January Events Calendar

Click here for important events coming up.    Happy New Year!!

Clubs and Activities for Spring Term start January 11  Click Here for more info.

Nursery - Year 2 Lunch Forms  Click Here

Year 3 - 13 Lunch Forms  Click Here

Model UN Student Payment Letter Click Here

Parent Organised Events Coming Up- Information from Chris Butler- Volunteer Coordinator

Welcome Back, and Happy New Year, Everyone! I have to say that spring term is my favorite in a lot of ways - although it's hard to let go of the restful holidays, it's a little easier to settle into a routine in January, when weekend and afternoon times tend to be a little quieter than the warmer times of year. Another good thing about January is that there are lots of exciting opportunities to have fun at BSW. Here's what's ahead...

a) The Secondary School Underground Dance on Saturday Night January 9, with Urban Artistry. Ticket order forms are available through the links below and on the school website. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kloeden at DKLOEDEN@aol.com.

b) Back by popular demand - the BSW Talent Show Series!! Our Foundation Talent Show for N-Y2 children will be held on Monday, Feb 1st immediately after school. The Years 3-6 Talent Show will be held on Thursday, January 28th immediately after school, and our Secondary Talent Show will be held on Friday, January 29th at 7 pm. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kloeden at DKLOEDEN@aol.com.

Registration deadlines will be held firm, so please consult with your child to see what they would like to do, and get your paperwork in early!

Tickets must also be pre-ordered this year - you must purchase a ticket for each family member who plans to attend, and don't wait! All relevant links are below or on the school website.

Year 10 - 13 Underground Dance Advert Click Here 

Underground Dance Ticket Order Form Click Here

Primary Talent Shows Advert  Click Here

Nursery - Year 2 (Foundation) Talent Show Information Sheet, Registration Form, Ticket Order Form

Years 3- 6 Talent Show Information Sheet, Registration Form, Ticket Order Form

Secondary Talent Show Advert Click Here 

Secondary Talent Show Information Sheet, Registration Form, Ticket Order Form

A Focus on Inclement Weather

How Does BSW Make Decisions about School Closure? 

It is the policy of BSW to close the school if weather or civil circumstances create an unsafe environment within the school building or for accessing the school building.

This decision is made by the school senior administration based on the best available advice and information. BSW does not automatically follow the policy and procedures of any other organisation, school or school district, but will use information from those sources in their decision making. If the school has decided to stay open , the administration respects the individual choice of families to make their own informed decision based on the weather conditions where they live.

Notification of closure options

Closed All Day
Two Hour Delay
Open Normal Day
Open Regular time/Cancel after-school activities and Adventure Club (3:40)
Early school closure

As soon as a decision is made, Kelvin Williams will activate the Connect Ed Emergency System: phone option by 6:15, computer alerts, and inform the media and the bus company.  School closing for winter weather will be broadcast on:  TELEVISION: Fox 5 and NBC 4 | RADIO: WTOP 103.5 FM, 103.9 FM and 107.7 FM   A message will also  be placed on the school's phone system, and on the school website. 

Outdoor Play During School Sessions

DC authorities mandate that children must remain inside if temperature is below 32 degrees or if air quality advisories are in effect.

However, at the school’s discretion, children may be permitted a brief walk or play time when the temperature is below 32 degrees F, if conditions are deemed safe and comfortable. Under these circumstances, children with asthma or other sensitivities will be carefully monitored or supervised in the building.

Please ensure that your children wear winter coats, hats, scarves, mittens so they can enjoy outdoor play during the winter. BSW winter hats or house scarves are available for purchase from the School Office.

A Focus on Health

Beating the Winter Blues - Useful Advice from Sara- Jane Dennis, Our Health Admiinstrator

As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it’s not uncommon for the winter blues to set in. All you want is to stay in, curl into a ball, and eat. These tips will hopefully brighten things up.
 

1. Have your bedroom lights turn on a half hour before you are supposed to wake up. One of the symptoms of the winter blues is increased difficulty getting up in the morning. Plugging a bright lamp into a timer and having it come on before you wake up creates an artificial dawn.
 

2. Expose yourself to sunlight as early as you can in the morning. You want to maximize the number of hours you experience daylight. Wake up and open the curtains or go outside as soon as it is light.
 

3. Use artificial light. Light boxes simulate the sun’s natural rays, emitting 2500 to 10000 lux. They work by reducing the release of melatonin in the brain. For best results use the box daily in the early morning for about 30 minutes to two hours a day. You should see an improvement in a fortnight.
 

4. Exercise. Just one hour of exercise outside, even if it is cloudy, has the same therapeutic effect as two and a half hours of light treatment inside. It raises serotonin levels which decline when you get the winter blues.
 

5. Be careful of your diet. When serotonin levels are low your body tends to crave carbohydrates, especially sugars; so watch out for junk foods and soda.
 

6. Take a multivitamin. Vitamin D is naturally created by the sun’s rays on the skin, and so declines in winter, and although studies have not conclusively found that Vitamin D has an effect on seasonal depression a good multivitamin will help increase energy levels.
 

7. Take up a winter activity. Although traditional sports – skiing, ice skating, sledding – spring to mind you could try winter photography or astronomy. Embrace winter instead of seeing it as the enemy.
 

8. Dress for the cold. Many people hate winter because it is cold; just make sure you are appropriately dressed. Ensure your hands, feet and head are wrapped up. Long underwear is indispensible.

A Focus on Teachers

Getting to Know Laura Reeves, our Art Teacher

I am originally from Derbyshire, England. I did my B.A. (Hons) in Fine Art at Bretton Hall, which is a college of The University of Leeds in the north of England. I did my Post Graduate Certificate of Education at the same college and based myself in Leeds since becoming a teacher. I have taught in primary, middle and secondary schools over the past 13 years in Leeds, Bradford and Manchester, England.

My love of travelling gave me the idea of working abroad. I have visited the USA many times on vacation during school holidays and have always thought it would be interesting to work and live here in America. Working here at BSW has given me the great opportunity of working in an international setting and the chance to teach and meet people from many parts of the world.

Here at BSW I teach art to secondary pupils in years 7-13. I started teaching here in January of this year. I love sharing my passion for art with my pupils and I hope I manage to inspire their creativity on a number of levels.

I feel lucky to be living and teaching in Washington where there are so many art museums to visit and such beautiful architecture scattered all over the city.

I regularly create my own art work at my home and I go to art college on a weekly basis where I can learn new skills and work alongside other artists.

Congratulations to Angela Laird, Reception Teacher (Brighton Class) who scaled to new heights over the festive season by climbing to the very top of Kilimanjaro Mountain, Africa's highest mountain, and lived to tell the tale!

A Focus on Learning - in the Classroom

Learning across Key Stages  - Year 3 teach students in Years 10 and 11 about callograms

To further extend the learning taking place in Year 3 about Calligrams in their Literacy lessons, a lesson was prepared to take Nottingham class up to the Year 10’s to share their learning. The lesson objective for both the Year 10’s and Nottingham Class was to create a calligram around the ‘holidays’ theme.

The following 50 minutes that pursued was an absolute joy to be involved with. Mr.Bowskill & Miss.Gough witnessed the Year 3’s actually teaching the Year 10’s about the structure and shape of calligrams, with the Year 10’s absorbing each and every word delivered. The mini competition provided an extra spark to the lesson with all children sharing their learning experiences and knowledge. The learning taking place on a variety of levels was certainly exciting to witness.

As news quickly travelled about the expertise of Year 3, Year 11 were quick into the act to discover the mystery of ‘What is a calligram?’. On this occasion Nottingham class acted as the teacher explaining what a calligram is. The clear and accurate descriptions given by them certainly enabled the Year 11’s to learn something. The learning conversations between the children, whose age gap was over 7 years, were phenomenal. When asked at the end of the lesson, the Year 11’s responded with:

“ …I had no idea that a 7 year old would know what a synonym was…he had to tell me.”
“…I now know what a calligram is.”
“…I learnt how diversely intellectual the whole school is…some of the stuff they are doing I only learnt 4 years ago.”
“…I really did not know how smart these kids are…he knew what ‘contrasting’ meant and I didn’t know that until year 9.”
“…I didn’t know that calligrams could communicate concepts so effectively.”
“…They seem to get bigger and smarter every year.”
“…I learnt a lot about how these kids think about ideas…he just started spewing out ideas at me and I hadn’t ever thought of that.”
“…They had some really cool ideas!”

A Focus on Field Trip Lunch Guidelines

Lunch Arrangements from Armand's for Field Trips

A. Cancellations and New Orders

1. Children whose parents have already ordered a hot lunch on a day when a field trip is scheduled during the lunch period, will automatically get the field trip bagged lunch from Armand’s.

If these parents do not want the field trip bagged lunch and prefer to send in a lunch from home, parents must call Armand's 202 363 6268 or e-mail them armandsoffice@aol.com at least two full days before the trip, to cancel the field trip bagged  lunch.

There will be no Armand's credit given for cancellations.

2. Parents of students who are not regular subscribers to the program but would like a bagged lunch for their child can call Armand's 202 363 6268 or e-mail them armandsoffice@aol.com at least two full days before the trip.

The next day, parents should send $5.95 or a check payable to Armand's in an envelope with their children to school. Reception - Year 6 envelops should go to their teachers. Year 7 and up students must leave their envelops at the School Office.

3. The field trip bagged lunch will consist of a sliced turkey and Muenster cheese sandwich on light whole wheat bread, with chips, fruit and water packed in a brown paper bag.

B. Field Trip cancellation or postponement

Armand's will bring the bagged field trip lunch to be served at school on the cancelled field trip day, so the children will be served the field trip lunch that day.

If the field trip gets rescheduled within the week,  all children will have to bring their own lunch. Unfortunately, children who ordered the hot lunch for the new field trip day will lose the lunch and won't be able to get a credit.