There are opportunities for students to excel in school in a variety of ways, as well as develop skills and knowledge, and discover new interests and passions.

Over the next few weeks, we are keen for students to form new societies, clubs and enterprise opportunities through proposals they formulate, and for them to gain the support of a teacher, who is their link teacher, to assist them in this. We want students to be using their time in a meaningful way and to take responsibility for their own development and learning; it will then be up to them to plan out how they develop and engage other students in these societies, clubs or enterprise opportunities.

We are also aware that a number of students are interested in community service initiatives and want to show a commitment to service opportunities. We welcome this discussion, as we want students to develop into responsible global citizens of the future, aligned with our values at BISC.

Message from the Head of Senior School

This week marked an exciting milestone as we held our first parent meeting for the upcoming first international trip this academic year. This will be followed by a series of other sport trips later this term. Students involved will get a unique opportunity to represent BISC internationally, showcasing excellent sportsmanship and kindness towards other teams. We extend our gratitude to the PE team for their dedication to extracurricular provision here at BISC. Many of you have been asking us for the return of international trips and we are currently at early stages of planning more trips for all year groups both academic and extracurricular in nature. Please stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Last week, we looked at “risk-taking” as a key IB Learner Profile attribute. This week we turn our focus to “caring”. Kindness and empathy are fundamental values at BISC. Caring students demonstrate compassion, respect and a commitment to service. They strive to positively impact others and the world around them. We are proud to see many of our students embodying this attribute daily around the campus; from saying ‘hello’ to the guards at the gate, to saying ‘thank you’ to their teachers for their service. We encourage you to help your children recognise and appreciate acts of kindness by actively acknowledging them.

As the Head of Senior School, I would like to commend all students who arrive to lessons on time, ready to learn, and displaying positive behaviour for learning. This includes getting stuck in straight away, listening attentively and engaging in work they are finding challenging. Remember, facing challenges with optimism leads to growth and learning. When you find something difficult, it means you are learning; while when you find something easy, it means you already know it. 

This weekend, why not embrace a new challenge? Encourage your child to sign up for one of the many COBIS competitions available to our students. It is an excellent opportunity to push boundaries and discover new strengths.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement in our school community.

House Chess Competition

Senior School students faced off in a Chess competition this week, demonstrating their skills and sportsmanship for the chance to win House Points.

The tournament was filled with intense matches and strategic brilliance. The winner will be rewarded with a 1-year subscription to Chess.com.

Open Mic Returns

Our Open Mic sessions returned to the Senior School this week, with talented singers and pianists providing the perfect soundtrack to a sunny lunch break.

Year 13 Science 

This week, Year 13 Physics students used resonance to study the speed of sound in LPG.

By analysing flame patterns, which represent fractions of sound wavelengths, they determined the wavelength and calculated the speed of sound accurately.

Their calculated value for the speed of sound in this medium was impressively within 1% of the accepted book value.

SparxMaths

Congratulations to all students who completed their Sparx homework to 100% this week, and a special mention to the whole of 8MathJOL - the first class to have a 100% completion rate! Which class will be next?

Readers of the Week

Accelerated Reader has been running for several weeks and lots of great reading has now been completed. This week we celebrate the first 'Readers of the Week' for this academic year. Readers of the Week are students who have gone that extra mile to build their reading skills, either through independent action or through seeking out advice when needed. This week's Readers of the Week are:

Layla A in Year 7, who finished her reading book and scored 10/10 on the Accelerated Reader quiz this week. She had already prepared her next read and was ready to get started on her latest reading adventure straightaway. Layla also asked for help sourcing non-fiction books to help develop her extra-curricular interests. Well done, Layla!

Ahmed G in Year 8 also scored 10/10 on his reading quiz this week. Importantly, Ahmed has taken responsibility for his Accelerated Reader progress. He has tried out new books and decided what he does and does not want to read. Instead of losing reading time by waiting for a library lesson to come around, Ahmed has been visiting the Library in his free time, ensuring that he always has a reading book that interests him. 

COBIS Art Competition 

Calling all artists! Please enter the 2024-25 COBIS Art Competition.

The categories are:

• Key Stage 3

• Key Stage 4

• Key Stage 5

Entries should be created by an individual student, not a group of students. Please hand in your entries to Ms Wheeler in A305 or Mr Collis in A301 by Thursday 24th October; with your name, category, form group and House clearly marked on the back. The winner in each category will be selected shortly after. You may use an existing artwork that you have already created for coursework or classwork. 

BISC will be able to submit one entry per category. Artwork will be judged by Ms Wheeler, Mr Collis and members of the Senior Leadership Team.

Best of luck!

Swim Meet for U11s/U13s/U15s

Get ready for an exciting swimming meet this Friday, 27th September, at BISC! Our talented swimmers will dive into action from 08:00 to 12:00, showcasing their skills and determination. Parents and friends, we warmly invite you to come and cheer them on! Your support will make all the difference as they compete for glory in the pool. 

Sixth Form News

It has been a whirlwind week in the Sixth Form as our students continue to excel in their IB studies. Year 13 students have been diligently working on their Internal Assessments (IAs), Extended Essays and university applications. Despite the heavy workload, their commitment to the IB programme remains unwavering.

Meanwhile, Year 12 students have fully immersed themselves in the IB programme. Their focus and dedication are evident in their studies and we are confident that they will continue to thrive.

PSHE Focus: Resilience

In our PSHE lessons, we have been exploring the importance of resilience in navigating the challenges of the IB programme. The IB can be demanding, but with the right techniques, students can develop the resilience needed to overcome obstacles. We have discussed various strategies, including positive self-talk, time management and seeking support from teachers and peers.

Volunteering Opportunities at BISC

We encourage our Sixth Form students to give back to the school community through volunteering. There are various opportunities available, such as becoming a Reader Leader, assisting in Senior School lessons and helping with sports coaching in the Junior School. Volunteering is a great way to develop leadership skills and make a positive impact.

Attendance Matters

Regular attendance is crucial for academic success in the IB programme. We kindly request that appointments be scheduled outside of school hours whenever possible. If a student needs to leave school, please encourage them to contact their teachers to obtain any missed work.

ASAs and Parent Meetings

Due to parent meetings and events, ASAs will be cancelled on the following days:

Tuesday 1st October (Tutor Meet and Greet)

Monday 7th October (Years 10 and 12 Parent Meetings)

Wednesday 9th October (Years 7 and 13 Parent Meetings)

Tuesday 29th October (Years 8 and 9 Parent Meetings)

Monday 11th November (Year 11 Parent Meetings) 

Please note this will affect transport arrangements on the day, with all students taking the first bus home unless involved in parent meetings.

الاحتفال بالذكرى الحادية والخمسين لانتصارات أكتوبر

يسر برنامج مصر والشرق الأوسط أن يحتفل بالذكرى الحادية والخمسين لانتصار السادس من أكتوبر، الذي يخلد ذكرى عبور قناة السويس

للاحتفال بهذه المناسبة الخاصة، سيشارك الطلاب في مجموعة من الأنشطة التفاعلية والتعليمية خلال دروس اللغة العربية والتاريخ المصري على مدار الأسبوع. تشمل أبرز هذه الأنشطة

عروض طلابية يقدمونها حول ملامح من حرب أكتوبر-

مشاريع فنية يقوم فيها الطلاب بإعداد أعمال تكريمية للقوات المسلحة-

عروض غنائية لأغاني وطنية-

أنشطة أدبية يشارك فيها الطلاب بقراءة وترجمة مقتطفات أدبية، تبرز أهمية حرب أكتوبر وعبور قناة السويس-

علاوة على ذلك، يسرنا أن نستضيف الدكتور سمير عزيز ميخائيل - أحد أبطال السرب 46 لواء جوى 104 في حرب أكتوبر 1973- والذي سيعرض شهادته عن حرب السادس من أكتوبر إلى طلاب الصف الثاني عشر 

ستمنح هذه الأنشطة طلابنا فرصة فريدة للتفاعل مع تاريخ مصر، والتأمل في القيم المهمة مثل الشجاعة، الصمود، والوحدة

Celebrating the 6th of October Victory and the Crossing of the Suez Canal

The Egypt and Middle East Programme is proud to celebrate the 51st commemoration of the 6th of October victory, honouring the historic crossing of the Suez Canal. To mark this special occasion, students will participate in a variety of interactive and educational activities during their Arabic and Egyptian History lessons throughout next week. Highlights of the celebration include:

• Poster presentations by students on specific events of the October War.
• Art projects, where students will create visual content highlighting symbols of patriotism and courage.
• Performances of patriotic songs.
• Literature activities, where students will engage in reading and translating literary excerpts that shed light on the October War and the Suez Canal crossing.

Furthermore, we are excited to welcome Dr. Samir Aziz Meacheal, one of the heroes of Squadron 46, Air Brigade 104, during the October 1973 War, who will speak to Year 12 students about his testimony of the 6th of October War.

These activities will provide our students with a unique opportunity to engage with Egypt’s history and reflect on important values such as courage, resilience and unity.

Message from the Head of Junior School

Another wonderful week of academic endeavour and full of opportunities with the ASAs in full swing.

Along with our new House Captains and following a rigorous application, selection and interview process, I am pleased to inform you that we have appointed ten Prefects from our first round of applicants.

The School Prefect is a recognised ambassador of the Junior School and as such must set an example in behaviour, dress and attitude to work.

Next week we see the commencement of our Creative Arts Week with this year’s theme focusing on the House Elements; please see more information below. Finally, please note the forthcoming date for your diary: a Junior School Parent Workshop called 'Supporting your Child's Learning' on Tuesday 8th October, at 14:15.

New House Captains

We are delighted to announce and congratulate our new Year 6 Heads of House.

Many thanks to all who applied. There were many strong applicants, which meant it was an extremely difficult decision to make.

Our new House Captains for 2024-25 are as follows:

Air: Tamin (6M) and Nadia (6F)

Water: Zain (6F) and Maya (6I)

Fire: Youssef B (6F) and Malak (6M)

Earth: Khadiga (6I) and Thari (6M)

Year 4 Music

Year 4 classes have been studying how music works with film. The pupils watched some film clips, with and without music, to see how music adds tension and changes the mood. Each class then wrote their own music to accompany a film clip about a Roman chariot race. 

Year 5 Science

In Science, Year 5 pupils have been learning about forces. We have been considering how surface area can impact air resistance, and planned an investigation around the question: Does the size of a parachute affect the time it takes to fall to the ground? Pupils had fun enjoying the practical elements of this investigation and learnt that keeping controlled variables exactly the same can be tricky!

Year 6 Practical Science

Year 6 Practical Science pupils engaged in an experiment focused on variables, fair testing and data recording. Using cars and ramps to measure the effect of different masses on timing; they used various techniques to enhance the accuracy of their experiments. This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of scientific principles but also highlighted the importance of accurate data recording. 

فصول القراءة الموجهة باللغة العربية

شكرًا جزيلاً لأولياء الأمور الذين تطوعوا لدعم جلسات القراءة الموجهة باللغة العربية. لا يزال لدينا بعض الأماكن المتاحة للآباء للتسجيل، ونشجع حضراتكم على المشاركة في هذا النشاط المهم. سيساهم تواجدكم بشكل كبير في تعزيز تجربة التعلم للطلاب وحبهم للقراءة باللغة العربية

Arabic Guided Reading Sessions

Thank you to the parents who volunteered to support our Guided Reading Arabic sessions. We still have a few slots for parents to sign up, and we encourage you to take part in this important activity. Your involvement will greatly enhance the students' learning experience and foster their love for reading in Arabic.

Creative Arts Week 

Next week, the Junior School will hold a Creative Arts Week, with a focus on ‘House Elements’. We will explore various artists and use a plethora of techniques to represent elements of our School Houses: earth, fire, air and water.

The week will end with a beautiful gallery on Thursday 3rd October, which commences at 14:50. You will be able to marvel at a variety of creative performances; from physical theatre performed by Year 6, to original music composed by Year 3, in addition to the art that pupils have created.

We hope to see you at the gallery next Thursday to celebrate our wonderful work.

COBIS Art Competition for Junior School

The COBIS Art Competition is back! Based on a brief of ‘Magical Moments’; pupils are asked to create a piece of art that represents this theme. Please take your time and get creative. Entries open on Thursday 17th October and will be accepted until Wednesday 6th November.

Please bring creations to classroom J204, with your name and class clearly stated on the back. Ms Fox will choose a winner from each year group and will take a picture of your creation, which will be emailed to the main panel of judges. 

COBIS Poetry Competition for Junior School

Pupils are invited to write a poem based on this year's competition theme, 'Magical Moments'. It is a brilliant opportunity for young writers to compete internationally and showcase their talent. The competition is open to all COBIS schools.

At BISC, there will be a winner from each year group and one overall winner, whose poems will be submitted to the COBIS competition.

Last Week's Assemblies

We celebrated the following Stars of the Week in last week's KS1 assembly:

Alya (1E), Laila (1H), Taymour (1T), Jody (1T), Yunis (2F), Rawia (2L), Sima (2B) and Alia (2S).

Meanwhile, in the KS2 assembly, we celebrated the following Stars of the Week:

Niki (3O), Layal (3M), Khaled (3B), Nelly (3F), Yassin (4D), Nadine (4B), Salaheddin (4W), Nour (4F), Karim (5S), Abdul (5C), Ramzi (5B), Rokaya (5D), Youssef (6F), Ezz (6I) and Zahara (6M).

Congratulations also to last week's Mathematicians of the Week:

Rashid (3F), Francis (4F), Zakaria (5S) and Hasan (6M).

After School Activities

Please note there will be no more changes to ASAs except for those pupils who wish to drop an activity.

Pupil Achievements 

Well done to Aly in Class 1N, who won a medal in his first gymnastics tournament for U7 boys at Palm Hills Club.

Upcoming Events

Message from the Head of Foundation Stage

Physical activity is vital in children’s all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood, starting with sensory explorations and the development of a child’s strength, coordination and positional awareness through tummy time, crawling and play movement with both objects and adults. By creating games and providing play opportunities, both indoors and outdoors, adults can support children in developing their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, coordination and agility. Gross motor skills provide the foundation to develop healthy bodies and social and emotional well-being. Fine motor control and precision help with hand-eye coordination, which is later linked to early literacy. Repeated and varied opportunities to explore and play with small world activities, puzzles, arts and crafts, and the practice of using small tools; with adult feedback and support, allow children to develop proficiency, control and confidence.

Foundation Stage children engage in physical activity every day in a variety of ways during the course of the day. The Foundation Stage classes at BISC also have separate PE lessons with a specialist PE teacher; Ms Tatiana Babaytseva, who has 25 years of experience. Her lessons are extremely popular with the children; they are conducted on the track, in the mini gym and on the basketball courts. In the third term, the Foundation Stage children are also given swimming lessons and you will be given more information about this nearer the time.

Those of you who attended the Foundation Stage Information Meetings earlier this term will have learned that the Early Years Foundation Stage framework sets out seven areas of learning and development, which make up the curriculum for the Foundation Stage children. All these areas of learning and development are important and interconnected.

The below three prime areas are particularly important for learning and forming relationships and are the basis for much of the learning in Foundation Stage 1, especially in the first term:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

On Tuesday 8th October at 14:00, all Foundation Stage 1 parents are invited to attend a workshop, which will elaborate on the three prime areas and how they are taught. This will be held in room J106.

If you wish to join your child and participate in the Physical Development element of this workshop, please wear running shoes/trainers on the day.

Finally, the Foundation Stage 1 children found a fun way to mark the end of the Summer by making (and then eating) Banana Ice-creams. 

Upcoming Events