Photos – IGCSE Results 2020
We received our November 2020 IGCSE (International General Certificate of Senior Education) results for our Year 10’s this week. It was a proud moment for every teacher in the High School as we celebrated the phenomenal marks achieved in all areas, but particularly Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science. Our cohort of 20 students achieved 30 A* (90% and above) 24 A’s (80% and above) and 22 B’s (70% and above).
Our top student, Rifqah Price, wrote a total of 9 subjects and received an A* for every one of them. Well done Rifqah, we celebrate your achievements with you.
Rifqah Price, Top Student IGCSE 2020 and Principal, Mrs Lawrence.
From the Principal’s Desk, 22 January 2021
Dear Parents
Despite the challenges we continue to face, the threat of schools closing, we have thrived this week at Blouberg International. It is heartwarming to see how happy our children are to be back at school. A right that should not be taken away from them.
I am sure the recent upheavals are causing anxiety in terms of your planning, but at Blouberg International we are set on giving our students the absolute best of service despite these challenges.
We received our November 2020 IGCSE (International General Certificate of Senior Education) results for our Year 10’s this week. It was a proud moment for every teacher in the High School as we celebrated the phenomenal marks achieved in all areas, but particularly Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science. Our cohort of 20 students achieved 30 A* (90% and above) 24 A’s (80% and above) and 22 B’s (70% and above).
Our top student, Rifqah Price, wrote a total of 9 subjects and received an A* for every one of them. Well done Rifqah, we celebrate your achievements with you.
Our children are experiencing this pandemic in such a different way to us adults and it is therefore important that we encourage them and ensure they are emotionally equipped to handle each day.
They might experience the feelings like:
I won’t do it.
I can’t do it.
I want to do it.
How do I do it?
I will try to do it.
I can do it.
I did it!
Each one of the above is a step as well as a choice. Let us continue to encourage them through each one and ensure they not only endure but also thrive during this time.
I wish you a wonderful weekend of quality family time.
Kind regards
Edna
Read MoreStudent Representative Council Portfolios 2021
SRC 2021:
Back row left to right: Chloë Goldman, Tshephang Mashaba, Niklyn Pillay, Gabrielle Luyt
Front row left to right: Hope Munkondia, Karen Kambizi, Edna Lawrence (School Principal), Courtneigh Harris, Samantha Wynne
Karen Kambizi
I applied for Head girl and Culture because, I want to make a difference in the students’ lives- despite this pandemic, leaving a good legacy at Blouberg International is utterly important to me. I would like to implement great ideas that will make our school the best! With that being said, I plan to take BIS to greater heights by taking advantage of the leadership roles I have been honoured with and the help of the SRC. I would like to leave a mark at our prestigious and awesome school!
Niklyn Pillay
My name is Niklyn Pillay. I am the Head boy as well as one of the Heads of Sport of Blouberg International School. As Head boy I mainly serve the students by approaching the school with their ideas, and I try to inspire others to be greater by continuing to better myself. I also help my fellow SRC with their goals and duties. Being a Head of Sport I work on improving our physical activities and try to provide the students with the best and most exciting of sports. My goals for the year are: motivating students to have school spirit, redefining the word learning; in the minds of BIS students, and enabling the students to view school as more than just a place of education.
Hope Munkondia
DISCIPLINE
As head of discipline it is my duty and responsibility to communicate with the teacher in charge of this portfolio about the discipline of my peers. This includes being fair and opposing any and all forms of bullying, victimization and discrimination. This is an advantage to the wellbeing of the school because as a fellow student and peer to the students it makes it easier to approach and look out for them.
SECRETARY AND TREASURER
My duties as secretary of SRC involve taking minutes during our meetings, which are kept for later review and reference. As treasurer I am expected to keep record of profits and expenditures of the SRC. This is a great responsibility which I take a lot of pride in. All in all, I am super proud of both of my portfolios and I cannot wait to carry out my duties to my full potential.
Samantha Wynne
My name is Samantha Wynne, Head of Student Welfare. My plans for the school include creating a space for personal growth, engaging in helpful discussions about mental health, building a long-lasting support system for the students and making them feel heard by promoting inclusivity.
Chloë Goldman
My portfolio is Student Welfare. I wanted to be a part of this portfolio because I am passionate and interested in the wellbeing and comfort of the students at Blouberg in order to make their experience here as enjoyable as possible. Some things I wish to implement in the year ahead are Buddy systems / Support groups, more informative discussions on important topics such as Mental Health and Period Poverty, as well as introducing more clubs by popular demand such as a Debate club.
Gabrielle Luyt
As the head of discipline and sports, my hopes weren’t exactly sky high going into this year, due to Covid. However, even though we’re only a week in, great progress has already been made. Sports will resume, with a bunch of fun, new and inclusive options available for all age groups, as well as the introduction of a house cup and various ways to acquire house points. Despite the dreary situation we’re all in, this year we’re hoping to bring back and prioritize high school sport and morale.
Tshepang Mashaba
The Vision I have as the Interact Representative of SRC and the Director of the Interact Club, is to fulfil ‘service above self’. I would like Blouberg International School to host more fundraisers in 2021 to combat the problems that our under-privileged and the needy community face, especially during this Covid-19 Pandemic. It is my responsibility to empower the outreach of Blouberg International School to be a reaching hand in our community.
Courtneigh Harris
Hi, I am Courtneigh Harris and I am a part of the culture portfolio in the SRC. My main goal as culture portfolio is to improve school spirit and create a space in which students feel comfortable enough to want to expand their creative side. As a member of the SRC, my job is to be someone my juniors see as an older sibling, always there to support and encourage.
– Written by the SRC of 2021 –
Read More
Teaching And Growing Young Minds
It has been an “out of the normal” sort of start to term 1, however it has been nothing short of fun and exciting.
As a teacher, these times are never easy. We are always worried about whether our students are receiving the tools they need to grow or getting enough of us as we try to stretch ourselves between numerous tasks. As daunting as it is to be teaching during a pandemic, it amazes me how strong and committed our students are. They remain eager to learn and excited for each new day. They never falter to take on a new challenge.
Today I tasked my students with a research activity and before I could guide them on which search engines to use or how to go about starting their research they were already absorbed in the activity and enthusiastically writing down facts. They were guiding each other and sharing advice with their peers. I was so proud as I watched them and listened to the helpful chatter that filled the classroom. Except for the masks and distance between each student teaching and learning continued.
This reminded me that as teachers we are changing the world and we do make a difference. To be able to keep your classroom running as normal when you are still trying to figure out what the ‘new normal’ is and to see the little faces of eager students that excitedly walk through the door each morning wanting to learn and then actually partaking of the knowledge you have to give is remarkable. We can all take from that, that we are making a difference. Pandemic or not, we are still doing what we love… TEACHING and GROWING young minds.
Nadia Mahomed
Year 5 Teacher
Necessity Is The Mother Of All Invention – (Plato)
We all know children love and need to play. During these trying times, break times are not as much fun as they used to be. Wearing masks in this heat, social distancing, etc. are not conducive to an exciting playtime for young children.
The same can be said for ‘free time’ in the classroom. Getting together in groups playing card games, or building Lego together is just not an option. Drawing a picture or colouring in can become pretty boring. Some students in my class decided to make paper jets, which was a good idea, until ducking flying objects became a hazardous situation, not to mention a distraction to students still completing work.
But, as Plato said, necessity IS the mother of invention. Last week, I observed some students taking to the field, flying their paper jets, and having races! I really was impressed at how these young minds saw a problem and created their own solution. They had so much fun, that this has become the norm most break times.
Kim Coetzer
Year 2 Teacher
Read More
Pre-Reception And Nursery – All About Me And My Family!
The Pre-Reception and Nursery students are starting to settle in beautifully into the class routine. This week we are learning about “All about me and my family”. The theme is to help children learn about each other and each other’s families and to realize that every person is unique and special. All our activities help them get to know the special and unique things about themselves and each other.
During creative activities we painted hands to make their handprints to decorate their art files and to see that all their hands and finger prints are different. The students were also encouraged to build their houses out of blocks. Circle Time was used to learn about the social skills of being together as a group and to learn more about the theme.
All our activities are centered around the theme the students are really having fun learning about themselves, their little friends and their families!
Cindy Nunan
Pre-Reception & Nursery Teacher
Orientation Morning 2021
Written By – Alyssa (Year 12 Student)
On Tuesday the 12th of January, we had our induction day, introducing the new students as well as last year’s year 6’s entering year 7. With the current global pandemic, induction day was done a little differently this year with all the safety measures put in place.
The fresh faces were guided through our campus by our lovely matrics. Each group of new faces were led by three of our seniors to meet all of their amazing and inspiring new teachers and become familiar in the new environment at Blouberg International. All students had an introduction to their tutor teachers.
At the end of the day, each student was given a pre-packed snack pack and all the students sat with their new friends and enjoyed their snacks. It’s safe to say that induction day went extremely well.
Written By – Hope (Year 12 Student
On Tuesday the 12th of January, the matric class welcomed new students and the year 7’s to the high school. The day started at 09:00 with a brief introduction of the seniors.
We then proceeded with separating the children in groups of 5 or 6 (in order to follow covid regulations) and we took them on a tour of the facility where they will be spending the next few years. The kids were excited and had so many questions about anything and everything. They met their teachers and got their timetables and lockers.
At the end of the morning, they were given some water and a healthy but delicious snack box. In conclusion, the day was an absolute success and the children were so happy to be beginning high school. As a senior, I was proud to be a guardian to the kids and I can’t wait to see them grow and mature.
Read More
Reflective Learning In Year 5
The Year 5’s started off the year excited and ready to learn. After enthusiastically greeting old friends and welcoming new ones, we got down to the business of learning.
One of the fantastic things about Cambridge learning is that it is reflective. The students are actively engaged in their own learning, building knowledge rather than simply receiving it. The Year 5’s implemented this right from the start of their learning, starting a KWL chart about the topic we are covering this term – Space! A KWL chart makes notes of what we Know, what we Would like to know and what we have Learnt.
Did you know that Jupiter has 79 moons, but only 53 of them have names? Or that we currently know of about 100 billion galaxies in the universe? Jupiter is the planet that spins the fastest, and Mercury is very hot during the day and very cold at night. These are some of the interesting facts that we shared in our first Science lesson!
As we go through the term, we’ll keep adding what we learn to our chart, watching our knowledge build throughout the term. We’ll look at the questions we had at the beginning, and see whether they have been answered, or whether we still have more research to do. Who knows – perhaps this is where some budding astronauts start their flight!
We look forward to seeing all our students fly high this year!
Hannah Kirkaldy
Year 5 Teacher
First Day Of Year 1
The first day of year 1 is always very exciting, it is the beginning of the students formal schooling. The students arrived at school full of anticipation for the big day and the year ahead. This is what they want to learn about this year.
I want to learn to read books. – Keona
I want to learn about animals. – Wany
I want to learn about rainbows. – Juliana
I am excited to learn more Maths. – Tilda
I want to learn Maths. – Pearce
I want to learn to read books on my own. – Hayley
I want to learn about reading. – Ifunanya
I want to learn about pets. – Mataio
I want to learn harder sums. – Jaanae
I want to learn more Maths. – Eva
I want to learn about science. – Muhammad
I want to learn about growing up. – Neveah
I want to learn about my friends and my teacher. – Defne
I am confident that by the end of the year they will have learnt these things and so much more.
Ann Cordner
Year 1 Teacher
Welcome To School!
It has been such a pleasure welcoming all the new little faces to Reception Year this week. They all came to school excited to meet their teachers, make new friends and tell everyone their holiday news. Everyone enjoyed sharing and hearing about the fun things their families did together during the holidays.
We start our learning journey in Reception with practicing to write their names and numbers. It is such a privilege seeing the pride the little ones take when they are able to show what they can do. We look forward to a fun filled and exciting year in the Foundation Stage.
Monique Meyer
Reception Year Teacher