MEUC Swimming Trip

Don't miss the amazing photos from last weekend's Middle East Unity Cup swimming trip, over on the BSB Sports Blog. Thanks to Mrs Hassett for the pictures. Mr Smith has posted the splendid results on the Executive Head's page. You'll see some wonderful, shining medals in the photos.

Awestruck by Science!

The Year 5 & 6 BSB Science Fair took place on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday this week in the Atrium in the Administration building.

In all, 18 classes were involved in this initiative, the culmination of their Science work since the beginning of the year. We were delighted so see so many parents, visitors, students and teachers from other parts of the school who were obviously intrigued to see the results of inquiries into, for example, which potato chips are the greasiest and which brand of paper towel is the most absorbent.

Another popular feature of every class’ presentations was a slide show of photographs which often introduced the investigation and showed excerpts from the students’ activities over the last 5 weeks. So, as well as examining the finished product on storyboards, visitors could watch the development of the investigation from the very beginning.

Very noticeable, too, was the level of enthusiasm and teamwork displayed by the groups and also their scientific knowledge which was regularly tested with some very tricky questions from the audience.

Equally noticeable was the high quality of the storyboards on which each group displayed the major components of their investigation in the form of writing, tables, graphs, photos and diagrams. Many students commented that not only did they enjoy carrying out the investigations but they learned a lot too so well done Year 5 and 6!

“I thought it was great fun to see investigations carried out by other groups and how they showed their results. The amazing thing was we had to do it without any teacher help.” – Rakkan (5.07)

“The best thing was trying to get all of our information and results onto the storyboards. I enjoyed working with my group and we showed a lot of teamwork..” – Haroon (5.06)

“Over the last 5 weeks, my group made very good progress and for me, the best part was explaining our investigation and our results to lots of students and our parents.” – Haroon (5.06)

“We presented our results to a lot of people and they seemed very interested. We were very successful and we wouldn’t have been if we were not a great team too” – Beren (5.02)

“I went to see the Year 5 Science Fair with my class and I thought it was really cool. I liked the experiment with the potato best and the colourful storyboards. Students would ask us questions and if we got them right, we would get a candy!” – Hridhaan (3.09)

Safer Internet Day

On Tuesday we all turned our thoughts to staying safe online. The most important part of online safety for junior children is to make sure our parents know exactly what we are doing online. Young people need their parents' permission before they post any pictures or information, join any chat groups, etc. We all thought about carefully about what consent means in a digital world. Click the word to find out. Also, check out these photos of our safe young internet surfers in action.

PSL Basketball Trials

Parents of children in Years 5 and 6 have all been sent an email message regarding Primary Schools League basketball trials, to be held next week - boys on Tuesday 12 February and girls on Wednesday 13 February, 3pm until 4pm after school. Only students whose parents have signed them up may attend the trials. If you have not yet signed up, here are links to the Google forms: Form for Y5/6 boys (Tue) Form for Y5/6 Girls (Wed)

Science Fair next week - update from Mr Travers

The investigations have been completed, the results have been analysed, conclusions have been drawn and storyboards have been carefully compiled!

Five weeks of planning, experimenting, examining and discussions are now at an end and all 18 classes in Years 5 and 6 are now ready to present their findings to students, parents, teachers and friends. Presentations take place in the atrium in the admin building on Sunday 10th, Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th February.

Mathematics Workshops

Every pupil had the opportunity, during this week, to become a teacher for 45 minutes. Their students were their parents, keen to learn the strategies and methods we teach in school. Mathematics teaching and learning have changed a great deal since I was a student, and they are still changing, as we discover new ways to consolidate understanding and make the subject meaningful to young people. Whatever our age, sometimes we need to try things more than once before we get them right, and we are grateful to our patient 'students' who took time out of their busy schedules to come and support the workshops. As you can see from the photos, family members of all ages attended! Please don't worry about the writing on the tables - the surfaces are designed to wipe clean.

World School Games in Dubai

Yesterday afternoon, we waved off the World School Games Squad, led by Ms Gray, Mr Brennan, Mrs Rule and Mr Rule, as they set off for Dubai, smiling broadly and determined to do their very best. Click here for some amazing photos sent to us today by Mrs Hassett. We wish Team BSB every success and we know they will maintain a spirit of sportsmanship and endeavour throughout this memorable event.

Safer Internet Day - Message from Mrs Rule

Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally in February each year in over a hundred countries to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. The day offers the opportunity to highlight positive uses of technology and to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community. It is also a fantastic opportunity to reflect as a family about how you can use the internet and technology safely and responsibly; we can all play a role in empowering children to enjoy their time online! The theme of Safer Internet Day 2019 is consent and the way that we give, ask and receive consent in an online context. Please explore the following links to find out more and get involved:

• Video

• Parental Guide

• Information and online resources

• Online Safety Quiz

• Fun Interland Game

Inspired Global Camps Competition

Inspired, the owners of BSB, run a series of Global Summer Camps, along with a competition through which places at the camps can be won. The competition to win a place at any Inspired Global Summer camp is now live. You can View it here. The competition is open to anyone, staff and students, including those outside the Inspired network. Children must be aged 8-18 at time of entry. Parents must enter on behalf of students under 13.

Clicking the links in this part of the blog will show you an onward link, which you can click to get to the destination page.

How can you enter?

By submitting a short video (30 seconds maximum) of your child talking about or doing the thing that inspires them most. Submit it here.

What we are looking for?

Children who have a passion for life and learning. It could tie in with one of our programmes on our camps (but doesn’t have to), for example:

• Adventure – Climbing, biking, horse riding, sailing, wake boarding

• Performing – Dance, Drama, Music, singing.

• Sports - Tennis, Golf, Football, Swimming

• Academic – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths or Languages

Where are the camps taking place?

Switzerland, Belgium, Kenya, Spain, UK, Italy. Click here for details of each of the camps.

Primary Schools League Athletics Competition

Well done to our Primary Schools League and World School Games athletics team, who achieved second place in the PSL competition held at St Christopher's School on Monday this week. Check out the super photos on the sports blog.

Maths Workshops next week: Years 3, 4, 5 and 6

Several Maths Workshops will be taking place next week. Year 3 will have their Maths Workshop on Sunday 27 January; Year 4 will have theirs on Wednesday 30 January. Year 5 and 6 Maths Workshops are at various times during the week; details have been emailed to Year 5 and 6 parents. Please check spam folders in case an email has been caught there. During each workshop, children will explain and demonstrate mathematical methods they have learned. There is no better way of consolidating your understanding than by teaching someone else. At the workshops, the children are the teachers, and the parents are the students! All the methods and strategies being demonstrated are equally valuable and essential to an all-round understanding of Mathematics.

PCC Coffee Morning for New Parents

Many families have joined the BSB community this term. The Parent Community Committee has organised a coffee morning, from 8:00am until 10:00am on Sunday 20 January, in the school atrium, just inside the front doors, where we can all get to know one another. I hope to be there between 9:00am and 9:30am between my classes. Hoping to see as many new parents there as possible.

Girls' Football Squads

The girls played very well on Monday in a series of friendly games with Tekkers at Bahrain Rugby Football Club - don't miss the full report on the sports website.