Page 17 - Quintile_37 web

QSI Quintile • Issue 37 • • • 17

GeOrGiA

QSI International School of Tbilisi

After-School Activities the school, school routines, daily schedules and would prove to be our largest camping trip in the
various jobs at our school. They talk about their history of QSI Tbilisi. And the main question on
After-School Activities at QSI International body parts, their favorite activities at school, and everyone’s mind became—does the campground
School of Tbilisi have been a longtime favorite for discuss the importance of their brains and feelings. have any toilets? “Yes. Two!”
students and teachers. The school makes a variety Our students also learn about their responsibilities
of options available each term. Some elementary at school. They are excited to be a Line Leader Historically, the camping trip occurs at the
students prefer active sports activities like soccer. when it’s their turn, report the calendar, and tidy end of the school year. However, when QSI Tbilisi
Others prefer to focus on artistic activities like up the classroom to show that they live up to their began the yearly Week Without Walls experience
drama and dancing. Some prefer the intellectual responsibilities. at the end of the year, the camping trip was moved
activities like chess. Whatever the season, students to the beginning of the year. Planned as a time to
have a great list to choose from. Grape harvesting in Georgia catch up on last year’s friendships, and to create
new relationships with incoming students and
Soccer scores highly here faculty—an excellent occasion for bonding, as
barriers are quickly broken down when students
According to recent statistics, over 400 million and teachers work together as teams to create a
people play soccer. Soccer is the most popular sport successful camping experience despite all of the
in the world. It is also one of the most popular unexpected (and even expected) “things that could
activities at QSI Tbilisi; children just love soccer. go wrong”—and sometimes do.
We offer soccer for variety of ages, and both boys
and girls play. Soccer develops students’ flexibility, So, how did it go?
agility, speed, and coordination. Even though it is
a competitive sport, it is also about bonding with Two days prior to the camping trip, students
schoolmates. Each recess, many students run to and faculty spent their lunch period learning or
the soccer field. Many young players show great Visiting a local vineyard for Rtveli, which is practicing or teaching how to set up a tent. Most
potential. Some have already moved from elementary the grape-harvesting tradition in Georgia, turns efforts were successful, and everyone had a tent and
after-school activities to a QSI club team. out to be extremely exciting. Our children get busy knew how to set it up -- which turned out to be a
collecting and squeezing grapes in order to make good thing. On our arrival at Borjomi-Kharagauli
Georgian folk dance juice. They are very curious to feel the grapes, and National Park (two hours’ drive from Tbilisi), the
to smell and taste the juice. Our preschoolers are weather forecast for rain proved more accurate than
Georgian folk dance represents Georgia’s happy and ready to discover more around them. the forecast of sun. Despite the rain, tents were set
rich and diverse culture. Each dance portrays the They discover that learning is fun! It is amazing to up; everyone unloaded their bags and snacks and
characteristics of a region, from mountain dances see the children coming to school as shy caterpillars the worst of this year’s camping trip was behind us.
to valley or lowland dances. The costumes are and, day by day, spreading out their wings, changing Students engaged in games of capture the flag and
different for every dance and resemble the regional into beautiful butterflies. later under a full moon—flashlight tag.
traditional clothing. The dances perfectly capture
the natural gracefulness and beauty of Georgian On Friday, students had a choice of two
women and the courage, honor and respectfulness hiking treks—a six-hour hike up to the top of
of Georgian men. The male dancers perform Into the woods we go the mountain range or a shorter, three-hour hike
spectacular leaps, turns, and incredible spins. They By Grady Bryan, Secondary Teacher along the mountain stream. Interestingly, both
have a highly original technique: They dance on took about three hours. Student and faculty teams
their toes without the aid of “block” shoes. The When QSI International School of Tbilisi took turns preparing, serving and cleaning up five
female dancers “glide” like swans. Middle School and Secondary students return from meals, including grilled chicken and vegetables,
summer vacation, they greet each other with two breakfast burritos, turkey sandwiches, beef and
questions: “How was your summer?” and “Are you buckwheat, and Mr. Bryan’s famous Campfire
going on the camping trip?” Immediately, there Oatmeal (“This is better than my grandmother’s,
follow memories of past camping trips, and queries but don’t tell her I said that.”) with a side of toast
about this year’s adventure. and jelly. Friday evening everyone enjoyed a much
“Is it going to be raining?” needed warm bonfire with roasted marshmallows
“Will we have to hike for four hours straight up a and hot chocolate. Saturday morning working
mountain?” together, tents were packed, the campground
“Where are we going this year?” cleaned, and vans loaded. We were on the way
“Remember the blisters we all got from hogweed back to Tbilisi with stories to share, new friends
four years ago?” and the experiences that will stay with us until
“We finally found the two tents the wind had blown next September when we ask, “Where are we going
At the moment, we have a Georgian Dance away during the night.” camping this year?”
class with 20 elementary girls, who have fun “What about the song?”
while learning the unique steps and graceful In spite of these less than pleasant (but now
hand movements. The instructors are Georgian humorous) memories, most students respond
women, who love to dance themselves. This dance “YES, I am going camping.”
practice increases flexibility, range of motion,
physical strength and stamina, while teaching
about Georgian culture and traditions. Every term,
students perform with grace and enthusiasm at a
concert, to show what they have learned.

Preschoolers spread
their wings
By Sopho Devnosadze, Preschool Teacher

Preschool is a time for children to expand their
love of learning, their general knowledge, their
ability to get along with others, and their interest in
reaching out to the world. Our educational program This year’s site was selected and visited by several
is set to meet all that in a nurturing environment. teachers: Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.
Preschool is a sweet time with all the fun and
exciting activities. Preschool teachers feel great The dates were set: September 7–9. The
about playing a big role in educating our students, Weather report said Sunny and Dry. And then,
helping them develop exceptional life skills. the week of the planned trip, a change—RAIN.
Undaunted, plans rolled forward. Meals were
My School and Me planned, and food was purchased. Tents were
located and sleeping bags were counted. With
During the first quintile, in a program called 100 students (11-year-olds–Secondary IV) and
“My School and Me,” the preschoolers study 17 faculty and staff, this year’s camping trip