Skills Programme
We are pleased to share with you some exciting news about a Year 6 skills lesson that took place this term. Mrs. Oosthuizen taught the students how to sew buttons on clothing, and we are thrilled to say that it was a great success.
The children were provided with needles, buttons, thread, and cloth, and were given step-by-step instructions on how to sew a button. Although some students struggled with getting the thread through the needle at first, they quickly overcame this challenge and progressed to sewing their buttons with ease. Mrs. Oosthuizen, Mrs. Kirkaldy and even Mr. O was on hand to offer extra help to those who needed it, ensuring that everyone was able to complete the task successfully.
We are particularly proud of two students, Alistair and Nivad, who went the extra mile with this lesson. Alistair brought his own pants and button that he wanted to mend, and Nivad was so inspired by the lesson that he sewed a miniature pillow the next day.
Sewing is a valuable life skill that can come in handy in many situations, and we are confident that the Year 6 students will benefit from this lesson for years to come. We are grateful to Mrs Oosthuizen for her dedication and hard work in preparing for this lesson, and we hope that the children enjoyed it as much as we did.
In one of the future lessons, we would like to teach the students how to change a plug. If parents have any extra plugs or cables they can spare, please send them to school so that we can use them for the lesson.
Vihann Oosthuizen
Year 6 Teacher
PHOTOS: Year 6 Sewing Skills Workshop
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From The High School Music Department
The music department had a prosperous year in 2022: the high school band, string ensemble and percussion band were added as new ensembles. We also had a successful BIS eisteddfod for the second year running, and held our very first choir concert featuring all our school choirs, and our staff choir, at the end of the year.
The BIS Music Department is excited for what is to come in 2023. As the department continues to grow, we look forward to many more firsts. This term, we started off with our introductory ensemble concert on Founder’s Day, featuring our variety of ensemble groups. Our choirs will also be taking part in the Tygerberg Eisteddfod, where they will compete against other schools in the Western Cape.
Later on this year, we look forward to hosting our inaugural IES Eisteddfod, which will include Helderberg and Hout Bay, and will consist of solo, ensemble, choir, poetry and dance categories.
In August, the high school will present a ‘Barnyard Show’, themed 80’s vs 90’s. This will be an entertaining show worth watching!
We look forward to an eventful and successful 2023 where we continue to showcase and celebrate the wonderful talent we have in our school!
Heidi La Bercensie
Music Teacher
PHOTOS: Ensemble performances at our recent Founder’s Day International Food Fair
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Travel and Tourism Out & About
Our quarterly tourism excursion took place last Thursday the 16th of February.
The Year 9 and 10 Travel & Tourism students visited the Hotel Sky. Leigh, the client consultant, took us on a site visit of note. We experienced the unrivalled panoramic views across the City Bowl to Table Mountain and out over the Waterfront and Table Bay from most floors. Other features include the Infinity Restaurant on the 26th floor, AI-powered robots, and a 30m thrill ride on the rooftop! We saw that the well-being of Hotel Sky’s guests is of foremost importance. They implemented stringent health and safety protocols as well as hygiene measures throughout the hotel to ensure this.
From there onwards, we strolled through St. Georges Mall and the Company’s Gardens and witnessed the heart of Cape Town through a tourist’s eye. Even the very strong Southeaster could not dampen our excitement.
Our final destination was the SunSquare Cape Town Gardens Hotel. The lovely gardens are quite secluded so that all the students had a swim and enjoyed a sumptuous lunch at the pool, compliments of the Zepi restaurant at the Hotel!
We learned that the SunSquare Cape Town Gardens is a Sunpet-friendly hotel that offers a warm welcome and a selection of amenities to ensure that your pet is as comfortable as you are when you stay with them. Your pet will receive a welcome treat on arrival, pet bedding for the ultimate Sunpet sleep experience, and a range of tail-wagging meals from the Sunpet Gourmet menu.
Both Year groups of Travel & Tourism students and the teachers that accompanied them agree that it is a very tough choice if we had to choose between these two hotels. Both hotels went out of their way to impress our students with their warm hospitality and answered questions that assisted the students with the completion of their CASS assignments.
We will definitely be back for another visit!
Carmen de Villiers
High School Travel and Tourism Teacher
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Economics
This year BIS is thrilled to launch Cambridge IGCSE Economics as a subject. The first two weeks of Economics have been a thought-provoking time wherein we were introduced to the topic and spent time updating ourselves on what is happening around the world - both the good and the bad – challenging our thought patterns and debating various issues.
In class, we dreamed up what products might be available in ten years’ time: either new products or how old products could be reinvented. These ideas were put into an envelope to be opened by BIS Economic students in 2033.
With a new subject comes great opportunities and we are excited to make the most of these opportunities to grow and be challenged.
Caroline Grix
Economics Teacher
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Welcome
The high school Induction Day was held on Friday, 13 January 2023. The event was organised and led by the Student Representative Council (SRC), who can be praised for an extremely successful event.
The day began with the SRC taking the new students on a tour of the school. The tour included an explanation of our building project and went a long way to ensuring that no student was lost or without a friend on the first day of school.
After an early lunch, students participated in a variety of games and activities designed to help them to get to know each other better. The ice quickly broke and a nervous group of students started holding animated conversations with the SRC and each other.
The day ended with much laughter as the students provided facts about themselves and guessed who the author was.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new students. May your time at BIS be enjoyable and fulfilling.
Sheila Marais
SRC Coordinator
BIS Interact Club
- Promoting a peaceful environment within our communities.
- Fighting life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS and malaria
- Providing clean water and hygiene.
- Caring for the underprivileged mothers and children.
- Supporting basic education and literacy.
- Creating opportunities for economic development in our communities.
- Protecting the environment.
With the presence of technology in our everyday lives, our children have never been more globally connected through social media, the internet and a daily bombardment of news and opinions from every corner of the world; and yet, today so many children are feeling disconnected. Perhaps it is because no tech gadget can replace our innate need to socialise, to belong, to care for each other, or to make connections. Unfortunately, many of us are overwhelmingly busy with our daily jobs, homework, school lifts, and supper, and little time – and energy – is left to switch off from the mad rush.
Our Interactors pay weekly visits to Peace Home, a shelter for children who come from difficult upbringings, to help them with their homework – what a great opportunity it has become for a safe space to connect with each other, share daily experiences and a few laughs in between doing school work.
These are some Interactors’ thoughts on going to Peace Home visits:
“It helps you to learn how to teach. You can also appreciate what you have.” (Faith Chivaka – Y8)
“The day I went I really enjoyed the little girls, Kaitlin and Precious, they were so sweet and funny.” (Favour Chimezie – Y8)
“… it was very fun and a great experience. Teaching the little Grade 2 girl, Precious, was very enjoyable and I was glad to be able to help someone else with their education.” (Amanda Nkomo- Y8)
“My experiences at Peace Home are always lovely. It feels very rewarding to help someone with homework, especially when I know my contribution makes a huge impact on their lives.” (Landelwa Maqanda – Y11)
“I enjoyed helping the kids with their work. The dogs are really cute and everyone is very inviting and well mannered”. (Daniel Moodie – Y11)
Thank you parents, grandparents, guardians and carers for caring about our children. As the African proverb says, “it takes a village to raise a child”.
Elena Berger
Interact Club of Blouberg International School Coordinator
Year 9 Mathematics Treasure Hunt
Generally, Mathematics is considered to be boring. With my class we decided to change this and always design activities that encourage critical mathematical thinking as students find different ways of solving real life mathematical problems and deepen their understanding of mathematics.
Throughout the year, we did quite a number of project/fun activities with my students, which included “guess the concept “, tarsia puzzle, tag of war, Kahoot team race, pair/match card race, geometry ball coordination outdoor play, blind fold math master and so on. Of all these phenomenal fun activities, the treasure hunt stood out as one of the best loved by students because of the way we redesigned it this year.
Unique treasure hunt design
Students were divided into groups of 4 and given a set of questions to use. Their task was to then design the map the way they wanted and give reasonable clues along the way. A minimum of 5 stops are allowed before the final point where the treasure is hidden. Think about it; Year 9 students were practicing key topic Mathematics questions, working in teams, solving all the problems I had prepared for them. All of that, without even knowing they are actually learning new things.
Teams design their own stations and always give two optional answers which are closely related. I guided them to see some common silly mathematical mistakes made by students and allow these as an alternative that will eventually lead to a different station, which we called the “battery changing station” or simply “corrective station”. At this station, they will ask a similar question and be given a second chance to take themselves back to the correct station.
All 4 teams did well, running around the school grounds and classes. Finally, the treasure was found. In reality, students love Mathematics.
See attached pictures of Year 9 teams in action.
Hebert Tapfuma
High School Mathematics
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English News
During the fourth term, the English department focused on sharpening the creative writing skills of the BIS students.
All Year 7, 8, 9 and 11 students were tasked with writing narrative and descriptive essays this term, whether it be for a CASS or for the exam.
Creative writing is one of the elements of teaching English that is most enjoyable – not only for the students to write, but for the teachers to mark! It enables the students to express their creativity and come up with stories that have never been told before. The sky truly is the limit when it comes to creative writing.
It is so refreshing and rewarding to read through some of our students’ creative pieces and to be able to see the future novelists and script writers.
As a treat for our readers, we have included one of the narrative pieces written by Nicholas Neethling in Year 9 below:
Artecua Demenzis by Nicholas Neethling
The burn of ice, the tunnel of darkness, the loneliness, all dramatically leading up to a state of desperation. A hungry desperation – starving and lustful with no sense of consequence – with its feedings a torment.
Friday, 07:54, 1908. Screams echoed wherever one went in this place, the mishaps and the damned all crying for the sense of hope that existed prior to their foolish mistakes. This was Rokka Penitentiary. Shadows escaped but souls were left wrecked and misplaced. The bitter-sweet evolution of pain coursed through the veins of the “Whisper Killer”.
Sat, chained to a wall and what appeared to be deep in thought, was this monster. However, after five months, the state had sentenced him to death by the ropes.
07:55 came. With a nail tearing, blood boiling screech, the bolt moved.
07:56, a dark figure appeared, standing nearly 7ft tall; this was the warden.
“By the laws of the constitution and sentencing by the honourable Judge Michael Harringway. You, Artecua Demenzis, have been sentence to hang tomorrow at midday.”
For a moment the room was silent and still without a thought of any kind.
07:57 came. The room stood silent still…
07:58, the door whined closed and once again the bolt sent all listeners of the locking of the bolt through the ninth hell. All except one – Artecua Demenzis. He had not moved even to look at the slowly growing dust collection around him. He remained unaffected for the following 27 hours.
Saturday, 11:50, 1908. The bolt grinded open, again the warden had appeared, this time with three other men – prison guards. The men removed the wall-mounted shackle and dropped it to the ground. Now Artecua’s body was completely limp as they dragged him down the halls and into the underground of the facility.
11:56, around the corner appeared the gallows. Although internally unbothered with the situation, Artecua Demenzis had heard the murmurs of the small crowd of people who were hurt, damaged, or forever changed by his actions; thus, he put on a show to remember. Hysterical laughter filled the room. He hadn’t made a sound for months, but this carried pure emotions of satisfaction and no regret.
11:58, the Pope gasped at the sight of this monster but read the piece, nonetheless.
“For filth like yourself, I wouldn’t give it to ya. However, have you any final words, Mr. Demenzis?”
“See? Killing doesn’t end the killing… I will be back – maybe with a changed form, but in this life or the next. I am inevitable…”
The clock struck twelve. The platform dropped. But still the laughter did not stop.
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HISTORY
In a world that is driven by science and technology, many people have come to believe that History is irrelevant and no longer has any value as a school subject. Indeed, nothing could be further from the truth.
History teaches skills that are transferable across different subject areas and are applicable both at tertiary level and life in general. These include the ability to conduct thorough research, the presentation of clear and logical arguments that are based on fact, the ability to identify and understand trends and processes, as well as the important skills of critical thinking and problem solving. If one is looking for a subject that will provide students with a solid foundation for what lies ahead, one need look no further than History.
Although the content focuses on the past, History is entirely relevant for both the present and the future. The Year 8s showed an excellent understanding of this when they were asked why it was important to learn about the Holocaust.
“It helps us understand the importance of what we support and how what we are supporting could impact us in the long term…” (Favour Chimezie – 8a)
“…it teaches us how to prevent it from happening again.” (Tim Beukes – 8a)
“We as the youngest generation should look at our past, identify mistakes and people’s wrongdoings to find solutions that will not only help our future, but our children’s future.” (Gabriella Nel – 8a)
“We can also make sure that we know what is going on in other countries because people tend to start making trouble in secret. As humans, we need to understand the danger of stereotypes, because this is what causes dehumanization, discrimination and terrible events…” (Faith Chivaka – 8a)
While History certainly has an alarming habit of repeating itself, knowledge of the past can help us to prepare for the future and even change future events. There can be little more value than equipping our youth with the knowledge and skills needed to improve their own lives and the lives of future generations.
I would like to wish our IGCSE and AS-Level history students all the best for their external examinations.
Sheila Marias
IGCSE, AS and A Level History Teacher
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InterSEK 2022
An experience that can never be forgotten, a trip overseas to compete in the sporting InterSEK among our sister schools from IES and SEK. Eight BIS students travelled with their guide, Mrs Diana Rubio to Valencia in Spain for this prestigious event. They competed in Basketball, Soccer, Padel, Athletics, Volleyball and more…
Our students did very well and won a few medals:
Tawany – Gold medal High Jump
Teeyana – Silver medal High Jump
Tawany – Silver medal 1500m
Tawany – Bronze medal 60m
Teeyana – Silver medal 60m
Boys Soccer – Bronze medal
The most important aspect of this trip was not the medals or competition, it was the experience and precious friendships the students made during the week of enjoying the culture and hospitality of our hosting families and school. We would like to thank them all for hosting our students in such a warm and wonderful way. A bond that we were lucky enough to capture on a few of the images below.
Well done on being true ambassadors to our school Lunje Languza Year 6, Donsima Sima Year 6, Teeyana Shaik Mahomed Year 8, Ian Scrooby Year 8, Gabrielle Adamson Year 9, Jens Buchwald Year 9, Geneva Cohen Year 9, Tawany Maurits Lasoen Year 9, Karabo Kalane Year 9 and Jessica Smith Year 11. You have made us so proud!
