“The daily life of a researcher. ”
SCIENCE Body System Adventures: 7th and 8th Graders Dive In! In grades 7 and 8, we have embarked on a journey into the world of body systems, and it's been quite an adventure! Our first stop was the musculoskeletal system, where we learned how our muscles are like clingy friends to our bones. For a touch of hands-on excitement, we dissected some chicken wings along the way! But we did not stop there. We dove deep into the realm of the digestive system. Students had a blast simulating the entire digestion process, but we have to admit—it was the last stages that wowed us! Grade 9: Unveiling the Mysteries of Life and Beyond! Grade 9 students have embarked on an exciting journey, unraveling the enigma of what defines living organisms. Their focus? Viruses and the captivating question of why they are not considered alive. While strengthening their microscopy skills to examine onion and human cheek cells, they unlocked the secrets of cellular structures. They also dove deep into an investigation, uncovering some of the factors influencing phytoplankton growth. These hands-on experiences have ignited their scientific curiosity, promising more scientific quests ahead! Grade 10: Exploring Evolution, Science, and Unique Adaptations in Humans Grade 10 students have delved deep into the fascinating world of natural selection as part of our evolution unit. They have not only strengthened their scientific method skills, learning to ask insightful questions and construct solid scientific arguments, but they have also made learning fun through interactive games simulating the natural selection process. To conclude their inquiry into the scientific method, they enjoyed a full day at the Neural Cybernetics Laboratory at Chubu University, collaborating with DP students from UWC ISAK Japan. Together, they engaged in a hands-on prism adaptation experiment, seeking to understand how the cerebellum influences motor learning—a remarkable exploration of unique evolutionary adaptations in humans. Grade 10 is buzzing with a vibrant enthusiasm for science and evolution! Laura Abril SCIENCE TEACHER [email protected] SYSTEMS, LIFE AND HUMANS MIDDLE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Risk Takers
Commitment to Excellence: The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is challenging but promises great rewards. Success is achieved through dedication, curiosity, and deep engagement with each subject. Support System: Our school community is committed to supporting you throughout your academic journey. Our teachers, advisors, and staff are all dedicated to helping you succeed academically and personally. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need any guidance or assistance. Time Management: To balance your academic workload, extracurricular activities, and personal life, effective time management is crucial. Create a study schedule and adhere to it, but also remember to find time for relaxation and self-care. Embrace Challenges: Remember that challenges are opportunities for growth. Embrace them, seek help when needed, and keep moving forward in your personal and academic journey. Welcome to the new academic year of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). As the DP Coordinator, I am thrilled about the exciting journey that lies ahead. During your two-year grade 11 and one-year grade 12 journey, you will experience the rigorous academics, critical thinking, and holistic development that the IBDP is famous for. This journey will challenge you, broaden your horizons, and give you the skills and knowledge you need to shape your future. Here are a few important points to keep in mind as we begin this academic year: In the upcoming months, you will immerse yourself in your chosen subjects, explore new interests, and unlock your potential. Treasure every moment of this transformative journey. I am confident that each of you has the potential to excel in the IBDP, and I look forward to witnessing your growth and achievements. Together, let us make this academic year one filled with knowledge, inspiration, and memorable experiences. SHAPE YOUR FUTURE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL Vijay Kumar Thapliyal IB DP COORDINATOR [email protected]
"My creative work is an investigation of the self. I am interested in the development and evolution of my identity over time. I am fascinated with the contemporary human condition and the complexity of human emotion. The exhibited work will investigate this complexity and the search for individual identity and meaning." -Mau Tsujimura This spring, Mau will self-curate her first solo art exhibition. Following extensive material testing, journaling, and art making during her first year in the program, the final year exhibition is the climax of her art study and creative studio efforts at Doshisha International School, Kyoto. Recent weeks have been filled with writing exercises as she shapes the commentary that will guide her audience through the carefully curated artworks. Presented with the challenge to write about her most personal facet, her creativity, Mau is facing a daunting challenge for every artist. Mau, in particular, has selected difficult subject matter and is asking herself some of life’s most difficult existential questions. Together, we have conducted exercises focused on writing about art, researched interviews, and dissected artists' statements about contemporary artists working with the shared theme of the self. We are preparing her final works to be included in the exhibition and attempting new ceramic techniques. The exhibition will include a delicate but mysterious smoke-drawn self-portrait, multiple largescale paintings with mixed media and found object elements and figurative sculpture. IBDP VISUAL ARTS Derek Larsen VISUAL ARTS TEACHER [email protected] SPRING EXHIBITION HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Mau Tsujimura
“Glass Window” by King Gnu Grade 11 This quarter was spent Exploring Music in Context from a local and global context. The focus was on Areas of Inquiry 1 and 3; music that conveys political ideas and music that is intended to purposefully serve as entertainment respectively. Having a music journal helps the student keep track of musical inspirations and ideas, and make musical decisions based on the diverse musical material being explored. Then a musical style was chosen to inspire the student’s composition. The next step is for a musical style to be chosen to inspire the student’s performing adaptation. Grade 12 This was a productive 1st quarter as the student chose a feasible project, for the Contemporary Music Maker, guided by musical intentions and informed by research and planning. The project plan is based on nostalgia for old Hong Kong, and a piece is being composed. The rationale is poignant and the aims of the project are compelling. The student will also sing and arrange to collaborate with other musicians and a videographer. The song explores the themes of vulnerability, searching for meaning, and the complexities of love and identity. The lyrics depict a longing for connection, as well as the struggles and contradictions of navigating through life. Risk taker: We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change. IBDP MUSIC Rob Lira MUSIC TEACHER [email protected] LOCAL & GLOBAL CONTEXTS HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Grade 11 This quarter grade 11 has focused on becoming familiar with the assessment components of the English A Language and Literature course. Students have studied the course concepts and also started to view texts through a range of lenses framed by global issues. We have been studying The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. This novel is about the challenges that a teenager faces while navigating being part of a community that he doesn’t always identify with. Although ultimately it is a story about hope for a brighter future, the challenges facing indigenous communities as a result of colonization and assimilation, are quite confronting. Grade 12 This quarter grade 12 has focused on a range of literary and non-literary texts. We have studied Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis which is a work in translation that was originally published in French. We have also studied Platon Antoniou’s portrait photography and Brandon Stanton’s Humans of NY blog-style multimodal series focusing on the Iranian revolution. Our studies are centered around authorial choices and techniques and the way creators use text and images to create meaning. Grade 12 students are working hard to complete their final units of work and prepare for assessments. IBDP ENGLISH Deborah Mizutani ENGLISH TEACHER [email protected] NAVIGATING IDENTITY HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Grade 11 is off to a good start, taking part in experiences that cover the three realms of CAS, creativity, activity and service. CAS is an 18-month DP requirement that they will need to continually work on until at least March, 2025. Grade 12 is completing the last 6 months of CAS now, with some students falling a little behind schedule in their activities. If they do not complete the requirement by March 2024, they must continue into April, May and June. IBDP CAS Chris Lafferty CAS COORDINATOR [email protected] CREATIVITY, ACTION & SERVICE HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE Caring
THINKING SKILLS Generating novel ideas and considering new perspectives Analyzing and evaluating issues and ideas Using skills and knowledge in multiple contexts
Why and how do we study language and literature? How are we affected by texts in various ways? In what ways is meaning constructed, negotiated, expressed, and interpreted? How does language use vary among text types and among literary forms? How does the structure or style of a text affect meaning? How do texts offer insights and challenges? Grade 11 - Japanese A Language and Literature SL: Area of Exploration—Readers, Writers, and Texts This area of exploration aims to introduce students to the skills and approaches required to closely examine texts as well as to introduce metacognitive awareness of the nature of the discipline by considering the following guiding conceptual questions: IBDP JAPANESE A Yoko Tsujimoto JAPANESE TEACHER [email protected] READERS, WRITERS AND TEXT HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE Open Minded
IBDP ECONOMICS Tibor Cernak ECONOMICS & HISTORY TEACHER [email protected] SOCIAL SCIENCE METHODOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE In grade 11 economics, we have explored the nature of social sciences and the economic subject in particular. We have worked with activities focusing on methodology and concepts such as positive and normative statements, hypotheses, empirical evidence, and the significance of models. The models we have explored and created presentations about in the last quarter are production possibilities, demand and supply, and the circular flow of income. The image shows Daisuke Wakasa explaining the production possibilities model.
In the vibrant world of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), our journey through the course continues to captivate and challenge us. As we dive into the intricate realm of numbers and algebra, we embark on a path of exploration and discovery that stretches our mathematical horizons. Grade 11: Number and Algebra - The Foundation of Mathematics Grade 11 students have been exploring the fundamental areas of numbers and algebra. These concepts come to life beyond textbooks and have practical applications in various fields. For example, sequences and series are used in modeling financial markets and calculating compound interest and investments. Geometric progressions are applied in modeling investment growth and compounding, while arithmetic progressions are used to determine regular payments for mortgages and loans. Grade 12: Multi-dimensional Modeling Grade 12 students have been busy completing the core topics for mathematics (AA), with HL progressing well. Internal assessments have begun in earnest, with some excellent progress in multi-dimensional modeling and interesting discussions. This term has focused on exam preparation, with mock exams given to practice exam technique and especially timing for the real exams next year. IBDP MATH Vijay Kumar Thapliyal MATH TEACHER [email protected] EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE Thinker
Grade 11: Biology takes a leap into the extraordinary! Grade 11 is taking the world of Biology by storm! We have embarked on a journey deep into the intricacies of cellular structure, sharpening our skills to distinguish bacteria from all other life forms while mastering the art of microscopy and micrograph interpretation. But that is just the beginning. Our minds have been blown by the world of stem cell therapies, which earned Dr. Yamanaka from Kyoto University a Nobel Prize in 2013. And our adventure does not stop there! Soon, we will dive headfirst into the captivating mysteries of water, exploring its physical and chemical properties and discovering why it's the molecule that underpins all life as we know it. Grade 12: Unraveling Genetic Mysteries and the Biotech Frontiers Grade 12 has plunged into the intricate realm of genetics, unraveling the foundations of diseases such as hemophilia and color blindness. Our exploration led us into the thoughtprovoking domain of biotechnology, where we delved into the creation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and pondered the potential consequences, particularly assessing the impact of genetically modified corn pollen on the survival of monarch butterflies. It's been a quarter of deep scientific inquiry and critical thinking! IBDP SCIENCE USEFULNESS & COMPLEXITY HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE Laura Abril SCIENCE TEACHER [email protected]
RESEARCH SKILLS Interacting with media to use and create ideas and information Finding, interpreting, judging and creating information
For the grade 12 students this year, the exhibition component has been successfully completed; the areas and depth of the topics showed great imagination and are a testament to the work done in the first year. Now the focus is on the essay to be completed before exams next year. The questions provided by the examiners are clearly designed to extract the most from our learners. I look forward to watching them progress as the year goes on. The grade 11 students this year are lucky to have extra support from Mr. Lafferty, who brings in special areas of expertise in the humanities side of TOK. This is greatly appreciated and should add an extra side of thinking that is not always available to teachers who specialize in narrower fields. The students have been exposed to ways of thinking, areas of knowledge, and new ways of describing what they know and how they know it; these are important ideas for being global citizens. IBDP TOK & EE Gavin Storey SCIENCE & TOK [email protected] WAYS OF THINKING HIGH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT UPDATE Reflective
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