It is a joy to welcome you back from the long holiday. The reports from the students indicate a well utilized break with great adventures.

As we start the new academic year, it is important to mention that there have been notable development projects which were undertaken over the summer break to make the school better:

• General maintenance work which also included paint work of the school
• Construction of the sail shade to be used for the assemblies as well as for lunch purposes
• Complete change of EYFS furniture
• Carpeting of both the library and ICT suite.

I can assure you that the students are very pleased to see these little changes every year. We shall continue to improve the general outlook of BKIS.

 IGCSE RESULTS

The dedication and commitment of students led to great results to be proud of. Looking at the individual performance, almost all the students met their targets as far as predicted grades were concerned. BKIS registered a 76%  pass of grades A*-C. For this to have been achieved, the great team work involving students, teachers and parents was clearly witnessed throughout the academic year. I must say a big thank you to all the parties for the excellent work. It is also important to mention that all the candidates have already gotten placements into A level schools and we wish them well.

ANNUAL TARGET AND TERM VALUE

As has been the tradition, every academic year we have a target to guide our general day to day activities. This year the annual target is TEAM EXCELLENCE. Having had a chance to look at the characteristics of great teams, it is now time to experience team excellence.

The annual target is normally supported by a well thought out TERM VALUES with the clear understanding that a value is a principle that guides out thinking and behaviour. This term the value is COOPERATION which in essence involves:

• Listening carefully to understand what people are saying
• Sharing your things with others
• Taking turns when someone else wants to do the same thing
• Compromising when you have a disagreement
• Doing your best and encouraging others to do their best

Thanking people for the part they are playing

 BKIS NEW MEMBERS

We say a big well come to the following into BKIS Family:

Svetlana Q. ---Crèche

Nirav P. -----Crèche

Emmanuel A. ---- FS1

Lara P. ---FS1

Lara O.—FS2

Aryana O.—Yr 4

Mitchell O. ---Yr 5

 STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS

After the whole school’s election of the President and the deputy, the classes had the opportunity to elect their representatives as follows:

 We wish them well as they Cooperate with their President (Don) and deputy (Vanessa) as they lead the students’ body this academic year.

WORLD SCHOLARS

Over the summer break, BKIS was represented by a team of five students at the Global round of the World Scholars Cup that was held in Barcelona. As always, they did their best and the team of Vanessa, Samantha and Cindy has qualified for the Tournament of Champions to be held at the Yale University in USA between 16^th and 21^st November this year. Congratulations to the team!

 FESTIVAL OF FRIENDSHIP

The August break has been a very busy for some BKIS students who took part in the festival of friendship organised by the Ismaili Community in Kisumu. In this festival, there were many teams taking part in sport activities and BKIS was ably represented by Arav, Maaya, Krit, Qamara, Deven and Annika. All of the participated in U12 category in swimming and tennis singles where the results were as follows:

• Annika Parmar 2^nd Position—Tennis Singles
• Maaya Bhamra 1^st position---Tennis Singles
• Swimming : Annika Butterfly 1^st position, Backstroke 3^rd position

                    : Krit : Free Style 1^st Butterfly 2^nd and Breast stroke 2^nd

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Our after school activities will begin next week. Being the first term of the academic year, the sports on offer are Cricket, Rounders and Athletics. Our after school activities for the sports days will rotate around the mentioned sports and a schedule will be out on the notice board.

Thank you for prompt response on clubs options. Ms. Donia is working on the clubs’ lists which should be ready by Monday.  Please note that as from Monday school will be ending at 4.10pm.

Upcoming Events

• Parents Meetings: The annual parents meeting will officially begin next week. These are meetings in which the curriculum and pastoral expectations are shared with the parents. As per the calendar of events:
• KS3 & 4 parents’ Meeting will be next week Wednesday 5^th September from 3:30pm in the science lab
• EYFS Parents’ Meeting is on Saturday 8^th September from 9 am.
• KS1 Parents’ Meeting will be on Monday 10^th September from 3:30pm
• KS2 Parents’ Meeting is on Wednesday 12^th September from 3:30 pm

The academic year has come to a successful end as a result of great Team work experienced from parents, students and teachers. Throughout the year, our guiding target has been team work supported by various term values (honesty, responsibility, tolerance, respect, patience, respect, unity, Courtesy, thoughtfulness and understanding). For the last three years we have endeavoured to emphasise on values that make a person irrespective of religious, cultural, social or economic backgrounds. These values are truly indispensable, devoid of which, our society cannot sustain itself and people will forget humanity. Even as we break for the holiday, it is our hope that BKIS students will exercise these values at home.

The last week of the school has been packed with many activities to summarise the academic year. It has been a week to acknowledge the various achievements through prize presentation. Our boys and girls have realised some notable improvement in their learning venture and as a school we dedicated last Wednesday afternoon to acknowledge their effort through presentation of certificates of achievements. A big thank you to our guests, Mr. Rob Williams-MD Braeburn Schools Ltd, CECM Tourism, Culture, Arts and Sports-Kisumu County Ms. Achie Alai and BKIS Students Council President Walter Watta for the inspiring speeches.

Congratulations to all the prize winners and May they always remember,” Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential”. – John Maxwell

Fashion Show

This annual event is becoming better, bigger and exciting! Our boys and girls did not disappoint. People who pay attention to fashion will always want to know what will be the hot new style in the coming season; BKIS provided this great opportunity last Thursday. Creativity and style was witnessed across the categories as was expected. The level of confidence from students was just amazing as sampled below:

Summer camp

Mr Azenga has offered to run a sports camp for the first month of the holiday. His major focus will be on Football and Swimming. Already a schedule of the same has been sent home with the clear groupings according to age and ability. The camp will end on the 11^th of next month.

Finally, I wish you all an enjoyable break full of fun; see you on the 28^th of August 2018.

The second last week of the term has come to a successful end with a colourful Graduation Ceremony of FS2 students and Prize Presentation for the FS1 and Crèche Classes. There are remarkable achievements posted by the EYFS students as they are now ready transit into their next classes. At BKIS, we deliver a broad balanced curriculum based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Development Matters with an aim of having confident and independent leaners. This was confirmed today in our assembly as each of the classes presented their pieces during the graduation ceremony. Well done to the EYFS team.

BIKE WEEK

This week, primary pupils had an opportunity to learn more about road signs through practical application at the Children’s Traffic Park at the Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds. It was amazing to learn that nearly all BKIS students are confident cyclists with refreshed traffic rules knowledge! A big thank you to the parents for allowing us have this great experience through provision of the bicycles.

 Student Council Elections

It is that time of the year that election of the student council president for the next academic year is done! At BKIS we believe that it’s important for students to experience leadership opportunities during their schooling, to learn the art of building relationships within teams, defining identities and achieving tasks effectively. It also provides an opportunity to learn to identify and display effective communication and interpersonal skills. This exercise will take place next week on Monday 2^nd July 2018 immediately after lunch. After successful vetting of the candidates, two were cleared to run for position of President and these are Vanessa Agatha and Don Okwaro. From their speeches during our assembly today, it is clear that any one of them will adequately serve the student body should they win the election. Best of luck to both of them.

 Transition Morning

As we get ready for the next academic year, the children are looking forward to their new classes in September. On Monday, the children will have an opportunity to visit the future classes and spend a half of the day with their next year’s teachers. It will be a great opportunity to get to know the expectations of the next class.

Prize Presentation

Our annual prize presentation will be held on the 4^th of July (Next week Wednesday) from 2.00pm.  At BKIS we acknowledge progress made by each learner and also appreciate the effort displayed in various fields throughout the academic year bearing in mind that every student is a successful learner. All are welcome.

Fashion Show

There is no other better way to crown the academic year than with the fashion show. Our boys and girls have been rehearsing in their various categories in readiness for the Thursday’s show at Simba Club. 

The week has been a very busy one with End of Year Tests being administered to the students. We also had two major events in which the students were still able to accomplish to the highest standards.

TEA TIME CONCERT

BKIS was not left behind in marking the World Music Day yesterday, instead we did it in  style. Our boys and girls who have been taking various musical instrument lessons show cased their skills during the tea time concert. It was encouraging to see participants as young as FS1 students confidently perform in front of the school audience.

 SWIMMING GALA

Our annual Swimming Gala as usual pitched the arch rivals Tilapia Vs Perch houses yet again to another competitive mood. The warm weather of Kisumu was favourable for the teams to show case their aquatic skills acquired throughout the academic year. True to the BKIS team spirit, each house did their best to field confident participants in each event. It was very encouraging to see the students able to swim all the strokes with the required techniques. At the end of the event, the determination of the winning house was done through computation of cumulative points from each house. This year, the competition was so tight that the points difference was just 16! And the winning house this academic year is PERCH! 

As we approach the end of the academic year, our calendar of events is packed with exciting activities. Last Saturday, BKIS opened its gate to invited schools to grace our EYFS Fun/ Sports Day. We were privileged to host Citam Nursery, Aga Khan Nursery and Rainbow Kindergarten to a fun filled sports day. The interactions and learning that took place through the structured play was just amazing. All the children from the four different schools had opportunity to do the same activities with considerable level of mastery for their ages; an indication of existence of good sports’ skills, that if nurtured would lead to great performance in the future.

ROBS EVENT

This coming Saturday the 16th June, is the day we have all been waiting for! The ROBS committee has been working tirelessly to organise this event to mark the end of our academic year. 

It shall be at Mon Ami (Mega City) as from 6.00pm.  Family and friends are invited!  Theme for the Event is BLACK, WHITE AND BLING!

BKIS has been an Exam Centre for ABRSM in Kisumu for many years. This week, our students and others from different schools had an opportunity to sit for grade and prep tests in various musical pieces. They were guided by an experienced and friendly  examiner who has always harboured a keen interest in the role of examinations and assessment in Music Education, leading her to develop and co-ordinate examinations across the Music Service, and to examine for Edexcel ‘A’ Level Music before applying to work as an Examiner for ABRSM.

We are very optimistic that the time and preparation exercises undertaken by the candidates will lead to the ever excellent results.

TEA –TIME CONCERT

Our last tea time concert for this academic year will be held on the 21^st June (Next week Thursday).  I am very sure the children are looking forward to this great day which also coincides with the World Music Day! It will also be an opportunity for the children to have an Art Exhibition at the same time to show case their artistic skills on various pieces they have managed to produce in the course of the term. The event shall start at 3:00pm.  The programme of the day shall be sent out early next week.

INTER HOUSE SWIMMING GALA

The BKIS annual Inter House Swimming Gala is finally here with us! As scheduled, we shall be having our gala on the 22^nd June at Nyanza Club. It will also be a great opportunity for our students to show case their aquatic skills.

BKIS DEVELOPMENT

This week Tuesday, we had a Special Parents Meeting in which the MD designate (Mr. Andy Hill) was officially introduced. It was also an opportunity to spell out the future plans for BKIS as far as development is concerned. As we are all aware, BKIS recently acquired some land for expansion purposes. It is encouraging to report that Braeburn Board of Directors has come up with a draft plan on this. As was mentioned by our current MD (Mr. Rob), the Board aims to have a BKIS campus on the piece of land in two years’ time. This campus shall have KS2 upwards as the current campus will continue to host EYFS and KS1. It is indeed exciting times ahead for BKIS….

PARENT –TEACHER CONSULTATIONS

A big thank to all those who managed to attend the Parent Teacher Consultation yesterday. We value the feedback given for the sake of the students. Due to the declared Public Holiday tomorrow, the next Parent Teacher Consultation shall be on Monday 18^th from 3:30pm. This means that on Monday, school will end at 3:10pm.

END YEAR EXAMS

The final assessments for this academic year will take place next week in the form of End Year Exams for the students in Year 1-9. Time tables have been shared with the students and will also be sent out to parents together with this newsletter. We wish the students best of luck.