NEWS
BLAST
The british school of bucharest magazine • Issue 3 • February 2015
BSB OFFICE STAFF
Otopeni Airport
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Atlantis Club
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301 301, 783 METRO
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42, Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, 077190 Voluntari, Ilfov County Bucharest, Romania
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For admissions please contact Mr Simon Lambert: Email: admissions@britishschool.ro Phone: 021 267 8919 Fax: 021 267 8969
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For specific help relating to school transport and student lunches, please contact: Email: services@britishschool.ro Mob: 0728 133 432/3 Tel: 021 267 8919 Fax: 021 267 8969
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If you need any information or help in regard to your child’s education and support at BSB, please do not hesitate to contact our office team during normal working hours, 8.00am - 5.00pm, Monday-Friday. Email: office@britishschool.ro Tel: 021 267 8919 Fax: 021 267 8969
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FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Jo Puddy-Wells Principal
Dear Parents & Friends of BSB As the fresh copy of Newsblast hits our tables today, the COBIS Debating competition will have already taken place and Ms Citron and Mrs Palmer, who have been tirelessly organising our hosting of the competition, will hopefully have their feet up enjoying a well-deserved cup of tea. The months of planning and the last minute panics will be over and hopefully we will be slapping ourselves on the back at another job well done. The logistics of organising such an event and simultaneously doing your ‘day job’ are no small consideration, and I am sure at times the staff questioned their sanity in offering to host this year’s competition. However teachers frequently push for such events as they know just how much the students gain from the experiences. The nature of competition will always raise its head at these moments, and the responsibility for keeping a careful balance between the pros and cons of such contests is important. The negatives that can come out of a poorly run competition where there have been no clear defined parameters and the event has been poorly managed are obvious. However we must not allow ourselves to forget the positives, the lessons that can be learnt around playing by the rules, how to be a good winner with a dose of modesty versus the art of being a good loser, essentially losing the pout that looked cute on a toddler but works less well on a sixteen year old. Perhaps most importantly teachers want children to enjoy the moment when you feel the value of giving your best effort, the satisfaction of facing a challenging situation but coming out the other side knowing more about how you deal with stress and anxiety. School is a safe place
for students to learn how well they cope under pressure and so we must continue to strive for the correct balance, and acknowledge competition is a healthy part of life that helps us succeed. The bonus of the COBIS international school’s Debating competition is that we are able to welcome schools from around the globe to Bucharest and BSB. This is just one of the fantastic opportunities that our community has to act as hosts for the wonderful city of Bucharest and of course our school, which the students take such pride in. The aim to cultivate a sense of internationalism in our student body is central to the purpose of BSB, and events like these competitions are when you can see the real definition of this over-used characteristic come into play. Watching the children discussing their principles and values, concerns and attitudes about global and philosophical issues with their
“...we must continue to strive for the correct balance, and acknowledge competition is a healthy part of life that helps us succeed”
peers from around the world is magical and affirms the belief that these conversations, debates and experiences will drive greater understanding as these young leaners take their places on the world stage. Who knows Bucharest today, UN leader tomorrow….it’s exciting isn’t it?
F R O M T H E P R I N C I PA L 3
Houses in Focus: Our House‌ in the middle of our School‌ by Jason Porter
I
t has been a very busy term for all students this term in House events. The year started with the House Chess, which ran for four days and finished up in a mighty battle of cunning and strategy that saw Mures finish in glory, followed by Olt.
The House Chess Competition was fiercely contested
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Following on from chess and to mark Humanities Week, the four Houses battled it out again in the Geography Quiz, in which Mures navigated themselves to victory, with Danube taking second place. In House Mastermind, Mures flexed their intellectual muscle to come out in first place, with Arges second. In the House Basketball, Mures again flexed their muscles, but this time it was legs and arms which put them in top place, followed by Olt. House Music looks set to be a fantastic event, in which each House has a timed slot to produce a musical medley and show off their skills, so with this event looming, it’s still all to play for! This term alone a great number of our students have worked
tremendously hard to achieve their House Colours Award, which is awarded to students with exemplary standards of uniform, punctuality, effort in lessons and participation in House events. This reflects the enthusiasm for the House system at BSB and everything it is offering students in terms of personal development, the upholding of standards and the devotion to the life of the House and School. The Heads of House and House Captains have worked tirelessly this term to encourage and motivate all members of their House to achieve their best. More to come!
Jesus concentrating hard on his next move
H O U S E S I N F O C U S 5
Cristina is always keen to increase her knowledge through training
Sophie enjoying the challenges of both Primary and Secondary Drama
Getting to know your TA
Introducing
Cristina Gogoncea
Sophie Hindley
My name is Miss Cristina and I joined BSB in 2010. During this time I have worked both in EYFS and KS1 with Reception and Y1 pupils and I have had the chance so far to highlight my strengths and improve my teaching skills. It is great to be involved in all the important training that school provides. Before becoming part of this amazing team of professional and hardworking people, I was involved in translation projects as an authorised translator for the Ministry of Justice in both English and French. I have also worked as an English teacher in an after-school club where I first encountered the world of small children. It is an amazing world! Having the dual responsibility of being a mother and a teaching assistant at the same time is a challenge but you can manage to deal with it if you really understand and love children.
I am very excited to work with the brilliant staff at BSB and I am enjoying being both a part of the Primary and Secondary team. I am new to Bucharest having moved from London where I completed my PGCE at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Prior to this I studied Theatre and Performance Studies at Warwick University and as part of my education I spent a year living and studying at the University of Michigan. It was here that I discovered my passion for teaching when I facilitated drama workshops to disadvantaged children in Detroit high schools and Young Offenders Institutes. I have always been passionate about the theatre and have extensive experience of the stage; from acting to directing to set design and lighting. I look forward to sharing my skills and interests for drama with all my classes and I am excited about putting on the Secondary school production in March. I am also very excited to have my own form and to get to know all the students in both the Primary and Secondary school.
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Claire and Mark have swapped Malaysia for Romania having previously worked in New Zealand
Introducing
The Hooper Family Mark came to BSB from Malaysia along with his wife Clare and two children Harriet (Year 9) and Georgina (Year 7). Home for the last 5 years was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where he worked as Examinations Officer and Teacher of P.E. at Garden International School. He has lived and worked in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Malaysia and has dual nationalities of both the UK and NZ. Throughout his time in education he has been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to experience many different roles including Director of the largest Adult Education establishment in NZ, Head of Year and Head of Physical Education. His passion is sports and outdoor activities especially football, rugby, cricket, golf, sailing and distance running. Outside of sports he loves to travel and China would be his standout destination to visit. He is very much looking forward to what will prove to be a stimulating and exciting new adventure here in Bucharest Clare currently teaches Economics and will be working with SLT as
Assistant Head of whole school looking at the KS2 and 3 curricula along with Professional Development for staff and investigating the further development of opportunities for our middle year students through utilising the new DT suites and specialist teachers. For the last 5 years Clare worked at a large International School as Head of Business Education Faculty. This was a great opportunity to experience the unique nature of International Schools and the amazing opportunities they offer their students. This also enabled her to indulge her passion for travel. With SE Asia on her doorstep she was able to explore its food, history and culture. The family is really looking forward to the next stage of their adventure with the prospect of the whole of Europe to rediscover. Prior to Malaysia Clare lived and worked in New Zealand as Head of Social Studies and in the UK as an Economics, Business and Accounting teacher and her main interests outside travel are cooking, walking and camping.
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The COBIS debating team
BSB Congratulates
Tudor setting his sights on becoming World Champion
Secondary students
Tudor
Congratulations to our fantastic team of debaters who took part in the COBIS World Debates here in February. At the time of writing we don’t know the outcome but a full report will appear in the next issue. Schools from as far afield as Mexico, Nigeria, Norway and the United Arab Emirates converged on the school for what was a fantastic weekend. This followed hot on the heels of the annual Mastermind competition which was won by Mures. In a hard fought contest the level of general knowledge was impressive. Special mention must be made of Ana Maria in Y9 whose knowledge of the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy was astounding. Other specialist subjects included German Weaponry of World War II, the Percy Jackson stories, Asteroids and the computer game Vainglory. Well done to everyone involved and to the question setters.
We would like to offer our congratulation and best wishes to Tudor in Y7. Tudor is a keen snowboarder and this year he will be participating in a series of competitions that are under the banner of the World Rookie Tour. This is the most prestigious series of worldwide youth snowboard contests. He is competing in the ‘Grom’ category which is for young people up to the age of fourteen. Tudor has taken part in many different festivals, including one in Italy and this year he aims to build on his past successes by aiming to get onto the winners’ podium. If he can score a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place then he will be able to compete in the Rookie Finals in Ischgl, Austria with a chance to have a go at the title of World Rookie Champion. He is setting his sights high, but why not? It will require a lot of training, but of course, keeping up with his studies at school is a priority! As he enters the next series of competitions, we will keep our fingers crossed for the best results. Wish him luck!
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15 YEARS OF BSB
SAVE THE DATE
08.05.2015
PALACE OF PARLIAMENT
15TH ANNIVERSARY by Simon Lambert
P
lans are now at an advanced stage for our 15th Anniversary Ball that will take place in Bucharest on the 8th May. Further details will be available shortly and we know that it will be a fantastic occasion and one that you will not want to miss.
15 ANNIVERSARY 2000 - 2015
The number of students wearing their Bronze and Silver awards for the anniversary challenge is growing and there are a handful of gold awards floating about. It would be great to see all of the students get on the ladder before the Easter break so keep going. In June the school will, as always, be supporting the DHL Marathon on the 20th June 2015 in Brasov. We are endeavouring to enter 15 Teams made up of parents and staff, so if you do wish to get involved and are looking for a team to join please get in touch. Last year was a fantastic day out in somewhat testing conditions and we are hoping that the weather gods will be a bit kinder this year as take the 15th Anniversary celebration to the mountains.
On the stage in 2011 and still going strong
1 5 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y 11
FROM THE ENGINE ROOM by Simon Lambert The start of the new year is always a busy time in the Admissions department as we embark on the process of re-registering all of the pupils for the next academic year. It is an important process as it enables us to plan for the future development of the school and ensure that we have the right teaching staff in place for September. Thank you to all parents who have already returned their forms and we look forward to assisting those still to reregister in the coming months. Registration is now open to all new students who hope to start at school in September and, despite the economic crisis, it is positive to see that we continue to be the first choice amongst international schools with many companies in Bucharest and the surrounding areas. We will soon be launching our Summer School initiative for 2015. The school will run for four weeks from Monday 29th June until Friday 24th July. There will be an academic programme and an activity programme. Students do not have to attend for all four weeks, they can sign up for one, two three or all four if they wish. As an extension to the current Summer School programme, this year we are also running a Summer Soccer School for two weeks in July. At the BSB Summer Soccer School the emphasis will be for every child, from the very beginner to the more technically able,
Students from all communities attend our fabulous Summer School
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to learn whilst having fun. In safe and friendly surroundings our highly qualified professional coaches will encourage players to develop both their football and social skills. The children will meet new friends and improve how they play the game. During the week passing, dribbling, shooting, turning and heading skills will all be developed in enjoyable exercises. Every day, there will be small-sided games to extend the understanding of both attacking and defending skills. The lead coach will be John Godbold who is a UEFA A licensed coach. John had a professional playing career at English league clubs Chelsea FC and Wimbledon FC. At 28, he was one of the youngest coaches to gain the highest qualification in Europe, the A License Award. He has over 30 years experience of coaching young players, aged from 4 to 21. He has been a member of staff at Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, helping to produce many international players including England’s Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch. He has run highly successful soccer camps in the USA, Singapore, India and Qatar. He is a full time teacher of Physical Education. If you require any further details please email summerschool@britishschool.ro
BOARDING by Matthew Cox I have been interested recently to read in the press of how students from private and international schools academically outperform their peers in other sectors of education. This is very relevant in England and Wales because of the publication of recent school league tables. It would be easy for BSB therefore, to enjoy a momentary feeling of a job well done, although I take most satisfaction in learning that the vast majority of privatelyeducated pupils are able to access some of the world’s top universities, and most importantly, universities or careers of their own choosing. Private and international schools must be doing something very right. Indeed, it is noticeable that universities’ admissions departments say that they ‘target’ mature, principled and grounded international students particularly. Furthermore, within both private and international schools, the UK media have particularly highlighted the outstanding examination successes of the boys and girls who attend boarding schools. This is particularly
good news for BSB, as we very much hope that those students who enroll in boarding at BSB will become vibrant, energetic and dynamic school leaders, who will be prepared fully for the challenges of higher education and the world of work. It is not just BSB that is promoting or believing in the true value of boarding. As a final review of the UK media recently, I noticed that the numbers of boarders in the UK rose significantly in the last school year. This is the first time that the numbers of children in boarding have increased since 2006. The success of any boarding school is viewed through the undoubted success of its pupils.
BOARDING at BSB - from September 2015
For further information contact admissions@britishschool.ro
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PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION
PTA Review by Giorgiana Tecuci Paltineanu – Chairwoman After our successful Artisan Fair in December we are now starting to look ahead to the Summer Fair where we hope to have the usual array of international stalls offering a range of foods for everyone to taste. With 53 nationalities now represented in the student body it is becoming an increasingly important part of the day and we hope that everyone will throw themselves into the project with their usual enthusiasm. Sign-up notices will be going into the parent room in the next couple of months so please look out for them. In the meantime, please consider what foods you might like to offer this year! We held our normal, informal coffee morning at the start of term to welcome new families to BSB. It was a busy morning with lots of new faces. Welcome to you all and we hope that you and your children enjoy your stay in Bucharest.
Thanks to everyone who supported the Artisan Fair
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I thought I would take this opportunity to mention the adult classes that take place at BSB throughout the term. If you haven’t signed up then please do so. They are a great way to meet new parents and friends and they offer the opportunity to learn a new language of a new skill. There is an Adult English Learning Programme that runs for one hour on Mondays Wednesdays and Thursdays dependent on the level of proficiency. The courses run for 9 weeks this term. Alongside this is the Adult Mandarin Learning Programme. These classes run for ninety minutes and are held on a Wednesday, again depending on the proficiency of those taking part. Should you wish to find out any more about these classes please email the school office.
PRIMARY SCHOOL REVIEW
Robert Ford Head of Lower School
‘Life is a journey not a destination.’ This was the theme of a recent speaking competition in which several of our Key Stage 2 students participated. The students had to prepare and memorise their own speech and perform it to an audience of adults and other competitors. After this they were questioned on the content of their speech. As educators we encourage students to strive for excellence in all they do. Competition is excellent for students of all ages as it provides an opportunity to challenge oneself against others and teaches students valuable life skills. We have to accept there will be winners and losers. This can often be challenging but we must teach students to be resilient, to do their best, take the knocks and get back up and try again if they are not successful. Many children talked about overcoming personal challenges and experiences in life, some about their goals for the future. For many, the focus was on the here and now- enjoying life, getting out of it what you can. Many children talked of having a destination or goal to strive towards but not being afraid to change course during the journey in order to make the most of opportunities. Several students in their speeches talked about the competition itself being a part of their journey. One of our Y4 students, Yul, focused on the fact that she only started learning English 3 years ago and her journey of learning a new language had brought her to this competition. She came first in her competition group. There are many forms of competition and we should encourage children to make the most of opportunities - even if the competition is a personal challenge within themselves. My parents still have great joy in reminding me of when I
reluctantly entered a singing competition at school at the age of 8 and won much to the surprise of myself and others. I was very proud of all the students who took part in the trials at school and those chosen to compete against the other schools. BSB students performed
“Competition is excellent for students of all ages as it provides an opportunity to challenge oneself against others and teaches students valuable life skills.” brilliantly and we were able to come away with some excellent results. This was a rewarding experience which the students will remember for years to come. As Anya from Y4 eloquently said: “Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will. Make the most of all experiences.”
P R I M A R Y S C H O O L R E V I E W 15
EYFS
All aboard in Crib and Crèche by Claire O’Brien and Raina Myson Transport has been very much the focus in Crib and Crèche so far this term, with the children using their imagination when playing with the small world train and track. The children have been designing their own cars and tractors that they have on show on our walls in class, they love to “get crafty”. The children also love to sing “The wheels on the bus” and “Driving my Tractor”. After singing these songs the children expressed their creative side by dipping toy cars into paint and driving them over white paper to leave track marks. Our listening skills have been put to the test with our traffic light game, green for go and red for stop. We have been using this skill in our music lesson, when the green circle is showing we can play our musical instruments very loud, when red shows we have to stop.
Cooperating to reach a shared goal - building a snowman
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Crèche have been using their developing social skills recently to work and complete tasks together, this has required them to cooperate with each other to reach their shared goal. Some examples of these have been when they made a snow man outside. This involved digging the snow from an area and carrying it to where they wanted their snowman to be. It was a time consuming process that involved them all making choices and discussing how it should look. On other occasions, small groups have joined together to build castles and police stations using various construction methods. This is a highly social activity involving all the children to interact with each other while respecting different abilities and opinions.
All aboard the bus on Lucas’ first day
Children using their imagination to create a train track
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EYFS
Preschool by Priscilla Varban and Katherine Dibble We have had another exciting half term in Preschool. In Preschool D we had fun learning all about the different types of weather. We had great fun in the snow and the children enjoyed helping out with our daily weather reading. During the second part of the half term we moved on to find out some more about ourselves and the human body. We took a visit to the secondary science lab where we experimented with some of the fantastic resources that they have there. In Preschool V we have been learning about bears: panda bears, polar bears and brown bears. We created our bear den and used it to act out the story of ‘Goldilocks and the three bears’. The
Learning to collaborate in PE
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children had endless fun making food for the three bears and having repeated teddy bear picnics these past few weeks. During Maths we talked about size and used Gummie bears to learn how to make a graph. We also had fun painting a bear face by using forks and enjoyed our ‘Where bear game’ that enables children to learn about spatial awareness and directionality. Our ‘Bring a bear to school day’ helped us to develop our communication skills and build confidence by taking turns during show and tell and standing before our classmates to talk to them about our favourite teddy bear from home.
Taking our learning outdoors in Reception by Kayleigh Evans and Isobel Ford In Reception we have been making the most of our great outdoors environment, and the snowy weather. The outdoors is the very best place for early year’s children to practice and master emerging physical skills. It is in the outdoors that children can fully and freely experience motor skills like running, leaping, and jumping. It is also the most appropriate area for the practice of ball-handling skills, like throwing, catching, and striking. And children can perform other such manipulative skills as pushing a swing, pulling a wagon, and lifting and carrying movable objects. In addition to the above, children have the opportunity to work towards the learning intentions of all seven areas of learning within foundation; Communication and Language; Literacy; Personal, Social and Emotional development; Mathematics; Understanding of the World; and Expressive Arts and Design. By simply getting ready to go outdoors wearing their snow suits, boots, gloves, hats, and scarfs they are working towards achieving
their goals for their personal and physical development. The children have enjoyed exploring, constructing, experimenting and investigating with the snow outside. They especially enjoyed building snowmen, where they were able to enhance their vocabulary relating to shape, space and measures when constructing the size and shape of them. They also demonstrated their ability to communicate with the peers and show cooperation, when talking through plans and allocating roles to one another. In the garden, where there is usually a ‘Mud Kitchen’ it has been transformed by the children and their imaginations into a ‘Snow Cake Bakery’. Reception have been role-playing and making delicious cakes with fancy snow and ice designs. After the excitement of the snow and ice, we now look forward to the spring weather and the different learning opportunities that will arise.
Developing physical skills and the ability to balance on a slippery surface
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KS1
Key Stage 1 Y1 have had a busy half term learning about traditional tales in English and creating mechanical pictures in design technology to complement their cross-curricular learning. It has been a great half term learning about and discovering a variety of traditional tales and stories from well-known authors such as Aesop Fables. The children have learnt all about morals and how they can apply them in every day life. They have been able to retell stories and discuss characters and events that stand out to them. To ensure the lessons are wide-ranged and exciting, Year One has incorporated design technology into their English session creating mechanical pictures which assist them in the retelling of famous tales such as ‘The Tortoise and the Hare’. In mathematics the children are beginning to work with money using pounds and pence as their currency. They have been working towards this through doubling and halving numbers and becoming more confident with mental Maths challenges. The topic sessions have taken a science focus this term and the children have been looking at materials and their properties. They
Becoming more confident with Maths challenges
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have learnt through exploring and investigation, giving ideas and theories as to how a variety of items are made and where they originate from. The children are able to identify natural and manmade materials, and discuss their uses. Y2 have had a great half term exploring materials and their uses in Science; as well as learning about continents and oceans in Geography. The children have produced some fantastic pieces of art this half term and have explored a variety of artistic methods in order to produce their work. In order to learn more about the slider mechanism in Design Technology Y2 have worked really hard at creating their own sliding image with the theme of oceans in mind. Computing is a new addition to the curriculum and Y2 have enjoyed learning about Algorithms through working in groups as ‘human robots’ and providing their team mates with clear and precise instructions.
Learning about continents and oceans in Geography
Despite poor weather hockey continued indoors
K S 1 21
29th June - 24th July
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www.britishschool.ro/summerschool summerschool@britishschool.ro F ebr uar y 2 0 1 5
42 Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, 077190, Voluntari, Ilfov County, Romania T. +40 21 267 89 19, +40 728 133 432, +40 728 133 433
WHERE ARE THEY NOW The school has recently received word from several alumni. It is great to catch up with the movements of old colleagues and classmates so if you are moving onto pastures new – please keep in touch. Antoine Stoltz now lives in Lille and is going to a French school. If found the transition from the British system difficult at first but he is now enjoying himself. However, he still misses BSB and he hope to come back and visit Romania one day soon. He passes on his best wishes to all of his former teachers and friends.
We have also heard from the Gleron family who are now settled in Vevey near the Leman Lake. There they can ski every weekend and the children love it! Marie-Amelie has just returned to Paris from Kuala Lumpur where she had an amazing experience and made lots of new friends. She is about to complete her internship. Ambroise and Pierre-Louis have been very busy with examinations and Constance, who is now 14years old, enjoys swimming, skiing and going to the gym!
Michael G. Thompson Ph.D. New York Times Bestselling Author
International Speaker on children, schools and parenting Here at BSB 16th & 17th March - sessions for Parents and Students michaelthompson-phd.com 23
KS2
Endeavor and achievement in Key Stage 2 It has been another busy half term in Key Stage 2. Y3 have been engrossed in a brand new topic Stone Age to Iron Age, which also involved learning all about rocks and their formation during Science lessons. There was a real sense of awe and wonder as they engaged in personal research to discover how people lived during the three periods of the Stone Age, focusing particularly on homes, technology, diet and habits. The students have had the opportunity to get a real taste of the period by making and tastetesting their own Stone Age bread and creating their own Stone Age cave art. There was great fun to be had when using the Book Creator app on the iPads to present the research done on the Skara Brae Neolithic settlement in Topic lessons. The students are always excited to use technology and they were all enthusiastically engaged in this activity.English work was linked with the learning in Science, where the students investigated the process of the eruption of a volcano and the formation of igneous rocks. The information gleaned from the reading of information texts provided what was needed for drafting their explanation texts. They also came up with some great ideas for diagrams to illustrate the process. All of Y3 was also invited to take part in an exclusive tour of the National Bank of Romania. The classes really enjoyed their time there and would like to thank those involved for making this event happen. It has been an interesting time in Y4 since the return from the Christmas holidays, punctuated by the first cold and snow of the winter. This fed beautifully into our science topic of changing materials where the children have been able to observe first hand water turning from liquid to solid, back to liquid and then to a gas as it evaporates under heat. In English they have been looking at information texts, how they are structured, the language they use, how information actually needed can be identified and then extracted and re-formulated. The information that has been gleaned from books that would not normally be read has been fascinating. For example, no-one was aware that there was a rock cycle! In maths the pupils have been reinforcing basic number work and looking at a range of problem solving techniques with both number and word based problems. History has introduced us
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to the Anglo-Saxons from the decline of the Roman Empire to the Battle of Hastings. Classes have concentrated on historical analysis of evidence, largely at first examining archaeological artefacts and what they tell us about the Anglo-Saxons, as well as the inherent dangers of hypothesizing too much when the evidence is fragmentary, They have learnt where the Saxons came from, where they settled in England and why they came. This has included a little drama ‘Hengist and Horsa’. Pupils are currently starting to examine Saxon life and culture – villages, justice, arts, crafts and poetry. The Vikings are soon to come. In ICT ‘Garage Band’ has been used to create musical compositions from the early middle ages. Y5 started with a short focus on nutrition and health. It is important to understand how our bodies work and the effects of a good diet, as was discovered when we took a look at our teeth. We looked at the sugar content of some of our favourite food and drinks. Some of us have severely cut back on our sugar intake since then! Both classes favourite moment was when we looked at digestion in close detail and pupils are more than happy to describe the science experiment related to foods journey through the body, but be warned, it is not for the faint hearted. We linked English to our topic and focused on writing performance poetry. Y5 have really stepped up to the challenge inspired by the poetry performances by Michael Rosen. The teachers have been impressed with the amount of creativity and confidence that has been demonstrated. We developed our ability to record our ideas and observations in the style of Henry Moore. The children mimicked the poses of people in shelters from the Blitz period in London (as experienced by Henry Moore). This lead on to clay sculptures of reclining and sitting figures. It was incredible how quiet and engaged the children were during this activity. We have now begun to look at the Romans and the Greeks and we already have a few experts in our classes. We are looking forward to finding out about some of their legacies. The children are becoming more independent with when and how to use iPads to support their learning in all subjects. We have also started our class blog this term and have enjoyed publishing the first posts.
Combining Art and Maths in the study of symmetry Y6 have recently been learning about new frontiers and explorers. They especially enjoyed learning about the race to reach the South Pole and Ranulph Fiennes’ amazing Transglobe Expedition using photo sources and extensive atlas work. They also performed an excellent assembly on what they had learnt so far and their performance of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ was phenomenal! The children have moved onto researching future exploration and have begun designing and making rovers in Design Technology for the Mars One expedition in 2024. In English, the students have been busy learning about the art of debate and how to create balanced arguments. They have
explored a variety of topics, such as ‘Was Scott crazy or brave’ and they had a great time planning their debates in a structured format. Y6 are also very excited to create an interactive computer game using the programme ‘Scratch’. They are basing their work on the retro arcade game ‘Frogger’ and their coding skills are coming on in leaps and bounds! Congratulations to all the Y6 girls who came second at a locally held football tournament and to all those who are currently training three times per week in preparation for the upcoming COBIS games. We are proud of you.
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Pupils were engrossed in the challenges provided by sculpting reclining figures
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Making modern and Stone Age bread in Year 3
Studying irreversible changes in the Secondary Biology Lab
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Photo: BSB
UNIVERSITIES Sprinting to success in the COBIS Games
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by Charlotte Smith
T
he second University course commenced on Friday 16th January. Once again, there are some excellent courses on offer designed to develop the children’s practical skills: Boxercise, Musical Theatre, Computer Coding, Cookery, Escape Rooms, Elements of Art, Knitting and many more! “In Stop Motion, I have learnt to make animation without seeing your hand. I have been working really hard.” Eric – Y5H “I have really enjoyed computer programming using Flash. Mr O’Regan has taught us how to make animation move using code.” Mihai – Y4P
Musical theatre - one of the new Universities this term
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“I have really enjoyed Mr Thomas’ University as he teaches us new exercises to get fit. I am really tired afterwards.” Ilinca – Y3G
Boxercise, a great way to keep fit
Making things happen in Mr. Ford’s University
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CLUBS Grace and poise demonstrated by our budding balerinas
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Photo: BSB
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After school cooking - learning a lifelong skill
Engineering Club for senior students
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Creativity abounds in our Arts and Crafts club
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Winter wonderland
Me and My pets by Philine We don’t know the breed of our dog because he is a stray. When we lived in Turkey our dog, Ephes, lived in the parking lot of our school. He always waited at the gate and everybody liked him. One day he was attacked by another stray dog and he became really ill. We took him to the vet, he recovered and we adopted him. We named him Ephes after the famous Turkish beer brand. The actual way of spelling Ephes is Efes but we changed the f to a ph because my name starts with ph and the s represents the first letter of my brother’s name. Ephes is really sweet and well behaved, but sometimes he runs away. Luckily he always comes back. Ephes is also very funny! Our cat Sparkles was also a stray in Turkey. We adopted her because it was cold and she was hungry. We also adopted her brother Ramses but other people came and really liked Ramses so they took him. Sparkles likes sleepovers. When we have guests Sparkles always sleeps on top of them. In the beginning Sparkles avoided Ephes but now they are starting to get along. Sparkles is very cuddly and when I feel sad she licks my face. She always wants to play.
Philine and her pet cat
“Life is a Journey” On Saturday 24th January 2015, 8 students from Years 3 – 6 attended the annual ESU Public Speaking Competition at IBSB. There were over 100 candidates from a number of both local and international schools. The children prepared and delivered a speech on the topic “Life is a journey, not a destination.” All of the children did a wonderful job presenting their 2 minute speech and then taking questions on the spot from the judges and audience. Congratulations to: Luca (6S) and Yul (4P) who were both awarded 1st prize in their groups; Ella (6W) and Thea (5H) who were both awarded 2nd prize in their groups; and Anya (4P), Eleftheria (4P) and Sasha (3C) who all received honourable mentions from the judges for outstanding and charismatic speeches.
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SECONDARY SCHOOL REVIEW
Philip Walters Head of Secondary School
Many of our older students have been facing the pressures of mock examinations during this half term. These important milestones are a vital part of the preparation for summer IGCSE and A-Level exams. For several Y13’s this is coupled with stresses borne from the university application process, none more so than for medical applicants. One of the most competitive of courses, an applicant seeking a place for Medicine faces several hurdles and one of the best ways to consider this for potential medics is via discussing with someone that has been through the process. Our Head Boy, Gruia, is currently applying for Medicine courses in the UK and I asked him to outline his experiences. For Gruia preparation began early via securing several work experiences in hospitals and clinics. These are very important for the universities to see that the student has a good understanding of what the job entails as well as an appreciation for the role of other healthcare professionals. It is also very important to help the young person confirm their genuine interest and desire to work in their particular field. For this reason we offer all our students substantial work experience placements whilst Gruia went beyond this with additional month long hospital placements during summer holidays. Volunteering is arguably of even greater importance for Medicine applicants. Admissions tutors need to see empathy, a caring nature and an absolute commitment to the profession which relevant volunteering over a significant period of time can demonstrate. This is also true for Dentistry and several other courses. Gruia has volunteered at various institutions; his astounding work, for charities within our after school activities programme, has shown an ongoing commitment to the welfare of others. Medical courses in the UK (and in many other countries) have specific entrance tests in addition to the requisite high academic A-Level qualifications.
Last October and November, whilst studying his normal school subjects, Gruia was also busy preparing for the UK Medicine aptitude tests - UKCAT and BMAT. Gruia adds that at the same time “a lot of work had to be put into my personal statement due to the necessity of condensing everything that I wanted to say and so much information into only 4.000 characters allowed on the application form.” For Medical applicants the process continues with one final and significant hurdle – the interview. Not all applicants are selected for interview, indeed very few get offered more than one interview, but Gruia has just returned from Hull-York Medical School and has been invited to the University of East Anglia too. Gruia commented that “the preparation for interview was long and agonizing at times. I rehearsed a myriad of possible questions and had to give up even more free time in order to do research on the NHS and various ethical issues. The interview itself was stressful but the preparation at BSB kicked in and I was able to compose myself and get my message
“Our role is to attempt to guide and assist all our students to increase the likelihood of them being offered a place on the course of their choice”
across as clearly as possible to the interviewers.” There is a 10% acceptance rate for most UK Medical courses and so competition is tough. Our role is to attempt to guide and assist all our students to increase the likelihood of them being offered a place on the course of their choice and we do our utmost to meet this aim in the time leading up the final application months. Good luck to all our Y13 students in their last few months with us at BSB.
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SECONDARY SCHOOL
Grease is the word! by Sophie Hindley Grease is currently in production, our cast and crew members are working hard to make it a success. The costumes have started to be made, props are being collected and the set is being designed. All the actors are working incredibly hard, songs are being sung and dances being learnt. We are all preparing for the performance in March, and the children are putting in immense amounts of effort, they are all extremely dedicated and talented. Meet two members of the team: Tudor Y7: AKA Mini Danny Hi, my name is Tudor and I play mini Danny Zuko in the Grease play at BSB! I think that the Grease rehearsal are fun and it’s going well! As we progressed with rehearsals, I started to understand my character more. The rehearsals are starting to get more complex but we are practicing hard and I’m sure I will continue to have fun! What I’m trying at the moment is to put a bit of my own personality to my character so I can add a bit of TUDOR to Danny zuko! What I think of Danny Zuko? He just tries to play it cool!
Rehearsals in full swing
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Beatrice Y12: AKA Production Manager My role is the Production Manager, alongside Mariam, and we have been directing certain scenes, assisting the extremely busy Miss Hindley, and helping out at every rehearsal. This job requires a lot of hard work and dedication, as we must go to every rehearsal, even the ones on Saturday morning! I am certain, from what I have seen so far, that the play will be amazing. I have found my job to be exciting, as for the first time I am in charge of so many people. Although it may be challenging, I find it a delight to see this little idea turn into a grand scale performance. Personally, I found the dance scenes most fun to watch, as our three extremely talented choreographers, Eda, Stephanie and Elenis have created elaborate routines for each song. The scenes with Eugene are my personal favourite, as the actor, Filippo, fits in the role so well! We are sure that the audience will be pleasantly surprised and entertained by our performance. It will be a new experience for most pupils as we have never performed such a large scale play before. We are looking forward to seeing you there, on the 18th and 19th of March. And remember…Grease is the word!
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Mock Exams and Options by Gary Webster Perfect Planning…. During the middle two weeks of January, all of Y11-13, along with some of Y10 and Y9, have been sitting their mock IGCSE, AS and A2 level exams. The mock exams are an extremely important part of the journey towards these external qualifications as they are an opportunity for students to show how ready they are to sit their final exams. The papers that students sit for their mock examinations are past exam papers, so students are thoroughly tested on their knowledge and skills as if they were the real thing, but without the pressure of knowing that it is ‘make or break time’. If a student makes a mistake here it is not the end of the world - students can learn from the experience. Teachers also use the exam papers to determine what areas need to be revisited between now and the final exams to ensure that all students are fully prepared for the real exams. Finally, students gain a clear understanding of what they will be tested on and how to approach each examination so that they can face the final exams in May and June with confidence.
Mock examinations, vital practice for the summer
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Decisions, decisions… Part of my role as Deputy Headteacher (Curriculum) is to ensure that the range of secondary subjects that we offer here at BSB is wide and varied and to ensure that all students are able to succeed in qualifications that will enable them to follow the career path that they wish to pursue. Currently, our Y9 students and Y11 students are engaged in the process of choosing which subjects they will study in the next phase of their educational journey. Specialism at such an early stage may come as a surprise to parents who have no experience of the British system as many other educational systems maintain a broad range of subjects until a much later stage in a child’s education. I thought I would take the opportunity to explain how the options process works for students at BSB. In the British educational system, students in Y7-9 all study the same range of subjects so that they are given as broad and balanced an education as possible and to ensure that all students have acquired a wide range of knowledge and skills that opens up doors into many different careers. Once students enter Y10,
however, the process of specialisation begins which will ultimately culminate in entry to a University to study for a degree in one, or at most two, specialist subjects. The current Y9 students are in the middle of the first stage of specialisation as I write this. They have nominated, from the 16 different subjects that they are currently studying, which subjects they will continue with for the next two years and which will lead to IGCSE qualifications at the end of Key Stage 4. Of course, this is not just a process of reduction. The subjects that students choose are studied in much greater depth than they are at Key Stage 3 and students may take up courses that they have not studied before, so it is very much a process which facilitates the growth of both knowledge and skills. Students moving into Y10 will take core and compulsory subjects such as English, Maths and PE. In addition to this, students will nominate a further 5 choices to make a programme of study which comprises at least 8 separate subjects and allows them to specialise their knowledge with a view to entering a particular career. For example, a student wishing to become a doctor will need to take both Biology and Chemistry, whereas an aspiring architect would consider taking Art and Physics along with their compulsory study of Maths. It’s all about giving students the opportunity to design a curriculum for themselves which enables them to follow their goals and ambitions. So how many subjects will a student take during Y10 and Y11? Well that depends entirely on each student. We always say ‘a minimum of 8 IGCSE subjects’ but in reality most students will do more – English is actually made up of two separate qualifications for most students – English Language and English Literature – and so will lead in most cases to two separate IGCSE awards. Additionally some students could take two Modern Foreign Languages and others may take both Mathematics and Further Mathematics. The options process allows students to individualise their education to allow for anything between 8 and 11 IGCSE or GCSE qualifications. You may well have seen, if you have children who have been through or are currently going through this process, the ‘options blocks’ that we ask students to choose from. There are six options blocks for IGCSE options and all the subjects we offer will be organised into these options blocks. Students will then be asked to choose one subject from each option block. But how do we decide on which subject goes where? Well, two factors are taken into account. The first is student preference. If a lot of students opt to take a subject, then we would offer this subject in two different options blocks to create two classes (otherwise all students wishing to take this subject would be placed into one very large class, which clearly is not what we want). This information is taken from students’ provisional options
indications. It gives us an idea of how many students would like to study each subject, so we know whether we need one, two or sometimes even three different classes for a subject. An example from this year’s options is the popularity of Geography and Art. In previous years we have created one class for each of these subjects. This year, so many students wanted to study these subjects that we know we will need two classes for each of them (hence they are both in two options blocks). The second factor we take into account is balance. We want students to specialise but also to have a balanced programme of study that does not lead in one particular direction only. The options blocks are designed therefore to ensure that students’ choices include a modern foreign language, one of the humanities (either History or Geography) and a science subject. Within this framework, students choose 6 subjects to add to the compulsory Maths, English and PE which enable a certain amount of specialisation without sacrificing flexibility. The process is almost identical for Y11 students who are choosing which options to take in the sixth form, except that students will choose 4 A-level subjects and there are no compulsory subjects (except for PE, which is non-examined but brings many benefits such as health, fitness and fostering competitive spirit). This is an even more critical choice as at this stage students will effectively choose subjects that will enable entry to particular courses at university – this is where most students will decide on the chosen direction for their career. Once students in Y9 and Y11 have made their final choices in February, we can develop a timetable for next year which allows all students to study their chosen options and ultimately to pursue their chosen paths beyond BSB. You may well have questions about the options process for Key Stages 4 and 5 (or indeed about any other curriculum-related issues) and if so, please do not hesitate to contact me at gary. webster@britishschool.ro.
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Symposium! with John McConnico - Pulitzer Prize winning photojournalist
Symposium! by Matthew Cox
Symposium! is an important element of the school’s enrichment programme for senior students. Through a series of presentations, talks and workshops we aim to stimulate, provoke and challenge our seniors. Our speakers have been chosen for their diversity of backgrounds, careers, positions of responsibility and ability to engage with a questioning audience, and have included representatives of the UNICEF, IMF and a Pulitzer prize winning photojournalist. We hope that by communicating directly with a variety of experts, the students in Y10 to Y13 will appreciate that there is never only ‘one’ path and that a fulfilling and successful life, well-lived is
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much more complex than just academic or financial success alone. All of our speakers have focused on passion and how they genuinely caring about their work, and indeed spoken about how their personal principles and values drive what they do. At BSB we aim to inculcate our young people with drive, vision and values so they are able to use their education as a first step to making a genuine difference in the world. Above all else, we want them to have choices throughout their lives, and to follow their dreams wherever that may lead. If you feel that you would like to contribute to Symposium! please contact Mr. Cox at school.
Enterprise Club by Gordon Robertson Members of the Enterprise Club put their Business ideas into practice at the Artisan Fair just before the Christmas break. The students also managed to raise a considerably amount of money for charity. It was nice to see four groups of students of all ages solving problems, working together and having a lot of fun. The company most successful in terms of profit was Althinca, which comprised of Tasos Y10, Theodor Y13, Alexandra and Ilinca Y11. They sold their legendary waffles for 10 lei and the BSB community couldn’t get enough of them. The team even had to prepare a new batch of dough at the last minute as demand was outstripping supply. This could have been attributed to the humorous and very persuasive sales tactics of Tasos who managed to make almost every person smile that he came into contact with. Ilinca and Alexandra orchestrated their product idea
and arranged the team’s resources with military precision. Not only were the team successful in making a profit, but the quality of their waffles was outstanding, I speak from first-hand experience. Theodor appeared to be a natural in his role of production manager who was very proud of his teams creation and wasn’t shy in loading every single waffle with heaps of Nutella! Other students that took part in the Artisan fair from the Enterprise Club included: Cristina, Samaa and Laura who baked and sold cupcakes. Y7s Lara and Anastasia also made and sold cupcakes. Andrei and Darius made and sold their own brand of cookies. The students involved worked very hard and I am proud of the way they all demonstrated initiative, decision making skills, team work and a great sense of humor.
Enterprising students at the Artisan Fair
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HUMANITIES WEEK
Diversity amongst our student body facilitated enlightend debate
Year 9 Geographers working all together in NUPEH
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Discovering World Religions
Trading at an international market in Humanities Week
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Technology in school and at home by Jason Porter If you have recently been to Britain and visited the self-service checkout at a supermarket you will almost certainly be familiar with the phrase unexpected item in the bagging area. It was only a few weeks ago during my last-minute Christmas Eve shopping sprint that a metallic, disembodied voice rang out informing me that there was indeed an ‘unexpected item in the bagging area’ just after I had scanned all the items and was poised to pay. As my frustration with the machine grew, I realized that the unexpected item was my four-year-old son. It’s easy to get frustrated with technology when it doesn’t work or to blame a failure on computer error, but my example above highlights the role which human error plays in our daily interaction with technology. As human beings, we undeniably have a relationship with technology and we can’t always blame problems on computer error. At primary school I can remember waiting for days to be able to use the one and only computer at the back of the room as a reward, but now the use of technology, the ability to be instantly connected and available on line at any time of day or night and have a sea of information at your fingertips instantly has now
Technology, in all shapes and sizes, is part of everyday life
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become an entitlement and not a wonder. Young people today are fluent in the language and practice of technology and easily grasp the concept of being connected in a cyber world. By young people, I mean all ages from toddlers to teenagers. The savvy young are not wary of the technology or worried in case they press the wrong button as us adults are. Instead they know what they want and keep clicking fearlessly until they get there. Many refer to technology as ‘the future’, but the future of technology is around us here and now and young people are shaping it and shaping it fast. As you read this, jobs in fields of technology which have never previously existed are being created, millions around the world are interacting on social media and the next generation of electronic device is being designed. The academic authors on education, Stoll, Fink and Earl rightly point out that ‘technology is value-neutral; it is how we use it that determines its benefits or horrors’. One of our primary tasks at BSB as a school is to keep our young people safe and to educate them about responsible and safe use of technology for their future and for a time when we are not there to look over their shoulder.
Technology in school
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Secondary Photograph Competition won by Lena in Year 8
SPORTS
School Sports News by David Hughes Students have been busy practicing, competing and representing the school in a number of sports over the last half term. BSB hosted Bucharest’s first international schools football tournament for girls and our U11 team finished 2nd place. The progress in their skills and teamwork throughout the tournament was exceptional. The U14’s boys and girls basketball teams recorded
Inter-house basketball
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the double over AISB with scores of 31-6 and 12-5 respectively. The COBIS Games teams have begun their training schedule and will be working hard to develop their skills in athletics, football and swimming ahead of the Games in May. You can follow us on twitter for more information on scores, results and pictures from sports fixtures and the PE department.
Run by UEFA A Qualified Coaches
Summer Soccer School 13th - 24th July in Herastrau Park summerschool@britishschool.ro
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Vocal workshops with Loredana were popular with all students who attended
Book Review by Pat Lovelock A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly – Carnegie Medal Winner 2003 There was nothing else to do but read – well, there was television, and while there were quality children’s programmes and drama series, it was somewhat limited. Reading was central to a child’s life. Libraries were key and haunted regularly. Books were read and reread. Books were friends. Books were trips to frozen lands behind wardrobes, locked tragic gardens and the big woods and prairies of America. Really, we had no choice, but there are such demands for children’s attention now that books have to scream and shout and jump up and down to attract them. It’s not all zombies and vampires though. There are still a few rye catchers and mockingbird killers out there. One such is A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly, set in 1906 and based on a historical murder.
Pat passing on her love of literature
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The main character, Mattie, has many responsibilities, loves words, learning and literature and is an aspiring writer just like her best friend, Weaver. Torn between going to university and looking after her father and siblings as she promised her dead mother, Mattie is entrusted to destroy a young hotel guest’s letters but when the girl turns up dead, presumed murdered, Mattie reads them instead. What she reads both fascinates and irritates her but it is Grace’s message which has the greatest effect on her. A mixture of murder mystery and bildungsroman, the novel deals with loyalty, racism, loss, honesty and breaking free – daring to follow your dreams. Or not.
My Favourite Teacher by Helen Stevens I have been fortunate enough to have had a long list of wonderful teachers. It was because of them that I decided to become a teacher myself. If I had to really decide then I would still have to say I have two favourite teachers. Mr Edwards, my Y6 teacher, was a fun, energetic and wonderful teacher who gave everything he could to our class for example taking us to the local badminton hall during his lunchtimes just so we could experience the sport. Mr Edwards only stayed in my primary school for one year and I always feel lucky and honoured to have been with him for that one year. Mr White was my secondary mathematics teacher who worked with me from Y7 right the way through to A-Levels. He instilled a love of mathematics and although I found it tricky he was always there to offer help when needed. I will forever have a picture in my mind of him sitting in his office at lunchtime, about to bite into his sandwich, seeing my face at the door and beckoning me in. He never turned me away and always made the time to help me.
Inspired to become a teacher
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CHARITY AND COMMUNITY
Don Orione by Hannah Straw Every Monday a team of dedicated volunteers from Y 7 – Y13 journey to Centrul Don Orione where they spend an hour making fun activities with the disabled children in the care of the centre. During the last week of term, 4 KS3 students decided to do something a little bit different and take five of the children from the centre to Baneasa shopping mall, to see the Christmas lights and enjoy the general festivities on offer in December. Our students learned more about the difficulties disabled people
in the community face but also discovered the warm-hearted help that members of the public can offer. The Don Orione children were so excited by the hustle, bustle, lights and colours of the Mall that it gave our students new appreciation of the environment around them. Overall it was a lovely morning interacting with the Don Orione children in new surroundings.
Shoe Box 2014 by Noor, Y13 Just before Christmas Break I had a chance to go to Fundatia Inocenti along with some of my colleagues (from Primary and Secondary) and teachers to drop off the shoe boxes we collected. It was a great experience as we got to interact directly with the children we made the shoe boxes for. To top that off, we also had a chance to sing Christmas songs for the children there. It was truly amazing seeing the smiles on their faces when they received their presents. That feeling of happiness and satisfaction can really not be replaced. If you have the opportunity to go on the trip then I would recommend you to join at least once while you
are at BSB because this is a chance that shouldn’t be missed. I can guarantee that it will be worth it and you will feel much better about yourself as this is a great way to give back to the community. Moreover, doing such things help you realise how blessed we are, notice the ordinary things that actually play a big part in our life. I would like to thank all the students and parents who contributed towards the cause and made it possible for all of this to take place. I’d also like to thank Ms. Rocio and Ms. Curtis for organising this trip.
BSB students singing Christmas songs for the children in Fundatia Inocenti
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42, Erou Iancu Nicolae Street, 077190 Voluntari, Ilfov County, Romania
T. +40 21 267 89 19, F. +40 21 267 89 69 E. office@britishschool.ro
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