The British International School, Cairo eNewsletter

New Principal at BISC

Mr Chris Hansen has been appointed as BISC’s Principal, starting the coming academic year 2025-2026.
Mr Hansen’s last experience was Principal at Kuwait’s top British School: “The Kuwait English School “, following two earlier successful headships. Mr Hansen has, in the past, served as BISC’s Head of Senior School, where he left a positive impact on students, parents and his peers.
We wish our new Principal well.

Happy Mother's Day

The BISC family wishes all our mothers a very happy Mother's Day! We are grateful for your vital role in our community.

Senior School News

Switch Off for Our Planet - Join Earth Hour!

This Saturday, 22nd March, millions of people around the world will take part in Earth Hour by switching off their lights for one hour at 20:30. It will also see iconic structures like the Sydney Opera House and the Eiffel Tower go dark. But Earth Hour is about more than just turning off the lights - it is a powerful reminder that small actions can create a big impact.

By taking part, we show our commitment to protecting nature, tackling climate change and building a more sustainable future. It is also a chance to pause, reflect and appreciate our planet. Whether you spend the hour with family, reading by candlelight, or enjoying the night sky, your participation matters. Find out more by visiting the official website, https://www.earthhour.org/.

Join us in making a difference - switch off and take a stand for our planet!

Year 13 Visual Arts Exhibition 2025

The annual Year 13 Visual Arts Exhibition will be held on Monday, 24th March, in the IB quad from 13:45 until 15:30. Our very talented Art students are very excited to share their hard work and creativity with you. It will also be up for the remainder of the week.

الاحتفاء بالمواهب: قصيدة عن شهر رمضان من إبداع الطالب صلاح الدين

خلال تحية العلم اليوم، ألقى الطالب صلاح الدين من الصف الحادي عشر قصيدة من تأليفه عن شهر رمضان، عبّر فيها عن تقديره لهذا الشهر الكريم. تميّزت قصيدته بإيقاع متناغم، مما عكس موهبته في كتابة الشعر العربي.

Celebrating Talent: A Ramadan Poem by Salah El-Din

During today's flag ceremony, Year 11 student Salah El-Din presented a poem he composed about Ramadan, expressing his appreciation for this holy month. With a harmonious rhythm, he showcased his talent in writing Arabic poetry.

Students' Iftar

Throughout the month of Ramadan, our students have beautifully embodied the spirit of community by sharing iftars together. These gatherings have provided a powerful opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds to connect, foster understanding and strengthen the bonds within our school community. The shared meals and moments of reflection have created a truly special atmosphere of unity and support.

BISC International Trips

We are thrilled to announce confirmed trips for our students! Year 12 will experience their CAS trip to France, Year 11 will immerse themselves in Morocco enjoying incredible architecture and history, Year 10 will hike and camp around Courchevel, and Year 8 will tackle the French Alps; climbing, biking and rafting. Preparations are in full swing!

Upcoming Events

Y12 TOK Exhibition	Tuesday 25th March
Y13 Last Day of Formal Lessons	Wednesday 26th March
Y13 Formal Day	Thursday 27th March

Junior School News

Key Stage 2 Star of the Week

We are pleased to announce the following KS2 Stars of the Week:

3O: Niki Ye, 3M: Ahmed S, 3B: Nazli A, 3F: Mansour E, 4D: Miroslava D, 4B: Farida Z, 4W: Mourad A, 4F: Selim M, 5S: Asser S, 5C: Kareem E, 5B: Karim S, 5D: Mohamed F, 6F: Taya A, 6i: Lara S and 6M: Hamza N.

Our KS2 Mathematicians of the Week are:

3O: Laila S, 4F: Nadia S, 5C: Abdul Karim and 6F: Zayd R.

كم كلمة يمكن أن تقرأها في الدقيقة الواحدة: اختبار جديد لتعزيز مهارة القراءة باللغة العربية

في حصص اللغة العربية بالمرحلة الابتدائية، تم قياس سرعة القراءة لدى الطلاب من خلال تحديد عدد الكلمات التي يمكنهم قراءتها في دقيقة واحدة. يهدف هذا التمرين إلى تحسين الطلاقة، وتعزيز النطق، وبناء الثقة أثناء القراءة، مما يسهم في تطوير مهاراتهم اللغوية. سيتم تكرار هذا الاختبار شهريًا لتتبع تقدم الطلاب.

بالإضافة إلى ذلك، سيتم إرسال ورقة قراءة أسبوعية مع الطلاب للتدرب في المنزل. لضمان تطور سريع، نشجع أولياء الأمور على مساعدة أبنائهم في القراءة باستخدام التوقيت، لمحاكاة التمرين الشهري وتعزيز مهاراتهم.

العدد المستهدف للكلمات لكل صف:

الصف الثاني: 15-25 كلمة
الصف الثالث: 40-50 كلمة
الصف الرابع: 60-70 كلمة
الصف الخامس: 70-80 كلمة
الصف السادس: 80-90 كلمة

How many Arabic words can you read in a minute? A new test to enhance Arabic reading

In Junior school Arabic classes, students' reading speed was measured by determining the number of words they could read in one minute. This exercise aims to improve fluency, enhance pronunciation and build confidence in reading, contributing to the development of their language skills. This assessment will be repeated monthly to track students' progress.

Additionally, a weekly reading sheet will be sent home for students to practice. To ensure rapid improvement, we encourage parents to support their children by using a timer to simulate the monthly exercise and reinforce their skills.

Target word count per grade:

Grade 2: 15-25 words
Grade 3: 40-50 words
Grade 4: 60-70 words
Grade 5: 70-80 words
Grade 6: 80-90 words

صفوف اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بها في الصفين الرابع والخامس يغنون باللغة العربية

احتفل طلاب الصفين الرابع والخامس في صفوف اللغة العربية لغير الناطقين بها بعيد الأم بطريقة مميزة من خلال الغناء باللغة العربية. بأداء حماسي، قدم الطلاب الأغاني بالفصحى، معبرين عن جديتهم وموهبتهم الموسيقية. ساعدت هذه التجربة الطلاب على حفظ الكلمات والتعرض للألحان والإيقاعات العربية. كانت هذه الخبرة فرصة للتواصل مع اللغة والثقافة من خلال الموسيقى الأمر الذي جعل الاحتفال أكثر تميزًا.

Year 5 & Year 4 Arabic for Non-Native Classes Singing in Arabic

Year 5 and Year 4 Arabic Non-Native classes celebrated Mother's Day in a unique and heartwarming way by singing in Arabic. With great enthusiasm, students performed in Modern Standard Arabic, demonstrating their dedication and musical talent. This experience helped them memorise lyrics while immersing themselves in the beauty of Arabic melodies and rhythms. It was a meaningful opportunity to connect with the language and culture through music, making the celebration even more special.

Upcoming Events

KS1 & KS2 Assessment	Sunday 23rd – Thursday 27th March
Class 1E Assembly	Thursday 27th March
Mufti Day - Junk to Funk (Eco Committee & Houses)	Thursday 27th March
Term Holiday	Sunday 30th March – Thursday 10th April

Foundation Stage News

Foundation Stage One

This was a very busy week in Foundation Stage 1. Amongst other activities, the children were working in the Car Wash, launching rockets and learning a song for Mother’s Day.

The children worked hard to create beautiful Mother’s Day cards to show their appreciation of their mums. During our activities, we had meaningful discussions about how special and important mums are. We hope their cards bring a smile to your face. Thank you for your continuous support!

The FS children were actively engaged in preparing cards for Mother's Day, which is celebrated on 21 March in Egypt and the Arab world. This activity aimed to enhance their creative expression and instill an appreciation for family values and cultural traditions.

في حصص اللغة العربية، شارك طلاب المرحلة التمهيدية بنشاط في اعداد بطاقات معبّرة احتفالًا بعيد الأم، والذي يُحتفل به في مصر والعالم العربي في 21 من شهر مارس. يهدف هذا النشاط إلى تعزيز الابتكار والإبداع عند الأطفال وترسيخ تقديرهم لقيم الأسرة والتقاليد الثقافية.