Foundation Stage: In Our Garden
In Reception we have been learning about all the creatures we find in our garden. The students were very excited to tell their friends all about their favourite insects.
Read More“I like a scorpion because it has a poisonous sting” Juan Amouhadi
“I like butterflies because they are beautiful and can fly” Liha Tredoux
“I like bees because they make honey” Daisy Cronje
“I like ants because it starts with a ‘A’ like my name” Anthony Van Tonder
‘I like grasshoppers because they can jump and hide” Nathan Williams
“I like butterflies because they like to fly around and look for flowers” Hannah Borien
Ms Monique Crawley
Reception Year Teacher
High School Examination Tips
The June exams are less than two weeks away and preparation should be underway, especially for Years 10 and 12. Arguably the best way to counter exam stress is to come prepared. To this end, I have ten guidelines students can follow that will go a long way to helping them feel prepared and confident for each exam.
- Print a copy of their exam timetable and put it in a prominent and safe place.
- Compile and stick to a study timetable.
- Give yourself sufficient study time for each subject.
- Identify topics you find most challenging and, if necessary, ask for assistance from the subject teacher. Do this as far in advance of your exam as possible.
- Utilize effective study methods rather than simply reading the textbook.
- Avoid pulling “all-nighters”.
- Limit your social calendar (holidays are just around the corner and good friends will wait).
- Avoid fad diets so as to maximize energy and concentration.
- Pack the necessary equipment for each exam, including a spare pen.
- Arrive punctually for each exam.
I also encourage parents to be involved in their child’s exam preparation. We know, often from our own experience as students, how easy it is to become distracted and bored. Encourage regular study sessions with short breaks, physical activity and healthy eating. Do not be afraid to check up on your child’s exam preparation progress, even if they are in their final years of school.
I wish students all the best for their exams and I hope that they have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Sheila Marais
High School Teacher
Key Stage 2: NATURAL DISASTERS
The Year 4’s have been learning about Natural Disasters. We have learnt about Tsunamis, Floods, Tornado’s, Earthquakes and Volcanic eruptions. We even had a look at our current local natural disaster happening in Durban and all the damage that the floods have caused. We have made collages of Tornado’s in art and presented orals on our choice of Natural disaster, explaining how the disaster occurs, where they occur and how to keep safe when a disaster strikes. This has been such an interesting topic especially since we can relate it to current affairs around the world.
Bridget Neal
Year 4 Teacher
Key Stage 1: IT’S ALL ABOUT SCIENCE
The year 2 students eagerly climbed into the bus for a science adventure. Although many had visited the Science Centre before, there were so many new things to see and experience, that they really enjoyed it.
One of the highlights was the Science lesson about ‘Changing Materials’. The students eagerly experimented with a sugar cubes (representing a rock), and found the cubes started melting when heat was applied.
The visit ended with a range of experiments conducted by the facilitators which both surprised and caused quite a few shrieks, as things exploded, flew into their air and lit up in the dark.
The general consensus on the ride home was that it was an exciting morning and thoroughly enjoyable!
Kim Coetzer
Year 2 Teacher
FS GRANDPARENTS AND SOMEONE SPECIAL DAY 2019
The Foundation Stage celebrated Grandparents and Someone Special day on Friday, 10 May 2019.
The grandparents and special people were invited to have tea, coffee and treats before they made their way into the hall for a mini-concert, which was opened with a beautiful song by the senior choir. This was followed by songs and poems, which were presented by the Foundation Stage students from Nursery, Pre-Reception and Reception. Afterwards the grandparents and special guests made their way to the classrooms where they were presented with a special gift from the students. Most of the students then went home to spend some quality time with their loved ones.
It is said that it takes a village to raise a child and this is certainly very true of the grandparents and other special people, such as close family members and friends. They offer essential support to parents and play a key role in shaping the lives of young children. They also fill the gap and help take care of children when their parents are not able to be there. With a lot of wisdom and life experience, they always tell the best stories that children can really learn many life lessons from. This is why we love to celebrate our Grandparents and special people in our lives.
Bronwen Nuthall
Reception Year Teacher
From the Principal’s Desk – 16th May 2019
Dear Parents
We are happy to have finally received our exchange students who arrived yesterday afternoon from our sister school COLEGIO INTERNACIONAL SEK – ECUADOR.
They have had an exhausting trip to get to South Africa, but arrived safely! We are very grateful to our parents who are hosting them and we trust that the students will go home with amazing stories about their Cape Town experience.
PARKING AT SCHOOL/ STOP AND DROP
Please note that we have received several emails from concerned parents with regards to the conduct of parents in the parking area in the mornings and the afternoons. The concerns are that some parents are not courteous towards others and disregard the safety of our students during the process of drop off and collection. We are also concerned that various transport services are not adhering to the stop and drop rule.
Transport services should park in the demarcated areas and then walk in to collect the students.
Stop and drop should not be used as a parking bay.
Please be mindful of other vehicles when parking or reversing.
Please be careful not to bang your car door against other vehicles.
It is very frustrating when common courtesy and respect for other drivers is not adhered to and it is not the responsibility of security to handle potentially volatile situations. If we could please be mindful of one another and demonstrate the respect and courtesy which we would like to receive.
UBER SERVICES
It has come to our attention that there are several students who make use of the Uber service.
We would like to advise you to check the following information when making use of the service:
Ensure that the registration plate, vehicle colour and model match the information provided on the Uber App.
Please be mindful of the age restrictions as set out in the Uber app Terms and Conditions.
The school is not liable for any incidents resulting from the use of Uber by pupils.
All access cards for the aftercare children have been printed and prepared for parents. The staff will provide you with a letter with a card attached.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend ahead.
Regards
Edna
Year 6 Outing – Student Feedback
Mind Blowing Year 6 outing
By: Ben Van der Westhuizen, Riley Hanning and Jens Buchwald (Year 6 Students)
This term the grade 6 classes have been learning about electricity. On the 3rd of May 2019 they went on an outing to the Cape Town Science Center. They hopped onto the bus at 8:30am and arrived there at 9:00am.
First they learned about how to construct an electrical circuit in groups of two. They also learned more information about electrical circuits. The grade 6s were tested on their knowledge about electricity on what we had learned in the previous lessons.
A few kids went on the gyroscope. Here is what Damon Moodley has to say about the ride, “I enjoyed it, but it was disappointing because I had to manually move it. It was still an awesome experience.”
Later on, the grade 6s watched a science show. There were lots of surprises and it was a wonderful way to end the outing.
Grade 6 Outing
By: Chloe Ralph and Linamandla Moyo (Year 6 Students)
On the 3rd of May 2019, the grade 6s of Blouberg International School went on an outing to ‘The Science Centre’. The grade 6 class boarded the bus excited and ready for the Science Centre.
Once the class arrived, they were paired into groups. Blue, which was Mrs Esturhuizen’s class. Red, which was Mrs Hack’s class. The grade sixes’ first activity consisted of learning about electrical circuits and heat gas. They participated in making their own electrical circuits in pairs. Then they were granted permission to go explore all the technology, illusions, and inventions.
Jamey, a staff member of the establishment ‘The Science Centre’, allowed the grade sixes to go and fetch their lunch. Once finished, the grade sixes played a fun challenging quiz game known as Kahoot.
Soon after, the grade sixes went to a show which was made to teach the children what gases can do and how they react. The final activity included seeing one of the oldest cameras in South Africa. Then they entered a dark room where a projector-like camera was. Mirrors were inside – giving the grade sixes a view outside of the Science Centre.
“It was a great experience and my favorite part was when we could see the outdoors with the camera obscura.” -Damon Moodley, 12.
The grade six classes leaped back into the bus with their faces full of smiles and giggles.
In conclusion, the grade sixes had a wonderful time spent at the Science Centre.
Read MoreInteractive Curriculum Morning Term 2 – Key Stage 1
The Interactive Curriculum morning is a series of presentations covering different topics each time. All primary school parents are urged to attend these sessions as this is a vital platform for teachers to guide parents through the Cambridge curriculum.
On Saturday, 4 May, Year 1 presented the Cambridge English curriculum to parents. I had the opportunity to present and discuss information about reading. The importance of reading cannot be emphasised enough. Parents and educators need to make every day reading a high priority. Reading enhances a child’s vocabulary, cultivates a vibrant imagination and ultimately helps them understand how to read and write. By reading aloud to children you are helping them comprehend various topics about the world and every day life form multiple point of views. This teaches them to think outside of the box and to reach conclusions by using more complex and creative methods.
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
Four Seasons – Foundation Stage
During the last two weeks in Reception Year, we have been talking about the four seasons. We discussed how nature tells us when it is summer, autumn, winter or spring. We learned that summer is the hottest season and our days are longer so we can play outside till late. During autumn the weather starts getting colder and the trees start to turn brown, red and yellow. Winter is the coldest season and some animals hibernate during winter. Spring is when the weather starts getting warmer again and the farmers start to plough their lands and plant their crops.
The students listened, watched and discovered. On Thursday, 25 April 2019 they had to recall all the information and add some of their own, and present their ‘favourite season’ to the class., some students designed their own charts; others drew pictures and some brought winter clothes. It is always exciting to hear their stories and see how well they do under with so many eyes on them.
Martie van Dyk
Reception Year Teacher
From The Principal’s Desk – 9th May 2019
Dear Parents
We are already halfway through the term and with only five weeks ahead of us, the students and teachers are working hard in pursuit of their goals.
We are hosting the first of our annual Grandparents/ Someone Special Day tomorrow, Friday the 10th of May, and are excited to see what our students and their teachers have planned for the morning.
On Monday the 13th of May we are welcoming students from Colegio Internacional SEK – Ecuador and I would like to thank every family who has opened up their homes to host these students as we are looking forward to hosting them at our school. Our students will also have the opportunity to visit sister schools around the globe and planning is about to begin for the first exchange program for the year 8’s of 2020. We hope that our exchange students will feel at home at BIS and that they form relationships which will extend across borders
“Good – if so-called elite – schools have so vital a role to play. We all carry with us intimations of immortality: The need to belong, to have a community, the seek excellence and have a share in something fine that transcends to mediocre, is deep in the heart, no matter how humble the parent or how disadvantaged the child”
– Marguerite Poland (South African poet and author)
Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful moms!
Regards
Edna