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Bonn International School Magazine | Spring 2014 | [email protected]
BISSVWHAT? WHY? HOW?
CREATIVEWAVES
CELEBRATING THE ARTS
TEACHERFEATURE
GET TO KNOW OUR TEACHERS
On the Cover: Under 14 Girl’s Volleyball Team
Imprint:
Bonn International School e.V.Martin-Luther-King-Strasse 14,
53175 Bonn
Magazine Volunteers:
Agnieszka Boud
Kate Carey
Myriam Figueiredo-Stuart
Anuradha Koratkar
Mitra Maroufi
Geraldine McMillan
Mariana Naslund
Natalie Niklas
Students:
Elissa Filozof
Helle Huisman
Layout and Design:
Janet Hannah
Editing and Proofing:
Steve Arrowsmith
Kate Carey
Owen Elias
Photography:
Thank you to the many community
members who share their photos.
Printing:
The Happy Printer, Bonn.
ContentsSports at BIS 2
Fall results 2
Winter results 3
Teacher Feature - 8 questions to get to know our teachers 4
BISSV 5
Primary Years Programme 6
Body Image 6
Primary Student Council 7
Warning! - High Tech Passing By! 8
EC German Drama Club 9
Antolin German Reading Club 9
Middle Years Programme 10
The Personal Project 10
History Bee and Bowl 11
German Books and Authors 12
Community & Service Charities 13
Diploma Visual Arts 14
Green Space 16
Fiesta Latina 17
Bizarre BIS - Crazy occurrences at school! 18
Creative Waves 20
Grease the 2013 BIS Musical 22
TEDxYouth@BIS 24
Two Steves 25
Unsung Heroes 26
The Tech Team 26
Tech Team Alumni 27
9 Wacky Science Facts 28
5 Questions about Germany 29
Alumni - Where Are They Now? 30
Technology and Design - preparing for the workplace 32
iPad Update 33
Friday Morning Runners 34
The Bonn Marathon 35
Sporting Dads 35
1
During the fall season, BIS fields teams in cross country, football and volleyball. Winter sports are
basketball and swimming. Season ending tournaments are organised by the Northwest European Council of International Schools (NECIS) and the International
Schools Sports Tournament (ISST).
ResultsGo dragons
Cross country (Fall)
The cross country team comprised athletes from Grades 6 to 12.
The team participated in races in Luxembourg and Brussels, as
well as the season ending NECIS and ISST tournaments in Antwerp
and London where Jack Lawson (Grade 9) finished his BIS running
career by coming first in both of his races. Wera Terhaag finished
a fantastic third in the NECIS Girls Over 16 race, and all runners
either equaled or improved on their personal best times over
the season.
ISST Division II results
Cross country team 7th
Junior Varsity Boys Race Jack Lawson 1st
Varsity Girls Race Wera Terhaag 14th
NECIS results
Boys High School team 3rd
Boys Under 16
Jack Lawson 1st
Raphi Schwegler 9th
Jason DeVries 10th
Girls Over 16 Wera Terhaag 3rd
Football (Fall)
It was a successful season for the BIS football teams. The JV
Boys finished second in their NECIS tournament at the International
School of Amsterdam and the U14 Boys placed second in NECIS
at the American School of The Hague. BIS hosted the ISST Division
III girls football tournament, where the Varsity Girls team delighted
the home crowd by winning. They are to be promoted to Division
II next season.
ISST Division III results
Varsity Girls Football 1st (promoted to Division II)
Varsity Boys Football 5th
NECIS results
Under 12 Boys 10th
Under 14 Boys 2nd
Junior Varsity Boys 2nd
Volleyball (Fall)
The volleyball teams had several friendly matches throughout the
season, leading up to the NECIS tournaments for the Junior Varsity
and Varsity Girls at the International School of Amsterdam and
the Under 12 and Under 14 Girls at the American School of The
Hague. Special mention goes to the Under 12 Girls who emerged
as Plate winners after an exciting match, and the Junior Varsity
Girls who were voted the most sporting team.
NECIS results
Varsity Girls 10th
Junior Varsity Girls 10th (Most Sporting Team)
Under 14 Girls 8th
Under 12 Girls 5th (Plate Winners)
2
Basketball (Winter)
The younger teams had a very successful NECIS tournament at
the International School of Düsseldorf. The Under 12 Girls won
the Plate T ournament, and the Under 14 Girls were awarded most
sporting team. The Under 12 Boys placed second after a nail
biting final in which they only lost by two, and the Under 14 Boys
were fourth. As a wonderful end of season treat, the Under 12
and Junior Varsity Boys teams were invited to the Telekom Basket’s
last game of the season. The Under 12 Boys were announced on
court as the NECIS Silver Medal winners and were given the
opportunity to meet the players. Let’s hope this inspires them to
win next season!
The Varsity Boys team travelled to the ISST tournament at Zurich
International School, where they came fourth. Special mention
goes to Mark Schefter and Nathan Balthazar (Grade 12). Both
were selected for the All-Tournament team which is an honorary
all-star team made up of the ten best players from the tournament.
Nathan Balthazar was also the winner of the Parker Bradford
Memorial Award. The award is presented by the Bradford family
to the player who best demonstrates the late Parker’s qualities
of competitiveness, poise, effort and enjoyment.
At the Sir James Henderson British School of Milan, the Varsity
Girls team came in sixth. Congratulations go to Gabi Lange (Grade
12) who was also selected for the All-Tournament team.
NECIS results
Under 12 Girls 5th (Plate Winners)
Under 14 Girls 6th (Most Sporting Team)
Under 12 Boys 2nd
Under 14 Boys 4th
Junior Varsity Boys 6th
ISST Division II results
Varsity Boys 4th
Varsity Girls 6th
Swimming (Winter)
The BIS swimming squad, made up of students from Grades 5 to
12, trained hard throughout the season and participated in friendly
galas in Luxembourg and Antwerp. The team put in a strong
performance at the NECIS tournament in Luxembourg, with many
swimmers coming in the top eight and making it through to finals
as well as improving their season or personal best times. Hannah
Wiedemann (Grade 7) had a fantastic meet, setting a new NECIS
record in all three of her gold medal winning events. Below is a
selection of some of the excellent results.
NECIS results
Under 12 Girls
Lara Wiedemann
50m Backstroke 2nd
100m Freestyle 3rd
50m Butterfly 3rd
Sabrina Shih Sydney Wilson Olivia Carey Mia Hammersmith
100m Freestyle Relay
2nd
Sabrina Shih 50m Breaststroke 2nd
Daria Nicotera Sabrina Shih Mia Hammersmith Sydney Wilson
100m Medley Relay 3rd
Katrina Rogers 200m Freestyle 2nd
Under 14 Girls
Hannah Wiedemann
50m Breaststroke 1st (NECIS record)
100m Butterfly 1st (NECIS record)
100m Breaststroke 1st (NECIS record)
Lara Wiedemann Hannah Wiedemann Isabelle Carey Divya Bilolikar
200m Freestyle Relay
2nd
Bente Koelink Lara Wiedemann Hannah Wiedemann Divya Bilolikar
200m Medley Relay
2nd
Over 16 Girls
Jillian Fox 100m Backstroke 3rd
3
Other than teaching, what else did you want to become?
After buying my first record at age nine and going to my
first concert soon after, I wanted to be a rock star. Deep
down I still do.
Which fictional character did you want to be as a child?
I have always wanted to be Batman. If I had more money
and was stronger, I would give it a try.
What is the naughtiest thing you did as a child?
I was once sent to the Principal’s office in Grade 8 for
riding the school elevator, which was strictly off limits to
students.
If you had to choose a last meal what would it be?
Nachos, a burrito, and a pepperoni pizza. I would have
carrot cake for desert.
What 3 things would you take on a desert island and why?
Book: “The Brothers Karamozov”. This is one of the few
books that I get something new out of every time I read it.
It’s also long so it would be good to pass the time.
Music: I need to bring two albums:
Pixies - “Doolittle” - this is the coolest album of all time;
The Chemical Brothers - “Exit Planet Dust” - this was the
first electronic music album I ever loved. It is still my
favourite.
Other: I would bring my headphones.
Which chores do you hate the most?
Mowing the lawn.
What are your favourite spare time activities?
Running, travelling, reading and listening to music.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
Learning a second language.
Other than teaching, what else did you want to become?
I wanted to be a policeman before I wanted to be a teacher.
Which fictional character did you want to be as a child?
I wanted to be Legolas from “Lord of The Rings” because
he was awesome with a bow and arrow.
What is the naughtiest thing you did as a child?
The naughtiest thing I ever did as a child was stealing
sweets from a gas station.
If you had to choose a last meal what would it be?
My last meal would be a huge bowl of mussels in garlic
butter.
What 3 things would you take on a desert island and why?
On a desert island I would take a football to play with,
suncream to stop my head from frying and a fishing rod so
I wouldn’t go hungry.
Which chores do you hate the most?
I hate washing dishes more than any other chore.
What are your favourite spare time activities?
In my spare time I play football, workout and eat a lot.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
My greatest achievement to date is getting a job I love!
Peter Vaughn
Jam
ie H
oo
pe
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8 questions to get to know our teachersTeacher Feature
4
What is it? The Bonn International School Sportverein (BISSV) is a sports
club that provides different sports opportunities for various age
groups. We will form teams when the next school year begins.
These teams will compete in local German competitions and
leagues representing BISSV.
Why are we doing it?BISSV enhances the existing EC sports programme by integrating
our students within the local German community in year-round
sporting activities.
How are we going to do that?We will recruit highly qualified coaches who will teach our students
the skills, the knowledge, and the expertise necessary to compete
at a high level in their chosen sport.
WHAT?WHY?HOW?
My background
My name is Tobias Goebel and I’m 23 years old. I was born and
raised in Bonn, and have always been a keen sportsman. This is
one of many reasons why I decided to study Fitness Management
in Cologne. Since I was a little boy my passion has always been
soccer and sport in general. Frankly, I love to test my limits and
challenge myself in various different ways.
I am also a licensed Personal Trainer and work part time for the
Health City gym in Bad Godesberg. Besides my passion for sports,
my love for music is my drive. I have played the bass guitar for
many years now. My role model is Flea from the Red Hot Chili
Peppers, my all-time favorite band.
Scope
The intention is to start off by registering two football teams
(Grades 3 & 4) and one running team (Grades 5 – 12). We will try
to add more sports and age groups every year, such as basketball,
gymnastics, rugby etc.
The existing EC programme already covers a lot of activities for
older students, so we have decided to start with younger age
groups this time. We will train twice a week all year-round. The
teams will be predominantly made up of BIS students, but it is
important to understand that non-BIS students may also apply
for a membership as well. That’s why we have designed a criteria
membership form.
Advantages
The advantages for the members of the BISSV club are:
• participation and experience in your chosen sport
over the entire year
• easier integration into the local German community
through the international language of sport
• more competitive games and events
• an opportunity to improve German language skills
Office hours / contacts
You can find me in Mr Grant’s office on Tuesdays and Thursdays
between 09.00 and 14.00, or send me an e-mail at:
[email protected] or [email protected]
We are very excited about this opportunity and, more importantly,
we are absolutely convinced that our students will benefit from
this project in lots of ways. Tobias Groebel
5
BODY IMAGE
“Never be afraid to show yourself the way you really are. Nothing is more important than having confidence in your
own body image.”Britt, Grade 5.
“Learning about puberty can actually be quite frightening. When we learnt about
it, it was a little disgusting (especially learning about the other gender). It was
more fun without the other classes, because there wasn’t as much giggling. It was weird
being able to say almost anything but sometimes in your life you have to grow up.”
The Grade 5 students defined body image as “how you see yourself in the mirror and how you feel about
yourself”. They explored positive versus negative body image and potential influences on this. As they enter the
pubescent age, students realize that they may go through phases of appearing “fat” as their body shape changes and things happen at different times. One girl also mentioned that each individual can directly influence their body and thus also body image. Through active awareness of how to maintain a healthy body, for example good nutrition, exercise and hygiene, each person can keep themselves in the best shape for them.
Much time was spent looking at external influences on our body image and what consequences they may have. The presentation showed the girls that the models used in photo shoots did not bear any resemblance to the image used in the adverts as they were manipulated to look thinner, have longer limbs, perfect skin, be taller, etc.
“Magazines, superstars, dolls and women in ads all influence our thoughts about how we look.”
“We actually need confidence in our body shape because in camera shots and in magazines models are thin but what people don’t notice is that they are photo-shopped. They force you to buy products to make yourself more beautiful but you don’t need them. You are just as beautiful without that cream or makeup.”
It is difficult to look like the images in the magazines because “these people use very expensive make up and have professionals do their hair” and “it is the shape that they are and we are not.”
Photo editing was frequently cited as a way to manipulate images shown. This was deemed “stupid”, as it was a false portrayal of reality. These unrealistic images were seen as a manipulation of people’s perception that could lead girls to “go too skinny” or girls to have “a lot of worries and be angry at themselves, because they don’t think they are beautiful.”
Unanimously, students would happily see “normal” people in the media without photo editing and dolls shaped more realistically. The students came away with a clear message about media influences: “This is not healthy!”
Primary Years Programme
Debra Hennessy, one of our BIS school nurses, did some educational sessions with the Grade 5 classes
on puberty and body changes. Several sessions then focused on body image and media influences.
Some students have shared their reflections on these sessions.
A huge thank-you to Britt and Shannon from Grade 5JLa for their input into this article.
6
?PYP
The BIS Primary Student Council has tried
to make the Primary School a better place.
It is made up of three committees:
the Cafeteria Committee, the Recess
Committee and the Community Service &
Special Events Committee. Each committee
completed several tasks to make a
difference in the school this year.
The Recess Committee has tried to
introduce kids to a variety of games that
many kids can play at the same time. This
has included games like, What’s Happening
Mister Fox?, Pass the Stick, Splat and
Medic. They tried to teach games that
could include many children and did not
necessarily have a winner or loser. They
tried to start up these games with kids
from many different grade levels. Finally,
they pumped up balls for kids to play with
during recess.
The Cafeteria Committee has made posters
and created a presentation, which looked
at ways to reduce waste, reuse materials
and recycle products. The posters were
hung around school and the presentation
was given in a variety of different primary
classrooms. The Student Council members
shared ways to do this at home and also
gave examples of items that could be
reused for something different rather than
Student Counciljust being tossed out. For example, they
showed how a glass air freshener container
could be used as a vase and how a former
tin chocolate case could be used to hold
pencils.
The Community Service & Special Events
Committee organized a few different
projects this year. They collected canned
foods for Bonner Tafel and asked for art
supplies to be donated at Christmas, which
were delivered to the Evangelische
Jugendhilfe Godesheim organization. We
are collecting photo albums or picture
frames, which will also be donated to the
Evangelische Jugendhilfe Godesheim
organization. These photo albums and
picture frames will be given to children as
a leaving gift with photos of their time there.
This year has been a blast to be in the
Primary Student Council. It is our hope that
students and families will continue taking
action in the community. Next year, the
Student Council hopes to continue taking
action and achieving our goals.
Jessica Greene
What is the
Primary Student
Council and what
does it do?
Contributors:Sara BrazilMolly Link
Jovana DerelievaAmelia Iwaniuk
Francesca Bernhardt
7
Hello, my name is Yigit and I am currently working on my PYP
exhibition. My topic is Technology Addiction.
Addiction to technology can cause really bad damage to the
development of the brain. This is called digital dementia. Citizens
of South Korea are facing digital dementia as they participate in
activities involving overuse of technology. When the brain gets
introduced to an easier way of doing things, it adapts really quickly,
leading to memory loss. Doctors in South Korea are reporting a
surge in digital dementia among young people who have become
so reliant on electronic devices that they can no longer remember
everyday details like their phone numbers.(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/10138403/Surge-in-digital-dementia.html)
Digital dementia can be reversed by exercising your brain and
limiting technology use. Doctors suggest using your head and
trying to remember things instead of looking it up right away.
Reading books, learning a new language and playing an instrument
are also ways to help your brain. Physical exercise will help bring
nutrients to the brain.(http://www.alzheimers.net/2013-11-12/overuse-of-technology-can-lead-to-digital-dementia/http://www.alzheimers.net/2013-11-12/overuse-of-technology-can-lead-to-digital-dementia/)
BBC scientists have found that playing violent games causes
aggression and violent behavior as people tend to mimic the
behavior seen in the video games. (Pupils “made more violent by
computer games”. BBC article online. Hannah Richardson, April
3, 2012) According to research done by Iowa State University,
children who play violent video games all the time are learning
thought patterns that will affect them later in life.(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140324181255.https)
Technology can affect our brain development and behaviors. In
one case, a child in Taiwan played 40 hours non-stop of fighting
games, which led to his death. His body became dehydrated as
he did not drink any water for 40 hours straight.(Diablo 3 Death: Teen Dies After Playing Game for 40 Hours Straight. July 18, 2012. huffingtonpost.com)
I believe that kids should have limits using technology. Homework
should take priority, as well as playing outside, interacting with
our families, and reading books. I suggest parents should set a
time limit for playing video games. This will allow us to develop
physically and mentally. It is important to find a balance with
outdoor physical activities in order to stay mentally fit.
Yigit Akbiyik 5JLa
High Tech Passing By!
PYP Primary Years Programme
8
EC German Drama ClubWhat happens when a witch dreams of living on the moon? Well, she packs
her belongings and off she sets on an adventurous journey with her pet.
The students of the EC German Drama Club read the book “Für Hund und Katz
ist auch noch Platz” which is the German translation of Julia Donaldson’s book
“Room on the Broom”. As the students decided to put it on stage, they wrote
their theatre script and rehearsed the play.
They successfully performed at the Creative Waves Festival in April 2014
and are now working on their next performance.
The EC German Drama Club is offered by Frau Zoe Grigoriadou throughout the year.
The Antolin-Reading Club is a German
EC Reading Activity, where students can
enjoy their favourite books in a relaxed and
cosy environment. They can choose the
books they would like to read from a rich
collection of recommended German titles.
When finished reading, the students have
the opportunity to check their text
comprehension and answer content
questions provided by a web-based
program on the computer. This program
provides the opportunity to combine
traditional and modern media. The students
have the experience of having a real book
in their hands and learn to use the Internet
in a meaningful way.
They are also encouraged to read a book
carefully, and think of the correct answer.
They are rewarded for their attentive
participation in the program by points of
success leading eventually to an Antolin
Certificate.
The Club is offered throughout the whole
year by Frau Semar, Frau Müllenbach, and
Herrn Isken.
Primary Years Programme
Learning German Through Drama
ANTOLIN German Reading Club
9
Middle Years Programme
What is the personal project? The International Baccalaureate Organization defines it as “a project produced to create a personal and creative piece of work that stands as a summative reflection of the student’s ability to conduct independent work”. At the end of Grade 9, students are asked to find a topic that reflects their interests and are assigned a supervisor. The project consists of an essay and a product, which are both completed by the end of the first semester of Grade 10.
The project is built out of several sections and one should fulfil all criteria ranging from “page numbers are included” to “sources are fully evaluated continuously”. It is a serious piece of work, but in the end it’s also meant to motivate students creatively. When a topic is chosen carefully, one should feel like it was a positive experience. Current Grade 10 student Michael Borges says, “I loved it, to be honest. I just got the work done within the first half of the year and could enjoy it”.
As a little tip for future students Michael adds, “never be late to a meeting”. On this I can completely agree, but the help (from my supervisor) throughout the process was
The personal project could be seen as a rite of passage into the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. As an essential part of rounding up the Middle Years Programme (MYP) many students see it as an obstacle they need to get over. What people don’t always seem to realise is how rewarding the experience can be when the topic is well-chosen.
What is the personal project?The International History Bee and Bowl
The Personal Project
amazing and she continuously provided excellent feedback that I could incorporate into my work. This support was great and definitely had a positive impact on my project.
Personally, I look back on my project very positively. I filmed and interviewed several of my classmates about what being international meant to them. After hours of incredibly frustrating editing, technology failures and annoyance, I had created a video, which I’m still very proud of. Of course all this stress could have been saved by starting earlier in the summer and not choosing a topic for which I needed cooperation of other people, but I enjoyed it none the less.
Fellow Grade 11 student Isabelle Lisson reflects on her experience of making a comic book: “[It was] a great topic for me. I enjoy drawing and creating stories, and this project was actually the push I needed to just draw. I would have spaced out my time better, since I underestimated the time it took to complete the product itself, but it increased my respect for all the professional cartoonists out there, so you could see it as something positive as well.” Having found something creative and
close to her own interests, Lisson was motivated to do more research and spend more time working on her project. “Honestly it was a lot to manage, especially in that last week, but I loved it throughout.... Seeing what my fellow classmates came with at the end was also incredible”.
The variety of projects that come out of Grade 10 each year is astounding—ranging from musical compositions to the building of bikes. This year saw a lot of creative projects rather than research. Several students composed their own CDs or made dances, whereas others did research on bullying and the stress and pressure encountered by teenagers. Many current DP students see the personal project as preparation for the projects encountered in the last two years of high school, especially for the extended essay, where the research component has similar criteria. Except Art in the IB, the personal project is also the last chance for a larger scale creative project.
A message from all those who have already completed the personal project: Good luck Grade 9 and all other future personal project makers! Hopefully you will be able to find a good topic and generally give a positive spin to this project. And dear parents, please remember that supporting your child in whatever topic they have chosen really helps and makes it more interesting for you as well. Once that deadline is reached and completion is celebrated, I hope you will all be able to look back as positively as I have.
Helle Huisman, Grade 11 CAS
10
MYPIn April, the BIS History Bowl Team traveled to Stuttgart for two days to participate in the International History Bee and Bowl Competition hosted by Stuttgart International School. This is our first year ever to participate in such a history competition. Eight students and two teachers set out on a quest to win in the challenge of world history knowledge championships: Elisabeth Hatting, Michael Borgers, Daniel Van Holten, Jan-Cedric Gienau, Anael Jordan-Ortiz, Duncan Page, Che Melo, Krupha Vetriselvan, Ms Francemone and Mr Rivera.
History Bowl is a voluntary student activity for students who enjoy history. Since January, we have met every Thursday after school and Friday during lunch. During these meetings, we practiced history questions with our advisor Ms Francemone. These practice sessions helped us prepare for both the team and individual competitions.
In both the team and individual competitions, the problems presented were of great complexity. They required us to be able to think logically and quickly to answer the question before it was
fully read, so that we would gain an advantage over the other team. Out of the other schools, there was one team that stood out: the Middle School team of Stuttgart International School. They had this twelve year old boy who walked around like a living Encyclopaedia! He knew so much, it was just adorable! We barely managed to beat his team; split seconds decided who was awarded the right to answer the question. After this competition our reflexes became as fast as a cheetahs!
During this competition, we won the opportunity to go play in two other competitions. Hopefully we’ll be able to use these newly gained reflexes to win the European championships that are to be held in Rome and the Olympiad that will take place next summer at Princeton University in the United States. If we succeed in Rome, we would be eligible to go to the grand finals held in NewYork! We’re super excited - not just because of the travelling, which is a huge plus, but because studying and playing as a team is so much fun!!
Krupha Vetriselvan. Photos: Josefino Rivera.
The International History Bee and Bowl
O R T H O D O N T I S T
ASTRID WELLER-BERGMANND R . M E D . D E N T
Dr. Astrid Weller-Bergmann
Beethovenallee 58
53173 Bonn-Plittersdorf
Easy parking at Arndtplatz
Bus 614
5 minutes to BIS
Fon: 0228 184 73 74
Fax: 0228 184 73 75
www.weller-bergmann.de
O r t h o d o n t i c s
F u n c t i o n + A e s t h e t i c s
A d u l t s + C h i l d r e n
R e m o v a b l e + F i x e d A p p l i a n c e s
A d v a n c e d B r a c k e t S y s t e m s
I n v i s i b l e A l i g n e r s + M o r e
I t s t a r t s w i t h a s m i l e . . .
11
MYPGerman, Books and Authors: the Lit.COLOGNE TripOn 21 March, Frau Waeder’s Grade 9 and Frau Voss’ Grade 11
German classes travelled to the 2014 Lit.COLOGNE. This annual
international literature celebration in Cologne is organised for
students to bring the texts they study in class to life. The BIS
students went to a book reading and interview of Danish author
Janne Teller.
Janne Teller has been working as a full time author of both youth
and adult fiction since 1995. She became internationally acclaimed
with the publication of her second book, Nothing (Nichts – Was
im Leben wichtig ist). This novel is about the journey of a group
of Grade 8 students as they find their way in life and discover
what has meaning for them. As the characters develop, their
search for meaning escalates into violence and brutality, which
starkly contrasts with the usual representation of MYP students
in literature.
The novel is written in the rather confronting manner that is typical
in Janne Teller’s books and moves the reader to self reflection.
As the topics discussed in the book are very controversial, the
book was deemed inappropriate in Denmark and banned. Literary
censorship is almost unheard of in this part of the world and
caused a scandal in Denmark. The book may have been blacklisted
from the school curriculum there, but has since received much
international acclaim. In 2011 Janne Teller received the Michael
L. Printz Honor Book award for the novel.
Her new book, Everything (Alles), is a collection of short stories,
which also tackle confronting themes such as human trafficking,
racism and murder. In these stories Teller has incorporated plot
twists that make the reader realise how it would be to be in
such a confronting situation oneself. The combination of intrigue
and self-reflection are highly successful and make her stories
outstanding literature. The book reading in Cologne was in
celebration of both these books and worked well to show a different
side to storytelling.
During the two hour session, Teller was interviewed and asked
questions about how she creates her stories. When asked where
the stories come from she replied, “From my belly. ... I need to
stand when I write so I can feel the story, and can fully express
myself.” This intriguing perspective of feeling her stories continued
and she stood up during her book reading. Even though the story
was quite lengthy and the calm atmosphere made one feel slightly
sleepy, the reading was the highlight of the presentation. Samuel
Hewitt, a Grade 11 student, found “it was cool to witness the
process of how those stories are for her. I was pleasantly surprised.”
This more interactive way of learning about literature and the
underlying symbolism of books is an incredible way to get students
more engaged with the topics discussed. It also provides the
teachers with a lot more information to share and interpret. Both
classes acted out a role-play in class afterward in which information
and interpretations from the short story were needed. Having
heard Teller speak about her stories, this was a far more natural
process and was another great interactive way of learning. Grade
11 student Lorenzo Pasanisi reflects, “we really experienced a
lot more from the books by going to the reading and meeting
Janne Teller.”
Thank yous must be extended to Frau Waeder and Frau Voss for
taking us, as it was a great success. The interview, reading and
role-play covered all angles of the story and all students look back
on the trip positively. Helle Huisman, Grade 11 CAS
Grade 9 Students,
Author Janne Teller,
BIS Teachers Frau Waeder
and Frau Voss
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07MAY
DINNER FOR ZAMBIA - HELP AND SUPPORT
A CHILDREN´S HOSPITAL IN ZAMBIA!
La Redoute, Kurfürstenallee 1 53177 Bonn-Bad Godesberg !Come along to a great charity event for a hospital in Zambia! There will be a three course
menu and the tickets will cost 10 Euros for children and 15 Euros for adults. However,
everybody is welcome to donate more. We will play a slideshow with pictures to explain our
project. BIS students in 6 and 9th grade are organizing the whole event and all the fundraised
money will be donated to the further construction and development of a Children’s Hospital in
Zambia. Please come and show your support!
!BONN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL,
MARTIN-LUTHER-KING-STRAßE 14, 53175 BONN
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AFTER SCHOOL IN THE WAVES BUILDING
FROM 7TH TO 10TH OF APRIL AND 28TH OF APRIL TO 2ND OF MAY
For more details contact [email protected]
7.00 pm
MYP
Charity dinner at La Redoute
All Middle Years Programme (MYP) students at BIS take part in a C&S Programme
throughout the school year. C&S aims to help students develop personal values and
awareness by helping others and contributing to their local and the global community.
This year students are involved in a range of C&S projects which benefit both the local
Bonn community and communities abroad. Local projects allow students to
experience first hand how their actions have helped those in need, while those helping
communities further afield serve to broaden students’ global awareness.
C&SCommunity & Service
Visiting the ElderlyAnother group of students paid regular visits to the elderly at the retirement home
“Haus am Redoutenpark” in Bad Godesberg. As well as simply talking to the elderly, the students play music for them, bake cookies and cupcakes to take, whizz up delicious and nutritious smoothies, and organise games such as bingo and cards.
The project encourages positive interaction between different generations and the residents of the home really enjoy the buzz and activity surrounding the students’ visits. The students learn how to engage with older people, and that sometimes a little patience is required when explaining the rules of new games or talking to those who are hard of hearing!
Community Art ProjectA group of Grade 7 students worked on a community art project which they donated to the CJG Hermann-Josef-Haus, a
community youth centre in Bad Godesberg. The group wanted to do something to help underprivileged children, and so the students set out to create an art piece which they hoped would touch and inspire fellow teenagers at the community centre. They came up with the idea of asking as many BIS students as possible to donate a handprint as a heartfelt symbol of solidarity with those less fortunate than themselves.
After an advertising campaign at school, many BIS students took part and made their mark on the project, so to speak. The resulting artwork also carries a positive and inspirational message in German, which the group hopes will resonate with teenagers at the youth centre.
Congratulations to the Dinner for Zambia C&S group! They worked together as a team and fundraised €2,221.50 for a hospital in Zambia on Wednesday, 7 May 2014. The von Borries family generously sponsored a three-course meal for over 50 guests at their restaurant, The Redoute. The C&S group did a fantastic job and raised awareness about the need for medical care in Zambia. They sold tickets, decorated, polished, prepared, and served the meal with grace and then told the guests how the funds were being used for the continual development of the Twalumba
clinic. The Twalumba clinic is located in a rural area in Zambia, and it is in great need of basic medical supplies for the local community. Thank you sincerely to all the people who attended this wonderful fundraiser. Your contributions are changing people’s lives.
A special thanks to these individuals who were
committed to making this project a success:
Bettina and Christoph von Borries, Carla Appel,
Annelise-Maria Becheru, Cassian von Borries,
Lena Cordes, Zoé Janischowsky,
Margot Lozaic, Lara Weidemann,
Leslie Weiler, Valeria Veretenova.
Middle Years Programme
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Diploma Programme DPThis year’s graduating class of IB Diploma Programme (DP) students finished their course with the customary Visual Arts Exhibition showing their work. This year’s Exhibition took place on Monday 24 March 2014.
Visual Arts
The DP Visual Art Class consisted of nine students, a mixture of
Standard and Higher level students. This year, several students
focused on using sculpture to represent their ideas; as such, we
had some large scale works in the exhibition. From time-based /
installation media, as shown in Milena Sekulic’s work, to recycled
aspects in Hannah Paeffgen’s sculptures, students were inspired
by the world around them and their perspective as young adults
interacting with today’s society.
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DPElements of whimsy and fun were also represented through
the brightly coloured, Colombian-inspired paintings of
Sebastian Jaregui-Kayser and the neon Cheshire Cat painting
of Caroline Rosello. Conceptual art focusing on geometry
and perception was a central to Ben Valand’s work. Personal
mindfulness, the environment and animal welfare were explored
in Jess Hamilton’s work.
Through a variety of media, Grace Smith and Nina Bondi explored
their unique cultural backgrounds, expressing elements of their
personal and national identity through their paintings and
photographs. Viviana Peluffo’s work explored the human condition,
looking at visual representation of psychology, as well as her own
cultural identity.
The exhibition was a great success and the students should be
extremely proud of their body of work, as well as the completion
of one element of their IB Diploma. Jo Tilton
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In February, BIS was delighted to open
additional playground space on its campus.
This new area extends from the back of
the Waves building to the Rhine River. It
uses land within our school property which
had been unused and unusable up until
this point.
What’s new? Besides a large open green
lawn to play on, students enjoy a balance
beam, slide, zip line and climbing pyramid.
Nets are up on the two beach volleyball
courts and they are open for play. Our
campus security fence has been extended
to include this area so that our younger
students can safely play in this space
without wandering off campus.
The transformation of this no-go zone was
made possible by many individuals and
organizations. Funds raised at the “Luck of
the Irish” event in March 2013 were used
for purchasing the playground equipment.
The US Department of State provided a
significant part of the funding for the
security fence. Knauber, a locally-based
garden and home store, provided plants to
line the fence along the Rhine.
This year’s “Fiesta Latina” raised additional
funds for outdoor improvements to the BIS
campus. Under consideration are portable
multi-purpose event seating, umbrellas
for the outdoor terrace in between the
Waves and Agora buildings, or a dragon
(our school mascot) mural for the white
Agora wall facing the cafeteria.
Being outside and having appropriate play
spaces are important to the health and
happiness of our students. BIS places great
emphasis on this.
Keep your eye on the Newsflash and
website to find out what other projects
BIS is planning to undertake in order to
continuously improve our campus.
Run, jump, slide
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Five enormous homemade piñatas, 33 carefully assembled
flower arrangements, 500m of papel picado, 3000kg of tables,
chairs, cutlery and crockery, not to mention stage and sound
equipment, transformed a sleek school sports hall into an
evening venue fit for a fiesta.
Fiesta Latina was an evening that many enjoyed not only for
the cultural aspect but also the opportunity to mingle with
the community. Our Latino community spent countless
hours planning, organizing and managing every detail, so
that the evening was a fiesta for all the senses. The colours
as you walked into the Agora Sports Hall were spectacular,
each table meticulously decorated with a gorgeous
arrangement of cut flowers. The welcoming cocktail and
appetizer helped us to get into the mood and teased our
taste buds.
We were then swept away by the musical entertainment.
This was a combination of traditional folk dances, groovy
choir numbers, cool Brazilian beats and spectacular
carnival entertainment. A special mention goes to Daniel
and Fernanda, who did their parents and Mexican relatives
proud, dancing that evening. I think Jo also deserves a
thank you for being on the dance floor while everyone
else queued for food.
Lovers of Latino cuisine were certainly not disappointed either.
The chef, after some negotiating, agreed to ensure certain
creativity and that there would be no skimping on ingredients.
There was so much food that many who were there didn’t
even notice the desserts. They were exquisite, and some
recipes changed hands.
None of the entertainment would have been possible without
the tireless and good-humoured labours of the Tech Team.
The great spectacle of the night was the Brazilian style
carnival extravaganza put on by a samba school from
Düsseldorf. One particular entertainer certainly proved to
be the talking point of the evening, although Jo did manage
to get the dancing started. It really reached full swing at
this point. A certain principal was seen showing off her
moves with her partner for most of the evening. Other
members of the leadership team also got down on the
dance floor.
The only complaints heard were from people who were
too immersed in the Silent Auction and somehow ‘missed’
the dancing, or vice versa. Was the evening too short?
Maybe our senses were all just on overdrive.
FiestaLatina
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No Food is No Fun!
At the time, a thorough job was done of keeping the public in the dark. But Spring has now rolled around and it’s time you knew. Earlier this school year, a canteen catastrophe very nearly occurred. No, no, lives weren’t shattered, days weren’t spoiled, careers weren’t cut short—but, had this disaster actually happened, those of you with a dietary dependence on the Sodexo team’s hot lunch menu would most certainly have gone home with rumbling stomachs.
Contrary to what you may now be thinking, the problem was not a lack of food but rather a lack of means with which to serve it. During a BIS weekend event, someone had removed the cafeteria’s serving dishes and had unfortunately forgotten to return what they had taken.
Noontime on Monday came. The Sodexo team, having spent the morning in the kitchen cooking, went into the cafeteria to prepare for the primary students’ fast approaching lunch break. They faced an unusual obstacle: the serving dishes were nowhere to be found! With only 20 minutes to spare before a hundred hungry little kids swarmed the cafeteria, a volunteer from the Sodexo team rushed to inform BIS staff members of the dilemma.
Luckily, the missing serving dishes were located and returned just in the nick of time and nobody was any the wiser… Until now, of course. Elissa Filozof, Grade 11 CAS
Who Let the Dogs Out?Mr Vaughn’s story:
In early March, Mr Vaughn dog-sat Ms Francemone’s three dogs. He had met them before and they seemed to get along. At 19.00 he went to her apartment to let the dogs out. One, Pookie, decided she no longer trusted Mr Vaughn. She began slowly to distance herself from him and, not knowing what else to do, Mr Vaughn decided to run after her.
After sprinting for about ten blocks, twisting an ankle, and asking neighbors for help, Mr Vaughn was forced to call Ms Francemone with the horrible news: one of her dogs was lost. She reassured him Pookie would go home of her own accord. This she did. But upon seeing Mr Vaughn again, she promptly bolted for a second time
Ms Box was then drafted in to help Mr Vaughn search for Pookie. She suggested filing a report with the local police. To everyone’s surprise, the Bad Godesberg police not only sent out a car, but the police officers called about every 30 minutes with updates. The final update was at 23.10: Pookie had been found hiding under a parked car. She was scared, cold and hungry and just wanted to go home. So much so, she even let Mr Vaughn pick her up.
Ms Francemone’s story:
While away on a much anticipated 10th grade Ypres field trip, Ms Francemone was informed by her kind dog sitter, Mr Vaughn, that Pookie had gone missing. Both parties—rather, all parties—were quite distressed at this turn of events.
The BIS community sprang into action: a student accompanying Ms. Francemone called Ms Box, Pookie’s favorite neighbor. Ms Box immediately joined in the hunt. A few sightings, stressful phone calls and at least two circumnavigations of the neighborhood later, Ms Box suggested calling the Bad Godesberg police for help.
With the police joining in the hunt, Pookie’s return home was imminent. After four and a half hours of evading capture, a tired, cold, hungry Pookie finally submitted to the officers, who cornered her under a parked car at a local construction site. A relieved Mr Vaughn thanked the officers for their help and their leash to walk her home. Ms Francemone, grateful to all parties involved in the search, distributed homemade cookies shaped as dog bones to everyone.
Quirky and curious happenings are inevitable in every school community and BIS is no exception. Here are some of the more unusual recent
experiences and anecdotes from our BIS community. Check them out!
Crazy occurrences at school!Introducing
a new Waves
segment entitled
“BIZARRE BIS”
This has been a debut segment for “Bizarre BIS”. We hope you’ve enjoyed
it! If you know of any crazy occurrences involving our school and would like to see them featured in the next edition of Waves, send them to
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At Bonn International School, every spring kicks off with an inclusive experience that spotlights the various creative skills
present within the community: the Creative Waves Festival. The brainchild of Music teacher Ms Kathleen Szalay, Creative Waves
was initiated in 2013 as a new opportunity for all nonsporting clubs and activities to showcase their talent. And now the thank you
cards are rolling in.
Performances were delivered by the BIS Band and Choir, the
Musical Theatre and Primary Drama classes, the German Drama
and Irish Dance groups, the Strings Ensemble, the Girl Scouts,
the International Voices Choir, the BIS Kids Rock team, Model
United Nations speakers, and numerous piano students.
Displays, arranged and manned by various organizations, also
lined the corridors of the Agora. These included Maths, Girl Scouts,
and MUN booths; digital art, community art, iPad and music
displays. Middle Years Programme (MYP) students Andrea Jonsson
and Erin Bridges are two members of the Girl Scouts Troop 14,
which meets biweekly in the Waves building. “We set up our booth
mainly to try and raise money for our upcoming service trip to
India,” Jonsson says. Bridges adds, “Then we performed a few
songs that we usually sing at camp. The festival is a great way to
make people aware of different groups that are tied to the school.”
One major highlight from last year’s festival was the public’s
contribution to a community artwork, which is now featured in
the Agora. New this year, the entire school was invited to take
part in a creative photography display supervised by Suzanne
Kaegi. Perhaps most exciting was a visit from the Two Steves,
the authors of over 185 children’s books, who led a hilarious game
show during the festival. Lastly, a wine-tasting was held towards
the end of the event for the parents.
The flexibility of Creative Waves makes it unique because the list
of acts varies every year with the differing desires and talents of
students involved. The age variety among participants is also a
positive attribute; the festival gives secondary and primary students
the uncommon opportunity to interact in a family environment.
Creative Waves Festival
CreativeThe annual festival exhibits more than 30 different
acts, ranging from the BIS Choir to a wee group
of Irish dancers: yet another reflection of the
rich diversity inherent to international school
communities. One thing each student involved
has, however, is a strong sense of creativity—
regardless of the shape in which it manifests
itself—and the motivation to share it.
Events
Creative Waves is interactive,
available to the whole community
and free of charge. One element
of the festival is its string of work-
shops, which run consecutively
throughout the day. This year’s
workshops included: Chinese
Calligraphy; Robotics; Origami;
Zumba; Print Making; Film Viewing;
the Primary Fun, Maths and Story
Time Art clubs; and guitar and brass
lessons.
Performances, which took place in
the Agora building and Sports Hall,
ranged from solo acts to collective
ones. Grade 11 student, Meagan
Brooks, who played a piano piece,
says, “I was nervous but performing
really stretches you to do your best.”
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Waves FestivalA Second Success
Last year’s first ever Creative Waves Festival had 200 people in
attendance and was a great success. This year the festival drew
an even larger crowd. Throughout the process—from laying the
groundwork, to the setup and packing up of the festival—the
cooperation of parent volunteers and BIS staff members has been
key. “Parents are strongly encouraged to get involved because
their support is what motivates their children to participate,”
says Ms Szalay.
Students’ Feedback
Windie Hoefs, Grade 12, recounts her two years of Creative Waves
experience, “In 2013 the STEP team did a performance and led
a workshop at the festival. It was so much fun because we got
to teach little kids, kids from Secondary School, and even parents.
This year we went through the same routine.” Hoefs is a member
of the BIS STEP tap dancing team, an extracurricular activity
which meets regularly.
Grade 11 student Jillian Fox also shares: “I participate in Choir,
which has been a lot of fun, especially learning the choreography
for the upbeat songs we do. It’s really cool to pair singing and
dancing. I’m in the Math Club, too, and for that we did a mini-
Olympiad style competition and answered a bunch of math
questions.” Lastly, she says, “For BIS Band, we had a lot of fun
preparing for the festival during early morning practices. We really
bonded.” For these many students, Creative Waves is a wonderful
creativity outlet that facilitates team building, hard work and an
appreciation for the arts. Elissa Filozof, Grade 11 CAS
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Organized and directed by husband and
wife duo, Joseph and Kathleen Szalay, the
annual school musical is the source of
much excitement for the many students
it attracts. The BIS musical provides a
fun, social, rewarding commitment so
sought after among students. It owes its
existence to the backing of the school
community, which has sold out the past
two musicals. Now for a look at last year’s
performance, Grease.
Show History
The product of a collaboration
between writers Jim Jacobs and
Warren Casey, Grease premiered
on Broadway in 1972. The musical,
whose themes include love, teen-
age rebellion and class conflict,
received seven Tony nominations and
the thunderous applause of worldwide
popularity. Today it remains Broadway’s
15th longest running show, having run
3,388 performances by the time it closed
in 1980.
The hit film version, starring John Travolta
and Olivia Newton-John, has become the
highest grossing movie musical ever, since
its 1978 release. The show’s title is derived
directly from its setting—America in the
1950s—when those who swelled the
country’s working class youth subculture
were known as “greasers”. Grease tackles
GREASEthe social issues of teenage pregnancy and
gang violence, and ends on the note of
lasting friendship. The plot of the musical,
which is set in 1959 at a fictional Chicago
high school, follows the adventures of
handsome, cocky, bad boy Danny Zuko
and his pretty, blonde girlfriend Sandy
Olsson, as together they navigate the
complexities of discovering oneself.
“It’s All Part of the Process”
As was the case for the previous BIS
musical, Little Shop of Horrors, over 40
students auditioned for roles in Grease for
a cast of 35. Rehearsals—usually lasting
two to three hours, but intensifying as the
production date neared—began almost
immediately. Grade 11 student Jillian Fox,
who portrayed the show’s dynamic female
lead, Sandy, says, “I practiced the audition
song and monologue a lot at home, and a
ton for my family and friends. I’m sure that
they knew the pieces as well as I by the
time the auditions came around.”
Nearly all students auditioning go a similar
route. But when the casting is being
decided, what catches the casters’ eyes?
“We look for people who have a spark
of confidence, that air of charisma; a
personality that fits a certain role. I can see
the potential in students to depict a certain
character, even if they can’t,” explains
Mr Szalay. He continues, “We select
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musicals based on the students we know
we have; if there aren’t the right personalities
for the roles, the show just isn’t feasible.
We picked Grease last year to build up a
particular group of guys we had, as well as
to build everyone’s dance skills.” That’s
one objective accomplished. “I was
definitely challenged by the dancing,
because we had to act, sing and dance all
at once,” reflects Fox. “But I think I grew a
lot as a dancer because it was so dance
heavy. I also learned to roll with mistakes
and improvise.”
Other students involved gained similar
benefits; Grade 10 student Ché Melo, cast
as Danny, still laughs at his experiences
both on and offstage. “My relationship with
the other cast members grew so much. We
all became really close as we worked
together for the show,” he says. Mr Szalay
adds that it is his perpetual hope that “cast
members develop higher levels of
confidence, conquer fears and learn to be
better performers” throughout the months
long process. For those kids whose
interests may not lie in performing,
Community Action Service (CAS) hours
serve as an incentive to get involved with
various backstage opportunities.
The Szalays received glowing reports from
the cast; Michael Borgers, Grade 10,
supplies eloquent evidence: “[They were]
amazing, awesome, wonderful, best,
superb, magnificent and basically all other
synonyms that Microsoft Word can come
up with for ‘brilliant’. Both Mr and Mrs
Szalay gave so much of their time… It is
really special to have such industry experts
at our side. I look forward to working with
them in the future.” DP student Robby
Pintar adds, “[The Szalays] were very
helpful in making the process smooth.”
Scheduled for Autumn 2014
The upcoming musical to debut in
September, Into the Woods, looks promising.
In the words of Mr Szalay, it is “the most
difficult show [the school has] ever
attempted, by far.” Why is this? “We picked
Into the Woods this year specifically to up
the ante vocally.” All of those students,
parents and teachers who have so
generously poured their time and abilities
into producing an excellent show look
forward to yet another warm reception by
the BIS community.
Elissa Filozof, Grade 11 CAS
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Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) – these three creative
concepts undergo constant change and are the foundation for
the innovative development of our global community.
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.
Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED
has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple
initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading
As the TED organization states, its purpose is to build a community of curious people to engage with ideas and each other, both online and in real life. The topics of a talk may range from science to business but the creative drive of the speakers is a constant. This can clearly be seen among the speakers at BIS, which hosted its first TEDxYouth event in 2011.
Tosca Killoran, who initiated the project at BIS with a simple Facebook post in 2010, has held the TEDxYouth@BIS licence for the last four years. Brenna McNeil in 2011, Jeff Hoffart in 2012 and 2013 and then Josefino Rivera in 2014 joined Tosca to organize four amazing events that showcased the students at BIS.
TEDxYouth@BIS was one of the first TEDxYouth events worldwide and the event has been met with great enthusiasm and has grown over the years. All the students involved in the event, both speakers and organizers, have found it exciting to be part of such a fantastic initiative. The TEDxYouth@BIS event also has inspired
other events as teachers have left our school. TEDxYouth@WAB, TEDxYouthKyoto are both events that are organized by teachers who were once part of the BIS community.
This year’s TEDxYouth@BIS, held on 15 February 2014 was full of incredible presentations showcasing the diversity and innovation that resides in our community. Grade 10 student Mackenzie Mathos, who performed a slam poem at the event, writes:
“TEDx was the experience of a lifetime for me. I spent countless weeks and hours preparing with an extremely supportive team for those few life changing moments on stage. Over the course of just a few months, I created an idea, a presentation and created many drafts of my presentation, all of which was triple checked by the TEDx support team and my peers. Personal rehearsals, as well as group rehearsals, went on for hours, or at least it seemed like it. Every speech must have been spoken over 40 times before we even reached the week before the event. I must have looked insane, walking around my house muttering
and yelling my speech and doing the same in front of the mirror!
The TEDx night came upon us quickly and soon the event had started and I was up first. Every moment spent beforehand could not have prepared me for the rush I got on that stage. Joining TEDx was the best decision I have made and none of it would have been possible without the help of Ms Tosca and Mr Rivera and their team of supporting teachers.”
Sadly, both Ms Tosca and Mr Rivera will be leaving next year, but they have passed on the torch to Mr Vaughn and Ms Rogers. Past speakers have already expressed interest in joining again, and TEDx seems to have become a tradition at BIS.
For anyone interested in jo in ing TEDxYouth@BIS next year or coming to the event, connect on Facebook, Flicker, Youtube, Twitter @TEDxYouthatBIS or at http://www.tedxyouthbis.com/ to access past talks, event details and to become part of the TEDx community!
Helle Huisman, Grade 11 CAS
thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then
made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included
Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard
Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In
2009, TED created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of
local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a
TED-like experience.
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It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s the Two Steves!I t a l l started last October during
International School Library Month. BIS
kicked off its One School/One Author
event, although in this case it was a
One School/Two Author event as the Two
Steves visited our school on Friday 4 April.
All students, staff, and parents had been
challenged to read at least one of the 185
books the Two Steves have published.
Books were made available at two book
fairs, in the library, and online via our
school Overdrive account.
Throughout the fall and winter, teachers
and students read books by the Two
Steves and signed their names inside the
books after they finished. Some readers
submitted online reviews to our library
catalog, while others shared their thoughts
using pawprints on the Media Centre wall.
There was also a life size book cover drawn
by Grade 10 students.
4 April finally arrived and the day started
with an assembly for Grades 1 through 5
to meet the Two Steves. Well over half of
the student body stood up when asked if
they had read a book authored by our
visitors. After meeting the students -
“everyone shout your name out at once!”
- the Two Steves asked the teachers to
introduce themselves. They noticed one
or two who needed a little extra prompting.
Students loved seeing their teachers
involved.
Throughout the day, different grade levels
met with the Two Steves. Grades 1 and 2
took part in an interactive reading of the
play ‘Thingumybob’. Grades 3, 4 and 5
participated in the ‘So you want to be a
writer’ workshop where they learned how
writers borrow bits of stories from others,
including their own real life experiences.
The Two Steves spent their lunch break
signing books and answering questions.
Cindy Rogers
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Like any other international school, BIS has
a diverse community and recognizes the
many different traditions and cultures that
come with this diversity. The enthusiasm
with which our community embraces this
variety is truly amazing and enough reason
for celebration. The many festivities and
events that take place at the school are a
clear reflection of this and provide amazing
platforms for recognizing the talent and
individuality amongst us. These festivities
range from purely cultural celebrations
such as the Fiesta Latina to the annual
welcoming barbecues and school dances.
But have you ever wondered how all these
celebrations are run? Most school functions
are started by highly enthusiastic teachers
or students who want to share their unique
interests or talents with others. For this
purpose, groups and clubs consistently
meet or are formed, in the hope of creating
an unforgettable event. These groups
include the Parent Volunteers, the Shangilia
Project, the TEDx team and this month’s
Unsung Heroes: the Tech Team.
The Tech Team was started by several
students who turned their interests in sound
and light engineering into a Community
Action Service (CAS) project. In these
projects, Diploma Programme students are
asked to provide a service, show creativity
or be active in order to gain experiences
outside of the typical school curriculum.
From the start, the Tech Team has included
students from Grades 9 to 12 and has
become an essential part of any school
function. The team provides the behind-
the-scenes help needed to allow a function
to run as flawlessly as possible. Not only
do they haul around the equipment to
set up sound and light systems, they
operate these throughout any event and
provide any other help needed. Even
though this often requires a lot of time and
commitment from the Tech Team, they are
always enthusiastic to provide this service
to our school.
The organisers of Fiesta Latina found the
Tech Team to be “a great help in pulling
everything together” and that they were
prepared to go the extra mile during set up,
remaining good-humoured throughout. The
sound and light setups at the school dances
were great as well, creating an excellent
atmosphere for all students and staff who
were there. Nigel Thornewill, who was the
Tech Team leader this year, says “it was a
great experience these last few years and
I’m happy I could be part of it. And in case
anything went wrong, we could always use
the team slogan: I know what I’m doing!
(I think)”.
So, on behalf of the BIS community,
thank you Tech Team! You guys are great!
Helle Huisman, Grade 11 CAS
Our new regular feature where we put the spotlight on those working behind the scenes to make enormous contributions
to our school community. This edition’s Unsung Heroes:
the Tech Team.
If you know of an unsung BIS hero or heroine who deserves
to be sung about in future editions of Waves magazine,
please contact [email protected].
The Tech Team Alumni
Unsung Heroes
26
The Tech Team Alumni
I joined BIS in 2004 as a Grade 5 student in Ms Appana’s class.
In those days Grade 5 used to have a dance every semester and
the Primary Years Programme graduation consisted of a dinner
and dance.
At the dances, I was introduced to two Diploma Programme
students, Arjun Singh and Rafal Malec, who used to be our DJs.
There was no Tech team; these guys just loved to DJ and they
would get their personal computers and speakers and play music
for us.
We grew from these humble beginnings and when I left BIS in
2013 we had a fully organized Tech Team, with two team leads
supporting nearly all school functions as part of their CAS project.
The concept of a BIS Tech Team began with Michael Freyer, who
was mad about sound engineering and owned professional
equipment from mixers to speakers and even stage lights!
Many of the Tech team leads have gone on to study sound
engineering or engineering. So where are some of the former Tech
team members today?
Samuel Barry (class of 2013) is studying for a BS in Sound
Engineering at Southampton Solent University.
Vivek Bilolikar (class of 2013) is studying for a BS in Biology
and Cognitive Brain Sciences at Tufts University.
Matyas Koloh (class of 2012) is studying for a Bachelor of
Engineering in Mechanical/Automotive Engineering at the
University of Hertfordshire.
Thierry Zoller (class of 2012) is studying for a Bachelor of
Engineering at Cork Institute of Technology.
Callum Plunkett (class of 2011) is studying for a BS in Music
Studio Technology at Southampton Solent University.
Michael Freyer (class of 2010) will graduate this May from the
University of Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Sound
Design. He recently joined the staff of Meyer Sound
Laboratories Inc, and has worked with artists like Prince,
Mariah Carey, and the New York Philharmonic.
Rafal Malec (class of 2008) is continuing his studies towards a
teaching qualification at the University of Glasgow.
Arjun Singh (class of 2008) now works in Chicago as a medical
doctor. by Vivek Bilolikar
Dr. MED. Dent. ASTRID WELLER-BERGMANNOrthodontist
where they are now and how it all began…
Vivek Bilolikar, who graduated last year, tells Waves how he became involved with the BIS Tech Team and gives us an
update on what some former members are doing now.
27
9 WACKY1
Incomprehensible Gravity. A neutron star is one of the possible end states of massive stars. In a neutron star the force of its own gravity shrinks the star to a size so small that it has more mass than that of the Sun compressed into a region whose diameter is 20 km (the size of the island of
Manhattan)! This means that a teaspoonful of material from a
neutron star would weigh about 10 million tons!To read more about neutron stars see: http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/pulsars.html. Image: http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pogge/Ast162/Unit3/Images/NeutronStar.gif
7Looking into space is looking back in time. Since light takes time to travel from distant stars to Earth, astronomers are able to observe the universe at different times by looking at more distant objects. The Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest large galaxy to our galaxy the Milky Way.
It is 2.5 million light years from Earth. This means that light that we see today from this galaxy is 2.5 million years old! The more distant an object is from Earth, the further back in time we are looking at the universe!
4The length of the day is changing. The length of a day on Earth is 24 hours (precisely 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds). But did you know that in Earth’s history this has not always been the case. The moon is continually slowing down the
Earth’s rotation, so the length of a day is slowly getting longer. At the time of the formation of the moon, about 4 billion years ago, the length of the day on Earth was only four hours! To explore ideas of the moon see http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/EPO/Trivia/expMoon.php and http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earth-rotation-summer-solstice/www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2003/07/binary_system_earth-moon/10225612-2-eng-GB/Binary_system_Earth-Moon.jpg
2A changing magnetic field. The molten iron core at the center of the Earth generates a magnetic field that protects life on Earth from the fierce solar winds that contain ionized gas. The solar wind is deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field. Did you know that the Earth’s North pole is actually
magnetically South! To read more about the Earth’s magnetic field see http://stargazers.gsfc.nasa.gov/resources/magnet_in_space.htmhttp://stargazers.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/geospace_images/magnet_in_space/Plasma_fountain.jpg
5The largest organism in the world is a fungus. It is over 2000 years old and
covers an area of ~10 km2. ht tp : / /www.sc ien t i f i camer ican.com/ar t i c le .cfm?id=strange-but-true-largest-organism-is-fungus
6Lobsters do not age. As a lobster gets older it simply grows larger and theoretically could live forever. Lobsters only perish at
the hands of predators or due to disease.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/5118370.stm
We live in a world
where science can be
stranger than fiction!
Here is some
information that may
surprise you.
3The distance from the Earth to Mars is
about 55 million kilometers at closest
approach. This may not sound impressive
but to travel there is the equivalent of
traveling around the world over 1375
times. If you were to take the Concorde,
the trip would last almost three years (not
including stops). The lack of gravity, the
need for supplies and the dangers from solar storms make
interplanetary travel quite a challenge. Interstellar travel is on an
even completely different level. The nearest star is over 40 trillion
kilometers away. Traveling at 60 000 kph (the speed of Voyager 1) it
would take you over a 70 thousand years to reach the nearest star.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope snapped this shot of Mars on 26
August 2003, when the Mars was 55.52 million kilometers from
Earth. The picture was taken just 11 hours before Mars made its
closest approach to us in 60,000 years.
2828
9 WACKY
Which zoo has the largest collection of species in the world? By the way it is also the world’s oldest zoo and was opened in 1844.
What is the most common name for boys in Germany? What is the most common name for girls in Germany?
How many types of bread are there in Germany? There are museums dedicated to the history of bread. The most famous is in Ulm.
In 1455 the movable metal type printing press was used to print the first major book which was the Bible. Who was the inventor and where did he live?
The world’s first state-designed nature reserve was opened in 1836. I am sure you have been to it. Can you guess its name?
1 2 3 4 5
5 Questions about Germanyanswers on last page
8Gravity bends light and slows down time.
One of the predictions of Einstein’s
theory of General Relativity, is that as
light passes near an object it will bend
because of the gravity of the object. This
phenomenon is called gravitational
lensing. Massive distant galaxy clusters
show strong gravitational lensing. This effect is very small for our
Sun, and still smaller for Earth! Yet it needs to be taken into
account in GPS satellites.
The galaxy cluster Abell 2218 in this image is gravitationally
lensing more distant galaxies behind it. This lensing is seen as
light arcs in the image.
See http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/features/news/grav_lens.html for more information on
gravitational lensing.9We are living a cloud of plasma of over 1 million °C. The Milky Way galaxy is surrounded by very hot gas with temperatures greater than 1million °C. The gas has been trapped by the gravity of the dark matter around our galaxy and the local group. It has a density of about 1 particle per liter and therefore in not directly detectable on Earth but UV and X-ray emission from this gas is detected by orbiting telescopes.
This artist’s illustration shows an enormous halo of hot gas (in blue) around the Milky Way galaxy. Also shown, to the lower left of the Milky Way, are the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds, two small neighboring galaxies. The halo of gas is shown with a radius of about 300,000 light years, although it may extend significantly further.For more information see http://www.space.com/17734-milky-way-galaxy-giant-gas-halo.html or http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/multimedia/hot_gas_halo.html
SCIENCE FACTS
2929
Raija and Jyrki Konsala (BIS parents 2006-2008)
All three of our kids have spent the last few years in UK: Ville (26) did his Masters at Warwick University
and now works for the Royal Bank of Scotland, Minna (25) finished her Masters in Interior Design at Brighton University last February and now plans to spend some
time travelling around the world. Our youngest son Matti (22) will finish his Masters next June. He is also at Warwick University and studying Program Systems
Engineering with Business Management, as did his older brother.
We are really proud of the kids and thankful to all of you at BIS. Regards to Mr Murphy, Mrs Wrighton,
Mrs Lewthwaite, Mrs Heinrichs and all the others who taught these young people between 2006 and 2008.
Beyond BIS our alumni have followed a diverse range of studies and careers in many different
countries. Read here about the paths some of our former students have taken.
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Froesch GRP_Waves, magazin of the Bonn International School_(w)185mmX(h)126mm_EN_CTP.pdf 1 4/4/2014 4:08:38 PM
Diana (Moussa) Spencer (BHS 1986-1989)
I attended the British High School (now BIS) from
1986-89 and have really happy memories of that time. I
now live in England in a village not far from Cheltenham.
My married name is Diana Spencer (trust me I’ve heard
all the jokes!) and I have two children (aged eight and
six). I work from home for a local company. I like the
area we live in but I do miss being in an international
environment. It’s something I have always enjoyed
since my time in Bonn.
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Naomi Pasztor (BIS 2003)
I attended BIS from its inception when BHS and Bonn American High School merged (I was at BHS) until I graduated in 2003. After graduating I returned to
Switzerland to go to university and studied International Hospitality Management at the École Hotelière of
Lausanne. After graduating I started my own company with my business partner in Napa Valley, California.
We opened a chocolate shop together, Kollar Chocolates (www.kollarchocolates.com)
and it has been very successful so far.
I’ve had a few friends from BIS come visit (some intentionally and some by coincidence who were visiting
the area). A few classmates and I had a mini 10 year High School reunion last April in Bonn. Six of us were able to
come. Recognize anyone?
Carlos Meissner (BIS 1997-2000)
I was at BIS at its inception in 1997 (coming
from BHS when it merged with BAHS)
and graduated in 2000.
These were some quite formative years during
a critical time in the school’s history. I recall the
“Seven Respects” preached by the Director and
the difficulty of merging two schools - the 1998
Yearbook was black for a reason, according to
Mr. Murphy - plus many other things.
After graduating in 2000, I studied history and
ended up doing my PhD in the same subject
in the UK (Lancaster, Oxford and York). After
returning to Germany (Berlin), I taught for a
semester at the Freie Universität and worked as
a tour guide for historic walking tours of Berlin,
Potsdam, Dresden and the Sachsenhausen
concentration camp memorial. Coincidentally,
I gave a tour to an employee at BIS! He said he
was one of the security officers. Back in my day,
in the old building, we did not have those!
Currently, I am in the US and Costa Rica on a
DAAD scholarship working on turning my thesis
into a book manuscript.
On that note, my history teacher, John Hopkins,
was my inspiration and one of the reasons for
my staying at a school I ultimately loved but had
trouble adjusting to.
Kate Rickel (BIS 2000-2004)
Since leaving BIS I have graduated from Ohio State University with a dual degree in Accounting and Finance. I am a certified public accountant and I have joined Deloitte
and Touche LLP as a full time auditor in Texas.
My brother David attended the Middle Years Program and left in Grade 9. He graduated High School in Houston, Texas
in 2006. After attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln he decided to travel the world. He spent 6 months in Cambodia, a year in Australia and several weeks in Europe
and North Africa.
He is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. This past year he has taken part as the lead field medic on an
expedition with Discovery Channel in Mexico, exploring one of the deepest caves in the world. He is working with Stone Aerospace Labs on the timing of an expedition to Alaska to test a probe for Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. He has also just spent a week in Haiti aiding the fight against cholera. He
lives in Austin, Texas.
Jacob, my younger brother, who attended BIS Primary School, is now in middle school. He is very active in Boy Scouts and enjoys reading and cycling outside of school.
My mom often speaks fondly of all our friends and the families at BIS (particularly the Ocklefords) and misses the
time we spent in Germany a lot.
If you know what any of our alumni
are up to, we’d love to hear from
you at [email protected].
Where Are They Now?
31
In the article Adams summarizes the characteristics that companies look for in order of importance as:
1. Ability to work in a team
2. Ability to make decisions and solve problems
3. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work
4. Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and
outside an organization
5. Ability to obtain and process information
6. Ability to analyse quantitative data
7. Technical knowledge related to the job
8. Proficiency with computer software programs
9. Ability to create and/or edit written reports
10. Ability to sell and influence others.
Looking at what we teach through the process of the design cycle, it is clear that we teach most of these skills in Technology.
At the design stage, a range of possible solutions have to be provided, developing the ability to communicate different ideas though drawing, scripts, storyboards, diagrams and also making decisions and solving problems. The best solution has to be justified, developing the skill to sell to or influence others.
H O W D O E S
TECHNOLOGYAND
DESIGNPREPARE STUDENTSFOR THE WORKPLACE
2012–2016I spoke to a parent recently, who asked me to explain how the skills that students learn in Middle Years Programme (MYP) Technology, relate to what is required of young people in
the workforce. I thought of an article by Susan Adams1 in Forbes magazine about which skills
employers value most and it made me consider how well this fits into what we teach
in Technology/Design in the MYP.
1. Adams, Susan. The 10 Skills Employers Most Want In 20-Something Employees. Forbes Magazine, 11 October 2013. 2. IB Learner Profile. 3. New Research Reveals Top 10 Skills for 2020. Subcommittee for Education in the New Global Economy, Ohio Department of Education http://www.sp2.upenn.edu/ostrc/docs/document_library/acc/Workforce%20Development/New%20Research%20Reveals%20Top%20Ten%20(Youth)%20Skills%20for%202020.pdf
Working in the planning stage, the time available for the project, the resources and the tools have to be evaluated, planned, organized and prioritized. Planning of resources already implies a strong understanding of the technical knowledge related to the task that students plan to perform and teaches project management skills.
The create phase allows all of this knowledge and skills to be utilized to create a product that should satisfy the original client brief and product specification. This stage frequently entails teamwork as can be illustrated in the making of a film, where there are often several actors, at least one camera person and
sometimes a director. In the workshop environment teamwork is regularly required for projects because the process of building the product involves more than one person’s support and skills. The end product may seem insignificant at times but the large range of knowledge and skills that have to be developed to get there is really what the learning is about.
The final evaluation phase is very important because it not only allows students to evaluate the success of the product, it also teaches them how to analyse quantitative and qualitative data and identify improvements. In addition, this area demands introspection and an evaluation of the student’s own attitudes and skills, based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile.2
This complex and long-term learning process is one of the reasons I love teaching Technology, or ‘Design’ as it will be called in the MYP curriculum from 2014/2015 onwards. Not only do the students love learning through doing and creating, they also learn an enormous amount of life skills in the process. I can see a variety of technical skillsets developing as students’ projects progress, but the really exciting part is seeing students develop the skills that will support them to become successful young adults at university and in the workplace. This focus on specific skills to prepare students for life after school is taking place all over the world and is the focus of educational planning.3
Technology and Design prepares students to deal with any challenge, break it down into different components and find solutions. What a privilege it is be involved in inquiry-based education. by Jackie Van Der Steege
32
“Quiet on the set”, video producers are at work, “sshhh” authors are writing, musicians are composing and artists are creating. This is a place of learning, innovation and creativity.
Let’s explore how BIS technology has progressed over the year.
Excitement ran high early in the year as our
students in Grades 6 to 8 each received
an iPad mini, while students in primary
school walked into classrooms outfitted
with at least five iPads. Questions abounded
from students, teachers and parents. How
could the iPads be used? What would the
benefits be? Is this a useful learning tool?
How will it change teaching and learning?
We wondered if the vision “Increasing
student engagement, motivation, and
d i fferent iat ion by enhancing and
personalizing 21st century teaching/
learning through equal access to technology”
would become reality. Currently, when
looking into classrooms and seeing
students work, it is evident that we are on
the right path. In this rapidly changing world,
there has to be continual reflection on the
evolving nature of teaching and learning.
In the past year, there are three observations
that come to mind as examples of the
movement of technology at BIS.
1. The iPad is becoming firmly entrenched
as a learning tool to be used in ways that
have a positive impact on student learning.
Sometimes, this is taking a photo or video
of an art piece for later reflection, or at other
times as an integral part of a research and
product creation, such as developing a
video about the origins of the Universe.
2. Student and teacher skills and confidence
in using iPads have increased, as initial
worries and fears disappeared. Take a peek
in the classrooms and you will be impressed
with the fluidity of students when using the
various features and apps on their iPad.
3. Tasks are varied and becoming more
complex. This was shown in the projects
that were submitted for the Creative Waves
festival. Projects came from all grade levels
and subject areas and were created with
a diversity of apps. They show a growing
depth of knowledge and sophistication with
the digital tools that help them express their
ideas in new ways. Students are becoming
adept at using multiple apps in one project
such as creating an iBook that contains a
graph from Numbers, a video from iMovie,
and a drawing from Brushes.
What words describe your iPad experience? (App: Word Clouds)
How are iPads helpful and challenging to your learning? (App: Popplet)
Maybe someday fiction will turn into fact! (App: Strip Design)
iPad Synectics (App: Book Creator)
In the last Waves magazine we heard from
teachers as to how they saw student
learning impacted by our iPad program,
and now it’s time to turn to some student
voices as shown through some iPad apps.
Ann Martin
iPads Enhancing Education
33
Here are some things I have never said
aloud: “I couldn’t possibly eat that much!”,
“Let’s go try on bathing suits!” and lastly
“I really feel the one thing missing from my
life is a running club”.
Not many of us find pleasure in pushing
ourselves to the limit when it comes to
exercise. Even though it’s just you, the open
road and some cyclists, it’s such a hard
thing to lace up your shoes and start.
Amazingly, there are people in this world
who find such pleasure in running they want
to pass it on to others. It’s no longer just
about them but rather how they can share
this joy with everyone else. Luckily for our
community we have one such person and
her name is Edith.
Edith is the type of person who wakes up,
brushes her teeth, eats a grilled chicken
breast, drinks home made bone broth, and
wonders how she can physically push
herself. Perhaps this is because she’s from
Norway and therefore was born tall, thin and
motivated, or maybe it’s been built over time.
She is passionate about running and eating
correctly to fuel her body. One day, Edith
woke up and thought to herself, “I know
so many people who could benefit from
running and I am just the person to motivate
them”. So began the Friday morning
running club. All it took was a simple post
on Facebook and some word of mouth and
about six people showed up that first week
to begin a run/walk program.
I must admit I have trained with Edith before
and didn’t attend the first few Friday
sessions. Running is not my strong suit
even though with my short legs, extra
weight and blister prone feet, I’m totally
built for it! But one day I figured I needed
some running inspiration so I headed up
to the Kottenforst ready to be defeated.
Here’s the amazing thing: I had a fantastic
time! I almost completely forgot I was
exercising. We all talked about our lives,
discussed fitness goals and motivated each
other. Some of us already knew one another
and others had never met. Our common
ground was that none of us actually saw
running as an enjoyable activity. We all said
we would much rather join a Friday morning
coffee club.
Edith has a gift when it comes to appealing
to all people of all levels. She will not leave
anyone behind and she will not turn it into
a competition. She recognizes small
improvements in each and every one of us
and is constantly encouraging and pushing
without making you feel deflated.
As a result, there have been weeks where
almost 15 people have been running,
laughing and getting really fit together
without even trying. Three people in the
running club signed up to do the Bonn half
marathon in April and many others took
part in the marathon relay.
About four of us showed up at running club
less than a week after the race. Three of
us were all set to do an easy 5km run whilst
patting our backs at having completed a
goal. One of us, who shall remain nameless,
told us we were going to do some fun hill
intervals but not to worry because we would
only be doing two up the “horrible hill”
whereas she knew we could manage at
least four. But we all made it and lived to
tell the tale.
What I love is that we are a constantly
evolving group with different (and changing)
abilities and goals. We do stair intervals in
the park and instead of cursing the inventor
of stairs we discuss which 5km runs we
could all sign up for. No one will ever be
turned away, left behind, or discouraged.
We’d love to see new runners show up on
a Friday morning. We are splitting into two
groups so new people feel comfortable and
welcome. And newbies needn’t worry - they
won’t face the “horrible hill” until at least
week two.
Now this is a true story and not a fairy tale,
so I should add that I still wake up, brush
my teeth, eat my sugar cereal, and am
generally grumpy because I know I have
to run. I still don’t crave a jog or wish there
were more hours in the day to do intervals.
I drive to the Kottenforst convinced this is
the day I will cramp up and be carried out
on a stretcher.
But as soon as I see my new friends all
smiling and remarking how bright our new
running shoes are, how loose our pants
and how tight our hamstrings, I know I’ve
made the right choice. I may never be
Norwegian, but for the moment at least,
I’m a runner. Erin Stevens
JOIN THE FRIDAY MORNING RUNNERS!
“I had a fantastic
time! I almost
completely forgot I
was exercising!”
34
From the coachThe Bonn Marathon on 6 April marked the end of another running season for BIS. The feeling of seeing the centre of Bonn transformed into a running finishing area is indescribable. During the lead up, conversation topics switch from your current training distance, to how you are feeling, to your goals and who is taking part. And then the fun (and run) begins! The best part is seeing all the smiling faces at the end of marathon day.
This year was particularly exciting as we had many new runners involved in the school marathon. The students complete the 42km course as a relay team of six, covering distances of 3x5km, 2x10km and 1x7km. Our aim was to ensure that all 18 student runners were capable of running 10km in training and we then created three teams to enter the race. During training, the students worked particularly hard to develop both the their distance and speed.
Running can sometimes be a lonely sport, but the marathon allows us to create a team of runners who support and encourage one another and, most importantly, appreciate everyone’s contribution to the overall achievement.
Rosemary Hewitt and I were incredibly proud coaches on Sunday 6 April. The teams achieved times of 4:39:34, 4:11:59 and 3:12:02. A really big well done to all who took part in and supported the school marathon, as well as to those students, parents and staff who ran in the half marathon, team marathon and marathon.
I encourage all readers to sign up now for an event and make it your goal to get involved in running! Charlotte Box
So what sports do BIS dads do on a Saturday afternoon? I imagine running, biking, hiking or swimming might come to mind. What about those silly northerners who missed the cold weather in Bonn this winter? Ice hockey is the answer. Yes, we can dwell on the winter that never was but I am guessing that most people were not too terribly upset about that. Back to those who love the ice. There are at least four BIS dads who play ice hockey. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, but we always have a lot of fun.
Although our team is not the best in the league, and we have never won the Cup, we did manage 2nd place last year. Recently, we were invited to be the
backdrop of an upcoming German murder mystery film production. We got to enjoy a whole day on the ice with the cast. I can say that everyone is pretty excited about being movie stars.
If anyone is interested in watching a game, joining a training session, or just enjoying a couple of hours on the ice, then just let me know. Our team is open to both men and women. We practice every Saturday at 12.45 from September to April at the Ice Dome in Troisdorf. They also offer skating classes and ice hockey for children of various ages. Their website is www.eissporthalle-troisdorf.de
Ross Stuart
From the studentsThis year was a great success for the marathon team. Over the last few years we have only had one or two teams of six runners entered into the race, but this year we had three full teams!
The atmosphere throughout the day was great, and our team has really grown into a great one. The difference in Grade levels seems to fall away when everyone is supporting each other’s running and is so actively involved with one another. Of the three teams that entered, one of them even placed second in the under 89 category with a time of 3:12:02.
We couldn’t have done this without our coaches Ms Box and Rosemary Hewitt, who both ran the half marathon as well. I’m incredibly proud of all our runners and look forward to participating again next year in my final school marathon. Helle Huisman
From the parentsThe Bonn Marathon was a day full of cheering, running, and dodging dodgy port-o-potties. BIS ended up with SIX parent teams in the marathon relay and a variety of others doing the half or full marathon.
Nearly all the running club members ran in some capacity and lived to tell the tale. Most actually found running to be a wonderful and fun experience. I, however, preferred cheering on my friends new and old and eating a large dinner after it was over.
All in all it was a great day and many have agreed they want to do it all over again next year. Erin Stevens
Sporting Dads!
35
www.juwelier-schumann.de
EXPERIENCE OUR EXTRAORDINARY SELECTION
AND STATE-OF-THE-ART CRAFTSMANSHIP
Address: Alte Bahnhofstr. 12, D-53173 Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany Phone: +49(0)228-362331 email: [email protected]
36
5 Questions About Germany - answers.
1. Berlin Zoo
2. Maxmillian and Sophie
3. about 300 varieties
4. Johannes Gutenberg in Mainz
5. Drachenfels.
CONGRATULATIONS!Hannah WiedemannThree NECIS records!