BIFS NEWSLETTER

United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

Contents

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

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

This Coming Week at BIFS

1. Wed, Mar 16: MHS Parent Workshop

2. Thu, Mar 17: Whole School Music Concert & WOW Fashion Show

Whole School

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Co-Curricular Activities at BIFS

PTA News
Whole School Music Concert March 17
IT Services - Apple Computer Discounts
British Embassy Warden Training
BIFS Family Member ID Card Registration
PE Uniform Shop
Cafeteria Menu: Mar 14-18

Elementary School

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

ELC Parent Coffee

Grade 5 PYP Exhibition Has Started!
ES Student Council Fundraising
Lower Elementary Pancake Breakfast March 18
Upcoming Elementary Events
Author and Storyteller Visits in May

Middle School and High School

1. MHS Spring Conferences April 12

2. WOW Fashion Show 2016 March 17

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
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

Whole School

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

Co-Curricular Activities at BIFS

I would like to invite you to think back to your days in school what are some of your fondest memories? My
guess is that those memories include activities and experiences that occurred outside of the classroom. Maybe it
was a field trip, a music or drama performance, or perhaps participating on a team or doing a physical activity.
They likely involve you learning something about yourself or others that you did not know or perhaps you
experienced the thrill of accomplishing something that was significant to you! BIFS strongly believes that
impactful learning does occur outside the classroom and this is why we have such a strong commitment to
providing a robust co-curricular program for all of our students.
This past Wednesday, Mr. Wilson, our Director of
Student Life, led a parent workshop that focused on
our co-curricular program at BIFS. He overviewed the
incredible array of activities, many which are student
generated and student led, that students from
kindergarten up through the twelfth grade can
participate in. He also highlighted the many ways our
students benefit from taking part in co-curricular
activities. When students are involved in activities
beyond the classroom, the research shows that they
have improved levels of academic effort and
demonstrate increased levels of confidence and
motivation. Students that are active in activities also
have improved social and behavioral skills that they develop through building relationships with peers and
teachers in these activities. These experiences often reinforce the importance of being open minded and
respecting others. Co-curricular activities also provide opportunities for students to improve their leadership and
collaboration skills, not to mention strengthening their work ethic. Finally, students who participate in cocurricular activities learn the lifelong value of being active and developing healthy habits by doing something
enjoyable.
It takes a community working together to provide a rich array of activities for our students. I would invite all
members of our school community to promote the importance of being active and to encourage your students
to stretch their wings and try something new. Finally, I would warmly invite you to assist us in offering great
activities for all of our students. All it takes is a bit of time and in the process you have the opportunity to create
the memory of a lifetime for a student! Time to make some memories! Thank you for your active support!
Kevin Baker
Head of School
www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

PTA News
Jana van den Heuvel has volunteered to be the new PTA vice president. Thank you Jana for
stepping up to fill this position! She will replace Stacey Shields for the rest of the school year.
It was great to see those who attended our PTA meeting on Wednesday.
Thank you to Trudi and Soonyoung for their Hot Topic presentation
about Korean Calligraphy. Love those hands on demonstrations.
Clair gave us an update about International Day. We currently have 18
countries represented. It's not too late to put your hand up to be your
country's Head. Please contact Ulla Poulsen (ullapoulsen@icloud.com)
for more information. If you want to participate as a country team leader
but feel overwhelming, please contact Ulla Poulsen or Clair Armstrong
(clair.armstrong@outlook.com) to discuss options that will make your
participation easier.
Part of International Day is the World Wheel of Fortune. A person spins the
wheel for a ticket. If the wheel stops at your number, you can choose a gift
basket. We ask members of our school community to donate these gift
baskets with the theme of their home country or an international theme. Think
of what kind of goodies you could put in the basket you donate. Here's an
example from last year. You can sign up here:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/20F0945A8AC2BA5FE3-world
PTA President
Joy Priedeman

Whole School Music Concert March 17

The Music Department cordially invites all parents and family members to attend our whole school Spring
Concert. The concert will take place on Thursday March 17th in the school Gym at 1:30. The concert will last for
one hour and will be directly followed by the Grade 8 WOW Project Fashion Show, which you are also invited to
attend.
The concert will feature class performances from Junior and Senior Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, 3, 4,
and 6 students, our BIFS Orchestra, MHS Choir and our Grade 7 Band in a debut performance.
Please come out and join us and support our students in performing live music.
The Music Department
www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

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.

British Embassy Warden Training

Wardens are volunteers working to assist British Nationals. Recently, Kevin Smith (warden for Busan) attended a
meeting/training session with the wardens in Korea led by Graham Nelson, HM Consul from Tokyo and Michael
Kim, Honorary Consul in Busan.
The meeting focused on the Crisis Hub, which is the FCO's consular crisis IT system designed to make it easier to
support British Nationals affected by a crisis overseas.
All British nationals are encouraged to subscribe to Travel Advice which will automatically inform nationals about
any crisis that may occur. This can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/world/south-korea. Brits are
also encouraged to join the embassy on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ukinrok) and Twitter (@UKinKorea) for
regular updates. Please pass on these details to any relevant British contacts and networks.

BIFS Family Member ID Card Registration

We would like to ask for your cooperation in registering BIFS Family Member ID Cards. Please register your
cards with the security office at the front gate when visiting BIFS, and dont forget to register your attendance by
placing your card at the card reader when you enter and exit. This is for security and to help us account for all
visitors in case of fire or other evacuation. Thank you in advance for your support and understanding.
www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

PE Uniform Shop
LOOKING FOR A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY AT SCHOOL? The PE Uniform Shop is a great place to start! No
experience is needed! Training is provided!! For more information about volunteering in the PE Uniform Shop,
contact Dee Baker at dbaker@bifskorea.org.
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!
It is a great time to purchase your BIFS blanket!! A double
layer of polar fleece is guaranteed to keep you warm on
these cold days!! BIFS blankets are 40,000 KRW
NOW 35,000 KRW and can be purchased in the PE Uniform
Shop.

BIFS Beanies *10,000 KRW Colors: Black, Gray and Cobalt

Blue *BIFS Beanies can be purchased in the PE Uniform
Shop.

Gray and white Hoodies (no zip) *30,000 KRW

*Hoodies can be purchased in the PE Uniform Shop.

BIFS Beanies and BIFS Bears Hoodies are made available to you by the BIFS Bears Club.
All general information regarding PE Uniforms can be found under the life at BIFS tab on the BIFS website!

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

Busan International Foreign School

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

Cafeteria Menu: March 14-18

Lunch Menu

Sandwich Bar

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

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

Busan International Foreign School

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

Elementary School

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

ELC Parent Coffee

Thank you to the parents who attended our ELC workshop last Thursday. The participants actively shared in the
conversations about their personal experiences about reading and ways to create a literacy-rich environment at
home.
We encourage all parents to come visit our library anytime. Better yet, come borrow some books with your
child. Remember that we have two libraries in the ES: Building A and Building B libraries.
You can find the presentation slides here: http://bit.ly/1RxGx1o

Grade 5 PYP Exhibition Has Started!

Our Grade 5 students are now engaged in researching about local issues that are important to them. Part of
their work is meeting with their mentors, consulting all their teachers in Grade 5, using primary and secondary
resources to gather information and going on day trips to inquire deeper into their issues.

What are our Exhibition themes?

This year, students have chosen the following issues:

Healthy lifestyle
Smoking
Trash/ Pollution / Littering
Food waste
Energy waste
Plastic recycling
Abandoned pets / Animal rights
Homeless people
Use of technology
Social skills

How can you help?

You dont need to be a Grade 5 parent to help. Come talk to us or email us if You or somebody you know is an expert at any of the issues above. Come meet our students and be our
resource person.
You or somebody you know have materials (books, videos, etc) that can help students get a better
understanding of this issue.
Continued on the next page
www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

Grade 5 PYP Exhibition Has Started! - Continued

You or somebody you know can recommend a place in Busan that can help in students inquiry.
You have other ideas to help - let us know!
Marie Eksteen - meksteen@bifskorea.org
Haley Melville - hmelville@bifskorea.org
Monique Donahue - mdonahue@bifskorea.org

ES Student Council Fundraising

On March the 4th the Student Council organized an Elementary Movie and Pajamas Night. Students filled up on
popcorn, pizza, a drink and a sweet, before watching the exciting movie, Paper Planes. The evening was
thoroughly enjoyed by all, and 923,000 Korean Won was raised for the Aikwangwon School for Physically and
Mentally Disabled in Geoje.
Continued on the next page
www.bifskorea.org | enquiries@bifskorea.org | T. 82 51 742 3332

Busan International Foreign School

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

ES Student Council Fundraising - Continued

Thank you to the Student Council and various teachers who did a fantastic job to organize and run the event.
Also, thank you to all the students that attended and helped raise the money. Thank you, parents, for your
contributions. It was a fun evening!
The Student Council is run by Ms. Haley Melville and Ms. Sarah Toouli. This terms Student Council members are:
Anneliese Mosses
Antonio Navarro
Hayrettin Ocakli

Luis Pirounakis
Daniel Oh
Jack Barnsley

Andrine Hertzenberg
William Lee
Mads Glasoe

Olivia Stewart

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

Busan International Foreign School

10

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

Lower Elementary Pancake Breakfast March 18

The Lower Elementary will be holding a Pancake Breakfast/Pajama Day for the children on the morning of
Friday, March 18th (the last day of school before Spring Break). Students are welcome to come to school in their
pajamas on this day and bring in a pillow, blanket, or stuffed toy. We will be reading the book, If you Give a Pig
a Pancake, followed by a short movie while eating our pancakes together!

Upcoming Elementary Events

Date/Time

Event

Details

Mar 17, 1:30-3:30

Whole School Music Concert Join us for the school-wide music concert, followed by the
and WOW Fashion Show
MHS WOW Fashion Show.

Mar 18

Noon dismissal

Half day before the Spring Break

Apr 8, 2:35-3:15

Elementary Assembly

Short presentations and performances to celebrate

children's learning in select electives

Apr 12, 12:00

Half day

Noon dismissal for ES Professional Development. (MHS

has conferences on this day - ES had their conferences in
January.)

Apr 15, 2:35-3:15

Elementary Assembly

Grade 5 will share the actions they created as part of their

Exhibition unit

Apr 20, 9:00-10:00

ES/ELC Parent Coffee

Play-based learning - How does play strengthen

childrens learning?

Anne Sweet
Elementary School Principal

Leda Cedo
PYP Coordinator

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

Busan International Foreign School

11

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

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
http://www.schatzblackrose.com/

visit

her

website

at

Sue Toms
Head of Libraries

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

Busan International Foreign School

12

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

Middle School and High School

MHS Spring Conferences April 12, 1-8 pm

Based on the feedback from our last set of conferences, we will be having conferences again with a similar
format. On April 8th students from grades 6 through 11 will receive their report cards for the third quarter. On
April 12th, we will be having Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences during the school day from 1:00 - 8:00pm.
Students will not have classes in the afternoon, but are expected to come to school and attend conferences with
their parents.
Grade 12 Students
All grade 12 students will receive their third quarter report cards on April 22nd. This is the last report card of the
year for Diploma Students. Students who are taking BIFS courses (non-IBDP) will receive their final report card
(fourth quarter) following their exams in May. It is important that grade 12 students and parents attend
conferences as teachers will provide important guidance for upcoming exams.
Teachers will be grouped in departments and stationed around the gymnasium. Conferences will be 10 minutes
in length. Please schedule your teacher visits around predetermined dinner breaks. If a parent is unable to
attend the conferences a face-to-face, Skype or telephone conversation may be requested.
Time

Afternoon Conference Sessions

1:00

Conferences begin

Teachers will break as necessary

5:15 - 6:00
Dinner Break

Science, Individuals and Societies,

Language and Literature, Art

6:00-6:45
Dinner Break

Mathematics, Physical Education, Design,

Music, Language Acquisition, and other staff

8:00

Conferences finished

Nate Swenson
Middle School Principal

Jamie Robb
High School Principal

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

Busan International Foreign School

13

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

WOW Fashion Show 2016 March 17

The Art and Digital Design departments have the
pleasure of inviting you to the 2016 WOW Project
Fashion Show. This exciting event will take place on
Thursday, March the 17th at 2:40 pm in the school
gymnasium. The World of Wearable Art (WOW)
project is a ten week long learning experience where
8th grade students get the opportunity to apply the
skills and knowledge learned in their different subject
areas in a final interdisciplinary product. The theme
for this years show is Creativity. Thus, please mark
your calendars, and we look forward to seeing you
help us celebrate this event with your children. If you
have any questions, please e-mail your childs subject
teacher.
Thank you for supporting this event.
The WOW Project team

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

Busan International Foreign School

14

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

For Your Diary

March 2016

April 2016

12th

ES Basketball Camp

2nd

ABRSM Music Theory Exams

14th

Grade 7 Human Ingenuity Night

4th

Start of Term 3

15th

Grade 7 Human Ingenuity Exhibition

8th

MHS Mid Semester Reports Distributed

KIMEA Middle School Honor Orchestra

Festival

ES Assembly

16th

MHS Parent Workshop

HS Assembly

17th

Whole School Music Concert

Extended Essay Camp

WOW Fashion Show

SKAC ES BBall @ DIS (Gr 4/5)

SKAC HS Futsal @ GIFS (Blue)

Grade 8 Parents Subject Choice

Information Session

18th

Noon Dismissal

Noon Dismissal

21st-Apr 1st

Spring Break Holiday

MHS Student Led conference/ES-PD

31st-Apr

EARCOS Teachers Conference

Grade2 Field trip to Haeundae Market &

Beach

13th-15th

TAIMUN

13th

BIFS Parent Workshop

PTA Meeting

14th

2nd Spring Open House

15th

ES Assembly

16th

SKAC HS Futsal @ BIFS

18th-May 20th

Map Testing

20th

ES Parent Coffee

22nd

ES - Exhibition Assembly (for students)

22nd-23rd

KISAC HS Soccer (RED)

23rd

KISAC Blue Grade 6 & 7 BBall @ DCSL

SKAC MS BBall (Divisional) @ ISK

26th

Grade 5 Exhibition (for parents)

27th

MHS Parent Coffee

28th

Interhouse Track and Field @ Sajick

Stadium

2nd

9th
12th

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

Busan International Foreign School

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

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

Busan International Foreign School

17

BIFS NEWSLETTER
United in our Diversity, Thriving in our Individuality

School & Community Links

ISSUE 47, March 11, 2016

Please contact Miyoung Kim if you wish to inquire about

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

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

Busan International Foreign School