Primary eNews – January 10, 2020
Parents are asked to view upcoming events on the BIS Calendar of Events
Welcome back to School & Happy New Year
Happy New Year / Selamat Tahun Baru to all of our students and families. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable school holiday and got to spend some quality time with family and friends. It has been great to see all of our students learning so enthusiastically in their classes and enjoying playing with each other on the playgrounds.
Welcome to New Students
We welcomed a number of new students to the Primary School during the first week of the new semester. We look forward to welcoming the students and their families into the BIS Community over the coming months. Any parents that are free next Friday morning, 17th January after morning drop off are welcome to join the PTA which is hosting a coffee morning to welcome the parents in the Courtyard.
Annalika in Preschool 3
Dakota in Preschool 3
Gael in Preschool 3
Thiara in Preschool 4
Ryder in Preschool 4
Emily in Kindergarten
Milo in Kindergarten
David in Grade 1
Caleb in Grade 2
Louis in Grade 3 (will start on Monday 13th)
Esther in Grade 5
Primary Student Council (Stu Co)
Students who were elected to our Primary Stu Co were introduced at today’s assembly. All students were invited to present a speech to their class about why they believe they would make a good Stu Co rep for their class. Each class then held elections with the students below winning those class elections. Congratulations to all of them and thank you to all students who participated in the process. The Primary Stu Co will hold its first meeting next Friday morning at 8:00am
Kindergarten. Ianna and Lautaro
Grade 1. Evan and Ella
Grade 2. Hannah and Sabeer
Grade 3. Lael and Elizabeth
Grade 4. Evy and Angus
Grade 5. Tahlia and Aqvila
Stu Co Head. James from Gr 5
Uniform Reminders
Parents are asked to ensure that all items worn or brought to school are clearly labelled with your child’s name on it. Below are a few reminders from the Preschool to Grade 10 Dress Code which can be found in the Student and Parent Handbook which is available in the Quick Links section of the school website and by clicking here.
- The BIS navy blue hat can be purchased and worn by any students at BIS. All Primary students are required to wear a hat when outdoors.
- If students choose to wear a top over their uniform it must be the BIS hoodie which is available for purchase from Reception.
- All Primary school students with hair past their shoulders must have it tied back.
- Thursdays are Batik days throughout Bali, so students are required to wear the BIS batik shirt.
- Students must wear closed-toe shoes or sandals with heel and two straps. Flip-flops or slip on sandals are not acceptable.
- Students are asked to wear their House t-shirts on Friday.
PE Uniform/Kit
- Sneakers/trainers are required.
- Grade 1 – 5 students are to change into PE uniform in the PE changing rooms at the beginning of their PE lesson and must change back into their full school uniform after their PE lesson. Preschool and Kindergarten students can wear their PE uniform all day on the days they have PE.
- PE clothes may be worn to/from school when PE is the first/last class of the school day respectively.
- Swimwear: one-piece plain dark colored suit for girls and board shorts/trunks for boys, or the BIS swimwear.
Parent Information Session: What does Inquiry Learning look like in the PYP classroom
Our Primary teachers will join me in presenting a parent information session focusing on what Inquiry Learning look like in the PYP classroom from 8:00 – 9:00am on Monday 27th January in the Library. During our session will share an overview of inquiry learning, investigate Kath Murdoch’s Inquiry Cycle and then get a first hand look at a range of student inquiries from Preschool to Grade 5 across a range of disciplines.
The spirit of inquiry
Inquiry, as the leading pedagogical approach of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) recognizes students as being actively involved in their own learning and as taking responsibility for that learning. PYP learning is approached with a spirit of inquiry. Drawing from the transdisciplinary themes and students’ interests, inquiry is an authentic way for students to relate to, explore and understand the world around them. A large body of research, supported by experiences of teachers worldwide, has informed the IB in committing to purposeful concept-based inquiry that engages students actively in their own learning (Kuhlthau, Maniotes, Caspari 2015), (Bonnstetter 1998).
The IB believes that this is the way in which students learn best. As part of the learner profile, students are supported in becoming “inquirers”. Inquiry nurtures curiosity and promotes enthusiasm for life-long learning. Effective inquiry encourages students to think, challenge and extend their ideas; it prompts students to reflect and take action. Through the inquiry process, students develop and demonstrate/practice the approaches to learning and attributes of the learning profile.
Inquiry is purposeful and authentic. It incorporates problem solving and supports students in achieving personal and shared goals. Inquiry extends students’ learning when the exploration of initial curiosity generates new questions and wonderings. By situating inquiry in meaningful contexts, connections are made between personal experiences to local and global opportunities and challenges.
Source. IB Principles to Practice
After School Activities Term 3
The term 3 session of primary school-sponsored activities begins Monday, January 13th and ends on Friday, March 13th 2020. We have sent the confirmation slips to students from Kindergarten until Grade 2. Student in Grade 4 & 5 will record the groups into their Student Organisers and they will also be posted outside the classroom. Parents can see & check their child/ren’s activities from the list that we’ve posted outside the classroom. For more information or confirmation about your child’s activities, please visit to Primary Office.
Guidelines for Participants in After School Activities
- The student should attend all days of the activity unless he/she is sick.
- If a student misses an activity when present at school, he/she may be removed from the class and replaced with a child on the waiting list.
- Students are expected to arrive to the activity on time and remain at the activity for the scheduled period because every minute counts!
- A parent or guardian must collect the student promptly at the end of the activity period. Students will not be dismissed from the activity until a parent/guardian arrives to pick them up. Failure to do so, can result in the removal of the student from the activity and their space will be given to another student on the waiting list.
- All students not picked up at the end of the activity will be escorted to the courtyard and their name noted. They can be picked up from there.
Here is a booklet for your information about the range of activities on offer for Term 3 for both Primary and Secondary divisions. These activites cover the 5 pillars of Sports, Recreation, Arts, Co-Curricular and Service.
After School Supervision
All Primary students must be collected from their class by their parents or nominated carer at the end of the school day. Students are welcome to stay and play on the Primary Field if they are being directly supervised by their parents or another nominated parent, but not a pembantu or driver. We allow this so that our students and parents can socialise after school and also to make it easier for parents who may have one or more child participating in an After School Activity and others not participating. Parents are asked to put all chairs away and remind students to return any sporting equipment before heading home.
Religion Classes
Grade 1 – 5 students registered at enrolment with an Indonesian Passport must attend Religion Lesson which will commence on Tuesday, January 14th at 2.50 – 3.30 PM. Classroom allocations are as follows:
| Religion | Classroom | Teacher Name |
| Hindu | Indonesian B Classroom | Ibu Made Ari Putri |
| Islam | Indonesian A Classroom | Ibu Enda Nur Ajiba |
| Catholic | Grade 3 Classroom | Bp. Yulianus Kasman |
| Christian | Grade 2 Classroom | Bp. John Edward |
| Buddhist | Grade 1 Classroom | Bp. Ketut Darmawan |
Primary Staff Meetings will rotate through different classrooms throughout year so the occasional lesson will be moved. When this happens, a sign will be posted informing everyone of the change.
PE in Term 3
The longer term allows us to cover 3 sports: Basketball, Dance and T-ball/Softball. Basketball will run for the first 6 weeks, Dance for the following 3 and a taste of Softball (Grades 1-4) and T-ball (Grades 5-6) for our final week. Our central idea is that there are many roles and responsibilities required for team games that involve throwing and catching. We will analyse tactics for defending and attacking, skills and rules needed to play the games and the roles and responsibilities required. In Term 3, we want students to; participate regularly in physical activity to develop components of fitness and motor skills, demonstrate a willingness to participate in a variety of activities from all movement categories and identify safe behaviour that promotes personal fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey
I read the The Gift of Failure by Jessica Lahey during the school holiday. The key theme throughout this book is that we as parents should allow our children to experience the disappointment and frustration that occur from life’s inevitable problems so that they can grow up to be successful, resilient, and self-reliant adults. I spent quite a lot of my holiday reflecting on my own parenting and have a number of new ideas and strategies that I am implementing at home. I would encourage all parents to read the overview of the book and seriously consider purchasing a copy. I would also be happy to loan my copy any interested parents.
I would also welcome any other suggestions for books on parenting that you may wish to share. Please email suggestions to primaryprincipal@baliis.net or drop by and see me when you are next up at the school
Lunar New Year Celebration
The Barongsai Naga Emas Youth Dance Troupe will be performing a Lunar New Year Dragon & Lion Dance from 11:15 – 12:00pm on Thursday 23rd January on the covered court. All members of the school community are invited to join us for this celebration. Students are encouraged to wear traditional dress (Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kone, Singaporean, Korean, Vietnamese) or something red which is a colour traditionally associated with Lunar New Year.
What’s Been Happening in the Primary School Recently
Below is a summary of some of the fantastic learning that has been taking place across the school in recent weeks. Teachers post many of these things on their class blogs but by sharing them on the eNews it gives families a chance to see what is happening in other grade levels.
Small Talk
We are happy to announce the publication of the inaugural issue of Small Talk, the first BIS Primary school newspaper. Even if you are not a student or parent in the Primary school itself, we invite you to learn about some of the comings and goings occurring down with the younger learners in our school community. We absolutely promise it’s not boring.
Highlights of our first 27-page issue include….
- a behind the scenes look at the upcoming Primary school theatrical production “Thank You for the Music” including why it has been delayed ’till 2020
- a passionate and persuasive plea to start school later in the day
- the history of Minecraft through the eyes of James Eddy, Grade 5 tech expert
- what our primary journalists believe was the most important word of 2019
- why Mr. Marshall disappointed 2nd grader Oscar on Halloween
- who was forced to join Small Talk against their free will
- what are the best things to protest and why
- And much more! Small Talk is a new ASA in the Primary school and is advised by Mr. Marshall and Ms. Wighton. The 7 “first journalists” are Milagro WIlson, Aqvila Wilson, Tahlia Edlred, James Eddy, Anya C. Joshi, Noah Korth and Kai Ingram. Get their autograph before their egos get too big.
Check out SMALL TALK about BIG THINGS in the BIS primary school today!
NoahJon Marshall
Librarian
SPK (Education Collaboration Unit) Accreditation
On 28th – 30th November 2019, BIS was visited by school visitors from Indonesian National Accreditaion Board ( part of Ministry of Education and Culture ). They conducted a review and assessment of the extent to which BIS have implemented Indonesian Government Regulations at the Primary and Middle School Level.
They looked closely at the alignment of these regulations based on the National Education Standards , which include Content, Process, Management, Facilities and Infrastructure, Assessment dan Finacing Standards,
Finally, the results are back and we received an “ A” / “ Excellent” ratings for Primary and Middle School.
Thank you for all the support to all BIS members, parents, students, teachers, staffs so that this accreditation process went smoothly until we received this remarkable result.
Yunita Reny
National Principal & Math Enrichment Teacher
