International British School of Bucharest Friday, November 27, 2015

WEEK 13 NEWS Primary | Secondary | Whole School

IBSB Debaters Bring Home the Silverware Congratulations to the IBSB Debate Team (Zoe Smarandoiu, Andrei Dogaru, Vlad Stanoi, Max Mihalovici Mihailovici , Tamara Minea, and Christie Vernon), for winning all their morning debates, and their semi-final debate to once again reach the final of the Sir Winston Churchill International School Public Debate Competition. IBSB picked up both the Best Middle School Debaters Awards (Mihalovici Mihailovici & Tamara Minea), 1 of the 2 Best High School Debater Awards (Zoe Smarandoiu), and put on a great performance against some strong competition in the final to collect the Runner Up Trophy this year. Special congratulations to the Year 8 Middle School debaters (Max, Tamara, and Christie) for winning their prepared debate against students 4-5 years older than them– quite and achievement. And a big thank you to Mr Afzal Shaikh for coaching the team this year. A great result all round and a lot of positive feedback from all schools in regard to the way IBSB hosted the event this year.

Photos taken by Mr Silviu Nastase– Thank you Silviu!

International British School of Bucharest Friday, November 27, 2015

SOME IMPORTANT NOTICES

Long Weekend THIS Weekend

We would like to remind you that next weekend is a long weekend, with a National Holiday on both Monday Nov 30 and Tuesday December 01.

Secondary School 1b Assessment Week Secondary school Assessment Week starts Wednesday, December 02. A letter will go out today to parents with a schedule for each Key Stage. PTF St Nicolas Brunch Next Sunday If you have not yet signed up of the PTF St Nicolas Brunch next Sunday and the Sheraton Hotel, there is still time, IBSB parents get a special price and there are children activities organised with children under 7 going free, and under 12 having half price. To book your place, please email Claudia Marta as ptfpresident@ibsb.ro.

Shoe Box Appeal— Please donate a Shoebox Today a letter will go out asking for each family to donate a shoe box with presents for a child to go to Prada, the Foundation that supports street children. Please give generously. Children can bring in a box and hand it in at the school office.

Charity Raffle

We will also be sending out a letter asking for donations for the annual Winter Charity Raffle, to be drawn at the Winer Production on December 10. Please support this raffle as the money goes to support a number of events and Charities selected by the Student Council.

CAS Animal Rescue Group Christmas Collection

The Year 12 and 13 CAS Animal Rescue Group is currently collecting cat and dog food. Their aim is to build a mountain of pet food that touches the ceiling. So far the Primary School has supported this initiative by donating enough pet food to build a firm base that rises one quarter of the way up the wall, and we greatly appreciate their significant contributions.

Now it's up to the Senior School pupils to get more involved! House points will be awarded for donations. Dobrogea's early lead could be short-lived, if other houses make a handful donations. Other the hand, Dobrogeans can secure their lead by simply adding some pet food to the mountain. If you can't make a donation this time, visit their page on Facebook at Caring Animal Saviours (CAS) to 'like' our page and seehow you can be part of the exciting initiatives we have planned for the year ahead. You can also watch how your donations are making the mountain grow. Pictures of Bruno Shelter and Helping Animals Romania happily receiving the pet food will also be posted.

Have a great LONG weekend.

SLT

Sir Winston Churchill Debate

Photo Gallery

International British School of Bucharest Friday, November 27, 2015

Year 12/13 Cooking Class

Photo Gallery

One of San Francisco's toughest schools transformed by the power of meditation

There was a time when Visitacion Valley middle school in San Francisco could have featured in a gritty US crime drama. Surrounded by drugs and gang violence, the kids were stressed out and agitated. One day children came in to find three dead bodies dumped in the schoolyard. “In 2006 there were 38 killings in our neighbourhood,” says Barry O’Driscoll, the school’s head of physical education (PE). He says the lives of students were infected by violence in the community, and several fights would break out every day.

In 2007 a meditation programme called Quiet Time was brought in to meet some of these challenges. “When I first heard about it I thought it probably wasn’t going to work,” says O’Driscoll. “We get thrown a new thing every couple of years so I didn’t put too much faith in it.” But in April, just a month after meditation began, teachers noticed changes in behaviour. “Students seemed happy,” says O’Driscoll. “They worked harder, paid more attention, were easier to teach and the number of fights fell dramatically.”

In the first year of Quiet Time suspensions at Visitacion Valley – which has 500 students aged 11-13 – were reduced by 45%. By 2009-10, attendance rates were over 98% (some of the highest in the city), and today 20% of graduates are admitted to the highly academic Lowell high school – before it was rare for even one student to be accepted. Perhaps even more remarkable, last year’s California Healthy Kids Survey from the state’s education department found that students at Visitacion Valley middle school were the happiest in the whole of San Francisco.

To read more of this article, please visit:

www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/nov/24/san-franciscos-toughest-schools-transformed-meditation

Quote of the Week

”Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use

to change the world.”

Nelson Mandela

NEWS BITES

International British School of Bucharest Friday, November 27, 2015

Term 1b: Week 14

(Week starting Monday, November 30

Description Date/Time Location

National Holiday School Closed

Monday November 30/ Tuesday December 01

IBSB

Secondary School Assessment Week Starts

Wednesday –Monday Dec 02-07 IBSB

Year 1 Trip Merlin Books and Toy Shop

Thursday, December 03 9.00am-12.00pm

Bucharest

Primary School PTF Hanukkah Celebration

Friday, December 04 1.00-3.00pm

IBSB

Primary School Term 1 Reports Online

Friday, December 04 IBSB

Secondary School Assembly KS3 Public Speaking Final

Friday, December 04 IBSB

Whole School IBSB Scholastic Book Club Deadline

Friday, December 04 IBSB

PTF Social Event St Nicolas Sunday Brunch

Sunday, December 06 Sheraton Hotel

Looking a little further ahead to Term 1b

Secondary School Bake Sale Animal Rescue Shelter

Tuesday, December 08 IBSB

Whole School Winter Production Rehearsals

Wednesday/Thursday Dec 08/09 Elisabeta Theatre

Secondary School Bake Sale Touched Romania

Thursday, December 10 IBSB

Year 4 Trip Made By You Ceramics

Thursday, December 10 9.00am-12.00pm

Bucharest

Whole School Winter Production

Thursday, December 10 6.00-8.30pm

Elisabeta Theatre

Secondary School Assembly KS4/5 Public Speaking Final

Friday, December 11 IBSB

Key Stage 3 Performance Morning

Tuesday, December 15 9.00am-12.00pm

Casa J

Secondary School Term 1 Reports Online

Thursday, December 17 IBSB

Whole School Carol Service

Friday, December 18 10.00-11.00am

Anglican Church

End of Term 1 Break (December 19-January 5) [School Closed]

Term 2a Starts - Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Wishing everyone an enjoyable Long Weekend