Primary News - March 29 2021

Following on from the news regarding Slovenia's new lockdown, please refer to the BISL Update - Online Learning email sent on Monday March 29 for details.

We have come to the end of Term 2 and there is much to reflect on and be proud of. With all students returning to school safely, the much-needed interactions between peers, as well as students and teachers, have helped to restore the lively atmosphere in the building and the outdoor area. Students have been able to spend time outside during lessons, breaks and after school, as well as for various projects like planting flowers and singing songs to celebrate Spring.

The Block Theme of English concluded with the Spelling Bee competition this week. Well done to all Primary students taking part, practising that little bit extra and taking on a new challenge. Congratulations to all the winners too! Well done to the Hessonite House as winners for this Block. Subject and class awards have been given to selected students for their contribution and the exceptional effort they have shown throughout this term, something to be extremely proud of.

Thank you to all who have donated to the PTA Easter Donations Drive. It is heartwarming to see the BISL community working together with the C4C to support families in need.

We say goodbye to some of our Primary students this term and would like to wish them good luck in their new schools.

For the start of Term 3, we would like to bring to your attention the importance of safety around the school, particularly driving sensibly and slowly in the school car park. The speed limit in the school car park is 20km/h, please drive slowly and safely to ensure the health and safety of our community. Let's work together on this to keep everyone safe.

Please continue to read the Updates from the Principal for important and up-to-date information.

Last but not least, I wish you a lovely Easter break, to keep safe and healthy, and look forward to seeing you back on Wednesday 7th April.

Kind regards,

Katarina Železinger

Head of Primary

Early Years

In Early Years we have been decorating Easter Eggs using the marbling technique. The children took turns to hide them around the setting and they searched for them in groups!

Some of the children in reception planted flowers this week around the new building for Spring!

Ms Rosa

Year 1

This week Year One have been making use of their finger puppets and stages created last week to become puppeteers and narrators!

Year One did their own take on the story of 'The Three Little Pigs' and 'The Frog Prince'.

Ms Blundell

Year 2

This week year 2 finished their unit on play scripts, the students loved writing their own scenes to perform for the class. In maths, we completed our unit on measurement, where we have identified the correct units for distance, mass and capacity.

Next block we are looking forward to starting our new unit on time. For Topic, students have had fun celebrating Easter. Please go to Facebook to see our song 'Spring Chicken'.

Ms Harris & Ms Miller

Year 3

Term 2 is nearly in the books, and Year 3 finished strong by wrapping up their studies of the rainforests of the world, examining plants and their various parts, and even conducted an experiment to investigate the transportation of water in plants. The students put their investigative skills to the test by predicting, testing and then concluding which environment, hot or cold, allows water to pass through the plant the fastest.

The students then once again outdid themselves in art class by producing a wonderful spring flower collage, that rounded out the spring term nicely, some examples of which are pictured above. Thank you so much to all involved for making this a term to remember, and we wish everyone a wonderful spring break ahead.

Mr Mulcahy

Year 4

This week, Year 4 students designed, constructed and tested their earthquake-proof building designs using an earthquake simulation table. They had to choose at least one feature used in real building designs, including pendulums or base dampening systems such as ball bearings or shock absorption features. With a little trepidation, students placed their finished products on the shake table and were relieved to see that their designs had passed the test.

We look forward to next term when we will begin our short film project. Have a wonderful holiday.

Mr Bishop

Year 5A

This week, after a lot of practice in class we completed the shape quiz the students were looking forward to. Before the quiz Y5A helped each other with peer revision sessions designed to support each other and the math difficulties they had. This proved extremely valuable for the student teachers as well as the students.

Mr Walker

Year 5B

PLAY SCRIPTS IN YEAR 5

Year 5 students have really enjoyed learning about the conventions of play scripts and how to develop interesting, convincing characters through stage directions. All students wrote another mini play script on the theme of a Bully. Extremely enthusiastically, the students wanted to audition for the different parts of the class' plays.

The writers took on the role of director and had their classmates sign up, then audition for certain scenes from their plays. Very thoughtfully, the directors gave feedback to the students regarding their voice, actions and following of stage directions. All students loved the auditions showing just what a dramatic class we are! They look forward to performing the plays for the rest of the Middle School shortly.

Mrs Charlesworth

Year 6

After completing the end of term assignments the Year 6 students enjoyed some well deserved free time outside.

The weather is absolutely perfect, they said.

Mr Kokalj

PE News

In the last week of the block, primary students in PE did their lessons outside. With the warmer weather and schools outside sport capabilities, students participated in sports of their own choosing and put in place skills they have learned into practice. They choose to play basketball, football, handball and some relay races. They were all really happy and very excited to do PE lessons outside, and they show a lot of commitment and dedication to participate in sport and the progress of students is definitely showing.

The PE Department is wishing all students to enjoy their well-deserved break and have a great Easter.

PE Department

Slovene News

Years 1 and 2 have been working on a four seasons project in Slovene lessons.

They drew four different trees for four different seasons and wrote down a few clothes they can wear in each season. Later on, they were presenting products and all the new words to green crocodile Sydney who likes visiting our students! Odlično!

Ms Košec

What do you think? Can an umbrella really turn into a balloon that you can fly with?

Year 3 and 4 at Slovene Advanced lessons have practised reading comprehension this week. They've read a part of the story "My umbrella can turn into a balloon" written by Ela Peroci.

Students needed to complete the answers to the different questions based on a story.

They have already made great progress!

Ms Drofenik

French News

For the end of this Block, Y3-Y6 made beautiful cards and booklets for Mother’s Day, writing them in French.

Ms Berden

After School Activities

We are delighted to announce ourAfter School Activities will be starting up in Term 3 from Monday 12th April. More information will be sent out regarding the following:

Early Years and Year 1:

• Extended supervision activities until 4:30 PM, with a weekly 'Art' lesson after school.

Primary/Secondary:

• PE
• Music
• Junior Duke and MEPI clubs
• Homework club

Note: Supervision for Y2-Y6 students, who are not taking part in activities, will continue until 15:40.

We are delighted to share the third edition of the BISL Student Magazine - a fully student-led initiative, featuring contemporary news and events from around the world, complete with a fun Easter trivia!

Click here to browse Issue 3 of the BISL Student Magazine.

MEPI News

A brief MEPI report for the end of term: I would like to congratulate participants that have managed to discover activities for the individual sections of the Award, and those that have found ways to maintain a regular commitment to these activities over a time of social distancing. I take great pleasure in congratulating a Year 9 student (whom I first became acquainted with at Summer School) for completing her Skills section.

Developing your singing abilities with a coach online is not an easy task, but I really enjoyed reading about, and hearing the results! I look forward to further success from our other participants. I would also like to thank them for their continued commitment to our weekly Zoom meetings. (I don't need to look at the MEPI Attendance Register to know how well they've done on that score.) The training for the Adventurous journey is largely complete, and I anticipate that it will all come together well after our hike in Škofja Loka on 17th April. Due to the Easter holidays, we will miss two Monday meetings, and so I would like to remind everyone (MEPI or not) that we will be seeing each other for the Red Cross first aid course at 08:00 AM on Saturday 10th April.

HAPPY EASTER!

Mr Irving, MEPI Coordinator

Spelling Bee

Thank you Primary students for your enthusiasm about the spelling bee! Well done to all those that practised and made extra efforts with this week’s spelling challenge.

Congratulations:

Teacher Feature Series

For our final Teacher Feature this block, we take a sneak peek into our Performing Arts team for an interview with the brilliant Mr Hulse, Music and Performing Arts Teacher across both Primary and Secondary school.

Read Mr Hulse’s Teacher Feature here.

PTA News

A huge thank you to everyone for your generous donations to our Easter donation drive, organised in partnership with Zveza Prijateljev Mladine Ljubljana Moste-Polje, it has been a huge success and will go a long way to helping families in need during the Easter period.

PTA Committee

Uniform Discount Reminder

Don’t forget to take advantage of the 10% discount this month on school uniform:

1. Until March 31st, 2021, place your uniform orders online through the ISU webshop using the discount code below, entitling you to 10% off your purchases.
2. Ensure that your order total does not exceed 150 euros, so that custom duties will not have to be paid upon arrival.
3. Deliveries will be made directly to your preferred address as usual.

BISL%252010%2525

PLACE AN ORDER

For more information about our uniform requirements, please click here.

If you would like to arrange a uniform trial, to ensure the correct sizes are ordered when making your online purchase, feel free to contact Reception for an appointment.

As the post-Brexit situation of all UK companies dealing with EU partners evolves, we will continue to work closely with our uniform supplier to offer a concrete solution and ensure an optimal and uninterrupted service to our families for all your uniform needs, and will keep you informed of all developments.

Dear Parents,

We have had a wonderful block 5 and I must thank everyone for making this a very enjoyable term with all of our students now back in the building. We have seen a fantastic Easter Donation Drive, organised by the PTA, with the first lot of packages delivered to Zveza Prijateljev Mladine earlier this week and more being delivered later this afternoon, thank you to the PTA and all parents who have supported this. There have been a considerable amount of donations and this will make a huge difference to families in need. We have also had a donation of some lovely Spring flowers from parents for our entrance to the school, which our Primary students have enjoyed planting and creating a welcoming area as you approach our building, thank you. I have seen many positive emails, appreciation for our teaching staff and their efforts this term, again this is very much appreciated.

I have been very proud of our community recently, as the support you have shown our school has been overwhelming during a very difficult time.

It has been a pleasure to welcome the students into school each morning and to see the excitement and anticipation on their faces at the start of the day. This really sets such a positive tone for learning and enjoyment throughout their lessons.

Continue reading my full Update from the Principal here for details of the above.

Wishing you a wonderful block break and Easter. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Wednesday 7th April for our first day back.

Kind regards,

Paul Walton

Principal