Happy holidays, everyone!

We are the world! Upper Primary pupils and teachers represent many different counties. On the long list of countries we come from - or have lived in - you find India, Sri Lanka, France, Syria, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, USA, Canada, UK, Japan, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Belgium, South Africa, Laos, New Zealand, Sweden and Slovenia. Pupils teach each other about their different countries and cultures. In one small classroom, we feel that we are part of the world and, from what we have learnt during our IPC unit ‘Roots, shoots and fruits’, we also know that it is our obligation to take good care of planet Earth. We only have one planet!

Pupils have wrapped up their hard work connected to the ‘Roots, shoots and fruits’ IPC unit. There have been lots of work on display in our hallway, a huge tree research, nature idioms, scientific drawing of plants, explanations and photos from our lessons with Mr Claude – building flower beds etc. Pupils planted carrots and radishes, sadly enough only a few of them survived the heat wave – but they tasted delicious! Pupils know more about pollinators and pollination – and about non-beneficial insects as well, thanks to Rita's dad Ibrahim. In our hallway we have also had a big cage with moths, both pupae and fully grown moths flying around. Pupils have classified leaves and also learnt about seed dispersal.

It has been a fantastic school year of learning and growing. Pupils have improved in all subjects and they have worked on their social skills. They have played a lot and made new friends. Pupils come and go in an International School. Zara, Emma and Natalie left Upper Primary earlier this year, to move to other countries, and Kihachi and Niels D joined our class at the end of the school year. Now, sadly enough, it is again time to say farewell to dear classmates leaving ISG. We wish Mieke all the best in Cyprus! We also wish Kaaru, Luka and Niels V all the best when they start in a Dutch speaking school here in Ghent after the holidays. Good bye and good luck – we’ll never forget you at ISG!

We have enjoyed a few birthday parties since our last blog – Mieke, Niels, Luka and Chinmay have shared delicious birthday cakes with us all! We like parties!

Now all our display is off the walls and packed up and all the desks are empty – all the pupils have a year’s work in a heavy bag! The classroom looks empty but in a few months’ time new work will fill the walls. Next year Upper Primary pupils will come back and start new learning, but now it is time to enjoy a well-deserved holiday!

We wish you all a lovely, lazy and sunny weeks off from school! Enjoy the summer holidays and, to all returning pupils, see you in September!

And a special Thank-you and good-bye to Miss Teja who has been a part of the Upper Primary team this year! It has been a pleasure working together with you and we all wish you the best now that you move back to Slovenia. Do come and visit us some time!

/Miss Jenny