This Coming Week at BIFS: United in Our Diversity, Thriving in Our Individuality

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality
Contents
ISSUE 52, April 29, 2016
(Click to jump straight to the article home icon brings you back to Contents)
This Coming Week at BIFS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mon, May 2: IBDP Exams begin

Tue, May 3: ES Student-Led Conferences
Tue, May 3-13: Whole School Art Show
Thu, May 5: Childrens day No School
Fri, May 6: National holiday No School
President Park recently declared May 6th

as National holiday for Korea.
Therefore, the school will be closed.
There will be no school on Friday, May 6 th.
Whole School
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Learning on Display! The value of the PYP exhibition

PTA News
Grease: The Musical! April 28, 29
NWEA MAP Testing for Grades 210
Whole School Art Show - May 3-13
PTA International Day 2016 May 7
PTA International Day 2016 Activities Information
PTA International Day 2016 World Wheel of Fortune
PTA International Day 2016 Ticket Prepurchase
BIFS Information Evening May 12
ABRSM Practical Exams May 17, 18
IT Services - New MacBooks Launched
IT Services - Apple Computer Discounts
PE Uniform Shop
Cafeteria Menu: May 2-6
Elementary School
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
ES Student-Led Conferences & Gr 3-5 Basketball Tournament

Grade 5 BYOD Pilot Extended for 2016-17
Cross Cultural Day at BIFS
Field Trip
PYP Exhibition
Upcoming Elementary Events
Morning Break Snack Audit
Author and Storyteller Visits in May
Middle School and High School

1. MHS Parent Coffee: Life After BIFS
2. MUN Conference
For Your Diary

BIFS Annual Calendar 2015-16 & 2016-17
School & Community Links
www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332
Busan International Foreign School
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Whole School
Learning on Display! The value of the PYP exhibition

I hope that you had the opportunity to take in the incredible displays of learning that our grade 5 students
produced for their PYP exhibition this past week. The students and their mentor teachers have worked very hard
to achieve the wonderful outcomes that were on display in the ES Assembly hall this past week. Our students
shared many powerful learnings and lessons for our entire community through the PYP exhibition process and
therein lies the enormous value for our BIFS students!
The PYP exhibition represents a significant event in the life of every PYP school and student. It provides an
opportunity for our 5th graders to synthesize the essential elements of the PYP- knowledge, concepts, skills,
attitudes and action- and share them with the whole school community. It is also an opportunity for students to
exhibit the attributes of the International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile that they have been developing
throughout their engagement with the PYP.
The exhibition requires students to form groups, based on their interest to engage in a collaborative,
transdisciplinary inquiry process that involves identifying, investigating, and offering solutions to real-life issues or
problems. Throughout the project, the groups work with their classroom teachers and a mentor. They provide
support and encourage students work through challenges encountered in the process. They also empower
students to take action as a result of their exhibition process. As the culminating PYP experience, the exhibition
includes regular and carefully planned assessments, which provide the opportunity for students to participate
and be assessed in an authentic learning situation.
It was a joy for our grade five students to share their learning and accomplishments with the wider BIFS
community as students from all divisions, and parents, attended their presentations and enjoyed their displays. I
am confident that you are as proud of their work as I am! I was amazed at what they have accomplished and I
learned so much! Way to go grade five, way to go Bears!
Kevin Baker
Head of School
BIFS NEWSLETTER
PTA News
International Day is ONE week away!
Pre-paid ticket forms will be accepted till Monday, 2 May.
We are still looking for volunteers especially help with the Water Wheels activity. Don't be
worried about getting wet, you won't have to leave dry ground at all. Be a catalyst for fun.
Follow the link to sign up.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094aaaad2aa6ff2-international
World Wheel of Fortune needs more donations. We have 43 and our goal
is 60. You can sign up here:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0945A8AC2BA5FE3-world
MS/HS students are needed to be tour guides for elementary age children
whos parents are staffing their countrys booth. You can sign up here:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c4fafae2dab9-mshs
On the week of 9-13 May, join us in celebrating the hard work and commitment our teachers show to our
children.
Please sign up to bring a sweet or savory; homemade or purchased in a store enough for twelve people. Food
should be sent to school with your child or deliver your self no later than 11am. There are three sections to the
sign-up: ES staff room; MS/HS staff room; and the Parent room for the staff. We included the staff this year to
show our appreciation for the support they give to our teachers and our school.
http://www.signupgenius.com/index.cfm?go=w.create6&listid=7692376&owner=8123169
PTA President
Joy Priedeman
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Grease: The Musical! April 28, 29

Remember Sandy and Danny, the T-birds and Pink Ladies, Rydell High and the Hand-jive? Of course you can
sing by heart memorable songs such as Summer Nights, Beauty School Dropout, We Go Together and the
unforgettable Youre the One that I Want. So, come along and watch the first fully student-led, student-directed
and student-produced theater performance at BIFS.... Grease: The Musical!! Enjoy a night of laughs, songs and
drama of this classic and legendary musical. BIFS students have worked hard for the past five months and wish
for you to come and enjoy the entertainment of this timeless play. It will surely be a night to remember!!
The show is for two nights only! Productions will be held on Thursday, April 28th and Friday, April 29th at 7:00
pm in the 5th floor Assembly Hall of the Middle/High School (C5.1). Tickets will be sold at 3,000 won for students
and 5,000 won for adults; ELC students will be able to enter for free. All money from ticket sales will be used to
support the Busan Soup Kitchen and local community.
Please click on the link (https://goo.gl/7DS7MO) to order your tickets! You can pay and collect the tickets from
the 1st floor cafe in C building, or pay for it at the door on performance nights! We look forward to seeing you
and showing you what we have worked so hard on!!
BIFS NEWSLETTER
NWEA MAP Testing for Grades 2 - 10

During April and May, children in grades 2 10 will take tests called Measures of Academic Progress (MAP ).
We give MAP tests as a measure of individual student instructional levels, to measure individual academic
growth from year-to-year, and as a reflective tool on our programs in the areas of mathematics, reading, and
language usage.
MAP tests are unique in that they are computerized and adapt to be appropriate for each childs level of
learning. When taking a MAP test, the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all of
the previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions become more difficult. If the student answers
incorrectly, the questions become easier. In an optimal test, a student answers approximately half the items
correctly and half incorrectly. The final score is an estimate of the students achievement level. As a result, each
student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing.
Over the next few days, your child will spend a total of about three hours completing these tests. Following the
testing period, you will receive a report showing your childs growth. For more information on resources for
parents, we encourage you to download the Parent Toolkit here. The toolkit includes information on how the
MAP is run and scored, as well as tips for parents to support their child at home.
MAP Schedule (In progress)

Grade 3: May 2, 4, 6
Grade 5: May 16, 18, 19
Grade 4: May 2
Grade 6-10: May 9, 10, 12
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Whole School Art Show - May 3 - 13

The Visual Art department will be holding a Whole School Art Show from May 3 - 13. Select works from
Kindergarten to Grade 12 can be viewed on the 2nd floor walkways of both B and C buildings. Please come and
celebrate the art of our young BIFS artists!
BIFS NEWSLETTER
PTA International Day 2016 May 7
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Continued on the next page

BIFS NEWSLETTER
BIFS NEWSLETTER
10
PTA International Day 2016 World Wheel of Fortune
BIFS NEWSLETTER
11
PTA International Day 2016 Ticket Prepurchase
BIFS NEWSLETTER
12
BIFS Information Evening for Korean Parents May 12

We are holding a BIFS Information Evening for Korean parents at Haeundae IPark on Thursday, May 12 from
7:00 to 8:30pm. The event will be run in Korean to cater to Korean prospective parents. Please spread the news
and invite your Korean friends to the event!
13
BIFS NEWSLETTER
ABRSM Practical Exams May 17, 18

The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) Practical Exams will be held here at school on
Tuesday May 17 and Wednesday May 18 in C5.5.
IT Services - New MacBooks Launched

As we reach the end of the year, some parents are contacting the IT Services team for
advice about laptop purchases for next year, and we are happy to help.
Many of our students purchase MacBooks to use at school - please be aware that Apple has just announced
updates to their MacBook and MacBook Air models, and we are expecting these to be available for purchase in
Korea shortly.
it.services@bifskorea.org or +82-51-742-3332 x 126
http://bit.ly/bifsitnews
http://bit.ly/bifslaptops
IT Services - Apple Computer Discounts

IT Services has negotiated a range of discounted prices and trade-in deals on Apple
products for staff and students at BIFS, from our Apple equipment vendor, ComIT.
Savings are typically around 12% for MacBook laptops and iMacs, 11% on Mac Minis, 8% on iPad Airs, and 6%
on iPad Minis.
To view a list of available products and order, please visit the following web addresses:
http://bit.ly/itservices-apple-list
http://bit.ly/itservices-order-form
http://bit.ly/itservices-order-kr (Korean)
http://bit.ly/itservices-apple-tradein (Trade-in prices)
If you have any questions, please email mmoriarty@bifskorea.org.
14
BIFS NEWSLETTER
PE Uniform Shop
We did some SPRING CLEANING in the PE Uniform Shop over Spring Break!! ALL COLD WEATHER CLOTHING
HAS BEEN CLEARANCE PRICED!!!
Polar Fleece Vests, Fleece Tops, Fleece Pants,

Tracksuit Jackets and Tracksuit Pants
NOW 10,000 won each
BIFS Bears Gray and White Hoodies
(sizes limited)
NOW 20,000 won each
BIFS Beanies
NOW 6,000 won each

BIFS blankets
NOW 35,000 won each

All sales are final. No refunds will be given.
THE PE UNIFORM SHOP is open Monday through Thursday! Please check the calendar on the BIFS website for
actual 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 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AT SCHOOL? Sign up NOW for next school year and spend a
day or two getting your feet wet (training) in May!! Our volunteers are generally scheduled 8:30-12 or 12-3:30
twice each month (but we are flexible)!! We wont turn anyone away! Volunteers in the PE Uniform Shop have a
regular schedule so it is easy to plan around. For more information about volunteering in the PE Uniform Shop,
contact Dee Baker at dbaker@bifskorea.org.
15
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Cafeteria Menu: May 2-6

Lunch Menu
Sandwich Bar
We serve brunch buffet or international buffet every 3rd Thursday of a month.

16
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Elementary School
KG-5 Student-Led Conferences and Grades 3-5 Basketball Tournament
Please join us on May 3 to celebrate a year of learning and accomplishments (Grades KG-5), and to watch some
invigorating rounds of basketball (Grades 3-5). BIFS will play host to visiting schools in the basketball
tournament, and we have schedules the student games around the Student Led Conferences schedule. Here is
an overlay of the schedules:
We would appreciate all parents attending the conferences if possible. Please RSVP via this link or this URL:
http://goo.gl/forms/k5y7mvRujS
Time
8:40am-10:10am
Student-Led Conference
Kindergarten & Grade 1
10:00am-12:00pm
10:30am-12:00pm
Grade 5
Grade 3 & 4
12:40pm-3:20pm
12:45pm-2:15pm
2:20pm-3:00pm
Basketball Tournament
Grade 3 & 4
Grade 5
Grade 5

17
BIFS NEWSLETTER

18
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Grade 5 BYOD Pilot Extended for 2016-17

We are excited to inform you that the Grade 5 Optional Bring Your Own Device Pilot Program will be
extended over the course of the 2016-2017 school year. Parents of current Grade 4 students entering Grade 5
next year have received a targeted email with details of the program. We hope your child can participate!
BIFS NEWSLETTER
19
Cross Cultural Day at BIFS

On Friday, May 20th, BIFS will host the Annual Cross Cultural Day with the Milak Elementary School and the
Busan Japanese School. The Fourth Grade Chorus and the Ballet elective group will both be performing during
the opening ceremonies of this event. Students from all three schools will partake in performances and activities
promoting cross cultural understanding throughout the morning. Our ELC and ES students will take part in
watching the cultural performances from 9:30-10:30. The Grades 3-5 will host cultural activities for the
remainder of the event. This celebration will start at 9:30 a.m. and finish at 12:00 p.m.
We welcome parent volunteers during the activities from 10:30-11:30 to assist with a snack booth. Please email
the elementary office at esoffice@bifskorea.org if you would like to help for a portion, or all, of this time. Thank
you!
Field Trip
Senior Preschool went on two trips this week: Suhrang Pottery on Tuesday and the Children's Museum in the
Busan Museum of Art on Thursday.
Grade 4 has been studying various beliefs in their How We Express Ourselves unit, including learning about
Buddhism. They visited Beomesa Temple last Friday to learn more about Buddhism.
20
BIFS NEWSLETTER
PYP Exhibition
ELC Student-Led Conferences

Please join our ELC students for conferences on Tuesday, May 10. More details to follow soon.
21
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Upcoming Elementary Events

Date/Time
Event
Details
May 3
Student-Led Conferences
Families join their children during a portion of the day as

the children share learning from their homeroom and
specialist classes. A schedule will be sent home soon.
May 3
Basketball Tournament
Grades 3-5 Basketball with neighboring schools, hosted at

BIFS
May 5
No School
Childrens Day
May 6
No School
National Holiday
May 9-10
Visiting Storyteller
May 12-13
Grade 4 Camp
Grade 4 goes on an overnight camp to Tongyeong
May 20, 9:30-12:00
Cross-Cultural Day
BIFS Elementary hosts the Japanese and Millak Schools for

cultural performances and activities
May 20, 2:35-3:15
Elementary Assembly
Kindergarten assembly
May 27, 2:35-3:15
Elementary Assembly
Grade 4R assembly
June 3, 2:35-3:15
Elementary Assembly
Grade 5 will perform a debate as part of their research

and learning about energy sources
June 3
Electives End
Last day for ES Electives - all students depart at 3:30

during the last week of school
June 7
ES Water Sports Day
Grades KG-5
June 9, 1:30-2:30
Grade 5 Graduation
The community is invited to attend the Grade 5

Graduation celebration
June 10
Last Day of School
Noon dismissal for all students; no lunch provided
Summer holidays! We will miss you!!
Anne Sweet
Elementary School Principal
Leda Cedo
PYP Coordinator
BIFS NEWSLETTER
22
Morning Break Snack Audit

We are a PYP Exhibition group called The Smart Plastic Experts. We
are concerned about how much plastic we use every day, and our
mission is to raise awareness because we use too much plastic. We are
going to try to encourage the students to reduce the amount of plastic
we use every day. We would like you to help your children take
reusable plastic containers to school instead of disposable soft plastic
because we use too much plastic. We are going to measure the
amount of plastic the kids bring to school.
Alex, Na Lyeong, and Kanta (Grade 5 students)
Author and Storyteller Visits in May

BIFS elementary library is very pleased to have both an author and storyteller
visiting us in May. Yangsook Choi, author and illustrator of several multicultural
childrens books, will visit us for the elementary assembly on Friday, May 6.
Yangsook grew up in Korea but now divides her time between New York and
Seoul. Ms. Choi has won numerous awards for her books.
Her most popular book, The Name Jar, is available for
purchase from The Book Depository and local
bookshops such as Kyobo. If you would like to purchase
one of her books before May 6, there may be an
opportunity for her to sign it for you when she visits us.
You can find out more about Yangsook Choi from her
website: http://www.yangsookchoi.com/
Monday and Tuesday, May 9 & 10 we will be hosting an
international storyteller during our elementary library times.
Australian-based storyteller, author and musician, Morgan
Schatz Blackrose will inspire us with multicultural stories, songs,
music and rhymes. For more information, please visit her
website at http://www.schatzblackrose.com/
Sue Toms
Head of Libraries
23
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Middle School and High School

MHS Parent Coffee - Life After BIFS
This past Wednesday, the MHS had another wonderful parent

workshop (with coffee) that discussed what we can do as
parents to help our students after they leave BIFS.
There were many tears, laughs, questions, and great ideas for
all parents as we prepare for that day when our child will
either leave for college or we will move to another location.
Daun Yorke led parents through a wonderful slide show and
discussion about many different aspects of being a Third
Culture Kid or attending an international school.
Some of the things that parents suggested doing to help students were so interesting, we wanted to share
them with you.
To prepare their children they said:
Support them socially as well as academically. Teach them how to talk
with others who havent had the same experiences as they have.
Make sure that they have a Home Base or a place they can call
home.
Continue to support a childs Mother Tongue.
Use your Embassy.
Start talking about University or future plans early.
Continue to enroll them in International schools wherever you go.
Some of the other things discussed were:
The feeling that the students had after finishing an intense DP program of Now what?
Parents not wanting their children to leave
Parents dealing with having an Empty Nest
Korean families and the unique situation their children are in
Being a Third Culture Kid
We want to thank parents and staff who have attended and led our MHS Parent Workshops (with coffee) this
year. We always looked forward to spending time with parents and we will try to continue to provide topics that
parents want or need again next year.
Nate Swenson
Middle School Principal
Jamie Robb
High School Principal
Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/43/a6/f3/43a6f3f93c736d7dbf7f32eb2b831741.jpg
24
BIFS NEWSLETTER
MUN Conference
Please help me congratulate the students who participated in the TAIMUN (Taiwan Model United Nations)
conference in Taichung, Taiwan this past weekend. All members are experienced and they were: Pernille Melilla
(11), Liam Robb (11), Simon Park (9), and Alex Lang (10). Students participated by representing their countrys
viewpoint through presentations, negotiations, and debate.
Some highlights were: Alex Lang quoting Sharia Law to represent Saudi Arabia and refute and argue many
Human Rights resolutions, and Pernilla Melilla wrote and passed a Resolution (one of the highest achievements)
in the Economic and Social Council.
As an MUN team, we had a great time, and students thoroughly enjoyed participating.
All High School information will be communicated through the Friday Weekly E-mail.

25
BIFS NEWSLETTER
For Your Diary

April 2016
30th
May 2016
KISAC HS Blue Soccer @ CI
2nd-20th
IBDP Exams
3rd
ES Student-Led Conferences
5th
Children's day - No School
6th
National holiday - No School
7th
PTA International Day
9th-10th
ES Visiting Storytellers
9th-13rd
PTA Teacher Appreciation Week
10th
ELC Student-Led Conferences
11th
SKAC MS Boys BBall @ BIFS
SKAC MS Girls BBall @ BFS
BIFS Parent Workshop
PTA Meeting
12th-13th
Grade 4 Camp
12th
BIFS Information Evening @ Marine City
13th
HS Assembly
14th
KISAC MS Blue BBall @ BISC & DCSL
17th-20th
Grade 11 Final Exams
17th-18th
ABRSM Practical Exams
18th
ES Parent Coffee
19th
BIFS Information Evening @ UNIST
20th-22nd
KISAC MS Red Bball @ KIS Jeju
20th
ES Cross Cultural Day
21st
Global Gathering
23rd
Life After BIFS Event - Grade 12
25th
MHS Parent Coffee
27th
G12 Graduation
31st
International Track & Field Meet
BIFS NEWSLETTER
BIFS NEWSLETTER
28
School & Community Links
Please contact the school if you wish to inquire about promoting

your company in the BIFS Newsletter.
enquiries@bifskorea.org | 051-742-3332

This Coming Week at BIFS: United in Our Diversity, Thriving in Our Individuality

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

This Coming Week at BIFS: United in Our Diversity, Thriving in Our Individuality

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

BIFS NEWSLETTER

United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 52, April 29, 2016