The BISC Newsletter 13th February 2025
Year 5 Trip To Luxor
This week, the Year 5 cohort embarked on a journey to the ancient city of Luxor for a three-night stay. The eagerly awaited yearly residential continues to be a significant part of the BISC calendar. The pupils cruised along the Nile, delved into the mysteries of the Valley of the Kings, and immersed themselves in history with visits to the Temples of Luxor and Karnak. Countless memories were created, and the children were a credit to the school. Take a look at some of the photo highlights below - more photos will be made available next week!
Pupil Perspective
My trip to Luxor was amazing, I have never experienced this much fun in one trip in my life!
Flying on the plane was my favourite experience and I am so lucky to have so many friends to help me when I was missing my parents. The hotel was better than I expected! I didn’t want to go home! Sulaima, 5B
Senior School Trips
We are delighted to announce the first of our team-building school trips for this academic year! Year 12 students will have the opportunity to travel to the beautiful region of Aix-les-Bains in France. They will enjoy an exciting time kayaking, climbing and hiking in this stunning area; creating lifelong memories with their friends.
Senior School News
U16 Volleyball Results
Our U16 volleyball teams had a phenomenal weekend at the CISSA tournament. The boys' team went unbeaten to secure 1st place overall! Their skill and teamwork were truly impressive. The girls, after a tough opening match, showed remarkable resilience and determination; fighting back to finish a commendable 3rd place finish!
A huge round of applause to all players and coaches for their hard work and dedication.
Happy Valentine's Day
We saw kindness in action today, as our Year 12 students brightened the day for BISC students with cupcakes and notes of appreciation. These acts of kindness make a big difference. What a fantastic idea, and a great way to celebrate the date.
Messing with Musicals
The Performing Arts Department and a selection of talented students from Year 7 to Year 12 are happy to invite the BISC community to a night of stellar entertainment. On Monday 24th February at 18:00, we will be bringing you a performance of a selection of scenes and songs from the Broadway/West End show 'School of Rock". However, to entertain you further and also to give our students the chance to do a bit of everything, we are 'Messing with Musicals' and are interspersing the "School of Rock" with a selection of song and dance numbers; some from shows you will know and some you may never have heard of before. Entry will be on a first come first served basis so, do not miss out and get here early to beat the crowd.
Science Enrichment Programme
Key Stage 3 student-scientists are working on a project to extract copper sulfate from a mixture, using filtration and crystallisation techniques. This enrichment activity helps develop practical skills, data analysis, scientific writing and lab techniques for GCSEs.
Year 8 Touch Rugby
Year 8 boys were practising their Touch Rugby skills in their PE class this week, working as a team to score a try before the opposition tags them.
Formative Assessment in MFL - Year 10 Spanish
Following a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) session for BISC staff, led by formative assessment expert Dylan Wiliam, the Modern Foreign Languages Department convened to explore effective strategies for assessing whole-class understanding. One outcome of these discussions was the introduction of ABCD response cards, which you can see here successfully implemented in a Year 10 Spanish lesson.
Students responded positively to the cards, appreciating the opportunity for all class members to participate in answering questions rather than focusing on selected individuals. Teachers are equally enthusiastic, as the new approach provides valuable, real-time insights into the entire class's level of understanding.
Year 11 IB Choices
Year 11 students - also known as our 'Class of 2027' - learnt more about their subject options for the IB Diploma this week, hearing from our Director of Sixth Form and department heads about the exciting challenges ahead.
Year 12 Art
Artists in Year 12 were hard at work on their projects this week; painting, collaging and drawing in their own inimitable styles.
Safer Internet Day
This week, Senior School students participated in PSHE lessons focused on internet safety. Activities included discussions on various scenarios, quizzes and leaflet design. A well-attended parent workshop for Junior School parents further emphasised the importance of online safety education.
Book Week Preview
Book Week will take place from Monday 24th to Thursday 27th February. This is an exciting week at BISC; with students encouraged to foster a love of reading.
Our events for the week will include:
- Whole Senior School Quiz: taking place during PSHE time. Can you match the literary pairs? Can you guess the book title from the badly written plot summary? Can you match the teacher to their reading library?
- Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R) where students are asked to read outside their comfort zone to expand their horizons.
- Dress Up Day - taking place on Thursday 27th February. Students should come to school dressed as their favourite literary character - they should be able to produce the book where their character is described.
- ‘Caught Reading’ Competition - students to take pictures of themselves reading in unusual places and email these to Ms Quinn; more information via tutor time next week.
- There will also be a variety of activities taking place in KS3 English classrooms and across other departments.
Here are some Student Perspectives on why Book Week is something to look forward to:
“Book Week is the perfect chance to celebrate the beauty of reading. It's all about bringing stories to life, sparking imagination and exploring new worlds. Whether you're into thrilling adventures, heart-warming stories, or even just mind boggling facts, there's something magical for everyone. I think the whole BISC community should be buzzing with excitement for this upcoming week.” Nour in Year 12
“Book Week has always been, by far, my favourite event of the year since I was in FS1. I am pleased to be working alongside the Book Week team to bring this event to life once again. It is an opportunity to encourage reading to all, even those who may find it daunting, by engaging everyone in amusing activities from costume parades to this year's Book Week Quiz competition. I look forward to fostering a positive spirit about reading to our community and hopefully highlighting the many advantages of reading to the mind and soul.” Layan, Year 12
“I'm excited for Book Week, as I'm looking forward to the Book Week quiz along with the 'Caught Reading' competition. Both sound like a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to all the submissions for it.” Musa, Year 12
Thanks to the Year 12 students who are organising this event for the school: Musa I, Layan M, Youssef M, Aisha B-A, Soliman A, Mathilda G, Nour El-G, Zeina El-A, Mariam A-M, Natalie K and Jude M.
Year 13 Graduation Ceremony
It is with immense pleasure that we can announce that the Year 13 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Friday 30th May.
This momentous occasion will be held in the BISC Theatre, continuing our cherished tradition of celebrating the remarkable achievements of our graduating class. This event is always a source of immense pride for the entire BISC community.
Further details regarding the ceremony, including timings and arrangements, will follow shortly. We very much look forward to celebrating the hard work and dedication of our students.
Senior School Arabic Reading Competition
التصفيات الداخلية لمسابقة القراءة في المرحلة الابتدائية
في إطار تشجيع الطلاب على القراءة وتنمية مهارات الفهم والتحليل، نظّمت المدرسة التصفيات الداخلية لمسابقة القراءة لطلاب الصفوف السابع والثامن والتاسع. سادت أجواء من التنافس الإيجابي، حيث قدم الطلاب عروضًا شيقة عن الكتب التي قاموا بقراءتها وتلخيصها منذ بداية شهر أكتوبر الماضي.
تألّفت لجنة التحكيم من المدرس المشرف على المسابقة في المرحلة الإعدادية، ومنسق اللغة العربية بالمرحلة الابتدائية، إلى جانب الكاتبة رانيا حسين أمين، المتخصصة في أدب الأطفال واليافعين والحاصلة على جوائز مرموقة في هذا المجال.
نهنئ جميع الطلاب على مشاركتهم المتميزة، ونتطلع إلى متابعة أدائهم في المرحلة النهائية من المسابقة، المقرر إقامتها في 20 فبراير.
To encourage students to read and strengthen their comprehension and analytical skills in Arabic, the school organised a reading competition for students in Years 7, 8 and 9. Today, competing students delivered engaging presentations on the books they read since the beginning of October.
The panel of judges included the teacher supervising the competition, the Arabic Language Coordinator and Ms. Rania Hussein Amin, a distinguished author specialising in children's literature and a recipient of prestigious awards in the field.
We congratulate all students on their outstanding participation and look forward to their performances in the final stage of the competition, scheduled for Thursday 20th February.
Stars of the Week
- Year 7 - Angie A
- Year 8 - Zeinab E
- Year 9 - Lara I
- Year 10 - Malek S
- Year 11 - Mahmoud A
Junior School News
Year 3 Eden Project Video Call
Year 3 enjoyed an engaging online workshop with the Eden Project in the UK. Connecting to their Rainforest unit, the pupils explored how we are linked to this incredible ecosystem and participated in related activities. They discussed the everyday products that come from the rainforest and considered the choices we can make to help protect it.
Year 6 Science Practical Experiments
These Year 6 pupils conducted experiments at different stations, observed the results and formulated questions based on the materials and experiment titles. They then decided which question was most appropriate. Developing this skill is key for their Future Science courses in Senior School. Well done, Year 6!
Class 1N Class Assembly
Class 1N performed confidently on stage during their assembly on the topic of RESPECT. They performed a song and a rap and had lots of wise words to say on the topic. The pupils worked hard to learn their lines and songs to prepare for the assembly, and delivered an important message to the audience to “Be Respectful”! Great job Y1N! More photos here.
Year 3O Class Assembly
Class 3O delivered the first KS2 assembly of the year, sharing a variety of poems and stories about the importance of the rainforest and why we should care for it. Mr O'Connell was very impressed with the pupils' effort, teamwork and hard work in preparing for and presenting the assembly. Photos here.
Book Week Coming Soon
Book Week in the Junior School starts on Sunday 23rd February, and this year’s theme is Reading Through Time; celebrating books from various decades. We look forward to a week filled with fun reading and writing opportunities for everyone!
Costume Day – Thursday 27th February
One of the exciting highlights of the week is Costume Day, where pupils can dress up in creative ways, including:
A character from a book
A word
An outfit inspired by any decade
Costume Parade and Parent Event – Thursday 27th February
We invite parents to join us for a special costume parade on the field at 14:00, beginning with Year 1 through to Year 6. Afterwards, children will sit with their parents to enjoy reading together. At the end of the day, parents will be invited into school to view pupils’ work on display.
Book Fair – Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th, and Thursday 27th February
Please refer to the timetable below to see when your child’s class will be attending.
Time Period Tuesday
25thWednesday
26thThursday
27th8.00 - 8.35 1 2F 3M 8.35 - 9.10 2 2S 5D 9.10 – 9.45 3 3B 3O 4D 9.45 - 10.10 BREAK 10.10 - 10.45 4 5S 4W 10.45 - 11.20 5 3F 1H 11.20 – 11.55 6 2B 4F 5C 11.55 - 12.35 LUNCH 12.35 - 1.10 7 1E 2L 5B 1.10 - 1.45 8 1N 6M 1.45 - 2.00 BREAK 2.00 - 2.35 9 1T 6F 2.35 - 3.10 10 6i 4B
Arabic Drama ASA
في هذه المرحلة من نشاط الدراما العربية، يقرأ الطلاب عن بطل العرض القادم، جحا، الشخصية الشعبية المحبوبة المعروفة بحكاياتها المسلية ونوادرها الطريفة. تفاعل الطلاب مع شخصية "جحا" واندمجوا في أجواء العرض المسرحي، حيث تعرفوا على المواقف المختلفة التي سيتم تقديمها، كما أبدوا إعجابهم بالمسرحية وأظهروا قدرة رائعة على تقمص الأدوار وأدائها بحيوية. كان الجو مليئًا بالسعادة والتعاون بين الجميع، مما جعل تجربة نشاط الدراما العربية أكثر متعة وإبداعًا.
At this stage of the Arabic Drama ASA sessions, pupils are reading about the main character of the upcoming play, Juha, a beloved folk figure known for his entertaining stories and humorous incidents. The pupils engaged with Juha’s character and immersed themselves in the theatrical atmosphere; exploring the different situations that will be presented in the play. They expressed their admiration for the performance and demonstrated impressive ability in portraying and acting out the roles with enthusiasm. The atmosphere was filled with joy and collaboration; making the Arabic Drama activity an even more enjoyable and creative experience.
Students' Creativity: Recycling and Sustainability in Arabic Classes
يناقش طلاب الصف الرابع الابتدائي في فصول اللغة العربية أهمية إعادة التدوير، وقد أعادوا استخدام الأشياء القديمة وبعض النفايات وقاموا بتحويلها إلى أشياء جديدة يمكنهم استخدامها في حياتهم اليومية. ابتكر الطلاب العديد من الأفكار الإبداعية، كما أعطوا كل قطعة عنوانًا باللغة العربية، مما يعكس إدراكهم لمفهوم الاستدامة وقدرتهم على الإبداع والابتكار.
In their Arabic classes, Year 4 pupils discussed the importance of recycling. They reused old items and some waste, transforming them into new things they can use in their daily lives. The students came up with many creative ideas and gave each piece a title in Arabic, reflecting their understanding of sustainability and their ability to be creative.
Upcoming Events
Half Term Holiday | Sunday 16th and Monday 17th February |
Parent Conference Meetings | Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th February |
Year 1 Fagnoon Trip | Thursday 20th February |
U11 BSME Games in Abu Dhabi | Friday 21st - Tuesday 25th February |
Book Week | Sunday 23rd – Thursday 27th February |
Class 1T Assembly | Thursday 27th February (please be seated no later than 08:20) |
Foundation Stage News
Foundation Stage 1 & 2 Sports Day
The Foundation Stage Sports Day was held today. It was a hugely enjoyable experience for the children and very well attended by the FS parents - who as usual demonstrate their competitive spirit! It was great fun and thankfully the weather was just right. Thank you all for coming and congratulations to Ms. Tatiana for organising the day. See all the photos here.
Ramadan Timings
As we are approaching Ramadan, the school will close earlier during this holy month. The children can be picked up between 13:30 - 13:40, the children's buses will depart at 13:45 and the start time will remain the same at 08:00. These timings will be in effect from Sunday 2nd March until Thursday 27th March. We wish everyone a blessed month…Ramadan Kareem
Stay and Play Day
If you know of any families that are interested to join BISC's Foundation Stage next year, we are delighted to invite them to a Stay and Play event on Saturday 22nd February.
Families can meet the leadership team and enjoy a walk around the School, while your little ones are entertained by our teachers. They can register here: https://shorturl.at/Bxydo
Upcoming Events
Foundation Stage Parent-Teacher Conferences | Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th February |
Book Week | Sunday 23rd To Thursday 27th February |
Book Week Dress Up Day (children to dress up as their favourite book character) | Thursday 27th February |