Migration Expo

This week, our classroom transformed into a bustling international expo as students unveiled the countries they had spent weeks designing and developing.

Each group became the leaders of their own nation, carefully crafting everything from government systems and economies to culture, geography, education, and quality of life. Their challenge was not simply to create a country—it was to create a country where people would want to live.

The classroom soon filled with pavilion displays, enthusiastic presentations, and persuasive speeches as each group proudly showcased what made their nation unique. During the expo, students visited one another’s pavilions, explored the different countries that had been created, and learned about the opportunities and challenges each nation offered. Country representatives worked hard to highlight their strengths and explain why their nation would be a great place to call home.

But the real challenge came next.

After the expo visits, we gathered together in a large circle and transformed our classroom into a migration forum. Every student was assigned a secret migrant identity. Some became doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, teenagers, retirees, or parents with young children. With their new identities in hand, students considered what mattered most to them and began questioning the countries represented around the circle.

The forum quickly became a lively exercise in critical thinking, communication, and persuasion. Country representatives used persuasive speaking techniques to attract migrants to their nation, while migrants asked thoughtful and sometimes challenging questions. Students had to think on their feet, defend their decisions, and respond to counterarguments using evidence from their country’s design. As the discussions continued, countries debated one another’s claims, highlighted their own advantages, and worked to convince migrants that they offered the best future.

Would a doctor choose a nation with excellent healthcare and research opportunities? Would parents prioritize safety and education? Would a teenager be drawn to entertainment, sports, and opportunities for young people? Students soon discovered that different people value different things when deciding where to live.

At the end of each round, migrants made one of the most important decisions of all: choosing which country’s passport they would adopt. They shared their reasons, explaining which nation best aligned with their identity’s needs and aspirations. These decisions sparked meaningful discussions about migration, quality of life, and the factors that influence where people choose to settle.

Beyond the excitement and friendly competition, students demonstrated many of the skills we have been developing throughout the year. They communicated confidently, listened actively, thought critically, collaborated effectively, and used persuasive language to support their ideas.

Most importantly, they gained a deeper understanding of migration by stepping into the shoes of both migrants and government leaders. 

Through creativity, debate, and thoughtful decision-making, students explored a complex global issue in an engaging and memorable way.

The Migration Expo was a wonderful celebration of inquiry, imagination, and student agency—and a reminder that sometimes the best way to understand the world is to build one of your own.

Your homeroom teacher, 

Ms. Pam

A Porridge Success!

This week was an exciting one as our students took to the stage for our production of Porridge. After months of rehearsals, learning lines, practicing songs, and working together, the performance was a wonderful success.

The students demonstrated courage, commitment, and teamwork throughout the process. From remembering cues and supporting one another backstage to performing confidently in front of an audience, they showed how much they have grown. It was especially rewarding to see students step outside their comfort zones and embrace new challenges.

A musical production is much more than a performance. It provides opportunities for students to develop communication skills, collaboration, resilience, and responsibility. Throughout the rehearsals, students learned the importance of preparation, perseverance, and working towards a common goal.

We are incredibly proud of the effort every student put into making Porridge a success. Thank you to all the families who supported their children throughout the process and joined us to celebrate their achievements.

As we move into the final weeks of the school year, we look forward to carrying this same enthusiasm, confidence, and teamwork into our learning.

Have a wonderful weekend to all of you.

Your homeroom teacher, 

Ms. Pam

Rehearsals and More!

This week, the classroom has been filled with music, movement, and many repeat runs of scenes as students continued preparing for the upcoming musical. Rehearsals focused on learning cues, strengthening stage presence, and becoming more confident with songs and dialogue. Students are beginning to see how all the different parts of a production come together.

In both our Unit of Inquiry and writing lessons, students have been exploring migration through the lens of different perspectives. As part of their preparation for balanced argument writing, students conducted interviews and gathered opinions connected to migration-related issues and experiences. They practiced asking open-ended questions, listening carefully, and identifying how viewpoints can differ depending on a person’s background or experiences. These conversations will support students as they begin developing balanced arguments supported by multiple perspectives and evidence.

Next week, we will also begin introducing a pens only system for Grades 5 and 6 during selected classroom tasks. This is intended to help students build confidence in drafting, editing, and taking ownership of their work without relying on erasing mistakes. We will continue guiding students through this transition gradually and supportively.

Thank you for continuing to support students through their learning and I look forward to seeing you in our musical next week.

Have a wonderful weekend to all of you. 

Your homeroom teacher,

Ms. Pam

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Reminder:

Please let your child bring a hat everyday, even if it is cloudy. We will continue to implement the no hat, no play policy for the remainder of the school year.

Migration and Musical

This week, the Grade 5/6 class continued the busy rhythm of preparing for the musical, with rehearsals taking center stage. Alongside this, we introduced a new unit on migration, and the shift in focus added a deeper, more reflective layer to the week’s learning.

The unit began with an activity called Unpacking Migration. Through a popcorn talk format, students responded to the word “migration” and shared connections, questions, and ideas. The responses ranged widely—some linked migration to family movements, education, and new opportunities, while others brought up more difficult realities such as war, climate change, and displacement. As the board filled up, it became clear that migration is not a single experience, but a complex idea shaped by many different circumstances and emotions.

This was followed by the Would You Leave? decision activity. In this exercise, migration scenarios were read aloud and students physically moved to different parts of the classroom to indicate whether they would stay, leave, or feel unsure. Each scenario challenged students to think more deeply about real-world situations. Some prompts involved better job opportunities abroad, while others included serious issues such as war, drought, flooding, or restrictions on freedom. After each decision, students discussed their reasoning by considering questions such as why they made that choice, what would be difficult about it, and what might be gained or lost.

What stood out during this activity was how varied the responses were. In situations involving safety, many were quick to choose “leave,” while scenarios involving family, friends, or opportunity often created uncertainty. The discussions highlighted that migration decisions are rarely simple, and are often shaped by a mix of emotional, practical, and ethical factors.

The final activity, Pack Your Bag, brought the idea of migration even closer to personal experience. Students imagined having to move to another country the very next day and were only allowed to pack a small backpack with ten items. As different constraints and scenarios were introduced, the challenge became even more difficult. Choices had to be made between essentials, personal belongings, and items that provided comfort or connection to home. The activity emphasized how limited space forces difficult decisions, and how quickly priorities can shift in situations of uncertainty.

Overall, while the musical continued to demand focus and energy, the introduction of the migration unit added an important shift in perspective. Through discussion, movement, and decision-making, students began to see migration not just as movement from one place to another, but as a deeply human experience involving risk, sacrifice, opportunity, and change.

Have a wonderful weekend ahead. 

Your homeroom teacher, 

Ms. Pam

Welcome Back!

 This week was a short but busy one as we returned to school after the Golden Week break. It was nice to see everyone again after the long holiday and catch up with friends and teachers. Although we only had two school days this week, we quickly got back into our routines and started preparing for the weeks ahead.

Most of our time was spent practicing for our musical, Porridge by Craig Hawes. We worked hard during rehearsals, practicing our songs, lines, and stage movements so that the performance will go smoothly. Everyone showed great teamwork and enthusiasm, and it was exciting to continue preparing together.

We also spent time getting ready for our upcoming Cambridge assessments. We reviewed important topics, practiced different skills, and made sure we understood what to expect in the assessments. Even though the week was short, it was a good start after the break and helped everyone settle back into school life.

Have a wonderful weekend to all of you.

Your homeroom teacher, 

Ms. Pam

A Journey Worth Celebrating

This week, our exhibition came to life—and with it, a powerful reminder of what growth truly looks like.

There’s something special about exhibition week. The spaces felt different -- full of energy, anticipation, and a quiet kind of pride that builds as each piece finds its place. But what stood out to me most this time wasn’t just what was displayed. It was everything that led up to it.
Over the past weeks, the students have been on a journey that went far beyond creating final pieces. They stepped into uncertainty, tested ideas, reworked their thinking, and kept going -- even when things didn’t come together right away. Again and again, I watched them choose persistence over perfection.

What we see in the exhibition is only a small window into that process. Behind every finished piece are drafts that didn’t quite work, questions that didn’t have immediate answers, and moments where starting over felt like the only option. And yet, those moments are where the real learning happened.

There were quiet breakthroughs that didn’t need an audience, and small victories that carried just as much weight as the final results. Some students discovered new confidence in their voice. Others learned how to sit with challenges a little longer. Many found strength in supporting one another -- offering feedback, encouragement, and perspective along the way.
This is what makes the exhibition meaningful. It isn’t just about showcasing outcomes; it’s about honoring growth. It’s about recognizing that learning is not linear, and that progress often comes in ways that aren’t immediately visible.

To our parents: thank you for the many ways you showed up. From helping transform the space, to offering encouragement behind the scenes, to simply being present and engaged -- you helped create something that felt bigger than an event. You helped build a sense of community that felt like family. Your support at home, especially through moments of challenge and growth, did not go unnoticed. The learning extended far beyond the classroom, and your partnership made that possible.

And to our mentors: thank you for guiding, listening, and sharing your time and insight so generously. Your presence added depth to the students’ experiences and reminded them that learning is a collaborative, ongoing journey.

To my dear Grade 5/6 students: thank you. Thank you for your willingness to try, to reflect, and to keep moving forward. Thank you for trusting the process -- even when it felt messy or uncertain. The work you’ve shared is thoughtful and important, but the growth behind it is what truly stands out.

You’ve grown in leaps and bounds -- not just in what you can do, but in how you approach learning itself. And that is something worth celebrating.

This exhibition belongs to you -- not just for what you created, but for everything you discovered along the way.

I am proud of all of you.

Have a wonderful Golden Week break to all.

Your homeroom teacher, 
Ms. Pam