BIFS Newsletter, 2016-04-29 (English)

BIFS NEWSLETTERUnited in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

Busan International Foreign School

www.bifskorea.org | [email protected] | T. 82 51 742 3332

ISSUE 52, April 29, 2016

ContentsThis Coming Week at BIFS1. Mon, May 2: IBDP Exams begin

2. Tue, May 3: ES Student-Led Conferences

3. Tue, May 3-13: Whole School Art Show

4. Thu, May 5: Children’s day – No School

5. Fri, May 6: National holiday – No School

Whole School1. Learning on Display! The value of the PYP exhibition

2. PTA News

3. Grease: The Musical! – April 28, 29

4. NWEA MAP Testing for Grades 2–10

5. Whole School Art Show - May 3-13

6. PTA International Day 2016 – May 7

7. PTA International Day 2016 – Activities Information

8. PTA International Day 2016 – World Wheel of Fortune

9. PTA International Day 2016 – Ticket Prepurchase

10. BIFS Information Evening – May 12

11. ABRSM Practical Exams – May 17, 18

12. IT Services - New MacBooks Launched

13. IT Services - Apple Computer Discounts

14. PE Uniform Shop

15. Cafeteria Menu: May 2-6

Elementary School1. ES Student-Led Conferences & Gr 3-5 Basketball Tournament

2. Grade 5 BYOD Pilot Extended for 2016-17

3. Cross Cultural Day at BIFS

4. Field Trip

5. PYP Exhibition

6. Upcoming Elementary Events

7. Morning Break Snack Audit

8. Author and Storyteller Visits in May

Middle School and High School1. MHS Parent Coffee: Life After BIFS

2. MUN Conference

For Your Diary

BIFS Annual Calendar 2015-16 & 2016-17

School & Community Links

(Click to jump straight to the article -

home icon brings you back to Contents)

President Park recently declared May 6th

as National holiday for Korea.

Therefore, the school will be closed.

There will be no school on Friday, May 6th.

http://www.bifskorea.org/

mailto:[email protected]





I hope that you had the opportunity to take in the incredible displays of learning that our grade 5 student’s

produced for their PYP exhibition this past week. The students and their mentor teachers have worked very hard

to achieve the wonderful outcomes that were on display in the ES Assembly hall this past week. Our students

shared many powerful learnings and lessons for our entire community through the PYP exhibition process and

therein lies the enormous value for our BIFS students!

The PYP exhibition represents a significant event in the life of every PYP school and student. It provides an

opportunity for our 5th graders to synthesize the essential elements of the PYP- knowledge, concepts, skills,

attitudes and action- and share them with the whole school community. It is also an opportunity for students to

exhibit the attributes of the International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile that they have been developing

throughout their engagement with the PYP.

The exhibition requires students to form groups, based on their interest to engage in a collaborative,

transdisciplinary inquiry process that involves identifying, investigating, and offering solutions to real-life issues or

problems. Throughout the project, the groups work with their classroom teachers and a mentor. They provide

support and encourage students work through challenges encountered in the process. They also empower

students to take action as a result of their exhibition process. As the culminating PYP experience, the exhibition

includes regular and carefully planned assessments, which provide the opportunity for students to participate

and be assessed in an authentic learning situation.

It was a joy for our grade five students to share their learning and accomplishments with the wider BIFS

community as students from all divisions, and parents, attended their presentations and enjoyed their displays. I

am confident that you are as proud of their work as I am! I was amazed at what they have accomplished and I

learned so much! Way to go grade five, way to go Bears!

Kevin Baker

Head of School

Whole SchoolLearning on Display! The value of the PYP exhibition

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PTA News

International Day is ONE week away!

• Pre-paid ticket forms will be accepted till Monday, 2 May.

• We are still looking for volunteers especially help with the Water Wheels activity. Don't be

worried about getting wet, you won't have to leave dry ground at all. Be a catalyst for fun.

Follow the link to sign up.

• World Wheel of Fortune needs more donations. We have 43 and our goal

is 60. You can sign up here:

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0945A8AC2BA5FE3-world

• MS/HS students are needed to be “tour guides” for elementary age children

who’s parents are staffing their country’s booth. You can sign up here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c4fafae2dab9-mshs

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aaaad2aa6ff2-international

• On the week of 9-13 May, join us in celebrating the hard work and commitment our teachers show to our

children.

Please sign up to bring a sweet or savory; homemade or purchased in a store enough for twelve people. Food

should be sent to school with your child or deliver your self no later than 11am. There are three sections to the

sign-up: ES staff room; MS/HS staff room; and the Parent room for the staff. We included the staff this year to

show our appreciation for the support they give to our teachers and our school.

http://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=w.create6&listid=7692376&owner=8123169

PTA President

Joy Priedeman



http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0945A8AC2BA5FE3-world

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c4fafae2dab9-mshs


http://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=w.create6&listid=7692376&owner=8123169





Grease: The Musical! – April 28, 29

Remember Sandy and Danny, the T-birds and Pink Ladies, Rydell High and the Hand-jive? Of course you can

sing by heart memorable songs such as Summer Nights, Beauty School Dropout, We Go Together and the

unforgettable You’re the One that I Want. So, come along and watch the first fully student-led, student-directed

and student-produced theater performance at BIFS.... Grease: The Musical!! Enjoy a night of laughs, songs and

drama of this classic and legendary musical. BIFS students have worked hard for the past five months and wish

for you to come and enjoy the entertainment of this timeless play. It will surely be a night to remember!!

The show is for two nights only! Productions will be held on Thursday, April 28th and Friday, April 29th at 7:00

pm in the 5th floor Assembly Hall of the Middle/High School (C5.1). Tickets will be sold at 3,000 won for students

and 5,000 won for adults; ELC students will be able to enter for free. All money from ticket sales will be used to

support the Busan Soup Kitchen and local community.

Please click on the link (https://goo.gl/7DS7MO) to order your tickets! You can pay and collect the tickets from

the 1st floor cafe in C building, or pay for it at the door on performance nights! We look forward to seeing you

and showing you what we have worked so hard on!!

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https://goo.gl/7DS7MO





NWEA MAP Testing for Grades 2 - 10

During April and May, children in grades 2 – 10 will take tests called Measures of Academic Progress® (MAP® ).

We give MAP tests as a measure of individual student instructional levels, to measure individual academic

growth from year-to-year, and as a reflective tool on our programs in the areas of mathematics, reading, and

language usage.

MAP tests are unique in that they are computerized and adapt to be appropriate for each child’s level of

learning. When taking a MAP® test, the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all of

the previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions become more difficult. If the student answers

incorrectly, the questions become easier. In an optimal test, a student answers approximately half the items

correctly and half incorrectly. The final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level. As a result, each

student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing.

Over the next few days, your child will spend a total of about three hours completing these tests. Following the

testing period, you will receive a report showing your child’s growth. For more information on resources for

parents, we encourage you to download the Parent Toolkit here. The toolkit includes information on how the

MAP is run and scored, as well as tips for parents to support their child at home.

MAP Schedule (In progress)

Grade 3: May 2, 4, 6 Grade 4: May 2

Grade 5: May 16, 18, 19 Grade 6-10: May 9, 10, 12

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http://legacysupport.nwea.org/sites/www.nwea.org/files/resources/ParentToolkit_0.pdf





Whole School Art Show - May 3 - 13

The Visual Art department will be holding a Whole School Art Show from May 3 - 13. Select works from

Kindergarten to Grade 12 can be viewed on the 2nd floor walkways of both B and C buildings. Please come and

celebrate the art of our young BIFS artists!

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http://bifselementaryart.weebly.com/

http://bifselementaryart.weebly.com/





PTA International Day 2016 – May 7

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PTA International Day 2016 – Activities Information

Continued on the next page

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PTA International Day 2016 – Activities Information

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PTA International Day 2016 – World Wheel of Fortune

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PTA International Day 2016 – Ticket Prepurchase

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BIFS Information Evening for Korean Parents – May 12

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We are holding a BIFS Information Evening for Korean parents at Haeundae I’Park on Thursday, May 12 from

7:00 to 8:30pm. The event will be run in Korean to cater to Korean prospective parents. Please spread the news

and invite your Korean friends to the event!



https://docs.google.com/a/bifskorea.org/forms/d/1Hb5Mza5Mic7pp4q-1CMJG_Worw3P0p9WfXllffRe5EQ/viewform?c=0&w=1






As we reach the end of the year, some parents are contacting the IT Services team for

advice about laptop purchases for next year, and we are happy to help.

IT Services has negotiated a range of discounted prices and trade-in deals on Apple

products for staff and students at BIFS, from our Apple equipment vendor, ComIT.

Savings are typically around 12% for MacBook laptops and iMacs, 11% on Mac Minis, 8% on iPad Airs, and 6%

on iPad Minis.

To view a list of available products and order, please visit the following web addresses:

http://bit.ly/itservices-apple-list

http://bit.ly/itservices-order-form

http://bit.ly/itservices-order-kr (Korean)

http://bit.ly/itservices-apple-tradein (Trade-in prices)

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

ABRSM Practical Exams – May 17, 18

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The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Practical Exams will be held here at school on

Tuesday May 17 and Wednesday May 18 in C5.5.

IT Services - Apple Computer Discounts

IT Services - New MacBooks Launched

Many of our students purchase MacBooks to use at school - please be aware that Apple has just announced

updates to their MacBook and MacBook Air models, and we are expecting these to be available for purchase in

Korea shortly.

[email protected] or ☎ +82-51-742-3332 x 126

http://bit.ly/bifsitnews

http://bit.ly/bifslaptops



http://bit.ly/itservices-apple-list

http://bit.ly/itservices-order-form

http://bit.ly/itservices-order-kr

http://bit.ly/itservices-apple-tradein


http://bit.ly/bifsitnews

http://bit.ly/bifslaptops





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PE Uniform Shop

We did some SPRING CLEANING in the PE Uniform Shop over Spring Break!! ALL COLD WEATHER CLOTHING

HAS BEEN CLEARANCE PRICED!!!

Polar Fleece Vests, Fleece Tops, Fleece Pants,

Tracksuit Jackets and Tracksuit Pants

NOW 10,000 won each

BIFS Bears Gray and White Hoodies

(sizes limited)

NOW 20,000 won each

BIFS Beanies

NOW 6,000 won each

BIFS blankets

NOW 35,000 won each

All sales are final. No refunds will be given.

THE PE UNIFORM SHOP is open Monday through Thursday! Please check the calendar on the BIFS website for

actual shop hours each week. Note: Shop hours are determined by the availability of our volunteers!

All general information regarding PE Uniforms can be found under the “life at BIFS” tab

on the BIFS website!

LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AT SCHOOL? Sign up NOW for next school year and spend a

day or two getting your feet wet (training) in May!! Our volunteers are generally scheduled 8:30-12 or 12-3:30

twice each month (but we are flexible)!! We won’t turn anyone away! Volunteers in the PE Uniform Shop have a

regular schedule so it is easy to plan around. For more information about volunteering in the PE Uniform Shop,

contact Dee Baker at [email protected].









Cafeteria Menu: May 2-6

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We serve brunch buffet or international buffet every 3rd Thursday of a month.

Sandwich Bar

Lunch Menu







Elementary School

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KG-5 Student-Led Conferences and Grades 3-5 Basketball Tournament

Please join us on May 3 to celebrate a year of learning and accomplishments (Grades KG-5), and to watch some

invigorating rounds of basketball (Grades 3-5). BIFS will play host to visiting schools in the basketball

tournament, and we have schedules the student games around the Student Led Conferences schedule. Here is

an overlay of the schedules:

We would appreciate all parents attending the conferences if possible. Please RSVP via this link or this URL:

http://goo.gl/forms/k5y7mvRujS

Time Student-Led Conference Basketball Tournament

8:40am-10:10am Kindergarten & Grade 1

10:00am-12:00pm Grade 5

10:30am-12:00pm Grade 3 & 4

12:40pm-3:20pm Grade 3 & 4

12:45pm-2:15pm Grade 5

2:20pm-3:00pm Grade 5




https://docs.google.com/a/bifskorea.org/forms/d/1ii2a0yin_s7D_2sb2JrhGPQZMC68vArVOloD4hF4N8U/viewform?c=0&w=1






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Grade 5 BYOD Pilot Extended for 2016-17

We are excited to inform you that the Grade 5 Optional “Bring Your Own Device” Pilot Program will be

extended over the course of the 2016-2017 school year. Parents of current Grade 4 students entering Grade 5

next year have received a targeted email with details of the program. We hope your child can participate!







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Cross Cultural Day at BIFS

On Friday, May 20th, BIFS will host the Annual Cross Cultural Day with the Milak Elementary School and the

Busan Japanese School. The Fourth Grade Chorus and the Ballet elective group will both be performing during

the opening ceremonies of this event. Students from all three schools will partake in performances and activities

promoting cross cultural understanding throughout the morning. Our ELC and ES students will take part in

watching the cultural performances from 9:30-10:30. The Grades 3-5 will host cultural activities for the

remainder of the event. This celebration will start at 9:30 a.m. and finish at 12:00 p.m.

We welcome parent volunteers during the activities from 10:30-11:30 to assist with a snack booth. Please email

the elementary office at [email protected] if you would like to help for a portion, or all, of this time. Thank

you!

Field Trip

Senior Preschool went on two trips this week: Suhrang Pottery on Tuesday and the Children's Museum in the

Busan Museum of Art on Thursday.

Grade 4 has been studying various beliefs in their How We Express Ourselves unit, including learning about

Buddhism. They visited Beomesa Temple last Friday to learn more about Buddhism.







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PYP Exhibition

ELC Student-Led Conferences

Please join our ELC students for conferences on Tuesday, May 10. More details to follow soon.







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Date/Time Event Details

May 3 Student-Led Conferences Families join their children during a portion of the day as

the children share learning from their homeroom and

specialist classes. A schedule will be sent home soon.

May 3 Basketball Tournament Grades 3-5 Basketball with neighboring schools, hosted at

BIFS

May 5 No School Children’s Day

May 6 No School National Holiday

May 9-10 Visiting Storyteller

May 12-13 Grade 4 Camp Grade 4 goes on an overnight camp to Tongyeong

May 20, 9:30-12:00 Cross-Cultural Day BIFS Elementary hosts the Japanese and Millak Schools for

cultural performances and activities

May 20, 2:35-3:15 Elementary Assembly Kindergarten assembly

May 27, 2:35-3:15 Elementary Assembly Grade 4R assembly

June 3, 2:35-3:15 Elementary Assembly Grade 5 will perform a debate as part of their research

and learning about energy sources

June 3 Electives End Last day for ES Electives - all students depart at 3:30

during the last week of school

June 7 ES Water Sports Day Grades KG-5

June 9, 1:30-2:30 Grade 5 Graduation The community is invited to attend the Grade 5

Graduation celebration

June 10 Last Day of School Noon dismissal for all students; no lunch provided

Summer holidays! We will miss you!!

Upcoming Elementary Events

Anne Sweet

Elementary School Principal

Leda Cedo

PYP Coordinator







Morning Break Snack Audit

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We are a PYP Exhibition group called The Smart Plastic Experts. We

are concerned about how much plastic we use every day, and our

mission is to raise awareness because we use too much plastic. We are

going to try to encourage the students to reduce the amount of plastic

we use every day. We would like you to help your children take

reusable plastic containers to school instead of disposable soft plastic

because we use too much plastic. We are going to measure the

amount of plastic the kids bring to school.

Alex, Na Lyeong, and Kanta (Grade 5 students)

Author and Storyteller Visits in May

Her most popular book, The Name Jar, is available for

purchase from The Book Depository and local

bookshops such as Kyobo. If you would like to purchase

one of her books before May 6, there may be an

opportunity for her to sign it for you when she visits us.

You can find out more about Yangsook Choi from her

website: http://www.yangsookchoi.com/

Monday and Tuesday, May 9 & 10 we will be hosting an

international storyteller during our elementary library times.

Australian-based storyteller, author and musician, Morgan

Schatz Blackrose will inspire us with multicultural stories, songs,

music and rhymes. For more information, please visit her

website at http://www.schatzblackrose.com/

Sue Toms

Head of Libraries

BIFS elementary library is very pleased to have both an author and storyteller

visiting us in May. Yangsook Choi, author and illustrator of several multicultural

children’s books, will visit us for the elementary assembly on Friday, May 6.

Yangsook grew up in Korea but now divides her time between New York and

Seoul. Ms. Choi has won numerous awards for her books.



https://www.bookdepository.com/

http://www.kyobobook.co.kr/

http://www.yangsookchoi.com/

http://www.schatzblackrose.com/





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Middle School and High SchoolMHS Parent Coffee - Life After BIFS

This past Wednesday, the MHS had another wonderful parent

workshop (with coffee) that discussed what we can do as

parents to help our students after they leave BIFS.

Some of the things that parents suggested doing to help students were so interesting, we wanted to share

them with you.

• Support them socially as well as academically. Teach them how to talk

with others who haven’t had the same experiences as they have.

• Make sure that they have a “Home Base” or a place they can call

home.

• Continue to support a child’s ”Mother Tongue”.

• Use your Embassy.

• Start talking about University or future plans early.

• Continue to enroll them in International schools wherever you go.

Some of the other things discussed were:

• The feeling that the students had after finishing an intense DP program of “Now what?”

• Parents not wanting their children to leave

• Parents dealing with having an “Empty Nest”

• Korean families and the unique situation their children are in

• Being a “Third Culture Kid”

There were many tears, laughs, questions, and great ideas for

all parents as we prepare for that day when our child will

either leave for college or we will move to another location.

Daun Yorke led parents through a wonderful slide show and

discussion about many different aspects of being a “Third

Culture Kid” or attending an international school.

We want to thank parents and staff who have attended and led our MHS Parent Workshops (with coffee) this

year. We always looked forward to spending time with parents and we will try to continue to provide topics that

parents want or need again next year.

Nate Swenson Jamie Robb

Middle School Principal High School Principal

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/43/a6/f3/43a6f3f93c736d7dbf7f32eb2b831741.jpg

To prepare their children they said:







MUN Conference

Please help me congratulate the students who participated in the TAIMUN (Taiwan Model United Nations)

conference in Taichung, Taiwan this past weekend. All members are experienced and they were: Pernille Melilla

(11), Liam Robb (11), Simon Park (9), and Alex Lang (10). Students participated by representing their country’s

viewpoint through presentations, negotiations, and debate.

Some highlights were: Alex Lang quoting Sharia Law to represent Saudi Arabia and refute and argue many

Human Rights resolutions, and Pernilla Melilla wrote and passed a Resolution (one of the highest achievements)

in the Economic and Social Council.

As an MUN team, we had a great time, and students thoroughly enjoyed participating.

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All High School information will be communicated through the Friday Weekly E-mail.







For Your Diary

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May 2016

2nd-20th • IBDP Exams

3rd • ES Student-Led Conferences

5th • Children's day - No School

6th • National holiday - No School

7th • PTA International Day

9th-10th • ES Visiting Storytellers

9th-13rd • PTA Teacher Appreciation Week

10th • ELC Student-Led Conferences

11th • SKAC MS Boys BBall @ BIFS

• SKAC MS Girls BBall @ BFS

• BIFS Parent Workshop

• PTA Meeting

12th-13th • Grade 4 Camp

12th • BIFS Information Evening @ Marine City

13th • HS Assembly

14th • KISAC MS Blue BBall @ BISC & DCSL

17th-20th • Grade 11 Final Exams

17th-18th • ABRSM Practical Exams

18th • ES Parent Coffee

19th • BIFS Information Evening @ UNIST

20th-22nd • KISAC MS Red Bball @ KIS Jeju

20th • ES Cross Cultural Day

21st • Global Gathering

23rd • Life After BIFS Event - Grade 12

25th • MHS Parent Coffee

27th • G12 Graduation

31st • International Track & Field Meet

April 2016

30th • KISAC HS Blue Soccer @ CI







School & Community Links

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Please contact the school if you wish to inquire about promoting

your company in the BIFS Newsletter.

[email protected] | 051-742-3332






BIFS Newsletter, 2016-04-29 (English)

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Transcript of BIFS Newsletter, 2016-04-29 (English)