This week's BIS innovative news is a collaborative effort by teachers Chris from Year 2, Jay from secondary school, and PE teacher Vicky. In the field of science, Year 2 students have been delving into the properties of materials. In secondary school, the mathematics classroom has fostered a positive atmosphere, with the Year 11s demonstrating exceptional dedication to their studies. Meanwhile, in physical education, the focus has been on honing motor skills, locomotion, and the specific sport of basketball.

Notably, the EYFS Nuesery A welcomed their new teacher, Patels, and the students have been enthusiastically absorbing knowledge related to dental care.

Year 2 have been studying the properties of materials in their first science unit. They have been identifying materials that are used in everyday life and how their properties influence the ways in which we use these materials. Year 2 has been doing experiments that allowed to make observations, collecting data and drawing conclusions.

This week we have taken the opportunity through a STEM challenge to put our observations and knowledge gained to use. Year 2 were challenged in their groups to build a bridge that could hold several blocks. Each group had a variety of materials that they could use to achieve this.

The students begin by looking at the materials and discussing possible designs. They shared ideas and thought about ways to combine materials and create a rigid structure that could hold weight. It was important to work as group and practice good communication skills as while applying knowledge that had been gained over the last three weeks.

For this challenge the students were achieving important learning objectives for this unit. They were; understanding the characteristic of a material and understanding that materials can have more than one property, knowing that materials can be tested to determine their properties and thinking about how to group objects based on observations of their similarities and differences from collected data.

In this project the students were guided to explore and evaluate ideas and arguments in a structured, critical and analytical way. Throughout this project students were applying their knowledge and understanding to solve new and unfamiliar problems.

BIS students are encouraged to welcome new challenges and meet them resourcefully, creatively and imaginatively. It was exciting to see year 2 students on the path to developing 

attitudes and skills that will help them throughout their educational journey.

Mathematics in the secondary department has gotten off to a great start. The learning environment is a positive one, formative assessments form part of every lesson, and gamification plays a major role in the teaching and learning process.

The space in which the students feel safe and supported in their pursuit of knowledge, the learning environment is central to the learning process. Our learning environment is one in which the students can realize their full learning ability. This is because when all levels of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs are met, students show their full ability and eagerness for learning. The higher up on the hierarchy a student is, the better their motivation, and therefore the student will experience more effective learning.

Formative assessments are part of every lesson since they increase student engagement. Formative assessments also help to monitor student learning and assist in providing ongoing feedback that can be used by the teacher to improve their teaching and by the students to improve their learning. The formative assessments that form part of every lesson are the answering of questions using the small whiteboards that sit on the bookshelf in the classroom. We also do exercises from our prescribed textbooks.

Gamification is a central part of our teaching and learning. With gamification, the students practice applying their skills successfully and connect the lessons with real-world problems. For that reason, gamification can significantly improve the learning experience and allow students to adopt new knowledge with positive reinforcement in a fun and engaging way. 

The year 7s thoroughly enjoy the competitive nature of the gamification. Gamification also improves the students' 21st-century skills in collaboration and information and communication technology.

During the first month we were working in motor skills, locomotors movements, and in basketball as a specific sport. Each month we will be learning basic rules, specific techniques, and methodologies of different sports. The first sport of the year is basketball. Throughout this month, students learned the basic rules of basketball, as well as specific techniques such as dribbling, passing, and shooting. We also practiced teamwork and sportsmanship. 

In addition to the physical skills that students are learning in physical education class, we are also instilling important values such as responsibility, teamwork, fair play, and problem solving. These values are essential for success in physical education, as well as in life. 

It has been a great month, very useful to get to know the new students and to encourage all students to practice physical exercises and sports. We encourage parents to get involved in their child's physical education experience. You can do this by talking to your child about what they are learning in class and by encouraging them to practice at home.

We hope the students have had a fun and informative first month of PE. We look forward to continuing to learn about different sports and developing skills throughout the year.

Hello everyone, I'm Jenny, the photographer at BIS. Over the past week, I had the pleasure of stepping into the world of Nursery A, capturing some truly memorable classroom moments. I'm excited to share my experiences with all of you.

The little ones in Nursery A at BIS have been having a fantastic time these past two weeks. They warmly welcomed their new teacher, Patels, and quickly grew fond of her. 

Patels is an incredibly patient teacher who shows great care for each and every child, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in her classroom. 

She's a real expert in teaching phonics, making learning to read and spell a delightful experience through songs, games, and interactive activities.

This week, Nursery A also had a special class from a professional dentist who taught them all about dental care. The children learned about the structure of their mouths, the names of different teeth, the importance of proper brushing, and even got some hands-on practice with dental props.

The kids in Nursery A are just too adorable, and I'm thrilled to have captured these moments of their growth. Wishing you all days filled with happiness and laughter!