Category: Uncategorized

posted October 16, 2013

Jose Fuentes, Public Relations and Communications Coordinator

 

On Wednesday October 9, students of Colegio Interamericano had the unique opportunity of meeting one of the few human beings to have ever set foot in outer space. Thomas David Jones, a former United States astronaut, active from 1990 to 2001, was kind enough to let our second grade students ask him some questions about the solar system and his fascinating job through a short and highly informative video conference.

This activity came to fruition thanks to the initiative of our second grade teacher Kimberly Turner. While working with our Literacy by Design program on a section on outer space and the solar system, she remembered having met Captain Jones last year.

“We had just been talking about the solar system and they kept asking questions about the topic, asking to see more Brainpop videos, coming in during lunch to talk about outer space,” Ms. Turner said. She took their motivation and decided to pitch the idea to both students and faculty. Elementary teachers students took to the initiative immediately.

“I remember how excited I was when I first met him. I mean, how often do you meet someone who’s been to outer space?” Ms. Turner commented.

Prior to video conference, students were asked to come up with questions for Captain Jones. Out of all the inquiries, ten were selected, proofread and rehearsed by the students who wrote them. “We emailed parents ahead of time, so the selected students could be prepared to ask with confidence and determination,” said Ms. Turner.

The result was an enormous success. The first floor of the library was set up to accommodate the three Second Grade classes, a large screen was placed at the front, to project the video conference, and a microphone was made ready at the front, where students would stand and ask away. Once there, students stood sat down an patiently awaited their turn. Some of the questions asked were, “Which is your favorite planet?”, “What can you eat in outer space?” and “Do you think life exists outside of earth?” Captain Jones answered honestly and directly, going into great detail about his own experience.

He wrote an email later that day, addressed to Interamericano’s Second Grade classes, in which he remarked: “I was really impressed with their English and they’re great questions. I hope they choose careers in math, technology, and the sciences, and shoot for the stars!”

In an effort to solidify what they had learned, students were asked to write short thank you notes to Captain Jones. These were then sent to him on behalf of everyone involved in this fun endeavor. Ms. Turner commented, “I was worried his answers were rather long, but the students took to the information easily.  They remembered so many specific things Captain Jones talked about. It was truly remarkable.”

Colegio Interamericano’s Literacy by Design program encourages teachers to do these kind of activities. The integration of several subjects like science or social studies  into literature is a great asset that makes this a cornerstone of our school’s curriculum. “It would be silly to talk about the moon in the Literacy by Design class and then wait a couple of months to go back to the moon in science class,” said Ms. Turner. This program allows us to incorporate several classes into one subject, submerging students into a topic in a richer and fuller way.”

During this activity, students not only had a chance to have a one-on-one talk with a person who could better answer their questions about space travel, but also practice their English and give flight to their imagination. “This would give them an experience they would remember,” Ms. Turner said, “to allow them to make the connection, that even though Captain Jones was this really cool astronaut, at the end of the day he’s just a normal human being like you or me.”

posted October 08, 2013
Greg Bellemare, Pre-Primary and Primary Director

References:

• Elementary Assembly September 30, 2013 (Photo Album)

Interamericano’s Elementary level has had a couple of busy weeks recently. A great deal of our students went the extra mile in both academics and character, and they were recognized accordingly. This growing level of excellence between the younger student body is a great motivator to all our teachers and staff. Here are a few of the highlights of these past few weeks.

On Monday September 30th the K, 1st and 2nd grades had an honor assembly. Citizenship was the ceremony’s main topic of discussion. Mr. Bellemare talked to the group about what it meant to be a good citizen. One always chooses to follow the rules of a community, whether it is your country, the school or the classroom, and others will most certainly reward you for you care and compassion. If everyone were a good citizen, then we would have a much better place to live and learn.

Taking pride in being a citizen is also equally important. When you take pride then you ask the best of yourself and others, and there is truly nothing more gratifying than that. You want what is good for everyone. The example used during the assembly was: if you are walking around and you see a piece of is paper on the ground, you have one of two choices, either you walk away and do nothing, or you pick it up. The second option is clearly the best, for everyone around you will benefit from your choice and therefore make you a better citizen.

During this ceremony the Guatemalan flag was brought in by Ana Sofia Lizarraga, the United States flag by Katia Oliveros and flag of Colegio Interamericano was brought in by Juan Miguel Muñoz. The Pledge of Allegiance was wonderfully led by Raúl Morales.

Students presented certificates for outstanding citizenship were:

Kinder

Sebastián Torres Parada; Giselle Herrera Castillo; Adriana Sofía Marroquín Coronado; Alejandro López Kelly; Camila Guerra Romero

 

Grade 1

Valentina Rubio Herrera; Andrés Argueta Chacón; Krista Poech Braham; Maripaz Rubio Cacacho; Maria Dema Ayastuy

 

Grade 2

Astrid Cojulún de Paz; Frida Remis Duarte; Leah Ramírez García; Militza Roksanda Soto García; Gabriel Anguiano Melville.

 

Prekinder students were visited the following day by Mr. Bellemare, who presented excelling citizenship certificates to: Diego Tanaka Sverzut, Javier Flores Barillas, Samir Ziad Jweiles Baldizón, Jeon Won Park, and Sofía Maria Morales Juarez.

On October 7, another assembly was held for Grades 3 -5. It started with the entrance of the flags. Aldana Torrico led the way, carrying the Guatemalan flag, followed by Ana Isabel Herrera bringing in the United States flag, and finishing with Cristina Markarian holding the Colegio Interamericano flag. All sang the National Anthem, and then Marco Vleeming led the pledge of allegiance.

 

Announcements were then given by Mr. Bellemare. These included:
Reminding students about the coveted Grizzly Award. A prized trophy, held by the group that behaved best in a previous assembly.

Asking students to take report cards home on Friday, October 11. Parents will want to make sure they get them so, if need be, they can meet with teachers on Monday the 14th for parent teacher conferences. Mr Bellemare suggested that students should look at their report cards, analyze them and make a plan for improvement. The idea is, no matter what students do in life, they need to make plans and set goals. This allows students to reevaluate them on a later date, and see if you were successful in keeping with their plans and consider what adjustments are necessary to carry out said goals.

Finally, Mr. Bellemare invited all grades to the school´s Fall 2013 Book Fair, starting October 9 and ending on Thursday 11, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Students may go to the library during recess to look over the wide and diverse selection of books we have this year. Each class will have a chance to go and explore what the fair has to offer. To purchase a book, students take home order forms so they, together with their parents, may go over the catalog and bring the order form filled out the next day.

Mr. Bellemare then proceeded to explain the importance of reading. If you have trouble reading, he suggests the best solution is making reading a habit. “It is like a muscle” Mr Bellemare explained, “If you make the brain work, then it will get stronger and better. But if you only play video games then the only things that get stronger are your thumbs”.

As a final point, Responsibility was announced as the next aspect of our school’s values program. Student’s goal is to become more and more responsible in your own schooling and less reliant on parents. After this, Mr. Bellemare congratulated Maria Inés Rodas, from 5th grade, for placing 2nd in a regional archery contest.

An added bonus to this week’s assembly came from two 5th grade sections. Led by Mrs. Rebecca Kramer, the fifth graders sang the “the Adams Family” theme song, for all the student body to hear. Their performance was received with a huge round of applause and cheers from everyone present.

 

This concluded the ceremony and led way to a new and exciting school week.

posted October 3, 2013

Luis Masaya, Library Coordinator

 

The Library Media Center (LMC) cordially invites you to its first Fall Book Fair, to be held from October 9^th to 11^th on the second floor of the library. There will be special prices on books, collections and media materials.

Students can come and buy or review books from 8:30 to 3:30, Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10. Friday will be the last day of event.  On this date the fair will only be open from 8:30 to 2:00 p.m.  We encourage parents and students alike, to come and participate in this wonderful celebration.  With your participation, you will not only be helping out the school library but also motivating others to enjoy the unique and exciting feeling of getting a new book.

 Elementary and middle school book fair´s schedule

 

We hope to see you all there!

posted September 30, 2013

Anahí Pelaez, High School Guidance Counsler

References:

• Selection Procedure for NHS members
• NHS Induction Ceremony (Photo Album)

On Monday September 23, new members were inducted into the Colegio Interamericano chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS), in concise and well-organized High School Assembly. For many years this school has been a part of this prestigious international association, made up of students from all over the world, who have excelled in Academics, Leadership, Services and Character. This qualities that are upheld as cornerstones of Colegio Interamericano and are thus celebrated with great enthusiasm and support.

To select new NHS members, a board, composed of High School teachers and staff, is formed to go through the potential candidates and execute the election process properly. Their valuable involvement not only guarantees objectivity but allows for an efficient and transparent induction ceremony. On the school website, you may find a copy of the required Selection Procedure for a new NHS membership (link at the top of this article).

As a result of everyone’s hard work, thirteen new members were inducted this year to our school chapter. Parents, teachers and fellow students attended the Ceremony, to cheer on potential candidates and maybe even be elected as new members. As is tradition, veteran members place NHS bands over previously chosen students. The unaware newcomers are then led to the front where they are given a candle to take with them and light from a fellow member. This token represents the light they carry within, and from this point on, will continue to share in the name of the National Honor Society’s core values (Academics, Leadership, Services and Character). Parents of new members, who up to this point have been asked to remain hidden, are then asked to come into the assembly and celebrate their son’s or daughter’s accomplishment.

The twenty-three National Honor Society members of the Interamericano chapter are now starting to work in community service projects they have chosen, and are constantly spreading school spirit within this institution. NHS organizes a wide array of activities for which the support of the whole Interamericano Community is fundamental.

Some of their large scale projects include: a fundraising Bingo for Helps International, maintaining the High School paper recycling program, collaborating with the ASSCA 2014 tournament (to be held at Colegio Interamericano), organizing next week’s Big Mac sales during El McDía Feliz, and many other endeavors which bring our community closer.