Ms Deirdre Grimshaw: Weekly Update 05/11/2021

Our students continue to impress us with their wonderful attitude and engagement with learning.

Additionally it was wonderful to have so many parents attend the PTG Afternoon Tea to hear from our PTG Core Committee and Community Co ordinator Ms Tracey Brownrigg.

This week, our students in Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 attended a year group webinar, tailored to their age and needs about digital safety.  The webinars were run by Mr Jon Taylor from the UK who spoke to all parents last week.  I would strongly urge all parents to take the time to sit with your children and discuss the contents of the webinar and what Mr Jon shared with them.

If you missed the workshop for parents, you can access a recording here Digital Workshop for parents

We will be sharing the materials from the webinar in due course with parents also. A link to his website if you would like to read more is https://www.besafe-online.co.uk/

Additionally this week, our second block of Virtual Co Curricular Activities began (VCCAs). These have proved immensely popular and we are delighted to be able to offer the VCCAs to our students. They are a brilliant opportunity for the children to engage with different teachers, meet students from other classes and try their hand at different activities. My thanks to all the teachers and third party providers that have adapted their regular sessions to meet the needs of the students and be able to deliver their sessions virtually.

A reminder about our amazing Tea Time Recital happening this afternoon. With performances spanning students from Year 1 to Year 6, it promises to be a wonderful afternoon of music. Performing this afternoon are Lily Huynh, Nuala Wardell, Lily Diep, Sophie Nguyen, Laisha Mehrudin, Rhys Hui, TaeYeon Kim, Erin Shin, Gianna Maling, Zaara Khan, Jay Kim, Siho Yoon, and  Yoyo Shang. We look forward to hearing their beautiful music from voice, to piano to violin and beyond.

Tune in at 3pm this afternoon to watch the live premiere of the performances or watch it back at your own leisure here.

Supporting New Students

For the next two weeks, our school counsellor, Ms Zara Pugh, Mr Anthony Woolley, PSHE leader and myself  along with the student council executive committee, will be meeting new students that have joined our school since the beginning of this academic year. The aim is to see how they have settled, if they have any concerns or worries and how both our students and staff including teachers, leadership teams and counsellors can support them. Teachers will inform children concerned when they should go to this video call.

FOBISIA - Building on a strong Network of British Schools in the region

Many in our BIS community will have heard of FOBISIA and know we are a FOBISIA school as well as being part of Nord Anglia Education.  FOBISIA stands for the Federation of British International Schools in Asia.  Indeed Mr Anthony Rowlands, our BIS Principal, is the current chair of the group.  With 81 schools, it is a large organisation that provides support, sporting, music and other opportunities  for students. It offers great training and networking for staff and provides a platform for schools to come together to support each other, share best practice, develop safer recruitment and safeguarding networks and continue to enhance the education we offer to our students. To find out more, please click on the link below which will take you to their newsletter and further links to their website etc.

November 2021 School Newsletter Insert

Virtual Co-Curricular Activities (VCCAs)

Our next block of VCCAs began this week. They will finish on Friday, 3rd December.

Any questions please contact Ms Thanh or Mr Chris in the office. We look forward to another successful VCCA programme for the children.

NAE Global Campus Virtual Swimming Gala

We are ready to launch the NAE Global Campus Virtual swimming gala. This event is due to take place from 6th-14th November 2021. The event is available to all students from Y1-Y13.

There are 4 swimming races that competitors can participate in; 2 individual races and 2 relay races:

Individual races:

• 25m Freestyle
• 100m Freestyle

Relay races:

• 4x25m Freestyle relay
• 4x100m Freestyle relay

Competitors can take part in more than one event if they wish to. I am aware that you will need access to a swimming pool to take part in this competition. The size of the swimming pool does not matter as long as you are completing the distance required (25m or 100m). For example, if your apartment swimming pool is 20m long, you will need to swim 5 lengths in order to complete 100m.

The races are ‘freestyle’, which theoretically means you can swim any stroke that you like; however, as we are looking for your fastest times, it is advised that you swim front crawl as this should be the fastest stroke.

For the relays, there are 3 options. You can either:

1. Get together in one pool with 3 other students in your age group and create a relay team by entering your names and overall relay time.
2. Tell us who is in your relay team but enter your individual time for 25m or 100m and we will combine the time together with the other students of your choice.
3. If you do not have a team, just enter your individual time for the 25m or 100m relay and we will combine it with other students wanting to be in a relay team.

Please note that if you are able to train for and complete the race/races, the following should be done before participation:

•  The distance to be calculated 25m/100m
• The pool to be clear of obstructions and hazards
• Agreed permission and supervision by an adult at all times

The times of the races will be done on a trust basis (no evidence is required) although you may wish to submit a picture or a video of you swimming the race or the stopwatch you used to time it.

If you would like to enter this competition, please complete the SIGN UP form before the 5th November 2021.

Once you have signed up, you can complete the race/races anytime between 6th- 14th November and submit the RESULTS to me before 16th November 2021.

I hope to see lots of you being ambitious and competing against other students from Nord Anglia schools around the world.

Sophie Roberts, Aquatics Leader

PTG 2021 - 2022

Thanks to all the parents that joined us for the PTG Afternoon Tea this week. It was wonderful to see so many parents on the call.  If you were unable to attend, the call was recorded and you can access it here.

If you have ideas to share or would like to get in touch, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our email  is primaryptgbis@gmail.com 

Thank you,

Gayatri Shankar, Primary PTG Coordinator 

Health and Safety

Please remember the 5K to keep safe.

05/11/21              Primary Tea Time Recital

06/11 /21            NAE Virtual Swim competition begins

10/11/21              MFL Year 2 Webinar

11/11/21              Remembrance Day

22/11/21             Teachers Day

24/11/21              365 Penguin Enrichment Day for Primary

Have a wonderful weekend and a very Happy Diwali to all our Indian Community. Stay safe and well.

Deirdre Grimshaw, Headteacher of Junior Campus