November Events Calendar

 Click here for important events coming up.

A Focus on Learning - Reception - Year 2

A Message from Jo Saunders, Primary Learning Leader

Here at BSW, taking learning outdoors is more than a case of sitting outside for story time. Our talented Early Years team take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the outdoor classroom, using play to enhance learning. Even a simple statement such as “Play Nicely” requires a huge amount of skill and practise. Just agreeing on a game takes cooperation, negotiation and compromise.

By ensuring that the resources used in our outdoor space mirrors and compliments those used indoors, we ensure that we facilitate “deliberate and guided learning” rather than “accidental learning” which just happens- and does so constantly in these formative years. We have clear, detailed and well documented guidelines for developing this learning positively. Play equipment ranging from hoops to tunnels to stepping stones, are rotated regularly to encourage the development of gross motor skills.

As role models for our pupils, our aim is to ensure that children feel that all their play is valued. By creating a safe and respectful learning environment both inside and outside of the classroom, we ensure that our pupils are constantly provided with real experiences to develop and practise skill in a fun and enjoyable way.

A Focus on Learning - in the Classroom

Pirates AHOY!

Last week the children of Reception had great fun dressing up as pirates for the day to launch our IPC Treasure topic. Whilst inclement weather kept us indoors we had no less fun and made our presence felt throughout the school. After acquiring new pirate names and dividing ourselves into crews we went on the rampage, acquiring treasure and causing mayhem in the corridors and classrooms.

At pirate school the children created a pirate alphabet, drew maps and learned how to tie knots. They also walked the plank, practised rowing and decorated biscuits. By the end of the day we had a weary bunch of sailors on our hands. The following day we considered our behaviour and discussed whether the pirate life was for us. In the end, we decided to return our booty with letters of apology.

A Focus on Learning Support

Getting to Know Lyn Kingsmill, our Learning Support Coordinator

 My first teaching job was on a coral island in the Pacific Ocean! Since then I’ve worked in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean –and now I’m here at BSW.

I’ve taught English, French, Geography and I’ve worked in schools for children with special educational needs. Having taught at both the Secondary and Primary levels has been invaluable to me in my present role as Learning Support Coordinator as I work with the entire school – from Nursery to Year 13 with students from all over the world.

It is generally accepted that about 10% of students of all ages and intellectual abillities have issues which adversely affect their learning: these may be physiological, psychological, genetic, environmental, neurological, developmental, emotional and nutritional. It is my job to ensure that students who have learning issues receive all the support we can offer them.

In addition to working with students with learning issues, I also provide EAL tuition for students whose English does not yet allow them to fully access the curriculum.

If a member of staff or parent has a concern about a student, I discuss the difficulties with all involved, observe the student in class, and in some cases also conduct tests to further pinpoint the issues. I  discuss the findings with the teacher/s and parents and together we will identify strategies to help the student manage their difficulty.

For some students, an individual learning plan (ILP) is written with staff and parent input that outlines measurable targets in areas needing strengthening.  There are currently 42 students in the school with ILPs, which are reviewed termly, with new targets being set where appropriate.  I also work with the staff responsible for examination arrangements to ensure that students have access to additional provision, such as extra time, readers, prompters and word processors, to which they are entitled.

At the moment, I have individual or small group session with 25 students. During these sessions we work on a range of individually tailored support activities – including reading, spelling, fine motor skills, maths and social skills.

I  liaise as often as possible with the Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, other specialist tutors and Mr. Joel, the school counsellor,  to co-ordinate their input and to assist with implementing their advice.

I am in the process of establishing a support group for parents whose children have learning issues. I know there are many parents who would like to have the opportunity to discuss strategies which may help them to help their children mange their issues.

 Click Here to view an updated staff list 

A Focus on Emotional Support

Getting to Know Joel Gunzburg (Mr. Joel to most), Our School Counselor

I am a licensed clinical social worker who has been delivering school counseling services to both public and independent schools for seven years. I work for a private non-profit agency called Family Support Center (www.fsc1.org ), an agency that serves over eighty schools in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The Family Support Center brought me to the British School of Washington at the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

I provide individual, group, and family counseling to students to help deal with issues that may impact students’ success at school both educationally and socially. I also provide crisis intervention and management services and will refer students as necessary to outside providers for psychotherapy, psychiatric assistance, healthcare, etc. I am always available if you have any questions or concerns at (301)908-5529 or jgunzburg@gmail.com.

A Focus on Community Links

Colonel Luke Knittig Visits BSW - Year 11 Anna S. Reports

On Wednesday, 11th November, Colonel Luke Knittig came to speak to us in Diogenes Club about the US army in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is a veteran of the Afghanistan conflict, and currently works in the Pentagon.

I found the talk was very fascinating as I learnt a lot of interesting facts about the US army, especially because the army has been in the news recently, focusing a lot on Iraq and Afghanistan.

I learned that the most common misconception of the army today is not having a full understanding of what a specialist or unit leader’s responsibilities are. What I found interesting was that the army is a family business- the Colonel told us that 60 to 70% of people in the army have a family member in the army.

He also told us about when he was a Spokesman for 20,000 people in Afghanistan. I thought that the talk and learning about the US army was very captivating, and it was very nice hearing from someone who is a veteran in Afghanistan. 

A Focus on Drama Enrichment Activities

Blood Brothers’ Cast Being Foolish!

The cast of the upcoming production of ‘Blood Brothers’ were treated to an acting workshop with Commedia Dell’Arte expert, Matt Wilson. Matt has recently been performing in ‘Sheer Madness’ at the Kennedy Centre as well as spending much time in Italy performing his one-man Commedia epic.

The acting workshop focused on various ways to create characters which are very different from themselves – many of the performers have this difficult task in the show. Matt talked to the students about the importance of realizing where we are naturally comfortable in our own bodies – do we naturally walk with our heads held high or do we prefer to walk looking towards the ground? Do we naturally walk leaning slightly forwards or backwards? It was stressed that only by realizing how we naturally use our bodies can we then expand out of our ‘comfortable movement zone’ and create new characters in a performance.

The cast spent the afternoon learning about a concept called Laban’s Movement Analysis – this asks actors to consider whether their character would move directly or indirectly, or whether they moved in a sudden way or a more controlled and sustained way. By considering this you could portray characters with a variety of personalities or motives.

The work done with Matt has already impacted on the performances of the Blood Brothers crew. We hope you can come and see the students’ hard work when ‘Blood Brothers’ comes to the BSW Stage in early March!

Katie Gough, Drama Teacher 

A Focus on Seasonal Recipes

Peter's Favorite Sour Cream Apple Pie 3/4 c sugar, 2 Tbsp. flour, 1/8 tsp salt, 1 cup sour cream, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla, 2 cups diced tart cooking apples, 1 9" pie crust. Combine sugar, flour and salt. Stir in sour cream, egg, vanilla and nutmeg until smooth. Stir in the apples and pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes at 400. Reduce to 350 and bake 30 minutes more. Prepare crumb topping (1/3 cup sugar, 1 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup soften butter, 1 tsp. cinnamon mixed into crumbs), sprinkle on top and bake for another 15 minutes or until the top is lightly browned. Send your favorite seasonal recipes to focusbsw@britishschool.org 

Parent's Corner

Wonder where all the unpurchased used uniforms and lost property items go?

The Used Uniform and Lost Property Initiative continues to be a thriving volunteer activity behind the scenes thanks to parents who have taken the initiative to make a difference. The collections are sorted regularly. Newer clothing has been allocated for resale at school functions by parent volunteer, Joann Tell, and the bulk has been redistributed. Nothing goes to waste.

Rosa Zaragoza, an active volunteer parent, has laundered, sorted and dispatched numerous bags of uniforms. This year, several batches have gone to two NGOs in East Africa. Bread for the City, in DC, has gratefully received non-logo clothing (trousers, pinafores, shorts, etc.) for families asking for children’s clothes for school.

More recently, our volunteers have established a connection with Operation Give, run by Chief Wiggles - US military (www.operationgive.org), which takes clothing and humanitarian aid to civilians in combat zones.

Sue Baker, who has worked closely with Rosa in getting the clothes to her, has started a collection of worn out and solo trainers for donation to the Nike recycling program. See www.nikereuseashoe.com

A few items are passed onto Miss Laird for the ongoing 10th Anniversary rag rug project. If you would like to help her, contact alaird@britishschool.org

Please continue to support this worthwhile initiative by leaving used uniforms and worn out trainers in the blue box in the lobby.

Joann Tell (Used Uniform Co-ordinator), wftjet@juno.com; Rosa Zaragoza, zaragozarosa@aol.co.uk; Sue Baker, sbaker2005@verizon.net

Editor's Comments: Several items unfortunately went missing at the Fall Festival. If you have any knowledge of where they went please e-mail focusbsw@britishschool.org 1) Long black girl's (age 10/11) wool coat from NEXT 2) Sprint LX400LG red/silver mobile phone 3) Wii console and attachments in purple shopping bag. 

Acorns Play Group for children 0-3 will resume with a special event in January. So, plan ahead to attend!