Secondary Newsletter 3 – August 28, 2020
Grade 7 Individuals and Societies
Grade 10 Individuals and Societies
Grade 12 History
Social and Emotional Counseling
University Counseling
Upcoming International SAT Test Date & Deadline
Spotlight – Le Cordon Bleu
Grade 7 Individuals and Societies
Grade 7 Individuals and Societies class is getting their hands dirty and their brains working as they learn about (and experience) the many challenges of being an archaeologist and historian. In this 8-week long dig activity, students were required to choose six objects, both organic and inorganic, to bury in a container and leave outside. They made predictions about the outcome of their artifacts as well as careful observations to compare with the final excavation results.
The purpose of this activity is to introduce to students the physical challenges that archaeologists face when attempting to draw conclusions about the past using artifacts that are partially decomposed or damaged. How do they do it? What are their process and system? How can we learn about our past using broken or damaged artifacts? This activity complements the other half of the unit, which explores the more academic challenges of archaeologists and historians including questions like, how do we know we are correct in our assumptions? Can our assumptions be biased by culture or belief? How do we know if our questions are valid? We even discuss the dangers of confirmation bias and take a look at deductive and inductive reasoning when applied to theories about the past.
All in all, this is a fun, hands-on unit with a lot of great discussions and activities. This unit gets us ready for our Anthropology unit, where we take a greater look at research questions and how they guide our learning.
Grade 10 Individuals and Societies
The class has been thinking critically about source analysis and working on writing perfect paragraphs to explain their ideas clearly to the reader. Our current topic of study is the causes of World War One and here is one of the collaborative attempts at source analysis.
In class on August 25, we focussed on Kaiser Wilhelm II. We specifically analyzed how his mental instability, lack of tact and guile in international relations, and his constant interference in issues that he was not qualified to give guidance on, led to increased tensions in Europe and culminated in the outbreak of World War One. It is always nice to link the past to the present and it did not require a great deal of thinking or time for the students to quickly draw parallels between Kaiser Wilhelm II and Donald Drumpf.
Grade 12 History
Our History students have been collaborating fantastically well to make essay plans for their upcoming Mock and Final exams. There has been a lot of peer teaching and leading of the essay plan classes as the students have taken control of their learning. The lessons focus on: critical thinking about how to highlight the demands of the essay questions; selection of evidence to support arguments; essay structure to ensure a good flow of the argument and counter-arguments among other points. All very difficult skills to master but our students are doing a great job getting to grips with these demands and have produced essay plans that will be used as exemplars for the years to come.
Social and Emotional Counseling
This week, I’d like to focus on you and share an article that explains why the everyday things we do to look after ourselves and our family might not be working in the same way they used to. Tara Haelle explains how initially during the pandemic, we were operating on “surge capacity” to get by, but that we cannot sustain running in that manner; surge capacity is for surviving short-lived disasters. Many people, including high flyers, are experiencing something that feels a bit like depression, but not exactly. Because this disaster is not as tangible in day-to-day living, there is a chance we underestimate its impact. We cannot heal and practice our regular self-care when we are right in the middle of what is happening with no clear end.
I previously shared the idea of loss and how loss right now includes typical, but also “ambiguous losses,” like traveling to see family, getting back to school or work, gathering in large social groups, experiencing rituals, etc. We are experiencing the stages of grief, and those stages might intensify in online interactions, or by the intolerance or lack of grace, we offer others. Do you find yourself angry at things that would not have mattered to you before? Do you deny that this could be your reality for some time? Are you trying to bargain your way back into some sense of normalcy?
So how does coping advice look different:
- Accept that life is different right now, not resisting, not giving up.
- Expect less from yourself. High flyers, I am looking at you.
- Recognize the different aspects of grief and that they are not linear.
- Experiment with “both-and” thinking. Example: I am a high achiever, and I need a few days where I do less.
- Look for new and old activities to fulfill you. If your typical self-care isn’t available, how are you adapting?
- Focus on maintaining and strengthening meaningful relationships. When we are struggling, we pull back. Reach out!
- Build your resilience bank account. I use PIES as my way of doing a self-check. Examples: getting enough sleep, learning photography, sitting on the beach watching a sunrise/sunset, organizing a family Zoom quiz night
I hope you have time to read the article I’ve summarized. It was the most precise explanation of my experience that I’ve come across so far.
University Counseling
Registrations and deadlines:
Due to COVID, universities are offering optional online workshops and events. The dates and registration links will be provided for students to register as interested. Students should prioritize universities from regions they wish to attend, and in fields, they want to pursue.
Aug. 29 – 31 Monash University of Australia Open Days
Sept. 3 – Discover Central New York Colleges and Universities
Sept. 3 – Virtual Fair – Top International Universities Available to Speak Online
Sept 8 – Undergraduate Application for OSU Aviation Webinar
Oct. 17 and Dec. 12 – Ursinus College – Virtual Events
Upcoming International SAT Test Date & Deadline
How to Register for the SAT
Test Optional Universities (US)
Spotlight
Have you ever considered studying Culinary Arts while living in Paris? Le Cordon Bleu offers a variety of training programs. Come to the counseling office if you are interested in an application.
2020 EN Le Cordon Bleu Paris Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management