NewsletterIssue 32 19 June,2015

Dear All,

We all know that children thrive when they have a close rapport with their teachers. The teaching and learning environment is the foundation of all that happens at school, so building connections between children and teachers must receive highest priority.

Over the past three months Dr. Latkowski, Ms Richardson and myself have focused on the recruitment of excellent teachers to join our school in September. We have spoken to dozens of applicants for positions at Dabrowskiego and Limanowskiego. Our benchmark has been teachers who have a proven track record of excellence in teaching, who place children first and who have a passion for their profession. Such teachers go the extra mile to ensure that every child in their care is nurtured and able to grow and experience success.

We have completed the recruitment process for next year and firmly believe that we have an excellent group coming to Warsaw for September. These new expatriate teachers are currently at leading schools around the world including:

• The International School of Geneva, Switzerland• Dulwich College Shanghai, China• Dulwich College Seoul, South Korea• St. Joseph’s International School, Singapore• United World College of South East Asia, Singapore• The American School of Uruguay• Kingswinford School, UK

We look forward to our new teachers adding to the rich fabric of teaching and learning at TBS.In addition, we are appointing a Director of Pastoral Care with specific responsibility for the welfare of students in Key Stages 3 and 4. Young teenagers need on-going support from the school and home. The new Director of Pastoral Care will facilitate the school-home relationship whilst providing continuous support for students.

Dr. John KennardPrincipal

Dąbrowskiego NewsDear Parents,

Even though we are moving towards the end of the academic year, our teachers remain focused on the educational development of our students and their well-being. Happy children make happy parents and therefore happy teachers. The result of this three-way partnership is a guarantee of success. Our school prides itself on our ability to keep the needs of our students firmly at the centre of all that we do. We commit to make these final weeks of school purposeful and productive.

Yesterday we hosted the Early Years Sports Day and those of you who attended will bear testament to the fact that it was centred on our students and celebrating their achievements. We enjoyed a wonderful morning together. Below are some photographs taken by Mrs Justyna Cezak capturing some of these precious moments.

Michelle Stevens Head of Dabrowskiego, Early Years Centre

Dąbrowskiego News

Dąbrowskiego News

FOCUS ON NURSERY - DABROWSKIEGO

CARS,TRAINS,BOATS AND PLANES Hello, it’s the Little People again! And if you think Little People cannot do Big Things, you are very wrong! We have recently been SO, SO busy. Our last topic of the year is TRANSPORT. We have already had a lot of fun, finding out about cars, trains, boats, airplanes and other means of transport like hot air balloons and submarines. We have started with road transport and made a model of a London double-decker bus, organized car races and talked about traffic lights. We know how to cross the road safely: red means “stop”,

green means “go”, yellow means “very, very slow”. We know that because, along with many other songs, we have been learning this song called “Twinkle, Twinkle Traffic Light”. We will present all our Transport songs to the parents during the Summer Concert next week. We have enjoyed our little topic of Trains. We have made huge trains with card board boxes and little number trains for counting to 10. We have lined up and pretended to be a choo-choo steam train, singing “Chug, chug, chug, chugging down

the track”. We have also enjoyed playing with self-made boats. We had exciting boat races and equally exciting floating and sinking experiments. Recently we have started learning about air transport. We have made little wooden aircrafts, built a model of an airport and had fun pretending we were travelling on a plane, checking in and going through passport control. As you can see – we know a lot about transport and now we are truly ready for our summer holidays!

Dąbrowskiego NewsNURSERY PICTURES

Dąbrowskiego NewsELS

This is the last ELS Newsletter this term and I believe it is a great opportunity to look back and celebrate our learning.

Year 1 students have had very busy term learning about gardens and plants. It was great to hear that children like to leave computers at home and explore the environment around them. We have discussed different types of gardens – our favourite ones were the upside down garden and the roof garden. Then we have been busy planting some marigolds, sweet peas, sunflowers and pansies and observing them grow on the windowsill in our classroom. We have also learnt parts of trees and plants. We could compare similarities and differences between plants in our classroom. Another big topic has been about traditional stories. Our activities included drama, comic writing, changing endings, describing characters and even trying some porridge!

Reception children have invited spring to our classroom and have made wonderful mini gardens with flowers and plasticine minibeasts living in them. We had fun counting wings and legs and comparing insects and investigating our playground to watch minibeasts in their natural environ-ment. We have looked at some non- fiction books and discussed the importance of bees’ work. We have used fruit, yoghurt and honey to make some delicious and healthy smoothies. Lately have been brainstorming vehicles and travelling. We have also discussed our way to school and learnt how to get to a party by rocket! Some children have been confident enough to act our poem out in front of everybody else. Well done!

Primary News

Primary School Transition Day 26th June 2015

The end of the academic school year is fast approaching. Primary School students have had a busy and productive year and now thoughts will be turning, not only to the long summer holidays, but also to their transition to the next year.

The Primary School team have been focusing on making this transition as smooth a one as possible. Together we have devised a Transition Programme intended to give our students an authentic taste of the year to come.

On Friday 26th June students will experience a day in their new Year Group with their current class. Please be aware that the teacher they receive on the day will not necessarily be their teacher in September 2015. Below is a brief summary of the timetable:

Friday 26th June All students in class at 08.15 promptly for registration.

08.15 Registration in current class.

08.30 Classes will be collected by their ‘new’ teacher on the playground.

08.30 – 1500 Transition day.

1500 Students collected as usual or participate in LEAP.

Please note that students will be registered in their current class. For example students in 3RR will go to 3RR for registration at 8.15. Punctuality and attendance have a huge impact on academic performance and will be carefully monitored next year. As such, we ask that your child is in registration on the above date at 08.15 prompt.

We are very much looking forward to introducing students to their new Year Groups within the Primary School. We look forward to working closely with you all in order to ensure your child is provided with the opportunities they need to progress and excel.

Zoe RichardsonHead of Primary School

Primary News

Year 6 Transition. Wednesday 24th June - Friday 26th June The end of the academic school year is fast approaching. Year 6 have had a busy and challenging time of late and now thoughts will be turning, not only to the long summer holidays, but also to their transition to Secondary School.

As Team Leader for Year 7 I have been focusing on making this transition as smooth a one as possible. Together with the Head of Primary, Secondary Form Tutors and Year 6 teachers I have devised a Transition programme intended to give our Year 6 students an authentic taste of Year 7. I would like to thank all parents for your responses in the survey I sent out. These were a vital component of the planning process and I have used your feedback to help formulate the transition timetable.

You will have received a letter with further details but please note that all students are expected in the canteen for registration at 08.15 on Wednesday 24th June. At that time there will be a Principal’s Welcome to which all parents are warmly invited. Kind regards,

Alison FoxYear 7 Team Leader

Secondary NewsDear All,

THE SECONDARY SCHOOL at the British School Warsaw is BRILLIANT!

This is the overwhelming message from people throughout the school community; students, parents and teachers.

This last year:

Our students have raised over 12,000 PLN for charities ranging from helping the earthquake victims in Nepal to children at the Warsaw children’s hospitals. Students have worked throughout the year to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds both in Warsaw particularly at the Arka foundation, in Tanzania and in Thailand.

Our sports teams have trained weekly and succeeded in developing groups of dedicated, tight knit and professional teams in a range of sports.

Our artists have spent hours in the Art rooms creating the pieces which delight everyone around the school and at the exhibition last spring.

The musicians, choir, singing groups and orchestra have practised, rehearsed and performed throughout the year. Some of our students have been selected for the NAE Global Orchestra at Juilliard in New York this summer, and have won awards and commendations on the Global Classroom open mic competition. Anyone who saw their end of year concert will be in awe and admiration of the talented students at our school.

The mathematicians have entered ISMTF competitions and are gaining a reputation as a force to be reckoned with internationally.

The students have written and published their stories on the Wonderwall and in the Annual and a brave and talented KS3 group performed a play at a local Polish school.

The secondary school students attended hours of rehearsals during the week and at weekends for the musical Footloose and the very entertaining comedy drama production of Arsenic and Old Lace.

Examination students came to school after classes, at weekends and throughout examinations for special revision sessions. Their determination to succeed was inspirational.

Secondary News

There are many students who work quietly in the background supporting their fellow students in their endeavours and being helpful and reliable throughout the school. The Student Council representatives organized a charity carnival ball last January and worked really hard to make sure everyone enjoyed the event.

There are many more highlights of this last year which each family will be able to remember and treasure. The School Yearbook committee--comprising of students-- has produced a mammoth volume for everyone to remind them of the best bits of this academic year.

Huge thanks go to the wonderful teachers who work so hard to guide our young people towards fulfilling their dreams and ambitions in all areas of school life.

The final thanks is for the marvellous parents at our school, who choose to send their sons and daughters to us and whose continuing support of everything we do at school is so very important and appreciated by us all.

Izabella SłoczyńskaHead of Secondary School

Secondary NewsPolish Youth Baseball Champion 2015

May 8th to 10th the Polish Youth Baseball Cup took place in Wroclaw. Lisa and David Ilgenstein participated with their team: Warszawa Centaury. They won four matches and lost just one after a tight game against Miejska Górka. This gave them the silver medal in the Polish Youth Cup.

June 5th to 7th the Polish Youth Baseball Championship took place in Miejska Górka. This time they won all their matches and could take the revenge against Miejska Górka. They are now the Polish Youth Baseball Champion 2015. This is the biggest success for their team.

Polish Youth Baseball Champion 2015

Secondary News

WONDERWALLSome excellent examples of the written work produced by our students are being displayed on the Wonderwall board outside the English classrooms. To give these creations the wider audience they deserve, they will also be re-printed in this Newsletter. This week’s speech is by a students from Ms Fox’s English class.

Payment of Schools and Universitieswritten by Tommy P.,7P

Hello Everyone!

One day, I would love to see free schools and universities. No matter public or private. Education is important, without education, none of you would be sitting here. Lots of students are not going to school or not going to the university they like just because of money. Money is important however there is something more important and guess what? -it’s education.

Why not make the lives of poor people more equal? Lots of parents don’t afford the titanic amount of money. Would you really want to pay that much?

Education is important, why don’t we give them a chance? Who knows? They could change the world. People who are not going to school are sad, bored and frustrated when they see their friends coming back from school. Schools and Universities should get paid by the country.

In the past, Universities were free, people such as: Thomas Edison Abraham Lincoln or Marie Curie did not pay anything for their learning. Now, they have made the world into a MUCH better place.

I think we should all make schools and universities free. Let’s make a wonderful miracle which nobody knew would happen. So altogether let’s change the world and not pay for education again. Let’s have a remembered year of 2015 with the change. Let the miracle begin.

School NoticesMusic Department News

The Music department would like to say a HUGE thank you to all parents, students and staff who performed, helped and supported the summer concert on Tuesday at the Teatr Studo Buffo. Next stop Paris!

Kindest regards

Alison PorterHead of Music

Concert and

On Thursday 25th June 2015 at 3.00pm

At The British School,

Dabrowskiego Site

We look forward to seeing you there.

School Notices

Thank you for the great support which we received from our PTA, Country Representatives for the International Carnival 2015

to be such a succesful event!

Staff v. Alumni Football Match

On a weekend of shock results - Guam beating India, Faroe Islands beating Greece, England another match (with Rooney scoring!) - another shock upset as the Alumni got the better of the Staff, proving that youth and enthusiasm can sometimes triumph over skill and experience (and lack of fitness). Despite winning the second half 1-0, the Staff team defence was leakier than a Swiss cheese rowing boat in the first half, meaning the game ended in a 4-2 victory for the Alumni. They were presented with a beautiful new trophy, befitting of such a prestigious event, by Dr Kennard.

Despite a roasting hot day, there was a good turn out from players and spectators, and the game was both competitive and played in good spirits. The trophy will remain in school at the request of the Alumni in order to remind Staff every day of this painful defeat .... and give them an incentive to train harder for next time.Many thanks to all for taking part - Alumni, Staff, Year 13s, plus supporters / hecklers. It was great fun, good to see everyone and Staff are looking forward to a rematch and revenge!

Jeremy Buss

Sports News

PTA News

When dreams come true!

We won the Cup!

I have a real pleasure to announce that our U9 Szkocja Team won Deichmann League!

Y4 boys won all play-off matches last weekend and qualified to Poland Deichmann Final in Walbrzych 27th -28th June.

We have been taking part in Deichmann League (Mini mistrzostwa świata) for 6 years and it happened for the first time ever.

This year we had 7 teams signed up in three age categories U7, U9 and U11. All participants made a great effort playing the matches for last 8 weekends.

I would like to thank Mirco Steffenino and all boys for doing fantastic progress and Parents who gave up their spring weekends for football.

This year was successful for our Szwajcaria U11 team, who finished in 4th place out of 31 teams.Additionally, Italy U7 did not lose any matches during the whole Tournament.

Ryszard Michalak

School Notices

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On behalf of our students and parents, the PTA would like to thank our caterers – Art’ Impression Catering for giving children ice-creams and candies on Children’s Day.