Secondary Newsletter No. 32 – April 26, 2019
Dear Parents,
Today is the final day of classes for our Grade 12 students, they begin their final exams next Friday. Many of these students will still come in next week to get some final support from their teachers and we will be having a farewell with teachers and parents followed by a Secondary Assembly on May 24. Grade 12 parents will receive an official invitation for this event and graduation which occurs on May 29 soon.
ISA Results
ISA results will be sent home today to all parents of Grade 3-10 students. A parent information session is planned for May 20 where the Principals and Head of School will present an analysis of the results. Initial observations are very pleasing in most areas and we are in the process of performing an in-depth analysis to share with you.
Grade 12 IB DP Exams
Friday May 3 sees the start of the IB DP exam period for BIS students. The students have shown remarkable resilience and courage to reach this point in their academic careers. By Thursday May 23 the exams will be finished for BIS students and they will be preparing for the next stage in the lives.
All the hard work in preparing for the exams has been completed and the students are in the process of making the fine adjustments that will have a significant positive impact on their final grades. Students will be following their revision timetables that they have steadily improved since their mock exams, sticking to their sleep routines and not overburdening themselves at this critical stage. Students are all aware of what time their exams start, what each of their exams encompass and many of the students will be coming into school next week as well to revise. This will give them the confidence needed to enter the exams in a positive frame of mind and give a fantastic account of themselves. Well done Grade 12s and the best of luck. The whole school is behind you!
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent van Gogh
MYMUN Delegates Reflect
All 11 BIS delegates give their first-hand MYMUN experiences……
Nadia Winkler (Grade 7)
My MUN experience this year was really fun and exciting. I was focusing on the topic of combating stigmatization of HIV/AIDS in Western and Southern Africa. This was a big topic for me as I was representing the country of Equatorial Guinea. In my committee, there were many other countries that debated very well. I liked the debates in my committee as they were interesting, and questionable. I found it interesting how there was so many countries in the room and they were all debating in their countries opinion, and not their own opinions. I found this interesting because in Bali MUN, everyone debated in their own opinions and I wasn’t so used to it. Overall, this years MUN was really fun and I enjoyed it.
Isabella Pettersson (Grade 7)
This year, 10 other students and I had the honor to represent our school at the 16th annual MyMun (Malaysian Model United Nations) conference, on a five day trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Model United Nations, is a conference that allows students from different schools to collaborate. The students write resolutions in groups to solve real-life problems that are happening around the world. After the students write the resolutions, everyone in the committee room debates and improves the resolution for the final vote.
This year, I represented Australia in the Human Rights II committee where we discussed problems such as orphanage tourism, HIV and AIDS in Western and Southern Africa, and Human Rights violations in Turkey.
Before the conference, everyone had to research about the country they would represent, and the topic they would be focusing on in their committee room. After we finished our research, and understood our country’s stance on the problem, we had to write opening speeches, and our own resolutions.
I think that everyone was passionate, and willing to collaborate to get an end result to solve these issues. In our committee room, 4 out of 6 resolutions were passed because of everyone’s hard work.
Overall, I had an amazing time during this three-day conference and five-day trip. I learned about Australia and the topics in our committee room. I also became more confident this year than last year because I was more familiar with the whole process. I got to debate, learn and solve real life problems, and got to meet new friends along the way.
Calum Leys (Grade 8)
This year’s MUN, was challenging, fast-paced, and eye-opening. I got to experience a room with very few delegates, and had to grapple with topics that were complicated, and messy. I had to deal to highly trained delegates, some even in their fourth or fifth conference, and I had to respond to difficult POIs, make convincing speeches, and create fitting amendments to resolutions. But most of all, I had to be confident, because if I lacked the confidence to speak in front of the whole room, I wouldn’t be regarded as a strong delegate. However, before you have to make speeches and amendments, and create well-constructed POIs to counter their arguments, you have to prepare. BaliMUN helps a lot to prepare for international conferences, and the weekly sessions we have also help in preparing for MUN. Preparing may include, opening speeches, resolutions, position papers, country info lists, and so on. But what I have noticed is that, very shy people, not very talkative people, when they go to MUN, they become brave and courageous people, and willingly step up to the podium to speak their point of view. That is why I love MUN. It gives everyone, an opportunity to grow as public speakers, as debaters, as inquirers. I have learned how to make speeches under pressure, and sometimes winging it, and going onto the podium, even if I haven’t finished writing my speech, because I trusted myself that I could construct a good speech from the simple bullet points I jotted down. This has helped me in another extra-curricular, World Scholar’s Cup, which also involves debating certain topics. Before MUN, I already was a very outgoing person, but never the type to proudly talk in front a large crowd. MUN has helped me in public speaking, and having the guts to talk with confidence in front of an audience, and I hope more people will join MUN in the future, so we can have more and more brave speakers in this world, that may someday be the voice of change. I thank MUN for all the experience it has given me, and I thank myself for not doubting my abilities to talk in front of an audience, and not be scared.
Cintya Roby (Grade 8)
During the 12th – 14th of April 2019, 10 students and I went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to represent different countries at the 16th annual MYMUN conference. Model United Nations or MUN is a conference in which students represent a country that they are given and debate on a topic within their committee. In this year’s conference, I represented Australia in the committee Economic and Social Conference I (ECOSOCI) and the topic I was debating on was The economic impacts of natural disasters on the Asia-Pacific rim. For the next 3 days, I had to get in a group with other fellow delegates that are interested in this topic and create a resolution on it. After the resolution was created, we had to debate on it as a committee and vote on whether or not the resolution should pass. In the end, my resolution passed and my group and I felt satisfied. I think that MUN is a good way for students to learn how to debate formally and become more open and more confident. MUN isn’t always scary and strict because you get to make new friends who can help guide you through the conference. In the end, I feel like I am more confident in what I say and do, I have developed my debating skills and have made new friends and created better bonds with the ones that I already have.
Amelie Von Harrach (Grade 7)
The experience of MYMUN was an exceptional experience, not only did we fly out of the country internationally as a school without our parents and the rest of our family, but we also got to experience all of this with our classmates and friends. The country I was representing the country of Equatorial Guinea, our school was mainly was representing Equatorial Guinea, there were two students doing Australia, On friday, before the conference started we first got a tour of the school and where the different rooms are. The conference went on for three days, the resolution that I made passed with 11 votes for and 9 against.I was the main submitter of our group of 5. The countries in my group were Japan, MYanmar, Peru, Australia and my country Equatorial Guinea. MYMUN finished on sunday afternoon, we then had a tour of KL. What I liked most about going to MUN was the fact that we got to travel without our parents, another thing that I really liked about MUN was that we had be just like the actual UN, this was by dressing like the UN, speaking like the UN.
Charlotte Jaquier (Grade 6)
I’ll be honest here I was nervous starting out, but I quickly adapted and met wonderful people there as well as learned and expanded on skills that I know will be helpful! These skills consisted of but were no limited to; research skills, public speaking, improvisation, I could go on. Of course like anything in life it had it’s up and downs one of these was the workload but honestly I probably could have managed my time better and made it easier. Everyone I met was nice and unique but they all had one thing in common, they were all not afraid to stand up on the podium, give a speech, and accept the feedback they received. This was a wonderful and exciting experience and I can’t wait for next year.
Josiah Wong (Grade 7)
I was in Human Rights I, focusing on the topic of improving the living standards for people with disabilities. On the first day, everyone said their opening speeches, I thought that my opening speech was good although I could have said it with a louder and more confident voice. After everyone said their opening speeches we went in groups with the same topic to make a big resolution. I thought that my group made a really good resolution. On the 2nd day, we started to debate about each group’s resolution. Our resolution was first and in the end, the resolution passed. We continued debating on the 3rd day about topics like the travel ban in the United States of America, the placement of the Venezuelan refugees. I thought that it was a fun experience. I learnt many things and now I know what to do next time.
Dylan Jones (Grade 8)
This was my second year at MYMUN and my last. I am very happy to say that our resolution passed with 23 votes for and only 2 votes against it. I think this was the strongest conference I ever attended. I had amazing chairs and fellow delegates and very entertaining debate questions. I am very proud to win 3 awards this year 2 from the room and 1 from the overall conference. The 2 room rewards were most likely to start World War 3 and most likely to become a UN delegate. The overall reward that I won was Most passionate delegate. Overall I was honored to represent Equatorial Guinea and it was amazing to travel with my fellow delegates and wish the best of luck to the delegates going next year. And thank you to all my fellow delegates, teachers and everyone who helped put this conference together.
Manon Pecquery (Grade 8)
I think that MUN is a great learning experience where students can learn to debate, collaborate and give speeches with or to other people. I think that flying to another country teaches us about independence, it also builds confidence. I joined this MUN conference to take a risk and be involved and try to solve modern day problems and to be able to express the research and the knowledge that I accumulated researching into speeches, amendments and POI’s. I also joined mun to improve my public speaking skills.
Jose Ireland (Grade 7)
On April the eleventh 2019, we to MUN. We went on a flight to Kuala Lumpur, rode a bus to the hotel and got our rooms in the hotel. The next day we prepared ourselves, we put on our formal clothes and left to the school. We entered our specific rooms and sat down in our specific seat. It began with lobbying, we got in teams and discussed a global issue. During the rest of the mun trip, your team was normally there to back you up and help you. After the lobbying you began to debate, you debated, your team members and other countries debated. During MUN we learnt new vocabulary, how to be open-minded and how to be in charge of a whole country. By the end of the trip, you would leave with many new friends you met in the room and a lot of Instagram followers. Then the trip would end with sightseeing, we looked at many different features of KL and had fun. Overall MUN was very fun, it helped you learn new skills, gain new friends and promote confidence.
Isabel Ireland (Grade 8)
MUN as a constitution is an amazing experience for students, not only do they achieve a higher knowledge on today’s issues, expanding their understanding and learning to be more open minded then thought possible, but it helps students to harness their public speaking, to be compassionate, voicing opinions and being a risk taker. MYMUN provides that experience and is very diverse, student meet others from all over Asia and some beyond. Along with that the traveling experience gives students a sense of independence, boosting their confidence. The school that hosts MYMUN was prepared and organized, they were also very invitings as they prepared a series of performances just to welcome us. MUN has given me an opportunity to improve my arguments, in a logical, structured way. It helps me be aware of the worlds issues in a deep and almost personal way, as you have t portray a country. It feeds my insatiable want for public speaking, and further improves it, along with my confidence. I am grateful to be a part of this experience, and the memory holds friendships, accomplishments and it inspires me to do more conferences in the future and push myself further into the world of the UN.
ISTA Middle School Theatre Festival 2020
We are very excited to announce a fabulous opportunity for Grade 6 and 7 students for next academic year (2019-2020). BIS are hosting a Middle School ISTA Festival, March 6th – 8th 2020!
ISTA (International Schools Theatre Association) is a UK based organisation and has been running for over 40 years delivering superb Middle and High School Theatre Festivals, DP Theatre Festivals, Professional Development and Artist In Residence Programmes all over the world.
Middle School Theatre Festivals are created specifically students who have a real passion and love for theatre. They will work in ensembles alongside theatre students from Beijing, Bangkok and Malaysia, led by professional international artists learning new, exciting skills and techniques to feed directly into their growing theatre knowledge. This is an incredibly rare and unique opportunity and the difference it can make to students’ understanding is immense. The 3 day Festival will culminate in a final sharing performance to parents and the BIS community on the Sunday afternoon.
For more information please visit https://ista.co.uk/events/festivals/. If you would like to register your initial interest for your child please read this letter and complete the Google Form to place your child’s name on the Initial Interest List. Places will be allocated based on order of response, students’ genuine interest and passion for drama, full participation for all 3 days, and the family’s ability to offer full hosting.
Thank you!!
Sarah Alborn
THEATRE TRIP – April 22 2019
APPLAUSE FOR A CAUSE UPDATE
Counselor’s Corner
Laura Salans, Pet Rehabilitation
Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in the process
A challenge that I faced was having to socialize with new people and build connections. An important part of this experience to me was to build connections with people who could help me in the future. I was in a situation where I was surrounded by veterinarians, vet nurses, farriers and university professors who could help me open doors and teach me new skills and knowledge. Therefore, It was very important for me to socialize with them and make a good impression while still being myself. I am not a social person and tend to come off as ‘awkward’ and quiet in social situations. In the beginning of the experience, I stayed this way but soon realized that I could not pass on this unique opportunity. I started to make small talk with everyone and realized that when I talked about my passion, animals, I lost the awkwardness. After a few hours of small talk I was able to open myself up to everyone and have friendly chit-chat. Although this experience has taught me a lot about animals and being a vet, I learned so much about how to socialize and build connections. This experience has truly grown my socialization skills and eased my fear of meeting new people. Another challenge for me speaking Indonesian to the locals and translating what the vets were saying. My Indonesian vocabulary and speaking skills aren’t that great and during the clinic I struggled to translate some words and explain to the owners clearly about their horse’s condition and the medications that were given. A lot of times I mumbled and stuttered too. However, at the end of the clinic I learned so many new Indonesian words that will help me when working in Indonesia in the future or just conversing with locals. My Indonesian conversational skills have also improved and I am more able to have properly structured and clear conversations.
