Secondary Newsletter 28 – February 28, 2020
Upcoming Events
March 9 – Grade 5-6 Transition Feedback Parent Session
March 16 – Term 3 Reports
March 17 – 3-Way Conferences
March 18 – Last day of term, 12pm finish for students
Principal’s Message
As we continue to monitor and reassess the Coronavirus situation globally and locally, our teachers are prepared for learning to continue at home should we have to close the school at any stage. If/when we get to this point, the school will rely on parents to support the teachers and students to ensure learning objectives are met. Here is a document detailing what we will ask parents to do in case of school closure.
Our basketball teams were very competitive last weekend in the IISSAC competition in Surabaya. There were some very close games and our players represented the school with distinction. Thank you to Mrs. Erickson, Mrs. Turner and Mr. Wyncoll for coaching and chaperoning our students on this trip.
Term 3 Reports and 3-Way Conferences
Reports will be issued on Monday, March 16. The comments and grades in these reports should provide a starting point for discussions with teachers at the 3-Way Conferences on Tuesday, March 17 from 8am-4pm. An email will be sent with the link to set up appointments next week.
Parent Feedback Session on Grade 5-6 Transition
Monday March 9, 2019. 8am Library
Interested Grade 5 and 6 Parents are invited to attend a feedback session at 8:00am on Monday, March 9 to feedback and share ideas on Grade 5 – Grade 6 transition for 2020/21. Grade 5 students will participate in a ‘Step Up Day’ on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 2 & 3, where they will join Grade 6 for two days of classes. To improve the transition process each year, we take feedback and suggestions from staff, parents and students so that we can consider all perspectives as we plan to support our Grade 5 students make the step into Secondary School in August.
Ross Ferris (Secondary Principal)
Robotics in Grade 7
In this Design unit, Grade 7 students have been exploring robotics tools such as lights, motors, and sensors and learning to create computer programs to control them. They are then using their new skills to create a learning arcade for the 4th and 5th graders to help them learn in a fun and engaging way!
Play in a Day
Though the ISTA MS Festival had to be postponed until October due to the virus (sad face), we are instead going to mark the original start day by holding a special day of Drama (happy face)!
The Grade 6, 7 and 8 ISTA students are going to take part in an all-day Drama workshop and will produce a ‘play in a day’!
The BIS community are invited to come along to the MPR on Friday 6th March at 2.45 to enjoy their performance which will start at 3.00 pm and last approximately 15 minutes. All are welcome!
Miss A
Relief Team Fundraising Event
The BIS Relief Team are hosting fundraising event ALL week from 2nd – 6th March to raise money and much-needed pencils for the children of Lombok.
They have identified a need and put their thoughts into action by organizing a week-long game of sabotage and reverse psychology!
The idea is to make sure that the house with the LEAST points actually wins – so fill the other houses collection tubs full of pencils and cash and make sure your house wins!
Let’s try and send as many pencils and buy as many notebooks as we can to help the children of Lombok enjoy their school as much as we love ours!
Please support this by making sure the students come ‘armed’ with pencils to play ‘Pencil Wars’ with!
ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Selina Ko
Heya my name is Selina and I am in grade 9. I’m a self-taught artist and have been drawing for the past 4 -5 years or so. I’m not a frequent drawer and I don’t have a consistent art style. Other than drawing, I also like to paint landscapes because it helps me release stress. Drawing also helps me convey my emotions and my thoughts. Drawing and painting is sometimes I really like, but its also something that causes me stress because I often mess up and get annoyed over it. My art page is @kokonut._.art I don’t post a lot there but I will soon.
Thanks!
BIS Celebrates International Mother Tongue
Thank you to all of the BIS staff, parents and students who participated in our celebration on Tuesday. Here are some photos from the event (taken by Aurora Dwifhani).
Mr. Marshall
Grade 7s Debate!
Motion: The Neolithic Revolution was good for Human Society
Grade 7 students have been studying the different ages of human society including the Stone Ages, Bronze Age, and Iron Age, and this week they debated the motion above in a World Scholars Cup style debate. The class was divided up into two groups, an affirmative and negative to the motion presented. Each group divided up roles including researching their position, looking for rebuttals, and preparing speeches and evidence for the debate. The six students who debated did a great job defending their position with the affirmative winning the debate.
Stephen Bennet Visit with Grade 8/9 Visual Arts Students
This Monday Grade 8/9 Visual arts students were fortunate to have internationally renowned portrait painter come to visit and offer valuable insights into what it is like to be a practicing professional artist. He discussed elements of his practice and process and took the time to offer advice on how to develop and apply our own skills in the portraits we are currently working on. One key bit of advice that really stood out for us is to paint without being fearful of making mistakes…which is a very relevant bit of advice as we are currently investigating techniques of the French Fauvist artists who were nicknamed the wild beasts of painting due to the bold, quick, expressive and fearless way that they applied paint.
Extended Essay – Research Question Presentation
During DP hour, the Grade 11 students presented their potential Research Questions to peers and supervisors. Ibu Putu, Ibu Ina, Ms. Quinn, Ms. Erickson, Ms. Cermen, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Klaus listened to the diverse proposals, gave feedback and engaged in individual conversations with the students. The EE journey has now officially begun for the class of 2021 and there seem to be very promising research questions that demand answers and clarifications.
