March 2013 - the International School of Stavanger

All School NewsInternational School of StavangerAdmissions: Morning Connections SeriesMarch & April 2013Hello,You are invited to join us for the next "Morning Connections" events! These seminars are intended to provide parents withopportunities to meet others in the ISS community and discuss a range of topics relevant to expat life, education and/or livingin Norway. More details and quick sign-up links below. Hope to see you there!Kindly,Katharine MudraAdmissions & Communications Officeradmissions@isstavanger.noMORNING CONNECTIONS:Thursdays, March 21 & April 25 -- 8:45-10:30 -- ISSTwo upcoming “Morning Connections” topics are:March 21: Culture Shock and Creating ConnectionsMany of ISS’ globetrotting families have lived in numerous corners around the world, sometimes quickly saying goodbye to onehome and culture and onto the next within months. The international way of living brings many benefits, but there are certainlychallenges too. It’s been said that “a successful moveable family is one in which each family member feels welcome, safe andvalued not only as a member of his/her family but also in the new community in which they live.” This session looks at cultureshock for parents and managing change as adults. It will also overview strategies for dealing with culture shock, such ascreating new support networks and meaningful connections during time of change.We’re fortunate to have the talents and expertise of an ISS parent, Dr. Vlatka Duric, to lead the session. Dr. Duric is apsychologist from Australia with extensive clinical and research experience with individuals and groups addressing change;adjustment to change and loss; and, how to create safety and stability during and after change. She has developed and ledmany workshops and seminars in a variety of settings such as communication skills training for medical students as well asexperienced doctors and nurses. She is a mother of two ISS students, an expatriate, a trailing spouse and once a selfproclaimedTCK (‘third culture kid’) herself.RSVP via http://isstavanger.wufoo.com/forms/x7x0r3/.April 25: Brain Research and Learning“The brain is the last and grandest biological frontier, the most complex thing we have yet discovered in our universe. Itcontains hundreds of billions of cells interlinked through trillions of connections. The brain boggles the mind.” – James Watson,winner of the 1962 Nobel prize in Physiology/Medicine.Parents, teachers, school administrators, psychologists and neuroscientists from around the world have been studying the fieldof neuroeducation for decades. And the latest research about the adolescent brain, character development and intellectualdevelopment is proving quite intriguing.How do our perceptions of brain development and age differ from what the research is telling us? What are the environmental,home and school patterns that lead to healthy – or unhealthy – development of children? How do we adjust to the complexbrain and motivational patterns represented by the diverse students in today’s classroom?After introducing the brain and its inner workings, Ms. Carol Wallace, middle school principal, will discuss: the differencebetween the young adolescent and adolescent brain (when is a brain fully developed?), the difference between the boy and girlbrain (what mindsets and motivation strategies work well for each gender?), and the effect of sleep, nutrition and technologyon brain development and a child’s attitude and ability to learn. Carol will share school practices and tips for home that areaimed at creating positive experiences beneficial to character and cognitive development.RSVP via http://isstavanger.wufoo.com/forms/k7p9k5/.28 · The Informer 6 March 2013 www.isstavanger.no