bifs newsletter, 2015-09-18 (english)

BIFS NEWSLETTERUnited in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

Busan International Foreign Schoolwww.bifskorea.org | [email protected] | T. 82 51 742 3332

ISSUE 26, September 18 2015

ContentsWhole School1. United in Our Diversity Valuing Voices2. AGM Announcement from the Board of Governors3. PTA News4. PE Uniform Shop5. TEDxYouth@BIFS6. Korean Chuseok Celebration Event7. Approaches to Learning with Lance King8. Image Rights Permission9. Substitute Teachers Needed!10. Medical Update11. Head Lice Alert12. Cafeteria Menu13. Special Chuseok Lunch Menu

Elementary School1. Wonderous Writing Workshop the Whole Week!2. Parent Coffee - Writing Workshop3. Chuseok Celebration4. Upcoming Events5. Student Council Representatives

Middle School and High School1. Middle School Patterns2. 24 Days into 2015-163. Charity Clothing Drive4. Athletics Update5. College Visits

For Your Diary

BIFS Annual Calendar 2015-2016

School & Community Links

(Click to jump straight to the article -home icon brings you back to Contents)




Tomorrow is a big day at BIFS as we host the TEDxYouth@BIFS event for Busan! The purpose ofTEDxYouth@BIFS is to provide a platform for people to have a voice and to speak on ideas worth sharing. Weare proud to host this event which focuses on empowering youth. This event also closely ties in with our mission,vision and belief statements. It especially supports our belief for BIFS to be an independent non-denominationalinternational school family.

Whole SchoolUnited in Our Diversity Valuing Voices

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BIFS being an independent non-denominational international school family means that all voices are respectedand valued. As an international family, we believe that there is dignity in our differences and the true value ofour community shines forth most brightly when we respectfully listen to each others voices and ideas. It is aprocess of dialogue, reflection and learning. This is what we believe and it is what the IB believes as they statethat, others, with their differences might also be right. What a wonderful statement! Our world needs ourstudents to be active voices for a better tomorrow and they do not need to wait for their ideas to be heard! Weneed more voices that embrace diversity and value the contribution that difference brings! I am excited to listento the great ideas that will be shared tomorrow at our TEDxYouth@BIFS event. I hope you will be able to join us.

Kevin BakerHead of School




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The Annual General Meeting of the Board of Governors will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.on the 5th floor of the Elementary School Building. There are four Board vacancies up for election at this AGM -please refer to the letter from the Chairman of the Board of Governors and the nomination forms uploaded onthe school website: http://bifskorea.org/news/44.php. Ballots will be sent home early next week for voting.

Thirteen parent volunteers still needed. Chuseok celebration is happening next Friday, 25September at 9:00 12:00pm. There are 4 different stations: Stamping, Calligraphy, Yut Nori(a Korean game), and Korean Wrestling. You do not need any previous experience or Koreanknowledge. The BIFS Korean teachers will explain what to do and be at the station, too. Dontput off signing up. Surprise your children by volunteering at school. Get your calendar outand sign up using the link below. Thank you!

PTA News

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094aa5a823a46-chuseokThank you for those parents who helped with the concession stand at the Volleyball Tournament on Saturday!You are wonderful!

Tuesday was the PTA trip to Busanjin and the flower market. We had fourteen people and everyone was full ofsmiles. It was good to be together and to get to know one another. I wont forget the ladies negotiating priceswith the shopkeepers. Flowers were the most purchased item. Our homes must look beautiful! Thank you toBecky for arranging our bus and Kim Sang Hwa, our bus driver, for getting us there and back. Thetransportation worked perfectly. If you have an idea of a trip we could take and a preferred day, let one of thePTA officers know.

We need international game ideas. If you know of a game we can play in a small space from your homecountry, please let us know.

AGM Announcement from the Board of Governors




THE PE UNIFORM SHOP is now open Monday thru Thursday! Please check the calendar on the BIFS website foractual shop hours each week. Note: Shop hours are determined by the availability of our volunteers!

All general information regarding PE Uniforms can be found under the life at BIFS tab on the BIFS website!

Looking for a great place at BIFS to volunteer?The PE Uniform Shop is looking for only THREE more volunteers!!!1. 2nd Mondays (8:30-12), OR2. 1st and 3rd Fridays (10-2), OR3. 2nd & 4th Fridays (10-2)Each volunteer is scheduled to work the same day each month so you can easily make other plans! Bring a friend and have some fun!!Training provided!! For more information, drop by the shop or email [email protected].

PE Uniform Shop

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On Saturday September 19th, BIFS will hold itssecond TEDxYouth@BIFS event. Come join us foran mind blowing afternoon of ideas and insightsprovided by BIFS students and special guests.Topics include the importance of failure, impactof social media, and the evolution of digitalstorytelling. To book your free tickets please goto www.tedxyouthbifs.weebly.com.

TEDxYouth@BIFS




On September 25 the Korean Department is happy to hold this event once again. From 9 to noon the wholeschool will have the chance to participate in various Korean related activities that will prove great opportunitiesto learn more about our host country. Once again the PTA will play a key role in this event, with parents servingalongside teachers to help out in the day's events. Chuseok is the Korean harvest festival, a time when peopletook time to celebrate the crops and share food and companionship with their families and loved ones. This willbe a great chance for our greater BIFS family to come together, and the event will even have a Koreantraditional lunch provided by our chefs. For inquiries please contact Ms. Jin Young Shin at [email protected].

Korean Chuseok Celebration Event

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Please sign up to volunteer at the event! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/409094aa5a823a46-chuseok




This year, there is a whole-school focus on the IB Approaches To Learning (ATL). Self Management, Research,Social, Communication and Thinking skills will take center-stage. MYP and DP students will be building digitalportfolios that feature reflections on the ATL's. The initiative will have a dynamic introduction by Lance King, whohas worked with the IB to introduce the ATL's and embed them across the four IB programs. Lance hails fromNew Zealand and has travelled the world, teaching students, teachers and parents about the ATL's.

On October 7th, Lance will work with our Grade Eleven and Twelve students all day and will focus on study skillsand building resilience.

On October 8th, Lance will work with our Grade Six students (half in the morning and the other half in theafternoon) and will focus students' attention on Learning About Learning.

We are happy to invite parents to a special event at 7:00 pm on October 8th in the Middle and High School Hall5F in C building on Learning Skills Approach To Academic and Personal Success. This event is for parents ofchildren of all ages. Please RSVP [email protected] if you are interested in attending this event.

October 9th is a professional development day and all teachers will attend an all-day event titled: Teaching,Learning and Assessment with the ATL's in Mind.

Here is Lance King's website if you are interested in finding out more.

Daun YorkeIBDP Coordinator & Curriculum Director(for more information on this event, please contact [email protected])

More details on Lance King on the next page

Approaches to Learning with Lance King

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BIFS is accepting applicants for substitute/cover teachers for ELC to High School classes. Substitutes are called inwhen a teacher is absent and are paid hourly rate that are worked. Duties and responsibilities include teachinglessons planned and prepared by the classroom teacher, managing classroom behavior, supervising studentsoutside the classroom, and other duties as required.

Applications are invited from qualified, locally based education professionals who are fluent in English.

Candidates:

Possess an education degree from an accredited university Possess either a teaching license, TESOL certificate, or other teaching qualifications Possess IB training and experience (preferred) Are available to report to BIFS on short notice and on an irregular basis Are available to work between 8:25 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday Will be paid hourly rate: 15,000 KRW per hour

Applicants must be eligible to work in South Korea without sponsorship from BIFS and must reside in the Busanarea. And applicants must be Korean or F2, F4, F5, F6 Visa holder and have no criminal history (including sexualcriminal history).

If you are interested in being included on our substitute teacher list, please send a cover letter and CV (inEnglish) to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed, and those meeting our criteriawill be contacted for an interview.

Substitute Teachers Needed!

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Our assumption is that by joining the school parents give us their permission for any photos, videos, and audiofiles featuring their child or themselves to be published on the school's website, blogs, and in other marketingmaterials belonging to the school. Please notify Ms. Miyoung Kim at [email protected] if you do notwish photos, videos and audio files featuring your child or yourselves to be used.

Image Rights Permission




Medical UpdateWelcome to BIFS and to the 2015-2016 school year! To provide the best care for your child while at school, it isextremely important to keep their medical records up-to-date. As the school year begins again, the health officerequests that all new and returning students make certain their medical records are complete and up-to-date.

For each returning student: please complete a Medical Update Form.All new students: please complete a Medical Form.

All forms are available for download on the BIFS Health page on the schools website. You may email completedforms to [email protected] or drop them by the nurse office on campus.

Thank you and we are looking forward to a fun, safe, and healthy school year!

If you have any further questions, please contact the school nurse at [email protected].

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Head Lice AlertThere has been a case of head lice in the Elementary School. Please check your childs hair and scalp carefully.

Find a comfortable well-lit area. Wash hair. Apply conditioner and leave in (do not rinse). Use a fine toothed lice comb to check the hair.

Check the hair from the scalp to the end of the hair strand. First look at the hair at the back of the neck,behind the ears and above the forehead. Then, check the rest of the head.

You are looking for live lice. They are the size of a sesame seed and are tan, brown or gray. If you find a louse, check all household members. Treat only those who have lice (Head Lice Shampoo or Wet

combing)

If you do not find lice, it does not mean that your child does not have lice or that he/she will not get it.Check again in a few days. Let the school know if your child has head lice.

Head lice are not major public health concern because they do not spread illness or disease. Head lice can beitchy and uncomfortable. When head lice are found treatment should begin immediately. After one medicaltreatment (special head lice shampoo) has been given, student will be allowed to return to school. For furtherinformation, please contact the school nurse ([email protected]).

For more information, refer to below links.http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/head-lice/basics/definition/con-20030792http://www.healthline.com/health/lice-buyers-guide




September 21 - 24

Cafeteria Menu

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We serve brunch buffet or international buffet every 3rd Thursday of a month.

Note: For students who bring lunches from home, please make sure to bring your owncutlery!




Bibimbap

This is a signature Korean dish. The word literallymeans, "mixed rice". Bibimbap is served as a bowl of

warm white rice topped with namul (sauted andseasoned vegetables) and gochujang (chili pepper

paste). We will serve five kinds of namul - mushroom, chive, bean sprouts, carrots and squash.

Traditional Chicken Jjim with vegetables, soy sauceand Korean spices

Hwajeon (Korean pancake),assorted jeon (Korean pancake) made of

spring onions and yellow pumpkin respectively

Three kinds (pink, white and green) of Songpyeon (Korean rice cake)

Steamed chestnuts and dried jujube

Salad bar with beef stew

Rice punch and cinnamon punch

Assorted fresh fruit(apples, bananas, grapes and pears)

September 25

Special Chuseok Lunch Menu

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The special Chuseok lunch menu will provide students and staff with a great opportunity to taste traditionalKorean Chuseok food.

goo.gl/C5QYFW

goo.gl/TesmXo

goo.gl/NiEQU2




Elementary SchoolWonderous Writing Workshop the Whole Week!

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We welcomed Megan McCrindle as our writing workshop trainer this week. She spent Monday working withteachers on the framework of the workshop approach, then modeled lessons with various classes during theweek, as the teachers observed. These lessons were followed by further training sessions with the grade-levelteachers.

The workshop model is built upon the premise that, as teachers, we must create a learning environment thatsupports eight conditions of learning, as first defined by Brian Cambourne, an educational specialist.

The Eight Conditions of Learning:1. Immersion the learner is totally immersed in the learning experience2. Demonstration the learner sees someone successfully doing what they will be learning to do3. Engagement the learner is involved; he/she is not passive4. Expectation the learner believes that that he/she will be able to do it5. Responsibility the learner takes it on; sometimes he/she is independent in seeking it out or setting goals6. Approximation mistakes are seen as places for learning and improvement, and the learner is not expected

to be perfect while learning the new skill7. Practice the learner repeatedly does the new skill, or engages with the new concept8. Response the learner receives feedback during their learning, and much of this feedback is immediate,

rather than delayed.

Imagine the last time you learned something new. Were you successful? If so, which of these conditions were inplace? Were you not successful? If not, which of these conditions were missing?

How can keeping these conditions in mind help us as we support our children in learning new skills andconcepts?

Parent Coffee - Writing WorkshopThank you to all the parents who attended the parent session on Wednesday. Please check the ES blog for more details.




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Upcoming EventsDate/Time Event Details

September 25, 9:00-12:00 School wide Chuseok Event BIFS celebrates and learns about the Chuseokholiday.

September 28 and 29 Chuseok Holiday No School for StudentsOctober 2, 2:35-3:20 Elementary Assembly Please join us for a strings performance (violin /

cello) by a Grade 5 parentOctober 14, 9:00-10:00 Elementary Parent Coffee The PYP and Inquiry-Based LearningOctober 16, 2:35-3:20 Elementary Assembly Handwashing and Flu prevention:

Nurse and students will demonstrate proper hand-washing techniques and why it is important. Wewill also discuss flu season and ways to preventspreading germs to others.

Chuseok CelebrationPlease see the school-wide announcement about the upcoming Chuseok celebration at school. We encourage students to dress in traditional Korean clothing on this day so as a way of embracing our host culture! Children may wish to bring a change of clothing to change into after the event. We hope to see some parents in hanbok as well!

Student Council RepresentativesThe Elementary classes have selected their Student Council Representatives. They are the following:Grade 5B Lola EllingsenGrade 5R Gyuri KimGrade 5G Fiona WilsonGrade 4R Regina ChoGrade 4G Hayley MunGrade 3R Kate WagnerGrade 3G Sophia (Yejin Seo)Grade 2R Felix KimGrade 2G Dabin OkGrade 1G Ellie Melville

Ms. Sarah Toouli (Gr 4G) and Mrs. Haley Melville (Gr 5B) are advising the Student Council officers in planning events to promote community service and school spirit. They meet every Tuesday during lunch.




Middle School and High SchoolMiddle School Patterns

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I have a few patterns for you as parents to work on as well. First, please check with your children and teachers tomake sure that they are keeping up with their work. You can do this by talking with your students about theirday and monitoring Managebac (we will be training parents on this program September 23 at 9 am). Second,make sure your children get enough sleep. Teens should sleep around 9 hours per night. How much does yourchild sleep? Finally, I would encourage you to help your child be involved in co-curricular activities. We haveseveral things that students could choose from AND they can still ride the bus home.

If you have any questions or need help with forming these new habits, please contact me and we can create a plan.

Nate SwensonMiddle School Principal

We have been in school for a little over one month. Bynow students are starting to fall into habits and patterns.I know who will be playing basketball before school,who sits at the tables outside for lunch, and who spendstheir afternoon break playing with friends on the soccerpitch. It is nice to be able to predict some things and nothave everything new.

I hope that you have gotten into family patterns as well.Students should be doing homework, starting to workon projects, and asking for your help. I know mydaughter usually has math homework and she can befound at the kitchen table while I make dinner.




24 Days into 2015-16As parents, we want to know how our children are doing in school. We anxiously wait for report cards, carefullyreading the comments and examining the grades. It is important that you dont wait for formal reporting periodsto try to get an understanding of your childs progress. Please keep in touch with your childs teachers throughe-mail and or by coming into the school for an appointment. Assignments and homework are posted onManagebac and grades will be entered as we have more opportunity to assess the students.

We have now been in school for just over a months time, twenty-four days to be exact (as of today). Studentshave been assigned homework, participated in formative assessments and are beginning to progress throughtheir initial units of study and summative assessments. Our term one mid-semester reports will be sent home onFriday, October 16th.

What will Reports Look Like?

Middle Years Programme - ReportsFor students in grade 9 (MYP 4) and 10 (MYP 5) report cards will include comments, but no grades at this time.Middle Years Programme (MYP) assessment requires each of the four criterion to be assessed for an overallgrade to be assigned. With only 40 days of school completed, teachers will not have had enough time to haveassessed all four criterion and therefore cannot assign a score. January 15th semester reports will include bothgrades and comments.

Diploma Programme - ReportsGrade 11 and 12 students will receive both comments and an overall grade on their mid-semester report cards. Itis important to realize that this grade is based on the collection of a very limited amount of student achievementdata. As students progress through the year, and teachers are able to collect more data, there could be asignificant change in a students level or grade. At this time, many classes will have based students grades onone, possibly two assignments.

Other Important Reporting DatesOctober 20 - ConferencesJanuary 15 - Semester Reports

We look forward to seeing you at conferences on October 20th.

Jamie RobbHigh School Principal

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Charity Clothing DriveWe are two senior girls who will be hosting a charity clothing drive in BIFS Middle School and High School fromthe 21st to 25th of September. We will collect bags of used clothing in the Middle and High School building inexchange for a piece of cake or a cookie for each bag brought. Please advise your children to bring the clothingthey no longer use to school next week, and we will donate it to the BeautifulStore, a non-profit organizationthat re-sells the clothes in their stores all over Korea and donates the profits to charity programs both nationallyand internationally - the organization currently supports projects in Vietnam, Bangladesh and Nepal. (Moreinformation can be found on http://www.beautifulstore.org/Eng.) As clothes will be resold, items need to be ingood condition, and used underwear and socks are not accepted. Accessories, purses, bags, shoes, and clothesin all sizes and styles are welcomed.

Thank you for your donations!

Nina Haldorsen and Hanna KisteGrade 12

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The boys and girls varsity and junior varsity teams played their first games of the season last Saturday at theSKAC Divisional Tournament hosted by BIFS. It was a great day of volleyball for all and all the teams had achance to see the level of competition for the teams in the SKAK conference.

Boys varsity finished 3-0 with wins over Daegu International School, Handong International school and BusanForeign School. The boys JV team finished with 2 wins and 1 loss to the Handong Varsity squad.

Girls Volleyball Varsity finished with 3 wins and zero Losses and beat teams from Daegu International School,Handong International school and Kwangju Foreign School. The junior varsity team finished with 2 wins and 1loss to Handong varsity.

Ceejay Jader serves as this years varsity girls coach, Martina Plicka and Jamie Robb serve as the varsity boyscoaches. Aimee Wagner and Al Roland are the coaches for the girls junior varsity and Gareth Owen is the Coachfor the Junior varsity boys team. Good Luck at the October 5 SKAK playoffs!

Athletics Update

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Pick Up Times Paradise Hotel - 6am Zenith Apartments - 6:20am BIFS - 6:40am Ulsan Shinbok Rotary - 7:30am

Drop off Times Ulsan Shinbok Rotary - 4pm BIFS 5pm Zenith Apartments - 5:20pm Paradise Hotel 5:40pm

Thursday September 17thOn Thursday, September 17, the BIFS Cross Country Team traveled to Handong International School in Pohangto compete in the Southern Korean Activities Conference 5KM middle and high school event. The team ranthrough downpours, wind and rain. The results are being tabulated and we will share the runners times andplaces in the newsletter next week. For now, we are proud of the team and coaches for showing determinationand running in the terrible weather. Great Job! The team will compete again for the championships onWednesday October 7th!!..

...........................................................................................................................................................Saturday September 19thMiddle School Soccer will send two boys teams and one girls teams to participate in a SKAK divisional FutsalTournament. Good Luck to our middle school Squads. They, like all of our athletes have been working hard onskills and strategy in preparation of their competition! They are coached by the Shining Stars soccer coaches:Coach James, Coach Andy and Coach Patrick.

All times for pick-up and drop off are approximate, if there are changes we will do our very best to keep youupdated and we will ask your children to keep you updated also.

Thank you again for being a booster of the BIFS Bears I look forward to meeting you!

Marty WagnerAthletic Director

Busses Schedule is as Follows:




College Visits

Date CollegeSeptember 1 Miami University, Oxford

University of Minnesota, Twin CitiesUniversity of OregonUniversity of Vermont

September 8 St. Georges University (Caribbean)September 18 North Carolina State UniversitySeptember 25 Widener University

Augustana CollegeUniversity of California, Santa CruzCreighton UniversityFordham University - Lincoln Center Campus/Rose Hill CampusIowa State University

October 1 University of Wisconsin, WhitewaterOctober 7 Hampshire College

Lynchburg CollegeUniversity of Puget SoundSaint Mary's College of California

October 8 University of ConnecticutOctober 12 Calvin College

The College of WoosterOctober 20 University of Missouri Columbia

University of Colorado at BoulderThe University of Iowa

Each year BIFS receives university recruitment visits from universities from all over the world. The following is thelist of universities that have been scheduled so far to visit BIFS. We anticipate getting many more throughout theschool year.

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For Your DiarySeptember 201519th TEDxYouth@BIFS

23rd MS/HS Parent Coffee

25th Whole School Chuseok Event

28th 29th Chuseok Holiday

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October 20152nd ES Assembly

3rd BIFS BOG AGM

7th BIFS Parent Coffee

PTA Meeting

8th Whole School Meeting

9th Staff Professional Development Day - No School for Students

14th ES Parent Coffee

14th 16th Grade 5 Camp

16th ES Assembly

17th Global Gathering

20th MS/HS Skype Interviews

Schoolwide 3-Way Conferences

21st MS Parent Coffee

23rd ES Assembly

HS House Assembly

24th PTA Fall Family Festival

28th HS Parent Coffee

28th 29th One Act Plays

29th 30th Campus Photography International Taking Student Photos

30th End S01 CCA/Elective

ES Book Character Day

ES Assembly

MS House Assembly

Spirit Day

MS/HS Halloween Dance




School & Community Links

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Please contact Ms. Miyoung Kim if you wish to inquire about promoting your company in the BIFS Newsletter.

[email protected] | 051-742-3332 (#114)

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bifs newsletter, 2015-09-18 (english)

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