Primary Newsletter- 12/9/2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
School is well and truly underway and our classes are now moving onto their first IPC or IEYC units.
We like to start off with the Brainwave or Metacognition units which help the children to understand how they learn best and they build over the years. A big part of this is a ‘growth mindset’. Students are encouraged to realise that making mistakes is part of learning and that we are all capable of learning new things if we give ourselves time and make an effort. We don’t say ‘I can’t do that.’ We say, ‘I can’t do that yet.’ acknowledging that with time and practise we will be able to do it. We also acknowledge that the time and practise it takes may be different for each individual.
In the first few days of school we negotiate a small set of classroom rules to set the tone for the year. We call these the ‘essential agreements’ and all of the students sign up to them. After this teachers carry out initial tasks to see where the students are academically after the holidays. It is surprising how much they forget when they have been out of the swing of school for a few weeks. We know it comes back to them after a week or two, but it helps us to know what to revise.
In Early Years the students are learning the classroom routines and each other’s names ready to start their first IEYC units. EYF is studying the unit ‘Going places’ and Mrs Harwood set up a campsite in the classroom. It is very exciting. EYR has the unit ‘This is me’. Please remember Early Years are wearing their sports/PE kit all week and will therefore need at least two sets so they can be washed each day.
In order to learn well children need to be in a relaxed but alert frame of mind. Pressure, anxiety, relation difficulties and so on freeze students’ minds so that they cannot learn. We are continuing with our ‘Zones of Regulation’. Children identify their frame of mind and learn strategies to move themselves back to the ‘green’ zone, which is the mental place where they can learn best. You will see images to support the programme displayed in the classroom next time you are in school.
Last week’s assembly reintroduced the Junior Duke awards which we are offering throughout the whole Primary school. We see this as a very valuable way to expand children’s skills whether they be life skills or social skills, together with experiences that expand their academic learning. Please make sure all students have paid their 25 euros in good time so they can have their challenge book and earn their award and certificate.
We also practised the school song which our music teachers and some students composed. We hope it will further engender a sense of belonging and pride in our school. We know all of our students are happy to be here.
Today Ms Nichols shared a story accompanied by musical instruments and effects to keep the students mesmerised. It was a very enjoyable presentation. We also announced our new Primary Student Voice representatives. Congratulations to the students who have been chosen to represent their classes until the December holidays.
We recently received some of the certificates and medals from the second round of SOF Olympiads and these have been presented to students. We are very proud of the academic achievements of some of our students and their excellent results, but we are equally proud of the genuinely kind and pleasant students that try their very best every day. ISBe is a great school to be in.
We already have a variety of events coming up. Dot Day is the 15th September and students should wear dotty or bright clothes if they have them. They can draw or stick dots on items if parents give permission. 20th September is ‘World clean up day’and the students will be doing their part. The 23rd September is the Aartselaar Cross Country and our students have been practicing hard. The 26th September is Friendship Friday where we talk about what it means to be a good friend and learn some new or different playground games. Early Years are also going to Rollebolle in Antwerp for their first school day trip this year.
Meet our new teachers – a short introduction below:
I wish you a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead.
Very best wishes,
Sharon Short
Head of Primary
Safeguarding lead.
primaryhead@isbedu.be