International British School of Bucharest Friday, March 20, 2015

WEEK 26 NEWS Primary | Secondary | Whole School

The last full solar eclipse happened in the UK in 1999. The next one will apparently happen in 2090. The fact that we are able to calculate so accurately to the hour and minute when these types of events will happen is a sign of just how far we have come. The fact that we are able to study these events now with such precision, with high powered technology, with telescopes able to penetrate deep into space, and satellites circling the earth is again a tribute to the imagination of the human mind and perseverance of the human spirit and an indication of the rate of change as we evolve into an ever more techno savvy community.

Education a process of exploration

It does not seem so long ago that I found myself, aged around 7 or 8 years old, standing outside my primary school class back in New Zealand, excitedly awaiting the moment, shoe box pinhole camera in hand- designed specially to enable me to watch the solar eclipse in a safe way– in the company of my classmates, all of us speaking to each other in nervous anticipation of the big event. I vividly recall my teacher explaining the dangers of looking directly at a solar eclipse, just as our students were this week, and I also recall the short history lesson we were given spanning the history of eclipses, transporting us to ancient Greece and Egypt, and then passing through the Dark Ages when people were burnt at the stake for heresy and lesser charges, continuing on through the Middle Ages and the time of Chaucer

Istanbul MUN Trip 2015

Solar Eclipse The next one will happen in 2090

Photo Gallery

A special week in many ways

International British School of Bucharest Friday, March 20, 2015

when solar eclipses were still viewed with a sense of superstition, and in many cases fear. In Norse mythology, the story goes that a wolflike giant Sköll followed the Sun waiting for his chance to devour it; in ancient Egypt, the evil god Set was thought to have leapt into the eye of the Sun god, Horus; and in ancient China it was a heavenly dog that ate the Sun.

Thankfully for young minds now, such phenomena is a source of incredible wonder and mystery- rather than fear- and an opportunity for learning, with our teachers using these events to connect the learning that goes on within the classroom with the world that surrounds us all. A special thank you to the teachers for helping the students to make their pinhole cameras, and for making the day such an exciting event for everyone

Francophone Week/Spanish Exchange

Thank you also to the Modern Foreign Languages Department and in particular to Ms Diana Lia for making the week a memorable week for many students with a variety of Francophone activates arranged, along with a busy week of activities relating to the Spanish Exchange Trip. I spoke with Ms Lia on the phone today and the trip to Brasov was a great success, with the students planning a farewell celebration for all the students tomorrow evening to ensure they leave having enjoyed Bucharest at its very best. We look forward to seeing photos on the IBSB Facebook page in the week ahead and an update when our students travel to Spain in September.

Spring Show Charity Raffle

Finally, I would like to ask parents to once again send in prizes for the charity raffle next week– to be drawn at the Primary School Spring Show on April the 1st. This happens just twice a year with all money raised going to various student charities.

Have a wonderful week with friends and family.

Warm regards,

Mr Kendall Peet Ms Aura Bogdan Head of School Executive Director

Francophone Week

Photo Gallery

International British School of Bucharest Friday, March 20, 2015

Head of Primary Message

Over the recent weeks I have been out on the playground at breaks, which is an ideal opportunity to see children showing different facets of their personality, learning and behaviour profile from what is apparent in the classroom. We indulge in realms of fantasy: I've been to Egypt to see the pyramids and pharaohs with Year 1 and in a Princess' castle with Year 2; investigated the physics of sound through correlating pitch and membrane on a small toy with Year 4; learnt more about Passover with Year 5. The skill of some children with a hula hoop or at table tennis is astounding and balances satisfyingly with those children who constantly trip over their skipping rope, or persist in missing the ball with either foot or hands. If the warmth of Spring ever finally arrives to bless us we will have more artistic displays on easel and concrete, construction, sculpture and design technology in the sandpit, and an increasing array of bookworms. There are so many opportunities to manage one's personal space, cope with interference, share resources and attention, learn to be an effective team-member, and master the art of communication.

In the classroom it has been lovely to see the family trees in Year 5, knowing the careful research that has gone into each and marvelling at their display techniques. Genealogy is fascinating and as the students have discovered more about the Stone to Iron Ages, Mesolithic and Neolithic peoples, genetics and evolution they reach a clearer understanding of the place they have in the history and development of the world and a very humbling sense of awe and wonder. Year 4 have got excited about making a road in Roman Britain, knowing how significant that technology was to the success of the Roman army, and goggled at a dissection of a 3D model of the skull. Year 3 are contrasting and commenting on the great masters ranging from Picasso to Monet, but also going

much further back to the cave art, picked up once more by Year 5.

Year 2 took their learning out of school this week and visited the Muzeul Tehnic Dimitrie Leonida, returning with exciting tales of the inventions and machines they saw and even operated on, illustrating the mechanics, electricity and magnetism laws that made more sense to them in action. Whilst it might not compare in size and magnificence with the Science Museum in London, it provided a great deal of enjoyment and learning so relevant to what the children are studying back in school.

Science visited us in a different form at the end of the week with the opportunity to witness at least partially the total solar eclipse that brings together this month's supermoon (when the moon orbits at its closest to Earth) and the Vernal Equinox (when the Earth's axis is perpendicular to the sun's rays causing night and day to be of equal length). The whole Primary School was buzzing with anticipation all morning, some armed with pin-hole cameras, eclipse glasses, welding goggles; others enjoying the live link from the Faroe Islands and all learning yet again more about this wonderful and amazing world in which we live. As one Year 5 student stated, "It has been the coolest day of my life so far" and he wasn't commenting on the ambient temperature.

Next week? What better to follow that than a timely reminder of the need to preserve our world, culminating in Earth Hour a week on Saturday, but previewed here at IBSB a day earlier.

May this weekend bring you all peace, rest and sunshine.

Stephanie Jones Head of Primary

PRIMARY

Year 2 Trip

To the Technical Museum

The Technical Museum in Carol Park is truly one of Bucharest’s finest. Although we were a bit lost amongst diagrams of alternating current and electrostatic machines, the exhibits were fascinating and prompted a wide range of questions and discussion. When we reached the steam trains, bicycles and collection of old cars we were right back on track however, and were able to make fantastic links to our learning in class. Having missed the brief snow flurry while we were inside, we headed out to the park for lunch, a walk up to the National Heroes Monument, and a quick whizz round the playground before the buses returned to take us back to school. The children were then given postcards from the museum to write about their favourite exhibit, and take home for mums and dads.

International British School of Bucharest Friday, March 20, 2015

SECONDARY

Head of Secondary Message

Francophone Week Year 11 students organized the whole week of activities to cele-brate Francophone Week, with a bake sale, reading about France, playing French music and culminating in a non-uniform day (red, white, and blue) and an assembly. Year 9 were not to be outdone and also discussed everything French in their Form Period. Visiting Spanish School This week we welcomed students from Ies La Serna and they have spent a day in the school as well as visited some attractions around Bucharest and Brasov. We hope that they have had a good time and we will also look forward to a return visit to Spain in the Autumn.

Countdown to Exams

Assessment Dates

Wishing you an enjoyable weekend.

Robert Hewett Head of Secondary

Outside Speakers Mr Ghnea and Mr Nicolaescu came to speak to the Year 10 and 11 Business students. Their main focus was Dragon’s Den, pitching an idea and the structure of a presentation. In addition, Year 12 students volunteered to talk to Year 7 about hygiene. The talks were very comprehensive and I am sure that the Year 7 students really appreciat-ed the time and effort that they went to in order to prepare the presenta-tions. Assessment Week Next week will be assessment week for year 7 to 10, although year 11,12 and 13 will continue with timed past papers in lessons and addition homework task. I hope that the students will be focussing over the weekend in preparation for these. Option talks to parents to explain the process will take place as follows in the Codecs Building. IGCSE Options talk to Parents in Year 9 Tuesday 24th March (16:30) Options talk to Parents in Year 11 Tuesday 24th March (17:00)

Francophone Week in Secondary

Subject Date Countdown

Checkpoint 20 April 30 Days

Subject Date Countdown

IGCSE Level Speaking 25 March 5 Days

ICT Practical 22 April 32 Days

IGCSE English Speaking 30 April 40Days

IGCSE Written Examinations 28 April 48 Days

Subject Date Countdown

Advanced Level Speaking 28 April 38 Days

A Level Written Examinations 5 May 45 Days

Term

Week Assessment From To

2b 27 End of Term Assessment 2B & Additional Mocks

23 March

27 March

3 28 Oral and Practical CIE exams

20 March

31 April

3 30 End of Term Assessment 3 (Year s7-10)

20 April 24 April

3 30 Checkpoint 20 April 23 April

3 32 CIE exams 4 May 12 June

International British School of Bucharest Friday, March 20, 2015

Looking ahead to Next Term:

Term 2b: Week 27

(Week starting Monday, March 23rd)

Description Date/Time Location

Staff DOE Training Saturday, March 21st-22nd IBSB

Spanish Exchange Programme

Students Depart Sunday, March 22nd Spain

Assessment Week Years 7-10

Mock Practice for years 11-13 Week 27 IBSB

Year 11

Transition Day ( A Level Classes) Tuesday, March 24th IBSB

IGCSE Options Talk to Parents

Year 7/8 Parents Welcome to At-

tend

Tuesday, March 24th

4:30-5.00pm IBSB

A Level Options Talk to Parents

Year 10 Parents Welcome to Attend

Tuesday, March 24th

5:00-6.00pm IBSB

IGCSE Speaking Examinations

Start Wednesday, March 25th IBSB

IGCSE Business Studies

Mr Dutu Alexandru– Guest Speaker Wednesday, March 25th IBSB

Year 1 Educational Visit

Merlin Books and Toys Store

Thursday, March 26th

8:45-11.45apm Bucharest

Years 12 & 13 CAS Gala Thursday, March 26th

1:55-4.00pm

IBSB

Codecs Level 3

Whole School

Earth Hour Friday, March 27th IBSB

Looking a little further ahead - A Few Key Events

Parent Workshop

Moral Dilemmas- Case Studies

Monday, March 30th

4.30-5.30pm

IBSB

Codecs Level 3

Years 10 & 11

Secondary Dragon’s Den Competi-

tion

Monday, Tuesday 30th

1.15-2.50pm IBSB

Year 10 E2L English Trip

Jewish Culture and History Tour

Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

9.30-1.00pm Bucharest

Year 11 Geography Field Trip Wednesday, April 1st, 2015

1.00-4.00pm Bucharest

Primary School

Spring Show

Wednesday, April 1st

6.00pm start Tandarica Theatre

Easter Break April 3rd-14th IBSB

Enjoy your weekend!