BULLETIN No.5

Upcoming Dates

Saturday 22nd February:             International Fair – 9am to 2pm

Wednesday 26th February:         Y10 to Y12 Visual Arts Visit to various San Jose museums

Thursday 27th of February:         Year 4 Presentation on ‘The Circulatory System’ 

Friday 28th February:                   School Closed – no classes (Staff Training Day)

General

International Fair

It is with great enthusiasm that we invite all members of our Learning Community to our annual International Fair on the 22nd of February.  Guests will have the opportunity to play a range of games, enjoy an entertaining cultural programme and sample food from around the world.  All money that is raised on the day goes to support our students’ various service learning projects.

Give a home to a four-legged friend!

If you and your family have ever thought about adopting a pet, this Saturday could be the perfect day! During the International Fair, we will have a special stand, as part of our Service Learning projects, where the Animales de Asís Association will be present with adorable dogs and cats looking for a home. After learning about their stories, full of resilience and hope, you can discover how you can change the life of a rescued animal, and how they can change yours! Don’t miss the opportunity to add a new member to your family.  We look forward to seeing you!

Friendship Day

On Friday the 14th of February the BSCR community celebrated Friendship Day with a range of different activities throughout the school, including a number of fun learning and collaboration activities throughout Early Years and Primary and a Student Council sponsored sale of flowers, mugs with chocolates, heart-shaped gifts and serenades in Secondary.  This day reminded us of the importance of fostering community and strengthening the bonds that unite us. Small gestures of kindness and appreciation help create an environment where everyone feels valued and connected. Building a sense of belonging is essential to nurturing the supportive and inclusive culture that characterizes our Learning Community.

Early Years and Primary

Year 4 Presentations

We would like to thank one of our BSCR parents, Manuel Soto-Martinez, for sharing a wonderful presentation about the respiratory system with Year 4. We learned about the functions of each organ of the respiratory system, and how to take care of them. Photo 1 / Photo 2 / Photo 3.  Year 4 also enjoyed a session with a former BSCR student, Jose Ignacio Gomez-Vargas who spoke about the digestive system. We learned about the important roles of the organs within the digestive system, and how to maintain good nutritional habits. Photo 1 / Photo 2

Staff Professional Development

Earlier this week our Primary teachers were able to participate in personalized professional development workshops which were expertly led by our Y12 CAS students (Emmy Bullock, Diego Sanchez and Amanda Lazo). These workshops were to support and challenge staff in terms of the use of CANVA, the online graphic design tool. This was a wonderful example of community led learning amongst various stakeholders in the school. A special mention should also be given to Ela Piacentini (Y12) who played a significant role in the preparation of these workshops, but sadly was unable to attend on the day. Photo 1 / Photo 2/ Photo 3

Secondary

Year 6 and Year 8 English Language Cambridge exams

Next week, Year 6 and Year 8 students will test their English language skills, to obtain an additional international language certification, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Year 8: Monday, February 24th and Tuesday, February 25th

Year 6: Wednesday, February 26th and Thursday, February 27th

This test assesses their current skills of Reading and Use of English, Writing, Speaking and Listening. There is no need for students to further prepare for this test.  This certification will further support our students in their future national or international plans for university or work.

Geography Internal Assessment Field Trip

On Monday 17th February our year 11IB Geography students completed the fieldwork for their Internal Assessment. They spent the day on the Rio Quebrada Honda near Ciudad Colon, collecting data to investigate if the river aligned with the Bradshaw model. It was a long day, measuring everything possible but lots of valuable data was collected and it was plenty of fun. We even saw a wide variety of wildlife including monkeys and vultures!

Lead University Visit

On Wednesday of this week our group of secondary Mentors attended a leadership workshop at Lead University, located in Torre Universal, Sabana Sur. During the 3-hour workshop the students, along with the high school psychologist, actively participated in a series of activities designed to understand the importance of being a good leader and creating positive change processes in others.

CAS Projects

We are excited to highlight the inspiring work of several of our IB students who have begun supporting the Early Years and Primary students through small reading groups and English development. Additionally, several students are lending their skills to after-school clubs by assisting coaches, creating opportunities for leadership and inspiring our younger students.  These efforts are a wonderful example of how our IB CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) program is not only fostering leadership skills but also nurturing a strong sense of community within our school. By taking on roles that benefit others, our students are making meaningful connections and inspiring their peers to actively engage in creating a supportive and vibrant school environment. Through these experiences, they are learning the true value of service, teamwork, and responsibility, all while developing skills that will serve them as future leaders.

We are proud to see our students embracing these opportunities to contribute, grow, and inspire others, truly embodying the spirit of our school community – CAS