General Director
Our annual University Fair is around the corner. Join us on the 18th of November at the Pavillon Cultural. Read more here!
The University Fair is a non profit annual event organized by Colegio El Camino, the only IB WORLD SCHOOL in Baja California and is celebrating 32 years of high quality bilingual education in Los Cabos. El Camino is the host to nearly 40 different post high school educational institutions from around Cabos, the State, the nation and internationally. These institutions are offering scholarships and sharing information regarding their degrees of study as well as exchange programs. The event is set up for all public and private high schools in the region and state and we personally invite all schools to participate through varios communication media and also publicly.
This is our 13th annual event and will begin at 9:30am and conclude at 2pm on the 18th at the Pavillon. Each university will have their own stand attending to interested students about their degrees, scholarships and admission requirements. At the same time different universities will be offering conferences every 30 minutes in the presentation rooms.
Colegio El Camino also opens their doors to the Universities in the afternoon to apply entrance exams facilitating this important process for students who attend the event.
The objective of this event is the fact that these high school students can receive information about options for their future studies in University in an objective, opportune manner directly with the University representatives. This information will help them in their process of decision making to choose either a local, national or international University. We are also able to establish links with different educational institutions around our country to motivate students to continue preparing for their future lives.
See you all there!
Kindergarten
I’m sharing an article from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona which briefly explains one of the stages in cognitive development according to Jean Piaget. This article is relevant because next month in our “Learning with Family” Parent´s Workshop we will be discussing this further.
Cognitive Development
Probably the most quoted and best known cognitive development theory in children is that of Jean Piaget (1896-1980). Piaget’s theory holds that children pass through specific stages of intellect and ability to assist them in perceiving relationships. This approach emphasizes that the learner is the agent and engine of his or her own learning ability.
These stages are developed in a fixed order for all children, regardless of nationality. However, age could be the variable among children.
- Sensorimotor stage
- Pre-operational stage
- Concrete Operational stage
- Formal Operational stage
Children in Kindergarten are currently in the Pre-operational stage, which extends from 2 to 7 years old. During this stage, children learn how to interact using words and mental images. This stage in particular is characteristic of the child becoming self-aware while developing the idea that everyone perceives life the same way the child does. These are manifested through language and games where the child arranges their thoughts and distort reality to benefit themselves and satisfy fantasies. They also believe that inanimate objects can feel, listen, interact, etc.
A second important factor at this stage is the “Conservation” which is the ability to understand that the amount does not change when the shape changes. That is, if the water in a short, wide glass is poured into a tall, thin glass, children at this stage believe that the highest glass contains more water due solely to its height. This is due to the inability of children to understand the reversibility and because they focus on just one aspect. In this example the height, regardless of other aspects such as the width.
At this age, children learn to use their language to name objects and people and learn many new words. Classify objects by a single feature. Group all the red cubes, regardless of the size of them.
Interesting isn’t it? We will continue to deepen your understanding of the development of preschool age with you and we will soon send the invitation for our workshop “Early childhood behaviors and appropriate steps” with our guest Psychologist Alma Tejeda. The workshop will be held in November.
During October we hosted the Parents Workshop “IB Learners Profile” which had a great turnout. Many thanks to all the parents. We also adminstered and shared results of CPAA in grades K2 and K3.
Upcoming activities in November are:
- Altar Display
- Learning in Family
- Launch of the “Story Time” Program
Happy Birthday
- Isabella Recasens
- Catalina Galán Amescua
- María José Gonzalez Liceaga
- Hian Luna Arambula
- Adriel Román Castillo
- Daniel Medina
- Lucas Tovar
Click HERE to visit our Photo Gallery
Elementary
Our 5th grade students had a field trip to Flora Farms where they experienced the daily activities of the farm and then enjoyed a delicious breakfast. The purpose of this visit was to understand the components of a farm, what species are endemic to the region and what species are brought in from another region in support of their inquiry unit “Living organisms adapt to different forms of life according to the environment”
When students play they learn in a fun way. These photos show they are having fun and learning by making up words according to their teaching plan.
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“Living Corner 1st Grade A”
As part of the 2nd Unit of Inquiry the students from 1A participated in a planting project. After observing plants in the school gardens and getting to know the differences they planted a small horticultural garden to observe plant growth from the germination stage through the whole cycle of life of living things. They also discovered what was required to nourish them. The students participated in creating the bed, weeding and watering. Each student planted his or her own seed and participated in the care process. The students kept record of their observations in their unit of inquiry notebooks with drawings and phrases about the process of plant growth, characteristics and changes on a weekly basis. The students showed a tonne of enthusiasm and appreciation in knowing more about the care and preservation of living things.
Happy Birthday
- Lorenzo Emiliano Palacios Menendez
- Kiara Márquez Figueroa
- Juan Diego Osuna Siqueiros
- Saúl Romo Maldonado
- Sophia Perichart Hanakova
- Sandra Valentina Sánchez Rivera
- Nina Estrada Rodríguez
- Enrique Alejandro Corral Pérez
- José Rodrigo De La Peña Taboada
- Tomás Esteban Guzmán Guy
- Rodrigo Leonardo López Oropeza
- Valeria Barba Villalpando
- Andrea Nataly Baños Rojas
IB PYP
IB Learning Community Profile
In the past Gazette we spoke about the nature of the PYP, to define whether is it a program or a methodology. The PYP is a learning methodology as a starting point to facilitate what children know and can do.
After this brief explanation let’s talk about the four specific principles that support this methodology.
- Inquiry
- Transdisciplinarity.
- International Mindedness
- Constructivism
Of these four specific principles, we shared with you what inquiry means and our teacher’s experience during the professional development workshop this year that allowed them to better understand how to boost inquiry through learning experiences in the classroom.
This month we will analyze International Mindedness. The workshop offered to parents allowed us to respond to their questions like what is international mindedness and how is it achieved?
To better understand this term we dug deep in the attributes of the IB learning Community. This profile is composed of a list of ten attributes that promote students´eagerness to learn and the development of values that promote International Mindedness.
International Mindedness is achieved when our students are able to develop these attributes during their academic training and through the implementation of these attributes from their personal, family and social experience. Clearly this cannot be achieved without the commitment of all parents accompanying the learning process of their children.
But how can we promote the development of these attributes from home? In order to guide you in this practice, we shared the conclusions reached by the parents who attended the workshop.
- Parents are inquiring when visiting places with their child to investigate, when they read to acquire the correct answers and when he or she shows interest in what their child is learning in school.
- Parents are informed and educated when they promote reading, share their knowledge, carefully observe sources of information and teach by example.
- Parents are thinkers when they reflect on their thoughts, know how to make decisions independently, investigate and question.
- Parents are good communicators if they know how to listen to what their children need, are tolerant, patient and empathetic when their children ask for help.
- Parents are integral when they assume responsibility for their actions and teach their children to be responsible.
- Parents are open-minded when they know how to listen and accept different ideas of others.
- Parents are principled if they teach that everyone is equal, encourage sharing, participate in events and know how to be sympathetic.
- Parents are thoughtful when they investigate, ask questions and seek to understand.
Congratulations to all the parents who took the risk of assuming the role of trainees during the workshop for parents. And if you didn’t have the opportunity to attend we hope to see you in the next workshop coming soon.
Click HERE to visit our Photo Gallery
IB DP
New APP for IBDP Students
There is a new free iOS and android smartphone app for IB Diploma students.
Smartib is a social media platform and educational forum app designed specifically for students undertaking the International Baccalaureate Diploma program. The app allows students to create a profile and connect with other IB students all over the world via a well-organized forum where they can ask and answer questions. Students will soon be able to organize study groups and access important documents within the app.
The app is available for free on the Appstore and Google Playstore
For desktop users, we have replicated the forum at www.smartibapp.com
Group 4 Science Presentations
Upcoming Events
- Nov. 21st No Classes, Mexican Revolution Day
- Nov. 26th CTE
The group of students in the photo below participated in the ITES Basic Science Olympics for High Schools in Los Cabos. The tests were in Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Math. Congratulations to the participants in this activity that helps develop students abilities and values. Participating students are Elijha Galbraith, Anggelo Ortiz, Javier Perpuli, Zayetzy García Bareño, María IInés Berrojo y Benjamin Gastelum. Along with MS & HS Principal Walter Nagles.
Library
In October there was an increase in the number of visits to the library by elementary students. They read their favourite stories, inquired about the world and cultural issues and used the library to research topics.
Without a doubt there have been many books viewed and checked out to take home by students, but the novel that was most popular is called “Warriors.”
The Warriors Saga was written by the pseudonym of Erin Hunter and it narrates the adventures, experiences, social structure, etc. of the different clans of cats who participate in this interesting novel.
Middle School students frequently use the library to complete homework or projects.
High School students commonly use the library to assist in their research, to borrow the books needed for their assignments and to grab flyers for the many Universities we have available.
Congratulations to all the students who are returning their books on time, and we request those students who return their books late to read this phrase:
“A responsible person has an attitude of esteem and respect for his own person and brings those same values to the tasks he or she is involved in. You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by avoiding it today. ”
Abraham Lincoln
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Psychology
Socialization and coexistence among children
After the first year of a baby´s life, a family finds itself more balanced. The anxiety over all the worries of a newborn has diminished and you start to understand your child’s behavior. The child begins to overcome the conflict of separation and starts entertaining him or her self while playing. The imagination of a child at this stage is truly an act of magic.
It is important that the family remains playful so that while establishing boundaries it will be an easy transition for the child. Their curiosity is the engine at Pre School when the “why’s” begin and is merely the product of many questions and anxieties given that their newfound fascination is with the world around them.
Many of those “why” questions really have a deeper meaning like “I am amazed”, “I am confused”, “I am scared”, I have many doubts”. It is necessary not to rush to judge but to understand better their curiosity. Therefore it is important to solve these questions and doubts with the aid of examples, tales, or anything that will allow them to better understand.
It is within his or her own family that a child learns how to connect with others. Adults are the role models for the child. By modelling behaviors like participation, cooperation, an atmosphere with clear and consistent boundaries and expectations according to his or her age the results will favor discipline and relationships with other children of the same age and the child will be able to find solutions when in conflict.
We would like to thank all the Kindergarten Parents who attended the Learning in Family Workshop. This month’s subject was “Early childhood behaviors and appropriate steps.” The meeting was held on Friday, November 11th at the School’s Cafeteria, presented by Psic. Alma Diaz Tejada.
