Dear Parents/Caregivers,
We are only a few weeks into the new school year, but already it feels as though we have been running for much longer! The new routines are established, new friendships are forming, classrooms are beginning to feel lived in, and the familiar rhythm of school life has returned. There is plenty still to settle, but there is also a real sense that the year has found its stride.
And what a busy stride it has been. From our Independence Day celebrations and earthquake drill to professional development, new learning opportunities, preparations for our visiting school from Kalimantan, and the many smaller moments that make up daily life at SNA, there is already plenty happening across the campus. As we approach the midpoint of the semester, it is a good moment to pause briefly, look around, and appreciate just how much has already taken place.
This week, we came together to celebrate Independence Day, one of the most significant dates in the Indonesian calendar. The day began with a solemn flag-raising ceremony, giving us an opportunity to pause and remember the people who fought for Indonesian independence and the sacrifices that made the country we know today possible.
Of course, once the formalities were over, things became considerably more competitive!
Our Independence Day games brought together students, teachers, parents, and our guests from Sekolah IT Nurul Islam, with whom we are building an increasingly meaningful partnership. There was the EY bicycle decoration, with some wonderfully imaginative creations, followed by a succession of games including the Balloon Walk, Hula-Hoop Chain, Water Balloon Toss, Sponge Water Relay, Telephone Relay, Brick Walk Race, Chopstick Nut Relay, Musical Chairs, Sarung Soccer, and Balloon Fanning.
The much-anticipated tug of war between our EY teachers and parents also took place. I am afraid to report that the parents won rather more easily than some of our teachers would have liked. There is always next year!
Alongside the games, our Street Food Garden provided a delicious celebration of Indonesian food and culture. It was particularly pleasing to see the vendors making a genuine effort to minimise plastic packaging, connecting the celebration with our wider commitment to sustainability.
Days like this are about much more than games and competition. They bring our community together, create opportunities to form connections beyond the classroom, and remind us that school is also a place where we celebrate the culture and community of which we are fortunate to be a part.
Our most recent Professional Development session brought together several important areas of our work. We spent time revisiting safeguarding, exploring effective teaching strategies, and thinking about how we can continue to strengthen our practice in the classroom. We also welcomed members of the local fire station, who provided practical fire safety training. Teachers were shown how to respond to different types of fires and, perhaps rather more excitingly, had the opportunity to put out fires themselves. It was a useful reminder that being prepared is not simply about knowing what to do, but about having the confidence to do it when it matters.
In week 3, we also conducted an earthquake drill. I was pleased to see the discipline shown by our students as they exited the school quickly and quietly. These drills may interrupt the normal rhythm of the school day, but they are an important part of ensuring that everyone knows how to respond calmly and safely in an emergency.
Our school garden has taken another important step forward with the installation of our new hydroponic system. What began as part of our wider commitment to developing a more sustainable school is now becoming a practical learning resource for our students.
The system will soon give students the opportunity to explore plant growth, water, nutrients, ecosystems, and sustainability through hands-on science. Rather than simply learning about these ideas from a textbook, students will be able to observe, investigate, experiment, and see the results of their work developing in front of them.
Alongside our garden and the first fruits already appearing on our vines, the hydroponics system is helping us create a living outdoor classroom. It is another small but meaningful step towards building a stronger relationship between our students, their learning, and the natural world around them.
We are delighted to welcome two highly accomplished classical pianists, Ibu Imma Setiadi & Pak Nigel Clayton, from the UK. Ibu Imma and Pak Nigel have been visiting Indonesia every year for many years to perform and carry out workshops. This year they are conducting a programme of music workshops with Sekolah Nusa Alam, which are centred around The Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns, an imaginative and much-loved work that brings animals to life through music.
In preparation for the workshop with the visiting pianists on 26 August, the students will work alongside Ibu Susan, Pak Helmi, and Ibu Adel to explore the musical score and respond to the music through a range of creative disciplines, including art, drama, movement, and poetry. Their explorations and creative responses will be documented throughout the process, culminating in a final piece that will be presented as part of an evening performance.
Experiences like this remind us that education is not only about acquiring knowledge. It is about developing the confidence to explore, the creativity to respond, and the openness to discover something unexpected. We are very grateful to Ibu Imma and Pak Nigel for bringing their expertise and passion to our students, and we look forward to seeing where their musical journey takes us.
On 18–19 August, we will be welcoming a team of school leaders from Sekolah Evans Indonesia in Kalimantan. They will spend two days with us, observing lessons, talking with teachers, and sharing ideas and best practices. Opportunities such as this are valuable because schools should never exist in isolation. We all have experiences, successes, and challenges from which others can learn, and we look forward to sharing some of ours while learning from theirs.
