15/15 Thepkasattri, Thepkasattri Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110 Thailand

Tel. +66(0)76 336-076 Fax: +66(0)76 336-078 Email: info@pia.ac.th

www.phuketinternationalacademy.com|www.thanyapura.com


Dear Grade 2 Parents,
We have to begin by asking the question, Where have the last 8 days of school gone? The old saying;
time goes fast when you are having fun, is very much true, especially in Grade 2.

Firstly, we would like to welcome you all again, Ajarn Olly and Ajarn Lia feel very privileged to be working
alongside your children in helping them learn, have fun and make new connections with each other.
Many exciting learning engagements have been going on in both classrooms: one-to-one instruction,
teacher facilitated small group instruction, individual independent work, and collaborative student work. The
students are drawing upon resources for their learning, including each other, and this has been rewarding
to see.

On several occasions both classes have come together and shared their questions, wonderings and
experienced two teachers working in partnership to instruct your child. It is a community in which many
learning styles are honoured and students at varying levels of proficiency are being challenged.

Our intentions for the first 3-4 weeks are, and these are not in any particular order:
1. Create a climate and tone of warmth, respect and fun
2. Teach the schedule and routines of the school day and our expectations for behaviour in each of them.
3. Introduce students to the physical environment, materials of the classroom and the school, and teach
students how to use, enjoy and care for them.
4. Establish expectations about ways we will learn together in the year ahead.

Students have been excited in their writing this week, as they combined paint and pencil to write about what
they see. In both classes we utilised the internet by viewing a read aloud story, It Looked Like Spilt Milk. We
discussed the word schema and what it was, and related it to what the narrator saw in the clouds or in our
classrooms spilt paint on paper.
Sometimes it looks like a crab. Manoa 2G
Sometimes it looks like two mushrooms. Gray 2G
Sometimes it looked like a chandelier. Francesca 2L
Sometimes it looked like a lady. Skye 2L

This week the children will be personalising their writing notebooks. They are encouraged to bring photos,
magazine cuttings, and decorations from home so that they can make their writing books their own. The
idea is that they become enthusiastic writers!

Both classes, did a gallery walk, which was an opportunity to examine other student class work. Afterwards
each person wrote a positive comment on a written piece of work. This was a great way that young writers
can learn from each other, and it was wonderful to see the students reading their positive comments made
from each other.




15/15 Thepkasattri, Thepkasattri Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110 Thailand
Tel. +66(0)76 336-076 Fax: +66(0)76 336-078 Email: info@pia.ac.th
www.phuketinternationalacademy.com|www.thanyapura.com


Our classroom libraries are beginning to grow into a cosy, colourful and an important part of our classroom,
where students can select a rich variety of fiction and nonfiction books, different reading levelled books, and
already a student has donated a book to our library! In both classrooms, the teachers have stressed the
importance that; Reading is Thinking. Students have began to write their own story predictions, make
connections with everyday life and ask questions when they are reading.

I predict that Jack is using a pen and will steal it Lara G2
This story reminds me when my mum said, say please Gaby Gaby G2
How often do sharks sleep? Samantha G2



Over the next 2 weeks, we are hoping to meet and sit down with each family and find out from you, the
parents about how you see your child as a learner and what your hopes and dreams are for this academic
year. Attached along with this letter is a questionnaire for you to fill in about your child, before you meet with
us. You can choose to fill it out electronically and email it back to us or fill in the hard copy coming home in
your childs bag and hand it to us.

A sign up sheet with times available to meet with parents will be on the classroom door, and also attached
to this email, so you can choose a time to meet that suits your schedule best. During this time, we will also
introduce our class weebly that will go live on Monday, September 1. http://piadsg2.weebly.com


15/15 Thepkasattri, Thepkasattri Road, Thalang, Phuket 83110 Thailand
Tel. +66(0)76 336-076 Fax: +66(0)76 336-078 Email: info@pia.ac.th
www.phuketinternationalacademy.com|www.thanyapura.com

Link to Home
At this age, reading and developing a love of reading, is of utmost importance and we encourage your child
to read every night and reading can take many forms: they read to you, you read to them, reading
pictures in the story and coming up with your own version based on the pictures. Your child should be
coming home now with a leveled reader. While these get changed twice a week, please ensure the books
come to school each day. Link to Home activities will be given on Mondays and you have a week to
complete it. These Link to Home tasks will be connected to our units of inquiry and the aim is to give tasks
that the family can do together. This helps extend learning and fosters a connection between school and
home.

We are also beginning our inquiry into our first UOI under the Transdisciplinary theme of Who We Are.
We will gain a greater understanding of the Central idea:
Understanding peoples values and beliefs can enable us to appreciate and respect our differences as
human beings

Lines of Inquiry
Different beliefs and values people have
Why peoples values and beliefs are different
How we can respect each others differences


Unit of Inquiry Belief Box:

This week at home, we would like children to begin collecting artefacts that are connected to their beliefs.
These should be placed in a belief box and brought to school to share. Artifacts may be based on family
traditions and can be cultural, spiritual or religious. The only criteria are that the artifacts are linked to a
belief that has meaning for the child. Please support your child in this task.

As a provocation, we are looking at the core of PIAs mission of a Good heart, balanced mind and healthy
body. We are discussing what these look like to us. Your child will be coming home with a questionnaire for
you to answer. We are gathering many perspectives on what members of our community believe is
important in our mission statement.

Please do not hesitate to contact your teacher if you have any questions.

Warmest Regards,
Ajarn Olly & Ajarn Lia
PIADS G2 Team