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“Self-Portrait Belros” Made in 2010 by Yayoi Kusama

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Maria B.

Grade 7

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Do you know who Yayoi Kusama is? Often referred to as “The Princess of Polka dots,” Kusama is a Japanese artist renowned for her distinctive sculptures and paintings. A signature feature of her work is the use of DOTS! She applies vivid colors and bold designs that often appear surreal or out of the ordinary.

Kusama’s life has not been easy. She was mistreated by her mother and was forced to witness her father’s infidelity, experiences that left her deeply scarred. She also lives with schizophrenia, a condition that causes hallucinations and obsessive thoughts, making her daily life hard. Rather than letting these struggles silence her, she transforms them into creativity by incorporating her iconic polka-dot patterns. Her signature polka dots, as well as the sense of intrigue they evoke, are what I like about her artwork. There are a few that stand out to me, such as “Self Portrait” and “Air Mail Stickers”.

Yayoi Kusama is a remarkable artist who demonstrates resilience by turning personal hardship into extraordinary art. Schizophrenia is a serious condition and should not be underestimated, so I encourage you to support research about it.

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Vinayaka Pirdnani

Grade 9

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The new school year brings numerous changes, but it also brings stability, as our school calendars showcase what the next nine months of the school . The new school year brings numerous changes, but it also brings stability, as our school calendars showcase what the next nine months of the school year may look like. Middle and high school buildings have been relocated to the old school, while the elementary school occupies the former interdivision school buildings. Many of the library books from the old school, including students’ numerous favorites, have been relocated to the high school and middle school cafeteria. There have been teachers who many may have missed, and there are teachers who many have now who make learning a lot less tedious a task, bringing a little joy to everyone’s day.

IGCSE, which stands for International General Certificate of Secondary Education, a board administered by Cambridge, has been added to our high school curriculum. The current grade 9s take it as the first-ever Hope class to do so. The Cambridge International Curriculum focuses on in-depth subject knowledge, higher-order thinking skills, and the practical application of knowledge that is transferable to real-world situations. After two years, the students will take an exam and then proceed to their A levels. 

High schoolers, apart from the grade 9 class, take on Clonlara. Clonlara School follows a personalized approach called Full Circle Learning (FCL). With guidance from the teacher’s syllabus, students use this method to plan the topics they will study. They are also allowed to choose areas they want to explore, encouraging participation in curriculum design, real-world learning, creativity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.

The Middle schoolers will continue to use IMYC, which stands for International Middle Years Curriculum; a research-based curriculum for 11- to 14-year-olds. Meanwhile, Elementary will continue using IPC, which stands for the International Primary Curriculum, a similar program for 5- to 11-year-olds. Both curricula are developed by Fieldwork Education (now part of the International Curriculum Association). They are designed to be part of a continuum of learning, fostering internationally minded, reflective, and active learners. 

The expectations for the school year remain the same as last year, including the school rules and the PLGs.

The school rules are: 
Think safe, feel safe
Listen, and Learn. 
Speak appropriately. 
Show care and respect.
Hands off

As well as the PLGs:
Respectful 
Collaborator
Resilient
Communicator
Ethical
Adaptable
Empathetic
Thinker

These expectations carry us forward, teaching us how to be better people, while also holding us accountable. These expectations are a significant part of the school as well as the Hope Community, as they don’t just exist within our school, but also outside when we interact with friends and communicate with newcomers.  

As the seasons change, so do we as individuals, and with that change comes regret and a longing for the past versions of our lives; however, we must continue to move forward, striving to improve ourselves.  On reflection, I have found that the most incredible memories in the classroom were the ones where we were all not just working independently but rather working together, listening to music, or playing Kahoot or Quizlet together, trying to beat each other, or coming up with classroom anecdotes that we’d laugh at years to come after. 

This school year may bring each of us ups and downs, with life being ever-changing; however, the greatness of the turmoil that life throws at you it eases me to know that, in such a world, you can always make friends. You can always drive to do better and be better, and if not, you can never forget to go at your own pace. You should know that there is hope for the world, and it starts here; it begins in classrooms, schools, at Hope itself.

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Welcome to Our School Publications Blog!

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Welcome to Our School Publications Blog!

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Welcome to Our School Publications Blog

This Padlet is where you can read posts created by our School Publications Club members. Here, they will share:

News and updates about our school

Creative writing, photos, and artwork

Yearbook drafts and ideas

Fun projects and interviews with our community

What you’ll see here:
The members of the School Publications Club make posts. Each one shows their creativity, teamwork, and dedication to telling the stories of our school.

How to explore:

Scroll through the posts regularly to see new updates

Click on posts to read articles, watch videos, or view designs

Leave respectful comments to support our members

This space is for celebrating student voices. Enjoy reading their work and watching our school stories come alive!