MAPLE LEAF TIMES

International Dot Day, an annual school-wide event at Canadian International School (CIS), is a special occasion that brings the CIS community together to celebrate positive values of creativity, individuality and kindness – messages that are inspired by the award-winning book, “The Dot”, by Peter H. Reynolds.

“The book truly emphasizes the importance of creativity and collaboration. I believe International Dot Day empowers students to unleash their potential and creativity, while emphasizing that making mistakes always takes us to a different level in our growth,” says teacher librarian Stojana Popovska.

She shares that the event, a school-wide celebration, engages kindergarten and primary students in fun experiences that revolve around the theme of dots and making connections.

Besides dressing up in their finest polka dot outfits, students participated in library reading sessions and art activities that encourage teamwork, creativity and imagination.

In a kindergarten integrated art class students modelled plastiscines into orbs, and learned the concept of volume and balance by creating an artwork with a spinning circular contraption. They poured paint into the cups hanging off the spinner and had to work together to balance it just right in order for it to work.

For grade 1 French students, the theme of dots and connections go beyond aesthetics. French language acquisition lead teacher Melina Lobos combined elements of art history and pointillism, a painting technique invented by famous Impressionist artists Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. Students observed, compared and drew different circular graphics to create their own interpretation of the theme, and expressed their emotions using colours and composition.

All of the students’ artworks were then displayed at the main foyers of both campuses to share with the whole community how International Dot Day has enriched learning experiences at CIS every year.

“All the masterpieces are a product of collaboration among grades and an example of the ‘unleashed creativity’ that lives in all our students and teachers. Creativity and kindness are contagious and this was evident in all classrooms across the campuses,” says Stojana.

Find out more about the CIS community by signing up for one of our open houses on 18 and 19 November. More information at cis.edu.sg/admissions/open-house.