STEM Week 2024 at BISC (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths)

This has been a very special week at BISC. The STEM conference across the entire School created a buzz of excitement about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. A variety of fun activities dominated the agenda across the campus.

The most inspirational event was the CISC@BISC, BISC’s first Careers in STEM Conference, on Tuesday 16th April. We were honoured and inspired by our conference keynote speaker, Dr Mae Jemison, the first woman of colour in space and former NASA astronaut, who addressed the Junior and Senior Schools, and parents.

A truly remarkable woman and a pioneer in her field, Dr Jemison inspired us with stories of her journey on the space shuttle Endeavour, and her trailblazing pursuits in STEM and social responsibility, to which she has dedicated her life.

Her visit and interactions were a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity for our students - to hear from an icon and global history maker. 

Year 11 Class 2024

Year 11 students have begun their official examinations this week. Next week will be their final week of lessons before they go on study leave. We wish them the very best of luck and remind them that revision sessions continue throughout the examination periods and that we are here to support, as and when needed. 

Key Dates Ahead

Careers in STEM Conference (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths)

CISC@BISC, BISC’s first Careers in STEM Conference (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths), was organised by 25 members of the STEM Careers After School Activity and facilitated by Ms Coughlin, University and Careers Counsellor, and Dr Loughton, Senior School Science Teacher and Year 7 Tutor.

Among those ASA members is Cyrine G in Year 12, who served as a conference organiser and ambassador. Cyrine reports: “The conference was a massive collaborative effort; a big responsibility thrust upon us who led and planned it. We do not usually have that much power behind the scenes at such events; this was a good change. The amount of planning that goes into even a short, one-day event is eye-opening. As an organiser, I was also lucky to have a 1:1 conversation with some presenters, who taught me that what one studies at university and what one eventually does in their career is often not the same”.  

Safiyya M in Year 12, another event organiser and ambassador, attended various sessions. She appreciated the encouraging messages from our speakers: “Do not worry about making the perfect choice of university course/major. We are proof that you can successfully combine disparate courses/majors like Computer Science, Healthcare, Economics, and Business into a career. Know that whatever your interests and passions are, these will eventually lead you down the right path”. Safiyya found the session on a career in psychology enlightening, learning the pathways that lead to myriad career options. 

Year 10 organiser and ambassador, Mahmoud A, wrote in his email to Ms Coughlin following the events: “After the resounding success of the conference, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for including me in the organising team. I really learnt a lot attending the keynote speech and was exposed to new perspectives on future career opportunities in STEM that I can consider. So, all in all, it was very enlightening; this was the impression I also got from my peers”.

GCSE Examinations

After the successful completion of the IGCSE French/Spanish Oral Examinations today, our Year 11 Music and Art & Design students will be completing their final practical assessments next week. Individual Music performance assessments will be held on Sunday 21st and Monday 22nd April, with the Art & Design practical assessments conducted on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd April. We then have a short break before the written external examinations begin on Friday 3rd May. The examination timetable is available to view, providing a breakdown of all scheduled examinations up to and including the final examination on Monday 18th June.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) Examinations 

The May IBDP examinations begin on Thursday 25th April and continue until Friday 17th May. This will be an arduous time for our Year 13 students and we wish them every success in their examinations. We are very proud of our Year 13, who have been great role models for our younger students.

You will find the IB May 2024 examination timetable via this link. For further reference, we are Zone B2, meaning that morning examinations start at 9:30am and afternoon examinations at 1:30pm. 

Senior School After School Activities

Next week, Term 3 revision ASAs start for Years 7 to 10 and Year 12, running from Monday 22nd April to Thursday 23rd May. The focus is on subject revision for the end of year examinations, which start on Sunday 26th May, but there are also a number of sporting ASAs available for a balanced and healthy approach. The programme can be found here.

Please note that ASAs in Senior School will be cancelled on Wednesday 24th April due to the Year 12 Parents Evening. For any queries regarding ASAs please contact Janie.Wheeler@bisc.edu.eg or Moushira.Issa@bisc.edu.eg. 

Supporting Your Child's Wellbeing During Examination Season

While academics are important, prioritising our students' wellbeing is key. Here are some tips:

• Healthy Habits: Encourage regular sleep, nutritious meals, and physical activity. A balanced mind and body perform better!
• Stress Management: Help them identify and manage stress. Deep breathing exercises or relaxation techniques can be beneficial.
• Positive Reinforcement: Focus on effort and progress, not just results. Celebrate hard work and achievements.
• Open Communication: Create a safe space to discuss anxieties or concerns. Be a listening ear and offer support.
• Balance is Key: Encourage breaks for hobbies, socialising, or relaxation to avoid burnout.

Remember, a healthy student is a successful student!

Sports News 

This weekend, on Friday 19th April, BISC will host a Cairo Swim League meet and a U14 CISSA Volleyball tournament. Good luck to all of our competing athletes.

We Will Rock You Production 

Last term, the production of We Will Rock You wowed audiences in our theatre. Below is a video which demonstrates the teamwork and passion that made the show such a success.

Stars of the Week

Year 7 - Ethan P for being reflective in Science lessons and meeting the IB Learning Profile. This week he led a STEAM activity in FS1 and did an amazing job.

Year 8 -  Dacil H D for her incredible performance at the Q&A for Dr Mae Jemison. She was incredibly brave to sing in front of our guests. Great talent!

Year 9 - Abd El Rahman ED for being a well-balanced student who is focused on his studies as well as competing in tournaments and taking part in the wider community.

Year 10 - Ali G for achieving the most positives in the year group and being present 100% of the time. A true role model.

Year 11 - Nazly A for always doing what is right, quietly doing what is expected, and more. Her attendance is high and her attitude positive at all times. 

Year 12 - Adam D and Hussein G

Secret Student

To raise the profile of positives in the School, we have been encouraging students to take more responsibility for their own attitude and approach to learning so that we improve the culture by striving for a positive learning environment in our classrooms and around the School. Choosing a Secret Student takes into account: attendance, where students are automatically awarded 5 points for being in school each day; punctuality, where students automatically receive 1 point for each lesson they arrive on time to; and behaviour, where students receive 1 point for each positive they are awarded with. 

This week, three form groups have been awarded a mufti day, to celebrate the fact that they had three winning secret students in Term 2. Congratulations to 8JH, 9SW and 10JW!

Reading News

This term, we changed the way we allocate Year 7 and Year 8 reading target deadlines, to help ensure that each student has the maximum amount of time possible to complete the reading quizzes. This means that there is a different deadline for each English class. These deadlines are all now roughly one month away and are as follows:

Year 7

Ms Watkins - Sunday 12th May

Mrs Ibrahim - Wednesday 15th May

Ms Osman - Tuesday 14th May

Ms Gabb - Thursday 16th May

Year 8

Ms Curran - Wednesday 15th May

Ms Watkins - Wednesday 15th May

Ms Osman - Sunday 12th May

Ms Gaafar - Monday 20th May

Ms Gabb - Monday 13th May

Year 9 reading targets are due on Thursday 9th May.

Well done to the following students who have already achieved their reading goals for Term 3:

Year 7

Zeina AL, Mohamed B, Charlie D, Ahmed M, Malak A, Nour G, Maryam K, Ethan P and Linda L.

Year 8

Nouri E, Zainab-Fatima F, Fatima S, Omar G, Lara I, Laila S and Ryan S.

Year 9

Hussein AE, Abdallah E, Farida S, Mostafa S, Sarah AR, Nelly E, Tamara K, Nuria, Hebatalla B, Shaker D, Ameena M, Laila Y, Louis D, Malak E, Adham N and Seif AH.

Upcoming Events

STEAM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Maths)

What an electrifying week it has been at BISC! From mind-bending experiments to awe-inspiring science shows, our campus was buzzing with excitement and innovation.

Throughout the week, our pupils were fully immersed in a whirlwind of activities that blended Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Maths. Creating stunning science-based artwork and tackling complex mathematical challenges; our young minds embraced every opportunity to explore, discover and create.

One of the highlights of STEAM Week was our dazzling time-themed costume parade day, where our pupils transformed into historical and contemporary scientists. The creativity and enthusiasm on display were truly remarkable! Awards were presented to recognise the most innovative and imaginative costumes, showcasing the incredible talent and spirit of our BISC community.

Thank you to all who contributed to making STEAM Week an unforgettable experience. Together, we continue to ignite curiosity, foster creativity, and empower our pupils to dream big and reach for the stars. More photos from the Week here.

Keeping Safe in the Sun

As we are now experiencing much hotter weather, pupils should be wearing their BISC summer uniform and cap at break times.

Full details of the summer uniform are in the Junior School Parent Handbook, which is available on our School website.

Please ensure that the BISC caps of all Junior School pupils are labelled with their full name and class. We will be enforcing a ‘no hat, no play’ rule so that all pupils are safe in the sun. Sun cream is permitted. 

House Points

Every term, we count the pupils' well-earned Dojos to see which House has earned the most points. Every 5 Dojo points = 1 House point.

House Earth was the clear winner last Spring term, with a grand total of 2,908 House points. 

Well done also to the following pupils for achieving the most House points in their Year Groups:

House Earth:  Rola ED (Year 1), Nadine H (Year 3), Salim EB (Year 5).

House Fire:     Elijah S (Year 2).

House Water: Chutian H (Year 4). 

House Air:      Ali A (Year 6). 

Sports Days

We look forward to welcoming you to the Junior School Sports Days next week. The pupils will need to wear their House shirts during this event. If the House shirt is not available for any reason, the pupils can wear the normal PE uniform and they will be provided with a coloured bib whilst participating. Please send your child with a water bottle and a BISC cap. 

The Sports Day will include various events such as races, relay races, obstacle courses and team games. There will also be opportunities for parents to participate in some fun activities alongside their children.

Please see the schedule below for times and dates:

If you have any questions or would like more information about the event, please contact Akif.Yaqub@bisc.edu.eg. We look forward to seeing you at Sports Day and to celebrating the achievements of our young athletes together.

After School Activities

All Junior School ASA allocations have been emailed out to parents and confirmed. Please check your email or Engage portal for details of these confirmations. ASAs will begin next week, on Monday 22nd April. Please email any enquiries to Mr Watt at Callum.Watt@bisc.edu.eg

Junior School Assessments

During this term, the Junior School will be conducting final evaluations and assessments. Our end of year examinations will start on Tuesday 7th May and will run until Thursday 6th June. These assessments are to provide extra information to the teachers regarding your child’s progress this year; they do not need to be revised for, nor will revision material be supplied. 

Upcoming Events

Foundation Stage One 

FS1 children thoroughly enjoyed STEAM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Maths), and they participated in a dinosaur hunt activity. Our young palaeontologists excavated sand to uncover dinosaur beak fossils and conducted experiments using these fossils to catch fish in water. These budding scientists demonstrated their ability to perform experiments with precision and accuracy. Pupils also took part in a range of STEAM-based activities in their classrooms.

The week culminated in a science exhibition by a professional agency, which conducted a variety of experiments that were fun as well as stimulating. The children were invited to dress up in STEAM-related costumes, and who knows, after all this, we may have inspired the children to pursue a career in the field of science. 

Foundation Stage Two

FS2 children had an eventful week during STEAM Week (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Maths), filled with engaging activities and hands-on learning experiences, including a visit from a parent and science professor. (More photos here).

The children explored various scientific processes through their own science investigations. They not only enjoyed these activities within their classrooms but also got the opportunity to visit other classes. The experiments involved creating a chemical reaction to inflate a balloon. Additionally, the children observed the behaviour of soap molecules when mixed with milk. They also explored the creative potential of magnets, using them to create abstract art. To conclude their STEAM Week, the children experimented with Skittles and hot water, resulting in the formation of beautiful rainbow patterns. This week was not only informative but it also fostered a sense of curiosity and wonder in the young minds of Foundation Stage 2 children.

Keeping our students safe online is a priority at BISC. We are happy to share advice from the National Online Safety, to enable parents to understand the pros and cons of various social media, games and digital trends.

This week, we are sharing advice about Smart TVs.