Issue 2 - December 2012
Early Years: The Journey Begins at BSB
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Dear Parents & Friends of BSB, One of the biggest challenges schools face today is to make sure risk is balanced by attention to essential learning experiences. This year BSB, like several progressive schools, decided to equip our students with iPads in our Secondary school. There are regular changes happening throughout the school but here was certainly one with obvious impact and by its nature a measure of the unpredictable. We have often spoken about embracing innovation and to do this we recognise that we need to take risks with our own learning and practice, and make sure our previous mindsets are not impeding our students from moving forward.
We can always learn from what we have had done in the past, but this in itself cannot ensure we progress effectively. We must truly be open to changes in our practice, share the process we are going through and be comfortable with mistakes that are made along the journey. As a school we are giving our students permission to develop a love of learning by considering the way in which they want to learn. It is not done at the exclusion of past knowledge of what works, but as a complementary extension, and after this first term I feel confident that all involved in this development can see positive change. Of course all organisations have the capacity to restrict development and there is always an inherent fear about change and possibly a loss of control, however to ignore the necessary transition means our educational offer is not viable. At BSB we want to be a school that is flourishing, with consistent reflection, including the sharing of challenges and further learning opportunities; I see uplifting evidence of this every day. Throughout the school we are all open and committed to the learning that we must experience alongside our students to make this a strong learning community, and we will continue to push forward into the new year and the unknown.
“We must truly be open to changes in our practice, share the process we are going through and be comfortable with mistakes that are made along the journey�
2012 has been a good year for BSB and we have much to celebrate as the year draws to a close and of course look forward to in 2013. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support; directly and indirectly our friends and families make BSB the amazing community it is, and we are all grateful. Let’s make 2013 a great year, embracing positive change and working to provide the best possible opportunities for our students without the fear of failure.
My best wishes for the season.
Jo Puddy-Wells, Principal principal@britishschool.ro
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Where are they now? BSB to send students to Canada! We are happy to announce that we can now offer summer trips to Canada for our students, starting in July 2013! We have partnered up with Great Moose Adventures - a camp set up and run by three teachers (Sonny Leese, Brad Hamacher and Deanna Beggs) who previously worked here at BSB from 2007-11. Sonny, Brad and Deanna are living and working in Muskoka, a beautiful district of Ontario, Canada which was recently voted as the best summer destination in the world by the National Geographic magazine. Students attending Great Moose Adventures will embark on the ultimate 2 week vacation; with road trips to Toronto, Ottawa and Niagara Falls and a 4-day canoe trip through the vast lakes of Temagami. In addition, students will focus on co-operative team building games, language activities, compass and mapping skills, first aid training, flat water canoeing technique and swimming lessons at the Great Moose Adventure Centre - a beautiful retreat in the forests of Muskoka. For more information, please see www.greatmooseadventures.com or ask office@britishschool.ro for a trip package including itinerary, costs and dates.
Hallo BSB and friends, Since August my family and I are living in Germany. I live in Zwingenberg, a little town near Frankfurt. It is a typical wine area so you find a lot of hills and vineyards around. Walking is a real German leisure activity. I attend a German grammar school, called the AKG. Attached you see a picture of my class and my class teacher, Mr Scheffler. He is also my Latin teacher. That is perhaps a really new and weird thing. The children here learn English and Latin beginning with grade 5 and they can choose another foreign language, for example French or Spanish beginning with grade 8. We do not have to wear a school uniform. At the beginning I thought that will be great but a uniform has also many advantages; no competition about clothes and no discussion about what to wear in the morning. I have already made new friends. They are very nice and asked me a lot about living in Romania. Though it is very nice here I miss Romania and of course the BSB a lot and perhaps I can come over and visit you all! See you and many, many greetings Leonie
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Greetings from Perth, Australia, where I am visiting family for several months. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to write to you after leaving BSB in July this year. Since then, I have managed to keep myself very busy! As well as spending time with family and friends in England, I have visited Munich, Romania again, and had an amazing trip to Jordan too (see photo). In Jordan, my friends and I visited Amman (including a very busy day at the central souk), the Red Sea where we snorkelled, the Dead Sea where we floated in the salty water a little too easily, and Wadi Rum, where we camped overnight in the desert with Bedouin guides! Despite all this excitement, I very much miss BSB and its wonderful students and staff. I hope that everyone is still making the most of the opportunity to study in a school where the staff make every possible effort to ensure that the students thrive and succeed. And I hope that I see you all again in the future. Mr Bill Ellis
Patrick and Matthieu Reynolds After four years in the British School of Bucharest, Patrick (year 8) and Matthieu (year 6) are now living in England. They have both joined Aldro School (boys school) in Surrey and they are really enjoying it. It is a day and boarding, with lots of sport and they are just finishing the football season (Patrick managed to be straight into the 1st team!). They are now playing Rugby every day and matches on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Days are very long, finishing at 6 o’clock including the homework. They are both doing well academically and just completed a week of exaMs School is surrounded by a lovely sports ground and the countryside is so pretty. They have very nice new friends but they like coming back visiting Bucharest, as they did in October. Regards, Mrs Reynolds
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PTA Review
The BSB PTA always aims to enhance the sense of community within the school. This is because we believe that effective parent involvement enriches the educational experience of our children. Decades of research studies on the effect of meaningful parent involvement in schools have found that students achieve more, exhibit more positive attitudes and behaviour and have higher morale.
We aim to; • Foster communication and co-operation among the parents, students and teachers. • Organize activities and events for parents, students and teachers that are welcoming and inclusive. • Contribute to the effectiveness of the school by promoting the involvement of parents. Our school community is diverse with 40 different nationalities and families with a wealth of different world experiences. We hope that we can all collaborate and socialize as partners and friends to achieve these goals. We are certainly off to a good start with a range of activities that have taken place this term. Parents have enjoyed cultural tours of Bucharest and its surrounding area, organized by Alexandra Slater along with our knowledgeable guide, Ursula Fait. These have included; Lipscani, which was the old commercial centre of the city which was full of merchants and their ‘caravanserais’ followed by lunch in thee heart of Lipscani at Negresco; a tour of the Museum of Bucharest, Sutu Palace with information on how Bucharest grew from its origins into an important trading city, followed by a browse and lunch at Carturesti and a Monastery and Convent tour to Caldarusani Monastery and Tiganesti Convent where we could watch traditional weaving using old power looMs We picnicked in the convent grounds in the late autumn sunshine. We have also enjoyed an International Pub Quiz, with profits to the British Legion. This was very well attended, with parents, teachers and friends of our school all in competition to win the event. Thanks to our BSB catering team and our quiz master, Jo Puddy-Wells. She certainly put together a challenging but enjoyable quiz. We have also had a Master Florist from the Netherlands work with parents in the school on two projects; a pumpkin and an Advent arrangement.
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Not only do these activities expand our knowledge of Bucharest and develop our skills, they also give us a chance to get to know each other and become part of the BSB community. We do aim to organize a range of activities in order to welcome and include as many parents as possible. If you have suggestions, please let us know. For the students, we have financed ‘Bug Club’. This is an online interactive reading program, which can be used both at home and at school to promote, support and extend reading. Students can access books, which have been selected from a range by the class teacher to suit their individual reading level. Parental encouragement and participation in home reading helps the students view reading as a pleasurable activity whilst helping the school maintain and improve the high standards at BSB. The PTA has also worked with the Secondary Student Council, who arranged and hosted a Halloween event, by funding refreshments and prizes. Ceri Coyle, our coordinator of Secondary activities, meets regularly with the Student Council so that we can respond to their plans. The final event of this term is the Artisan Fair. This event is wonderful for parents and students alike and all profits support our school charities. The younger children get to be creative with craft activities, working with Secondary volunteers and to meet the star of the show - Santa. The parents and visitors can buy wonderful local crafts and gifts in a festive atmosphere. Thank you to every one of you who helped at this event; - baking, decorating, wrapping, running stalls, selling raffle tickets, planning… it is certainly an event where community spirit is evident. I wish all BSB families an enjoyable holiday and a very Happy New Year. Linda Wadsworth, BSB PTA Chair.
Who are the people in our neighbourhood?
Mr Lupu and Rebecca
Meet Mr Lupu. You probably see him around the school every day but lets find out a little more about him. His full name is Valentin Lupu and he was born in Bucharest. He has worked at the school for 12 years and his job at the school is in ‘Administration Services’. He has done a lot of travelling around Romania, though his favourite destination is France. Mr Lupu has
many interests, specifically cars! He likes classic music especially from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Rebecca (Year 8) Student Council
Introduction of David Whitehill David Whitehill has recently joined BSB as Director of Admissions, Marketing & PR and his responsibility is to ensure that the whole of Bucharest knows about the school and the excellent education it offers. David previously held a similar position at an international boarding school in the UK and prior to that had a background in broadcast media. “Everything about BSB has impressed me but now I want to encourage the school to be less coy about blowing its own trumpet; the good people of Bucharest need to know what a good job is being done here by the talented and committed staff. From an Admissions point of view, I want to simplify the procedures, ensuring a smoother journey for parents and less unnecessary work for the school.”
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www.imupro300.ro
www.imupro300.ro
LOWER SCHOOL REVIEW The run up to the winter holidays is always an exciting and busy time in a school. I love seeing all the different activities going on and the coming together of different groups for various performances and events.
Working in different groups and with different people it is important that we all remember how to work together and how to resolve any issues. It is a normal part of growing up to have occasional disagreements, to fall out with friends, from time to time, and not always to get on with other people.
As a school community, it is our responsibility to ensure children feel safe. While, at the same time allowing them the freedom and space to learn how to manage risk, encounter conflict and try and resolve their problems for themselves. Some of these issues were discussed in the internet safety workshop and the Primary Buddies learn about resolving conflict as part of their training. Students also work on such issues in PSHCE particularly through circle time. Working together, getting along and showing respect for each other is something we need to constantly be fostering and supporting.
It is our aim to strive for balance. To protect children from unhappiness, while allowing them the freedom and opportunity to learn from their experiences, both good and bad. We are striving to build a community where respect is not something demanded but enshrined in values and codes developed over time. We aim to create a school that ‘wraps around’ the children rather than forces them to fit in.
“We are striving to build a community where respect is not something demanded but enshrined in values and codes developed over time”
I wish everyone a wonderful holiday and all the best for 2013.
Ms Tiffany Moorcroft Head of Lower School
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Open Hour in EYFS Open Hour offers an excellent opportunity for parents and friends to visit our school. You may visit your child’s class or any of the other EYFS classes on this day. Parents also have the opportunity to view displays of work and visit classrooms where there are lots of fun and challenging activities for children. Some parents choose to talk to the teaching staff, others to view our outstanding grounds and facilities or meet present pupils and parents. Parents can always arrange a personal visit or tour of BSB if they wish to do so. We highly value parent partnerships and encourage our parents to become familiar with our EYFS Curriculum. Successful relationships between parents and teachers can have long-lasting and beneficial effects on children’s learning and well-being. We thank all of our EYFS parents for their support and hope you enjoyed our EYFS Open Hour .
Developing motors skills using scissors to cut out sheep
Mrs Priscilla Varban EYFS Coordinator
Creche children and their animals join in with ‘Old Macdonald had a Farm’
Developing numeracy skills, writing and ordering numbers to 10
Key Stage 1 Assembly - European Day of Languages On the occasion of the European Day of Languages, the children of Key Stage One were challenged with a quiz to make them realize they already know a lot about other languages and cultures. For their assembly, Monsieur Haslé asked them several questions written and collated by Madame Citron. The children of Key Stage One proved to be excellent participants and were able to answer all of the questions. Monsieur Haslé Teacher of French
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Letters and Sounds Workshop
Printing using apples while saying the ‘a’ sound On the 10th of October EYFS held a Letters and Sounds Workshop for parents. Workshops such as these provide valuable opportunities for parents and teachers to focus on a particular area of the curriculum. The aim of this workshop was to learn about the different phases of the letters and sounds document and to learn about ways of supporting young children at home with literacy. Parents were able to gain a deeper understanding of the progression of learning from Crib and Crèche to the end-of-year learning goals in Reception. Examples and pictures were shown of children’s early learning opportunities in reading and writing, from early mark-making in Crèche, to reading and writing simple three-letter words in Reception. In all phases children engage in a range of practical, active activities when learning to
Creche children using pictures to read to each other
read and write, such as foam, chalk and sand writing, finger painting and ICT games. It is through these learning experiences and on-going assessment that we try to ensure that children are happy and fulfilling their potential. It is therefore essential that as teachers we communicate with parents and ensure that there is a good understanding of each child’s development, as children learn not only in school but also their everyday experiences in the wider world. Miss Aimee Scott Reception Teacher
Creche children developing pencil skills Issue 2 2012 11
Fedde noticed that the 2nd batch of salt dough was a little sticky!
Milan made a lovely snowman using salt dough, counting each ball as he made it
Gabriela carefully draws around Eva’s body with chalk
Changing Seasons Preschool children have been enjoying the autumn season and have learned that we all celebrate many different holidays during autumn and winter. Preschool V have created a class book: ‘We Celebrate’. Parents were asked to write a short paragraph about some of the things they celebrate in their family and were encouraged to add photos. The children then had the opportunity to share their page and photos during our circle time. We have many different nationalities and it was a lovely opportunity to be able and share our traditions and culture with each other. We also talked about the weather and what different types of clothes we wear depending on what the weather is like. As the cold weather has arrived we did not miss the chance to create many lovely art and crafts projects such as salt dough snowmen, designing our own felt mittens, footprint penguins or ice cube painting. In Preschool K we started to discuss our bodies and how they moved. We learned the parts of the body through action songs and rhymes. The children drew around their bodies with chalk and painted and decorated some very
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realistic self-portraits. We began to discuss the change in weather and the clothing we wear and used this as an opportunity to sort seasonal clothing, make symmetrical mittens, match gloves and socks and print and decorate scarves. We also baked some gingerbread gloves and decorated these. We moved on to talking about different patterns, designing and making socks and later patterned clothes and wrapping paper. The end of our first term is traditionally one of the busiest at BSB, with our winter production being the tip of the iceberg. This year our ‘Whoops-aDaisy’ production was a lovely way to wrap up the first term and to welcome our winter holiday. We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our preschool parents a Happy Holiday and we look forward to seeing everyone back at school in January. Mrs Priscilla Varban and Miss Kitti Vaughan Preschool Teachers
Identifying Autumn colours and using them to make a creative painting
Weather in Reception As the weather began to change and leaves began to fall on the ground this inspired children in Reception to talk about weather and reminisce about the snow from last year’s harsh winter. We therefore made our focus for learning about weather and changes in the seasons. We began to focus on autumn weather and went on a walk around the school to look at the outdoor environment for signs of autumn. Children were able to expand their vocabulary, talking about the different trees and colours they could see. Children then used their creative side to make autumn pictures using red, brown, orange and yellow paints and wrote words and sentences on autumn leaves.
vocabulary about winter when in the role play area and experimenting with freezing and melting ice. We talked about the clothes we wear during different seasons and made our own patterned gloves and scarves. We particularly enjoyed singing winter related songs and taking part in creative activities such as making snowmen. Children will continue to develop their knowledge and understanding of seasons throughout the year by identifying and discussing how the weather changes on a daily basis. Miss Aimee Scott Reception Teacher
As the term progressed children were able to make daily observations of the weather as it changed into winter. Children enjoyed expanding their
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Year 1 continue to shine The children worked really hard on their ‘All About Me’ topic and impressed us with their knowledge of what had been learnt. Their favourite project was learning all about the five senses and going on a ’senses hunt’ around the school campus. The children discovered how they use their different senses to enjoy the environment around them. We have made an excellent, exciting start to our new topic ‘Castles’ and all the children are keen to learn about the history of castles not just in Romania but all around the world. In Literacy we have been talking about story writing and the children have been thinking about the key features every story needs. We shared stories about ‘the large family’ and the children had the opportunity to write their own story ending. These stories linked to our PSHCE focus for the half term on keeping fit and healthy.
In Numeracy we have been working on addition and subtraction. The children have been learning their number facts to 10 and 20. They loved playing number facts games and singing number facts songs. This term has seen the fun and excitement of the festive season. The children produced some really wonderful paintings using only their fingers to draw the foreground. It has all added to the seasonal cheer evident throughout Year 1. We hope you have a wonderful break and look forward to welcoming you back in 2013. Ms Helen Stevens & Ms Kate Dibble Year 1 Class Teachers
Creative activities allow children to write their digits correctly
Flora creating her beautiful Christmas paintings
Learning how we put words into alphabetical order
Learning number bonds through an active carpet time session
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2F performing their class assembly to other KS1 classes and their parents
Two is the Magic Number in Year 2 We have completed a busy and wonderful first term in Year 2. Thank you to the many people who have helped make the first term a huge success! This term in Numeracy we have learned about Measurement, Data Collecting and Maths Strategies. We also improved our Math Strategies by practising counting on, counting back, doubles and patterns in addition and subtraction. In Literacy we have learned about non-fiction and poetry. Giving and writing clear instructions is a life long skill that has improved greatly this half term in Year 2. We also were able to read, recite, and write many different types of poeMs Our topic for this term is ‘Light and Dark’, we have talked about Electricity and learned about how electricity is used in the classroom and how it works. We were also able to explore circuits and made observations about how electricity works.
In History we learned about Remembrance Day. We talked about poppies and sacrifice that soldiers make while serving their country and we visited the War Museum. In DT we spent time learning about puppets. We discovered the different types of puppets and made several examples. We were also able to put on several in class puppet shows using both store bought and class-made puppets. This was a great opportunity for creativity and improving confidence. Class Assemblies were a huge success for Year 2. We enjoyed public speaking and showcasing what we have been learning in class. Ms Kellyane Feeney, Ms Rachel Pamplin, Ms Catherine Passmore Year Two Teachers
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All Go in Year 3 Year 3 have had a really busy term. Having finished our topic on the weather for Geography we have turned our attentions to History and the topic of World War II. This has inspired many of the children and the class discussions and debates have been lively and informative. We have linked this to our other subjects and as a result the children have been constructing Anderson shelters in their Design Technology lessons. In Science we were looking at healthy eating and the children have been getting to understand what makes a balanced diet. We have looked at healthy lifestyles and this has been supported by our specialist PE teachers. We have also learnt how to look after our teeth properly. In Literacy we have been studying a variety of myths and legends, which has inspired the children’s imagination and produced some wonderful work. Numeracy has been very exciting including lots of practical work. Aside from our addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, the children have studied data handling, money, time and measurements. Well done to the children for all their hard work, we are looking forward to next term already. Miss Anna McHugh and Miss Aoife Kelly, Year 3 teachers
Guided Reading
Learning about money
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Learning about teeth
Pharaohs, Friction and Fiction: Learning Adventures with Year Four
Students test the effects different surfaces have on creating friction Year Four has completed a successful autumn term filled with Ancient Egyptian studies that have been discovery and research based. Each class worked together to create an Egyptian character who prompted us to learn more about life as a pharaoh and the history of ancient Egypt. Our work in literacy has also been linked to these studies as children wrote vibrate adventure stories and creative poems about Ancient Egypt. In this first term of Science, we learnt about friction and how it can affect our every day lives. Students participated in several experiments testing the force and how it is created. Pupils used different surfaces, force-meters, as well as ramps and blocks for testing friction’s various effects. The Year Four classes also had the opportunity to take part in activities promoting environmentally friendly behaviour. An Eco-Bus came to BSB to teach students about recycling. Pupils were able to watch a video in 3-D and then play a group iPad game about recycling in Bucharest. All Year Four students have also completed wonderfully executed and entertaining class assemblies. Here they were able to share their knowledge of different subjects to the rest of KS2. We appreciate all of your support and look forward to another excellent term at BSB. Miss Krystle Church, Mr Matthew Scragg and Mr Ciaran McRae Year 4 Class Teachers
Circle time is an enjoyable part of the day where the children can share their thoughts and feelings with the rest of the class
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Fun and learning‌ in mythic proportions
Students clay modelling their favourite mythological characters
In this autumn term, Year 5 have been hard at work uncovering the ancient myths of other cultures. We began by researching and presenting information about a selection of weather gods including Zeus, Odin, Thor and Quetzalcoat. The students then continued their investigation on the internet, scouring information from across the world to look at how different societies have represented the weather and other natural phenomena through stories and characters. We dramatised these stories and performed them for our partner classes, which allowed us to build familiarity with a range of tales as well as defining the characteristics of a successful performance. As the next step in our story, we modeled our chosen legendary gods and heroes out of air-dry clay, and created 3D depictions of the worlds that they lived in as large-scale classroom displays. Mr Alexander Feltham & Mr Dale Darby Year 5 Class Teachers
A collection of mythical characters 18 Newsblast
Year Six Remember and Look Forward Year 6 have been building on their strengths over the last few weeks. The two classes have bonded well, culminating in the production of an excellent assembly in which we witnessed cooperation, collaboration and teamwork of a very high standard. Some of the pupils demonstrated wonderful drama skills, portraying deaf old grandads, grumpy, stressed dads at the airport and chocolate-hungry children who won’t take no for an answer. All of this led to a performance which had a message of respect for fallen heroes and a clear understanding that those soldiers of the past gave us the Nobel Peace Prizewinning Europe in which we all live today. The classes have been learning about journalism and the values needed to report with fairness and accuracy, linking to ideas of nationhood and democracy with a global perspective. In maths we have looked at data handling, perimeters and area. Continued lessons at Science transition in the
secondary building have led to opportunities to investigate reversible and irreversible change using chemical reactions which could not be reversed. And when we’re not working as historians, we are scientists. Here are some moments captured from a Science lesson on reversible and irreversible changes with Miss Griffiths. Watch out for the bright light! How are you at making shapes and solving puzzles, Year 6 used their knowledge and skills to make 3D shapes and solve some tricky puzzles. Check out the results. The classes are able to make electrical circuits and describe in simple terms how electricity is generated and transmitted.
Burning magnesium and not looking at it directly
Making shapes in 6T
The House and Vice Captains rehearsing their imaginative role plays
Siaf, Thomas and Tiffany making colours with chemicals
Miss Andrea Bestel and Miss Helen Thorogood, Year 6 Teachers
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Workshop for Parents: Online Safety Online safety is becoming a more and more prominent part of the ICT curriculum in modern schools. It is an issue which we handle in school through delivering ICT and online lessons with a clear, safe structure and in a supervised manner. We also spend a lot of time talking with students about the dangers of the online community in the same way we discuss Stranger Danger. But students do not just come into contact with the online world in school, and we all know that our children are using the internet in ways that we can not always direct and supervise. How can we keep our children safe online, wherever they are? Recently the British School of Bucharest hosted a workshop for parents which was aimed at raising awareness of possible risks that our children face and offering advice and support for how to deal with issues that do arise. At the workshop Mrs Walker a large amount of information about CEOP, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency, which is a british-based, but rapidly becoming pan-European, agency dedicated to working with the police, governments, schools and other institutions to stop online abuse. If you were unable to attend the workshop but would like information about staying safe online, please visit the CEOP website, www.thinkuknow.co.uk. Here you will be able to find help and advice for all members of the family. As the website’s name suggests, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you know about online safety. Find out what the dangers are from the experts, and find out how to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe. www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Mr Alexander Feltham and Mrs Shazia Walker, Primary and Secondary ICT Team
Secondary and Primary meet to challenge their maths skills Five of our year nine students: Ilinca, Finn, Alexander, Raphaela and Calin worked hard to design and produce maths challenges to tantalise the primary maths AG&T students. They had to consider the age range of the children, from year 3 to year 6 and find tasks that would keep them interested and entertained, using the whole range of mathematical and logical reasoning areas. 3D spatial awareness and skills with calculations, equations and reasoning about shape and space, plus some historical knowledge were all required in order to solve the puzzles. The primary students had a great time trying to find the solutions and impressed their secondary counterparts with their speed and problem solving abilities. Many thanks to Mr Reed and Ilinca, Finn, Alexander, Raphaela and Calin for their participation. Miss Emily Thomas Primary AG&T coordinator
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The Mobile Ecological Lab Rolls into BSB In November, boys and girls from BSB were treated to a very special visiting attraction in the form of the mobile ecological lab. By the time of its arrival in the school grounds the excitement had already reached the children from year 3 and 4 and they were keen to find out more. The project consisted of a large coach transformed into an ecological lab and it has been set up in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Ecology. Environmental issues are important to the children particularly as this year the children are taking part in the Eco Schools Programme. Year 3 and 4 began their experience by entering the bus and sitting in the impressive 3D cinema. Here they were shown a film which educated them about different ways of reusing and the importance of recycling. After this they were taken to the interactive section of the bus where they got the chance to
take part in an exciting co-operative game. Working together using iPads the children had to digitally sort waste into the correct recycling container. As a reward for the completion of the iPad tasks they were allowed to recycle metal in the futuristic looking “Eco Cube”. The metal was then recycled to create a whistle as a gift to take away. However, by far the most important thing that the children will take away from the Eco bus will be a fantastic experience and an important message about re-using and recycling. Thank you to Mrs Razboiu for organising the bus’s visit to BSB. Mr Ciaran McRae
The children concentrate on their active game inside the bus
The 3D cinema teaches the children all about Recycling
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Carol Service On Wednesday 5th December we held the BSB Christmas Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the Church of the Resurrection in Bucharest. Students and staff read Lessons from the Bible that tell the story of Christmas. This was interspersed with carols sung by the BSB choir, soloists and the congregation. The students performed very well and the event was enjoyed by all. Thank you to Miss Finch, Miss Grant and Father Patrick for making the event possible.
Father Patrick speaks to the congregation
BSB Choir debuts at our Nine Lessons & Carols Service 22 Newsblast
Full concentration on a big day
Mihnea delivering an energetic reading Issue 2 2012 23
Sofia in 2F used watercolours to create this super view from her window
Primary Art Competition This term all of the children in the Primary School had the opportunity to take part in the Art Competition. The title of the competition was ‘A View Through My Window - What Romania Means to Me.’ The children were asked to think about what Romania means to them, focusing on their surroundings and the things that they are able to see in Romania. This subject focused on the fact that the students at BSB come from many different places and that the children may view Bucharest in a variety of ways. The children had the opportunity to explore this subject in any way possible and were encouraged to experiment with a range of media. All of the entrants worked really hard on their artwork and there were some really impressive pieces of art, from photography to collages, water colour to pencil drawings. The artwork is displayed for everyone to see in the Newlands Upper PE Hall. Congratulations go to Tabitha in 5D and Thea in 3M for their winning entries in KS2. Further congratulations go to Sofia in 2F for her wonderful water colour painting which was the winning entrant in KS1. Ms Kate Dibble. Primary Art Coordinator.
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Tabitha from 5D’s entry. A wonderful mix media piece, really focusing on what Romania means to her
Thea from 3M created a beautiful view from her window Issue 2 2012 25
Spelling Bee Champion Irini showing off her trophy
Spelling Bee This year’s Spelling Bee competition was a huge success and as usual there was a very high standard of entrants. All of the finalists had to compete against their classmates in heats in the weeks leading up to the competition. The finalists from each class then competed against one another at a special assembly in October. These were Jennifer and Irina from Year 3; Beatrice, Andrei and Gregory from Year 4; Max and Finlay from Year 5; Sara and Irini from Year 6. All of the competitors did a fantastic job spelling some very difficult words, in particular Jennifer from Year 3 who managed to out-spell some of the older boys and girls by coming 3rd. The last two spellers standing were Irini and Sara who battled it out until Irini finally triumphed for the third year running. She certainly has a special talent for spelling!
Ms Kelly awards the finalists their certificates
All of the finalists received a certificate for their achievements and Irini took home the Spelling Bee Trophy. Well done to all the children in every class who entered the Spelling Bee Competition. And remember, the Spelling Bee is an annual event, so you’ll have another chance to enter next year. Aoife Kelly Literacy Coordinator
Nerves are high as the competition gets underway 26 Newsblast
Playground Buddies at your service
Meet the Playground Buddies
At BSB we are passionate about developing children’s social and emotional skills through techniques such as circle time so adopting the playground buddy scheme served to further enhance this as it has enabled a specific group of children to build on these skills and become a role model for others to follow. The group of children in question from Year 5 applied to be Buddies last year whilst in Year 4 pupils expressed a keen interest in working and playing with other children. Having completed the training over 10 weeks they are now fully qualified Playground Buddies and have begun their daily duties.
Buddies encouraging fun activities
Their job, alongside members of staff on duty, is to help create a peaceful and inclusive school by preventing and resolving conflicts during playtimes. The children involved are committed to making playtimes safer and happier for all by organising games, helping others, playing with children who are lonely and helping them to solve any problems which may occur. Mrs Lisa Ali Deputy Head of Lower School
You can rely on a Buddy for help Issue 2 2012 27
SECONDARY REVIEW It is possible to observe a dysfunction between what the highest ranking UK Universities require and the attributes desired by top companies in their graduate recruits. Universities such as Oxford and Cambridge concentrate on academic excellence which is expected to be the motivation for potential applicants over and above anything else. Personal statements, part of the process in applications covered elsewhere in this edition of Newsblast, must demonstrate pure focus on the academic for these elite universities, whilst most other top 30 UK institutions request at least 75% of the statement to be subject based. Leading graduate recruiters meanwhile seek individuals seemingly farremoved from this “ivory tower” mentality. They desire creative thinkers, risk takers with people skills, empathy, an ability to “think outside of the box” and with blossoming leadership traits. Future success for our students necessitates therefore that we must focus on both elements. We must emphasise academic excellence, with each student understanding the need to achieve to their very best potential. However co-curricular experience is equally important, developing teamwork, leadership attributes, problem solving in different environments and taking students outside their comfort zones to challenge and develop resilience.
“Interestingly I have seen a shift in the way that some top universities are thinking. …an admissions tutor at Imperial College London valued “long term commitment to sports, music or drama and involvement in the general running of the school and service” alongside exceptional motivation to study their chosen course”
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Interestingly I have seen a shift in the way that some top universities are thinking. Most US institutions focus far more broadly and consider all sides of an applicant’s personality, values, attitudes and experiences - this is not new. Meanwhile a recent email exchange with an admissions tutor at Imperial College London valued “long term commitment to sports, music or drama and involvement in the general running of the school and service” alongside exceptional motivation to study their chosen course. It is unusual for an admissions tutor to be so frank and relatively precise as to their preferences in an applicant. Recognition of these issues forms the background to my plans to encourage broader co-curricular involvement. I will be requesting that all students take at least 2 Clubs each week after Christmas and urge you to ensure that your children take up opportunities to stay involved in sports, community service, creative or leadership activities. Commitment over the long-term is important as is breadth of experience. All students in years 7-10 will also attend an expedition in the penultimate week of term to focus on challenge, teambuilding, developing independence and of course creating togetherness and happy memories, I hope. These ideas, I know, are not new. They are relevant though in developing well-rounded individuals but also in maximising the chances of each student in their university applications and ultimately in the employment market place. Mr Philip Walters Head of Secondary
Student Council Hallowe’en Party There have been many exciting things happening this term but the undoubted highlight was the Student Council/ PTA Secondary Hallowe’en Party. This was definitely the party of the year and it was a great success. We would like to say a great thanks to all those who made it happen and helped to make it a great success. Firstly we would like to thank all the members of the Council who helped organise the Party, as well as the members of staff and Prefects who helped to ensure that it went smoothly. The PTA also made an invaluable contribution by providing support, items for games and the prizes for the ‘Best Costumes’. I would also like to express great appreciation to the Primary Staff and Miss Moorcroft for letting us use Primary PE Hall and Disco Room. Thanks must be extended to all those students who brought food and drink for the Party as well as Filippo and the boys from Year 10 who provided great music. Finally, I would like to thank the IT helpdesk for setting up the music and maintenance for helping with the organisation of lockers and tables. The party was an amazing success and special mention must go to Dora who won ‘Best Costume for Girls’, while Tim won ‘Best Costume for Boys’. It was a terrific party with lots of games and food and everyone had a great time; here’s hoping for more of the same next time. Noor, President of the Student Council
Monster treats!
Dancing at the Halloween Party
Issue 2 2012 29
Enisala - Studying the impact people have on an area
Pupils taking part in the Enisala fieldwork expedition
Geography and Biology Trip to Enisala Fieldtrips are a vital part of our curriculum. Our KS4 and KS5 geographers and biologists recently used the Danube Delta area as an outdoor classroom when they visited Enisala for a three day fieldtrip which forms an integral part of their studies. Fieldwork is essential for understanding our world through direct experience, for gathering data about places, and as such is directly examined in Geography IGCSE and A level. It is a fundamental method for enacting geographical and biological education. During out time in the Delta the students were able to study directly the physical processes and development of an area of coastline and also the
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impact people have made on the places we visited. Quadrat analysis, sampling methodologies, transects and other key skills were practised. Finding out that reality is often very different to the textbook is an important feature of the learning as well as the fact that students learn so much from the actual fieldwork technique practice. In addition to enjoying a few days of work ‘in the field’ students will be able to relate their experience directly to the work we do in the classroom and enhance their prospects in the official examinations. Mr Sykes and Mr Nichols
Keep right on to the end of the road...
The real meaning of ‘trust’!
International Award Expedition Ten students from years 10 to 13 took part in the International Award, Bronze expedition, pitting their wits against nature and the elements in order to complete a grueling 24km hike, over two days, in Cheile Rasnoavei, Rasnov. Students camped out in the wild overnight and prepared all their own food using camping stoves. The students successfully navigated their way along the routes using compasses and maps. The trek was made all the more challenging as the students had to carry all their equipment with them at all times. This is a requirement of the “Adventurous Journey” element of the International Award. At times the expedition was extremely challenging and some students found
the going tough, often having to take breaks to review plans and make decisions as to how to progress. The experience was enjoyable for all and each student furthered their understanding of group dynamics, leadership, planning and organisation whilst developing self reliance and independence. Well done to all our International Award students. Mr John Flood Mathematics Teacher
Issue 2 2012 31
Sixth Form Matters - Personal Statement and the UCAS app For most of our Year 13 writing a personal statement has been a major feature of this term. The Personal Statement (or personal essay in its US form) is one of the most important documents a student will write in their time at school and is a key feature of university applications. The word limit is strictly limited and, for an active, high achieving student, it can be difficult to squeeze everything in, but edit, cut, sacrifice and condense they must - the test is as much one of writing skill as it is personality. In general, for UK applications, the statement should be 80% focussed on the subject - why the student wants to study it, what they hope to gain from the course, their academic readiness and, above all, why they are passionate about it. All of this should be supported with analysis of relevant work experience and reading beyond that required by A-Level; a student who has a demonstrable desire to study the subject will, quite naturally, write a vibrant and engaging statement. The remaining 20% should focus on achievements outside of the classroom (positions of responsibility, commitments to sports, arts and community service etc). For overseas students it should also mention any time spent studying abroad and reasons for wishing to study at university overseas. The advice contained here is brief. Please rest assured that, given the importance of personal statements, students are provided with plenty of guidance, past examples and the mentoring of at least two (and often more) members of senior staff. If you would like to know more about the university application process please book in to meet Mr Farrell or myself. Mr Walters
Extracts from Year 13 Personal Statements. To gain an overview of the English legal system, I read ‘Learning the Law’ by Glanville WilliaMs Tort law captured my attention because of its relevance to everyday life, as well as the implication of justice when considering liability in cases. When reading the Hughes vs Lord Advocate case, I understood the intricacy of determining probability when deciding whether the defendant was being negligent. The defendant was held liable in spite of the unexpected string of events which caused the accident because the type of accident was foreseeable. This suggested how, through close interpretation of law, accountability can be established clearly. Following this case has encouraged me to explore other branches of tort law, such as nuisance and defamation. Cristina Engineering is my passion. I recently succeeded in the challenging project of building a steam engine. Having built my own forge, I used the lost wax casting technique to cast the engine block out of aluminium. The engine has two pistons created on a mini-lathe, a main one providing power and a smaller perpendicular piston acting as a valve to release steam thus starting a new cycle. The pistons are attached to the same wheel yet having a different range of motion had to be connected at different diameters and out of sync as one went in, the other had to go out. Boring a 28mm hole with a hand drill to make the main cylinder was difficult and precision was required to use a honing tool to smooth the cylinder walls bringing the inside diameter to the required size. The boiler itself was a fire extinguisher with its cap replaced with a pipe leading to the engine block. I enjoy this type of challenge and want to push myself, ultimately envisioning a career using the skills from a high level mechanical engineering course. Tudor
Tudor gets his head down 32 Newsblast
Cristina takes a pause for thought
The students working as an ensemble for the opening scene
Dilara, Mena & Anda practice their slow-motion sequence
Luka, Franco & Dong Min show outstanding focus in performance
Drama Workshops with Paul Slater It is 5.30 on a Tuesday night and I am sitting on the drama studio floor surrounded by torn up newspaper. Next to me, Chi (Year 8) and Filippo (Year 10) are modeling a puppet out of paper and masking tape. The look on their faces is one of intense concentration as they test the legs carefully to check their puppet can stand up. Next to them, a group of Year 9 students rehearse their puppetry piece, trying out different voices for each character. Modeling a puppet in groups of four takes patience, concentration and team work skills. Throughout this process, students needed to communicate with each other and negotiate roles, eg who would make which part and who would play which character. They did all this in a noisy environment, working with other students who they had never worked with before. Some would direct the action and some would work more passively within the group, however every student in the room employed group working skills, and contributed in some way towards creating the performance.
‘Ensemble!’ I wanted something that students from Year 7 to 12 could access, and something that taught them the value and the power of drama as a discipline, rather than concentrating on rehearsing a group of ‘actors’. I also wanted them to be inspired and challenged and learn through the use of the physical. A month later and we are about to perform for a selected audience of teachers and parents. As the music starts and thirty four students turn in slow motion to face the audience, I feel a sense of pride that they are all so committed to this performance and have been so focused through the process as a whole, producing work of a truly outstanding quality. I hope the students had fun. They were also probably exhausted after three days of full-on drama. I know I was. But it was definitely worth it. I can’t wait until we do it all again next year!
When, in September, I asked Paul to come to Bucharest and run a series of workshops with our students, one of the first questions he asked me was: ‘What kind of thing do you want me to do?’ My answer consisted of one word…
Miss Victoria Oliver Head of English & Drama Faculty
Issue 2 2012 33
From Little Seeds‌
As part of the extended curriculum at BSB, we have been working closely with several businesses and organisations in Bucharest. The aim of developing these relationships is to provide opportunities for students to gain valuable learning experiences outside the classroom. The most recent experience offered to students was the opportunity to work with senior members of staff from both the Athenee Palace Hilton and Viitor Plus charity organisation. The event involved working together to plant over 350 trees in an undeveloped area of Romania with the hope
that in the future these trees will provide resources and opportunities for the people who live here. Students were given a presentation by event organisers to highlight the importance of the day’s work and explain how this voluntary work will have a positive effect on the future life of the people involved. I would like to thank Miss Linda Griffin, General Manager of the Hilton Hotel for offering this opportunity to our students.
House Art Competition
Every pupil in BSB is assigned to one of four “House Teams� when they first join school. Students are able to win House Points for good behaviour and class work and each house competes to win a trophy at the end of the academic year. The House system at BSB is an important opportunity to encourage students to work together across all key stages. To help create a House identity students have recently designed their own coat of arms and logo in the inaugural House Art competition. The focus was upon understanding how symbols, shapes and colour can have an overall positive affect. During Design Technology lessons students in Key Stage 3 made initial designs to finally produce effective motif for the their house. The overall best House design will be awarded a House Art trophy. Well done to all those students who took the creative time to get involved.
Issue 2 2012 35
Geneva Trip
During the half term break, students from the Sixth Form had the opportunity to visit the UN headquarters and organisations associated to it in Geneva. Noor, year 12, Chi and Maria, year 13, had the privilege to go on this trip, accompanied by Mr McRae and Ms Scott. We were part of a group consisting of 19 students from other countries and so this was also a great opportunity to meet up with other sixth formers. This amazing trip provided us with knowledge and awareness of current global issues such as child exploitation, climate change and the plight of refugees, amongst other topics.
We visited: 1. Palais de Nations 2. The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) 3. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) 4. The International Federation of the Red Cross ( IFRC) 5. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) 6. Medecin Sans Frontieres 7. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) 8. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) 9. The International Environment House ( IEH)
Noor and Maria at WMO 36 Newsblast
Chi working hard
“At first, I signed up for the trip because I wanted to have an impressive personal statement. My thought was to visit a bunch of international organisations, take pictures and attach them to my CV. However, I completely changed my mind as soon as the trip started. Visiting the headquarter of United Nations allowed me to learn so much about what is going on around the world, as well as what has happened before. After the long tour and learning in different intergovernmental organisations, we enjoyed the
nightlife in Geneva, looking around one of the most beautiful lakes, fountains and having good food. Most importantly, this trip changed my perspectives of what I want to major in. I now am extremely eager to apply and study for international relations, and I will strive to work for UN headquarters in New York (because I aim to live in America!). Thank you Mr Farrell and other staff members who organised this trip, and I encourage everyone to participate in these kinds of opportunities.� Chi Bum, Year 13
Issue 2 2012 37
The COBIS Head Boys and Head Girls Conference - Murcia, Spain
Our Head Boy & Head Girl with Mr Walters preparing to leave Murcia
In early November I had the honour of attending the COBIS Teachers’ and Head Boys’ and Head Girls’ Conference alongside Mihnea and Mr Walters.
us to achieve our personal goals no matter how many obstacles life places in our path.
Head boys and girls from over 25 different schools around Europe attended the conference which was held in the coastal area of Murcia in Spain . We attended many professional seminars covering aspects including how a technological future will improve education, eradicate libraries and improve healthcare further as well as a hands-on session on leadership and the differences between a leader and a manager. Our final seminar titled “Anything is possible” was led by Simon Weston, a burns victim of the Falklands War. He shared his remarkable life story with the aim of motivating
We also completed a certified first aid course which was really useful and gave us the opportunity to learn how to efficiently handle emergency situations prior to the arrival of paramedics. We had a busy but great time at the seminars which provided us with a lot of useful information that we can apply throughout our lives.
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Maria Head Girl
Secondary Music Concert
Anda (Y7) impresses the audience with her own composition for voice and piano
The Secondary Winter Concert took place at the end of November. The students who were invited to play had all given excellent performances during their class concerts and at the Autumn Recital and it was felt that they deserved the opportunity to display their talents in front of a larger audience of their fellow students and parents.
The members of the audience were impressed by performances such as Kayla (8S) on classical guitar and Anda (7F) playing and singing her own composition. The afternoon culminated in Tudor’s (13) piano arrangement of music from Pirates of the Caribbean, alongside video clips from the film. Well done to all the performers and we look forward to hearing more from our talented young people at future events.
Dilara (Y9) performs ‘The Swan’ by Camille Saint-Saens
Two of our GCSE students, Eda and Tai, perform their ensemble exam piece, ‘Hallelujah’
Kayla (Y8) concentrating on her classical solo
Mihnea (Y13) delivering an electrifying performance Issue 2 2012 39
Career Lunches Career lunches have continued with great success throughout this term with a wide variety of guest speakers involved. Students have been given presentations by a CEO of a multi-national company, a political secretary from the British Embassy, a Geo-phycisist from Petrom and an investment banker from the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Students have commented on how useful it has been to ask advice from professionals working in such a diverse fields of employment. The career lunches will
continue next term and I would encourage all students to attend these events to broaden their knowledge of the world of work which they will enter upon leaving formal education. On behalf of everyone at BSB, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to each of our speakers for donating their time and expertise for the benefit of our students.
James Armstrong, Political Secretary, British Embassy
Florin Imirin, Investment Banker
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The quality of British education remains undisputed. There are currently four British Universities listed among the top ten best universities in the world. Hence it is no surprise that the UK is a destination of choice for international students, with over 400,000 students from outside the UK choosing to study in British institutions. I have recently had the opportunity to attend a reception, along with several university representatives, organised by the British Embassy in Romania. The focus of the reception was “Knowledge is Great�. The evening began with a speech from the British Ambassador, Mr Martin Harris OBE, officially opening
the event, followed by a speech from Romania’s Minister of Education, Ecaterina Andronescu. The reception was an excellent opportunity to introduce BSB to a number of leading UK universities. Following on from this reception I have arranged several of these university representatives to visit BSB and work with our students over the next few months. Paul Farrell Head of Sixth Form
Uni Guidance Over the past months the students have been given the opportunity to meet admission officers and career guidance officers from several top tier UK universities including Imperial College London, Queen Mary University London, London School of Economics and Kings College London, amongst others. The university representatives spent time in school with the students and each gave a presentation about their specific academic institution. The focus
of each presentation was to help students make informed decisions about higher education in the UK. Students were also given advice on what makes a good application, including key areas to be addressed within their personal statements. These presentations are an excellent opportunity for students to seek information and ask questions from admissions experts from top UK universities. As such, they will continue throughout the year as part of the ongoing careers and university guidance curriculum at BSB.
Issue 2 2012 41
Students work in teams to build a paper tower
Enterprise Week at BSB To coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week all students in Secondary set about being Enterprising for the week. There was a special assembly that had a Drama twist and highlighted the importance of Enterprise skills in order to be successful and competitive in work and life. Throughout the week students completed their Enterprise passports in lessons, which helped them to focus on key Enterprise skills, by identifying them when they had successfully demonstrated using one. They also had plenty of activities during form time that tested their creativity and problem solving skills. One of the highlights of the week was the Enterprise challenge where the entire Secondary school including students from Mark Twain International School took part in a trading game where they had to pit their wits against market forces in order to make the most profit. During the challenge they also had to design logos, build towers and employ some creative thinking to solve probleMs Mark Monaghan Business and Enterprise Teacher
Students worked together in mixed aged groups for the Enterprise Challenge
Students used their Enterprise Passports to identify the skills they used during the week 42 Newsblast
Clubs and Universities
In KS2 Science Club children have the chance to experience real experiments under controlled conditions; here they are looking at burning properties
Our school football teams continue to train enthusiastically and have been competing in tournaments against local schools Issue 2 2012 43
Here Haruna and Haifa are using a simple maths games to practise more complicated calculation skills led by the teacher in Maths Club
The Secondary Clubs provide opportunities beyond the curriculum for students to develop a range of skills; here they are working on social and enterprise programmes 44 Newsblast
The Secondary Student Librarian Programme encourages leadership skills and allows students to make an active contribution to their school community
In Book Club children have the chance to work on creative writing pieces collaboratively and share their love of reading Issue 2 2012 45
In the Young Leaders university course, children have an insight into the life of a PE teacher, first having to plan out activities that would be suitable and enjoyable for KS1 children then testing them out to see if they work practically
Cooking universities for each key stage concentrate on learning specific skills whilst learning about nutrition and health, to help children to follow recipes at home 46 Newsblast
In Rounders university for KS1, the children have learnt fielding and batting skills progressively in order to build up into full games
In Card Making university the children concentrate on a different skill each week and work with concentration on building up layered designs Issue 2 2012 47
Music Pathway At BSB we value the importance of music as a cultural, social and emotional tool. To this end we work with students to develop the skills of listening, co-operation, co-ordination and language development in addition to musical appreciation and instrumental techniques. In EYFS the focus is on singing, movement, and developing a basic sense of rhythm. Much of the teaching is done through action songs, movement to music and musical games. We also seek to give the children opportunities to explore different sounds through using a variety of instruments.
One way that students in Pre-school learn about pitch is through the use of boomwhackers 48 Newsblast
In KS1 the students begin to develop their understanding of pitch, dynamics and note lengths. They continue develop their co-ordination, sense of rhythm and listening skills and are exposed to traditional written notation that coincides with their movement of walking, jogging and running. They learn to identify instruments in the music room by name and sound. They will also learn a little about famous composers and listen to some of their music.
Students in 2P use body movement to feel the quaver rhythm
Students in 2F enjoy dancing and singing
Issue 2 2012 49
In KS2 the students learn to identify the name and sound of orchestral instruments and study recorder. They also begin to learn to read tradition music notation. They will begin to learn about more composers and their music and the features of different periods and genres.
Students develop their teamwork, co-operation and note-reading on the university course
Ellis and Jenisa in 6B discuss the best way to represent lots of people running using percussion instruments 50 Newsblast
In the secondary school there is greater focus on how we listen to music and on developing musical vocabulary to enable students to explain what they can hear more clearly. We also use ICT to research, record and evaluate as well as to help widen our knowledge of music around the world.
David and Filip are researching different styles of music that they are interested in using their iPads. They will then use the research to inform their performance
Finn, Joe and Calin are using instruments on the iPads to help with their songwriting project Issue 2 2012 51
A solo vocal from Stefan (Y8) was just one of the highlights
Matei knows that musicians improve by regular instrumental practice so uses some of his spare time to improve his drum skills 52 Newsblast
Tai and Eda develop their analysis skills by studying set pieces of music in preparation for their GCSE
There are also plenty of extra-curricular activities in which students can get involved from weekly clubs such as the Choirs and Steel Pan Band to one off activities such as the Secondary House Music Festival and the Solo Recital.
Florence was the youngest performer demonstrating her talents at the Autumn Solo Recital
Issue 2 2012 53
Mihnea gave an excellent demonstration of his guitar skills at the Autumn Solo Recital
Some teachers at BSB are currently enjoying developing their skills by learning the steel pans
Music is a life-long activity and we hope that at BSB we provide our students with the skills to keep learning and creating long after they leave us.
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Jeans for Genes Day 2012
Abie in year 9 selling pin badges to raise money for Jeans for Genes. Year 9 raised 1200 RON by selling pin badges at lunch and break times around school On Friday 6th October the whole school swapped their regular day-to-day school trousers for their jeans to support the charity Jeans for Genes. Jeans for Genes Day raises money for Genetic Disorders UK and aims to change the world for children with genetic disorders.
and why we should all take a role in Jeans for Genes day. The total raised in the lower school was 1,410 RON and in secondary 2,305 RON with Year 9 raising 1200 RON through sale of pin badges, meaning the total amount raised this year was a staggering 3,715 RON.
Children donated 10 Ron to wear their jeans and new for this year also had the opportunity to purchase pin badges. In the secondary school selling of these pin badges was the responsibility of Year 9, who also organized an assembly to raise awareness of Jeans for Genes day. In the primary school, teachers utilised the educational resources provided on the charity’s website, helping the children to learn more about Genetic Disorders through a range of films and classroom activities. In secondary school, the PSHCE focus of the week was how society, individuals and families are affected by Genetic Disorders
Thank you to all the staff and parents for their support during our Jeans for Genes activities. It was really appreciated. Mr Matthew Scragg, Lower School PSHCE Coordinator, and Ms Hannah Straw, Secondary Humanities Teacher
Issue 2 2012 55
Country in spotlight: France
I am from Versailles, a famous city near Paris.
I am from the Alps region. Theodore, Year 4
Adam-Ilyann, EYFS
The main tourist attractions are the Tour Eiffel, museums and the Big Wheel in Paris. Caroline, Year 5
Sometimes it rains, sometimes it’s sunny and it storms also. Akshay, Year 2
I like the fact that Paris has many monuments to visit and lots of shops.
France is: bread, wine, cheese, trains, tourist attractions and romance.
Frogs legs and snails are the most famous food dishes.
Baguette, cheese, wine, tarte au pomme, croque monsieur, croissant and pain au chocolat are the traditional foods.
Helene, Year 10
Franco, Year 8
There are camels in France
We see lots of dogs in France
Just, Year 1
When in France I like to visit my cousins.
Daniel, Year 5
I was living in France a long time ago, when I was a baby.
Paul, Year 5
Nael Year 1
There are a lot of different things about BSB. My last French school was smaller and felt less open. Marc Year 7
Renoir and Degas are two famous French artists. Maxence, Year 6
In the south it is sunny but it rains in the north. Sara, Year 5
Talking, Tasting, Teaching: The Languages Café 2012 Earlier this term the BSB Modern Languages Department hosted our annual Languages Café to celebrate the European Day of Languages. As ever, parents of a range of nationalities brought delicious home-cooked dishes to taste and spent the morning teaching our students how to speak their languages. Each student was given a Language Passport in which they could fill in new phrases learnt and each language “station” was manned by parents and student helpers teaching key phrases from topics such as introducing yourself, hobbies, foods, pets and holidays. All morning long the dining hall was buzzing with the sounds of our pupils from years 3 to 13 conversing in Dutch, French, German, Arabic, Greek, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Romanian, Georgian and Polish. It was wonderful to see such enthusiastic participation and a willingness to try out both new languages and new tastes. Here are some of the comments from our students:
“I can say my age in 5 languages now!” Ana-Maria Y6 “There were so many different kinds of Moon Cake… .I tried them all!” Eniola Y7 “Getting a German flag to wave around was a nice prize” Jonathan Y4 “It was a lot of fun trying all the yummy foods” Philine Y3 “I wish there was a Languages Café every Friday” Max Y5
Croissants and crêpes for those who speak French
Ms Elisabeth Citron French Teacher
Tasting Moon cake and speaking Mandarin
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Hablas Espanol?
Learning about Georgian culture
Students having fun with Polish
Issue 2 2012 59
Secondary students all working hard during the Tabata training held by Romanian athletes
Jumping for joy during healthy schools week We had so much fun in KS1 during Healthy Schools Week. Every morning we went down to the dining room for a ‘Wake Up Shake Up’ where we did dance movements and stretches to different songs. This helped keep us focused and ready for the school day. During playtimes and lunchtimes we were encouraged to try out different jumping activities. We used skipping ropes and counted how many jumps we did. Lots of children used the hopscotch to practise jumping and hopping from leg to leg. We also experimented with different types of jumps including seeing how far we can jump. On Friday afternoon all the children of KS1 had a House competition related to jumping.
One of the lucky winners jumping on the trampoline
The entire Secondary cohort experienced a very special training session on Tuesday 9th October facilitated by Mr Williams and led by two members of the Romanian National Athletics Team. Our visitors were Paraschiv Eftimie, a specialist in hurdles and Bogdan Popa, a decathlete and both are national record breakers and Balcanic Champions. Both athletes were very impressed with the children’s determination to complete all the exercises correctly and fully. Paraschiv and Bogdan led a five minute warm up and then followed this with a non-stop Tabata training session that tested students’ physical endurance and stamina. There were some sore body parts the next day, but lots of very positive feedback and a number of students were keen to have another go. All students had the opportunity to enter the jumping competitions every lunch time for a chance to win a go on the schools’ new trampoline. Over fifty teams entered over the week and there were eight lucky students who won the prize. On Friday afternoon fruit kebabs were handed out to children at the gate, a healthy way to end a great week. The Healthy Schools Committee
Tucking in to some fruit kebabs handed out at the end of Healthy Schools Week 60 Newsblast
Mr Farrell and Mr Hughes celebrate completing the course with a Bolt and a Mobot
Bucharest Marathon 2012 On the 7 of October the annual Bucharest International marathon took place. BSB had a strong team of runners. We were very proud that many of the runners who competed in the relay last time moved up tackle the half marathon and some even to take on the full marathon. In contrast to last year it was a very hot day and not ideal for long distance running. It is therefore a credit to all runners that they completed their respective distances. Mr Reed and Mr McRae completed the full marathon. Miss Stevens, Mrs O’Brien, Mr Hughes, Mr Farrell and Mr Monaghan completed the half marathon and we had two relay teams - Miss Andrea, Miss Catalina, Mr Mugur, Miss Moorcroft, Mr Walters, Mrs Walker, Mr O’Brien and Mr Bristow (who kindly deputised for Miss Draser).
-thanks to them all. No matter what challenge you have set yourself, support around the course makes a huge difference and really does spur you on. A special mention goes to Mr Reed who finished in 16th place in the marathon and to Mr McRae for completing his first marathon a wonderful achievement in the scorching conditions. We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon. Emil Zatopek Tiffany Moorcroft Head of Lower School
The event is a great way to bring everyone together. As well as runners cheering on fellow competitors, a large amount of staff came to support
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Guy Fawkes and Bonfire Night
GuyFawkes
In 1605, thirteen young men planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, Britain’s most notorious traitor. Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed. On the night of November 5th, throughout Britain, we commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes with bonfires and fireworks and by burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes. The pupils in Key stage 3 used recycled clothes from the teacher and shredded paper from the school office to construct their own Guy Fawkes. With a stick of Dynamite in his pocket (made from card of course) he met his end by being thrown onto the Bonfire at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It was a tremendous opportunity for the expat community to enjoy the cold autumn around the warmth of the bonfire and watch the firework display. Well done to all those pupils who gave up their time to help make Mr Fawkes and add BSB creative flair to the occasion. Mr Derek Walker Art and Design Technology
Making the Guy
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Harvest Week 2012 This year again, Harvest Week took place at the British School of Bucharest in order to collect food for charity. From the 15th to the 19th of October, every student in school was encouraged to bring in oil, tinned food and dry foods to give to the St. Stelians charity. The partnership with this charity has been ongoing for a few years and helps over five hundred families in need. Students bringing goods to school were given a house point for each item brought. This year, the generosity of the students saw Arges to come first out of the four houses, followed closely by Mures, Danube and Olt. The charity committee, together with the PTA and St. Stelians would like to thank all of the students and their families for donating food to help improve the every day life of the families most in need. Benoît Haslé Charity Committee
Year 6 helping Miss Draser to transport the collected items
Emotional Intelligence BSB Competition Success
Andreea (Y12) working to develop her EQ skills and (right) some of the tools used
Learning to use the framework Sixth form students have recently had the opportunity to explore the concept of emotional intelligence. They were provided with several resources from the Packtypes range. Packtypes is an original and unique approach to developing emotional intelligence in individuals, teachers and students. They first identified their emotional intelligence type by working through the resources, then analysed the personal implications of this by using the advice provided in the information guides. By completing this activity, students and teachers are able to get a ‘Packtype Perspective’ on how they function as individuals and how this may relate to the relationships they form with others.
Two students expressed a particular interest in this activity and as a result entered an emotional intelligence competition. This competition was open to schools both internationally and in the UK. The research involved and the final piece of work produced was excellent and is a testament to the hard work and maturity shown by both students throughout. As a result of their essay and presentation they were awarded second prize overall and won the school £1000 of emotional intelligence resources to be used with their sixth form peers. Many congratulations to Andreea and Federica for an impressive performance.
Issue 2 2012 63
During Breast Cancer Awareness week, we hosted our own BSB Pink Event. Our ladies dressed in pink and participated in games and a raffle. The funds raised were donated to Breast Cancer Care. We were joined by health professionals from the Family Clinic and they informed us about the importance of regular health screening. We had a very informative and enjoyable afternoon and this will hopefully be an annual event.
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Varying degrees of hirsute success amongst BSB staff...
‘Movember’ Movember is a phenomenon that sweeps the world once a year, in the month formerly known as November. Across Europe, North America, Australia and South Africa, men cultivate a top-lip caterpillar for one simple reason - to get people to stop and ask: “Why?!” Movember is a charity drive to raise awareness for forms of cancer that affect men - particularly testicular and prostate cancer. Male teachers across BSB have been growing their moustaches, with varying degrees of success, and collecting sponsorship throughout Movember. We will continue to collect sponsorship money after Movember finishes, should any others wish to donate. A big thank you to all the students, parents and staff who have been supporting us throughout, despite the development of some decidedly dodgy facial hair. Not to worry, once we get into December we’ll have them whipped off quicker than you can say ‘Child of the 70’s’…
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