January Events Calendar

Click here for important events coming up.   

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES

Clubs and Activities for Spring Term start this week.  Click Here for more info.

Camp Creativity 2010 Dates and Information. Click Here.

LUNCH FORMS

Nursery - Year 2 Lunch Forms  Click Here

Year 3 - 13 Lunch Forms  Click Here

Model UN Student Payment Letter Click Here

UPCOMING  MEETINGS

Parent Rep Meeting - 20th January, 8:30 am

Library Committee Meeting - 20th January, 2:00 pm

Year 4 Coffee Morning - 22nd January, 8:45 am

 ADHD Parent Support Group - 25th January 12:30 p.m.

Little Acorn Playgroup - 27th January, 8:45 am

FREE concert for the infant - 3 set by popular local entertainer "O-Susannah." Open to the public - bring your pre-schooler for a morning of fun, and feel free to bring along a neighbor, relative, or friend.  Questions, contact Chris Butler at CJWButler@aol.com.

Food Committee Meeting -  28th January, 8:30 am

UPCOMING TALENT SHOW INFORMATION - 7 DAYS TO DEADLINE.  NO EXTENSIONS.

Primary Talent Shows Advert  Click Here

Nursery - Year 2 (Foundation) Talent Show Information Sheet, Registration Form, Ticket Order Form - 1st February after-school

Years 3- 6 Talent Show Information Sheet, Registration Form, Ticket Order Form   28th January 28th after-school

Secondary Talent Show Advert Click Here 

Secondary Talent Show Information Sheet, Registration Form, Ticket Order Form   29th January, 7 pm

Registration deadlines will be held firm, so please consult with your child to see what they would like to do, and get your paperwork in early! Questions please contact Mrs. Kloeden at DKLOEDEN@aol.com.

Tickets must also be pre-ordered this year - you must purchase a ticket for each family member who plans to attend, and don't wait! 

A Focus on Learning - Years 12 & 13

How the Managebac System Helps Keep IB Students on Track

Managebac is a system we have been using for 2 years in Key Stage 5. The system was originally called ManageCAS and was an online browser application that enabled CAS (Community, Action, and Service) Coodinators to manage their CAS programmes easily and keep all documentation so that is was readily available.

The company that owns and runs the Managebac site, was originally started by a few IB graduates who came up with the idea and have developed their company to a point where they now assist over 300 schools worldwide.

Each student has an “account” where they have a profile and are able to access message boards and track their progress through the IB programme. For about the past year the developers have added functionality to the system to the point that students can now track their work in every subject, download and upload documents, and receive grades for work with feedback electronically.

As of January 2010, all staff teaching Year 12 and 13, are using the system to enter assignments. When a teacher enter an assignment for a class, they are given the option to notify class members via email and even create an electronic drop box for work to be uploaded.

The IB is entering an exciting phase in its development and are piloting trials in electronic data submission. The Managebac team are already in discussion with the IB, with the goal of enabling internally assessed work to be entered electronically and submitted to Cardiff, who would then send the work to the appropriate examiner. This would eliminate the need for costly courier services.

Link for more information:  www.managebac.com 

A Focus on Learning - in the Classroom

IB Students Meet with Mr. Hugo Wernhoff to Refine their Learning and Study Skills- Student Blake H (Year 12)  reports....

Every Wednesday at BSW is generally the day for assemblies for year’s 10 and above, but not Wednesday December 9th for the IB students who had the opportunity to meet with learning specialist and master of his field,

Mr Hugo Wernhoff of Revision Courses Europe & America. Hugo’s fascination with studying and learning led him to co-found a tutoring business for students in the IB Programme. Hugo taught all of us techniques on how to study not only individually, but in groups. Click here to read more. 

A link to Revision Courses Europe & America www.revisioncourses.com

A Focus on Staff

Getting to Know Sara-Jane Dennis, our Health Administrator

After a less than successful school career I escaped to The General Infirmary at Leeds to train as a nurse, this was followed by a stint at St Mary’s, Paddington and culminated in theatre training at Guy’s. I then recklessly joined the Queen Alexandra’s Army Nursing Corps to work in acute surgery.

After marrying a dashing young army officer and having three children I decided to give education another chance and started a degree in Art History at Lancaster University, somehow I came out with a first and was asked to lecture the contemporary art course.

Being an army wife this, of course, did not last as we were then posted to Kuwait and DC, where I worked for a non-profit at Walter Reed. This time my husband is working at the National Defense University and I am lucky enough to be here at BSW, back to my medical roots.

A Focus on Citizenship

Citizenship Activity Update from Adam Renshaw, Chair of Humanities

The Autumn term saw the return of two key Citizenship events. The 2009 Student Council Elections built on the success of the previous year. The candidate speeches were polished and engaging, many of the candidates used visual aids and campaigned before the election day.

The votes were counted and the 10 strong student council was formed. For some students this was their first experience of completing a voting slip and adding their vote to the ballot box. It was fantastic to see an enthusiasm for democracy within the hearts of the BSW students.

The Winter Festival also returned in 2009. The Business and Enterprise Unit (covered in Citizenship), in which the Winter Festival is included, had the theme of an ethical business promoting an environmental message of responsibility. To cope with the increased number of students taking part in the event this year we moved from the multipurpose room to the main auditorium.

The students proved their entrepreneurial spirit and a good time was had by all. The event raised a record total of funds, doubling the amount raised in the previous year. Those funds will be used by the Student Council and the Environmental Group to make positive student led initiatives in BSW.

Once again, thank you to all the parents who’s support makes events like this possible.   

A Focus on College Matters

The College/University Application and Acceptance Season Is Underway by Simon A Bird, College Counselor and School Liaison

We are now well into the college/university application season and already some pupils have had offers from some of their (American) choices. A wide range are being applied to – University of San Francisco, Eckerd College, Yale, Bryn Mawr and Oberlin. There are not so many applications to the British system this year but with the application deadline approaching (January 15th) the finishing touches are being put to them.

Students put much work into their application essays (US colleges) and personal statements (UK universities) but the end results have more than justified the effort put that is in the past and I am sure that this will be the case this year. We will keep you posted with the exciting developments.