The 7 Habits of Happy Kids
In our class we have been reading stories all about the friends that live in 7 Oaks Village. We have been introduced to Pokey Porcupine, Tagalong Allie and Jumper Rabbit, to name a few.
Each week we read a different story that teaches the children a new skill or habit. These important life skills are beautifully presented in engaging stories to help students understand and learn these vital life skills.
Through these stories the students learn the importance of being themselves, listening to each other and working together.
The students love hearing the new story every week and it is lovely to see them trying to use their new skills in their interactions with their friends.
Monique Crawley
Reception Teacher
From the Principal’s Desk, 21 November 2019
Dear Parents
It is essential that we prepare our students, throughout their school career, not just to pass their final examinations, but for the challenges which lie beyond the confines of the education system.
The Year 11 students left for their annual leadership camp on Monday and when I joined them on Tuesday, I was immensely proud of the teamwork I witnessed. I saw the students come to each other’s aid in order to conquer the various obstacles set before them; from helping each other navigate the river to leading a blindfolded friend via a safe path, these were only a couple of the skills on display. I watched them with pride, as so many of the students I have known since they were in junior school and have followed their progress as they transitioned into high school and now into the leaders of our student body. They are a keen and passionate group and we have much to look forward to as they navigate their final year.
Our Year 12 students completed their final Cambridge examinations on Friday the 15th of November and we eagerly await the results in early January next year.
We had a fruitful information morning on Saturday the 16th of November and are looking forward to welcoming our new parents and students in the 2020 academic year.
This coming Monday, the 25th of November, is the primary school orientation morning where students will be introduced to their teachers for the 2020 academic year. It is an exciting time for both teachers and students as we all prepare for the new academic year.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend!
Kind regards
Edna
From the Principal’s Desk, 7 November 2019
Dear Parents
What makes a school stand out? What makes BIS an extra ordinary school? We at BIS believe that education is more than the academics we offer to our students. One of the key skills that all students need in life is the ability to apply critical thinking in decision-making.
Critical thinking should be integrated across curriculum content through activities and strategic planning.
What is the language of critical thinking? Here are some traits that we can identify:
- Adapt
- Strive
- Examine
- Create
- Communicate
- Collaborate
- Inquire
- Reflect
- Link
Students must be taught to identify and nurture these traits and apply them academically as well as in social interactions.
Critical thinking fosters teacher development, student growth and family engagement; all important factors for intellectual and emotional growth.
This weekend we will be hosting our Foundation and Key Stage 1 Sports Day. Please join us for this exciting event!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Edna
Elcano’s V Centenary
High School students invited to attend a workshop at the Spanish Consulate.
A group of students from Year 7 to Year 9 were invited by the Spanish Consulate to attend a workshop in commemoration of the fifth centenary of Juan Sebastián Elcano’s first circumnavigation of the world. Mr José Pablo Alzina, General Consul of Spain, spoke to the students about this incredible venture and the global impact of this event.Mr Alzina was very impressed by the interest and excellent behaviour displayed by the Blouberg International students. Some of them even braved a few questions in Spanish!
To add an extra “taste” to our cultural outing, we stopped on our way to enjoy some typical Spanish Churros con chocolate.
Elena Berger and Javier Vidal
BIS Spanish Department
Year 7 & 8 Boot Camp 2019
Camp At Buffalo Drift
After dinner the students enjoyed an evening hike and later, after hot-chocolate and fire-singed marshmallows, the students were packed off to bed after a busy and fulfilling day.
On day two, the teams faced off over an obstacle course and learnt the value of teamwork, determination and the necessity of packing extra socks. Muddy but cheerful, they emerged from the course, even convincing a teacher or two to brave the mud.
Soaped and showered, the afternoon activities commenced and the day wore on. As the shadows lengthened, the four teams battled for points and the coveted title of ‘winning team.’ Leaders emerged and friendships cemented, as the students laughed and battled their way to glory. Dinner was a serious affair that evening after a day of such high-energy activities and after a round of ‘hide the lantern’, it was time for bed. Silence came early to camp that night as the excitement of late night chatter was overcome by sore feet and drooping eyelids.
Morning saw a flurry of packing and clean-up operations. Awards were announced and the winning team celebrated. Thanks were said, hands shaken, and the students herded onto the bus for the return journey. The camp was a great success, and congratulations must go to our year 7 and 8 students for their perseverance, good humour and team spirit.
When I first arrived at camp, I thought I would have no fun at all, and that everything would be too difficult. But after getting to know the team and doing activities such as the obstacle race, I realized that sometimes things that seem hard at first can actually be a lot of fun. I really enjoyed this camp, even if some tasks were challenging I learned that everything you do is better when you do it as a team.– Catherine Fortuin
Camp with the Year 8’s was a day I had been waiting for. I was not expecting to bond with the year 8’s. The year 7 boys got pranked (including me) by the year 8’s and the teachers crawled through muddy water on the obstacle course. We played many games like capture the flag and stalk the lantern. What I learned was that being with year 8’s was fun, we made many friends and close blonds. I hope next year we will bond as well with the grade 7’s.
– Themba Ngono
We are already looking forward to more adventures at next year’s camp!
Janine van Niekerk
High School Teacher
Ready, Steady, Study!
Study Tips With The Year 5’s
The Year 5’s are getting ready for our exams next week, and with exams comes studying. While this is often a stressful time, there are ways to make it a bit less tough. Studying is a skill, and one that works differently for different people, but there are some general things we can do to help ourselves come to grips with what can feel like an awful lot of work.
Have a special study space.
Have a light, quiet place free of distractions set aside specifically for studying. Keep it well-stocked with highlighters, paper, pencils and colourful pens – tools to help you make and organize study notes. Tidy your own study space every day before you stop working, so that it is ready for a fresh start the next day.
Study the way that works for you.
Think about the way that you learn best. Are you someone who likes to write things down? Why not use mind-maps? They are an excellent study tool, particularly for Cambridge, because they help you to see the connections between different ideas. Do you remember better if you speak your work our loud? Why not teach your teddy bear (or your little brother or sister) the work? Are you an active person, who gets bored sitting and reading? Try acting out the work you are trying to learn!
Don’t cram.
Studying a little bit of a subject every day is much better for remembering things in the long-term than studying for a very long time in just one day. Space your studying out so that you have time to do a little bit each day.
Practice!
Rather than just learning the work and trying to remember it, do practice questions. This helps you learn to apply the work, not just to remember it. Another good way of learning is to actually make a practice test of your own. Thinking about what kind of questions you would ask in a test helps you to think about the work in a different way.
Take breaks.
Focusing for hours on end is really tough, especially if you’ve come home from a full day of school. Taking 15 minute breaks after each hour of studying can really help keep you focused – and it will help you remember more of what you’ve studied. If 15 minutes every hour doesn’t work for you, try a five-minute break after every 20 minutes, or a 20 minute break after an hour and a half of working.
Eat!
Try and eat healthy, balanced meals during exam time. Have a good breakfast on the day of your exam, even if you’re not too hungry. This will help keep your energy levels up for longer, which helps you concentrate better. Try not to have sugary snacks when you’re studying or writing – fruit or biltong is a good snack, and so is peanut butter on crackers.
Lastly, SLEEP!
Getting a good night’s sleep is very important for being able to concentrate the next day. It also helps you to process the work that you have covered. It’s tempting to stay up late studying the night before an exam, but it’s often better to get an early night and wake up fresh and ready for the next day. Try relax for a little before bed, but stay away from screens – they make it harder to fall asleep when you do get to bed.
Good luck to the Year 5’s for their upcoming exams! Do your best, and remember that practice makes progress!
Hannah Kirkaldy
Year 5 Teacher
Websites to look at for more study tips:
https://blog.edmentum.com/7-tips-parents-help-your-child-develop-effective-study-skills
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/studying.html
https://www.kidspot.com.au/school/secondary/study-skills/study-tips-for-kids/news-story/eed4e99eda15076979de6f77430026d2
Greenpoint Park, Year 1 Outing 2019
Year 1 went on an outing to Green point Park in Cape Town. We had a wonderful time walking around the Biodiversity gardens and through the Wetlands walk. We loved the Labyrinth, waited for the sun to shine so we could tell the time using the sun dial and finally played in the awesome play areas.
It was a fantastic, fun filled outing.
For more information on this excellent venue: http://www.gprra.co.za/green-point-urban-park.html
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
Go Bokke Go! – The Benefits of Team Sports
“Sport has the power to change the world” – Nelson Mandela
Sports provide a platform for people to come together and support their country. International events like the Rugby world cup serve as a point around which to rally and show national pride and unity. We will back the Springboks win or lose. There is a certain togetherness, a camaraderie that total strangers can achieve simply by virtue of living in the same country and rooting for the same team.
- Develops self-esteem
- Regular exercise
- Teaches leadership skills
- Teamwork
- Stronger relationships
- Better communication skills
- Teaches respect
- Time management
WATCH: Our students and faculty all rallied together last week to wish the Springbok team the best of luck in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f69gRB9Ftq8&t=1s
Martie van Dyk
Reception Year Teacher
From the Principal’s Desk, 31 October 2019
Dear Parents
“Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the wrong. Sometime in life you will have been all of these.”
― George Washington Carver
Our world has become a place of intolerance, impatience and entitlement. It saddens me to see the anger and impatience of drivers when they have to share the road with pedestrians and instead of honouring the elderly members of our community, we treat them as a burden.
At Blouberg International we teach our students to greet parents, staff and visitors. Respect and kindness is never wasted.
You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force. Educating our children is far more than academics; it is also the tolerance, respect and compassion we show and teach our children.
As a country we are gearing up for the Rugby World Cup finals on Saturday. In support of our national team therefore, students will enjoy a free civvies day tomorrow (Friday, the 1st of November) and we encourage everyone to wear green and gold in support of the Springboks.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend.
Edna
Read More
Interact Club News Term 4 2019
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp:During the third term break, two of our Interact Club members took part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp.
Vallarie Fodson, Year 11, tells us her experience of the camp:
“This was a truly life-changing experience. Not only did I learn the importance of being a leader, but the hidden values of being a follower were also highlighted.
This experience reminded us to be proud of ourselves. The camp, its directors and the fellow campers helped each other find our hidden strengths and understand and work past our abilities. The significance of trust was conveyed as we were lead blind folded through a racing river rapid whilst being handcuffed to our not so blind partner. The idea of patience was put to the test as we made it past minesweepers, riddles and scavenger hunts.
Above all it was fun to make new relationships, meet new people and just grow as a person whilst enriching other people in your way. RYLA taught us you just don’t give back to your community by providing food but also by being a representative of where you come from and making those we stand for proud.”
Blouberg Rotary Toy Drive:
We would like to encourage everyone to participate in the Blouberg Rotary Toy Drive by donating an educational toy for boys and girls aged 5 to 10 year old (prize range between R50 to R70 to keep all gifts similar). All toys collected will be given during the annual Rotary Club of Blouberg’s Christmas party.
If you can help, please hand your donation in to your homeroom teacher by Wednesday, 20 November.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Elena Berger and Janine van Niekerk
Interact Club coordinators