The Lighthouse Magazine 2017-2018

The L ghthouse February 2018

The British School, Alexandria

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Principal′s Message I am pleased to introduce this year’s edition of The Lighthouse.

We hope that this gives you a flavour of the day-to-day learning activities that our students have participated in during the first half of this academic year.

You will see that our staff work hard to provide our students with a very wide range of activities which, in turn, gives our students a very rich and enjoyable learning experience. We believe this to be important as we wish to stimulate in our students a thirst for learning which will remain with them after their schooling at the BSA. I wish you happy reading!

Mr Justin Blakebrough

Principal

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Our Teaching Staff

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Lights! Camera! Action!

FS1 Red have had a busy first few months using their creativity in the role play area. We had a traditional home corner whereby we pretended to be mummy, daddy and babies.We enjoyed cooking for our friends! In the winter we made our very own igloo, which was surrounded by snowflakes and sparkly lights. We now have a hairdressers where we pop in for a shampoo, a chat and some stylish haircuts and makeovers.

In FS1 Blue, our learning journey has taken us from the setting of a home corner, through snowy winter wonderland to discovering the dark Gruffalo's cave. We explored some natural materials such as stones, leaves and branches as if we were the Gruffalo. We have been making animal and Gruffalo sounds while telling stories in the cave. We will be playing at guessing the animal as our friends project shadows on the walls of the cave.

FS1 White's role play area in the Autumn term was a home corner, they had great fun imitating different people in their family. The children thoroughly enjoyed playing with the babies so we then decided to make a Baby clinic. Careful examinations were undertaken using stethoscopes and a treatment of injections were given with some children even prescribing medication! The role play area has now turned into a Jungle where children have been dressing up as different animals, making movements and sounds.

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Lights! Camera! Action!

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Family Art Centre The FS2 children went on a trip to the Family Art Centre.

When we got there, the children put on their artist hat and aprons and got ready to make three different exciting and creative crafts. First the children talked about hygiene and how we wash our hands to get rid of all the germs. The children then cut small pieces of soap using shape cutters and filled the mold with liquid soap which was later hardened. The children were very excited to use their soap as inside there was a surprise toy. Next the children chose their favourite plaster cast character and used their painting skills to carefully paint each section. The children chose the colours they needed and mixed colours to create new ones. Their last craft required lots of concentration as the children used tiny mosaic squares to create a colourful mosaic of their initial.The children listened really well and enjoyed practicing their art skills.They showed great focus and enthusiasm throughout the day and were delighted to bring their crafts home.

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Family Art Centre

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We love Maths!

In Maths this term, the children have focused on place value including counting activities, ordering numbers and number bonds.They have learnt to use a variety of resources such as counters, number lines and dominoes to work out addition and subtraction sums. They have written super number sentences using the correct mathematical symbols. In addition, the children have reviewed their knowledge of 2D shapes; developed their understanding of their properties and sorted 2 D shapes into different criteria. To reinforce their learning, we have done lots of practical activities, making good use of our outdoor space. We have looked for shapes in the environment and worked on our positional and movement vocabulary. The children were very engaged when taking part in Maths Week activities using the parachute, giant Snakes and Ladders and playing Hop Scotch for traditional playground games.

The children have made pleasing progress over the term and shown enthusiasm for all tasks.

They have a very positive attitude towards their Maths.

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We love Maths!

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Mr Mohanad and the Science Show At BSA we have Personal Goals to help guide us make good choices each day. We can be like a respectful giraffe, resilient camel, cooperative elephant, independent bear, reflective tiger or like the eagles with good communication skills. Every time a teacher spies us being like one of the animals, we earn marbles in a jar.

As a reward for being such fabulous representatives of the BSA Personal Goals, on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th of November our Year 2 classes got a super treat. We had a special visitor called Mr Mohanad who came to show us amazing science experiments. We were all amazed by the different investigations, especially the bubbles and fire. We hope Mr Mohanad can come and visit us again soon!

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Mr Mohanad and the Science Show

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Pre-Prep Christmas Shows Our KS1 Winter Performance this year was "Aladdin".

Compared to previous year shows, Aladdin was a huge undertaking, but we felt the children were up for the challenge and they certainly rose to the occasion, they put on two wonderful performances. A huge "thank you" to all the KS1 team who worked above and beyond for the 5 weeks prior to prepare the children as well as all the props and decorations.

I am already looking forward to next years performance!

Foundation Stage also put on a lovely musical assembly, they all looked wonderful in their costumes and for the first year ever, we had no tears. All children did a wonderful job! Another big "Thank You" to the Foundation team for preparing all the children for their performance, certainly not an easy task!

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Pre-Prep Christmas Shows

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Our Geologists In Year 3 last term we became geologists. We have spent our science lessons exploring the different types of rocks that can be found around the world. We have explored the different properties of many different rocks and found that they are all very different. We sorted rocks based on their hardness and were surprised to find that some rocks are actually soft.

We tested lots of different rocks to see what would happen if we left them in water and found that some rocks actually absorb water. We also discovered that because of these different properties rocks can be used to make many different things we find around the house. It was great becoming real scientists and we can't wait to carry out plenty more tests and investigations next term. Here are some pictures of when our classrooms became science labs in order for us to carry out our geological tests.

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Our Geologists

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The Battle of BSA Wow! What an exciting first term we’ve had in Year 4. There has been a lot of learning taking place; from Vikings to volcanoes, fractions to functions, reading to writing, our students have risen to the challenges every time. Speaking of challenges, we’ve battled the Anglo Saxons, dived into a 3D volcano and turned ourselves into a fully functioning human digestive system! We’ve also been electrifying circuits and mastering our times tables. Everyone has been working hard and lots of progress has been made, especially in reading, with each class claiming the Star Trophy once in the past six weeks. Super reading Year 4!

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The Battle of BSA We’ve also been making excellent efforts with our writing. The children have become journalists, researching a historic battle and reporting the events, they then turned their hand to fantasy writing using the Wolves in the Walls, by Neil Gaiman, as inspiration. The children wrote their own spooky story in which a variety of animals escaped from the walls, including cockroaches, lions, snakes, scorpions and even gorillas! We finished the term with a superfun trip to Saltana’s to celebrate all the hard work and success in the first term of this academic year.

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The Battle of BSA

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Schutz Football Match A big well done to the pupils from years 5 and 6 who represented the school so well during our recent football games with Schutz. The pupils demonstrated an excellent attitude and played some very successful matches. It was great to have some pupils representing the school for the first time.

Well done boys!

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Ancient Egypt This term has been a busy one with the highlight being our trip to Cairo. Year 5 spent a weekend away from their families for the first time. With ancient Egypt being the topic in class, the children were able to share their knowledge learnt in the classroom along the way.

After an eventful start changing buses we went straight to the pyramids in Giza. Fascinated by the confined space inside the pyramid, the children imagined what life would have been like for both pharaohs as well as workers. A bumpy camel ride to the sphinx ended the day nicely with lots of laughter. After a busy day we relaxed in our luxurious hotel and enjoyed dinner together.

Day two of the Cairo trip began with a lovely breakfast at our hotel followed by a visit to the Egyptian Museum, where we were all fascinated with all the artefacts, in particular Tutankhamen's vast collection. The highlight of the museum though, had to be seeing the gruesome mummies! The Pharonic village was next on the itinerary. Here we went on a tour of a model of Ancient Egyptian times, giving us a visual representation of what it was really like. It was a great trip with the students representing BSA beautifully and we all had lots of fun!

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Ancient Egypt

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Maths Week in Greek Maths week in Year 6 was very Greek! We learned about famous mathematicians and areas of maths including Pythagoras, Pi and the Sieve of Eratosthenes. We also created our own Ancient Greek board game - Polis measuring the board and counters. It was very precise and very tricky, but very fun! Students found these exercises particular exciting as it would soon feed into their topic unit- Ancient Greece.

Not only have the Greeks had a massive impact on what shapes Alexandria but also on what shapes our maths. Many of the skills they picked up over the week will definitely prepare them for some complex mathematical problems they are sure to come across in senior school.

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Maths Week in Greek

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Year 7 Highlights What a first term! We have been so busy in senior school, it has been a blast of activities while gaining lots of knowledge about various interesting subjects like math and science.

The biggest highlight was going to the Science and Geography trip to Borg El-Arab. We had three completely amazing days of sunshine and activities that brought us closer together and we got to know our teachers well. We enjoyed the activities so much we even had time to have a water polo competition!

Another highlight was our history trip to the catacomb, the place and the information we were given was breathtaking – the Romans were a really interesting civilization! We particularly enjoyed Maths Week, we played lots of puzzles with our teachers and it was amazing to learn about maths around the world.

In all, we had such a great time learning this term and we thank all our Senior School teachers for all their efforts and patience with us!

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Year 7 Highlights

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Year 10 Highlights There have been some amazing opportunities since the start of Year 10. The feisty and argumentative members of the year have embraced the opportunities of ‘in house’ debating enrichment and MUN, giving the chance to publicly challenge and demolish the opposition. Attendance at the LFAMUN also gave insight into the workings of the United Nations and a chance to form new friends.

Many of the Year 10s are ‘walking the boards’ and are busy preparing for the School Play ‘Aladdin’.

Recognition to Jailan (Jaffar), Menna (Gana), Farah (Ginie) and Jude M (sound and light engineer) for their enthusiasm and encouraging the younger cast to aim high. Get ready to buy your ticket.

The reality of IGCSEs has also hit home. The increased demand in homework and pressure of forthcoming mock exams is already making some feel stressed.

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Year 10 Highlights

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Model United Nations

Twelve Year 10 and 11 BSA students represented the school at the LFAMUN 2017.They worked to find resolutions for issues as far ranging as nuclear disarmament, gender inequality in the workplace and encouraging stability in post conflict states.

Although many were daunted as first time delegates they soon found their footing and a number were main submitters.

Well done Retaj, Jude, Haya, Lina, Joseph, Maya, Farida, Jailan, Menna, Farah O., Tasneem and Farah K.

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Sixth Form We have had a very busy first half of the school year in terms of leadership opportunities. The redeveloped Sixth Form programme has led to many students in Year 12 and 13 able to increase their leadership skills and take on heightened responsibility. The Sixth Form now has a very capable team leading it, with Julie and Yehia (Head Girl and Boy respectively) doing an outstanding job as role models. Moreover, they have raised a large amount of money for charity through Student Council events such as the Halloween Disco and Secret Santa.

Other students have also been able to work as leaders, with the school appointing Senior Student House Captains this year. They have coped with the demands of the role admirably and have run House Assemblies and helped to foster a real sense of community within each House.

Finally, every student in Sixth Form has volunteered to help Prep students with their reading, a great example of intra-school cooperation that highlights the special attitude that helps stand BSA students out from others. Well done to everyone involved!

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COBIS SDG Competition COBIS Sustainable Development Goals Competition At the start of October students were told of an opportunity to participate in a COBIS competition.

Teams, made up of 7-5 students, had to decide on a project, which addresses one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. In April they will submit a report on their projec.Two teams emerged involving students from Year 7 and 9, they are:

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Languages Week Language week was great fun, but also educational. We learnt a lot!! First of all the week started on Sunday with two short video clips. One was about why learning a foreign language is so important and the other one was tips on how to learn vocabulary by relating new words to strange and memorable images. The assembly on Tuesday was really interesting and lots of fun. Two sixth form pupils acted out a short dialogue in French about arranging to go and see a horror film and it was surprising how much we could understand, even in Year 7. We then watched a video about the advantages of being able to speak more than one language. After this, some Year 9 and 10 pupils came on to the stage to read out some more reasons that learning a language is advantageous. The highlight though was when 7R came on to the stage to sing a French song about different animals washing their clothes. They were brilliant, and Youssef was amazing with his monkey mask. The rest of the week in registration we did French word searches and played French Linguascope games. It was awesome.

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Languages Week

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Maths Around the World Maths week took place between 12th – 17th November 2017. This year’s theme was ‘Maths Around the World’. During the buzzing week of maths we explored maths from different cultures and backgrounds. On each day of the week we looked at a different continent and picked an ancient aspect of maths and explored its wonders in today’s world.

European Maths On Sunday we looked at the famous Konigsberg Bridge problem which dates back to the 18th century in the city now known as Kalingrad in Russia. Students had to investigate how to cross the seven brigdes in town without crossing the same bridge twice. This was an introduction to graph theory and network - the idea of travelling through a set of routes without travelling through the same route twice. It is the basis of metro/underground maps, flight routes and even postman routes! A diagram of the problem is on the right – can you solve it?

Chinese and Indian Maths Students looked at Vedic Mathematics – a unique technique of calculations based on simple principles and rules, with which any mathematical problem can be solved mentally.

Some of these techniques emerged from ancient China and India. Students look at how to multiply and square numbers according to these techniques.

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Maths Around the World African Maths Egyptian mathematics was the focus of our learning. Students learnt how ancient Egyptians multiplied numbers, including 2 and 3 digit numbers.We investigated patterns that lead us to believe that ancient Egyptians may have unknowingly used a form of binary numbers to help them multiply.

Fascinating how binary numbers originated thousands of years ago to be used in our computers today!

Islamic Art On our last day of the week we looked at fancy art patterns that Muslims use to decorate their mosques and buildings. Students used geometric shapes to construct their own Islamic patterns and then colour them in. Some beautiful and mesmerising work has been put up on display.

Daily Puzzles Running alongside our theme were the daily puzzles. Could you solve one of our puzzles?

Which 3 balls add to make 30 ?

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Science Department It has been a busy term this academic year, but very enjoyable and rewarding at the same time.

Thus far the main highlight for me was attending the Pharco Pharmaceutical Company on Extended Curriculum Day. It was a great opportunity for our Sixth Form students to observe how Science is applied on an industrial basis, and the different techniques that are implemented to produce various medicines. Watching hundreds of pills being produced per minute was fascinating!

Mr K Ahmed,Teacher of Biology and Chemistry I have enjoyed joining the Science Department and getting to know staff and students alike. It was particularly interesting to visit a local orphanage for whom the Science team and the 6th form student body raised money and purchased various food, clothing and sports equipment donations. As always with Physics I enjoy watching the students exploring simple experiments that have profound results.This term Year 12 have mixed together two light sources to make darkness, Year 13 have measured the strength of Earth's gravity with a pendulum, and Year 11 have used their own bodies as a conductor in an electrical circuit.

Mr A Bostock,Teacher of Physics Another year, another term and science is still alive and kicking at The British School, Alexandria.

Biology examination classes are going well with students working extremely hard, yet still having time to enjoy the practical aspects of the subject. Pupils in Year 7 have settled in well and have been fascinated with what Science has to offer. We continue to explore new practical work and try to push the boundaries in the science department. It has been a challenging and rewarding first term, we look forward to what else the year has to offer.

Mr J Rawoot,Teacher of Biology

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Science Department It has been an interesting first term as a new member of the Science team. I have really enjoyed getting to know the students, staff and embracing the ethos and spirit of The British School, Alexandria.

The biggest highlight for me was seeing the ecstatic faces of the orphans for whom the 6th form pupils had bought various toys and other necessities.Year 7 have been a particular pleasure to teach.

Watching them carry out experiments for the first time and learn new concepts has been very rewarding.

Mr A Asrar,Teacher of Physics As usual, what a busy term! Both students and teachers alike have worked very hard to cover the syllabus while keeping the excitement and curiosity alive in Science. This academic year, the Science Department welcomed two new members to the team, Mr. Asif and Mr. Bostock, both specialist teachers of Physics. They have been a great addition to our teaching team and are working hard to move the teaching and learning of Physics to the next level. With so much successful learning happening in and out of this classroom this term, I cannot wait for next term!

Ms Marta Carvalho, Head of Science

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Arabic Department

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Arabic Department

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Humanities Department The Humanities Department has been very active this year and continues to offer a range of trips to specific locations in Egypt that help to further enrich students in both their study of History and Geography. Highlights have included taking students to visit some of the wonders Egypt has to offer.

These trips have complemented students classroom learning and helped to bring the humanities to life.

Moreover, we have also developed an archaeology project in Year 7 to help outline the importance of the continued excavation that occurs in our own city. This culminated in a practical ‘dig’ at school as well as the trip to the Catacombs. The Year 7 students have benefited tremendously from this and have developed a sense of how important Alexandria is to undercovering the secrets of the past and concerning how human beings lived thousands of years previously. Upcoming trips include the Year 9 visit to Alamein, allowing students to realise the importance of Egypt during the Second World War. Year 8 will visit Cairo as part of a study on ‘Empires’ and will include an opportunity to visit the pyramids.

Year 11 visit to the Sadat Museum

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Humanities Department

Year 8 visit to Rasheed

Year 7 visit to the Catacombs

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Music Department Students at our school have the choice to learn the piano, violin, guitar or drums. We also offer students the chance to take performance examinations with the Royal Schools of Music Examination Board and they have achieved excellent results.

We have some highly motivated and capable students learning musical instruments at BSA, here are just a few of them!

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Accelerated Reader in Senior School

All students across KS3 have continued using Accelerated Reader in this academic year. At the start of the year students completed a Star Reading test which provided students and teachers with a reading level for all students and allows students to independently select and read books at their relevant level. Upon completing a book students have been sitting Accelerated Reader quizzes which provide detailed feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of students in regards to their current reading level. The system also keeps a track of which students have read the most words and successfully completed the most quizzes, proving their effort and understanding.

Term 1 of this academic year has been our most successful yet in regards to Accelerated Reader, with more students than ever before completing record numbers of quizzes and our highest termly word count to date. I would like to say ‘congratulations’ to all students across KS3 who are showing an increased level of maturity and independence in regards to their effort and level when it comes to reading.

On the 22nd January the following students were presented with certificates and prizes for demonstrating excellence and achievement in regards to Accelerated Reader: • Year 7 – Jana Kassem • Year 8 – Youssef Fouad • Year 9 – Moustafa Abdelall At the beginning of Term 2 I have already seen a continued enthusiasm and effort with regards to reading and hope that the achievements of these particular students, and others, help to keep all KS3 students motivated towards improving their reading skills.

I would also like to offer special praise to Moustafa Abdelall who was awarded with the Accelerated Reader Millionaire Certificate for reading 1,402,003 words during Term 1. This is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates not only a fantastic reading level, but also a commitment, enthusiasm and enjoyment of reading that he should be extremely proud of.

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Art Department Each of our students designed their own London postcards with the influence of the artist James Gulliver Hancock.The postcards were judged and House Points were given. The photos also show the Year 9 sketchbooks of the current Pirate project and the Year 8 sketchbooks of the year 8 Pop Art and Keith Haring colour project

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Art Department In Year 7 we have been studying about Aboriginal Art. How their artists use curved lines and symbols to tell a story. We have learnt also how they use bright colour and dots all over their work.

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Friends of School - Shoe Boxes Our shoe boxes event was held in December and it was a great success with 517 boxes distributed to the following 8 orphanages: El Mowahedeen, El Radwan, Meharam Bek for girls, Meharam Bek for boys, El Afaf, Caritas, Bambi and El Orman.

We would like to thank the staff, students, parents and members of the Friends of School for putting a smile on these children’s faces.

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CIE / EDEXCEL AWARDS 2017 We congratulate the following students on achieving CIE / Edexcel awards for their outstanding examination results. Well Done !

Nadia Bitar Top in Region (Middle East and North Africa Region) IGCSE Biology Top in Region (Middle East and North Africa Region) IGCSE English First Language

Sara Urso Top in Region (Middle East and North Africa Region) IGCSE English First Lnguage

Organised by Lydia Makram

Highest Mark in Egypt Edexcel - IGCSE Economics

Muhammad Sheharyar

Designed & Printed by Infinity Art +20120 056 7285

Best results across 3 AS subjects in Alexandria

The Lighthouse - February 2018

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