Preparing For Examinations
“ Good preparation is better than hoping for a miracle.” – Sunday Adelaja
The end-of-year examination has dawned upon us and there is nothing worse than going into the exam hall unprepared. This is a lot like a doctor walking into the surgery without the necessary tools or know-how to deal with an emergency situation. What do you think the consequences will be for that, and do you think you can trust that doctor? Every profession requires effective performance that eventually results in success, but the key ingredient for achieving this is good preparation. Think about this the next time you enter the exam room.
So here is a useful guide to help students with their exam preparations, starting with a list of ten practical study hacks from the University of Augustana[1] and Murdoch University[2]:
- Have a positive attitude. This is the first and most important attribute.
- Begin early and find a comfortable study space to cater for your needs.
- Create a music playlist for your study sessions.
- Have specific goals for each study session and set a time frame for your goals. For instance, make a note to cover section one for two hours between 12-2pm today, etc.
- Organise your study materials before you start the session. Make sure that you create short study sessions at multiple intervals so that you do not burn out and avoid procrastination.
- Create your own study materials, for example, flashcards, mindmaps, personal study notes, etc.
- Develop critical thinking abilities where you are able to seriously question concepts. In other words, ask lots of questions!
- Explain the subject or concepts to a study buddy. If you cannot find anyone, then stand in front of a mirror and practise on your own. You are your own best person.
- Take advantage of school resources.
- Eat healthy and engage in physical exercise/meditation to beat anxiety and stress.
Remember that you are more than capable of achieving success if you put your mind and heart into it, no matter what the circumstances. All the best with your preparations moving forward into the exams. Aim to go into the new year with great success.
Michellene Williams
High School English Teacher
[1] Adapted from Augustana University. 2021. 10 Ways to Prepare for Exams. Viewed at https://www.augie.edu/10-ways-prepare-exams
[2] Adapted from Murdoch University. 2021. Exam Study Hacks. Viewed at https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/exam-revision-hacks
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Music
After our first successful BIS Arts Eisteddfod, the music department has been working towards preparing for internal and external examinations. The students are currently in the process of recording their Trinity examinations. This year, all these will be online due to the examiners from London not being able to examine the students in person.
We also look forward to our first in-person and end-of-year music concert since 2019!
This year’s concert will be on the 26th of November at 18:00 and will take place in the form of an outdoor sunset picnic. We are so excited to celebrate all our students’ hard work and achievements throughout 2021. So bring your picnic baskets and blankets, and come and enjoy a fun and relaxing evening with us.
Beverley du Plessis
Music Teacher
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The World Of Work And Having A Job
This term, the Year 1 challenge in Global Perspectives is ‘Working and having a job’. The students have had following discussions about work:
- What is work?
- What does it mean if someone has a job?
- What jobs do people do in our town/area?
- What different ways are there to sort jobs?
Last week, the students prepared interview questions for people who work in our school. They had to decide, as a group, the questions they wanted to ask. They then did mock interviews with their classmates pretending to be the people they are going to interview.
This week was the ‘real deal’ and armed with iPads the students interviewed, Mr Swart, Uncle Clive, Mrs Diana and Ms Zimbi.
Here are some of the questions they came up with:
- Do you like your job?
- What do you do?
- Do you work alone?
- What don’t you like about your job?
- What is your favourite part of your job?
- Do you have any issues?
We will end the term with a dress-up day, ‘What I want to be when I grow up!’
Ann Cordner
Year 1 Teacher and Key Stage 1 Coordinator
Hands On Physics
I often hear people say, “Physics is hard” or “it’s for intelligent individuals” and I beg to differ. When we were toddlers, we were curious, we asked questions frequently, we were hands on and our parents encouraged us to explore the world around us. As we progressed into adolescence, some of us stopped asking questions and started believing everything we see or hear.
Many neurological studies have shown that curiosity enhances people’s abilities to learn and retain new information. Physics is for curious people. Anyone who isn’t afraid to ask “foolish questions” such as why the sky is blue, what causes ocean waves, are we the only human beings in the universe, etc., can be a good physicist.
In a quest to find answers to nature’s great mysteries one needs to have an enquiring mind. Great physicists have strong scientific ability. They have an analytical approach to solving any problem.
This term the focus was on developing the students’ scientific skills such as:
- Problem solving skills, other technical skills
- Mathematical skills applied to physical systems
- Analyzing and modeling physical process
- Gathering data, making testing models and predictions
The year 9 students were given a task to build a model of a periscope for SA NAVY. A periscope is an instrument for observation over, around or through an object or obstacle, it is usually used in land and sea warfare by the military. The underlying physics concept is internal reflection of light.
In year 11, the students are making a remote-controlled toy car. This project will help them understand how motors work, the role of rheostats in a circuit and they will also get to do a bit of engineering while at it.
All these HANDS ON projects are aimed at developing the above mentioned scientific skills. Whether or not students continue with physics post high school, they will have these essential skills for any field of work.
Brian Sizani
IGCSE, AS and A-Level Physics Teacher
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Valedictory Ceremony Top Achievers 2021
Congratulations to the following Matric students for receiving various awards at this year’s Valedictory Ceremony:
Chloë Goldman (Awarded the DUX trophy)
Adriaan Rademan, Courtneigh Harris, Daniel Schlacher, Gabrielle Luyt, James Hart, Matthew Petersen, Niklyn Pillay, Samantha Wynne, Siobhan Smorenberg and Tumelo Mpofu-Mketwa.
Below is the list of awards they all received:
ACADEMIC: |
|||
| Chloë Goldman – DUX WINNER | Gabrielle Luyt | Adriaan Rademan | Siobhan Smorenberg |
| Highest mark achieved in Biology | Highest mark achieved in German | Highest mark achieved in Accounting | Highest mark achieved in Art |
| Highest mark achieved in Chemistry | Highest mark achieved in History | Highest mark achieved in Computer Science | |
| Highest mark achieved in English | Merit award Aggregate of 75% or more | ||
| Highest mark achieved in Mathematics | |||
| Highest mark achieved in Spanish | |||
| Full colours Aggregate of 85% or more | |||
| Dux Scholar Highest marks in Year 12 | |||
| Tumelo Mpofu-Mketwa | James Hart | Niklyn Pillay | Samantha Wynne |
| Highest mark achieved in Afrikaans | Highest mark achieved in Geography | Highest mark achieved in Physics | Academic acknowledgement certificate Aggregate of 70% or more |
| Courtneigh Harris | SPORT: Cricket – Full Colours | ||
| Highest mark achieved in Business Studies | James Hart | ||
| Matthew Petersen | |||
| Daniel Schlacher | |||
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From The Spanish Classroom
To acquire a second language is it very important… to be a good listener.
“Active listening is a valuable technique that requires the listener to thoroughly absorb, understand, respond, and retain what’s being said”. – Centre of creative leadership.
Becoming an Active Listener
- Pay Attention. Give the speaker your undivided attention and acknowledge the message.
- Show That You’re Listening. Use your own body language and gestures to show that you are engaged.
- Provide Feedback.
- Respond Appropriately.
Prepare yourself for the message:
- Limit distractions. Move away from distractions so that you can pay full attention to the other person. Take note of the person’s tone of voice and body language as well.
- Pay attention to what’s being said, not what you want to say. Set a goal of being able to repeat the last sentence the teacher says. This keeps your attention on each statement.
- Be okay with silence. You don’t have to always reply or have a comment. A break in dialogue can give you a chance to collect your thoughts.
- Encourage the teacher to clarify ideas and offer more examples.
- Restate the key points you heard and ask whether they’re accurate. “Let me see whether I understand you correctly…” is an easy way to clarify any confusion.
If you are listening:
- Look at the person that is presenting.
- Avoid any distractions (close your books, notes, and put away any other objects that can make you lose the focus on the presentation).
- Be ready to answer some questions that the student that is presenting has prepared for the class.
If you are presenting:
- Prepare some questions about the project for the class.
- Try to speak clear and loud enough.
- Bring some visual materials to make it more attractive for the class.
In conclusion, concentrate on what’s being said and think about what the speaker is saying rather than about what to say next.
Almost every week the Spanish students can present an oral project about the different topics that they have been learning: The house, family, weather, the city, food, clothing, animals, and much more. This is a great opportunity to put their communication skills into practice and make the lessons fun, useful and interactive.
Javier Vidal
Spanish Teacher
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Farm Day In Year 2
“While we try to teach our children all about life, the farm teaches us what life’s all about – and how each seed tells its own story”
Last week Friday, our Year 2’s celebrated all things agricultural at Farm Day! Each student was encouraged to dress as a farmer and come to school with the farmer spirit, ready to chat about our wonderful Earth, and how it provides many natural and essential goods.
Dressed in our flannel shirts and cowboy hats, we had a fun day learning about animals that live on a farm and what they eat to get big and strong. We also learnt about what kinds of crops are grown on a farm, how they are grown and what they also need to grow big and strong.
One of our favourite parts of Farm Day was when we got the opportunity to interact with some of the farm animals who visited our school for the day. We saw some sheep, a tortoise, some bunnies, some chickens, and a few other very special and very cute animals. So grateful to have this experience!
Siobhan Hendry
Year 2 Teacher
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Mental Health Awareness Month
The High School dressed in green civvies today, in support of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Everyone’s lives can sometimes become overwhelming and we as a school, want to empower our students when it comes to mental health, encouraging healthy dialogue and support for sufferers.
“The month of October has been declared Mental Health Awareness Month with the objective of not only educating the public about mental health but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to.” Quoted from https://www.gov.za/speeches/mental-health-awareness-month-2021-13-oct-2020-1232
The BIS Interact Club members have placed posters around the school with tips and good habits that can help maintain good mental health. During the civvies day today, students were given green ribbons to show acknowledgement and support for this important cause.
We would like to thank all our High School students for coming together and embracing this wonderful initiative.
BIS Interact Club
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Learning about Electric Circuits
“There is a driving force more powerful than steam, electricity and nuclear power: the will.” – Albert Einstein
The Year 2 students had an extremely fun and interesting Inting last week with Experi-Buddies. They have been learning about electricity for the past few weeks and this Inting helped build on their knowledge of how electricity works.
Learning about electricity at this age is vital for young students as it teachers them how electricity works, the importance of electricity as well as the hazards that come with it.
We learnt about the different types of electricity, namely: static electricity, mains electricity and current electricity. The students enjoyed this and seemed fascinated by electrical circuits. New terms were introduced to the students, such as: conductors and insulators, open circuits, closed circuits, series circuits and parallel circuits.
Experi-Buddies expanded the student’s knowledge by showing them what a circuit looks like and how it works. The students were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to connect a circuit themselves which was the highlight of the day.
“Talent is like electricity. We don’t understand electricity. We use it.” – Maya Angelou
Erin Hierse
Year 2 Teacher
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The World Of Work
In Year 1, we have been having a lot of fun while learning about ‘The world of work’ in our Global Perspectives.
We have been role-playing a variety of different jobs in class from: ‘The Office’, to the ‘Doctor’s Surgery’, a ‘Shop’ and the ‘Hairdresser’s’. It has been wonderful to watch the students explore, collaborate and use their imagination.
Role-playing for children can really spark creativity, helping develop their language and communication skills while allowing them to make sense of real-life situations.
My students all did very well in their role-playing, they were creative and participated with so much enthusiasm and confidence. Well done Year 1!
Charlotte Cronje
Year 1 Teacher
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