Nursery News – Opposites
Our 2 ½ to 3 ½ year old students have been exploring the concept of opposites. The sun goes down to sleep, the stars come out and the sky becomes dark. They created day and night examples, by painting blue for the day and black for the night time. What fun it was for them to print clouds onto their pictures!
We have also been enjoying circle time in the mornings where they discuss and discover things that are big and small, up and down, rough and smooth.
Through Sensory play using play dough, they learn that dough is soft and the dough cutters are hard. They enjoyed rolling and squashing the play dough during our Sensory periods.
Cambridge is greatly centered on play-to-learn for the Early years and Foundation stage. Students learn through experience and reasoning. They absorb so much information when they can use their senses to trigger learning.
Jacky Billings
Nursery Teacher
Read More
Planted in knowledge
The Year 3’s are concentrating on Plants in Science. They are learning about the different parts of a plant, their functions and what they need to have healthy roots, stems and leaves. The students partnered up with each other to design, draw and label their own flower.
They also participated in various class experiments which included one with a white flower turning pink in order for them to understand the function of the roots and stems. Currently we are observing and investigating whether plants need water and light to grow and stay healthy. To date, as predicted, Petunia number 1 is thriving, while Petunia 2 and 3, through lack of water or light, are not doing so well.
After our experiment, we will have to work on our ‘green fingers’ to nurse our Petunias back to health!
Mrs Mandy Goch
Year 3 Teacher
From the Principal’s Desk – 21 February 2019
Dear Parents
“The bottom line is that you are the one who is creating your life the way it is. The life you currently live is the result of all of your past thoughts and actions. You are in charge of your current thoughts and your present feelings. You are in charge of what you say and what you do. To be more successful, all you have to do is act in ways that produce more of what you want. That’s it, It’s that simple!” – The success principles: Jack Canfield.
Last Friday, the 15th of February, we had our ISA sports day at the Swartland Hoërskool in Malmesbury. Our students had phenomenal spirit and made us proud in every event they participated in. As is normal during sports days, one or two athletes sustained injuries and we had to improvise by having reserves run in their stead. One of the highlights of the day was the relay event for the under 15 boys. During this event we had a reserve run who ensured that we won the race! When he took off from the starting line, I could not help but wonder why he had not been participating the entire day as he was clearly a trained and talented athlete. When I asked the student after the race why he had not been participating the entire day, he responded, “I was fearful Ma’am! I did not think that I could do it.” I realized that there are probably more students who talents are hidden from us because they are afraid to enter, afraid of failure. This is the case with so many of us at times. We fear failure, disappointment and rejection and hence we do not even try.
The above quote from Jack Canfield challenges me daily to do more, be more, strive for more and succeed according to my own strengths. May it challenge each and every one of you to strive for more in your daily lives. Let us all challenge our fears as we never know what hidden talents lie beneath the depths and we all deserve the chance to let those talents shine.
Our new jungle gym was completed on Tuesday the 19th of February and we opened it up to the Foundation Stage this morning. What an amazing experience to see the excitement on the faces of the students and hear the gratitude in their voices.
We will start construction of the cricket pitch this weekend and we ask all students and parents to bear with us during this time as the pitch will not be available next week.
Onward and upwards we go as we continue to grow from strength to strength. Thank you for all your support on this journey!
Kind regards
Edna
Big words for growing minds
-What is an adjective?
In its simplest form, an adjective is a word which describes a noun or a pronoun. These are the words that, in essence, add the real joy and life to our every day speech. Without adjectives, literature and language would be rather boring and getting truly passionate or excited about something would be tough to express verbally or in written form.
-How do we teach?
Adjectives come in many different forms in the English language. It is important that parts of speech are re-taught every year as they help to mold our speech and language as we get older.
There are 5 steps that need to be taken in teaching basic adjectives to students.
- Define
- Identify
- Edit
- Apply
- Revise
Each step is crucial in the process and requires special attention.
Practice creative speech with your child and you will foster wildly developed communication skills in your little future world leader.
-Year 2’s get Creative in Assembly:
My Year 2 class presented a creative yet educational performance on Adjectives in our Junior school assembly. They began by singing a song about adjectives, using their bodies to show the actions that would mimic the words. They danced and sang as the audience watched intrigued by the combination of literacy and dance . The little ones in the front were loving it – not even realizing they were hearing and repeating various simple adjectives as they sang along. After the song they moved into a long front-facing line on stage, each holding up a piece of paper. All dressed as bunny rabbits they looked great, as the audience waited to find out what was going to happen next. They went on to describe their class’s favourite animal, with each child announcing one adjective describing a bunny as they went down the line. They were super! How great it is to learn about adjectives in such a fun way!
Ms Siobhan Hendry
Year 2 Teacher
Helping your child learn to read
Learning to read is one of the fundamental skills taught in our Reception classes. By listening to stories and learning the letters and sounds our students are building the necessary skills to become good readers. Our students all start their reading journey with ‘no word’ readers, or picture books. This is often confusing for parents and little ones as they have to come up with their own story. Hearing stories and telling their own stories, help our students are build and expand their own vocabulary and improves their sentence construction. By nurturing their imagination you introduce kids to whole world of achievable possibilities.
Here are a few phrases to help your child create their own story:
I wonder why…
Where did…
I wonder what will happen next…
My favourite part was…because…
Our little ones love reading with mom and dad, therefor those special moments spent together become treasured memories.
“Children are made readers in the laps of their parents” Emilie Buchwald
Ms Monique Crawley
Reception Teacher
From the Principal’s Desk – 14th February 2019
Dear Parents
I would like to thank all parents who joined us for the Interactive Curriculum Morning last Saturday. As Ms. Kiley and I walked from around the different venues, observing all the different classroom activities, we were thrilled with the atmosphere of excitement and joy that enveloped the school. The positive feedback we received from parents, coupled with numerous inquiries about next year’s event, has us planning for 2020 already.
This past week has proved to be very productive with regard to the various projects taking place around the school and anticipation is rife among students and teachers. Most noticeably, our faithful old jungle gym has been dismantled and already a new one is rising in its place.
A touching moment for me this week was when Kiara Macey, one of our year 7 students, came and shared her memories of the jungle gym with me. She shared her sorrow at seeing the jungle gym coming down as she met her first friend at BIS whilst playing on that jungle gym. She went on, sharing all her wonderful memories of the jungle gym, and spoke of how her memories of her junior school days hold a secure place in her heart. Our interaction filled me with such warmth and reminded me of how some of our simplest experiences can be our best.
I believe that schools are more than just ‘places of learning’, they are communities where students build memories and create bonds which sustain them into adulthood. As teachers, it is a privilege to witness, and be part of, our students’ formative years and I’m certain that the new jungle gym will be home to many more such memories.
A reminder for high school students and parents that our ISA Inter-schools sports day is taking place tomorrow at Swartland High School in Malmesbury. We are holding thumbs that our high school students will bring home the Spirit Cup again this year! The bus will depart at 5h30 am strictly from the school premises.
Please remember to pack in lots of water and hats as protection against the sun. We are looking forward to participating tomorrow and cheering our athletes on to success.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend ahead.
Best regards
Edna
Term 1 is history!
Here is what we have planned for the year thus far:
The Year 7’s are learning about trade across the Sahara. They have thus far learned about Mansa Musa and the kingdom of Mali and are working on improving their essay technique.
The Year 8’s are completing their module on the French Revolution. They are learning about the causes of the Revolution and identifying causes of discontent in the world today.
The Year 9’s have already completed their module on the peace treaties, concluded at the end of ‘World War I’ and are now learning about the ‘League of Nations’. Students are already working on their exam technique and improving their source analysis skills.
IGCSE Year 10 students are reaching the end of their history curriculum. They are soon to begin an intensive revision session in preparation for their IGCSE examinations. Currently concluding their module on the USSR’s control over Eastern Europe and even designed their own message to go on a ‘Berlin Wall’.
The Year 11’s are learning about the ‘League of Nations’ and United Nations. They have already started working on their exam technique and have made good progress in their regard.
Nerves are beginning to mount in the Year 12 class as they near the end of their history journey. Like the Year 10’s, the Matrics will soon begin intensive revision for their AS levels.
Blouberg Internationals is proud to announce its first A Level history class! These Students will focus on the holocaust and European dictators.
Ms Sheila Marais
History Teacher
Read More
Sailing through Science
In Science this term the Year 4’s have been learning about habitats and the ways animals adapt to their environments.
They went on to create their very own habitats for some slimy friends. Snails sailed into our classrooms and we observed as they adapted to their new found homes and munched on some delicious leaves.
We took our time investigating which leaves the snails preferred to eat, there were many different predictions and some interesting results. The snails enjoyed a comfortable sleepover in the classrooms, with a few plotting a prison break and fleeing their ‘hotels’. The following morning, we were able to come to a few conclusions regarding a snail’s appetite.
The Year 4’s thoroughly enjoyed having these little visitors in class and observing how different animals adapt to different environments. They were able to see how each animal is weird and wonderful in their own way and that even though snails are very slow, with a little perseverance they can complete any task!
“It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop” – Confucius
Ms Brittney Hakime
Year 4 Teacher
Sailing through Science
Sailing through Science
Sailing through Science
Sailing through Science
Sailing through Science
Sailing through Science
Year 2 exploring methods of measurement
Children learn using a variety of different methods.
Some children learn using their visual or auditory senses. Others learn by practically experiencing a situation. Research has shown that children cope far better with abstract thinking, if they have first physically experienced and manipulated concrete objects.
So, to that end, our Year 2 students participated in a measuring exercise, using their hand spans, forearms and feet as measurement ‘tools’. There was much excitement as they worked in pairs measuring objects in the classrooms and outside. They then cataloged their findings in writing, concluding that there were so many differences in the data they collected, that these non-standard units of measure would not be reliable.
One student mentioned that if he used the ‘hand span method’ to create building specifications for the height of the classroom door, the door to the classroom would be built too small. After all, his hands are smaller than that of an adult’s.
This experiment led us to the explanation of a standard unit of measure, which they all agreed was far more reliable!
Mrs Kim Coetzer
Year 2 Teacher
Read More
Recycling ‘Ecobrick’ Initiative
As our ‘Social responsibility initiative’ for the Foundation Stage and Key Stage One, we aim to raise awareness among students on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
The energy saved by recycling one plastic bottle can possibly power a one hundred watt light bulb for almost an hour! It is estimated that South Africa generates an average of 53 425 tons of waste per day. Much of this plastic waste finds its way into the ocean and has devastating effects on our marine ecosystems.
We are asking the families from our Junior campus (Pre-reception to Year 2) to partner with us in making ‘ecobricks’ at home.
-An ‘ecobrick’ is a 2L plastic bottle that has been tightly packed with single use plastics only.
-The plastics used for ‘ecobricks’ are non-biodegradable such as styrofoam, straws, cling wrap and most types of packaging.
-No paper, metal, glass or plastic contaminated with perishable food waste should be included.
-The bottle should be packed as tightly as possible.
Please see the link with more information about how to make an ‘ecobrick’: https://www.ecobricks.org
We hope you enjoy making your ‘ecobricks’. We will continuously collect your 2L sized ‘ecobricks’ at school until the end of Term one 2019. Our collected ‘ecobricks’ will be donated to an organisation involved in building schools and homes for people in under developed areas.
Thank you for your continued support in making a difference.
Ms Bronwen Nuthall
Reception Year teacher