The Next World Leaders
In Global Perspectives this term, the Year 6 students have been learning about values. To start off the discussion, they were asked to brainstorm their own personal values. They needed to design and create a poster illustrating which of these values were important to them and explain why. The students presented their posters in class, and wow, the Year 6 teachers were so impressed with their heart-warming presentations.
We then moved on to discuss the differences between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ and looked through the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Once the students gained a better understanding of children’s rights, they explored how all their educational needs are met, and who is responsible for this.
They then had the opportunity to read our school’s mission and vision statement. In groups, they had a discussion on how the mission statement could be changed or adapted and made suggestions on what they would add to the school’s mission statement.
The Year 6’s will soon move on to researching information on school attendance worldwide and research an organisation that is helping to get every child into school. They will present their findings in class.
It is very impressive to watch the Year 6 students collaborate, develop and unify their ideas. We cannot wait to see what the next presentations hold in store for us.
Keep up the great work Year 6!
Katherine Nel
Year 6 Teacher
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Wild Animals
We are learning more about wild animals in Foundation Stage. Picture books with animal characters are firm favourites with the students and they simply love to observe animals on the whiteboard shows. We even made our own wild animals in Art.
According to an article in ONE GREEN PLANET, animals can teach us 10 important things:
- Compassion: Compassion is based on being able to understand the feelings of others/another.
- Patience: There is no rushing an animal to do anything they aren’t ready to do.
- How to live in the now: People waste so much time obsessed with following ‘what will happen next’ that we completely forget to enjoy the now.
- We’re all connected: Ecosystems only thrive when there is balance.
- Humans aren’t as different as we thought: If there’s ever been a time to re-evaluate our relationship with animals, it’s now.
- Respect your elders: Moving forward and advancing towards innovation is a wonderful thing, but we should also learn to respect the wisdom of those who came before us.
- Responsibility: Growing up with a pet has been shown to instill a deeper understanding in children.
- Listen carefully: Animals sit and listen before they react to situations, something we could surely all stand to do.
- Live lightly: Animals learn to live within their means.
- We must stick together: Being able to set aside differences and work together for the mutual benefit of our species.
Martie van Dyk
Pre-Reception Teacher
Year 5 Looks To The Future
Throughout the course of Term 3, the Year 5’s have been exploring the different aspects of the working world, thinking a little deeper about the type of jobs they wish to one day have.
We have done extensive research, conducting interviews and internet searches, to find out more about what to expect in our future lives.
We also investigated the possibility of a robot taking our job in the future – making predictions and checking our answers using a website called “Will Robots Take My Job”.
After of all this thought and preparation the Year 5’s were ready to report back to their classes about the jobs they hope to hold when they are older. Let me tell you – considering the vets, astronauts, engineers, teachers and pilots who stood before me this week – I can confidently say that our future is in great hands!
Robyn Pieters
Year 5 Teacher
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Countries Around The World
The Foundation Stage students have really enjoyed the Countries Around the World theme. Each morning we used our imagination to board an aeroplane and fasten our seatbelts to set off for a new country. Using a PowerPoint presentation, we “visited” a new country each day. The students have learnt so much about the landmarks, traditions and cultures of South Africa, Australia, Russia, China, France, England, Spain, America and England over the past two weeks.
We even made our own passports for our daily journey – complete with a drawing of the student’s passport photo and some of their personal information.
This past Friday, the Foundation Stage dressed up according to their favourite country. The students delighted in telling their classmates which country they had chosen, which was a real highlight of the theme. The students were also treated to an amazing Inting by Gilly the Storyteller. She skillfully used the student’s imaginations to bring the lovely stories she told to life.
Now that the travel bug has bitten, we are sure to have many world travelers in the years to come.
Bronwen Nuthall
Reception Year Teacher
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Being In The Moment To Build Inspired Students
Becoming overwhelmed is easy as we navigate constant change. Becoming inspired and excited by the very same, allows us other opportunities. This term, the year 4’s have been online and/or in class. Every day they enter the classroom, full of expectations and open to the joy of the moment.
It is delightful to see that their education and excellence is determined by enthusiasm and encouragement. This is because of a team effort between teachers, parents and our students.
Google Meets in a hybrid class, encourage moments of magic- as we have to create moments that resonate, whether we are together or not. Most are spontaneous as we aspire to give everyone an equal chance to take part and see…
e.g. suddenly my laptop becomes a webcam for science experiments:
Our hall display reminds us of Mrs Keyser – she wanted to remind us that together we can make something beautiful, and a pinch of fun makes it great.
Who knew that our Google Hangout chats this holiday, would help us in English…
And that a lesson on French knitting at the end of last term, would become an obsession.
Together is so much better.
Mrs Carey Schoots
Year 4 Teacher
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International Day Of Friendship
International Day of Friendship is a day to appreciate and promote friendship. It was celebrated across the world on Friday, 30 July.
International Day of Friendship promotes the idea that building friendships between people, countries and cultures can inspire peace and build bridges between those communities.
Friendship requires empathy, compassion and concern for other people. By valuing these friendships we adopt a more selfless and grateful outlook on life.
In the Pre-Reception we spoke about what we think makes a good friend, we decided that good friends…
- Help each other
- Play together
- Give friends love
- Share
- Are nice to each other
- Says kind words
- Draws pictures for one another and makes things as gifts to give each other
The students then drew and decorated a picture and gave it to an existing or new friend, they had lots of fun doing this! All in all it was a wonderful day, especially because we got to come to school in pyjamas for civvies day too.
This day can help build a more kind, caring and peaceful world!
Cindy Nunan
Nursery and Pre-Reception Teacher
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Back To School Is Cool!
After 3 long weeks of fun, fun, fun.
Our holidays are over and done.
Time to go back to school
And yes, this can be very cool!
A week of online learning you see.
(It’s really not for you and me)
But 3MG took it in their stride,
And oh my heart will burst with pride!
Each student on time every morning
Although, there was a little yawning.
Heaps of energy and full of beans!
Excited and very chatty it seems!
Lots and lots of holiday news,
A race to talk and share ensues!
But hang on Year 3, there is time to tell
Please hold your tongue and do not yell.
First a cube you must design
And then you’ll have your chance to shine!
On each face, you should draw
A holiday snap of what you saw
And when you’re done, a turn you’ll get
To roll your cube and then you’re set!
To tell us about that holiday snap
A chance to chat and chat and chat!
And when your news has come to an end,
You’ll have to listen to your friend!
Mandy Goch
Year 3 Teacher
Sing Along Learning
At Blouberg International School, in Reception Year, our little ones learn in many different ways, but singing songs is one of our favourites! They love learning new songs and actions and are always very happy to share their favourite songs with everyone.
Did you know:
One way or another, children are exposed to and involved with singing from their earliest years. Whether it’s a parent singing them to sleep, or the opening theme song from their favourite TV programme, singing plays an important part in a child’s development.
Learning a piece of information attached to a melody embeds that information more rapidly in a child’s mind. The majority of children learn the alphabet and numbers not by simply saying them but singing them.
Monique Meyer
Reception Year Teacher
This was our rendition of a counting song…
Read MoreA Warm Welcome To The Third Term Of 2021
I trust you were able to enjoy quality time with your family and are well rested.
On behalf of all our staff members, I would like to welcome back our high school students, who are currently online for now and will hopefully soon be back in class.
We have big smiles (and smiling eyes), positive attitudes and a group of children who have settled marvellously into the new normal.
We would like to welcome Mr. Louis Marais, our new junior high school Science, Maths and PE teacher and Ms. Michellene Williams, our high school IGCSE, AS and A Level English teacher, to our team and wish them the very best for the term to come.
Also, sincere congratulations to the newly elected Interact Board Members for 2021-2022:
Rifqah Price – President
Ayanda Gumede- Vice President
Altesse Cimbalanga – Secretary
Oscar Berger – Treasurer
Ben Cimbalanga – Board member
High School parent-teacher meetings for Term 3 will take place over the following dates:
26/07/2021 – 08:00 – 16:00
27/07/2021 – 08:00 – 16:00
28/07/2021 – 08:00 – 16:00
Parents are kindly requested to book meetings with subject teachers via the Engage platform. Further communication regarding the booking process will be sent out on Friday, 23 July 2021.
As an outstanding school, we value the holistic education and growth of our children and I want to thank all parents, students and staff for working endlessly and incredibly hard to continue to maintain a very high standard of work in the school and also at home.
Carmen de Villiers
High School Coordinator
(PHOTO: BIS INTERACT BOARD of 2022 – Top Left to Right: Altesse, Oscar & Ben; Bottom Left to Right: Rifqah & Ayanda)
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Welcome Back To Term 3 2021!
The Year 6 teachers are incredibly excited to be back at school and starting lessons with our students! Even though we are online, we can still feel the eagerness and commitment resonate through the screens from our Year 6 students. It is lovely to see their faces and hear them contribute to lessons just as they would in class.
This week, the Year 6’s entertained our lessons by showing us their new pets that graced their homes over the holidays!
During Science, we started learning about Electrical Conductors and Insulators and we were able to see an impressive circuit presented by Year 6 student, Juliette East.
We giggled when I shouted “selfie” to take a picture for the Newsletter.
The students also opened up about missing everyone during the holidays and that they were happy to be back.
It was a great first week back and we are all looking forward to the rest of the term. The Year 6’s have a lot in store for Term 3 and we look forward to sharing this with all of you as we progress.
Brittney Hakime
Year 6 Teacher
Here are some great tips and tricks I know I have definitely learnt from my students to make an online lesson a little more interesting:
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