Welcome to Years 1 & 2 at The British School of Brussels
WELCOME TO BSB
We are here to help and this guide is to support you and your child as they settle in during their first few days.
THE SCHOOL DAY
There is a designated priority drop-off lane for cars for Lower Primary (Kindergarten - Year 2) in the Kiss & Go zone. Once dropped off, Lower Primary students will be guided to the pitches by staff.
Your class teacher will greet your child at 8.40 and take them to class where the register is taken at 08.45.
YOUR CONTACT DETAILS
Please ensure the Primary Secretary has your current phone number, in case the school needs to contact you during the school day.
If you arrive after this time, please sign your child in at the office before coming to class.
The school day ends at 15.50 and your child should be picked up from their designated pick-up area.
WEDNESDAYS
School finishes at 12.00 for Lower Primary children.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Primary Secretary/Office: primary@britishschool.be
Direct line: 02 766 0431 britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk
ABSENCES
If your child is sick and unable to come to school, please contact the Primary Office by email or phone as soon as possible on the day. A doctor’s note is required from day 3.
We ask that families do not take time off during term time as we have a very generous holiday allocation published in advance. If there are exceptional circumstances, please email Neil Ringrose, Vice Principal & Head of Primary: NRingrose@ britishschool.be and the absence may be authorised according to school policy.
Please read the full information on MSP. britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/view/ document/10
COLLECTING YOUR CHILD
It is important that we are notified as to any change of person picking up your child. Please ensure that you inform the class teacher or LA in the morning or phone the school office.
If you need to arrange to pick up your child early, please contact the office.
DROP OFF AND PICK UP
Supervision starts at 08.15 on the sports pitches and at 08.40 teachers will greet the children and go to class.
The register is taken at 08.45. Any child arriving after this should sign in at the Primary Office before going to class.
The school day ends at 15.50 and your child should be picked up from the designated pick-up area.
WHAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO BRING TO SCHOOL EACH DAY
BOOK BAGS
Please bring the BSB book bag to school each day. If your child is new to the school, they will be provided with this.
The Book Bag will contain the home school diary and a reading book. Please check the bag daily.
On the day indicated in your child’s timetable on My School Portal (MSP) britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/login, your child will bring home two library books they have chosen in their library time. Please return the library books on the day indicated in your child’s timetable on MSP so we can be ready to borrow again on your child’s next library day.
We are passionate about nurturing a love of reading and encourage families to read for pleasure as often as possible. Sharing books at home - whether your child is reading to you, you are reading to them, or you are discussing a story together - plays a vital role in building confidence, fluency and a lifelong enjoyment of books. We love to work in partnership with parents to create enthusiastic readers, sharing in the excitement of discovering new stories and ideas together. We offer weekly sessions for families in our Library where parents and children are encouraged to share stories together and can borrow additional books from our wide collection to share at home.
SNACKS/LUNCH TIME
Please provide a healthy snack for the mid-morning break. Examples include: fresh fruit, raw vegetables, yogurt or breadsticks. We ask that children bring in “nude food” without plastic packaging.
It is important that the snack does not contain nuts. This is to keep children safe who have serious nut allergies.
Please also provide a named water bottle. It would be helpful to bring it full at the start of each day.
WHAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO BRING TO SCHOOL AND KEEP AT SCHOOL
OUTDOOR CLOTHING AND SPARE CLOTHING
Please provide your child with rain boots, a waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers.
Please provide your child with a full change of clothes just in case.
This kit stays in school during term time.
ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
There are a range of Enrichment activities available to Lower Primary students. All Enrichment activities are coordinated by the Enrichment Office. You will receive information to sign up via My School Portal on a system called SOCS. Children will not necessarily obtain a place for all of their choices as places are limited.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE) KIT
Please provide the BSB PE kit in the BSB PE bag. If your child is new to the school they will be provided with a blue t-shirt and a PE bag.
Please read the full PE information on MSP.
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Your child’s PE lessons are on the day indicated in their timetable on MSP. Please tie back long hair on these days.
To maximise teaching time and reduce the need for changing, we kindly ask that all students come to school wearing their PE kit on days they have PE.
This includes:
• Blue PE T-shirt
• Trainers suitable for physical activity
• Warm outer layers (e.g. tracksuit bottoms, sweatshirt or fleece) to ensure comfort throughout the day
As children will remain in their PE kit for the entire school day, please ensure their clothing is appropriate for both indoor and outdoor conditions and are dressed warmly, especially during colder months.
Please read the full PE information on MSP which includes excusing your child from PE lessons.
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PARENTS AS PARTNERS AND HOME/ SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
We look forward to working in partnership with you to support your child. There are many ways that we try to involve you in your child’s learning.
CLASS PARENT
FoBSB has an extensive network of parent class representatives in both Primary and Secondary school. Class parents extend a warm welcome to new families, organise social activities for the parents in their classes, circulate FoBSB communications via class WhatsApp groups, and provide advice on non-curricular questions. Importantly, they also ensure that parents have a “voice” in school.
Please read the full information on MSP.
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READING DIARY
There will be a diary in your child’s book bag that you are welcome to use for communication. The book bags are checked every day.
TAPESTRY
Each week a Weekly Learning Letter is posted on our Lower Primary online platform, Tapestry. This outlines the learning for the week ahead, as well as important dates, reminders and suggestions for how you can help your child with their learning. Teachers will post updates on your child’s learning on Tapestry. Please check and sign the Tapestry consent forms.
CALENDAR DATESMY SCHOOL PORTAL (MSP)
All information and communications from school will be shared through the school’s parent portal, MySchoolPortal (MSP).
britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/login
We encourage parents to consult the calendar on MSP for upcoming events in Primary. Britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/ events-list/352
Throughout the year, we hold a variety of school events, including class assemblies, exhibitions, music performances and year group productions, many which parents are invited to. Invitations are sent prior to the events. Please check the calendar regularly for the latest updates.
You can also see a quick overview of all upcoming events in one place on the MSP Calendar.
PROGRESS MEETINGS AND SCHOOL REPORTS
You will receive a school report for your child in term 2 and in term 3.
The reports can be viewed and downloaded from MSP.
britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk
Online parent conferences are held in term 1 (two evenings) and term 2 (two evenings). Please consult the calendar to find out dates in advance, and more information with details on how to register and how to log in for your meeting will be sent out closer to the dates.
SCHOOL NURSE
A school nurse is available at school.
Please read the full information on MSP. britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk/login
BUSES
If your child uses the school bus, it is very important that you keep the class teacher and the Primary Office informed of any changes to the normal routine.
We utilise the BatOnRoute app to manage our daily bus services. Parents should use the app to track their child’s bus in real-time and, more importantly, to update their child’s daily bus usage. Keeping your status current on the app ensures our bus supervisors have accurate manifests at all time.
The children must know the correct information about their daily after-school routine. However, for any last minute changes, please phone the Primary Office.
Please read the full information on MSP.
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AFTER SCHOOL PROVISION
After school provision is available. Please read the full information on MSP.
britishschool-be.myschoolportal.co.uk
LOST PROPERTY
Please ensure all items of clothing as well as lunch/ snack boxes and water bottles are clearly labelled with your child’s full name. Named property is easily returned.
The lost property room is next to Brel theatre near the Music department. Valuable lost property (such as watches, jewelry and mobile phones) is held by the receptionist in Jacques Rogge Main Reception. Please read the full information on MSP.
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