Art And Design – Performance Art
During term 2 and 3, the Year 1 students have been looking at patterns. In our lessons the students have been asked the question What is a pattern? They have looked at patterns around the world, and even created patterns of their own doing block patterns with potatoes and apples.
We studied patterns in nature and looked at patterns inspired by nature. The students then made animal masks for their Performance Art. In groups, the students created a dance to the song, Circle of Life from the Lion King. Then they performed their dance for their peers.
We had so much fun learning about patterns and really loved each and every performance.
Well done Year 1!
Ann Cordner
Year 1 Teacher and KS 1 Coordinator
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Year 2 Sticky Construction Fun
“Through unstructured exploration, we foster the development of imagination and creativity.”
– Beth Rosenthal Davis
At the end of last term, our Year 2’s were split into small groups and given a bunch of marshmallows and skewer sticks. Their task was to create the tallest tower or most interesting construction, using only the marshmallows and sticks. Each group needed to first take the time to plan among themselves what they would envision building for their creation. They each drew some ideas onto a piece of paper and chatted about how they could bring their models to life, all the while learning to work as a team.
One of the biggest challenges they faced was how to create a strong foundation; one that would uphold and support their creation. The groups experimented with various foundation shapes and angles, very quickly learning which designs would hold a structure up and give support to whatever was to be built above it. Lots of trying and testing was done, but in the end each team had put together an equally unique and very interesting creation.
Sticky hands and lots to play with. So much fun!
Siobhan Hendry
Year 2 Teacher
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Learning About Sundials
“Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” – Benjamin Franklin
The year 2 students thoroughly enjoyed learning about sundials and the purpose of them last week.
The teachers find it important that students know the reason behind sundials as they are the oldest known instrument for telling the time. The sundial also allows for us to track the position of the sun with accuracy..
In our Science lesson, students were able to make their own sundials out of paper plates and straws. After decorating their sundials, the students went outside and set their beautiful paper sundials on the ground and tried to tell the time accurately (11:30). The students were very intrigued by the lesson and engaged in the activity with such eagerness to learn.
“Be as true to each other as this dial is to the Sun” – Unknown
Erin Hierse
Year 2 Teacher
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Saving Our Planet
In Year 1 we have been learning about, ‘Saving our Planet’ in Global Perspectives.
We also went on a litter walk around the school. My class showed such passion and commitment to cleaning up the litter in and around the school, I am so proud of them all.
I have even had reports from parents informing me that their child picks up litter when they are out walking at the beach.
They have been working very hard and even created their own display for our classroom’s ‘Art and Design’ board, to raise awareness about litter.
Well done Year 1!
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
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Greeting Cards!
Unfortunately, with the arrival of Social Media, the exchange of actual greeting cards seems to have dwindled. It’s far easier to type a message using Facebook or Instagram, than hand selecting, or even making the traditional greeting card the older generation remember so fondly!
The making of greeting cards can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians and through the middle ages. The invention of the postage stamp in 1840 revolutionised the distribution of these cards, and in 1930, the company Hallmark was established with their sole purpose to create and print greeting cards for many different occasions.
Luckily, children really enjoy making cards. It allows them to explore their creativity. What teacher, parent or friend isn’t delighted to receive a handmade card from a child? Just give them cardboard, colouring crayons, scissors and glue and the results are a work of love.
Kim Coetzer
Year 2 Teacher
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Science – An Animal Nursery
This term, the year 1 students have enjoyed the Science theme, Being Alive. The students have learnt how to identify if something is alive or not. It is alive if it grows, breathes, eats and reproduces.
This week we learnt about baby animals and how to care for them. The students had to choose a baby animal and decide what it would need to grow to adulthood. They then worked in pairs and built the nursery using lots of creativity in their designs.
Well done Year 1!
Ann Cordner
Year 1 teacher
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From the Principal’s Desk, 20 August 2021
Dear Parents
DROP AND GO
We would like to remind parents that children should always exit/enter vehicles on the left hand side. We would like to ensure that our students remain safe at all times.
COVID AND ONLINE LEARNING
Due to the Covid situation in the Western Cape, our hybrid teaching will continue for the remainder of this term.
Please ensure that if your child learns from home they are committed and attend every lesson. Sadly, we do have students who take advantage of the situation.
Every BIS student has an iesmail.com email address. Students are reminded that this address is for school related matters only. All private chats should be done using a private email address.
FEATURE PHOTO
Mr Brian Sizani is our Mathematics and Physics teacher at the High School. He has been at BIS since October 2017.
Did you know…..
- He only reads novels by Martina Cole. He has quite a collection of them.
- He aspires to be an Astrophysicist.
- He was part of the UWC choir for 4 years, singing tenor. He is also a choir member at church, singing tenor solos and at times he gets to conduct the choir.
- He loves traveling and exploring/learning about various cultures, especially indigenous cultures.
- As much as he admires the natural beauty of this planet, he has not been able to overcome his fear of the ocean yet. One day!
Thank you, Brian, for your commitment to the students and the school.
WEEKLY THOUGHT: Discipline in Life
“Only the disciplined ones in life are free. If you are undisciplined, you are a slave to your moods and your passions.” – Eliud Kipchoge
Freedom to do what we want to, when we want to, is usually the type of freedom that the majority of people wish for. But what does this “freedom” mean and how does it manifest practically in everyday life?
For us to better understand what Kipchoge – the world record holder in the marathon – is trying to bring across, let’s take a simple example that most of us can relate to:
Each of us believes that we are free to eat whatever we like. We also believe that we have the choice to exercise as much or as little as we want to. “Yes, we are truly free,” some will remark. But wait, there is a catch…
We all know that if a person eats without any restraint and does no exercise whatsoever, chances are very good that he/she will gain weight. If this continues over an extended period of time, they will gain a lot of weight. This lifestyle has long-term implications, including susceptibility to certain diseases and a variety of other health risks. People in this category are also often not able to participate in many activities, both indoor and outdoor. Though sad and unfortunate, these are facts.
Life gives us many examples like these, proving that exercising our “freedoms” does not always lead to true freedom.
Let’s look at Kipchoge’s words again. He is in fact saying that if we are not slaves to our moods and passions, but live lives of discipline, we will find true freedom.
This may not be the most encouraging message; but when it’s applied, it can be life-changing indeed.
Question: What “freedoms” in your life could lead to circumstances that you would rather avoid?
Have an amazing weekend, let’s remember to be grateful for all the privileges we enjoy daily.
Andre
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Hooked on Books – Year 2 Reading Fun!
“Books give a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything” – Plato
While reading is obviously important in order for us to understand the words on the page, it is also the foundation of one’s ability to learn, and ultimately our ability to function accordingly in an ever changing society. As children learn they no longer have to rely on their parents to read things to them – one of the most natural ways of building independence and self-confidence. As they read they begin to understand the world around them.
This week, our Year 2’s were lucky enough to experience the fun of Hooked on Books; is a touring Educational Theatre Company that has been igniting a love of reading in children across our country for the past 25 years. The Hooked on Books team dramatise book-trailers from contemporary children’s books, which change on an annual basis. The book-trailers provide a visual, dramatic preview of the book similar to that of a movie trailer. By leaving the story at a nail-biting cliff-hanger they entice the students to make a beeline for the library to find out how the story ends. Their secret is keeping the show simple and fun, encouraging students to use their imaginations to create make-believe worlds with colourful characters.
We had so much fun!
Siobhan Hendry
Year 2 Teacher
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The Importance Of Learning To Write Poetry
“Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility.” – William Wordsworth
Poetry is known as a form of expression. It allows for one to get their feelings and thoughts out on a subject which we, the Year 2 teachers, find important for students to start doing at a young age. Poetry encourages us to connect and find meaning in our experiences. Teachers have experienced that poetry can have a positive impact on the social and emotional learning of young students. It may also offer them a new and creative way of thinking about something which is encouraged.
This past week we learnt about a Food Train Poem written by Julia Donaldson. This was a fun and creative way for our students to try recreating the idea of the poem using their own favourite foods. They came up with incredible Food Train poems and thoroughly enjoyed reading them out to the class.
The Food Train, poem by Julia Donaldson
THE FOOD TRAIN
COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE,
BREAD AND BUTTER, BREAD AND BUTTER, BREAD AND BUTTER,
BREAD AND BUTTER,
BISCUITS AND CHEESE, BISCUITS AND CHEESE, BISCUITS AND CHEESE, BISCUITS AND CHEESE,
FISH AND CHIPS, FISH AND CHIPS, FISH AND CHIPS, FISH AND CHIPS, FISH AND CHIPS, FISH AND CHIPS, FISH AND CHIPS, FISH AND CHIPS,
SOUP!
Erin Hierse
Year 2 Teacher
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From the Principal’s Desk, 12 August 2021
Dear Parents
WHAT OUR SCHOOL STANDS FOR…
We would like our school to be known as a “Bully Free Zone”. Let’s consider this a little.
More details to follow!
COVID AND ONLINE LEARNING
I have had a few queries as to what extent the school is affected by Covid cases. As with most other work places we are most certainly affected. However, we try and manage it per class/group and discreetly as possible. We have over the past 3 weeks closed certain classes or phases and isolated staff where necessary. During these times we follow all health & safety protocols and often ask for professional advice.
We continue with Hybrid teaching until the end of August. We will re-assess this towards the end of the month before we communicate the way forward in September. Thank you to everyone for working together and supporting one other.
Online learning should be taken seriously, and all classes should be attended.
FEATURE PHOTO
Our main newsletter photograph features our newly appointed Key Stage 2 Coordinator, Ms Katherine Nel. Katherine started her journey at BIS in 2016. She then moved to Dubai in 2018 where she taught at an international school. In 2020, Katherine came back to our BIS family.
- Katherine is originally from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) and moved to Cape Town in 2016.
- She has three dogs and shares a birthday with her Poodle, Bentley.
- She has lived and worked at schools in both London and Dubai.
- Katherine enjoys studying (maybe a bit too much) and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media, Communication and Culture (majoring in English Literature and Public Relations), a Postgraduate Degree in Education, an Honours Bachelor of Education- with specialisation in Inclusive Education, an Honours Bachelor of Education- with specialisation in Psycho-Educational Support and she is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Psychology. She also hopes to one day complete her Master of Education in Educational Psychology. Wow!
- When she was in pre-school, she wanted to be a waitress in Paris.
Thank you, Katherine, for your contribution in making our school a great place to be.
WEEKLY THOUGHT: Little Things
“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.” – Bruce Barton
We live in a culture where everything is measured by size and numbers. A normal meal doesn’t catch the eye until it’s “SUPER-SIZED”; when we expect 30 people at a gathering and only 5 people pitch, the event is considered a failure; when raising funds for a certain cause and end up with less than expected, we become discouraged.
We live in a world in which size matters more than ever before. Although most families can live in a home of around 150 square meters, we look at the guy living in a 1,000-square house and somehow think that’s better.
All these ways of thinking have brought us to a place where we no longer take notice of the little things. This is very detrimental, as we will most likely miss some wonderful opportunities in life because of it.
Take business for instance: How do the majority of businesses start? With 100,000 clients on day one? Of course not – they start with one! Valuing that client and giving them the best possible service will then hopefully draw the 2nd, 3rd, 5th & 10th clients in. And so, it starts.
Looking for that business or opportunity that will give you “instant” wealth or success will lead you down a road of emptiness and discouragement – not because there aren’t opportunities, but because you aren’t sensitive to the ventures and opportunities in life that start off small.
Once we reset our bias toward big things and tune in to the many small opportunities all around us, we, like Barton, will start to consider the consequences of little things and realize that they weren’t all that little after all.
“Let’s get all the little things right”. The big things will take care of themselves.
Have a brilliant weekend – give someone a reason to smile.
Andre
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