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Dear Parents,
Welcome to February's newsletter. It's been another busy month in Primary. One of our main focuses of the month has been Children's Mental Health Week, where our students participated in a kindness challenge. We are pleased that our Key Stage 2 classes have now begun swimming lessons. The children are greatly enjoying developing their swimming skills and are having fun. Our Year 1 and Year 2 classes had an interesting visit to the Istanbul Aquarium for their Geography and Science work. We were also given a display of Year 1 and Year 2 music skills during their music assembly. Class 5H retold the story of the Lunar New Year during their class assembly, which was enjoyed by all. All children did an excellent job in our Spelling Bee House Competition. Our month ended with a celebration of Global Citizens Week. The focus was on inclusion, diversity, and global citizenship connections through food. Thank you to the PTA and all parents who helped make our annual Food Court another successful event. We are looking forward to Spring starting and a busy March ahead.
Kind regards,
Alison Jones
director's note
director's note
Global Citizens Week
Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
WHAT IS PUPIL VOICE AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Pupil voice, alternatively called ‘student voice’ or ‘learner voice’ in some schools, is about the entire school community – teachers, staff and leadership – actively listening to and valuing children’s contributions. It isn’t just about giving children a chance to speak; it’s about genuinely engaging with their ideas and views.
Why does this matter?
When children feel heard, it strengthens teacher–pupil relationships and promotes a sense of community. This approach also helps develop children’s confidence, communication skills, and engagement in their education.
Not only does pupil voice benefit children, but it also provides a valuable opportunity for primary schools. It demonstrates a school’s dedication to continuous improvement and high-quality teaching. By adopting pupil voice, schools show their willingness to listen, adapt and make positive changes to their educational approaches.
WAYS WE IMPLEMENT PUPIL VOICE AT BIS FOREST SCHOOL:
SCHOOL COUNCIL
This popular approach in primary schools gives pupils a real platform and is formed by a group of pupils elected to represent them. The key is creating a system where every class and diverse group within the school is represented.. Currently from year 3 to 6 we hold regular meetings, once a month, with a planned agenda. We guide the council through topics but allow space for new ideas from pupils. This not only teaches leadership skills, but also reinforces that their opinions are valued.
PUPIL VOICE SURVEYS
Using an anonymous questionnaire or survey is a straightforward, yet effective, method to let pupils have their say. It allows pupils, no matter how quiet or outspoken, to have their voice heard. These questionnaires can cover a range of topics, from learning to school facilities. They are a powerful tool to collect honest feedback. We also discuss any topics freely and give time for students to work in small groups and exchange ideas.
SUGGESTION AND WELLBEING BOXES
Offering various expression methods is crucial in schools, and suggestion boxes serve as an excellent tool for this purpose. From next week a box, easily accessible and placed outside my Pastoral Office. This will empower pupils to share their ideas and suggestions at any time, without restrictions.
PEER-TO-PEER FEEDBACK SESSİONS
Having children share their thoughts and ideas with one another is an interactive and engaging way to implement pupil voice. Sessions involve small groups of pupils discussing topics related to their school experiences, from classroom activities to broader school policies.
These sessions create a comfortable setting for children to express their views in the Pastoral office.
They also encourage skill development such as active listening and empathy. It’s important that feedback is collected by teachers or staff so it can be used to inform school decisions.
PROBLEM-SOLVING CHALLENGES
Introducing problem-solving challenges is an innovative way to engage pupil voices, allowing our children to develop teamwork and critical thinking skills.
By presenting real-life scenarios and challenges related to out school we invite pupils to think and propose solutions.
This month we have asked the students to start thinking about school lunches and ways that we can improve the lunches. This was part of the Global Citizens Week, looking at cultural similarities and differences of our food.
We hope to choose new foods that we liked from the Global food court and hopefully with parental help, try to add these to the school menu.
IDEA in Primary
The month of February allowed for meaningful connections to be made between countries, cultures, and foods during our IDEA lessons. In coordination with Global Citizens Week, the children discussed different foods that can be found in many parts of the world. Bread, rice, tomatoes, and eggs were some of the most common foods identified in dishes from a variety of cultures. Students described the ingredients and flavours of their favoruite foods from their home country or culture they identify with. The children created individual flags to represent foods that are important to their families or background. These flags were put together as bunting and put on display during our annual Food Court event!
In addition to a variety of classroom activities centered around inclusion, diversity, and global citizenship, students had the opportunity to hear stories about foods from a variety of cultures. A list of these titles, along with an online reading of each story, can be found here.
EYFS
Miss Elise: Preschool 1
We are glad to be back on campus after a restful holidays week and we are excited to Explore more this half term. As you've already guessed, ending the Starry Night topic and starting with Let's Explore, we are switching from the space to the land. We are going to talk more deeply about our local environment and find out about places they have visited. We will also look at maps for journeys.We already started talking of citizenship and locating our countries on a world map during Global Citizenship week. We also travelled to Africa around a Congolese tale circle as well as around Europe, Asia, and Anericas tasting home and class made Sweet and Sour delicacies. We always enjoy and boost our creativity around the messy Art corner. In the Build It Up project, the Ants have started developing their muscles with bridges constructions. They will learn about materials and their properties, and will have the chance to work independently and in groups to design and make amazing structures.
Miss Ogomoditse & Ms Hatice: Preschool 2
In line with our “Starry Night" theme, we got creative with playdough to craft adorable bats. Our name recognition journey continues. Global Citizen Week with Butterflies, making delicious pizzas and sandwiches to crafting country flags and dressing up, they've been immersed in diverse cultures and experiences.
Miss Lauren & Miss Melike: Reception
We celebrated Lunar New Year by wearing red or traditional clothing. We cooked noodles and we threw the noodles for a prosperity toss as celebrated in some countries like Malaysia and Singapore. We also got to try eating our noodles with chop sticks too! We have been learning about the moon, space and astronauts. We found out about Neil Armstrong and also did some research about astronauts from our home countries. We found out who the first astronauts were in our home countries. Here we are sharing information about the astronauts from our home countries. We built constructions in Maths when talking about size. We programmed our beebots using directional language. We built constructions in Maths when talking about size.
Year One
Miss Katrine & Miss Sena: 1D
Over the past half term, the students in Year 1 have been learning about Planet Earth in their Science lessons. Throughout this unit, the students learnt about what makes our planet special. One of the things we explored was how land is made up of rocks and soil. As a part of this, the students had a chance to explore different types of rocks. They used their descriptive vocabulary to talk about rocks and their properties, challenging themselves by trying to come up with different ways we could sort the rocks into groups based on the properties they observed.
To link with our Humanities topic, Little Blue Planet, we also went on a school trip to the Istanbul Aquarium. The students enjoyed exploring and learning more about sea creatures. This trip will also support our continued learning over the next half term, as we keep learning more about our oceans.
Miss Belen & Miss Sena: 1G
During this month we have continued working in printing during our art lessons, we made our final printing composition using natural materials with textures such as leaves and sticks. Students were encouraged to explore with their sense of touch in order to choose the material that would have the most texture to create a better print. Students were encouraged to try different color combinations and to build the shapes that we have been describing during Maths lessons in their final compositions. In Humanities lessons we have been reflecting on different ways that human activities and actions impact our environment. We did an experiment simulating an oil spill on the ocean for students to gain a better understanding of how difficult it is to clean it up and how it affects animals. Students have been asking questions and making connections, since in our visit to the Aquarium we also reflected on water pollution.
Year Two
Ms. Verralls & Miss Neslihan: 2V
2V enjoyed their school trip to the Florya aquarium. They learned all about the different sea life and their habitats. KS1 celebrated the Lunar New Year. They completed a range of different activities.
Ms. Aycan & Miss Neslihan: 2A
February was a very busy month. As part of our DT unit, The Grain Train, we made bread. Then we got to taste different types of bread that the bakery had made. We celebrated the Lunar New Year by learning about the traditions that are celebrated. We were very proud to be able to perform for our parents in our Music Assembly. Finally, we went on a trip to the Aquarium to look at the different fish habitats.
Year Three
Mrs. Robbins & Miss Neslihan: 3R
The students in 3R have been having a fun time exploring fossils. In Science, we have been learning that a fossil is any evidence of prehistoric life that is at least 10,000 years old. Fossils can be bones and teeth, but footprints and skin impressions are fossils as well. Fossils are excavated from ancient riverbeds and lakes, caves, volcanic ash falls, and tar pits.
Year Four
Ms. Lincoln & Miss Zerrin: 4L
More hard work before the half term break. Observing the changes in states of matter, plenty of fraction work and leading onto decimals. Year 4L certainly deserved a rest. Welcome back to school!
Ms. Newman & Miss Zerrin: 4N
4N enjoyed learning about global flags and capital cities as part of Global Citizen week.
Year Five
Ms. Halabi & Miss Mos: 5H
This month, our talented students in 5H embarked on a journey through time and innovation to construct models of one of the world's most magnificent architectural marvels: The Hagia Sophia. Engaging in hands-on projects like this allows students to enhance their creative thinking, problem-solving and decision-making skills. It was a lot of fun, too! The success of our Chinese New Year assembly is a testament to our student's commitment to embracing and celebrating diversity. Well done to all students in 5H for your dedication and team effort!
Mrs. Deufel & Miss Mos: 5D
In Year 5 we combined our humanities and DT units and used our knowledge of the Hagia Sophia to construct a model. The children worked in small groups, displaying different skills and talents, using many different techniques including paper mache, cutting and painting. Using our humanities lessons to research and find out more about the history of the Hagia Sophia, the children are working on writing an information text. We used our English lessons to look at examples of information texts and non-chronological reports to format the reports correctly. In maths we investigated prime and composite numbers. We then discovered why square numbers are called square numbers.
Year Six
Mr. McCann & Mr. Furkan: 6M
In 6M this week, the children have worked very hard (and even harder in some cases) at turning boring, old rings of wire into wonderful wire self-portraits. We have to be honest in 6M and say that not all of them could be used to accurately identify the artist themselves, but in most cases, they are definitely recognisable as human! Here is a small sample of their hard work:
Ms. Ward & Mr. Furkan: 6W
Science Galore!
This week we returned to school to find our mother plant still healthy and growing well. The plantlets that we’re experimenting with have had mixed results. Aysa, Layla, Alparslan and Audrey were checking the inside of each container to see if any roots had started to form. Great success with the tap water and soil, but it was time to say goodbye to the plantlet inside the slime. Our scientists noticed that there was a lot less slime than before the holiday break. Some suggestions for that: ‘the water evaporated’, ‘the plant sucked all the water from the slime’ and ‘maybe it spilt’. So far the healthiest plantlets are ones that are still attached to the mother plant, so we’ll do some research to find out why that’s happening.
Students have spent time sharing their topic idea, question and hypothesis with each other, as well as working out the logistics for their experiments. We discussed how big and overwhelming a project like this can feel, and compared it to how we would complete a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. One piece at a time, a bit of trial and error and next thing you know you’re almost done! We’re aiming to enjoy the process as well as the outcome.
Languages
Miss Talya: KS1 ESL
This month we have been learning about the different cultures around the world and the food that. We have learnt about Lunar New Year and its traditions. We also discussed the Lunar New Year calendar and saw different animals representing different months. With Year 1 students, we have been sorting vegetables and fruits we have been talking about likes and dislikes. Year 1 has also been very creative making their Lunar New Year decorations and drawing their own dragons. With Year 2 students, we have been learning adjectives and the way we use them in sentences. Students have been making their own sentences by using adjectives and are understanding why descriptive sentences are powerful in giving us information. Year 2 students have been learning about bossy verbs and we have looked at different recipes to understand its usage in texts. Year 2 and Year 1 both have been learning to write poems in class. We have looked at simple poems and through them we have learnt rhyming couplets. We have created a classroom poem called “Cupcakes” which each student wrote a sentence and worked as a group to preform the poem. The students were like poets and it was amazing to see how they formed a poem as a group. The poem can be found on the display board inside the primary building next to the ESL room.
Mrs. Gwilliam: KS2 ESL
Exciting news: Just before the half term break two students in year 5 finished ESL. Congratulations to Mael and Seoyeon. Year 3 and 4 worked hard writing about their homes in Istanbul or their home country. Parents sent photographs, so the children could make a great display. Year 6 have been practising grammar with wishes and regrets. They read a poem and then wrote their own. The ESL children have been working well together collaborating with their ESL classmates and making good progress. Well done!
Ms. Hatice: Turkish
Merhabalar,
Reception and KS1 are learning about fruits and stated their favourite fruits.
Year 3 are learning about language and classroom objects, and answered yes/no questions.
Year 4 are learning about house parts and household items, and answered 'where' questions.
Year 5 are learning about directions and tried to locate the positions of cities in Turkey.
Year 6 lare learning about verbs and tried to find verbs in a short text.
Mr. Vincent: French
Bonjour à toutes et à tous,
İn French, the students covered the following topics:
Year 6 designed, labelled and wrote a paragraph on there own dream houses
Year 5 learned about there daily routines
Year 4 learned about symptoms and remedies
Year 3 worked on family
Au revoir et à bientôt
Ms. Ana: Spanish
Hola amigas. In Year 3 students have learnt the family members in Spanish and described each of them in a family picture. In Year 4 students have worked on body parts as well as identifying where it hurts. In Year 5 students have focused on daily routines and time. Therefore, they are capable of describing their daily life in Spanish. In Year 6 students have studied the parts of the house. They have described and designed their own home. Hasta la próxima, amigas :)
Learning Support
Crafting and learning together!
Why DIY?
Engaging in hands-on projects provides a unique opportunity for our students to explore their creativity, enhance fine motor skills, and reinforce academic concepts in a fun and interactive way. Also, it's a fantastic chance for the whole family to work and learn together in a fun way.
Steps to follow:
Gather all the materials that you will need.
Chunk down the project steps before starting, and make sure you follow them in the correct order.
Share your work with your friends, family, and teachers.
Paper Plate Solar System: Explore the wonders of space by creating a colourful and educational representation of our solar system using paper plates, paint, and creativity.
Story Stones: Encourage storytelling and literacy skills by decorating stones with various images. Combine the stones to create unique and imaginative stories as a family. Perhaps you can make a fun story about your last holiday.
Nature Scavenger Hunt: Take the learning outdoors! Create a scavenger hunt checklist featuring items found in nature. It's a perfect way to blend exploration, observation, and appreciation for the environment.
OWL (Outdoor Woodland Learning)
Ms. Lloyd
In OWL, all students are displaying improvements in independence, confidence and happiness in the outdoors and class teachers are noticing their improved ability to co-operate with each other. A marked difference noted by parents has been that children are not complaining as before, of being outside in colder weather or of getting muddy and more children want to be in a forest on weekends! This Term has been testing with the weather conditions, but Spring is in the air and warmer weather is on its way!
In OWL, we have started back well after the holiday, knowing routines and expectations for sessions outdoors! The students have joined in by singing Spring action songs and learned about the Seasonal Changes in a Woodland. We have made some Spring flower Artworks that are proudly displayed in our classroom. The younger students rounded off their lessons on the 'Ice Age" by making dinosaur fossils buried in the forest which are yet to be discovered. .... ..Wait for the next newsletter to see the magnificent results.
Music
Miss Rebecca: EYFS Music & Drama
The students in EYFS and Reception have been very busy dancing around and even learning new dance styles such as Salsa, and this week they started learning to use Boomwhackers. They have learned many new stories about the letters in our alphabet and some new animals. They even had a very fun pyjamas day at school and even recalled the story about the Flying fish being chased by the Mahi Mahi. The KS1 Drama students have been very busy since the new year learning about the theatrical style of Commedia dell’Arte, but even the new students have been able to catch up in learning about all the different characters. Currently, they are exploring different scenarios and archetypes during our lessons. Each lesson the students keep on asking to continue playing Bad Monkey as it builds their confidence in performing in front of fellow students and as well learn about animals they might not have previously seen before.
Mr. Dennison: Y1-Y6 Music
Year 1 is always finding new ways to sing and practice gross and fine motor skills. These circle games practice many skills, including: hand clapping patterns with a partner, singing skills, taking turns, and keeping a steady beat.
Year 6 worked in small groups to arrange their own versions of When the Saints Go Marching In. They have been working on the appropriate balance between melody and accompaniments, what are the jobs of different accompaniment instruments, and how do we play in the style of early jazz music. Each group performed their arrangement for the rest of the class and we had some very creative and courageous performances!
Year 3 had an exciting time taking turns and playing many instruments with our special instrument rotation. Everyone quickly learns how to play several different parts on several instruments, then has to change to a new instrument--both pitched and unpitched. We got so good that we were even able to expand it to add a soloist for fun!
ICT
Mr Hassan
Environmental News Flash!
We are pleased to announce that our water filtration system has been installed throughout school. This will cut down greatly on plastic waste created by using bottled water.
Reminders & Upcoming Dates
6 March: Parent-Teacher Meetings, Students home at 12:00pm
7 March: World Book Dress Up Day, International Women's Day
29 March: Primary Science Fair (information to come!)
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