Friday, 23rd February 2018
Upper School Newsletter
Upper School News
Carnegie Report
From our new M1 Correspondent Herbie with video by Sammy
Our journey to New York started with a pretty bumpy flight. The people next to me thought we were going to die, and one of our group was even sick! Luckily things improved a lot once we arrived in New York and got settled into the West Side YMCA. For the next week, the choir, the musicians and the teachers worked really hard in rehearsals in the daytimes, and in the evening we had some fantastic trips to see School of Rock and Amy and the Orphans. The night before the concert we went to the Top of the Rock. The view of New York's impressive skyline from the 70th floor of the Rockafeller Center was amazing. When the day of the concert finally arrived and we strode into Carnegie Hall, we all gasped. The hall was breathtaking! By 5.00pm the Stern Auditorium, decorated with delicate gold carvings, was full of excited people. In the first half of the concert, the Dwight London performers sat in the auditorium and watched the other groups perform. Dwight London kicked off the second half with the song Higher and Higher. Soon after the whole international choir and orchestra joined together to play Feeling Good. We certainly were feeling good! It was an incredible feeling playing on the famous Perelman Stage. Ran did a fabulous solo on the piano. We ended with Kuus Kuus Kallike to enthusiastic applause. It was an experience I'm sure none of us will ever forget! Thank you to Mr. Kraft and all the team for a super trip! Please click here to view the video Sammy made.
From our M5 Correspondent - Sterling
Over the half-term Dwight had a school ski trip to the French Alps. The weather was beautiful and the snow was fresh. Each night we did a fun extra activity whether it was laser tag in the snow or quiz night in the hotel. The ski slopes were very soft which caused some of us to fall over quite a bit, but we all advanced in our skiing. Either way we all had such a great time! Thanks to Mrs. Miley for organising another great ski trip! Please click here to view the video I made.
Spirit Week
From our D1 Correspondent Ishani, video by Haya and Auva
Spirit Week was kicked off with a banterous and fun theme: Memes. Students were encouraged to dress up as their favourite memes and/or Vines. We had memes varying from Dwayne The Rock Johnson to characters from the children's cartoon Arthur. To read about the whole week, please click here.
To view Haya and Auva's video, please click here.
Languages Day on Thursday
From our M1 Correspondent Auva
This Thursday we had our Language Celebration Day where we all came to acknowledge all the different languages and cultures that Dwight is made up of. During our vertical tutor period we had the chance to taste different foods and snacks that came from all around the world and complete fun activities like guessing a language from audio clips. Each student brought a food representing their country, and we ended up with a fantastic feast full of different cultures. It was interesting seeing what people eat in different countries, and how delicious each food was!
Flamenco Night
From our M5 Correspondent Sterling
Last night a few students from M5 and D1 went to see a Spanish Flamenco concert. The concert consisted of a series of dances showcasing the Spanish culture. While they were dancing, a few men with guitars were playing lovely melodies and a few singers were singing in Spanish to the crowd. It was a very lovely show. At the end we all were tapping our feet and moving our arms around trying to copy the dance. We gave a big thanks to Ms. Delgado and Mr. Sanchez for organising it.
Diploma Art Exhibition
Date: Friday 2nd March
Time: 6:30-8:00pm
Location: Jubilee Hall, Dwight School, 6 Friern Barnet Lane, N11 3LX
The Diploma 2 students will be exhibiting works of art about the following subjects:
Hitomi Nara - Social polarisation and the Japanese culture
Keir Miley - Effects of the media on society
Keren Strassburg - Traditions of different cultures and environmental issues
We will also hear live music from the choir and band who performed last week at Carnegie Hall in New York. If you were unable to see them perform in New York, this is your chance!
M1 students loving science!
The M1x scientists developed their skills further this week by using data loggers to help them determine the energy found in different types of food. Although the group did get to set fire to things, it was for legitimate scientific reasons and students highlighted how safely they can work in the lab!
This week in M1Z science, students were investigating a flower's reproductive structures by dissecting lilies. They practised correctly identifying male and female reproductive organs.
Parent Involvement in our IB Self-Study – message from the parent working party
This year the school is required to complete an IB self-study in preparation for an IB evaluation visit in October.
This is where the whole community (teachers, parents and students) is asked to self-reflect on how well the school is meeting the IB's published standards and practices. We have set up a parent work group and they have written a short survey for you to complete so parent opinions are captured and reported as evidence. Please look out for this soon, it will be emailed to randomly selected parents later next week. The parent team really need your feedback so please take a few minutes to share your thoughts!
So school has kept its spirits high through a cold February and I hope you will be joining us at Quiz Night on Saturday as the DPA raise funds for school charities. I've heard it's a great evening and tickets are still available. Let me close by saying how proud I was this week of our M5 Spirit Week Committee and how our young student leaders step-up to run events that bring happiness to so many other students - well done!
Have a great weekend!
Mr Atkinson
Upper School Principal
Upcoming Trips
D1 history students attend a series of five lectures taking place on Tuesday, 27th February, at the Camden Centre, Judd Street, Kings Cross. The lectures are on Germany and Dictatorships in the 1930s. Time: 11.00am – 4.00pm - students will leave school accompanied by Ms. Murnaghan at 9.40am. Logistics: Students will accompany Ms. Murnaghan from school to the conference. Students will be dismissed directly from the centre at the end of the conference. Please note the school is covering the cost of the lectures, however, students will need an Oyster card and money to purchase lunch.
Halcyon MUN trip M4, M5 and D1 students have an opportunity to participate in this year's annual Halcyon London International School Model United Nations Conference. This two-day conference will be held at Halcyon's campus in Westminster, London. Date: Thursday - Friday, March 1st – 2rd, 2018 Time: 09:00 – 16.00 NB: students should be there for 8:50am Where: Halcyon London International School, 33 Seymour Place, London, W1H 5AU (nearest tube station: Marble Arch). Price: £40 (which will cover breakfast and lunch both days). Logistics: Students will make their own way to Halcyon London International School. We will assemble outside the School at 8.50am. Students will be dismissed from Halcyon School at 4.00pm each day. Further information can be found at: http://www.halcyon-mun.com/.
D1 Students Careers Fair: We are attending a Careers Fair in the Emirates stadium on Friday for all D1 students. We will leave school at 12.00pm. We will take the Piccadilly line to Holloway Road where it is a short walk to the Emirates Stadium. We will have until 3.00pm at the stadium and students will be released from there. Students must register here to gain access.
Mandarin Trip M1 to D1
On Monday, 26th February students studying Mandarin will be participating in a trip to the British Museum followed by lunch at New Loon Fung restaurant in Chinatown. We will be leaving after period 1 and will return for period 7. Students will need to bring their Oyster card and £30 to cover the trip.
Reminder
Please note that if your child is absent from school the school office should be notified:
MYP: Deirdre Guerin dguerin@dwightlondon.org
DP:Nora McCormack nmccormack@dwightlondon.org
Dwight School Parent Association
7-10pm Saturday 24th February
Upper School Jubilee Hall
£17 per person entry fee
Dinner included/Cash Bar
Come and join us for a fundraising evening of fun and games, and a delicious Indian dinner, at Dwight's Quiz Night on Saturday February 24th. Teams of 8 or 10 people go up against other Dwight parents and staff for a night of trivia! Since we come from all over the world, our quiz is really international. There's lots of picture quizzing, sport, music and pop culture questions so that everyone can have a no-pressure good time. It's a really fun evening of games and socialising with the Dwight community.
This is a major fundraiser for the Dwight Parent Association, this year supporting the Dwight School's very own Dragon's Den for students - the Spark Tank Project.
Sign up on your own, or get your friends and year group together and put together a team!
You can sign up via WisePay.
Contact katehbuk@gmail.com with any questions, or to co-ordinate which table you'd like to join.
We look forward to seeing you there !
Dwight Parent Association
March Out and About – Eltham Palace
Join us for an outing to visit Eltham Place in SE London. Experience the decade of decadence as you are transported back to the 1930's! Created for millionaires, Stephen and Virginia Courtauld, Eltham Palace is part showpiece of Art Deco design and 1930's cutting edge technology, and part medieval royal palace!
Date: Friday, 16th March, 2018
Meet: 9am West Finchley station or 10:30am at Eltham Palace, Court Yard, London SE9 5QE
Cost: £14.40 – we will purchase our tickets at the entrance
Please let Michele know if you plan to join! Michele@seanoneill.com
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