1931, Celebrating the Past; 2021, Creating the Future

It is often said that to know where you are going, you must first understand where you have come from. This was exactly the opportunity given to some of our Junior School students who took a journey back in time to when the BSN opened its doors for the very first time back in 1931.

Junior School Students journey back in time to 1931

Dressed in costumes from the period and adopting new names typical of the era (such as Sonny and Margaret), students and teachers got into character to experience what a typical classroom would have been like.

"I was excited to join the 1930s classroom because I had never acted as if it was a long time ago before. It was exciting to know what it was like for children in the 1930s. They had special equipment like the abacus in Maths and, in Art, they sat on the floor to paint. I enjoyed making new friends from JSD and JSV.”

- Carla, Year 5, JSL

Much of the BSN of today is unrecognisable to the small school opened by Gwen Brunton-Jones (a New Zealander living in The Hague) in 1931. The school began in a rented single room of a private house on van Diepenburchstraat. Conditions in the classroom were basic in comparison with today, but what it lacked in resources, it made up for in commitment to its students - a principle that remains at the heart of the BSN today. ■

2021, Creating the Future

The Student Experience

As I write this short article at the end of 2021, it is an opportunity to reflect on what has been another character-building year for all of us. With strict guidelines still in place and a mix of in-person and distance learning, it has been challenging for everyone; not only from an academic perspective but also from a social and personal one.

Since the start of the pandemic, we have exchanged our pens and paper for Teams and virtual Q & As due to the new nature of learning. Online learning tests both your work ethic and resilience. I had to remain driven and motivated to complete work set independently, which is not always easy but good practice for when I start university.

Even after returning to campus, technology remained a prominent part of our daily school routines. Many students agree that this is a long-term change for the better; not only are school resources and teachers only a mouse click away, but we are using less paper, which is much more sustainable towards the environment. I am proud of how my peers and I have adapted to and overcome the challenges that have come our way.

Magdalena Godzina Editor PUBLISHED (SSV’s Student Newspaper)

On a more personal note, I have experienced what it means to grow up with the BSN. I started school in 2007 in Foundation Stage 1 at Junior School Diamanthorst, before moving to Junior School Leidschenveen in Year 1, then on to Senior School Voorschoten.

I have seen first-hand how learning has changed throughout that time, especially now that I am in the Sixth Form and my study is increasingly more independent. One thing that has been constant throughout is my friends. I deeply appreciate growing up in such an international school where I’ve met friends from so many different backgrounds and cultures. I see this experience helping me to contribute positively to the interlinked world we live. ■