BROADCAST Beijing BISS International School
Issue 3, August 30th 2013
The 1000 Project! As part of an investigation into place value and numeration, Mr Sadler posed this question to his 3rd Graders: “What does 1000 look like?” While all students were able to write large numbers and perform calculations on paper, the children were certainly challenged when asked to visualize, deconstruct and reconstruct this
number in a logical representation. First, the students worked in groups to brainstorm real items that could be collected as a set of one thousand (playing cards, leaves, seeds). Then, they began the arduous task of collecting and counting the items accurately. Here, their sequencing, addition and subtraction skills were essential. The next step was to manipulate and display the items so that someone could instantly recognize the quantity 1000. The students experimented with and argued over various formations. They finally settled on bundles of 100 (x 10), piles of 10 (x 100) and groups of 50 (x 20). This component of planning, discussing and problem solving was the essence of the project, as students gained a deep understanding of the base-ten number system. Continued on page 2.
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE: • The 1000 Project! • G2 team learning • Elementary Art News • Counsellor’s Corner - University Visits • FCD • BISS Buddies
UPCOMING DATES: 10th-11th FCD - Freedom from September chemical dependancy event 10th September 8:30-9:30
FCD Parents coffee
12th September
PTA meeting
18th September
Half day
BISS is an IB World School serving the international community, committed to the ideals of the International Baccalaureate. Our Mission is to educate and empower our students to attain personal excellence and positively impact the world.
Continued from page 1 Finally, the students displayed their 1000 items on chart paper. What does 1000 look like to you? Check out the Grade 3 displays! Mr Cory Sadler Ms Shannon O’Dwyer Grade 3 Teacher OLC Teacher csadler@biss.com.cn sodwyer@biss.com.cn
Team Learning in Grade 2
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Continued from page 2 In Grade 2, we consider team activities as valuable opportunities to learn from one another as well as to learn important teamwork skills. Grade 2 students often undertake tasks in teams. This week, students worked together to “unpack” the Learner Profile attributes and Key Concepts related in particular to our current UOI. Some of these words, such as “Communicator” and “Reflective” are new for most students, so thinking and talking with team members helps students become familiar with the words as well as consider what they mean from different perspectives. At the completion of this task, we reflected as a class on the important skills we need to be an effective team member. Student responses included “sharing”, “talking to help think about our ideas” and “talking about what we want to write”. Good teamwork Grade 2! Mr Roger Hawke Grade 2 Teacher rhawke@biss.com.cn
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BISS Broadcast: Issue 3 August 30th 2013
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Elementary Art News
A productive week has passed in Elementary Art. All of our units are in full swing and we are using many technologies to inform our art-making process. The Grade 4s are using their computers to source a variety of font types and imagery in the visual brainstorming stage of their personal logos. Grade 3 worked on a portrait unit by photographing themselves with the iPad and using the Photoshop Express app to manipulate the image down to 3 tones; black, white and grey. Each iPad was plugged into the projector and every student traced and enlarged their portraits onto painting paper. Ms Anna Davies, Elementary Art Teacher adavies@biss.com.cn
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Counselor’s Corner Upcoming University Visits (Those NOT held at BISS are marked with * ) We are extremely privileged to have university & college admissions officers come to visit our students at BISS throughout the year. I will be publicizing these visits through Broadcast, Naviance and posters on the 4th floor University information notice board. All students and parents are welcome to attend any of these sessions. Bring your lunch and feel free to eat during the presentations. Monday September 2nd (1:00-1:50) – BISS Annex Bentley University (MA) www.bentley.edu Ellen Lokos, International Undergraduate Admission ELOKOS@bentley.edu Friday September 6th (8:20-9:20) University Fair in Annex Bard and Bard at Simon’s Rock, Reed, Pitzer, Washington and Jefferson, Furman, Whitman, Colorado College, Rhodes College, St. Olaf, Univ of Puget Sound Monday September 16th (2:30-3:15) in Art Room during Drama / Music for Gr. 12 students – see Ms. Shrimpton if you are in gr. 11 and really want to go. California College of the Arts www.calarts.edu Molly Ryan, Director of Admissions, tel:661.291.3071 mryan@calarts.edu Tuesday September 17th (10:30-11:00) Morning Break in BISS Courtyard University of La Verne (CA) http://laverne.edu/international Adam Wu, Director of International Admission awu@laverne.edu Sunday September 22nd (1:00-4:00pm) * Linden Fair for US Universities at Shangri-La Hotel www.lindentours.com for more information about which universities will be attending. Email to register: usa@edubridge.com.cn Saturday September 28th - individual appointments as requested * Washington University in St. Louis http://admissions.wustl.edu Elizabeth Rosen, Admissions Officer ejrosen@wustl.edu Monday October 7th – (1:00-1:50) in BISS Annex Northeastern University www.northeastern.edu/admissions Erin Brandt, Assistant Director of International Admissions e.brandt@neu.edu Monday October 14th (1:00-1:50) in BISS Annex University of British Columbia (UBC) you.ubc.ca Dayna Li International Student Recruiter Advisor dayna.li@ubc.ca Tuesday October 22nd (1:00-1:50) in BISS Annex Hong Kong University of Science & Technology) HKUST http://join.ust.hk/ Cherry Chui cherrychui@ust.hk Continued on page 6
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Continued from page 5. Wednesday October 23rd (10:30-10:50 in BISS Courtyard) University of Rochester Isthier Chaudhury Senior Admissions Counselor i.chaudhury@rochester.edu Friday November 15th – (10:30–11:35 in room 345) Loyola Marymount University www.lmu.edu/international Dwayne Zamora International Admissions Counselor Dwayne.Zamora@lmu.edu Further information from: Ms Karen Shrimpton BISS School Counselor kshrimpton@biss.com.cn
FCD Freedom from Chemical Dependency Dear Parents: Please join us for an FCD coffee morning on Tuesday September 10th 8:30-9:30 in the BISS Annex. As part of our health education program and ongoing commitment to prevention and wellness, we have invited Prevention Specialists from FCD Educational Services to join our community. FCD is a non-profit organization that provides substance abuse prevention education for schools. Since 1976, they have taught over a million students of all ages. Their mission is to: • Empower young people to make healthy, responsible choices regarding alcohol and other drug use • Encourage and support the non-use of alcohol and other illegal or illicit drugs during the growing years. Continued on page 7
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Continued from page 6 • Teach students and adults how to recognize the early warning signs of substance abuse and to intervene appropriately • Educate students, parents, teachers, and administrators on the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol and other drugs • Promote awareness of drug addiction, including alcoholism, as a progressive, chronic, and often fatal disease • Provide educational communities with the guidance and training necessary to implement comprehensive, effective approaches to substance abuse prevention FCD Prevention Specialists are highly trained professionals who have achieved longterm recovery from alcohol or other drug addictions. This unique perspective enhances the credibility of their message and provides students with role models for happy, healthy, drug-free living. The FCD Prevention Specialist will present a parent workshop to offer support and guidance in helping your children enjoy a drug-free adolescence. Some of the topics to be addressed include: Effective ways to communicate with your child about drugs and drug use Up-to-date facts about current drug use and trends What to say about your own experiences with alcohol and/or drug experimentation How to spot early warning signs of trouble and effective ways to respond. This program presents a perfect opportunity for discussing alcohol and other drug-related issues with your children. Parental involvement is crucial to our efforts to reduce the risks teenagers face. We want our students to hear from both school and home that we are concerned about alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by adolescents, and that we are committed to keeping our children safe. Sincerely, Ms Karen Shrimpton, School Counselor kshrimpton@biss.com.cn Ms Danielle Fredericks, Secondary Principal dfredericks@biss.com.cn
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BISS Buddies at Meet the Teacher Night
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