DISTANCE LEARNING EDITION | JULY 2020
THE BRITISH SCHOOL AL KHUBAIRAT
SECONDARY NEWSLETTER britishschool.sch.ae
SECONDARY NEWSLETTER CONTENT P03 P05 P07 P12 P14 P21 P23
A Message From The Head Of Secondary Farewell Message From The Head Boy and Head Girl Keystage 3 Student Reflections Keystage 4 Student Reflections Distance Learning | Staff Reflections Media Studies | Distance Learning Review Modern Foreign Language | Distance Learning Review
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SECONDARY “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” For me, the above quote by Maya Angelou, embodies the BSAK community and spirit this year but especially since we started our Distance Learning on March 22nd 2020.
Over the last 15 weeks of Distance Learning, we have not invented a new education system but we have adapted and developed how best to maintain and replicate the high quality of teaching and learning that takes place in BSAK every day. Our teachers have had to be even more creative and change how they have delivered daily lessons. They have also explored various, inventive ways to support the wellbeing of all our students. Our students had similar challenges and obstacles to overcome to ensure that they stayed connected with their learning from a distance. They had to create new classrooms, establish their own routines due to the absence of school bells, whilst the lack of in class discussion necessitated the need for Zoom meetings which have now become the norm. As parents, you have taken on new roles as you have supported your children with their curriculum lessons. Whether this was as teacher, a discussion partner, a film director for the practical tasks or a proofreader, these roles were all vital to ensure that each student continued to make progress. Who knows, some of you may have been inspired to join the profession?
There is much talk in the press about the attainment gap that will exist following this extended period of time out of school. I firmly believe that students at BSAK will not have this ‘gap’ if they have fully engaged in the Distance Learning programme which the vast majority of our students have. We worked hard to ensure the essential curriculum was covered in order to prepare students for the next academic year. None of us were prepared or even trained for what faced us when we closed our doors in March and I believe that we have done an OUTSTANDING job and I am proud of how our community came together to make this work. My sincere gratitude and thanks goes to each and every one of you. Together, we certainly are stronger. In this Distance Learning edition of the newsletter you will see the experiences of some of our students and staff. Each individual has had a different experience but the one thing that the majority of people have missed is the human contact our students and staff encounter and enjoy every day.
Teaching in my opinion is all about relationships and ensuring that each student feels safe and challenged in any educational setting. This, I believe is best done face to face. One thing for sure is that students and staff are looking forward to getting back through the doors of BSAK and we hope to do this in late August in a safe way. A large focus for us will be on supporting the wellbeing of our students, as there will no doubt, be an increased level of anxiety about coming back to school due to lack of physical contact for so long. We will make this our priority as we return to school. As always, at this time of year, it is difďŹ cult to say farewell to so many of our students but we hope that you will always stay in touch through our OAKS Alumni group. Once a BSAK student, always a BSAK student. I wish you all the very best as you move on to your new schools.
I would also like to say thank you and good luck to Mrs Mohamed, Mr Williams, Mr Rahman, Mr Roberts, Mr Wells, Mr Al Mualla, Mrs Hayward, Mrs Parkar and Mrs Al Taany who leave us at the end of this academic year. I’m sure you will join me in thanking them for all that they have contributed to BSAK during their time here and wishing them all the very best in their new jobs. Wishing you all a wonderful summer break in whatever form this may take. I look forward to working with you all again in August as we open our doors for our wonderful students we have certainly missed you all! Take care of yourselves and stay safe. Teresa Woulfe Head of Secondary
Mrs Mohamed
Mr Roberts
Mrs Hayward
Geography Teacher & Head of Phoenix
HOD Design & Technology
English Teacher & Head of Year 7
Mr Williams
Mr Al Mualla
Mrs Parkar
Language Teacher & Digital Leader
Arabic A Teacher
Learning Support Assistant
Mr Abdul Rahman
Mr Wells
Mrs Al Taany
Maths Teacher & Enrichment Coordinator
Social Studies Teacher
Arabic B Teacher
SHAMSA AL MEHAIRI HEAD GIRL BSAK 2019-2020 We have been worrying about this day for a while now. This email officially marks the last correspondence between the class of 2020 and the rest of BSAK. Even after having three months to prepare for this moment, we still don’t want to let go of the school that has given us so much (which is obviously the only reason why one of us thought it was a good idea to keep editing it until the sun came up). But, alas we must, for time waits for no one. As a couple of grizzled BSAK veterans, we spent many hours debating what would be the best advice we could give to everyone. Was it a secret hack to actually being allowed to go to the bathroom after break? Perhaps a tip on how to get 100% on any test?
ADVAY MOHINDRA HEAD BOY BSAK 2019 - 2020 Or dare we say, a way to convince Mr. Byrne that Liverpool aren’t the best team in the world? Oh, we wish (particularly with that last one)! No, our advice is much simpler than that. Enjoy your time at BSAK. Whether it is eating a chicken biryani with your friends at lunch or joining an extracurricular activity, make sure you make the most of whatever you choose to do. At BSAK, you will gain memories that will stay with you for a lifetime, and form friendships with some of the most compassionate people you can ever hope to meet. We know secondary school can be stressful at times, but trust us when we tell you that one day you will even look back at these challenging times fondly.
Exam week, GCSE’s and A Levels all helped us form deeper connections with our friends and as crazy as this may sound, we are thankful we had the opportunity to do them (well we guess A Levels don’t really count). The community we have here at this school is truly special, and one that you will find #onlyatBSAK. On a more personal note, we would like to take this last opportunity to say thank you to you all. We are so honored that we had the chance to represent such an incredibly talented batch of students. Teachers, your passion and dedication has helped us to realize that being first in line isn't a life or death situation. And thank you for understanding that sometimes we really are just checking the time on our phone. Faculty, thank you for putting up with us from our phone confiscation tantrums to our intense pre-test interrogations. Through it all, you have been our rocks. So, as we take this final (virtual) walk out of school, we thank you all for helping us to answer the question of who we are. And finally, a special thank you to everyone in the class of 2020. We officially were able to leave the jersey in a better place (albeit a little earlier than we intended). Time is a mysterious thing. It can move so quickly sometimes but also unbearably slowly. Yet, one thing remains constant, it ticks on. The fact is that our time at BSAK is over, and now we must move aside and welcome a new team—one that we know will make us and everyone else here at BSAK proud. We started this year off with a quote from Ferris Bueller’s day off, and over time it seems to have somehow become even more relevant. So, here is our final (admittedly stolen) piece of advice: “Life Moves Pretty Fast. If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It.” Thank you all once again for an amazing year. Signing off one final time, Shamsa and Advay Head Girl and Head Boy
KEYSTAGE 3 STUDENT REFLECTIONS DISTANCE LEARNING HARIS | YEAR 7 Lockdown has been a very strange time for me with its ups and downs. Distance learning has been challenging at times, because we have had to work in an environment which isn’t school. As we have more time though we can do more of the things we like to do at home, or start to do something new. Even though I have been separated with all my friends, I have still managed to keep in touch online. Although I have done that, I can’t help to feel a little bit isolated and I have missed my friends immensely. I never thought I would say this but I can’t wait to go back to school!
Year 7 PE Distance Learning
RAWDA | YEAR 8 In my opinion, lockdown has been quite boring but during this time I discovered new things that I enjoy. For example, I enjoy spending my free time painting because I find it very relaxing after a long day of distance learning. Another thing is staying active and going to gym even though I prefer to lay down in bed and watch TV shows all day. Distance Learning has been somewhat challenging but as I continued I started to get the hang of it. I found some work hard to do but the teachers helped me through it.
YEARS 7-9
YEAR 7 HISTORY DISTANCE LEARNING WORK
KEYSTAGE 3 STUDENT REFLECTIONS YEAR 7 MARIAM | YEAR 7 My first few weeks of distance learning were, I admit, quite hard. I found it difficult to keep up with work and manage my own time for a while. Not too long after the start of the term, I began getting used to it. I even started getting good at it. I started to organize my lessons into time slots, and if I had any extra time I would go over the lessons. Thanks to the timetables that were given to us, I did feel an increase in organization. I especially appreciated the daily morning emails Miss Woulfe sent us, giving us positive messages and advice and we could follow. I also enjoyed the increased family time we were given as a result of lockdown. Like most people, I wasn’t very happy about the overall situation for a long period of time, but I disliked it the most when our end of year exams were approaching. I was very stressed and at first I found it very difficult to revise without teachers having face-to-face discussions with us. Luckily, some of the teachers were very helpful. They posted videos, arranged Zoom meetings, and even made google classrooms dedicated to helping us revise. I think I have grown to accept the position we are in, and maybe even enjoy it at some points.
LAURENCE | YEAR 7 Thank you all for a great year at BSAK. I must admit it might have been a bit hard for all of us as we all had to leave school because of the coronavirus pandemic. All the way throughout this distance learning I have worked hard and hoped every night that this would all be over. As going into secondary this isn’t exactly what I expected. We had 2 terms in the amazing school BSAK and it was hard to leave it for such a long time. During this period I have experienced what it would be like to learn from home online. It was also hard because we had to do all of our end of year exams online. This was hard as we didn’t get to feel like it really was an exam because we weren't in an exam hall. This period has been hard for all of us and I have missed being at school with all my friends and teachers, but I thank all of the teachers from BSAK for making it a whole lot easier. Thank you for such a great year. I really can’t wait to be back in school soon.
YEARS 7-9
JACQUELINE | YEAR 8 Throughout lockdown I have experienced a feeling I never thought I would feel, boredom. After the first week of being at home I found social media was no longer interesting and even leaving the bed was a chore. I yearned to wake up in the morning to my alarm and drag myself out the door to school when normally I know many of my peers and I would hope for a reason to stay home. It was confusing at first, I didn't know how much that social interaction with my teachers meant and even in the zooms there was a disconnection but luckily we were able to talk regularly. BSAK did its absolute best by providing us with the tools and skills we needed (with the help of google) to continue our learning. Logging on every morning with some inspiration and motivation from Miss Woulfe's emails and then carrying out all of our lessons in its entirety from the safety of our home was impressive. We have gotten through all of the required coursework and extra lessons which have been fun, through distance learning I have become more grateful for being around people and the ability to gain my education through this time is amazing. I was able to engage and work hard, but I cannot wait to go back to school! Online Sport Science Exams
DEENA | YEAR 9 Distance learning was certainly an unexpected route to follow, yet at the same time, it was perhaps a needed one. At first, I felt precarious in the midst of it all and I struggled to keep up with the work given, however over time, I began to ease into the flow of this new normal. There are still recurrent times in which I feel uncomfortable about the whole situation, but there are people that manage to help my see a brighter side by sharing their brightness with me: my friends have been there to help tackle a difficult question, my parents have taken ample time to sit beside me and give loving and encouraging words in addition to making sure that I am understanding the work given, teachers have always been open to communication and my younger brother never fails to make me laugh by invading my room when I've left my door open by a gap. I am grateful for these little perks and that we have still been able to receive education at times like these, though I look forward to a time when I'll be surrounded by the school ambience once more and I'll make sure to cherish it while it lasts.
Year 9 English Poster
JENNIFER | YEAR 9 The surging pandemic has forced us to adapt to a completely new lifestyle revolving around isolation. Schools all around the world had to initiate their own Distance Learning
Programme in order to ensure students were able to develop their knowledge in the comfort of their own home. This programme, overall, was extremely effective. However, there were some compromises made, as we all know. What I found to be very impressive was that many teachers were able to implement creative methods of teaching: learning through websites, videos and the prevalent app, Zoom. In addition, teachers became more accustomed to applications such as Google Classroom and Kami and were always able to give me feedback efďŹ ciently on my assignments. As I had mentioned, there are few negatives to exclusively learning online. It was disappointing that I could no longer see my teachers and friends in school, whom I miss dearly. I could not indulge in our entertaining daily conversations and now social interaction has suddenly become estranged. In addition, I also could not participate in my favorite team sports during PE; our physical activity became restricted to individual workouts. My favorite sports include football and netball and, unfortunately, I was unable to play them with my friends. Overall, I am very grateful for being able to resume my studies during this troubling time. I also can’t wait to see my teachers and classmates again, in BSAK!
SECONDARY SPORTS DAY - FEBRUARY 2020
KEYSTAGE 4 STUDENT REFLECTIONS ALREEM | Year 10
Year 10 Arabic B Superhero Task
Distance learning has inevitably challenged us as students to an extent that couldn't be reached in the classroom; it tested our resilience, time management skills and discipline. It has definitely above all been a learning experience and has allowed me to gage how far I can push myself and persevere through tough topics. However this definitely is a once in a lifetime experience which was valuable especially for me going into year 11 as it will help me especially with revision for mocks and eventually gcse's as i now know how much further i can push myself.
JOE | YEAR 11 The distance learning lessons relating to my GCSE subjects had a lot of content to cover. My learning was focussed and driven at this stage, however it was concerning that it wasn't easy to communicate with my teachers quickly if I had questions to ask, unlike in a classroom setting. I found it quite challenging to stay motivated after I found out that the exams were cancelled, so it was good to start the A Level head start program. I have found this more relaxed with less stress as the subjects are ones I really enjoy. It has helped me to solidify my choices and it has given me a chance to gain more understanding on the content I will learn next year. On the whole I feel better prepared for my A Level subjects than I would have been, but a lot less prepared for sitting the exams in 2 years time having not gone through the experience this time.
MAITHA | YEAR 11
MYA | YEAR 11
My experience with distant learning was interesting as you have to depend on yourself for all the work and zoom meetings you have in that day. It requires a lot of self discipline and focus however personally I loved going to school. Learning virtually was a struggle some of the times as it’s not as interactive and interesting as it is when you are in a classroom. However it did teach me to be more independent and manage my time correctly and it also helped me be more productive through the day.
I personally found Distance Learning challenging in the beginning. It's such a different concept to regular school class. I believe I am a student who always needs to ask questions but during online classes it was harder to ask questions or ask for help when needed. However, all of the teachers were more than helpful throughout the day, simply sending them an email with my questions and within the hour I would get a reply. During the first few weeks of lockdown, I had close to no motivation, our exams were cancelled so what is there to work for? I then realised how bored I was every morning! My motivation soon returned along with the news of how our online work may affect my grading, I faced the challenge head on and soon adjusted with ease. I thank all the amazing teachers who helped me through these last few months :)
YEARS 10-11
KEYSTAGE 4 STUDENT REFLECTIONS KATHRYN | YEAR 10 Quarantine has been a very interesting time, to say the least. At first, I was almost thankful to be away from school, it was exciting, new and although many were losing their lives, mine was getting more interesting. But of course, I soon started feeling lonely, bored and as many others can probably relate to, I became a pro at procrastination. Over the past few years of my education, I’ve wondered what it would be like to have ‘permanent holiday’, a natural disaster or anything that would mean I didn't have to attend school. I may have even wished for it on some of my darkest days, but now I’ve come to realise how much I don’t want that anymore, I’m now just waiting for the day I can finally go back to school. The more I thought of
YEAR 9 ENGLISH POSTER
this, I came to realise that once I am finally back to school, I’ll wish it was the holiday already and that I didn't have to go to school and the cycle will just continue. If my mindset doesn’t change, I’ll be wishing away my life, rather than living it. Try not to make my mistakes and appreciate what you have now.
MONTY | YEAR 11 My distance learning experience was definitely a positive and insightful journey that spanned the course of two to three months where I participated in multiple zoom lessons and online activities. This would not have been possible without the great work from all our teachers who tried so hard to replicate a classroom environment. Due to it being our GCSE year, there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding exams, results and how well we were going to do based on predictions; however, we were reassured by our teachers. I really enjoyed the workload as well as it wasn’t too intensive but still similar to a normal school day. I thoroughly enjoyed all my lessons during the distance learning period as it was not only educational but it also taught the BSAK community the power of technology and that not all work has to be done through pen and paper. I would like to say thank you to all the teachers that persevered with us and maintained a constant motivation to move us forward in our courses.
YEARS 10-11
STAFF REFLECTIONS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING MISS O’NEILL | HISTORY Lockdown has been a rollercoaster to say the least. Teaching digitally has meant the things I love most about my job have changed. Interacting with students daily, seeing them ‘get it’ in lessons and chatting about their lives and interests are all much more difficult. However, it’s forced me to adapt and embark upon a learning experience of my own that has been rewarding. I’ve been busier than I have ever been, despite being in the house most of the day. I am more social and in touch with people despite working from home and socialising via Zoom. Lockdown has been a rollercoaster to remember, but one I’m happy to get off.
MISS MELL | PSYCHOLOGY If I could sum up my lockdown experience in one word it would be 'reflective'. With hindsight I am able to pick out the positives; developing my digital skillset and becoming more adaptable, reading more and enjoying the silence instead of always having white noise! There has been a huge negative and that has been not being part of the BSAK community day in and day out. Whilst I have interacted regularly with students that I teach I have missed the frequent interactions that we take for granted; a smile or hello to a student or staff member on the corridor, the arguments when year 11 have taken over year 8s football pitch on outside duty, the house events that require extensive rehearsals and the joy that comes with them, and many more. What I will personally take from this experience is to make time to acknowledge and appreciate all of the small things!
MR ABDULLATIF | ARABIC My lockdown was considered one of the most challenging times I faced in my life. It was a new experience and a knotty change. However, I managed to embrace this change and adapt my life and work wisely to overcome these hard circumstances and to achieve the planned targets successfully. This was because of the persistence, patience,hard work and team spirit which distinguish the BSAK community.
STAFF REFLECTIONS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING MR DAVIES | MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES It will only be two weeks they said....We can cope with this. I'll just nip to Ikea and get one of those computer tray things you use when you are in bed. Not quite the same as the trays you see on your nan's lap with a cup of tea and a pack of Rich Tea biscuits but certainly close. So I sat on my bed and may have moved twice all day. It will only be two weeks they said... We settled into a two week routine, had first and second break together, played card games in the evening, did some mindfulness painting, exercised and felt we would cope. 15 weeks later. The family breaktimes didn't last, the cards have gone missing, the paint has dried up and the lack of exercise means the laptop now sits conveniently on my stomach rendering the lkea purchase redundant. Forget about my woes, it is my children who have fared worse. I am not expecting sympathy, there are millions in the same boat but my word they have been through the wringer. There may have been meltdowns, there may have been tears, and there may well have been more heads in hands than Bobby Robson at Italia 90, but suffice to say and one cannot sugar coat this, this has been torture. There are some who have embraced lockdown and I imagine a 1950's all American family in glorious technicolour laughing and smiling through snow white teeth. Not us. Still we have survived and we have learnt many lessons. These last few months have made us re-evaluate stuff and indeed the world. It has brought us close together. Scarborough would have been like Barbados this year but it is not to be. The prospect of a UAE summer is not usually a pleasant one but we will be surrounded by friends who have been simply magnificent. At the end of the day, this could have been a lot lot worse. It was after all only meant to be two weeks.
Year 11 Arabic A Distance Learning
Year 11 Churro making by Rachel in Spanish
STAFF REFLECTIONS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING MR SEWILL | PHYSICAL EDUCATION The lockdown has been challenging at times. You miss the daily buzz of school life and chatting with the students. I personally miss having a little kick about with the students at lunch. The children have been amazing, my year 7 form always goes into the google classroom, wishing each other a nice day, which is lovely. I have even been sent a Rocky video to keep me motivated from a student, which was really nice. One of the highlights was the year 7 PE exam, the whole year group was in the same classroom. PE was their first official exam in Secondary school and when I opened the classroom in the morning there were 107 comments, which really panicked me as I thought they were all struggling with the Sports Science. The 100 plus comments were wishing each other the best of luck. This personifies the attitude of the children, caring, supportive and there for each other.
MR HOGAN | MATHS If we have learned anything over the last few months, it is that change is inevitable and unexpected. It can challenge us beyond our means, leaving us feeling uncertain, if not, unsteady. It can naturally expose our areas of weakness and at times it can leave us feeling slightly insecure as a result. However, it is undeniable that during these challenging times our students demonstrated maturity beyond their years by remaining connected, engaged, and diligent throughout their distant learning journey. They showed courage and calmness in the face of adversity while exhibiting creative risks in their work. Our BSAK students displayed commendable levels of resilience, sheer determination, and flexibility during their daily lessons. Through their infectious aura, they embraced the distant learning process. They always remained enthusiastic and optimistic, seeing obstacles as challenges rather than as barriers or stop signs on their academic journey. They refused to let Covid-19 break their vibrant spirit and instead of dwelling on the negatives of the situation, they focused on the positives, determined to discover, and embrace their newfound skills. Over the course of this term I looked on with pride and joy as our students took control over their learning and evolved into innovative and creative thinkers. They became not only responsible students, but responsible learners. During the distant learning journey I witnessed our students grow and develop into extremely versatile and self-motivated young adults who always remained industrious and respectful. They went above and beyond to ensure that their work was not only completed, but that it was completed to an outstanding standard, the BSAK standard.
STAFF REFLECTIONS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING MRS MOHAMED | GEOGRAPHY After living in the UAE for 13 years, I never dreamt that my last few months in this country would be spent stuck indoors away from my friends and my wonderful students. I had so many things planned for the summer term but unknown to me, God had other ideas! It’s been a tough few months, I don’t think I have ever worked so hard in my 21 years of teaching as I have in lockdown. I have missed my students very much! When you become a teacher you never dream that a computer screen is how you will interact with them and it has made me realise just how much I need them, to motivate me! The days when I would have a zoom session with a class would be my happiest days. Seeing them would make me smile and remind me why I am doing what I do. Finding the balance between work and ‘me time’ was very difficult at the start but I learnt to prioritise and to let go of some things before it all took a toll on my mental health! These times are NOT normal for us so I had to learn to adapt to the situation without having this impact the quality of my work. Some people have said they have used this time for reflection and catching up on things they enjoy doing but I don’t think I have had the chance to do this yet with work and planning to move back home but I hope to do more reading and learning about things I want to learn about over the summer. I have been able to catch up with my old school friends via Zoom (thank God for Zoom!) more regularly which has been a wonderful positive impact of lockdown. To be able to share concerns and laugh together has eased the stress of being stuck with the same people for 4 months! Things I have learnt about myself in lockdown: I have A LOT of patience; I like my own space; I can still make a difference even if I am away from my students; I like dancing to Just Dance with my daughters; put my mask on first and then my hijab, not the other way round; it’s a good job I wear the hijab so no one can see grey hair on zoom; maybe we should get a cat. Wish you all the best BSAK community. May we all find the patience within us to cope with such difficult times.
YEAR 9 & 10 ARABIC B DISTANCE LEARNING WORK
STAFF REFLECTIONS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING MRS FISCHER | ENGLISH The first few days were surreal: I read a book, just chilled on the couch and stared at the ceiling. Why is it that we equate our ‘stay home’ day with lethargy? With our normal hectic work schedules, we barely get time to spend some time with friends or family, or step out during the week. So, we step out during the weekend, and then end up having Sunday blues. It becomes a vicious cycle of tiredness. However, lockdown intervened and forced us to take a slower pace and refocus our perceptions. Prior to lockdown, it was always an easy option to go on a trip with friends or family. However, sometimes the excitement, the thrill of discovering a new place would negate true conversations. I have realised that during this lockdown. I found that video chat and Zoom sessions are far more personal and less distracting. I have enjoyed this lockdown period spending time with my family. It was fun, listening to their experiences, their life stories which we never really got around to. Of course, I missed and continue to miss my students - I would often wonder how they were doing and how they were coping. Lockdown also made me realise (even more than before) how much I love teaching and how much I adore being with my students and witnessing their learning journey - something I look forward to relishing once again when this is all over.
YEAR 10 DISTANCE LEARNING GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WORK
YEAR 10 DISTANCE LEARNING GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WORK
STAFF REFLECTIONS DURING DISTANCE LEARNING MRS FIELD | BIOLOGY To begin with, teaching online was daunting – getting the hang of Google Classroom and Zoom meetings, making videos for lessons, giving too much or too little work, feeding back, being bombarded with emails. Then there was not seeing my students, which was much harder than I had imagined. It’s difficult to suddenly be without the small but important interactions that make such a difference to your day – the chats, smiling faces, jokes, puzzled looks that I try to unpuzzle! I miss these the most. At first I spent much of my time fielding missives from concerned, confused students, but I am so proud of the independent learners they have become. I’m not saying there haven’t been emails sent home to parents over ‘missing’ or ‘insufficient’ work! But these are exceptions that are dwarfed by the amazing work my students have done over the past four months. Thank you for your perseverance, resilience and patience, and to the parents who have supported you along the way. I very much hope to see you all in September after a well-deserved summer holiday!
YEAR 8 PAINTING BY IBRAHIM
YEAR 10 GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WORK
MEDIA STUDIES DISTANCE LEARNING REVIEW Distance learning has not stopped creativity and learning in the Media Studies department, by any stretch of the imagination! A Level students kicked-off the distance learning period by showcasing their creative and technical skills in preparation for the academic year ahead. Tasked with creating film trailers and marketing materials for a new film entitled ‘Lockdown’, the students engaged with their studies with enthusiasm and a real hunger to produce top-quality production work. The department was simply blown-away by what was being created in what was such a challenging and unprecedented time!
Year 12 into Year 13 students were also required to develop their coursework production blogs for the upcoming year. We were simply astonished by some of the incredible work and the amazing autonomy skills of our students. The lockdown was not going to stop the newest challengers to Katherine Bigelow and J.J. Abrams in their tracks. Talking mocks and various revision tools have also been created by our very talented group.
It seems like an age since our Year 11’s waved goodbye to their GCSE studies back in May, but the high standard of work that was produced has not been forgotten. A variety of tasks were set in order to help the students maintain the creation of the excellent work that they had developed throughout the year; they did not disappoint.
Interviews, talking mocks, podcasts and screen-recordings were all made to showcase their understanding and talents. We are so pleased to see so many of them joining us on the Sixth Form courses in September. They have already made a fantastic start on some of the production work in preparation for this. It has been a different experience for our Year 10’s. We were so sad to have to postpone our progress with the coursework due to the unfortunate circumstances. So many Year 10 students had been waiting eagerly to start the coursework since the beginning of year, therefore changing our focus just a couple of weeks after starting was always going to be tricky. Nevertheless, the department has been delighted with the resilience and positive attitude shown from both groups. We have been studying video games during this period in preparation for next year’s exam and have had the opportunity to create video blogs and podcasts along-the-way. The students must be applauded for their patience and hard-work during this time. Year 9 also had to change focus slightly. Having been working in teams in lesson time to develop ďŹ lm marketing materials and productions, they of course had to continue this at-distance. Again, this did not stop some truly excellent work being developed. Well done Year 9!
YEAR 11 VIDEO BLOGS
The department would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the students for their continued endeavour since the beginning of March and also the parents for their continued support in keeping the students on-track in what has been a very challenging time. We cannot express how much hope and excitement we have in seeing you all again in September.
MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES DISTANCE LEARNING REVIEW Wow students and parents. We have made it. Well done to you both for getting through what will likely be the most tumultuous period of your school life and maybe even your entire life! Parents, you have had to adapt. You have become teachers, counsellors, psychologists, dieticians, indoor sports coaches and the list goes on. Students, you deserve so much praise. You have to adapt to a new environment, new ways of learning and at the same time as missing your mates. MFL has battled on over the last few months and your teachers have shown some amazing creativity to keep the intensity that is language teaching going. We’ve had students baking in Spanish, rapping in Arabic and meeting stars of TV talent shows in French. We have been amazed at your commitment to the cause, regularly attending Zoom meetings, handing in some fantastic work and producing some stunning exam results. We really hope you get some rest this summer. We often say that you should spend some time in summer keeping the languages going, dipping in and out of your languagenut account, revisiting your present tenses, reading widely around the subject etc. We won’t preach that this year, languagenut accounts will remain open all summer if and when the need arises. Below are some examples of what you have achieved over the last few months. You will see that we have kept the word count low here! No need for long diatribes about the need to keep up your language Vincent Vinel Check out this link first: Vincent Vinel. Our students were then very surprised to see a personal message from the star himself (Madame Mathieu using her French connections here…). Message pour BSAK Then , students wrote a little message back to Vincent. Here are a few examples
Miss Alabaster set her Y7 French class the mean feat of creating from scratch the classic crème brûlée. This is Mohamed’s effort in 7YFR1. Delicious!
Mr Williams’ Year 7s have been experimenting with how their Chromebooks can help them with their speaking work. Click this link to see how an example of the fantastic distance learning work that they produced.
The Year 12 Students have also begun looking at the film Pan’s Labyrinth as part of the cultural part of their curriculum. The students enjoyed a live watch-along with the director Guillermo del Toro where he answered many questions that have given them plenty of food for thought when analysing the film. Our Year 10 Arabic students, who deserve an extra special for working towards their GCSE Arabic grades under trying conditions ended their compulsory Arabic B curriculum with a cultural course.
YES, THERE ARE SUPERHEROES AROUND THESE PARTS! TRUTH BE TOLD, THESE STUDENTS ARE THE REAL HEROES.
#OnlyAtBSAK