ISB is a learning community. Our school motto - Learning for Life - describes how the knowledge and skills students acquire prepare them for their future lives. In addition, students gain a positive and inquisitive attitude towards learning that reinforces the benefits of becoming lifelong learners. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Continually learning, continaully improving 1 Fostering caring individuals 2 Developing “international- mindedness” 3 Questions Answered 4 Learning for life May 2013 Volume 3, Issue 2 The ISB Corporate newsletter is published and sent out to the buisness and Bergen community twice a year. Our aim is to promote the International School of Bergen within these sectors and raise awareness of the educational services offered by ISB to internationally mobile families. By doing so, we hope to enhance the recruitment and retention of high quality personnel to the Bergen region. Our motto here at ISB, Learning for life, reflects this mission. We wish to foster a sense of inquiry and a love of knowledge that will enable the students to apply their knowledge in practical situations. In this issue of our corporate newsletter you will see how the IB approach to learning takes form in our daily life here at ISB. Read about how our students embody the IB Learner Profile by showing that they care. You will also get to know how we on a regular basis perform a selv evaluation study of each program followed by an evaluation visit. HIGH QUALITY INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FOR A BETTER WORLD The International Baccalaureate stands out as an educational programme through its focus on lifelong learning and the individual as a whole. At ISB, our philosophy and practices work to enable students to become critical thinkers, as well as confident, responsible learners. ISB’s Corporate Newsletter The International Baccalaureate® (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The IB Mission Statement
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ISB is a learning community.
Our school motto - Learning for Life - describes how the
knowledge and skills students acquire prepare them for their future lives.
In addition, students gain a positive and inquisitive attitude towards learning that reinforces the benefits
of becoming lifelong learners.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Continually learning, continaully improving 1
Fostering caring individuals 2
Developing “international-mindedness” 3
Questions Answered 4
Learning for lifeMay 2013Volume 3, Issue 2
The ISB Corporate newsletter is published and sent out to the buisness and Bergen community twice a year. Our aim is to promote the International School of Bergen within these sectors and raise awareness of the educational services offered by ISB to internationally mobile families. By doing so, we hope to enhance the recruitment and retention of high quality personnel to the Bergen region.
Our motto here at ISB, Learning for life, reflects this mission. We wish to foster a sense of inquiry and a love of knowledge that will enable the students to apply their knowledge in practical situations.
In this issue of our corporate newsletter you will see how the IB approach to learning takes form in our daily life here at ISB. Read about how our students embody the IB Learner Profile by showing that they care. You will also get to know how we on a regular basis perform a selv evaluation study of each program followed by an evaluation visit.
HIGH QUALITY INTERNATIONALEDUCATION FOR A BETTER WORLDThe International Baccalaureate stands out as an educational programme through its focus on lifelong learning and the individual as a whole. At ISB, our philosophy and practices work to enable students to become critical thinkers, as well as confident, responsible learners.
ISB’s Corporate Newsletter
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through
intercultural understanding and respect.
The IB Mission Statement
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The ideal of lifelong learning does not only apply to students. IB World Schools must continually ensure that their programs are up to par by periodically undertaking a programme evaluation process.
Every five years after a school has been authorized to teach one of the IB Programmes, the programme evaluation process occurs.
“It provides an opportunity to pause and reflect honestly
on achievements and new initiatives in order to enhance the implementation of the IB
programme.”The International Baccalaureate
ISB was the first school in the world authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students in grades 6-10.
During the 2012/2013 school year, the ISB Middle Years Programme Coordinator, Gillian Boniface, has been organizing and seeing
through a self study, which is an important part of the evaluation process.
Boniface explains: “As part of the self study process teachers are required to review, and collate, all the curricular documentation that forms the basis of the teaching in each subject area. We have worked on this during the whole school year and as a result, we have identified our strengths as well as the areas where we feel there is room for improvement.
We are now, in the last weeks before the summer, putting together a five year action plan which will not only address these areas, but will also ensure that we offer rigorous, high quality, up-to-date and relevant learning experiences for all the students in the Middle Years Programme.”
The next step in the evaluation process is that an IB visiting team will come to the school to have a close look at the school’s implementation of the MYP.
International Baccalaureate
at a glance• The IB offers a continuum of
education, consisting of three programmes for students aged 3 to 19.
• The IB’s reputation for high quality education has sustained for over 35 years.
• The IB encourages internation-al-mindedness in students.
• The IB encourages a positive at-titude to learning by encourag-ing students to ask challenging questions, to critically reflect, to develop research skills, to learn how to learn and to participate in community service.
The IB ProgrammesIB Primary Years Programme (PYP)IB Middle Years Programme (MYP)IB Diploma Programme (DP)
Continually learningContinually improving
The IB programme evaluation is an ongoing process of action and reflection that aims to enhance the implementation of the programme, as shown in the diagram.
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One of the attributes in the IB Learner Profile is Caring. During this school year, our students have certainly shown that they truly are caring and responsible citizens.
We are proud to say that our students have perfectly integrated the IB learning outcome that is to be caring, whether it is caring for the environment by initiating a clean-up around the lake behind the school, or caring for others by collecting funds and donating to charity.
Lake Clean Up initiativeAfter a Scavenger Hunt around the lake behind the school, Tveitevannet, the students commented on the amount of rubbish in the area. Words became action, and grades 3, 4 & 5 all took part in a major clean up. Despite the wind and rain they worked hard in groups and collected around ten bin bags full of rubbish as well as discarded umbrellas, scaffolding poles and even a whole bike!
SOS Barnebyer Fund RaisingOur Upper School students have for many years actively supported the SOS Children’s Village Kandalaksha in Russia. Earlier this month the chairperson of the ISB Student Council was able to hand over a cheque for 31.045 NOK raised through sponsorship from the previous two years’ annual fun-run.
Christmas Gift Drive for Robin Hood HusetJust before christmas, a gift drive was organized to collect
woolen gloves, socks, scarves and marzipan pigs to Robin Hood Huset, a local charity organisation which provides services, facilities, care and advice for families which have landed on hard times.
DEVOLOPING “INTERNATIONAL-MINDEDNESS”At ISB we organize a biennial study trip to Nice, France, for our grades 9 & 10. The city and its surrounding areas have so much to offer when it comes to experiencing the French culture as well as activities covering school subjects. Art at the Chagall museum, science at the Oceanographic Museum and the Galimard perfume factory, and culinary discoveries at restaurants. PE was not omitted either, as the students travelled to the Canyon d’Audin where they put on wetsuits and helmets and slid down waterfalls, swam through pools and jumped off boulders into the cool water.
Once back in school, the students held a presentation at the Upper School Assembly, showing photos and
sharing their experience with the younger students, who are already looking forward to their turn.
FOSTERING CARING INDIVIDUALS
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What is an IB World School?
Being an IB World School means that the ISB’s curriculum is based on the International Baccalau-reate. This is an internationally recognised curriculum known for its high standards.
What is the IB Learner Profile?
This is the International Baccalaureate’s mission statement translated into leaning outcomes. It is the heart of this common framework and an em-bodiment of what the IB means by “international-mindedness”.
Which IB programmes does the ISB offer?
We have several years experience offering the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme, and from August 2012 we added the Diploma Programme to our curriculum.
This means that we have students from the age of 3 to the age of 19 at our school.
What is the deadline for applications?
We admit students at any time during the school year, if we have places available in the appropriate classes. For our preschool and kindergarten classes, it is recommended that applications be submitted before 1 March, for entry in August.
What benefits do sponsors have?
Sponsoring companies are always assured priority admission at any time during the school year.
Our current sponsors appreciate the flexibility this allows in relocating personnel at any time during the year. In addition, since sponsors can purchase spaces in advance, anticipated increases in activity can be planned for in a strategic way.
How do we find out more?
Visit our web site for more in-depth information, or contact us by e-mail or telephone and we will be happy to answer your questions, and arrange a visit and a tour of our facilities.
FACTS AND FIGURESThe International School of Bergen was founded in 1975 as the Bergen American School. The school was established to provide an education in English to children of executives and others working in the newly-established offshore oil-industry.
The school currently enrolls approximately 225 students, represent-ing 36 nationalities. While more than 20 % of parents are employed in the oil and energy industry, the remaining work predominantly in health, academic research, and related business sectors.
