The BISC Newsletter 16th January 2025
Happy New Year
We would like to wish everyone in the BISC community a Happy New Year!
It has been a lively start to Term 2, so please enjoy today's Bulletin with a review of all the activities and information you may need.
Senior School News
Dear Parents,
I hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating break. We are back and ready to dive into an exciting and busy term. There’s a lot to look forward to, and we’re kicking off with a sense of purpose and anticipation.
For our Year 11 students, they are now entering the final phase of their academic journey at secondary school. The next few months will be pivotal as they prepare for their GCSEs, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Our Year 13 students are preparing for their mock exams, which start this Sunday. This is a crucial time to assess progress and refine strategies before the final exams later this year. We are confident that the students' hard work will pay off.
Year 9 are also about to take an important step in their academic journey, with an Options Fair on Monday. This is a significant moment as they begin to make decisions about the subjects they'll study in Key Stage 4. We encourage students to consider their interests and future goals when making their choices.
It’s going to be a busy, rewarding term, and I look forward to seeing all of our students rise to the challenges ahead.
Kind regards, Ms. Francesca Turner, Deputy Head Academic
Sports Teams in Tournament Action
We are thrilled that our talented student-athletes will be representing BISC in two prestigious tournaments this week:
World School Games (WSG) Basketball
Our U16 boys’ and girls’ basketball squads (many of whom are pictured below) have been training rigorously, and have shown exceptional dedication throughout the season. Next week's tournament in Valencia was originally planned for Term 1 but was postponed due to the flooding in the region. We wish the teams the best of luck.
U15 BSME Games
Our U15 athletes are ready to showcase their sporting prowess at the BSME Games. These young stars have demonstrated remarkable progress and team spirit during their preparation, and will compete with pride in a number of events next week.
To all our athletes: Remember that you carry the BISC spirit with you. Your dedication and hard work have earned you this opportunity and we are incredibly proud of each one of you. Compete with passion, show respect for your opponents, and most importantly, enjoy this wonderful experience.
Good luck to all our teams! The entire BISC community is behind you! Alistair Gainey, Director of Sport
Year 8 PE
Boys were on the field learning the basics of Ultimate Frisbee as part of this term’s PE curriculum. This is a new sport introduced by the PE Department and was very popular with the students this week.
Senior School Christmas Disco Photos
In December, our students enjoyed fabulous disco parties to celebrate the end of term. Below are links to photos of the events - it looks like everyone had a great time!
Years 7, 8 and 9 / Years 10 and 11 / Years 12 and 13
Student Perspective
“The disco was a memorable night - it was such fun! We danced the night away and I absolutely loved it. The Sports Hall was completely transformed - lights and colours everywhere, with a dance floor in the middle, and once they got on, no one wanted to get off.
Positive energy filled the room and we will definitely be looking forward to another party like this. Dania, Year 10
Term 2 After School Activities
ASAs will start on Sunday 19th January and finish on Thursday 2nd March. ASAs will continue until Thursday 27th March for Years 11 and 13 only, to support revision for public examinations. Please look at the attached Term 2 ASA brochure to see the list of options that students chose from.
As a reminder, while these sessions run after school, ‘normal’ school rules still apply. Students are expected to be prepared, be courteous, and be on time. Regular attendance is required in order to stay enrolled in an ASA.
Exciting News: School Trips for Years 6 - 12!
Get ready to pack your bags and embark on unforgettable adventures! This year, BISC is thrilled to announce a lineup of amazing trips tailored for students in Years 6-12.
We understand the importance of balancing academics and fun, so we've carefully considered the schedules of exam groups to ensure minimal pressure during key study time.
For international trips, advanced notice will be provided so families have ample time to prepare, including applying for any necessary visas.
Stay tuned for more details about destinations and dates—this is your chance to make memories, learn through exploration, and experience the world like never before!
Upcoming Events
Year 9 Options Fair | Monday 20th January, 13:15 - 15:30 - Main Theatre |
Egypt and the Middle East Programme
برنامج مصر والشرق الأوسط
سيتم تنظيم عدد من الفعاليات/الأنشطة في الأسابيع القادمة على صعيد برنامج مصر والشرق الأوسط:
١- سيتم عقد اختبارات لبعض السنوات الدراسية في مواد الهوية (اللغة العربية - الدراسات الاجتماعية - التربية الدينية)، وتلك الفصول الدراسية تم إخطارها بإجراء هذا التقييم. نتمنى التوفيق لجميع الطلاب.
٢- سيتم استئناف رحلات البرنامج بدءاً من الأسبوع الثالث، وسيتم إرسال الخطابات ذات الصلة لأولياء الأمور في حينه.
٣- يستعد الطلاب المشاركون في مسابقة القراءة باللغة العربية للمراحل الأخيرة من المسابقة، بعد ٣ شهور من الإعداد والقراءة والكتابة، حيث تقام مقابلات المسابقة في شهر فبراير.
٤- لتعزيز متابعة القراءة المنزلية باللغة العربية في السنوات الأولى للمرحلة الابتدائية، سنقوم بإرسال كتيب لكتابة تعليقات أولياء الأمور مع الكتب التي يتم استعارتها من المكتبة. فالقراءة المنزلية مهمة جداً في تطوير القدرات القرائية للطلاب.
Some important events and activities will be held in the coming few weeks:
- Some year groups will have assessments in the three identity subjects (Arabic - Social Studies - Religion). Good luck to all students.
- The Programme trips will resume in week 3 of this term. Parents will receive the relevant trip consent forms soon.
- Students participating in the Arabic Reading Competition are preparing for the final stage (after 3 months of reading and writing). The finals will be held in February.
- To boost reading in Arabic at home, parents of certain year groups will be sent a reading diary to write comments about their children’s Arabic home reading. Reading at home is a significant component in the strategy to boost reading skills in Arabic.
Junior School News
Dear Parents,
Welcome back and Happy New Year. We hope you had a restful and enjoyable festive break and are ready for a fresh start to the term ahead.
We are excited to share that Term 2 is packed with a variety of fun and enriching events and trips for the pupils.
This week, we started with the competitive Junior School Sports Days; pupils, teachers and parents enjoyed competing in the various activities. See below for all the wonderful pictures.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful start to the year.
Emma Paget
Junior School Sports Days
The annual Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of athleticism and teamwork. Students eagerly participated in hurdle races, sprints, obstacle courses, tug of war, egg and spoon races, and bean bag throws. Each student proudly represented their House, fostering a vibrant spirit of competition. Parents added to the excitement by joining in the races and cheering their children on, creating a lively atmosphere. Laughter and camaraderie filled the air as everyone enjoyed the day’s events. The effort and enthusiasm displayed by all participants made this Sports Day a memorable experience, highlighting the joy of sports and community spirit. Akif Yaqub, Deputy Director of Sport
Here are links to photos from each day:
Years 1 and 2 / Years 3 and 4 / Years 5 and 6
Pupil Perspective
Sports Day was fantastic! The field was buzzing with excitement as we gathered. Everyone competed in their House teams, cheering each other on in races, relays and fun events like the sack race. The tug-of-war was my favourite because everyone was trying their best. Everyone had fun, and even if they didn’t win, it was still a good afternoon. Teachers clapped and cheered, and the parents even joined in at the end. I enjoyed sprinting and was happy I won my race. It was such a brilliant day! Zeina A, Year 6
Junior School House Points
Well done to all the Houses for excellent work in achieving Dojo points and House points last term.
We have calculated the scoring from the House Sports events from last term:
House Sports Events December 2023
1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | 4th place |
Air - 41 | Fire - 36 | Water - 32 | Earth - 31 |
When we add everything together, we can see the final result for Term 1:
Term 1 Sport, Dojo and House points
1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | 4th place |
Air - 3,800 | Fire - 3,666 | Water - 3,514 | Earth - 3,066 |
This means; congratulations to Air with a Grand total of 3,800 House points!
This year, we are awarding the pupils who have earned the most House points for their Year group with certificates and awards to acknowledge their contribution to the spirit and ethos of the BISC Houses. Awards have been given to the following pupils:
- Year 1: Malak R and Mia M
- Year 2: Hussein G
- Year 3: Nuray EE
- Year 4: Mourad A
- Year 5: Ramzi ES
- Year 6: Khadija EN
Junior School After School Activities
ASA activities will begin on Monday 20th January. Parents will receive an email confirming pupil choices today.
BSME Pupil Leadership Conference 2025
Building on previous successes, preparations are underway for the highly anticipated annual Pupil Leadership Conference, hosted by BISC, on Thursday 6th February. This exciting event will once again bring together pupils from both the Junior and Senior Schools, fostering collaboration as they plan and lead workshops throughout the day.
This year’s conference is designed for pupil leaders from Year 4 to Year 9 and will centre around the theme of Sustainability. Guest schools from the BSME network are invited to participate in this engaging event, which will feature inspiring guest speakers, interactive leadership workshops, and discussions focused on building a sustainable future.
Sad News...
It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of a BISC teaching icon. Ms Suzanne McQuade passed away on 22nd December 2024. She was a stalwart teacher in the Junior School from September 2003 until she left BISC in June 2012. She will be fondly remembered by pupils who knew her, not just those she taught. She was the definition of the phrase ‘strict but fair’.
Her love of Egypt, of Cairo, of Liverpool F.C., and of BISC and the people in it will be my abiding memory of her. All these things and more. She was a good friend and a dedicated teacher.
Rest in peace Suzanne. Debbie Wellington, a BISC long time friend
Upcoming Events
Start of After School Activities | Monday 20th January |
Year 5 and Year 6 Identity Subject Exams | Tuesday 21st – Thursday 23rd January |
Year 4 Entry Point | Wednesday 22nd January, 14:00, in Classrooms |
Class 2S Assembly | Thursday 23rd January, 08:30, in the Theatre. |
Class 5D Assembly | Thursday 23rd January, 13:50, in the Theatre. |
BSME Football U11 Boys & Girls - Doha | Thursday 23rd - Sunday 26th January |
Year 2 Trip to the Grand Egyptian Museum | Wednesday 29th January |
Year 3 and 4 Maths Workshop | Wednesday 29th January, 13:00 in the Multipurpose Hall |
Class 2F Assembly | Thursday 30th January, 08:30, in the Theatre. |
Reports Issued | Thursday 30th January |
Foundation Stage News
Welcome Back and Upcoming Events
Welcome back to all our FS pupils and families. It is a busy term with lots planned, including a field trip for both FS1 and FS2 to the Pyramids of Giza, as well as the FS Sports Day; see dates below.
Foundation Stage 2 Pyramids Trip (FS2S and FS2G) | Tuesday 4th February |
Foundation Stage 2 Pyramids Trip (FS2L and FS2J) | Wednesday 5th February |
Foundation Stage 1 Pyramids Trip | Thursday 6th February |
Foundation Stage 1 and 2 Sports Day | Thursday 13th February |
Foundation Stage Parent-Teacher conferences | Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th February |
National Anthem
For the first time, FS1 children joined the FS2 classes to sing the National Anthem on Thursday morning. You may notice just how much improvement the FS2 children have made and how well-behaved they all are when you watch our video recording. Congratulations to Soraya (FS2J) for leading the flag salutation “Taheyett el Alaam”.