Bonn International School Magazine Spring 2012 magazine@bonn-is.de
With Grateful Thanks and Appreciation As it happens in our International Community, people move away or move on to other projects. Two long standing members of the Waves team are leaving our amazing little group. We owe much thanks to Chantal Dwivedi and Kim Boettcher for their tireless efforts and persistence in making Waves what it is. We wish them all the best for their new endeavours, here or there, and hope that they take with them very good memories of our Wednesday mornings together.
English Breakfast by Mio Irving
Untitled by Davien Gallego
CONTENTS 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 19 20 22 24 25 26 27 28 30 32 33
After school activities - Sport Sports results Masti Masala T'was 3 weeks before Christmas - E L5 Pet Lovers' Survival Guide Grade 5 Ski Trip to Austria Model United Nations High and Middle School Dance Pictures Reading Buddies Bonn English Conversation Where are they now? Drama! Drama! Drama! Spanish The Nest Bikes and more General-Anzeiger Translations - Automotive Richtfest Learning German Important Dates for your Diary
Imprint: Bonn International School e. V., Martin-Luther-King-Strasse 14, 53175 Bonn Magazine Staff:
Kim Boettcher, Agnieszka Boud, Terri Dhu, Janet Hannah, Rosemary Hewitt, Mariana Naslund, Robyn Thomas, Meg Ramirez
Advertising Coordinator:
Rosemary Hewitt
Layout and Design Coordinator:
Janet Hannah
Proof-reading Coordinator:
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Chris Wake
Orthodontist
Dr. MED. Dent. ASTRID WELLER-BERGMANN
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among a team. Additionally, BIS does not schedule games during the weekends of any school breaks, during exams or when our gym or fields are unavailable.
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES - SPORTS An Update from Gil Grant, Extra Curricular Activities Coordinator
WHY ARE SPORTING ACTIVITIES IMPORTANT AT BIS? The BIS competitive athletic program encourages students to participate and reach their full potential within a variety of sports. A well organised, diverse and quality athletic program allows the students to learn important values of commitment, teamwork and sportsmanship. BIS believes that our athletic program greatly helps in the academic, physical, emotional and social growth of our student-athletes. This year, there are some big changes to the after school sports program. The main changes include, a flat fee charged to families of students on travelling teams. This is not uncommon; most international secondary schools charge families in order to cover the cost of travelling, uniforms and equipment. It was felt that this would create a more equitable distribution of funds for all students. The funds collected for a sport fund only the travelling, accommodation, equipment and uniform costs for that sport. They do not go toward the building fund for the new gymnasium.
NECIS Northwest European Council of International Schools, established in 1980
The other main change is that we are now participating in a new Conference - NECIS. BIS has been trying to become a member of NECIS for 10 years. The reason for this is that NECIS has an inclusive program for secondary students including Varsity, Junior Varsity, Under 14 and Under 12. It offers more games and opportunities for competitive play and there are more schools participating. BIS still participates in ISST (International Schools Sports Tournament) but it is only available for Varsity teams. We do play against both NECIS and ISST schools in friendly games throughout the season.
BIS has another problem (luckily it is unique only to this year), which is that we have only one gym. When a school commits to travel for Friday evening and Saturday games, they will generally bring four teams, such as their U12 and U14 Boys’ and Girls’ teams. If there are three schools attending, there are many games that need to be played and we do not have the facilities that most other schools have, i.e. two or more basketball courts or volleyball courts. It takes too long to play 4 or 6 consecutive games on one court. Gil is looking forward to being able to arrange a more equitable schedule for all sports teams next year for our enthusiastic athletes.
SPORTSMANSHIP The objectives of competitive sports at BIS are to enable athletes:• to learn the value of teamwork and commitment; • to learn to compete with integrity; • to manage their time and prioritize their school work and sporting activities; • to have fun! Overall feedback from other schools about our travelling teams is very positive. Our teams have been very well behaved and competed with excellent sportsmanship while representing BIS at home and away.
HOUSING Whenever we host visiting teams for the weekend or when our athletes travel to another school, the athletes are housed for the night with families in the respective communities. Housing has been an integral part of the sports experience in Europe for over 30 years. The system allows athletes to experience other cultures, promotes friendship and creates a bond among the wider school community during bigger sporting events. The only time our athletes are not housed is at the season-ending NECIS tournaments. Everyone stays in a hotel or hostel simply due to the large number of athletes at these specific tournaments. For example, there were over 500 athletes at NECIS Amsterdam this year and that is simply too many for one school community to house.
CALL FOR MORE PARTICIPATION, Community Wide The goal of the Athletic Program for this year is to consolidate the travelling sports teams and establish relationships and commitments with the other schools we participate with. We need the community to get behind our athletes by supporting our teams and volunteering with our Booster Club. If you are interested in finding out ways to help, contact Gil - gilbert.grant@bonn-is.de or Mary Ann Mann - mann3065@att.net (Parent Volunteers)
Teams participating in NECIS along with BIS are: Antwerp International School, Copenhagen International School, American School of Rotterdam, International School of Hamburg, American School The Hague, International School of Amsterdam, International School of Düsseldorf, International School of Luxembourg, International School of Stavanger, SSHL, Sweden.
GAME SCHEDULING Both the NECIS and ISST organisations are responsible for organising the season ending tournaments. Each international school that participates is then responsible for arranging games prior to the tournament with the other international schools or local clubs and schools. Generally, schools make arrangements with each other one year in advance to play games or mini-tournaments. Varsity Boys Basketball Team
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Cancellations do happen for a variety of reasons, including problems with facilities, or even illness
Swim Team Members in Luxembourg
There will be an article focusing on the non-sport activities in the next issue. BIS offers a wide range of activities for all students because there is a strong belief that these programs make well-rounded students, allow teachers and students to share a passion outside the classroom and nurture the physical and emotional aspects of our adolescent children.
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RESULTS
FALL SPORTS This fall 127 students participated on 9 Fall Sports Teams: Varsity Boys Football
Tied for 9th at ISST
Varsity Girls Football
Finished 8th at ISST
Junior Varsity Boys Football
Finished 10th at NECIS – Seraju Cole, gr. 9 voted Most Promising JV Player
U14 Boys Football
Finished 7th at NECIS
U12 Boys Football
Finished 3rd at NECIS – Bronze Medal winners
Varsity Girls Volleyball
Finished 9th at NECIS
U14 Girls Volleyball
Finished 8th at NECIS – Voted Most Sporting Team
U12 Girls Volleyball
Finished 9th at NECIS – Voted Most Sporting Team
WINTER SPORTS The Winter Sports currently being played are:• Basketball - Boys and Girls U12, U14 and Varsity • Swimming - Co-ed • Marathon Training - Co-ed
U12 Boys Basketball Team with their Sportsmanship Award
U12 Girls Basketball Team with their Sportsmanship Award
SPRING SPORTS The Spring Sports are:• Track and Field - Co-ed • Softball - Co-ed • Football - Girls, U15 and Varsity • Tennis - Co-ed
Cross Country (Co-ed) (Hosted ISST Division II Cross Country Championship) Junior Girls teams
U14 Girls Basketball Team Members
Finished 3rd place
Swim Team Members and Coach in Antwerp
(We were not eligible for team awards in other age groups)
Helle Huisman, gr. 9
Finished 7th at ISST
Nisha Dwivedi, gr. 9
Finished 8th at ISST
Jack Lawson, gr. 7
Finished 4th at ISST
U14 Boys Basketball Team Members
U12 Boys Basketball Team Members
Varsity Girls Basketball Team Members
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U14 Girls Swim Team Members
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masti masala The Spice of Life
If you wanted to escape the grey winter monotony of February in Bonn, you didn’t have to actually leave the city this year to search for color, beauty and exotic food and dance. You just had to come to “Masti Masala – the Spice of Life” on 11 February. This event was organized by the BIS and greater Bonn Indian sub-continent community, with the help of the Parent Volunteers and the school’s Development Committee. The whole school was decorated in beautiful, vibrant colors and wrapped in saris: blue and green hues in the entrance foyer, a rainbow of saris hanging in the Sports Hall and an exhibition of traditional clothing from Afghanistan to Sri Lanka on mannequins. Ladies from our BIS sub-continent community greeted guests with bindis (jewelry worn by women on their foreheads) as authentic music played and traditional instruments were on display. Sapna and Bob Welsh were the evening’s gracious moderators and took guests through a cultural program starting with traditional dance, showcasing student and parent performances and ending with a Bollywood style mass dance number led by the BIS Community Choir and Tanya Talbot singing and dancing to the famous song “JAI HO!” from the movie Slumdog Millionaire. The whole Sports Hall was in motion! Another highlight of the evening was the fundraising prize draw, with some of the student performers from the evening pulling the names of lucky winners. The big moment of the prize draw was naturally finding out who won the 2 business class tickets on British Airway to Delhi – Martin Weller, Board Chair, was delighted to announce that the Vetriselvan Family were the happy winners. All in all, over 11,000 Euros was collected. Special thanks go to all of the ladies from India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka for their tireless and creative work to make this a memorable, culturally rich and exceptionally fun event. by Natalie Niklas
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T’was 3 weeks before Christmas...
Medieval entertainment at the Siegburg Christmas Market out some much sought-after chocolates.
Sankt Nicholas with students from EL5 We had just begun our Unit of Inquiry on Materials and what better place to go and explore all the different types than Siegburg Medieval Market. It was brimming with an assortment of toys, jewelry, arts and artefacts made from cloth, metal, horn, stone, bone, wood and just about anything else you can think of. The stall holders were more than helpful, dressed in their medieval costumes, explaining, sharing information and playing instruments. We were greeted by a themed demonstration from an old-time magician and a juggler, who I’m not sure had intended to introduce the comedy effect of dropping his tools, but we all found it funny. We were just glad he wasn’t using lit torches! We were fortunate to have a bunch of mums to dash around after the two classes of children
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who were busy watching freshlybaked bread being brought out of the ovens on large wooden spatulas while the smells of hot apple-fritters and cakes filled the noses of the intrigued classmates and their mums, although I think some of the latter were more interested in the Glühwein. The highlight, though, was possibly the wooden merrygo-round which was motored by Ms Alma and Annelies van de Plas, and then by Agi Boud and Agnes Lyden, turning the handles of the contraption while spinning round and round to the utter delight of both EL5 classes, who chanted “faster, faster”. Even Sankt Nikolaus made a guest appearance and handed
As if this wasn’t enough excitement for the week, the EL5 classes took part in the Primary Years assembly, in two separate showings of musical movement to the Theme of Hansel and Gretel. Both classes demonstrated the wonderful movement skills of they had learnt in PE with the lovely Ms Catherine, who also worked tirelessly to make the enchanting animal and tree costumes.
...and WOW, what a week it was for EL5! Then the rest of the Primary classes described the story of Hansel and Gretel through dance, music and drama. There is no doubt that all this detail was useful for the next trip out to the Kleines Theater Bad Godesberg to watch a performance of the Brothers Grimm Hansel and Gretel by Walter Anders. Around 300 pupils, teachers and helpers travelled in a number of coaches to Bad Godesberg and were seated in rows in a huge hall. The show was opened and conducted in German, which didn’t seem to mystify the nonGerman speaking children, who laughed in all the appropriate places. There were stories of a few nightmares that night following the expert performance of the witch, played by Ursula B Kannegiesser, who successfully raised screams from the audience with every monstrous cackle, helped by flashing red lights with her appearance on stage. Fortunately we all knew that Hansel would escape and that both he and Gretel would have a happy ending.
Having fun on the teacher and parent powered merry-go-round.
Overall, it was a fun packed, exciting and eventful week. Luckily the Winter Break was just around the corner. Can’t wait to see what 2012 brings us! The kids were fascinated with the magician! One of the many colourful, handcrafted items for the kids to see.
by Viki Johnston
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Kennels, Pensions and 'Camping'
Pet Lovers'
S U R V I VA L
GUIDE In this issue, finding a Groomer that can meet all your needs. You might have a difficult, unusual or older pet, or have transportation problems; either way your groomer should work both for and with you. Picking a groomer can be tricky, but a little advice from friends will make it easier:
Sabrina Latka at Dog Style Hundesalon, www.DogStyle-Hennef.de, 02248 607557 Referral: Rosemary Ford Hewitt
Andrea Muehr at Animal Services, Animals4film@hotmail.com, 02244 8732070 / 0176 47040017 Referral: Tracy Zambrano Comments: I know that Labradoodles are not an easy breed to groom. Seeing as we are from the United States, we were unsure of who we would find to groom our dog. Lola now gets the best haircuts she has ever had. She comes home so soft, and smells so clean. I completely trust Andrea to give her whatever grooming style she think fits her best.
When searching for groomers, you may do the usual yellow pages and internet searches to find those in your area. Buyer beware! Make sure you are clear as to what you want. Bring photos and even your dog when making an appointment or discussing the cut you want. Talk about price up front. If the pet is matted, has problems or difficulties being groomed, allergies, a recent medical condition or is elderly, make sure they can accommodate you if your pet has special needs. Ask to look at the facility. There is no harm in seeing where your pet will be for the next 4+ hours. Is it clean, is there a place to exercise your pet, are there certificates of training; surroundings that make you feel comfortable? Once you have used the facility, is your pet happy? Do they greet the groomer happily or do they shy away? Depending on your pet’s response, this might be a deciding factor as to whether you want to continue with this firm or keep searching.
Last, but not least, where can your pet stay when they are not traveling with you? Finding a place for our pets to stay can be complicated. Locating a facility that has the accommodation you need may eliminate most right away. Often we have senior pets, pets with medical conditions that need to be monitored, or pets that have difficult personalities and 'don’t play well' with others. For some people transportation is a problem, so 'door-to-door' service in important. In some situations - let’s say your pet is blind - it is better your pet stays home and someone comes and exercises them or checks on them. There are also ‘live-in’ facilitators that come and stay in your home and care for your pets. Word of mouth and visiting care facilities is really the only way to assure yourself that you have the right place. The following page has some referrals from friends at BIS:-
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Bär Hundepension, Gymnich: www.hundepension-baer.de Referral: Agnes Lyden
Comments: One aspect that made us use them is their personal interview and free trial day. It stood out in our minds that they take caring for dogs very seriously. They offer comfortable rooms, with day and night lighting and music so the dogs have some background noise. Jaxson has been going to the 'farm', as we call it, since last March. He is extremely happy at drop-off and pick-up. Everyone is very warm and caring towards all the animals and they do speak some English. Email communication seems to work best for us.
Sometimes the best care givers are right next door. Often your neighbors know your pets well enough to look after them over your travel time. Also there are many energetic students at BIS who will walk your dog, feed your fish or change your cat litter while you are away.
Sindorfer Mühle, Sindorfer Mühle, 50170 Kerpen-Sindorfer www.sindorfer-muehle.de Referral: Geraldine McMIllan Comments: A very popular choice within the BIS community. Lori really seems to thrive there. The owners of the Kennel are Vets, living and practicing on site. The facility also has a training school.
Hundeherberge Hennef,
Frau Silvia di Malta: Im Käulchenshof 15, 53773 Hennef 02242-9041409. email: hundeherberge@gmy.net Referral: Rosemary Ford Hewitt
Pfötchenhotel Hilden, Fuchsbergstraße 18, 40724 Hilden, email: hilden@pfoetchenhotel.de Referral: Michelle Krebs Comments: This is a hotel for cats, dogs and birds that I highly recommend. It is a bit more expensive and near Dusseldorf, however, the rooms (actual rooms) are nice and are not cages. They house one to two dogs and you can also 'log on' to see your baby when you are away! They even have a swimming pool for pooches :) Animal Services "Critter Camp" Andrea Muehr: Hüscheider Weg 70, 53639 Köingswinter 02244 8732070 / 0176 47040017. email: Animals4film@hotmail.com Referral: Janice Lange Comments: I can honestly say that Andrea and her family provide a caring and loving place for her guests. Vanna, a standard schnauzer, who can be very demanding, loves the attention and comfort Andrea provides while she is in her paradise vacation home. Vanna always comes home well-adjusted and content and of course Andrea’s door to door service helps Vanna adapt quickly to her surroundings. We have found the perfect place for her! Pet sitters: to your Home Larissa Kiewitz: Rheinstrasse 50, 53424 Remagen-Unkelbach 0178 47924874. email: pfotentaxi@gmx.de Referral: Marc and Emma Lucas Comments: We use a pet sitter on a regular basis for our house cat and it works really well for us. However, she only speaks German. I am able to do most of our communicating via e-mail (using google translate), but we seem to manage ok face-to-face.
Pet sitter: stays in your Home
Franziska Bunge: Mainzer Strasse 121, 53179 Bonn 0228 8546634 / 0174 7432900 Comments: German speaking, little English
Three important things I would like to remind you of... Identification, city registration and the correct equipment. It is very important to have your current identification attached to your dog's collar. Your microchip from the U.S. can’t be read in European countries, therefore your pet must be re-chipped. City registration. Upon arrival it is necessary to register your dog with your city of residence. Each city is a little different in its requirements. Take your pet’s 'passport', your own passport and your German registration to your local City Hall. Fees will depend on the breed. There is a fine if you are caught without the correct tags for your dog. Correct equipment can be as simple as the right size collar for your pet. Make sure what you use and what your pet wears is comfortable, functional and is, above all, safe. I hope you find this information helpful and that your experience of living here with your pet is positive and enjoyable.
Andrea Muehr (aka ‘the Dog Lady’) *Services listed in this article are referrals ‘only’ from the BIS community. This is not a reflection of other service providers in the area.
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Ice Sculpture Building
Grade 5 Ski Trip to Austria Some excerpts from the Grade 5 wiki...
The Bus Trip
Today was fun because in the bus, in the back we had a little girl corner. We were all singing and watching some movies. While most of us were watching Despicable Me, Tangled, Shark Tale and Legend of the Owl, some of us were playing make a story. So one person writes a sentence and the next person writes another sentence, our stories were very funny. We had our teachers read our stories, they were a little weird, but fun!
Monica
Getting Fitted for Skis, Helmets, and Boots
Today overall was really fun! I am looking forward to the skiing on Tuesday. This is my first time skiing and I am worried I will break my skis, but I think I would like the speed of going down!
Anne
Skiing
Today we went skiing. When we were there they put us in groups that have skied and people that haven’t skied before. Then the people that have skied we went up the mountain and we worked on the basics of skiing with the snow plow, also known as the pizza. We also worked on turning and where we should put our weight. If we turn right, we should put our weight on the left foot. We skied for almost four hours and it was good to relearn some of the things we had learned before.
Oliver
Afternoon Activities
After skiing, we divided into two groups. One went to go geocaching and we made igloos! It was really fun! First, we blew up a large inflatable dome. Then we covered it in soft snow. Then, we got some large harder snow blocks and put them on the pile. Then we finished off the igloo with another layer of thinner snow. Then, we had to dig an entrance and we deflated the dome. We pulled the dome out and then there was a large snow dome inside of our completed igloo. We went inside of our igloo and played around and took some photos!
Daniel
Today we were making an ice sculpture but the snow wasn’t really good for building vertically so we made a big lizard (which turned out to be a dinosaur.) horizontally. At first we thought that this would be an extremely long job because we were starting to pile snow for a reason that most of the children didn’t understand. But once we got to actually shaping the body parts, we figured out that we were building up the snow so that later we put it into it’s real form. The head, body and tail was very easy because they were all attached in a big bunch. After that most of the kids had regained their confidence. Once we started the legs and arms, we needed big chunks of snow so the boys started making big pieces of snow that looked like pizza boxes, so whenever someone needed lots of snow they would yell “PIZZA DELIVERY” and the boys would shovel up some pizza and run it over to the builders. Once we were done with the lizard, our group got creative and put a lot of spikes on the lizards back, though we still thought something was missing so concluded to make a very long tail and a bumpy head. We had lots of fun!
Luke
GPS Treasure Hunt (GeoCaching)
We went Geo-caching after skiing in our groups. The group that I was in was with Saoura and Monica. At the beginning, we were going off track and did not know exactly where we were going, but we thought we were going the right way. We joined with another group and then another group joined us. We got all the questions right, and were the first to finish. Then we got back to our small groups to find the treasure. We got back to the hostel and had dinner.
Wagma
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Another skiing day
Today we had the funnest day in the week. The reason why is because we were able to go steeper hills than what we had usually been practicing on. Well that was very fun because we were able to go way faster than usual and because we used different equipment than what we using before. Then after 4 hours of skiing, we went back to the youth Hostel and got ready for Afternoon Activities.
Milano
Igloo Building
Today was the best day of the ski trip for me because I learned how to stop and turn. Not only that but the igloo building was fantastic! At the start we thought the igloo was going to collapse but at the end we found out that it was perfectly stable. We used a lot of team work in the igloo building because some people were digging snow and some were carrying. The ski trip was great but today was by far the best.
Balazs
Ice Sculpting
This week we’ve done a lot of things, skiing, building igloos, going geo-caching, making snow sculptures, and more. Today, the odd kids built a big lizard, and the even kids built igloos. I’m an odd kid, and I had a lot of fun building my Learner Profile/ PYP Attitude skills. I was a little sad to leave the other activities, and this one was no different! I had one of the best times ever today, and I am looking forward to other trips similar to this one!! I had an AWESOME time on the ski trip and would definitely take up an offer to do it again!!!
We are having a blast at the ski trip! Every one of us has improved a lot since the first day. The view is really beautiful, but the ski boots are a real pain. But we don’t mind that once we start skiing! The afternoon activities are also very fun, we did igloo building, geocaching and snow sculpturing. I had the most extraordinary time this week!
Shivani
Katie F.
It has been an AMAZING trip with due credit to an amazing group of staff, parents, instructors and students. EVERY instructor and guide that we had could not say enough fantastic things about our group of students. We are very proud of how our students positively represented our school and themselves.
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Model United Nations BIS Model UN Delegation to the Hague BIS Model UN Delegation in Paris
In the week of January 22nd - 27th, 2012, 12 students and the MUN coordinators Ms Foard and Mr Frank attended the XLIV annual conference of The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN). All 12 students represented the delegation of Azerbaijan and debated issues within the theme of 'Seas and Oceans' across the various UN committees. Through this week-long simulation of the United Nations, students developed further their understanding of UN procedures and formal debate. They created, supported or spoke on resolutions in their various committees. Overall, this trip bonded the delegation together and provided us with new experiences, friends and memories that will last a lifetime. Finally, Ms Foard and Mr Frank would like to congratulate our THIMUN delegation 2012 for being such wonderful representatives of BIS and give a special thank you to our Ambassador Harry Matthews, who participated in the opening and closing ceremony at THIMUN:Daniel Newton Harry Matthews Vivek Bilolikar Ruairidh Paton Wee Liang Tan Pavel Devyatkin
Ester Maria Elze Henry Dickinson Melanie Wong Alexander Gonzalez Keller Alessandro Barbieri Mohammed Al-Haifi
Between December 2nd and 4th, a BIS delegation of 15 students attended the Paris Model United Nations conference to represent the United Kingdom, East Timor and Botswana. The delegation performed admirably, and all are proud of their accomplishments, both as a team and as individuals. Throughout the weekend, students had some free time to enjoy the sights of Paris, which everyone appreciated. Of course, the students also gained valuable skills from the conference, including improved public speaking skills, a wider understanding of world issues and UN protocols. The trip was a huge success, and the delegates in grades 9-11 look forward to the opportunity to return next year. Congratulations to our PAMUN 2012 delegation:Jorge Olivares Thomas Dickinson Lillian Dam Bracia Meghan Fox Brittany Hamilton Maria Martinez Marcos Laurenz Schroeder Julie Von Foerster
What is the Model United Nations (MUN)? The Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations. During activities, and at conferences such as PAMUN and THIMUN, students lose their own student identity and are assigned a country and committee. The MUN is a perfect extracurricular activity as it encourages public speaking and debating skills. In doing this, it builds confidence as young people come together in a cooperative way to solve conflicts and resolve international issues of concern. MUN gives the experience of some one else's point of view and makes students question what they think. As such, it fosters international
understanding, a key principle of the IB curriculum and of international education. Finally, students learns parliamentary procedure and formal language. It has been a pleasure to supervise our BIS MUN club this year and to see students thrive with this experience. We would like to thank our co-chairs Thomas Dickinson and Jorge Olivares for their leadership and dedication to MUN in 2011/2012. Teresa Foard and Clive Frank MUN Coordinators
Ruairidh Paton and Harry Matthews debriefing after a long day of debate (with flag of Azerbaijan) - THIMUN.
Harry Matthews speaking to a resolution in the General Assembly 5th Committee THIMUN.
Erin Tansey Sophie Kiarie Geena Kloeppel Helle Huisman Jillian Fox Jonas Schlinkert Paul Appel
by Meghan Fox Erin Tansey in the Environment Committee PAMUN.
by Melanie Wong
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Winter Formal Dance
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Middle School Dance
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What Is Buddy Reading? Buddy Reading is a fun way to help people learn to read. In Buddy Reading, a person who knows how to read well, in this case one of our grade 5 students, reads with a person who can’t read so well - one of our EL5 students. Together they choose a book that isn’t too hard and find a good spot to read. Buddy Reading helps the person who can’t read so well hear the sounds of words when someone else reads with them. When they learn the sounds of the words better, they are able to figure out the pronunciation of the words. The readers can take turns reading, or read the words together. The better reader can help with pronunciation, the meaning of words, and understanding the story. They can ask questions as they read.
Buddy Reading
The buddy can give clues when the student reader gets stuck on a word, by asking questions like:“What sound does the word start with?” “What word would make sense there?” “Does that sound right?” “Will the picture help you?” The better reader might ask questions about the story like:“Who are the characters?” “Where does the story take place?” “What problem does the character have?” “How is the problem fixed?” “Tell me what has happened in the story so far.” Some guidelines to follow when reading with a buddy:• Practice reading aloud by yourself a few times. • Make your buddy feel comfortable and welcome. • Let your buddy hold the book! • Talk about the title and the author. • Look through the pictures - let your buddy predict what will happen. • Encourage your buddy to ask questions and point out details. • Stop and talk about the characters and events from time to time. • When you finish reading, ask about his favorite part or character, and tell him your favorite, too!
EL5 and Grade 5
n o i t a s r e v n o C h s Bonn Engli When I first arrived in Bonn 6 years ago, I met some BIS moms who expressed to me their discomfort at the school when they first arrived, since English was not their first language. Since my background was in teaching English, I decided to open up my home for weekly coffee and conversation. At first, we listened to BBC news items and discussed the topics. As time went on, I realized that most of these BIS moms actually had lots of opportunities for casual conversations, but what they really needed to work on was improving the accuracy of their English by building up vocabulary and practising more grammar.
Try these methods to help your buddy:• Read Aloud - but make sure he looks at the words while you’re reading! Point to each word as you read. • Echo Reading - First, you read a sentence or paragraph, and then let your buddy read the same sentence or paragraph. • Choral Reading - Read out loud at the same time! • Take Turns Reading - first you read a sentence or paragraph, then you let your buddy read the next one.
Next year we would like to add a third group. So far the demand has been for the higher levels, but I would really like to reach out to the parents with little or no English to help them become more comfortable and involved in the community.
If you would like to be involved as a teacher or a student, please contact me: Cordes Lindow Cordeslindow@yahoo.com (or on the Bonn International Friends (BIF!) facebook page)
MAKE YOUR CLEAR CHOICE
Things you should try when your buddy gets stuck:• Wait — give them a chance to figure it out by themselves! • Look at the pictures for clues about the story. • Ask them what would make sense. • Skip the word and read the rest of the sentence. • Have them look for words or patterns they recognize. • Have them look for letters or sounds they recognize. • Give them a choice - is it this or that? • Once they know the word, have them reread the sentence!
Your phone is wireless. Your computer too. Why aren’t your braces?
Free your smile – go wireless!
Orthodontist Dr. Herbert Flock
We Create Your Smile
Most of all, praise your buddy! Say things like:“I like the way you read that!” “I like how you got the first sounds of that word!” “You’re really smart, you figured it out all by yourself!” by Tosca Killoran
Cäsariusstraße 25 · 53173 Bonn - Rüngsdorf Telefon 0 22 8 - 93 49 00 44 info@kieferorthopaeden-bonn.de www.kieferorthopaeden-bonn.de
Remember to have fun!! flock_1_2_rev_02.indd 1
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I found a book series which focuses on conversational English for adults, with lots of vocabulary and grammar practice. Now we have two groups, one Elementary and one Upper Intermediate. All the teachers and students are BIS moms, with almost 40 BIS moms involved. All involved have a great time getting to know each other while feeling good about doing something really useful.
14.10.11 11:05
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Where are they now? Graduating Class of 2011 (as of 12 December 2011)
Njål Herøy Following BIS graduation I started my gap year. At the moment I am currently at the Boston Consulting Group in Hong Kong, working as an intern consultant for the Hong Kong and greater China region. Later on I plan to do social work in South Africa and then do a work and travel tour of Australia and New Zealand. After the gap year, I’m planning to attend one of the following: UBC, McGill or Uni Toronto in Canada or LSE, St. Andrews, King’s College, Warwick or Durham in the UK.
Shogo Minakata I am currently living in Southampton, UK attending University of Southampton studying a 4 year Masters of Engineering degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Over summer I did a lot of moving i.e. Germany – Japan – UK.
Rebecca Von Hellfeld Right after our graduation I realised that what I thought I wanted to study was not what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing, AT ALL. Going through the whole process of looking at courses again and reapplying to university was quite annoying, but I am more than happy to have done it, as I’m now at the Queen Mary’s, University of London, UK studying Environmental Science with Business Management and I love it more than I thought I would. So much for the theory that you know what you want to do after you graduated. I still have no clue where this degree will take me after Uni but at least I’m enjoying it...
Lillian Reczek I started studying in Germany near Frankfurt and changed my mind. In November I decided to take a gap year and help out my mother a bit with her firm. Starting from next summer (2012) I will be studying business near Boston, Massachusetts, USA at Babson College (a pure business college).
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Alexa Meyer After graduation I spent about a month in Germany and then went to UofA’s Student Orientation, which lasted 3 days. I then stayed in America instead of returning to Germany. After a lot of stress, kicking and screaming, everything worked out and I was able to move into a mini apartment with one roommate. So I am now officially a freshman of the University of Arizona. I first arrived here I was dead set on being an engineer of some type. At first I wanted to be civil, then I thought mechanical may be cool, then I switched to thinking chemical would be fun, then I switched back to mechanical and in the end I settled with civil (but only for the time being). About half way through the semester I realized I did NOT want to be an engineer, not in the slightest. I had suddenly lost all interest in the subject altogether. At first I panicked, “if I’m not going to be an engineer than what AM I going to be”. It took some time, a lot of thinking, quite a bit of research and talking to friends but I eventually found a new major that, I think, is my perfect fit. I’m going to be a psychologist. Don’t ask me what type, I’m still undecided but I’m super excited for this next semester. I’ve chosen some really cool classes that incorporate both classes required by the Engineering department and the Psychology department. Mind you, all the classes I’m taking will count for credits in BOTH majors. I’m super sneaky like that. I really didn’t do anything super amazing over the summer.
Amanda Lakop I am right now in Paris, France studying at Parsons Paris School for Art and Design. I am in an art foundation course and will probably after one year study communication design or illustration. Over summer I did nothing exciting. Just had lots of fun with friends.
Sydney Carrick I am at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I am studying Recreational Therapy and also doing track and field (Pole Vaulting and Sprinting).
The Graduating Class of 2011
Zach Challender I decided that I would apply to Universities in Australia. Since the Australian Universities commence in early March of each year I found myself with 8 months of time off in the Summer which I spent the majority of in Singapore. I spent my days tutoring students from the Australian International School, Singapore in Mathematics and English. It was definitely fun and interesting however I am very glad to finally be home in Australia. I applied and am now going to attend Sydney University studying Engineering and Commerce as a double degree over 5 years. I now look forward to starting university and getting into the swing of engineering and commerce.
Jasper Kuperus Currently I live in the Netherlands, to be more precise in Amsterdam. I am studying Human Geography & Urban planning. Next year I have to decide between the two topics, and I am definitely going for Urban Planning. As of this moment I am only attending University, and I don’t have an active side job at the moment. Over the summer I stayed at home for the majority of the time, but also went on a Greek island cruise.
Miguel Peluffo I ended up at Kent University in Canterbury (UK), studying architecture, doing a 3 year course for my bachelors degree. For the summer. I mostly stayed in Bonn but I went to Mallorca on holidays with my family for 2 weeks.
Callum Plunkett Since leaving my studies have taken me to Southampton Solent University and I am studying Audio Technology. I am thoroughly enjoying my course and have met some great people studying the same topic. The lecturers are all very supportive and want us to excel in what we’re doing. The nicest part about my course is that I can book out any equipment/recording studios for my own use. I have also joined a band as rhythm guitarist and so far we have recorded 3 of our own songs and we have 3 more on the way. Hopefully we will be playing live gigs after Christmas. My summer vacation was very relaxing and I spent the majority of my time in Bonn staying with the family. University has been lots of fun so far and hopefully it will continue to be a great experience. I hope all is well back at BIS.
Leah Newman I’m currently studying at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada... and the plan is to major in Economics with a minor in Sociology. Over summer I did a small Europe tour with my friend Michaela for a month!
Birit Meyer I decided to do an apprenticeship as a General Business Administrator (Industriekauffrau) at Johnson Controls which will take me about 2.5 to 3 years. Over the summer, I was travelling around Europe for a whole month by train it is called Interrail and I did that with a few good friends, it was really exciting!
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BIS Drama and Musical Theatre Elective Program
Drama! D r a m a ! DRA MA!
Though our lives are often filled with drama and dramatic events and sometimes we may call our friends ‘drama queens’, not all of us have had the opportunity to study drama as a subject. At BIS we offer a range of drama programmes from grade 3 through to grade 10.
Drama was first established as an after-school club for secondary students in 2008. The following year it was introduced as a subject in the Middle Years Programme in years 6 through to 9 and after this through to grade 10. We currently offer the Primary After School Drama Club for students in grade 3 through 5. Drama and Musical Theatre can be studied as an elective in grades 6 through 8. Drama is offered as a regular academic subject in grades 9 and 10.
The Elective Drama students are currently writing and devising a play on the theme of Vampires. Students of Elective Musical Theater have developed scenes from the musical “Wicked,” and have also performed duets and solos from a range of musicals. The grade 9 students are writing original dramatic material for their showcase presentations and rehearsing scenes from screenplays. The grade 10s have adapted scenes from Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, and presented them as performance pieces, giving them a contemporary setting.
This year the students have participated in master classes with Performance Workshop and the Bonn University Shakespeare Company.
The many skills we develop in Drama are important life-enhancing skills: confidence building, public speaking skills and voice development, all of which in turn boost self-esteem. Studying drama also enhances language and communication skills. Students can build their proficiency in English and develop their writing skills. Students learn improvisation and writing for performance throughout the course. At all grade levels they get the opportunity to watch their own scenes come to life in the performance dynamic. The Primary After-School Drama Club by Maria-Isabella Brusa. Grade 5JP The after school drama club is a place for interesting warm ups! It is also a class where you can just let out your emotions and have fun! It’s also a chance to work with students from other grades in primary - we currently work together with grades 3, 4 and 5 and during the first semester we worked with younger children from EL5 and grades 1 and 2 as well! This was a very fun experience and very lively! Each week we also get to work with several secondary students, who work as directors with each small group. They are learning directing skills, helping us to shape our scenes, which in turn helps them with their studies. These students are studying elective drama in grades 6, 7 and 8. It’s fun to work with older students and to be creative together.
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Future of the programme – We look forward to having a theatre venue of our own here at BIS and to our students having the opportunity for continued study of Drama in the Diploma Programme. 23
Lengua B: Español “I like Spanish because it’s fun to learn and it sounds cool.” – Grade 7 So why is it more than just a game of football when Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns? How come the Spaniards have the same word for “girlfriend” and “bride”? Why do Chilean children wear school uniform? Just a selection of the issues with which students taking Spanish at BIS are confronted, alongside more directly practical topics such as “How do I get help if I have an accident in Spain?” or “How do I ask the way?”. In the Middle Years Programme at BIS, Spanish is an elective subject and is taken in addition to German (or English) as a second foreign language. In the DP it is offered as a foreign language (Group 2 – Language B) at three levels: Standard and Higher Level for those continuing from the MYP and ab initio (SL) for beginners. “I like it because we learn a lot and do different things.” – Grade 10 In the beginning, we concentrate on the basics and aim to equip students with the necessary tools that will enable them to handle more complex topics later on. This means topics such as talking about yourself, your family, your town, your school, your hobbies and your holidays, but always in a recognisable context. Grades 7 and 8, for example have recently produced a slide show presenting the school to potential exchange partners in Spain.
As the students progress into Grades 9 and 10, they deal with more in-depth topics such as personal profiling, the miserable lot of the teenager or the lasting impact of the Spanish Civil War. Last year’s Grade 10 students produced leaflets and posters explaining to their classmates how they can do their bit for the environment. This year’s class will be looking at the issue of Fair Trade in Latin America. Students taking Spanish for their Diploma at ab initio level move at an accelerated rate to reach at least the level normally expected of Grade 10 in the space of two years. They also deal with cultural issues and even have to write a (short!) comparative essay as part of their final assessment. The Language B course covers topics such as popular culture, technology, global issues, the media and crime. Two issues – the Civil War and the transition to democracy after the death of General Franco – are dealt with in tandem with the History course, providing the students who take both courses with a deeper understanding of these fundamental aspects of the Spanish psyche. “Spanish was my choice because it is spoken by millions of people across the world.” – Grade 11
The Nest definitely made us recognise how fortunate we are and we have felt so proud at having improved the lives of some children in Kenya. Brittany: I feel very satisfied with the work we did this year and I love my nest girlies! Estimates range from 329 to 500 million speakers, but there is one thing upon which the various statistics do seem able to agree: After Mandarin Chinese, Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the world. English continues to be more widespread, but no longer has so many native speakers as its Castilian cousin. And yes, they are related: both are descended from great-granddad Latin but went their separate ways during the Dark Ages. While the Saxons brought their down-to-earth pragmatism to England, Spain was conquered and heavily influenced by the Arabic language and culture of the North African Moors. With Spanish in increasing demand all over the world, it is only natural that we, an international school, should make it an integral part of our curriculum. More and more students are choosing to take the subject and the programme is now well established in the MYP, while last year also saw the first students complete the DP course successfully. We intend to ride this wave of popularity and provide as many students as possible with the extra window on the world that a third language can offer, especially one spoken by so many people from such a fascinating culture. ¡Hasta pronto!
“The Nest” is a project for the rescue, rehabilitation and integration of children in conflict with the law and children of imprisoned mothers situated in Limuru, Kenya. Our Community, Action, Service (CAS) group consisting of Brittany Hamilton, Maria Martinez, Lillian Dam Bracia, Julie Von Foerster, Bella Vartanyan, Lisa Schefter, Keshia Dahm and Lisa Kopsieker decided to dedicate our last years of high school to raising school supplies and awareness for this home. Our main event was a movie night showing “Despicable Me” to the 8-11th graders where everyone had to donate school supplies in order to watch the movie and to receive snacks and drinks. This was a great success as we collected four boxes of supplies overall! One box has already been sent to “The Nest,” however the sending of the boxes has turned out to be more difficult than expected. (If anyone is travelling to Kenya in the next few months and has some space, we would be grateful if you could take a few school supplies with you.) Our most recent action was handing out flyers in Bonn to spread the word about this amazing community in Limuru. The aim was to inspire people to donate a small amount of money to “The Nest” so they are able to purchase necessary commodities. The project
Maria: The nest has been an important experience for me as it has really guided me into what I want to study in the future. This project has changed my life and has enabled me to view the world with different eyes. Bella: It feels great to be making a difference. Please support our cause. Keshia: The Nest has gotten a lot of positive feedback that gives us the evidence that we achieved a lot and we can be proud of what we have done. Julie: The Nest is a great project to be involved in and I hope to see it continued. Lillian: Helping The Nest was my first personal engagement in an issue of global importance and it feels good! Lisa S: Helping The Nest over past two years has been really fun. It was great to see that our events were a huge success. We thank everyone who helped us so far and if you want to help, come talk to one of us :). Lisa K: Having visited The Nest myself, this project had a very personal meaning to me and I am so happy to have found a wonderful group of people to work with.
“I think it is a beautiful language that rolls off the tongue in a satisfying way.” – Grade 11
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The aim of Bikes and More is to teach the fourth-graders at BIS how to ride a bike (if they do not know already) and help them to learn about safety, street signs (or posters), etc. We will start teaching them in spring, inside the school grounds. They will be divided into two groups: those who do not know how to ride a bike, and those who do. The “And More” part will include other activities, if we can find a supervisor. The children are to bring their bike and helmet, but we will have some extra equipment such as street sign visuals, cones, etc. We are looking forward to spring and the start of the project!
Bikes and More... C&S 7CW project
Besuch am 17.11.2011 On the 17th of November 2011, the German class of Ms. Brakmann and Ms. Harms visited the regional newspaper manufacturing company General Anzeiger. Our topic was newspapers in our daily lives. We observed the manufacturing process as well as specific details and information about the company. After visiting the company, we prepared a small interview with one of the students. We asked about the information on the making of newspapers and how they prepare the daily articles.
Ich habe gehört, dass eure Deutschklasse eine Ausflug zum General Anzeiger gemacht hat.
Wir sind mit zwei Deutschklassen zum General-Anzeiger nach Bonn-Beuel gefahren. Wussten Sie, dass der General-Anzeiger neun verschiedene Lokalausgaben hat? So gibt es unterschiedliche Zeitungsausgaben für Siegburg, Bad Godesberg, Ahrweiler usw. Hast du noch andere interessante Informationen dort erfahren?
Die Papierrollen aus RecyclingPapier sind 25 Kilometer lang und wiegen mehr als 1000 Kilogramm. Jede Papierrollen kostet 1000 Euro. Der General-Anzeiger verbraucht mehr als 8000 Tonnen Papier pro Jahr. Die Druckmaschinen besitzen 500l Tanks für die Farbe, die sie benötigen. Hast du auch etwas über die Arbeit der Reporter gelernt?
01.04.2012
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Jeder Reporter muss in seinem eigenen Arbeitsgebiet Informationen finden und danach
By Seungjun Lee, Krupha Vetriselvan, Harsha Pillai (8RCa)
einen Artikel schreiben. Der erste Schritt ist es, eine gute „Story“ zu finden. Manchmal kaufen die Reporter Artikel von anderen Agenturen im In- und Ausland, weil sie nicht immer am richtigen Ort zur richtigen Zeit sein können. Was passiert Artikeln?
dann
mit
den
Die Redakteure, das sind die Chefs der Reporter, treffen sich dreimal am Tag. Sie diskutieren die täglichen Geschichten und wählen die wichtigsten Artikel bzw. Geschichten aus, die auf die Titelseite kommen. Das letzte Treffen ist mittags. Was bietet der General-Anzeiger für Kinder und Jugendliche?
Es gibt eine Rubrik in der Zeitung, die ‘Gary die Fledermaus’ heißt. Die Artikel von Gary sind für Kinder von 8 bis 12 Jahren geeignet. Diese Rubrik wurde erst vor kurzem gegründet. Wir haben uns gefragt, warum eine Fledermaus und nicht etwa eine Eule als Tier gewählt wurde. Der Grund ist ziemlich einfach: Fledermäuse sind freundlich.
Was passiert Druckmaschine macht?
wenn die einen Fehler
Die Druckmaschinen brauchen zwei Stunden zum Drucken einer kompletten Ausgabe des Generalanzeigers. Deshalb fangen die Druckmaschinen um Mitternacht an. Wenn ein Fehler passiert, stoppen die Druckmaschinen. Dann kann nur ein Teil der Zeitung, z.B. die Lokalausgabe, versendet werden oder die Leute bekommen ihre Zeitung verspätet. In conclusion, we had a very interesting time in the General Anzeiger printing press. We learned a lot about the making of newspaper and how our daily information is created. All the students thank our teachers Ms. Brakmann, Ms. Harms and Ms. Van Der Steege for their efforts.
Für Kinder gibt es außerdem die Seite „Klasse! Kinder lesen Zeitung“ mit Artikeln von Schülern. Jugendliche können außerdem ihre eigenen Leserbriefe an den General- Anzeiger schicken. Nachdem die Redakteure die Briefe geprüft haben, werden sie vielleicht in der Zeitung gedruckt.
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das Auto
Some more useful translations... Auspuff Schalldämpfer Antriebssystem
Tail pipe/exhaust Muffler/Silencer Transmission system
Elektrische Anlage
Electrical system
Kraftstoffanlage
Fuel supply system
Kupplung
Clutch
Luftfilter
Airfilter
To familiarize yourself with the road signs in Germany, we recommend the following website:-
Kühler
Radiator
Lichtmaschine
Alternator
Bremse
Breaks
www.gettingaroundgermany.info/ zeichen.shtml
Lenkrad
Steering wheel
Motor (Maschine)
Engine
Keilriemen
Fan belt
Batterie
Battery
Öl
Oil
Benzin
Gas/Petrol
Diesel
Diesel
Zapfsäule
Gas pump/Petrol pump
Tankstelle
Service Station
Sicherheitsgurt
Seat Belt
Handbremse
Parking break/Handbreak
Schalthebel
Gear Stick
German – English Translation Page Back by Demand:
For many of us, one of the most difficult conversations to have in German is the one with the garage or car dealer. In order to help you with those difficult moments, we have provided the following diagram with translations. It is worthwhile to remember that when you have a specific problem you need to discuss, use your dictionary beforehand and don't be afraid to use your hands. You may find it difficult to find the correct vocabulary in your own language – so be prepared. I confess to have not only used sign language but noise making as well to let the garage know what was happening with my car.
Road Signs
Good luck and happy motoring!
Kofferraum Trunk/Boot
Schiebedach Sun Roof Dach Roof
Tankdeckel Fuel Tank Flap
Windschutzscheibe Windshield/Windscreen Scheibenwischer Windscreen wiper
Mittelsäule Door pillar
Scheibenwaschdüse Washer nozzle
Seitenspiegel Wing mirror
Motorhaube Hood/Bonnet
Türschloss Door lock
... and some useful phrases. Mein Auto springt nicht an! My car will not start! Bitte wechseln Sie meine Reifen Please change my tires
Kühlergrill Grille
Türgriff Door handle
Ich habe einen platten Reifen I have a flat tire
Seitenfenster Window
Tür Door
Die Batterie ist leer The battery is flat Stoßslange Fender/Bumper Radkappe Wheel trim
Rad Wheel Reifen Tire/Tyre
Kotflügel Wing
Das Bremslicht ist kaputt The break light is out Es funktioniert nicht
Scheinwerfer Headlight
It doesn't work Es ist kaputt! It's broken!
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Winterreifen – Winter Tires/Tyres It is now compulsory in Germany to use winter tires/ tyres, with a minimum of 4mm profile, when travelling in icy, snowy, or slushy conditions! These tyres (‘allyear’ tires/tyres are also acceptable) should display a special snowflake and mountain symbol. You do not have to have winter tires/tyres on your car in other conditions, even in winter. If you can avoid driving during snow/ice/slush times, then you may continue to use your summer tires/tyres. If you get caught in snow/ice/slush with summer tires/ tyres, you will have to pay a fine.
Umweltzone – Environment Zone The ‘Environment Zone’ was established in Bonn on 1st January, 2010, with the aim of reducing pollution in the inner-city area. If you wish to drive into most German cities, you will have to obtain a sticker indicating the rough emissions of your car. This sticker is either green (best), yellow (mid), or red (about to be unacceptable). If you do not have such a sticker, you can obtain it at the Bürgeramt (Town Hall/City Council) in Bad Godesberg, Bonn, Beuel, or at most certified mechanics. You will need to ask for the ‘Umweltzone Plakate’ and show your car papers as proof. The cost for this is minimal.
TÜV – Car 'road safety test' This needs to be done every two years, once the car is more than three years old. Testing can either be organised by your regular car mechanic, or at an authorised station displaying the ‘TÜV’ sign.
Child Car Seat requirements Please note that in Germany children MUST use a special children’s car seat until they are 12 years old OR 150cm tall; if they weigh more than the 36kg stated on the seat description this is not an issue, as the seat itself does not take the weight during sudden braking. From 15kg children are permitted to travel on a simple approved booster seat. This is, however, not advised as they offer no side protection nor allow for the correct positioning of the seat-belt, which may lead to serious neck injuries. Car seats that are accepted in Germany have to display the following codes of safety: ECE 44/03, OR ECE 44/04 or higher. This is a very good Police website (German) that explains everything necessary about children’s seats. www.kvw-mhm.de/autokindersitze/fragen/108wann-duerfen-kinder-eine-einfache-sitzerhoehungbenutzen.html
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RICHTFEST Once upon a Topping Out …..
The Agora Building and the Man who designed it Waves talks to Andreas Heupel Andreas Heupel and his team from Heupel Architects in Muenster won the competition to design the building which is now known as the Agora in November 2010. Waves thought it would be a good idea to get to know the creative talent behind the Agora so got in touch with Mr. Heupel with a few questions. Why did you want to become an architect?
It was an awfully cold day to be outside and celebrating, but the sun was shining and the low temperatures did not deter some 300 guests for joining in the German tradition of Richtfest (or Topping Out, as it is known to us English speakers). This event was held to celebrate a very special milestone in the construction of the Agora building – the last beam was assembled for the roof. This means the roof is not far behind and after the roof is in place, work on the inside of a building can commence. So on 31 January, students, staff, parents, neighbors, craftsmen and some dignitaries from Bad Godesberg and the City of Bonn put on their heaviest coats and solid shoes to brave the cold. They witnessed a traditional Richtfest, complete with speeches from school representatives and the Mayor of Bad Godesberg, a gigantic wreath hanging from the building site crane and the speech of the head carpenter which included downing 3 quick shot glasses of Schnaps! After the carpenter had climbed down from the building scaffolding and final speeches were made, there was a rush for guests to visit the construction site as Steve Middlebrook made clear this would be their only chance before the building officially opens in August. Guests visited the main floor of the Agora, peeped into future classrooms, saw where the donor list would be located, got a chance to dream about competing in the huge sports hall and then socialized on the back terrace with bratwurst and cake. The next day when guests will be invited to enter the Agora building will be the first day of school in August. On that day, guests from Richtfest can think back to that freezing January day when they first set foot in the Agora and marvel at all that was done in the months in between.
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Well, I have been interested in designing creative things ever since I was a teenager. Art was my favorite subject at school, and I began to make pottery and stitch little bags and cases out of leather in my leisure time. When I was 16 years old, I started thinking about what my own house could look like so I began planning and making first designs. I think it was my eagerness to design and to develop ideas for buildings that made me want to become an architect. How long have you been an architect and what has been your favorite project so far? I have been working as an architect since 1989. This is quite a long time and I have not regretted my choice to become an architect a single day. On the contrary, I appreciate the fact that I can live the job of my dreams. Regarding my favorite project, I have to admit that I have not been able to realize it so far: I would like to rebuild an old granary into a hotel. What was most important for you when you designed the Agora building? It was vital for us to find out how a school community could
‘express’ itself in a building. In other words: how does a space have to look which is going to be designed for such a great community? This is how the idea developed to create a middle space for the school itself. This middle space should become an open, communicative, light and inviting space. Another issue which we considered was how to create a relationship between the two other buildings: how can you integrate the new building into the first school building which is very expressive and the wonderful old American Club? This is how the idea came up to create a calm structure as an intermediary between the two other buildings. How did you manage to integrate our existing school building and the American Club into the building plans / schemes of Agora? From the very beginning of the project, it has been important for us to show that the two buildings do not compete with each other. The American Club has always been a very public building. Therefore we proposed to quarter the cafeteria and the auditorium in there. This could, in future times, allow many people to come and enjoy the beautiful view onto the Rhine River. Do you have a favorite detail or a favorite place in Agora? My favorite place is the Agora itself – it is an open space which allows different views through the 3 levels and the whole building. From the upper view, you can even have a look through the Agora and through the classrooms onto the river. I would be happy if the
school uses this space in an intensive way. Have you designed the Agora building on your own or do you work as a team? If you do work as a team, who does which task? I often suggest the first ideas but we do discuss these ideas in our team. Our whole team has been very much involved in this project. In the course of the project, we divide up the different tasks. The Project Manager is in charge of coordinating our colleagues and the different other engineers for the statics for example. Our other colleagues develop the graphics and then develop the details of the building. This again means coordinating the various tasks – someone will be responsible for the windows, and another person will take care of the doors. Would you describe yourself as an artist? Well, to a certain extent, an architect has many different roles, and, yes, I am also kind of an artist as well. Do you have an advice for any students who consider studying architecture? Sure I have advice: go for it! And of course, students should collect some information about the degree programme and inform themselves about the dimensions of the subject. In addition, they should open their eyes, maybe buy a sketchbook and start drawing and designing whatever they spot. It is not the beauty of the drawing which is the most important thing, but it is rather the discovery of the world.
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by Tanya Talbot
April
Important Dates for your Diary
May
herbs”. I realized the wide range of meaning the simple “genau” has only after the boys spat them out amid cries of “STOP COOKING NEW MEALS!” “Alles Klar” - I use this phrase often when I “think” I understand what is being said to me but I am usually lying. And, of course, “Sprechen Sie Englisch?” Accompanied by an imploring face. Recently we have realized that our four year old speaks better German than we do. When we first moved to Bonn, we were so delighted at the speed at which both boys learnt to say “NEIN!” at us on a regular basis. After a year, they both can cheerfully insult us with an impeccable German accent. They seem to think we don’t understand what they are saying. We do, we just can't answer back! The thing is, the boys are just speaking German, whereas we are getting dragged down by the relentless rules. I certainly lost my way, along with the will to live, at the fourteenth way of saying “the”. And everyone else seems to be so much better at it than me. I was listening to my friend Jane discussing the correct word for purple the other day (it isn’t violet, in case you were similarly mistaken). And my neighbour’s son Jack was telling me how complicated the past tense is. GERMAN HAS A PAST TENSE?! I’ve only just got to grips with THE! I thought my lovely neighbour Piki was at my standard when I impressed her by ordering a taxi on the telephone. (You say „Ich möchte ein Taxi“ and then hope that they somehow have all your details from the telephone number, which, this being Germany, they usually do). When the taxi did not show up, she was explaining “den” to me – yet another form of “the”! Humiliation all around, not my best day! Here’s the real problem: when I need to do something, I require sophisticated German, spoken in some complicated order in which every word is joined together, except for the words that split in two and appear at opposite ends of the sentence. It’s not just black and white stock phrases, I need lots of shades of purple. I guess I’d better get back to my German books and drown my sorrows with a relaxing glass of water or an invigorating sprint around the Rheinaue. As someone told me over the weekend: “Wer schön sein will, muss leiden”. Which I believe translates to mean, “No Pain, No Gain.”
June
In the haze of excitement at the thought of the new year and better me, I made my New Year Resolutions. Foolishly, I’d always assumed that NYRs had to be things you didn’t want to do but thought you should. However, it turns out that I’ve had that idea completely wrong for all these years. Sara has, very achievably, set herself the task of drinking a certain number of Martinis every Friday (I will spare her blushes by not telling you how many, but I can confirm it’s more than five). Similarly, Mary Ann will strive to be Less Boring this year.This strikes me as being commendably vague and so has a high chance of success. Even if she’s boring for the next 364 days, she can always throw in a late bungee jump on New Year’s Eve and still claim victory. But it’s too late for me as I’ve made my list of unachievable-doomed-to-inevitable-failure tasks. So, along with more exercise, less alcohol, restricted TV for the kids and a new exciting meal cooked every week (yeah, right!), our weekly torture sessions with Frau BerentzenDeutschLeherin are resuming. My husband and I didn’t make quite the progress we hoped for last year. One thing did come out of it for me – I realized that I need to focus on how to ask for things I want. For example I did manage to learn how to ask for half a leg wax. As for giving directions to the University Museumhausealle half a mile away, I admit I have no interest and my standby phrase “ich weiss nicht” works a charm. Husband Jon made no progress with his German because his version of speaking German was in fact shouting English in a high pitched voice with a German accent. “YAR! ZEE MUSEUMHAUSALLAY IZ DOWN ZEE WOAD UNT LEFT AT ZEE LIGHTS”. You wonder why I often pretend not to know him in public! You may be surprised to know that I am often surprised that his method of communicating seems more effective than mine. Can my German really be worse than his? Should I assume that it is harder to understand my English-accented German than Jon’s German-accented English? Initially I thought that in order to overcome the humiliation of this, I had only to have a few, very useful stock phrases that I could pronounce reasonably well. For example: “Genau” - This means everything from‚ “that’s right” to “actually those sausages from Neuwenbergstein have an extra spiciness due to their unique combination of
20th
Friday
Last day of school for grade 12
24th
Tuesday
BOT open meeting
26th
Thursday
BOT AGM
27th
Friday
Diagnostic grade cards Grades 7, 8 + 9
1st
Tuesday
May Day Public Holiday – no school
2nd
Wednesday
IB Diploma exams start
10th
Thursday
Parent Teacher conferences Grades 6, 10 and 11
17th
Thursday
Ascension Day Public Holiday – no school
22nd
Tuesday
IB Diploma exams finish
28th
Monday
Whit Monday Public Holiday – no school
29th
Tuesday
Grade 6 to 11 exams start
1st
Friday
Commencement
2nd
Saturday
Prom
4th
Monday
Grade 6 to 10 exams finish
6th
Wednesday
Primary School Sports Day
7th
Thursday
Corpus Christi Public Holiday – no school
8th
Friday
Grade 11 exams finish
9th
Saturday
International Day
12th
Tuesday
Secondary School Sports Day
13th
Wednesday
Primary Assembly
19th
Tuesday
BOT open meeting
20th
Wednesday
Secondary School Awards Ceremony
21st
Thursday
Last Day of School – Happy Holidays! *all dates correct at time of printing
The Happy Printer | Bonn