Living Life As An Artistic Being
Teenagers are at high risk for depression and anxiety. They know what we want to hear, and that is what they often give us. Teens know the buzzwords, and talking about their emotions can be wrongly impacted by their preconceived ideas about what they think we want to hear.
Teens who are good with words can use them as a disguise rather than a method of self-discovery. Furthermore, for other adolescents, discussing feelings may be frightening or uncomfortable. The creative process does not allow for that kind of manipulation to happen. Creative arts get teens out of their heads and into their bodies. The teen brain is wired for creativity. Consequently, creative expression is a natural fit to support thriving in adolescents. Creativity is part of building one’s identity. In addition, it supports brain development. Being creative even reduces anxiety. It makes us happier. Creativity and teen mental health go hand in hand.
The act of doing something creative employs various parts of the brain. That is why being creative enhances connectivity in the brain. Connectivity refers to the relationships between different areas of the brain. A study published in 2014 suggests that people with artistic training have improved connectivity between the two hemispheres of their brains. Creative arts, including music and visual art go beyond the rational mind, tapping into our most authentic self. Adolescents, in particular, are attracted to making symbols and graphic depictions. Therefore, they are more attracted to using art as language than to verbal questioning.”
Creativity help teens develop what is known as divergent thinking. Divergent thinking is a process of generating creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. The creative experience produces a natural “high”. Simply viewing art and listening to music stimulates the brain to release dopamine, the “pleasure chemical”. This is the same chemical that is triggered when we fall in love.
Actively making art or music has a similar effect. In addition, it induces a state of flow, a term coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. This flow describes the experience of being completely absorbed in an activity. It means participating in a reality that is different from that of everyday life. As a result, experiences of flow are the key to sustainable happiness. Teenagers ascribe ‘happiness’ to their moods when they are able to engage in flow activities that stretch their skills and makes them feel alive and proud. Creativity, in particular, produces flow. Moreover, unplugged creative activities for teenagers offer both flow and a mini digital detox.
Creative arts prepares teens to be creative in other areas of life. It comes into play as teens learn new ways of relating to their past, present and new approaches to dealing with pain, trauma, or difficult relationships.
Riaan Vosloo
High School Art and Design Teacher
Teaching Biology Online – Experience And Tips
On the 1st of April, teachers and students alike embarked on a new and unfamiliar journey – the world of online teaching and learning. As a biology teacher it took some thought and much planning to adjust to the challenges of moving my subject onto a virtual platform. Getting to grips with the technological side of online teaching seemed like a daunting task at first.
I found myself being a student again, having to learn how to use Google Classroom in much greater depth than I ever thought I would have to. After a few days of trial and error, however, the sailing went much smoother and I realised just how adaptable a person can be when the situation requires it. Soon I was uploading videos of myself teaching content, having live Google Meet sessions to check in with my students, scheduling lesson content and doing online registers as though this is the way its always been done.
Navigating classes from a distance has been made easier by the many dedicated students that work to their full capacity at home and provide valuable feedback on their Biology online experience. This feedback is helpful in adjusting the system to ensure that the learning process continues even though we are not at school. I have been astounded by the resilience of many students who have also had to figure out how to approach online classes and manage their time independently from a typical school environment.
The following tips for working from home have been very helpful the past two weeks:
- Have a set routine: This is important as it brings some structure to your day in these uncertain times.
- Take regular breaks: Working from home can be taxing and intense so take many short breaks if you can.
- Spend some time outside: Being cooped up indoors for long periods of time can have a negative impact on your mood and well being so try to spend at least 15 minutes a day outside (weather permitting).
- Cuddle with your pets: If you have pets at home it can lower your stress levels and blood pressure by stroking them for a while.
- Be kind to yourself: Do the best you can do but do not push yourself beyond your limits.
“You will have bad times, but they will always wake you up to the stuff you weren’t paying attention to” – Robin Williams
Marlene Feltoe
High School Biology Teacher
High School Clubs 2020
The high school started various new clubs for students to join in 2020. Clubs play a big social role in a student’s school career. It fosters a great sense of school pride and responsibility. Joining a club also allows for students to form a stronger bond with their peers as well as discover new friendships.
We hope to see our clubs continue to grow from strength to strength.
SERVICE CLUB:
The Service Club is a new society that was founded in the high school at the beginning of 2020. Over thirty five students from Years 7 to 11 have joined the group. The purpose of the Service Club is to assist with tasks pertaining to day-to-day school activities, as well as serving at school events.
Although the Service Club has only been in existence for a short time, its members have been quite busy. Students assisted the SRC during Open Day, acted as messengers and raked the long jump pits at ISA, helped to entertain children in the nursery at the Food Fair and helped to set up chairs and tables for the Food Fair.
Perhaps the group’s most prestigious task yet was assisting with the school’s Shakespeare production. Members of the service club assisted with various backstage duties at the Fugard Theatre and also assisted with backstage work, ticket sales and helping parents to their seats when the production was held at the school.
The members of the Service Club are extremely diligent and show great loyalty to their school. They are always looking for more ways in which to serve. Members will be happy to learn that their long-awaited badges will be delivered soon.
Sheila Marais
Service Club Coordinator
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GARDEN CLUB:
In Term 1 the Garden Club took on the Spekboom Challenge. This challenge was to propagate a 100 Spekboom and to plant them at school.
We gathered a lot of cuttings and received many generous plant donations from parents. To date we have propagated 118 Spekboom plants and all of them have been successful.
We are looking forward to going back to school so that we can plant them out in the gardens of the school.
Our project for Term 2 would have been to establish a sustainable herb garden, from which parents and teachers could gather lovely fresh herbs. As soon as we are able, we will get this project underway.
Julian Harrison
Garden Club Coordinator
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Last term saw the official launch of the BIS Chess Club. The club began with only three students, but by the end of term we had more than doubled in size.Chess develops the students’ ability to think critically and fuels their competitive spirit, which has led to some highly entertaining matches! Special mention must be made of Nicholas Neethling in Year 7 who took it upon himself to coach new students who hadn’t played chess before.
This club has great potential and I am excited to see how the club expands as the year progresses and the difference it will make in these students’ lives.
Caroline Grix
Chess Club Coordinator
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The after-school Walking Club had only a few keen participants during Term 1. There were some very hot, windy days and if that’s the reason why you have not joined, I encourage all the students who are not busy on a Wednesday afternoon to join in Term 2 when we have lovely cooler days to look forward to.
We leave the school campus at 15h10 and take a brisk walk down the green belt close to school and back. It is roughly 2.2 km. It is great to get some fresh air after a busy day in the classroom and we have so much fun, sharing jokes whilst getting fit. We are going to enter as a BIS team for various charity walks such as Blisters for Bread, as soon as we are able to.
It is also a great way to get to meet students from other grades.
I hope to see you sign up for Term 2.
Carmen de Villiers
Walking Club Coordinator
From the Principal’s Desk, 9 April 2020
Dear Parents
Here are a few ways to remain positive during this time:
- Set boundaries and take care of yourself, both mentally and physically.
- Take time away from the online world (internet, social media, emails etc.).
- Pursue a neglected hobby or take up a new one.
- Keep informed about the situation, but do not become burdened with negativity.
- Reach out to others (within the boundaries of social distancing) and be a blessing in someone’s life.
- Make time for family activities and value the time spent with loved ones.
There is a writer in you, in all of us! This is the perfect time to write that story which may prove to be the inspiration someone else so desperately seeks.
We are all looking forward to hearing our President say that our lives are going back to normal, but hopefully this experience will affect our perception of normal; hopefully it will have taught us new skills and offer us a different way of looking at life.
I wish you all a blessed Easter weekend and hope you enjoy some wonderful family time.
Edna
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Welcome Back To Term 2 2020
From my home to yours, a very warm welcome to-all high school parents and students. I think we can all agree that the past few weeks were testing times. However, I want to assure you that the high school teachers have worked tirelessly during the holiday to ensure we still deliver world class education.
In order to bring some “normal” back into our students’ lives (and their parents’ as well), we encourage the students to follow the normal timetable and to login to their Google Classroom at the time when the lesson starts. We discourage students from working at their own pace and only joining the class when they want to. This will also help to establish a daily routine, which is most necessary at a time like this.
As this is new to all of us find below some handy tips:
– Create a suitable study space.
– Come prepared to the virtual classroom.
– Follow the school timetable as it is and be on time for class.
– Students must fully commit themselves and participate in the virtual classroom.
– Remember to take the break time as indicated on the timetable.
– Make sure to get a good night`s rest.
Together we are stronger.
Julian Harrison
Head of Academics High School
Two Oceans Aquarium Outing 2020 – High School
On Tuesday the 10th of March the year 9 to 12 Biology and Business students, together with the 9 and 10 Geography students, visited the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Among the most interesting things that were discovered was that fish have their own personalities, such as the fish that loves cuddles! About Yoshi the turtle who was released back into the wild 2 years ago after 20 years in captivity and has since traveled a record breaking 37 000km!
We learned how the marketing team at the aquarium aim to not only promote the aquarium to attract customers, but also how they use this platform to communicate about causes that are close to their heart. A few causes they mentioned were sustainable fishing, single use plastic and environmental sustainability.
Another interesting fact is that South Africa ranks as the 3rd most bio-diverse country in the world.
The Two Oceans Aquarium is truly a magical place with so many treasures to enjoy!
Shakespeare Schools Festival At The Fugard Theatre 2020
Our High School Drama department participated in the 2020 Shakespeare Schools Festival this past Friday at the famous Fugard Theatre. They performed a stunning rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The students had been practising relentlessly for months and the day finally arrived! Mr Riaan Vosloo and Ms Genevieve Kerswill accompanied them to the theatre where they spent the whole day preparing for one of the biggest local drama events of the year.
The whole production was performed by our students on stage in front of a live audience at The Fugard Theatre.
Twenty six Blouberg International High School students took part in the stage production and assisted with roles such as directing, sound and lighting, backstage prompting and props.
This performance was an experience they will cherish forever. We wish to congratulate all the students involved and their teachers on their magnificent achievement.
High School Drama Department
Valentine’s Dance 2020
The Year 11 class had been planning for weeks and finally the day had come… it was the 21st of February and that evening was the Valentine’s Dance, a perennial favorite on the school calendar.
The Valentine’s Dance and the celebrations held on Valentine’s Day itself, are one of our biggest fundraisers for the Matric Dance. Thus, the pressure was on for the Year 11 class to beat last year’s fundraising goal, but also to pull together an unforgettable evening for all the high school students. Themes were adopted and discarded, negotiations over décor dominated discussions and the playlist for the evening was subject to constant scrutiny and discussion, but boy oh boy, did they bring it all together!
Friday itself was spent in a flurry of paper hearts, streamers and endless bobbing balloons. The class worked tirelessly to decorate the junior hall, keeping their preparations a closely guarded secret. When I was finally presented with the result, it was amazing! A gorgeous red and white balloon arch dominated the scene on entering the hall, the walls were adorned with hearts in every possible shade of red and pink and a romantic photo booth stood proudly in the corner, eagerly awaiting the happy-snapping couples.
The evening ran smoothly as the Year 11’s were on hand to collect tickets, sell food and drink and manage the different game stations. As the students poured in, the lights dimmed and the music blazed- teachers furiously buttered rolls and patrolled the borders, nimbly avoiding being trampled in the hall. The last song echoed softy through the darkness at 10pm, a nice slow romantic number to end the evening. Then it was lights on and black bags out as guests were herded outside so clean-up could begin.
I would like to thank the Year 11 class and their parents for all the hard work and passion that went into planning both Valentine’s fundraising events.
Alice Pryor
High School Teacher
ISA 2020
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships – Michael Jordan
On Friday, 14 February the High School students took part in our annual inter-schools athletics meeting in Malmesbury. ISA has become a tradition between 5 Independent schools since 2015 and this year a 6th school joined.
Like every year before, the high school athletes trained for weeks leading up to the event, making sure to increase their strength and decrease their lap times, everyone pushing themselves harder to achieve their personal best.
Cheerleaders worked tirelessly on making sure that the students learned the pavilion formations, songs and war cries, while our fabulous dancers choreographed their own performance for the day.
Hours and hours of preparation and dedication was put in leading up to the day and it definitely showed.
Our athletes did well in all their events and the school placed 2nd for the Cheer and Spirit Cup. Athletes that placed 1st and 2nd in their respective events at ISA will compete at the Northern Zonal Competition this week and we wish them the best of luck.
I would like to congratulate the students for their outstanding behaviour on Friday. They displayed excellent teamwork, sportsmanship and made the school very proud.
PROUDLY BIS!
Yvette Fourie
Head of Sport & Extra-Curricular Activities
Training The Mind Everyday, Anytime And Anywhere – Sparx Maths Homework Approach
One of the common quotes is by a German-American physicist Albert Einstein, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of mind to think.” What do you think of when you think about learning mathematics? Most people tend to think about hard work and practice, practice, practice. Yes it is! Sparx Mathematics Homework develops deep mathematical thinking skills and prepares our Learners to be strong problem solvers.
Engaging young people with any homework can be tough, let alone tackling maths. Sparx Mathematics Homework Program allows parents to be involved in their child’s maths learning journey.
How does Sparx work?
Compulsory
Students must correctly answer all of these questions before your hand-in deadline.
Optional
Students can choose whether or not to do this. It’s only half as long as their Compulsory homework but is great for helping them feel more confident with everything learnt in maths.
Target
Students can choose whether or not to do this. It contains up to 6 questions and will advance your maths skills even further. It is slightly trickier than Compulsory and Optional homework.
Unique content covering the KS3 and GCSE maths curriculum. Over 33,000 handwritten questions are supported by more than 7,800 tutorial videos, which help explain concepts and encourage independent learning.
Sparx’ intuitive, adaptive technology creates an individual learner profile and delivers bespoke homework for each student, which is designed to be challenging yet achievable. This personalised homework is set and marked automatically, providing instant feedback to students and helping them to progress quicker. Homework matches the curriculum and appropriate extension work is always available for those who want to challenge themselves.
Sparx Homework learns where students’ strengths and weaknesses lie, and how long they take to complete different types of questions. It then determines which homework questions would help improve and consolidate their learning. Question difficulty is gradually increased to suit the learner and topics are repeated during the year to help them fully understand the skill for the long term.
Progress in core subjects such as mathematics has a recognized effect on overall attainment. Tackling issues such as ‘maths anxiety’ and rewarding progress for all students creates confidence that is evidenced at end of Term or Year tests and Exam results.
Keep your child motivated
Students collect XP (experience points) and are rewarded with mini-games. This energizes, directs and sustains behavior. Because it involves goals and requires activity. Goals provide the impetus for and the direction of action, while action entails effort and persistence in order to complete their homework.
Hebert Tapfuma
Mathematics Department / Sparx Leader