March Events Calendar

SCHOOL EVENTS CALENDAR:  CLICK HERE for upcoming school events.

NOTICES FROM TEACHERS:

Attention Years 7 - 9 Parents: "A Focus on Learning and Bonding"  The KS3 activity week is changing date, location and most importantly becoming more learning focused. See important letter that explains more. CLICK HERE.

Attention Year 7 and 9 Parents: Ensuring progression in languages: Chair of World Languages discusses a change in the Year 7 and Year 9 French teaching. CLICK HERE

Attention Year 3 - 6 Parents: Mr. George is excited to be back in charge of certain French classes in Years 3-6. Read more.... CLICK HERE

Attention Year 11 and 12 Parents: Private tutoring is available by Revolution Prep for SAT/ACT/Subject tests/AP Exams, which you can arrange directly with the company. There will be an annual SAT test prep course offered at BSW at the start of the Autumn Term in September 2010. You can request information about the tutoring company and the SAT  prep course from Mr. Simon A. Bird , College and School Liason Coordinator. 

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES:

Yrs. 2 -13 Breakdance and Hip Hop After-School Classes 2nd March - 27th May. CLICK HERE for registration information.

Urban Artistry Hip Hop Classes : A short film of the instructors this term is available by clicking HERE  

Breakdance classes for students in Year 2 - 13 have commenced Tuesdays from 3.30 - 5 p.m. with Gio and Russell. We still have room for a few students. A trial class can be arranged for those who would like to try this exciting dance genre

For girls in Years 1 - 5 , Hip Hop Choreography with Savannah on Thursdays from 3.30 - 5 p.m. is almost full. We have one or two more openings but the class will close this week. If you are interested in your child joining please contact                    Denise Kloeden urgently.  Registrations forms and payments must be completed this week for all students.

Acorn Toddler Play Group - 10th March, 8:45 a.m. Multi-Purpose Room

Good Quality Uniform Sale is Coming! $10.00 cardigans. $5.00 for everything else. Cash only.  Mostly Primary items, but a few Secondary (especially white shirts and a few cardigans) 24th March,  Drop off and pick up times. __________________________________________________________

UPCOMING PARENT MEETINGS:

Year 1 and 2 Parent Meeting with Jo Saunders to discuss ways of supporting writing development (re-scheduled date due to school closure)- 9th March (details through Class Reps)

Food Committee Meeting- 11th March, 8:45 a.m., Top Floor Conference Room, Rm 221

Whole School Class Rep Meeting - 12th March, 8:45 a.m. Multi-Purpose Room. There will be no separate primary/secondary rep meetings prior to this date. Watch for updates from Chirs and Sophia.

PARENT EDUCATION RESOURCES

Written materials from past events are available on the website under the "Parent Tab" at the bottom of the Forms Section.

A Focus on Learning in Nursery

Jo O'Grady, Liverpool Nursery Class Teacher and Nusery Coordinator, Discusses the Value of 'Learning Outside of the Classroom’

Outdoor play is an essential part of the learning in Nursery. Both the adults and the children view the our outdoor area as an extension of the classroom and learning areas. The outdoors provides a range of different experiences for all types of play, building on first hand experiences. It gives the opportunity to move on a large scale, to be active and noisy and uses all their senses.

Through outdoor play, children enhance their skills of social interaction in an environment where there is more freedom and opportunities to explore a different space.

Children need to develop their gross motor skills before they are able to acquire the fine motor skills needed for writing. Therefore, it is essential children are able to work in an area where they can develop these skills. The outside provides an environment enabling children to work on a large scale and use large movements without being restricted.

In Nursery, we have a range of equipment including bikes, scooters and hoppers out on a regular basis. We also take out role play, music, construction, maths and creative boxes outside to enhance other areas of learning on the outdoor environment. The children also have weekly visits to the big playground to play on the large equipment to develop the gross motor and balance skills.

It is important that the children can access this learning space throughout the whole year. Children therefore need to be dressed appropriately with a coat, gloves and hat during cold weather. Learning in the outdoor environment is extremely valuable and enjoyable. If children are dressed appropriately, they can benefit greatly from their outdoor play and not miss any valuable learning opportunities.

If you have any questions about our outdoor learning, please feel free to contact me.

A Focus on Learning in the Classroom

Nursery Finishes their IPC Topic on 'Clothes' with the Fashion Event of the Season

As the Exit point for our IPC Clothes topic, the Nursery children presented a Fashion last week which was a great success. Throughout our Clothes topic, the children used fabric paints, fabric pens and tye dying to design t-shirts, caps and bandannas. They thought carefully about the colours and patterns they wanted to use and how they wanted the clothes to look. The children were very proud of their finished items and were excited to show them to family and friends.

The children presented a Fashion Show in which they individually walked on the catwalk to show off their outfits. The children had practiced their walk and their poses and all the children walked with style! It demonstrated how the children had grown in confidence during their time in Nursery to walk out individually in front of an audience.

Thank you to the Nursery parents for their support at this, the children enjoyed themselves and gained a lot from this experience. We would not be able to do this without your support.

A Focus on Teachers

Getting to Know Karen Casterton, Secondary Section Mathematics Teacher

Originally from Nottingham, I graduated from Keele University in 1993 with a BSc in Mathematics and Biology. After gaining my Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Reading University in 1994, I taught for 5 years in Crawley, England.

I then decided it was time for a new adventure and that I wanted to pursue my passion for travelling. So, in 1999 I took off to teach overseas. I taught for 9 years in International schools in Portugal, Germany, and Italy. In all 3 of these schools I taught Mathematics from Year 7 up to and including the IB Diploma program. I also taught some Key Stage 3 Science.

After living in mainland Europe for 9 years, I was keen to broaden my horizons and move to another part of the world for a bit of a change and a new challenge. After spending a long time living in countries where I was far from fluent in the language, I was also ready to move to an English speaking country. I was therefore fortunate to join BSW in August 2008 where I teach Mathematics in Years 7 – 13, and am the form teacher for Year 7 Manchester.

At BSW I have very much appreciated the positive enthusiasm of the students and have enjoyed their varied and international backgrounds.

I have very much enjoyed life in DC and meeting new and interesting people, and look forward to future adventures. 

A Focus on Table Manners in Reception - Year 2

Karen Pena, Key Stage 1 Coordinator,  Updates Parents on an Initiative That Could Use Reinforcing at Home

In the last few weeks our Keystage 1 teachers and learning assistants have really been focusing on improving our school lunchtimes- in particular re-enforcing the need for good table manners and encouraging a more harmonious atmosphere in the auditorium during the lunch period.

We have appointed table monitors from our older Year 2 children- which has served to empower them in supporting our younger children. Our monitors, who are all taking their roles very seriously are responsible for ensuring that the children remember their manners, eat using the proper utensils and clean up after themselves.

We continue to move towards independence for all our children, especially when it comes to re-cycling their hot lunch containers, remembering their manners, and all their possessions as they leave the hall and finally being responsible for tidying away at the end of lunch.

The table manners that we are working on for all children- have certainly improved the level of noise in the auditorium, as the children are now concentrating on eating their lunch without talking at the same time, to avoid getting up un-necessarily and to only talk to the children on their table.

As we continue to develop these practices in school, we would certainly appreciate that you take the opportunity to pratice the rules in your own home and to talk to your children about the importance of table manners. Perhaps your children could act as table monitors around your dinner table in order to practice the skills we are trying to instill at school.   Thanks as ever for your continued support.

A Focus on Community Links

British Ambassador Launches Charity T-Shirt Competition for Wounded Warriors

BSW encourages children and their families to get involved in this most worthwhile cause.  The British Embassy has launched a competition for members of the public to design a new T-shirt to raise money for two charities supporting wounded warriors from the United Kingdom and the United States.

The criteria is to create a T- shirt for the British Embassy so it can be anything that portrays a modern, vibrant UK. The theme is  "See Britain Through My Eyes" This T-shirt will be worn by Embassy staff at all major public events. We are allowing up to 4-color processing on a white t-shirt. Anything with a Union Jack would work well or  anything to promotes the UK-US relationship.

The winning t-shirts will be worn by British Embassy staff at the EU Open House event on May 8. They will be sold to raise funds for Azalea Charities and the British Army Benevolent Fund in America, two charities that support the welfare of British and American servicemen and women and their families.

Entries will be judged by British Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Politico's man-about-town and staff writer Patrick Gavin, and David Lisoski, manager of the Georgetown branch of British fashion brand Reiss.

The winner will be named VIP visitor at the Embassy's Open House Day and receive a special prize from the Ambassador. For more info contact. Melanie Hinton, Head, Campaigns & Events, 202-518-7522, melanie.hinton@fco.gov.uk

A Focus on Student Video Projects

Louis Daw, Secondary Section Geography Teacher Highlights a Successful Student Video Project in Year 9

Year 9 has been studying the issue of Water Wars. They learnt about the conflicts that exist and those that could escalate as a result of the ever increasing demand over water.

They focused their attention on The Nile and the surrounding countries of Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda and Sudan. Each group took on the role of one of these countries and produced a presentation to justify why they should be given an increased share of The Nile’s water.

They considered aspects such as the changes in life expectancy, infant mortality, health care and economic development that might occur if they were able to utilize The Nile to it’s fullest.

CLICK HERE to watch their video presentation.