KS3 News

Dear families and students,

A warm welcome to a new term and a new calendar year! Maybe you have already started working on your new year's resolutions? Perhaps start a new hobby, try a different after-school activity, or put right a bad habit like arriving to school late. It could be any goal that you have always dreamed of. One beauty of school life is that we get a chance to reflect, refresh and review our plans three times a year. Imagine three fresh starts to start, to improve, or even to change course completely! As teachers we can renew our efforts, try new strategies, and begin new projects and clubs. As a student, were your effort levels lacking in a certain subject last term? Did you demonstrate the model behaviour we expect at all times at BMIS? Worry not, you are forgiven and you have another chance to get things right.

We are planning an exciting trip to the South Coast this term, for our students in KS3. Some students are already aware that we are planning to go to Funzi Keys and they are super excited about all the adventure that awaits as well as the engaging activities. This trip is scheduled for week 12 and full details will be sent home once all the paperwork is complete.

Meanwhile, the Y9 students will be doing their checkpoint pre-mock examination in March. This is the first external Cambridge International examination that they do in secondary and it is deemed important as it gives students a glimpse, albeit an ounce, of the IGCSE examinations, done in Y11. So how should the Y9 students start their revision? Many students assume that revision simply means reading through their exercise book or textbook once or twice and that will be sufficient to remember and understand all the details. Whereas reading is important, it is very passive. They could, therefore, also use other revision techniques in order for the information to stick such as flashcards, revision posters, mind-maps, sticky notes, PowerPoint presentations, or even teaching someone, or testing themselves.

As a parent, you may want to encourage them to take responsibility for revision and get into good habits this term.

In PSHCE this first half of term, Y7 will explore Diversity and have chosen that topic for their assembly too. Y8 will study Discrimination for PSHCE and for the assembly they will explore the theme of personal identity. Y9 will explore Respectful Relationships in PSHCE. Building relationships helps build the right connection between teacher and student as well as among peers. Students need to feel comfortable and free to express concerns or views in a safe and non-judgmental environment. At the same time, we will be observing the ‘ground rules’ and expectations of behaviours as per the BMIS student code of conduct.

I would encourage parents to be talking with their children about reflecting on the year that has passed and congratulating them on the resilience that they have shown. I wish you well in accomplishing whatever new year's resolutions you decide to focus on.

Ms Simon

KS3 Coordinator