The BISC Newsletter 30th January 2025
Focus on Maths at BISC
In this week's newsletter, we take a look at Mathematics at BISC, with a review of progress and latest innovations in both the Senior and Junior Schools.
We are fortunate to have outstanding teachers and top notch resources to promote a love of Maths, as you will see and hear below.
Senior School News
Sparx Maths - Progress Update
This year saw the introduction of a new homework platform in Maths, called Sparx. Aimed at deepening all students’ individual understanding and retention of what they have been learning in class; it is the only Maths learning platform that has been proven to help students’ progress in an independent evaluation by Cambridge University.
Since it was introduced in August, our students have completed over 4500 hours of personalised learning on Sparx and answered over 300,000 questions correctly! As they are working, pupils collect XP (experience points) and over 280 certificates have been awarded so far this year for pupils reaching a Milestone Level. The following students are the XP Champions for Half Term 2.
The belief is that, with support, all pupils are able to complete their homework to 100% every week. The top performing class of Term 1 was Mr Farooq’s Year 7 class, with an on-time completion rate of 91% and an average score of 96%! A great track record and something that every class should aspire to!
UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge
This week, our top mathematicians in Years 9 to 11 took part in the Intermediate Mathematical Challenge, organised by the UK Maths Trust. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first of these annual competitions for young mathematicians; enjoyed by over 700,000 pupils from around the world. Years 7 to 8 students will take part in the Junior Maths Challenge in April. As a taster, below is question 5 from this week’s challenge, along with pictures of Year 11 focusing hard on the test.
Year 12 Maths
Mr O’Leary’s Year 12 Analysis and Approaches SL class has been delving deeper into the topic of Quadratic Functions; building on the foundation skills that were introduced in the IGCSE course. Here, they are completing an activity called a “Treasure Hunt” where students work in pairs to answer questions and find the corresponding answers somewhere else in the room. Pupils enjoyed working as a team; discussing the interlinking skills of this topic and using a variety of techniques, including technology, to solve the problems. Well done to Mansour, Lilly and Ali for winning the Treasure Hunt!
Teacher Perspective
"There’s no other subject like Maths. It is the most universally-taught subject, and can be linked to everything in the natural world. It also changes the way our minds learn to solve different problems. Overcoming mathematical challenges is a source of enjoyment and beauty, for many of us.
The reason I love teaching Maths at BISC is because our learners are curious and brave. And to those pupils for whom Maths is not your favourite subject, let me reassure you that success in this subject is not based on how clever you are, but how resilient you are. Be brave, seek support, and enjoy reshaping your thinking." Joseph O'Leary, Deputy Head of Senior School Mathematics
Year 9 Options Choices
This week, Year 9 students at BISC have been actively engaged in selecting their subjects for their upcoming IGCSE courses; marking a significant step in their academic journey as they prepare for Key Stage 4 next year. They have finalised their Options Choices and submitted their forms, confirming the subjects they will study during Years 10 and 11. This decision is crucial as it shapes their educational path and aligns with their future aspirations.
Years 11 and 13 Mock Examinations
Congratulations to our Year 13 students on successfully completing their mock examinations! Year 11 students have also received their mock results, providing valuable feedback for their continued academic journey. This week, we completed a comprehensive whole-school PSHE session, focusing on safeguarding and bullying to reinforce our commitment to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all
Stars of the Week
- Year 7 - Hamza EF
- Year 8 - Ahmed G
- Year 9 - Tony
- Year 10 - Mariam AA
- Year 11 - Yassin N
- Year 12 - Zeina EA
Sports Headlines
Well done to Mohsen S in Year 9, for placing 2nd in the High Jump at the recent BSME Games in Abu Dhabi.
Well done to Seif AH in Year 10, who was named as MVP in Volleyball, and placed 2nd in the Javelin during the recent BSME Games in Abu Dhabi.
Congratulations to Farida M in Year 10, who was named U16 Girls MVP of the Tournament in World School Games Basketball in Spain.
And to Mariam S in Year 9, who also won an MVP award for her fantastic play on day three of the World School Games Basketball.
Gym Time
These Senior School students use their break time to keep fit and work out in the school gym, under expert supervision from our sports team.
معرض القاهرة الدولي للكتاب
بمناسبة افتتاح معرض القاهرة الدولي للكتاب في دورته السادسة والخمسين، قدمت الطالبة دانية من الصف العاشر - خلال طابور تحية العلم - كلمةً حول تاريخ المعرض، مشيرة إلى انطلاقه لأول مرة عام 1969 بمناسبة الاحتفال بمرور 1000 عام على تأسيس مدينة القاهرة. كما سلطت الضوء على أهمية هذا الحدث الثقافي والفعاليات المتنوعة التي تُقام فيه، وشجعت زملاءها على زيارة المعرض واقتناء الكتب، تأكيدًا على شعار المعرض لهذا العام: "اقرأ... في البدء كان الكلمة."
كما تحدث الطالب عبد الله من الصف العاشر عن شخصية العام في معرض الكتاب، وهو العالم والشاعر أحمد مستجير، موضحًا أبرز إنجازاته في مجالات الوراثة والتكنولوجيا الحيوية، وأهم مؤلفاته العلمية التي أثرت في مجالات البحث العلمي والأدب.
ومن ناحية أخرى، تحدث الطالب إبراهيم والطالبة ملك - كلاهما من الصف الثامن - عن حقائق شيقة ومثبتة علميًا حول الفوائد العديدة للقراءة المنتظمة.
Cairo International Book Fair
On the occasion of the opening of the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, Year 10 student Dania delivered a speech during the Thursday flag ceremony, on the history of the fair, highlighting its establishment in 1969 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the founding of Cairo. She also emphasised the significance of this cultural event and the various activities held within, encouraging her peers to visit the fair and purchase books, in line with this year’s theme: "Read... In the beginning was the word."
Furthermore, Year 10 student Abdullah spoke about the Book Fair’s Character of the Year, the renowned scientist and poet Ahmed Mostagir. He highlighted Mostagir’s major contributions in the fields of Genetics and Biotechnology, as well as his most notable scientific publications that have influenced both research and literature.
Year 8 students, Ibrahim and Malak, also spoke about fascinating and scientifically proven facts regarding the numerous benefits of regular reading.
Junior School News
Mathematician of the Week: A Tradition of Celebrated Success
Since its introduction three years ago, the "Mathematician of the Week" award has become a cherished tradition that has significantly boosted participation and enthusiasm for Maths across the Junior School. The consistent celebration of pupils’ mathematical achievements - whether for problem-solving, effort, or creativity - has inspired a culture of pride and motivation. The weekly award ceremonies, where winners are celebrated among their peers, have also helped foster a greater sense of community and shared enthusiasm for Maths.
Pupil Perspective
"I had a feeling I might win last week, so I was feeling nervous in assembly.
But I was very happy and proud to have been selected as Mathematician of the Week.
It shows that my hard work got a reward." Said, 5C
Times Table Rockstars Competitions: Inspiring Enthusiasm for Maths
The ongoing success of Times Table Rockstars competitions has made them a key driver of both in-class engagement and extracurricular participation in Maths. These competitions, first introduced three years ago, have maintained their popularity; sparking friendly rivalries between classes and individuals. They have proven to be a powerful tool in boosting pupils’ fluency in multiplication while simultaneously making Maths enjoyable and accessible.
Year 3 and Year 4 Maths Parent Workshop
This week, parents of our Year 3 and 4 pupils took part in an engaging and interactive Times Tables Foundations Workshop, designed to strengthen their understanding of how to support their child's multiplication fluency at home.
The session focused on the importance of times tables fluency, demonstrating how a strong grasp of multiplication underpins key areas of Maths including division, fractions and problem-solving. Through hands-on activities, games and discussions, parents explored effective strategies to help their children master their times tables with confidence.
Thank you to everyone who attended. The slides presented by Mr Banton can be seen here.
BSME U11 Football
Our U11 Football teams showed incredible spirit at the BSME tournament! The journey of our boys' team was nothing short of spectacular, powering through an unbeaten group stage and advancing all the way to the semi-finals. Their outstanding teamwork and determination led them to a remarkable 4th place finish overall.
Our girls' team demonstrated amazing growth throughout the tournament, reaching the quarter-finals of the plate competition. Their development as a unit was fantastic to watch, showing great resilience and skill improvement with each match. We could not be prouder of both teams' achievements and sportsmanship! Below are a few pictures of the girls in action and a picture of the whole group, celebrated at this morning's flag ceremony.
Junior School After School Activities
ASAs are in full swing, and we were delighted to see enthusiasm for Chess Club and a new Crochet and Pillow Making ASA, teaching pupils a brand new set of skills.
Class 2F Assembly
2F’s class assembly, Our Amazing World, was an all-singing, all-dancing experience. The pupils performed to Michael Jackson’s Earth Song and wowed the audience with a samba dance. The audience also experienced special piano performances by Celine, and Yunis’ mother Mrs Heba Nawara. Enjoy the video replay below.
Year 2 Trip to the Grand Egyptian Museum
Our Year 2 pupils enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Grand Egyptian Museum this week, with an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Ancient Egypt's rich history and culture. The pupils were engaged and excited throughout the experience and had lots of fun interacting with the exhibits. We look forward to continuing to nurture their curiosity and love for history! Ms Fellows, KS1 Coordinator
Final Preparations for the BSME Pupil Leadership Conference 2025
With just one week to go until the highly anticipated BSME Pupil Leadership Conference 2025, excitement is building as the big day draws near! Taking place on Thursday 6th February, students from Year 4 to Year 9 are putting the finishing touches on their dynamic workshops, all focused around this year’s theme of Sustainability.
The event promises to be an inspiring and action-packed day of learning, leadership, and innovation. Pupil leaders from both the Junior and Senior Schools, alongside guest schools from the BSME network, will unite to share ideas, drive meaningful discussions, and collaborate on ways to build a more sustainable future.
Safer Internet Day
Safer Internet Day is the UK’s biggest celebration of online safety. Each year, an online issue or theme that speaks to the things young people are seeing and experiencing online is covered. Created in consultation with young people, this year Safer Internet Day focuses on the theme ‘Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online‘.
We will be focusing on the issue of scams online, and for young people, how to protect themselves and others, as well as what support is available to them. We will also consider the future of scams, answering questions such as:
- How is the changing technology, like generative AI, going to impact the approach of scammers?
- What role can the government and internet industry take to tackle this threat?
- And what changes would young people like to see to help protect themselves moving forward?
Across the Junior School, pupils will be partaking in various activities to address some of these issues.
We are committed to working with our community to ensure our pupils are safeguarded online too. This also includes gathering information from parents; therefore, we would like you to fill in this form: Parent Safer Internet Survey 2025
Healthy Nutrition at BISC
BISC is committed to promoting healthy nutrition. The school regards healthy diet as a most important educational issue, fundamentally linked to pupils’ life-long health and safety. However, we have noticed that pupils are bringing in only large packets of crisps (e.g. Chipsy) and junk food. Therefore, we would like you to reiterate our message at home with your children too.
Pupils have time allocated for a snack in the morning and afternoon. Parents are encouraged to send their children to school with healthy snacks. Some ideas for this are listed below.
Our favourite healthy snacks at BISC Junior School:
- Fruit: berries, oranges, apples, bananas, pears, grapes (cut in half to avoid choking), melon, pomegranate, fruit salad etc.
- Vegetables: carrot sticks, cucumber, tomato etc.
- Salads
- Low-fat dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt.
- Sandwiches with low-sugar fillings, pasta and rice in a pot.
Stars of the Week
Congratulations to the pupils who collected Star of the Week and Mathematician of the Week awards in assemblies last week.
Yehia (1E), Amaya (1H), Farouk (1N), Nayla (1T), Ahmed (2F), Hassan (2L), Ali (2S) and Laila (2B).
Key Stage 2: Sare (3O), Karima (3M), Abdulkarim (3B), Dima (3F), Sultan (4D), Selim (4B), Seif (4W), Alia (4F), Tamara (5S), Yolanda (5C), Sulaima (5B), Gulnaar (5D), Rafea (6F) and Daniel (6I).
Mathematicians of the Week:
Olivia (Year 3), Abdalla (Year 4), Said (Year 5) and Hassan (Year 6).
Pupil Achievement
Well done to Divit in Year 4, who has received a certificate for successfully completing level 6 in swimming.
Upcoming Events
KS1 and KS2 Half Termly Assessment | Sunday 2nd – Thursday 6th February |
Year 6 Egyptian History Trip to Panorama October | Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th February |
JS Pupil Leadership Conference | Thursday 6th February |
Foundation Stage News
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is a significant festival celebrated by millions of people worldwide. This year, the festivities begin on 29th January and culminate with the Lantern Festival on 5th February.
This year marks the transition to the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac. Known for their wisdom, intuition and resourcefulness, snakes offered an exciting theme for exploring animal traits, cultures and traditions with the children.
Lunar New Year provided an ideal way to introduce the Foundation Stage children to different cultures and showcase the beauty of diversity in our world. Celebrating with fun activities made this ancient tradition both accessible and meaningful for our young learners.
Upcoming Events
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, from 13:00 to 14:30 |
Foundation Stage Parent-Teacher Conferences | Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th February |