Issue 25
THE BULLETINBPS NEWSLETTER
The Bulletin BPS Newsletter
10 th March 2017
THERE IS NO SHORTCUT S TO ANY PLACE WORTH GOING – BEVERLY SILLS
South to Kenting!
by Mr. Peter Sloan
This week two of our Year Six classes, 6DK and 6TM, have been away on their annual residential visit that is based around Kenting and Tainan. Next week our other two Year Six classes, 6CW and 6KM, will take their turn. Year 6 parents have been able to follow their journey via Twitter and have been able to follow the ‘adventures’ of their children as they have ‘explored’ the southern part of Taiwan. As you can imagine, organising two visits for groups of over forty children is a major undertaking. It involves many hours of work by school staff and has to be meticulously planned. Our first priority on any visit is always safety and this especially so for the Year 6 visits, because of the duration and distance of the trip. We ensure that all visits are accompanied by trained First Aiders, that there has been liaison with parents over any of our pupils medication needs or medical conditions. All visit sites are reconnoitered and every trip is well staffed with teachers and learning assistants.
So, why do we do it? Why are the annual residential visits for Year 6, as well as the Year 5 visits to Camp Taiwan, such an important element in our BPS calendar? At BPS we are committed to the education of the whole child. Academic excellence is absolutely critical, but it is only one dimension of the learning that children need to embrace if they are going to grow to fulfill their full potential. The other dimension, just as important, is that of their emotional intelligence. We want our children to grow into young people who are confident, independent, prepared to meet challenges and who can work well with others. Both academic intelligence and emotional intelligence are needed for young people to thrive. The residential visits provide a structured, supportive opportunity for our children to explore new challenges in an independent way. For many of them this may be their first time away from family and this opportunity challenges them to work with their classmates and teachers to make the visit a success. The visits are a major opportunity for children to continue to
develop as individuals and to focus on TES values values. I must say at this point that there are also lots of opportunities for learning across a whole range of subjects. There is also a great deal of fun!
THE BULLETINBPS NEWSLETTER
Issue25
Festival Fun in...South Africa!
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by Miss Emma Thomas
We were very lucky to have a visit on Friday by Bestse's Mum, Lorato and her wonderful ful friends. They came into school to teach us about the festivals and culture of South Africa!
We were then treated to a traditional fairy tale ta from South Africa; Tselane Li Dimo which Betse and Gift read to us in English and Setswana.
We all had a fabulous time learning some traditional skipping and stone games; 'Mma Dlamini' and 'Morabara'.
We even got to try some delicious, yet spicy, Gemere juice! A huge thank you for bringing our learning to life :)
Welcome to our new Nursery Teacher
by Mr. Peter Sloan
BPS gave a warm welcome to Miss Julie-Anne Anne Varney this week as she arrived in Taipei. Miss Varney will be teaching in Nursery and will be taking over from Mrs. Julie Wickham next term. Mrs. Wickham and her family are moving to Peru where she will be taking up the role of Head of Early Years in n an international school in Lima. Many thanks to Mrs. Wickham for all she has done for our Nursery, we wish her every success in her new school. Miss Varney is joining us from a school in New Zealand and is an experienced Early Years practitioner with sixteen years as a Nursery ursery teacher. She will be spending the rest of this term working alongside Mrs Wickham and other colleagues in the t Nursery before taking on her class teacher role the final term of this academic year. Parents will have the opportunity tunity to say hello during this time and I am sure that you will make her feel very welcome as she joins the BPS community.
Maths Week Magic!
by Mr. Duncan Millward
Next week is Math's Week! The purpose of Maths Week is to celebrate the subject and to promote fun ways to learn about Maths. We want students to realise that maths is all around us and has many practical uses in life. Various activities will be happening throughout the week including challenges, a scavenger hunt and themed assemblies.
There will also be a competition for children (and parent's are allowed to help!!), a maths photography competition!! There are two categories: 1. Take a photo of numbers in the environment. Be inventive - choose any number between: 1 to 100 2. Take a photo of shapes and patterns in the environment - put a caption to it that shows the maths.
Email these photos to Mrs Adams (
[email protected] [email protected]). For students: include your name, age, and room number on the photo. The photos will be used for a Maths Week display. Certificates will be awarded for participation and a prize for the winner in each Year group. Only one entry per child! So make sure you choose your best photo. One that shows your best thinking, best maths and awesome creat creativity!
THE BULLETINBPS NEWSLETTER
B4.1 PE Lesson
Issue25
13-17 Mar
- Year 6 Kenting Trip (B6.1/ B6.2)
16-19 Mar
- FOBISIA Maths Competition – Team to KL
(Tue) 21 Mar
- Year 5 Trip to Yingge Pottery Village (B5.3/B5.4)
(Wed) 22Mar
- Year 5 Trip to Yingge Pottery Village (B5.1/B5.2) - Early Years Foundation Sports Day (BN/ BR) - Year 4 Show
(Thu) 23 Mar
- Key Stage 1 Sports Day (Year 1-3)
(Fri) 24 Mar
- Key Stage 2 Sports Day (Year 4-6)
23-27 Mar
- FOBISIA Music Festival – Team to HK
For more details of the school academic calendar, please click the link below: http://www.taipeieuropeanschool.com/calendarM.php
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B2.4 Music Lesson
