Let’s work together to help more people with disabilities out of their houses, and to have the same opportunities as others.
Why is this important
I think this is an important campaign because people with disabilities in Indonesia still have difficulty getting out of their houses, because they have no access to transport, especially public transportation. When I got my modified motorcycle, my life changed. I want others to see this is possible for them too. This trip would show people in Indonesia and around the world that having a disability doesn’t mean your life is over!
About the trip
The trip will take 3 weeks, and I plan to travel about 75km a day with some longer stops. I will stop in different towns and cities along the way and speak with people with disabilities about my story and my experience.
The trip will end in Bali on May 29th, 3 days before TEDxUbud. I will appear onstage at TEDxUbud, and hopefully share the story of my trip (this has already been arranged with the TEDx organizers.)
I need your help!
I have left Jakarta and am travelling in Java now, but I still need a few things along the way. I’m still looking for sponsors for accommodation in Bali, in the towns of Lovina, Ubud, and Southern Bali.
I’m also looking for sponsors for my arrival event at the Annika Linden Centre on Thursday May 30th, where over 100 persons with disabilities will be in attendance. I need funds for their transport to the Centre (as they don’t have adaptive motorbikes, YET!), lunch for all, a tent and small things like that.
Please email me at srimotorbiketour@gmail.com, or call our Bali organizing committee at 0821 4701 3493 (Peter) or 081 238 05623 (Rucina)
Thanks for your support!!
See you on the road!
Sri Lestari
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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