BIFS Newsletter, 2015-12-11 (English)

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality
Contents
ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015
(Click to jump straight to the article home icon brings you back to Contents)
This Coming Week at BIFS
1. Thu, Dec 17: ELC Parent Coffee (10:30-11:30AM)

2. Fri, Dec 18: Winter Assembly (11:00-11:30AM)
Whole School
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
The Importance of Leaving Well

Adjustments to the School Calendar
PTA News
Leaving BIFS?
2015-16 Second Semester School Fee Invoice
PE Uniform Shop
Image Rights Permission
BIFS Angel Tree Wish Gifts
What are You Planning to Read During the Winter Vacation?
Cafeteria Menu: December 14-17
Turkeys Available from Chef Kim
Elementary School
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
ELC Parent Session

Korean Language Acquisition - End of Term Assessment
BIFS Elementary Volleyball Camp, Grades 3-5
Elementary School Health Screening Results
Upcoming Elementary Events
Middle School and High School

1.
2.
3.
4.
MHS Attendance Guidelines

Succeeding in MUN
Volunteers Needed in Korean Class for Foreigners
Athletic Update
For Your Diary

BIFS Annual Calendar 2015-2016
School & Community Links
www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332
Busan International Foreign School
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Whole School
The Importance of Leaving Well

One week until Winter Holiday break. You can feel the energy and anticipation building for the upcoming
holiday each day! This past week it was wonderful to see BIFS so well represented at the annual BIWA Christmas
Bazaar! Our orchestra and choir were amazing as they opened the event and our students enthusiastically led
over five different booths and activities to benefit local charities. It was great to see so many of our BIFS
community attending the event to show their support as well! There are many events that mark the journey up
to winter break.BIWA, class parties, assemblies and also the notification that members of our school
community will be transitioning as they move on to their next assignment or move back home. This is the
bittersweet part of this time of year. At BIFS, we take special care in supporting our students and families as they
transition away from our community and move on.
Research on transitions and moves with families, and especially focusing on children, show that the manner in
which you leave a place impacts how well you will enter your next opportunity. In short, if you leave well, you
transition better and have a better chance at a positive entry at your new home. Specifically, children can
sometimes feel powerless in the process as they often do not have input into the decision. So, what can we do
to help? First, it is important to involve your children, as much as possible, in transition decisions. Try to give
them as much information as possible about the upcoming move and then involve them in planning and
exploration activities such as making a wish list about your new destination and school and exploring things
online. Another important thing to do is to be intentional about having closure activities. Do such things as have
a goodbye party with your childrens friends, go visit old haunts and favorite places, make a memory book of
your time in Busan, and saying goodbye to your current home are all meaningful activities that help with closure.
Involving your children empowers them and helps them to feel like participants in the transition process.
At BIFS, we seek to support students who are departing with pastoral counseling, special class activities, creating
keepsakes to help capture memories and much affirmation. We are very intentional about sharing with our
students and our families that they will always be a part of the BIFS family, no matter where they are in the
world! We actively desire our students and families to stay in touch with us! Our goal is to help our students
depart well, so they can enter the next chapter of their journey with confidence and a positive attitude so they
will continue to explore, discover and thrive!
Kevin Baker
Head of School
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Adjustments to the School Calendar

Please note a few adjustments to our school calendar for the second half of the year:
Wednesday, February 10 will now be a regular day of school for students
The teacher professional development day that was originally scheduled for this day has been cancelled. This
will also enable us to make up the instructional day that was missed from the fall parent teacher conferences.
Thursday, Jan 21 will be a half day of school with a 12 noon dismissal
The Elementary School will have 3-Way Parent Teacher Student Conferences on Thursday, Jan 21 from 12:406:20. They will also continue conferences after school on Friday, Jan 22 3:40-4:20 (as needed).
The High School will be undertaking inservice training and professional development work in the afternoon.
Tuesday, Apr 12 will be a half day of school with a 12 noon dismissal
The Middle School and High School will have 3-Way Parent Teacher Student Conferences from 12:30 to 8:00
pm.
The Elementary School will be undertaking inservice training and professional development work in the
afternoon.
We apologize for any inconvenience from these minor adjustments.
PTA News
On Monday, 7 December, PTA provided a concession stand for the HS boys basketball
tournament. Thank you to Efi and those basketball parents who volunteered to sell
concessions. It takes many to make a successful event.
Thank you for attending the BIFSs workshop and PTA meeting on Wednesday. Working together makes our
school a better place for all of our children.
Remember, if you are going home for the winter holidays to bring back items for International Day such as
decorations or small items to give away. The World Wheel of Fortune will be in need of international baskets to
be donated. The small or large baskets can consist of items from your country like food and/or souvenirs.
Sign up for our BIFS PTA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bifsssg/
Joy Priedeman
PTA President
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Leaving BIFS?
If you and your family will be leaving BIFS, parents are obliged to officially inform the Admissions Office through
a withdrawal form at least fourteen days prior to your child's last day of school. You may either complete the
online withdrawal form or contact the Admissions office at admissions@bifskorea.org or 051-742-3332 (Ext. 100).
Questions regarding fees and refunds should be addressed to finance@bifskorea.org.
2015-16 Second Semester School Fee Invoice

The 2015-16 second semester school fee invoice will be sent by email and post on November 30th. If you don`t
receive the invoice, please contact the Finance Office.
Please refer to the schedule below for the 2015-16 second semester invoice.
Nov 30, 2015: Invoice sent out
Dec 1-8, 2015: Correction period for invoice
Jan 15, 2016: Payment due
For further information, please contact the Finance Office (Tel: 051.743.3332 Email: finance@bifskorea.org).
PE Uniform Shop
THE PE UNIFORM SHOP is now open Monday thru 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!
The weather is starting to cool off so it is a great time to consider your cool weather PE Uniform options!! Stop
by the PE Uniform Shop and let us help you!!
Also available: BIFS blankets, coffee mugs and Eco-bags!!
Our vendor has indicated that he is changing factories because of quality issues. If you are having difficulty with the quality of your
uniform, please be sure to let us know! In most cases, we will not be able to replace it but we can ask the vendor to repair it.
Image Rights Permission

Our assumption is that by joining the school parents give us their permission for any photos, videos, and audio
files featuring their child or themselves to be published on the school's website, blogs, and in other marketing
materials belonging to the school. Please notify Miyoung Kim at miyoungkim@bifskorea.org if you do not wish
photos, videos and audio files featuring your child or yourselves to be used.
BIFS NEWSLETTER
BIFS Angel Tree Wish Gifts

This year, we have had a great response from our BIFS community
(students, teachers, staff, and parents). Many people signed up to
sponsor children for the Angel Tree wish gifts. Our Middle School and
High School students have been busy having fun doing fundraising
activities at both the BIWA Christmas Bazaar and at school to raise
money to sponsor a child's gift or help buy cooktops for two elderly
ladies, and a much-needed winter quilt for another lady.
We appreciated everyone's generosity and help with purchasing the
gifts. All of you have made a lot of wishes come true.
We are pleased to announce that all the children have sponsors now and the gifts have been ordered.
Once the gifts arrive, we will let you know and your students can wrap them. Please be sure to put the child's
name and number on the outside of the package. Also, it would be nice if your students could make a card so it
is more personal.
Many of you purchased your gifts directly so when they come please put them under one of the Angel trees.
PLEASE place your gifts under the tree in the main office or tree on the 2nd floor of the M/H bldg. by Dec 15th.
If you need help or there is a problem, please let us know and we will be happy to help.
Mary ONeill (moneill@bifskorea.org or 010-2575-8831) or Miyoung Kim (miyoungkim@bifskorea.org).
Mary ONeill
Community Resource Teacher
BIFS NEWSLETTER
What are You Planning to Read During the Winter Vacation?

BIFS students and parents are welcome to borrow books during the upcoming vacation, but please return or
renew all overdue books before then. We all know its important to continue reading during the holidays, not
just because its good for our reading practice, but also because its just so fun!
A lifelong love of reading is the most important aspect of literacy that we can instill in our children. Here at BIFS
we follow a balanced literacy approach to teaching and promoting reading. We emphasize that it is important
to have a balanced diet of story genres so that we get to know the wide variety of books we have available in
our three libraries. At BIFS we encourage our students to follow their passions, which also includes giving
students free choice in what they read. However, following a balanced literacy approach, we also know it is
sometimes necessary to be courageous and try new genres that may, at first, be out of our comfort zone.
If you are traveling home for the holidays, we highly recommend you become members of your home libraries,
or go to the local library with your relatives, if you are staying with them. Most public libraries also provide
access to downloadable e-books or audiobooks that can be downloaded when you are away from your home
country.
If you are trying to find ideas for what to read next, you might also find these websites helpful:
A Literature Map that suggests similar authors to any that you input;
A site called "What Should I Read Next?" that provides titles depending on the books or authors you have
previously enjoyed.
Each year the American Library Association publishes a list of recommended reading for a variety of age groups.
This summer reading list can also be read during the colder months!
Watch the video below to see what BIFS elementary students like about reading:
Sue Toms
Head of Libraries
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Cafeteria Menu: December 14-17
Lunch Menu
Sandwich Bar
We serve brunch buffet or international buffet every 3rd Thursday of a month.

BIFS NEWSLETTER
Turkeys Available from Chef Kim

Chef Kim has kindly offered again to make turkeys available to our BIFS
faculty and parents.
Availability: from Oct 28th to Dec 31st
Menu:
One uncooked whole turkey (5kg) with cranberry sauce: 65,000 won
One whole cooked turkey (5kg) with stuffing, giblet sauce and cranberry
sauce: 90,000 won
How to order: contact Chef Kim, either by
Mobile Phone: 010-2583-6545 (with a text message), or
Email: khkim6543@hanmail.net
Delivery: please pick up your order from the cafeteria on an arranged
date
Payment: at your convenience upon placing the order, or collecting your
order
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Elementary School
ELC Parent Session
We would like to invite ELC parents for a Parent Coffee on December 17th, right after the ELC winter class
parties. The topic will be about supporting early literacy development at home. Please meet us at the ELC Hall,
Building B ground floor from 10:30 a.m. The ELC teachers (Ms. Son, Ms. Yu and Ms. Lesser) and PYP
Coordinator (Mrs. Cedo) will be hosting the event.
Korean Language Acquisition - End of Term Assessment

At the end of every term, selected students in Korean Language Acquisition classes (Gr 2-5) are provided exit
assessments. This is to determine which of the students are ready to move from Foundation class to Standard
class. Selection is currently based on teachers assessment of their readiness for the next language level.
The exit assessment involves the following areas:
Speaking and Listening: ability to respond classroom instructions; ask and answer simple questions during
conversations; knowledge and use of language in everyday routines, such as greetings
Reading and Writing: knowledge of Korean alphabet; decode texts when reading independently, such as
combining consonants and vowels
Parents will be notified if their child is taking the assessment, and then informed of the outcome prior to January
15, 2016.
BIFS Elementary Volleyball Camp, Grades 3-5

We would like to invite your child to participate in BIFS Elementary Volleyball Camp on December 12, 2015, from
10am until 3pm in the gymnasium. The event will introduce volleyball to your children through a program that is
both educational and fun. We will give your children the opportunity to improve upon their volleyball skills,
build team spirit and enjoy light competition with their friends and classmates.
The camp is BIFS student-led and supervised by school staff members to guarantee the safety of your children.
The following teachers will supervise the camp: Brent Johnson, Aimee Wagner, Heejung Hwang, Ceejay Jader.
However, voluntary supervision from parents would also be greatly appreciated.
The camp is available for Elementary students (girls and boys) grades 3 to 5.
The camp is free!
Children are required to be dropped off and picked up by parents before and after the camp.
Continued on the next page
10
BIFS NEWSLETTER
BIFS Elementary Volleyball Camp, Grades 3-5 - Continued

Additionally, a nurse will be attending, in case your child incurs an injury.
Please arrive at BIFS no later than 9:40am for registration.
There will be a maximum of 26 participants (approximately 13 girls and 13 boys), so please get your permission
forms in quickly! Could you please complete this form no later than Monday, 7th of December.
Yun Gi Cho, Grade 10B
Elementary School Health Screening Results

Health Screening results were sent home with your student last Friday, December 4th. Please be sure to check
with your student to retrieve their Screening results. Thank you again to the parents, teachers, and students for
your participation!
Upcoming Elementary Events

Date/Time
Event
Details
December 12, 10:00am-3:00pm Elementary Volleyball

Camp
Grades 3-5 volleyball camp (see above)
December 17, 10:30-11:30 am
ELC Parent Coffee
Supporting early literacy development at home.
December 18, 11:00 am
Schoolwide Assembly
Join us as we celebrate as a BIFS community
December 18, 12:00 pm
Noon dismissal for

winter holiday
Jan 11
School resumes
Jan 15
Report Cards
Semester 1 report cards distributed to families
Week of Jan 18
Elementary 3-Way
Conferences
The elementary will invite parents and students to

conferences in order to discuss student progress and
next steps for learning. Exact dates and times will be
shared soon.
Anne Sweet
Elementary School Principal
Leda Cedo
PYP Coordinator
11
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Middle School and High School

MHS Attendance Guidelines
At Busan International Foreign School, much of the work is integrated and done collaboratively. Every student is
an essential contributor to the learning community at BIFS. It is essential that students are present in the
classroom for shared learning to be successful. During absences, students will potentially miss a portion of the
academic program, which could adversely affect learning outcomes and grades. Parents, teachers and
administrators partner in supporting students to attend school regularly and arrive to class on time.
Our goals are to:
Instill in students and parents the understanding that regular attendance is core to learning.
Cultivate effective skills for self management.
Develop collaboration and communication skills through regular participation.
Support students to take responsibility for their actions and the consequences that follow.
Ensure students grow from the range of experiences offered in the school.
Foster ongoing interdependence to allow for constructivist learning to take place.
Definitions
Excused Absence - illness, medical appointments, family emergency
Unexcused Absence - all other absences
(Maximum Unexplained Absences - 10 class periods in any class each year)
Expectations:
Students:
must complete all homework, internal assessments and other assignments on time, even if absent on the day
of the deadline.
may be required to attend after school and/or lunchtime tutorials to make up for work missed due to
absence and lateness.
must complete the Activities Absence Permission Form to attend school events.
are expected to attend school the day following a school trip .
must attend all educational excursions, such as Action and Orientation Trips.
Parents:
should submit ManageBac form to inform teachers that their son/daughter will be absent. (In the event
that the ManageBac form cannot be submitted, parents should contact the Middle or High School secretary.)
should take care to book and plan family holidays during school holidays.
BIFS NEWSLETTER
12
MHS Attendance Guidelines - Continued

are required to get approval from principals for pre-planned absences
are required to attend meetings to discuss attendance issues.
School:
must communicate attendance concerns with parents.
will recognize exemplary student attendance.
will support teachers with step five of the attendance monitoring process.
Nate Swenson
Middle School Principal
Jamie Robb
High School Principal
Succeeding in MUN
Congratulations to the SKAC-MUN and SEOMUN participants who attended the MUN (Model United Nations)
conferences last week. They represented BIFS spectacularly and did an outstanding job!
Eric Moon (Grade 10) achieved highly at SKAC-MUN by receiving the two highest honours of participation; main
submitted and passed a resolution (policy) and best delegate in his committee. Alex Lang (Grade 10) cosubmitted and passed a resolution at SEOMUN. The other participating students performed well by giving for
and against speeches.
MUN is an opportunity for students to participate in how political policies are made. Students prepare a
resolution in regards to a certain issue. Afterward, they gain support of fellow students (each student
representing a country) by informally negotiating and compromising. If they gain enough support, then their
policy gets to be formally debated by their committee (group of 20 to 50 students). After the debate, the policy
is voted on and is either passed or rejected.
Overall, BIFS students did great representing themselves and the school. Please congratulate any participating
members when you see them!
Kyle Martelle and Ya Yun Su are the sponsors for MUN.
13
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Succeeding in MUN - Continued

SKAC-MUN Participants were Amelie Balivet, Eric Moon, Eric Kim, Ka Eul Park, Finnegan Donahue, Hannah
Yoon.
SEOMUN Participants were: back row: Liam Robb, Jungmin Lee, Jabulela Inyoni, Sevval Demir, Kristina Kim, front
row: Alex Lang, Pernille Melilla, Chaeri Yoo, Maya Mani, Saloni Varshney.
BIFS NEWSLETTER
14
Volunteers Needed in Korean Class for Foreigners

The Korean class needs Korean native speakers help. We would like to offer students various experiences in
learning Korean. Our students require opportunities to communicate with native speakers.
If you want to work together and support the students in Mrs. Lee's class please email to slee@bifskorea.org
with your available time and day to make a timetable. Your help can make a significant difference to a student's
progress. Thanks in advance.
Seunghee Lee
MYP Language Acquisition Korean & IB Korean B Teacher
Athletic Update
Upcoming Events:
MS Volleyball (Team B) at ISK, January 23
AISA Math Mania / Leadership Seminar at BIFS, January 28-31
AISA HS Girls Tournament at SIS (Seoul), January 28-31
AISA HS Boys Tournament at KIS (Seoul), January 28- 31
KISAC HS Boys Tournament at BISC (Seoul), January 29-30
Recent Activity:
We are proud to announce that we are joining a third conference that will give us access to additional sporting
opportunities for our student athletes. We will become the fifth team to join the AISA Conference which is based
out of Seoul and Japan. The schools that compete are Korea International School (Seoul), Seoul International
school , Senri and Osaka International school and Yokohama International School. Being a member of this
conference will enable our teams to compete at an even higher level of athletics and afford us an opportunity to
travel to Japan some years.
With this new opportunity also comes a new chapter for BIFS as a school community. AISA conference does not
put their student athletes into hotel rooms when they travel. Each student is hosted by families that attend the
other schools. This is a very wonderful way to keep costs down and create additional opportunities to make
lasting friendships as well as experience yet another culture. We as a BIFS athletics program are embracing this
idea and look forward to the challenges and rewards that come with being able to participate in such a system.
We will compete at the high school level in Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer and Math and Leadership.
15
BIFS NEWSLETTER
Athletic Update - Continued

Our athletic program will undergo a few changes in the 2016-17 school year to accommodate this program. ALL
families will be asked to accept students into their homes for the 3 nights of this tournament. This will become a
prerequisite of participating in athletics as the success of such a program relies on having good support of the
broader school community. More on this in the future!
Currently we need your help. As a precursor to being invited into the AISA conference, we have been asked to
participate in one tournament and host yet another. It has fallen to us to host this year's Math Mania and
Leadership Seminar here at BIFS. We will be looking for assistance from the families of athletes and others to
help us host the 40 students that will travel to BIFS on January 28th.
Here is basically what is involved:
Agree to provide a bed (with laundered sheets) and breakfast for two students for three nights (January 28,
29 and 30).
Pick up your host students on the evening of Thursday January 28 at BIFS and drive them to your home and
feed them dinner (only on Thursday). All other lunches and dinners are provided by the school.
Drive the students to and from BIFS on Friday and Saturday morning (they cannot take the school bus as it is
the obligation of the host family). The students will be busy all day and into the night but will require a pick
up in the evening.
Sunday morning the students are driven again by the host parents into the school where they board the bus
for the airport.
A full schedule is being developed currently to plot out the entire weekend.
We are currently in need of families interested in hosting students: We will have 40 students from Seoul, Osaka
and Yokohama: I encourage all families whether living in Geoje, Ulsan or Busan to participate. The host students
in essence get to walk a mile in your shoes and will have to participate in the school commutes that you
undergo on a daily basis. If you are currently participating in athletics and you have available space, we would
very much appreciate you signing up to host the Math Mania and Leadership Seminar students. Please email
Mr. Marty Wagner mwagner@bifskorea.org or call 010-2928-1973.
I would need to know if you can help before we leave for the holiday so if you can please contact me prior to
December 18.
Again the dates for hosting are January 28, 29 and 30.
Thank you again for being a booster of the BIFS Bears I look forward seeing you at the events!
Marty Wagner
Athletic Director / PE Teacher
16
BIFS NEWSLETTER
For Your Diary

December 2015
January 2016
14th
ELC Field trip (PL & Jr. Pre)
11th
Start of Term 2
17th
ELC Parent Coffee
15th
End of Semester 1
18th
Winter Holiday Assembly
Report Cards Distributed
End of Term 1 Noon Dismissal
ES Assembly
New Parent Coffee
PTA Meeting
ES-Conferences / MHS-PD
Noon Dismissal
ES Assembly
ES-Conferences (as needed)
27th-31st
ISCMS Music Festival Trip
27th
ES Parent Coffee (Exhibition)
28th
KIMEA Middle School Choir Festival
28th-31st
MS Ski Trip 2016
29th
ES Assembly
20th
21th
22th
BIFS NEWSLETTER
18
School & Community Links
Please contact Miyoung Kim if you wish to inquire about

promoting your company in the BIFS Newsletter.
miyoungkim@bifskorea.org | 051-742-3332 (#114)

BIFS Newsletter, 2015-12-11 (English)

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BIFS NEWSLETTER

United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

This Coming Week at BIFS

1. Thu, Dec 17: ELC Parent Coffee (10:30-11:30AM)

The Importance of Leaving Well

ELC Parent Session

Middle School and High School

MHS Attendance Guidelines

For Your Diary

Busan International Foreign School

United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

The Importance of Leaving Well

www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

Adjustments to the School Calendar

Busan International Foreign School

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

2015-16 Second Semester School Fee Invoice

Image Rights Permission

Busan International Foreign School

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

BIFS Angel Tree Wish Gifts

www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

What are You Planning to Read During the Winter Vacation?

Busan International Foreign School

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

Cafeteria Menu: December 14-17

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

Busan International Foreign School

United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

Turkeys Available from Chef Kim

www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

Korean Language Acquisition - End of Term Assessment

BIFS Elementary Volleyball Camp, Grades 3-5

www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

BIFS Elementary Volleyball Camp, Grades 3-5 - Continued

Elementary School Health Screening Results

Upcoming Elementary Events

December 12, 10:00am-3:00pm Elementary Volleyball

Grades 3-5 volleyball camp (see above)

December 17, 10:30-11:30 am

ELC Parent Coffee

Supporting early literacy development at home.

December 18, 11:00 am

Join us as we celebrate as a BIFS community

December 18, 12:00 pm

Noon dismissal for

Semester 1 report cards distributed to families

The elementary will invite parents and students to

www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

ISSUE 37, December 11, 2015

Middle School and High School

Busan International Foreign School