FROM THE PRINCIPAL
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I would like to share with you the following letter received by Old Scholar, Head of Grove Street Primary School, and QuIET Chairperson Na’amat Little from British MP Ben Chapman: |
“I am writing to ask if you would do me the honour of coming with me to a Community Heroes Reception at 10 Downing Street on 28 January. This is an excellent opportunity to recognise the hard work carried out by teachers and other staff at the school under your leadership, as well as your achievements in making sustainable changes at a grass roots level, and encouraging children to respect the environment. The event is a chance for the Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah to thank those who make a real difference to their local communities.”
I am sure you all join me in sincerely congratulating Mrs. Little on this important achievement and well deserved recognition.
BHS BOOK FAIR
In collaboration with Librairie Antoine, the annual BHS Book Fair will open on Sunday, 14 March from 4:00-7:00pm in the Meeting House. During the opening session, visitors will benefit from a 10% discount on all purchases. The Fair will continue on Monday, 15 through Friday, 19 March from 8:00am-4:00pm.
HOLIDAYS
The school and Nursery will be closed on the following holidays:
- Prophet’s Birthday - Friday, 26 February
- Teachers’ Day - Tuesday, 9 March
- Feast of the Annunciation - Thursday 25 March
STAFF DEVELOPMENT
Some BHS teachers attended workshops at the International College. On 6 February, Racha Balka and Amal Habib attended “Inquiry into Math” and Zeina Abu Mrad attended “Reading: Research and Studies towards Application”. On 13 February, Liliane Alam attended “Children’s Literature and Methods for Teaching it”.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
On the occasion of Mother's Day, the Brummana High School Parents' Association is organizing a fund-raising dinner at the Dubai Hall Ballroom, Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Sin El Fil, on Friday, 26 March 2010 at 9 pm. The aim is to raise funds for the financial aid programme and to help expand the resources and facilities at the school. Tickets are available from the Receptionist, Lower School secretaries, the BHS Old Scholars Association Office and members of the PA for $80. For more information, please contact Christina Gaspar on 03-809430 or Nahida Aswad on 03-276131. We look forward to seeing you there.
UPPER SCHOOL NEWS
Brevet/Baccalaureate Exams
The government official exams will commence on the following dates: Brevet - 7 June 2010; Bacc II GS/LS - 11 June 2010; Bacc II SE - 18 June 2010
SAT I and II Exams
Students in Grades 11, 12, and Secondary 3 LP who are planning to sit for May’s SAT I and SAT II exams should submit their completed forms to the Registrar by Monday, 1 March. Forms are available at the Registrar’s Office.
Incomplete Grades
Students with Incomplete (I) grades for Quarter 2 are required to submit all missing work within two weeks of the end of Quarter 2. Students with Incomplete grades for the mid-years are required to take their mid-year make-up exam within two weeks of the end of Semester 1. Incompletes are granted only in case of severe and prolonged medical emergencies.
Secondary III Term 2 Exams
Secondary III Term 2 exams began on Monday, 22 February. Friday, 19 and Tuesday, 23 February were study days for Secondary III LP students. The Term ends on Monday, 1 March and Term 3 begins for Secondary III LP on Tuesday, 2 March 2010.
Cambridge Exams
Students who signed up for CIE exams (IGCSE, AS, and A level exams) have been registered for the exams and will receive confirmation from Cambridge shortly. Students need to sit for a minimum of 3 IGCSEs to meet our graduation requirements. Students who have registered will be able to make changes in the number of exams or subjects chosen beginning 22 February. They will receive a letter from DoS Samar Barakat asking them to indicate any needed changes. However, there will be a fee charged for changes and/or for late registration. Students are reminded that a grade of “U” or “X” will NOT be accepted, and students with such grades will be required to retake the IGCSE exam in November.
Exemption Policy
Secondary students met with the DoS during assembly to hear about the requirements for exemption from final exams. All secondary students, except for Secondary III LP and EFL students, are eligible for exemption from final exams if they achieve the minimum required yearly average per subject. Where applicable, only students in the honours classes or extended classes are eligible, and all exemption decisions require the approval of the subject teacher. Students with conduct concerns might be denied exemption, even if they achieve the minimum required grade.
Arts Department
On 23 February, the Arts Department invited Indian artist S.T. Barot to demonstrate ways of making paper flowers to our students who were fascinated by how something so beautiful can be made so easily from paper. He met with both Secondary and Intermediate students during their respective assemblies. Interested students were urged to buy his instruction leaflets from the school Bookshop.
Secondary Section
The School Bands applied their talents for a good cause: Helping Haiti. The bands held their first concert on the evening of 19 February in Dobbing Hall. Tickets were sold to the student body and staff; both were supportive and compassionate. The money will be sent via the Red Cross. The Learning to Serve Club sold lollypops during the concert, and the raised money will be used to buy lunch for the elderly at Dar Al Rahmeh. The Photography Club took pictures of the whole event.
On 15 February during assembly, the Exemption Policy and School Rules were discussed. The HoS reminded students of the general classroom rules. Then, the DoS informed them about the Exemption from final exams policy. Students were urged to stay on task and work hard during the last two quarters.
The assembly on 23 February tackled the definition, causes, and nature of conflict. The HoS informed students that they will learn how to solve their conflicts in a peaceful way during the coming advisory sessions.
The Career Counselling sessions are very fruitful. Grade 11 LP and Grade 10 IP students found the sessions very enlightening and motivating. Students were given personality tests geared towards assessing professional skills and potential. Parents of Grade 11 and 12 students are urged to meet with Mr. Samir Constantine of Waznat, the Lebanese career guidance and consultancy company, on the Saturdays of 27 February, 6 March, and 13 March. Parents are requested to fill out the form sent to them on 15 February.
Old Scholar Tara Hermes met with students who are applying for the United World Colleges on 24 February to share with them her experience of following the IB track of education.
The Prom Committee held a MacDonald’s Burger sale on 17 February. It was a success. The members are in the process of reserving the prom location.
Film Production students met on Saturday, 20 February to film a short movie as part of the class requirements.
The BHS clubs continue to be active, even during the exam period. The MUN members are selecting the countries which they will research. The Portico Club is still collecting articles.
Reminder: Parents of students who are having academic as well as disciplinary problems will be invited to the parent-teacher conference which will be held on 3 March.
Note to Parents: A school policy states that students who are absent from school for more than 10 consecutive days, will risk jeopardising their promotion at the end of the academic year.
Intermediate Section
Mid-Year Examinations: Advisers have worked diligently helping to prepare students for these examinations and giving them all the needed guidelines and test taking techniques. The actual four days of examinations flowed smoothly in a very quiet atmosphere. Students received their results in the report cards distributed on 24 February.
Advisory Competitions: Having worked hard for the Mid-Year examinations, it was decided that students could use a break from the constant atmosphere of study. As a result, the advisory and assembly times were replaced with inter-advisory competitions in the week following the examinations. On Thursday, tug-of-war games were held between advisory groups of each grade with the following winners: Grade 9: Gisele Tannous’s group; Grade 8: Zeina Ghosn’s group; Grade 7: Aline Alam’s group. On Friday, advisory groups competed in basketball free throws. In each group, 12 students were allowed 1 free throw and the winning team was Grade 8 Wedian Nasr’s group. Congratulations to the winners! These fun activities not only allowed for relief from the routine of everyday classes, but also strengthened the bond between adviser and advisees. Students learned to work as teams and mixed with students of other classes in an atmosphere of much excitement. It was also wonderful to see such great sportsmanship sprit amongst the students.
Points for Parents: - Along with the report cards that came out on 24 February, a letter was included for parents to read and sign. Please make sure that you have signed and returned this letter. Thank you for your cooperation.
It is imperative that students whose averages are below the required passing level, study and revise on a daily basis, and seek help where it is necessary. Remember the rule of thumb that the more time students spend on the Internet and in front of the TV, the lower the grades.
Certain parents of students with concerns will be invited for the parent/teacher meetings to be held in the late afternoon of 3 March. A letter regarding this event will be sent home in the coming week.
Students may not attend classes in sports shorts. If they have P.E. on a particular day, the shorts must be worn only to the P.E. class and students must then change back into trousers or appropriate wear for classes.
PE Department
Starting on 23 February, rugby team practices for Secondary students will take place every Tuesday afternoon at 3:15-4:45pm on the Football Field.
The BHS Mini-Football Tournament covering 4 age categories among 6 competing schools will take place on Saturday, 6 March at 8:30am.
LOWER SCHOOL NEWS
The Lower Elementary Open House will be held on Friday, 19 March 2010 at 12:30pm in Dobbing Hall. The Upper Elementary Open House will be held on Friday, 26 March at 12:30pm in Dobbing Hall. Come share with us the unique experience of learning at BHS!
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With the distribution of Quarter 2 report cards, along came the handing of the well deserved awards for many of our students. The awards were given during a very special assembly where most students were commended and certainly all were encouraged to put all their efforts into reaching the peak of their potential. Other assemblies continued to enlighten our students with PowerPoint presentations on the lives of famous people. In UE we learned some interesting facts about the lives of Mozart, and Elvis Presley. In LE, the presentation was about Elizabeth Fry, a Quaker who became famous for her work to reform the prison system in Britain in the early nineteenth century.
Grade 1 students had the chance to acquire some knowledge on astronomy and on animals and their habitats, within the dome of “STAR LAB”. Grade 2 students learned new facts about our planet earth. Grade 3’s topic stretched to include information on “Earth and its Biosphere”. The topics tackled in the UE on 23 February were: “Man and Health”, “Volcanoes and Earthquakes” and “Biology” in general. |
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Jessy Sawaya, our PE teacher, conducted the voting process during which the Captains and Vice-captains for the three houses were elected. Waldmeier - Captain: Alex Saad and Vice-captain: Karim Zeinoun; Rizkallah - Captain: Deema Hugail and Vice-captain: Elie Salem; Little - Captain: Michael Riachi; and Vice-captain: Omar Knio.
Special Arabic language students in UE watched a documentary on “The Natural Reserves of Lebanon”. In LE, the Special Arabic language students hunted for signs of spring on the branches of trees on the school campus. They sampled the different colours, shapes and sizes of the budding leaves and flowers.
Congratulations to Grade 6 A student Adam Salloum for winning the First Place Golden Medal in the Lebanese Championship of Nunchuk (fight & artistic). Nunchuk is a martial arts contact sport.
On 12 February, the UE Basketball Team won a game, 69:22, over St. George School – Zalka. Congratulations coach William Roummouz and the team. We are proud of you. When will we get the cup?
On 19 February, the UE Football Team won an away match, 17:01, against Eastwood College, Mansourieh. Well done to Coach Sami Brakh and the team. We are proud of you!
There will be no Saturday activities on 6 March because the Mini-Football Tournament will be taking place in the school.
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Infant Section
On the occasion of Mother’s Day, the Infant Section will hold its Open House on Friday, 19 March at 8:30am – 12:00pm in Rizkallah Building.
February at the Infant Section was a special month, dedicated to letting those we love know how important they are to us - a month filled with extra doses of love! Especially with children, it is important to keep in mind that the extra doses of love and affection are needed not just in February, but also daily throughout childhood and into the teens! We teach children that even the most difficult situation can be “eased” with a hug and a smile.
KG II C prepared an assembly on love; each child recited a sentence that explained the concept of love. After that, they distributed the hearts that they had prepared to all Infant Section students.
All KG II students enjoyed decorating their love calendars.
PG decorated hearts with crepe paper and red and purple paint.
Loving a child also means setting limits. Have you ever noticed how children often “act out” until a limit is set? “Their actions ask for a love embedded in limits.” A helpful way to show love for a child is to use logical consequences. An example being, if a child refuses to clean up their toys, he/she will not be able to go outside to play with a friend. Consistency is another important part of loving a child. Children need to know what is expected of them. A sense of trust is established within the child when he/she senses a consistent parent.
Words your child needs to hear from you: “I’m so lucky to have you!” - “You are a great helper!” - “I like it when you try so hard.” - “Let’s talk about it.” - "You are very special to me!” - “You are a great kid!”
It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through the school year! The classrooms are bustling with activities and will continue to do so through the remainder of the year. Our activities this month will focus on “Spring” as a theme and “Peace” as our living value.
Report cards with Quarter 2 results were issued at the end of the day on 8 February. Teachers have been in touch with some parents to inform them of concerns and progress. We hope to continue working together to make improvements in areas of concern. If you wish to meet with your child's teacher, please contact Najwa Feghali in the Infant Section Office and book an appointment for a convenient time.
If any of you have careers that you would like to talk about/demonstrate to our classes, we encourage you to contact your child’s teacher!
STAFF NEWS
Congratulations to IT Technician Youssef Abi-Haidar and Elementary English Teacher Youssra Abi-Haidar on the birth of their baby girl, Méa, on 16 February 2010.
THANK YOU TO…
- Grade 8 IP student Lana Maria Chammas for donating five books to the Lower Elementary Library.
- Grade 3 student Joseph Jabra for donating seven books to the Lower Elementary Library.
- Grade 5 student Laila Ferguson for donating sixteen books to the Upper Elementary Library.
The Newsletter will be published approximately every 3 weeks. If you would like to receive a free copy of the Newsletter by email, please send an email with “subscribe” in the subject line to: najat.wakim@bhs.edu.lb.
BHS Newsletter
4 June 2010
13 May 2010
23 April 2010
18 March 2010
25 February 2010
4 February 2010
14 January 2010
3 December 2009
5 November 2009
16 October 2009
12 June 2009