Secondary School - Bina Bangsa School

reetings to all!
It is a great pleasure to address you through this
newsletter. We had a great start this academic year
with new programmes introduced and new teachers
joining our family. We had made some changes to the
school timetable taking into consideration the students’
welfare and emotional well-being. The most notable introduction is the Freedom Readers’ Programme during
the morning assembly. All students, as well as teachers,
are now required to read for about 20 – 25 minutes during
the morning assembly at least thrice a week. This has
not only entailed a school-wide reading programme, but
also has cultivated a strong interest in reading amongst
students. This could be evident in that students could be
seen to continue reading beyond the prescribed reading
time. Students tend to rush for school in the morning
(especially with the traffic in Jakarta), and reading early
in the morning helps stabilise their emotions, calm their
minds, and prepare them mentally for the lessons thereafter.
The different excursions planned for the students had
also a positive impact amongst students in that they were
given a chance to learn more about Indonesia’s history
and culture. This year, the Secondary 1 students went to
Bandung to visit the Geology museum where students
discovered through its various exhibits when and how
the earth was formed, important epochs, geological phenomena in Indonesia, and the relationship between geology and human life. The Secondary 2 and 3 students
went to Yogyakarta and Bali respectively to learn about
the rich culture and diversity in Indonesia. Some JC1
students went to London for the Reach Cambridge programme and the learning experience was enriching for
the students who had not known what is it like to study
overseas. It also entails them to plan better for overseas
education. These students were also given a chance to
share their experiences with other students who had not
went for the Reach Cambridge programme.
"Remember, the strongest factor for
you to succeed is self-esteem; believing in yourself; believing that you can
do it; believing that you deserve it;
and believing that you will get it."
I am also proud to announce that our students have
clinched the top in Indonesia for Biology, Chemistry;
top in the world for Additional Mathematics in IGCSE;
top in Indonesia for A Level Computing, Mathematics
and Physics. We have received similar accolades in the
past and I would like to take this opportunity to inspire
the current students sitting for their IGCSE and A-level
examinations to excel in their results. Remember, the
strongest factor for you to succeed is self-esteem; believing in yourself; believing that you can do it; believing that you deserve it; and believing that you will get it.
God Bless!
Mr Akbar Hussain
Principal, BBS PIK
by Mr. Rishi Anandani
Proverbs 27:1
“Do not boast about tomorrow,
for
you do not know what a day may
bring.”
espite of our best effort to plan and
strategize, we still do not know if things
will work out as we expect. There are many
factors that are beyond our control. There are many
elements that are not constant and may change with time.
The present national and global economy are good
examples of the unpredictability of life. Despite of our
best effort to make projections and forecast, we may still
fall short of achieving our targets.
God who will do all of these things to those who depend
and trust in Him. He is able to do all these because He is
Almighty and Great and has good plans for us.
May we put our trust and hope not in the uncertain things
of life but on the sure and firm foundation, our Rock,
Jesus Christ.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:1, “So I reflected on
all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise
and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows
whether love or hate awaits them.”
Proverbs 27:1, “Do not boast about tomorrow,
do not know what a day may bring.”
for you
The uncertainties of life tend to make us insecure and
worried. How do we have peace in the midst of this
unstable life?
We are to trust in the One who is constant and doesn’t
change. His character and His promises remain steady.
The following verses confirm this.
James 1:17
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does
not change like shifting shadows.
Numbers 23:19New International Version (NIV)
19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human
being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak
and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today,
and for ever. We can trust that the God
who did miracles, loved, guided, provided,
strengthened and helped the people who
were recorded in the Bible, is the same
By Ms. Marissa
This year's annual Christian Retreat participated in
by BBS PIK and KJ revolves with the theme, "I have
a dream". This was held last 13-15 November 2015 at
Mega Development Centre (MDC), Gadog, Puncak.
More than a hundred students joined the retreat. Pastor
Anon and Pastor Anthony served as facilitators with
the assistance of teachers from both campuses. The rain
did not hinder in having those activities held outside
the session hall. The participants enjoyed and learnt
the importance of a group in achieving more dream.
Becoming a light (as a dreamer) and giving warm to
other dreamers will truly lighten our hearts to fulfill
one's dream.
2015-2016上半学年培民学校PIK校区华文部共在校内举
办了两次活动，分别是HKC成立仪式，拼写比赛。
2015年8月29日，国际汉语口语水平测试（HKC）考点
在我校成立。此考点是汉语口语水平测试在印尼的第一
考点。开幕式在我校礼堂隆重举行，培民学校总裁/董
事长萧平董事长，执行董事兼学术监管部谢旭金部长，
董事 Ms. Lanrica等学校领导。中国驻印尼大使馆文化教
育参赞金洪跃参赞，以及中国天津市人民政府教育督导
室督学闫国梁，汉语口语水平测试考试委员会办公室主
任，天津市语言文字培训测试中心主任，天津国际汉语
学院赵红涛院长，天津市语言文字培训测试中心主任助
理，天津国际汉语学院顾雅蔓副院长等中国方贵宾出席
了开幕式。
印方和中方双方代表发表了讲话，对现代汉语学习的国
际形势以及汉语在印尼的传播和发展的状况做了详细的
讲解和阐述。驻印尼大使馆参赞也对于中国文化的传播
给予了大力的支持和鼓励。
开幕式中我校学生用精彩的表演庆祝HKC考点的成立，
赢得了观众的掌声。在开幕式结束后第一批HKC考试的
学生在我校进行了首次测试，并取得了圆满成功。
Term1，华文部组织学生参加汉字拼写大赛，此次拼写大赛的
参赛者是培民中学的全体学生。本次比赛分为了四个程度，
采用淘汰制的比赛方式。拼写比赛给学生们一个自我展示的
平台。同学们不断的挑战自己，提升自我。这次比赛也提高
了他们对学习华文的兴趣，促进了学生华文能力与书写品质
的提高，可为一举两得。活动取得了圆满的成功。
活动预告：
在即将到来的第二学段，我们将举行华文唱歌大赛，届时学
生将参加华文歌曲的演唱。此次活动在于激发学生学习华文
的兴趣，培养各方面人才。通过不同的方式引导学生学习华
文。华文部各位老师也将全力筹办此次活动，并且大力鼓动
学生参加，做了积极的准备。
By Mr. Victor
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THE COLLEGE INTERVIEW
The following is a list of college interview questions to help you better prepare and
feel comfortable during the interview. When you are in an interview, remember
to be yourself. If you're truly interested in the college be sure your enthusiasm
shows. And, after your interview don't forget to say thank you.
TYPICAL COLLEGE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
High School Experience
Interests and Activities
Attending this College
-How would you describe your high school?
-What would your teachers say is your greatest strength and weakness both as an individual and as a student?
-What would you say was your role within your high school community?
-How would others describe your role in your high school community?
-What courses did you enjoy the most?
-What courses were the most challenging/difficult for you?
-Do you like your teachers?
-Describe your favorite teacher.
High School
Experience
Your Interests
And Activities
-What personal traits would you like to see yourself build in the next four years?
-What articles and/or books have you read in the last year that have special meaning for you and why?
-Do you have any hobbies or special interests?
-In your life, what experiences have been most important to you?
-Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
-Describe a challenge you've had and how you overcame it.
-How did you spend last summer?
-What do you do in your spare time?
-What do you do with any money that you earn?
-Have you ever been a volunteer?
-What questions do you have for the interviewer?
About Attending This College
-Why do you want to attend this college/university?
-Why should we (the college) accept you for admission?
-What is your career goal and how would a degree from
this college help you achieve that goal?
-What qualities make you a good choice to attend this college?
-What other colleges are you considering?
-What interests you the most about this school?
DO YOUR HOME WORK
The best thing you can do to prepare for a college
interview is to do your research ahead of time. Go online
or request a brochure to find out what programs the
college is known for, what degrees they offer and what
study options are available. Learn how big class sizes
are, how you can qualify for financial aid and ways you
can get involved in campus life. Find out as much as you
can — to show the interviewer that you are interested in
what they have to offer and how you would be a great fit
for their school.
BRAG, IF YOU CAN BACK IT UP
The best college interviews are those in which there is an
exchange of thoughts and ideas. Yes, you should come
prepared to answer a lot of questions about yourself.
But you should take the heat off yourself and ask a few
questions of your interviewer about the college, the types
of people who attend the school, the environment and
the activities on campus. This demonstrates initiative
and curiosity, showing that you're here for a meaningful
dialogue to see if your skills and interests match up with
the college's offerings.
GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST
This may be common sense, but it's still worth
mentioning. If you're the least bit stressed or nervous
about the interview, you'll only make matters worse
by coming in tired or sluggish. Don't get caught like a
deer in the headlights — frozen and unable to respond
when you need to be on top of your game. Instead, arrive
prepared, alert and ready to go, and you'll be sure to nail
the college interview.
Though it goes against everything you've ever learned,
this is the one situation where boasting about your
accomplishments is not a bad thing — in fact, it's
expected. Talk freely about what you've achieved
during high school, whether academic, athletic, social or
personal. Bring in some notes to jog your memory and
ensure that you don't forget anything important. All of
these achievements combine to make you unique, and
BREATHE AND SMILE
help you stand out from the rest of the crowd. When
talking about your great qualities and skills, provide Before you go into the college interview read over your
examples whenever possible. Prove points and detail accomplishments. You've probably never seen them on
experiences that back up what you say, making a much paper, all in one place.
stronger impact than mere words.
BE READY TO TURN THE TABLE
Contrary to what you might think, college
interviews are not simply a means to
torture you by putting you under a
microscope and grilling you with hard, if
not impossible questions.
Take a minute to reflect on all that you've done and
everything you've achieved to get to this point.
Then take a couple deep breaths, and put your best foot
forward. And don't forget to smile.
This is your opportunity to shine!
Oleh: Samuel Winson Tanuwijaya
(JC1 Noel)
Budaya suatu negara merupakan sebuah aset dan
warisan bangsa yang patut dibanggakan dan dihargai
oleh masyarakatnya. Namun bagaimana dengan
budaya yang satu ini? Budaya yang berkembang dan
menggurita di negara yang kaya akan sumber daya. Ya
apa lagi kalau bukan budaya korupsi, sebuah budaya
yang berfokus pada diri sendiri yang membawa
dampak kehancuran negeri.
dibanding dengan proses pembelajaran itu sendiri.
Sehingga menoleransi ketidakjujuran demi mendapat
nilai lebih. Bila tidak diajarkan karakter yang baik dan
unggul sejak usia dini, seseorang bisa berubah menjadi
pribadi yang serakah, tamak dan egosentris saat
dewasa nanti, yang berpotensi melakukan tindakan
korupsi suatu hari.
Inilah tugas kita bersama, para guru dan orangtua.
Sekolah bukan hanya menjadi tempat pengembangan
pengetahuan semata melainkan “bengkel” bagi
perubahan karakter yang membawa kepada generasi
berintelektual dan bermartabat. Peran orangtua dalam
memberikan teladan di rumah juga merupakan hal
terpenting dalam proses ini.
Budaya korupsi telah menjamur di berbagai daerah di
seluruh Indonesia, dan para elite politik baik hakim
maupun pengacara, gubernur ataupun menteri,
anggota legislatif, semua berlomba-lomba untuk dapat
“mengenakan” rompi oranye KPK. Budaya korupsi
di Indonesia sudah menjadi sebuah gumpalan tumor
ganas yang secara perlahan namun pasti menggerogoti
kesejahteraan dan kemakmuran rakyat.
Pertanyaannya, dimasa mendatang akankah
generasi muda tetap mempertahankan
Kesalahan dalam proses pendidikan menjadi salah satu budaya korupsi? Atau akan berani
alasan berkembangnya budaya ini. Bagaimana seorang jujur dan bertindak dalam membela
murid lebih berorientasi kepada perolehan nilai tinggi kebenaran sejati?
ong ago in India, there lived a raja who believed he was wise and fair,
as a raja should be. The people in his province were rice farmers. The
raja decreed that everyone must give nearly all of their rice to him. "I
will store the rice safely," the raja promised the people, "so that in time
of famine, everyone will have rice to eat, and no one will go hungry."
Each year, the raja's rice collectors gathered nearly all of the people's
rice and carried it away to the royal storehouses.
For many years, the rice grew well. The people gave nearly all of their
rice to the raja, and the storehouses were always full. But the people
were left with only enough rice to get by. Then one year the rice grew
badly and there was famine and hunger. The people had no rice to give
to the raja, and they had no rice to eat. The raja's ministers implored
him, "Your highness, let us open the royal storehouses and give the
rice to the people, as you promised." "No!" cried the raja. How do I
know how long the famine will last? I must have the rice for myself.
Promise or no promise, a raja must not go hungry!"
Time went on, and the people grew more and more hungry. But the
raja would not give out the rice. One day, the raja ordered a feast for
himself and his court--as, it seemed to him, a raja should now and
then, even when there is famine. A servant led an elephant from a
royal storehouse to the palace, carrying two full baskets of rice. A
village girl named Rani saw that a trickle of rice was falling from one
of the baskets. Quickly she jumped up and walked along beside the
elephant, catching the falling rice in her skirt. She was clever, and she
began to make a plan.
At the palace, a guard cried, "Halt, thief! Where are you going with
that rice?"
"I am not a thief," Rani replied. "This rice fell from one of the baskets, and
I am returning it now to the raja."
When the raja heard about Rani's good deed, he asked his ministers to
bring her before him.
"I wish to reward you for returning what belongs to me," the raja said to
Rani. "Ask me for anything, and you shall have it."
"Your highness," said Rani, "I do not deserve any reward at all. But if you
wish, you may give me one grain of rice."
"Only one grain of rice?" exclaimed the raja. "Surely you will allow me to
reward you more plentifully, as a raja should."
"Very well," said Rani. "If it pleased Your Highness, you may reward me in
this way. Today, you will give me a single grain of rice. Then, each day for
thirty days you will give me double the rice you gave me the day before.
Thus, tomorrow you will give me two grains of rice, the next day four
grains of rice, and so on for thirty day."
"This seems to be a modest reward," said the raja. "But you shall have it."
And Rani was presented with a single grain of rice.
The next day, Rani was presented with two grains of rice.
And the following day, Rani was presented with four grains of rice.
On the ninth day, Rani was presented with two hundred fifty-six grains of rice. She had received in all five
hundred and eleven grains of rice, enough for only a small handful. "This girl is honest, but not very
clever," thought the raja. "She would have gained more rice by keeping what fell into her skirt!"
On the twelfth day, Rani received two thousand and forty-eight grains of rice, about four handfuls.
On the thirteenth day, she received four thousand and ninety-six grains of rice, enough to fill a
bowl. (Cont. Page 15)
Young Journalist: You have been teaching Mathematics above.
in BBS for many years now. How has your experience
been with BBS? What changes do you see in your Young Journalist: A good teacher is a breed apart and
students, if any, over the years?
you are a breed apart. Your personality is inviting, you
are naturally kind and patient, and you don’t judge. Why
Mr. Loke: I joined BBS PIK Secondary since 3 January did you choose teaching as a career option? Some teach
2011. I work with teachers from all over the world. I because teaching provides a steady pay-check and great
learn about their cultures, the ways they work and think benefits.
about education. In general, the students are now better
in terms of their attitude in learning. However, I feel Mr. Loke: I feel appreciative for all the
that our students need to be more independent in their positive words that you used to describe
learning especially the students of Secondary 3 and me even though they are only true to
"Eventually, I took up the offer even though I knew I
was going to struggle for one year because I wanted to
learn something new. This is the process all of us must go
through if we want to achieve something new in our lives."
some extent. I chose teaching as my career because I
enjoy sharing my knowledge of Mathematics. In fact,
my ambition is to become a professor in Mathematics.
But, because of my educational background which is not
related to Mathematics in secondary school, I could not
continue my degree majoring in Mathematics. I applied
for Mathematics in National University of Singapore
(NUS) in 2004 but I was rejected and offered Economics.
I did not accept the offer due to financial burden and I
was not offered the course I wanted. After I finished my
degree in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in 2007, I
was offered by UUM to continue PhD without having
to do master degree. I rejected the offer and decided to
start working because I needed money and until now I
still think I made the right decision. I started working
as a teacher in my primary school for one year before
moving to a private secondary school for another one
year. From this experience, I knew that I preferred
teaching secondary school students because of the higher
level of Mathematics which I find more interesting and
challenging. A steady pay check is one of the reasons
but not the main one as there are many other jobs that
can offer it with higher pay. I choose to teach because
working hours is fixed and shorter if compared to other
jobs. So, I can spend more time with my family and on
myself learning things I like.
Young Journalist: Over and above your regular teaching,
marking, setting exam papers and remedial classes—all
of which is in itself full-time work—you volunteered to
be the head of the Exam Committee, an Exam Officer,
last year. What exactly is an Exam Officer’s job?
Mr. Loke: Actually I was offered to be the head of
Examination Committee (EC) at quite the
last minute by Mr. Anba in April last year.
It took me some time to decide to take
up the offer as it is not an easy post in
BBS. Eventually, I took up the offer even
though I knew I was going to struggle for
one year because I wanted to learn something new. This
is the process all of us must go through if we want to
achieve something new in our lives. As an Exams Officer,
I was the general person in charge of all matters related
to examinations. I monitored the progress, guided new
teachers in doing their EC work and tried to improve on
the examination procedures, systems and efficiency. One
of the major changes the EC had made last academic year
was fixed seating numbers for all students taking FYE.
Furthermore, I planned all school major examinations
in advance, ICAS, mock tests for MYE and FYE, actual
MYE and FYE, Sec 4 and JC 2 Prelims (IGCSE, AS
Level & A Level) and actual IGCSE, AS Level and A
Level. Before April 2015 Prelim even started, I already
had done planning on FYE, IGCSE and A Level 2015
and started planning AS Level October/November
2015. I had no chance to take a deep breath because
examinations came one after the other. If I fail to plan in
advance, it is going to affect the entire EC. So, I had no
choice but kept working even during weekends to ensure
that all EC teachers could have enough time to finish
their work before deadlines. I was involved actively
in examination hall and room assignments and seating
arrangements.
In addition, I was like the form teachers of all Sec 4
and JC 2 classes because I needed to prepare transcripts
and forecast grades for them to apply for universities.
I met them once in a while after school to brief them
about the examination procedures, check their personal
details before registering them to any CIE examinations
and distribute important documents like fees letters.
Sometimes I needed to meet their parents regarding
CIE examination fees. After fees letters were released, I
needed to work very closely with the Finance Department
and as a debt collector to make sure that all students
had made the payment before deadline to avoid penalty
before I registered them to any CIE Examinations.
Furthermore, I needed to work closely with Examination
Centre headed by Academic Supervision Division (ASD)
members regarding examination timetables and ordering
examination papers.
more time on thinking how to do my work well than
complaining why I had so much work. For me, keeping
on complaining does not change the situations and solve
any problems. The only solution is to keep doing my
works and do my best. If the results do not turn up to be
what I want, I will not feel guilty about it. To cope with
the quantum of work involved, I worked on weekends
almost every week.
Young Journalist: The school having recognized the
planning, effort and unrelenting pressure on an Exam
Officer has delegated some of the exam related work to
other committees? Is it true?
The list of my duties as
an Exams officer still goes on
and I had no idea how I could survive for one full year.
All school major examinations cannot be run smoothly
without the management’s and teachers’ support. So, I
would to like to take this chance to say thanks to all of
them for their support and understanding.
Mr. Loke: Yes, it is true. The EC organizational chart
changes almost every academic year. In 2013-2014,
it was led by Mr. Randy assisted by Mr. Peter Phua
and Mr. Andrew Kelley Donham who were in charge
of external and internal examinations respectively. In
2014-2015, both examinations were under me. The EC
now is smaller in terms of the number of duties that it
needs to handle. Several EC duties are now under the
Academic Development Committee. So, it is a good
sign of more equal distribution of amount of works
among committees. However, it does not mean the EC’s
job is very simple now. It has to plan MYE and FYE for
around 803 students. It is a good sign for BBS PIK as
its population grows rapidly at an annual compounded
rate of 10.3 % from around 543 students in 2011-2012.
But, it is a big challenge for the EC to conduct internal
examinations. In addition, there will be one additional
examination next year, i.e. Ujian Nasional (UN). The EC
faces many new issues that I did not encounter during
my time.
Young Journalist: Apart from being a teacher and
an exam officer, you are a violin maestro too. On a
lighter note, is the rumor true that you were seriously
contemplating an increase in the number of hours in a
Mr. Loke: Yes, it is true. That was the target I set for day, from 24 hours, so that you could finish all the work
myself. I took it very seriously because if I make a small entrusted upon you?
mistake in my part, it will affect many teachers and
students. I cannot say that I made no mistake at all for Mr. Loke: It is more suitable to call me a violin beginner.
the entire year. But I can safely say that my mistakes are Many BBS students can play better than me. If I were a
violin maestro, I would not have become a Mathematics
not significant and I keep trying avoiding them.
teacher. I would like to be an orchestra violin player.
Young Journalist: You are perceived as an automaton, In order to finish all the work entrusted upon me, I
a person capable of non-stop, unflagging work without had no choice but spent less time on my teaching
a single word of complaint about the quantum of work duty. Sometimes, I felt guilty when I did not spend
enough time with my students because I was too busy
involved. How did you manage this?
with EC matters. However, I was very glad
Mr. Loke: I did complain about the amount of work and that majority of my students especially
stress I had to go through just like our students when Sec 3 Courage last academic year were
they were given homework and topical tests. But, I spent independent in their learning.
Young Journalist: From what you say, it is clear that
an Exam Officer’s responsibility is a “zero error job”
lasting the entire year without any let up.
After a strong first term and coming home victorious
with the prestigious Sports Day trophy, the Red Rhinos
have CHARGED!!! to an early lead in the 20152016 Interhouse competitions. However, not to be
outdone, the Rhino’s once wide margin has narrowed
considerably following Yellow House's dominance of
soccer, winning three of five events.
Despite remaining in last place, the Blue House
remains optimistic as Blue House Master Naomi has
taken to Twitter, “We won’t drown, we’ll outswim the
competition.” The Blue House has since surged from
once down 35 points to an ever shrinking 21 points
off of the lead heading into Term 3.
In a recent interview on BBS TV, Yellow House
Master Marie had caught wind of the boasting Blue
House adding, “eagles don’t drown, they soar!”
The Green House has also sent a
clear message that they are NOT to be
underestimated, demonstrating a wide
array of skills having recorded wins in
drama, band, and computer animation.
With Arts Week, Run for Fun, basketball, and video
games in the near future, the stage is set. Students are
pumped, now it’s time for each house to start making
their move past the halfway point. Who will claim the
lead? Stay tuned…
(Cont. from Page 10, Exponential Growth and the
Legend of Rice)
On the sixteenth day, Rani was presented with a bag
containing thirty-two thousand, seven hundred and
sixty-eight grains of rice. All together she had enough
rice for two bags. "This doubling up adds up to more
rice than I expected" thought the raja. "But surely her
reward won't amount to much more."
On the twentieth day, Rani was presented with sixteen
more bags filled with rice.
On the twenty-first day, she received one million, fortyeight thousand, five hundred and seventy-six grains of
rice, enough to fill a basket.
On the twenty-fourth day, Rani was presented with eight
million, three hundred and eighty-eight thousand, six
hundred and eight grains of rice--enough to fill eight
baskets, which were carried to her by eight royal deer.
On the twenty-seventh day, thirty-two brahma bulls
were needed to deliver sixty-four baskets of rice. The
raja was deeply troubled. "One grain of rice has grown
very great indeed," he thought. "But I shall fulfill the
reward to the end, as a raja should."
On the twenty-ninth day, Rani was presented with the
contents of two royal storehouses.
On the thirtieth and final day, two hundred and fifty-six
elephants crossed the province, carrying the contents
of the last four royal storehouses--Five hundred and
thirty-six million, eight hundred and seventy thousand,
nine hundred and twelve grains of rice.
Altogether, Rani had received more than one billion
grains of rice. The raja had no more rice to give. "And
what will you do with this rice," said the raja with a
sigh, "now that I have none?"
"I shall give it to all the hungry people," said Rani, "and
I shall leave a basket of rice for you, too, if you promise
from now on to take only as much rice as you need."
"I promise," said the raja. And for the rest of his days,
the raja was truly wise and fair, as a raja should be.
Note: And, on the sixty fourth day the king would have
had to put more than 18,000,000,000,000,000,000
grains of rice which is equal to about 210 billion tons
and is allegedly sufficient to cover the whole territory
of India with a metre thick layer of rice. At ten grains
of rice per square inch, the above amount requires rice
fields covering twice the surface area of the
Earth, oceans included.
(Source:http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/EMT668/EMAT6680.
F99/Martin/instructional%20unit/day4.exponential/excel/
grainofrice.html)
By Medeline Hendrik (Sec 3 Logic)
It’s the time to CHARGE because the Red House won
the first place in Sports Day 2015!
We are gratified to publicize that the winner of the
Sports Day 2015 is the Red House from our very own
campus, Bina Bangsa PIK.
Here is the list of what Red House PIK had achieved
this year:
1. Lower Secondary Boys Carpet Relay, 1st Place
2. Lower Secondary Girls Carpet Relay, 1st Place
3. Tug of War
4. Upper Secondary Girls Carpet Relay, 2nd place
5. Tank Wheel Upper Secondary Girls, 2nd place
6. 100 m Lower Secondary Boys, 2nd place
7. 200 m Upper Secondary Girls, 1st place
8. 200 m Lower Secondary Girls, 1st place
9. 4 x 100 Lower Secondary Boys, 1st place
10. 4 x 100 Lower Secondary Girls, 1st place
11. Teachers 4x100 m, 1st place
The total points achieved by Red House PIK is 360
followed by Green House PIK with total points of 275
in the second place.
The result this year was very impressive and we
would like to thank all of the students who
participate and also to our new house masters,
Ms. Megan and Mr. Hector for being so
supportive. We could not have done that
without all of you and also the house
masters.
Congratulations, Red House!
Mr. Joko and Ms. Emily were just two of the teachers who shared about their
experiences to raise awareness on bullying during the Anti-Bullying week
campaign. The activity purports primarily to impart the important points
about bullying and taking a stand against it. Different activities were also
conducted including the poetry and poster making contest.
“Change belongs to you and me — only we can
make a difference...”
-Angela Richardson(Founder of CleanUp Jakarta Day)
A dynamic shot of BBS students and teachers before the Clean Up Jakarta Day in
October 18th 2015, 6:30 a.m.
by Sonia H Tasman (JC2 Peace)
JAKARTA, Tuesday — The notorious land pollution
problem in Jakarta has gone to large extents, up to the
point that it poses threats to the city’s population as well
as to numerous animal species in their natural habitat.
Jakarta’s poor hygiene has jeopardised the health of
millions and destroyed the beauty of nature that the
city used to have. Our capital produces 6,700 tonnes of
rubbish per day, 2,000 tonnes of which is either thrown
into the Ciliwung River or littered on the streets. This
ubiquitous littering and plastic problem is also known
to bring a long-term impact, one of which is flooding.
In order for Jakarta to curb this issue, the correct ways
of waste disposal should be emphasised more often;
this can be done by taking measures — concerned
citizens need not rely on the government to
find solutions.
One of the ways this can be privately done
is creating an environmental campaign
that actually stimulates action from its
advocates, and not simply raising awareness in which
nobody actually does anything real. In 2013, a nonprofit organisation that aims to help in reducing the
trash problem had gone viral, and they had created an
annual event called the Clean Up Jakarta Day (CUJD).
In the spirit of a cleaner Jakarta, this event brings
communities and volunteers together through
GOTONG ROYONG. It also highlights the need for
recycling — starting with us as individuals at home, at
school and at the office. Their vision is to have CUJD
everyday, shaping citizens to be more conscious and
responsible. By involving the community in a clean-up,
they can spread the message that it is everybody’s duty
to keep this city clean, and not just the job of street
sweepers.
The third CUJD took place on Sunday, October 18th
2015 starting at 6.30 a.m, with over 10,000 local and
international residents from all over the city who pick
up rubbish and clean up assigned sites together. Of
the 37 locations in Jakarta, Bina Bangsa School PIK
(BBS) was one of the cleaning sites in the event, where
students and teachers did a two-hour cleaning spree in
an area around Pantai Indah Kapuk.
Upon arriving to school, Mr. Jeremy, the event
coordinator and founder of BBS’ ‘Go Green’ Club,
briefed students about what and what not to collect, and
handed out ‘Clean-up Hero’ badges. Dressed in white
shirts, the ‘heroes’ from BBS were divided into teams
and had to separate recyclables from non-recyclables.
Each person was given a glove and a sugar sack to store
the garbage.
To vary the activities, mini competitions were held,
such as Most Influential Team, The Weirdest Item
Found, Most Extreme Makeover, Best Dressed and The
Largest Team. However, CUJD in BBS received more
support in 2014 than in 2015, with more than 80% of
the student body joining last year, compared to the 23%
(175/805) participants this year.
On a happier note, CUJD succeeded in collecting a net
total of over 100 tonnes of rubbish in the space of just
two hours! The event obtained positive response from
the city’s sanitation department, Dinas Kebersihan DKI
Jakarta, who was responsible for picking up recyclable
and non-recyclable waste from all sites in Jakarta.
“DUA TANGAN CUKUP” Actions — two hands
are enough to make a change.
For 2016’s Clean Up Jakarta Day, Bina Bangsa School
PIK strongly encourages the whole student population
to get involved and make a difference! We look forward
to YOU getting yourselves and your friends and families
together to do something meaningful only once a year
for two hours!
KITA BISA!
(Patricia (JC2L) , Sonia (JC2P), Winnie( (JC2L))
By Ms. Marissa
There’s nothing quite like sitting around with friends,
having great conversations over a delicious meal. Food
connects us. It brings families and friends together,
and makes us happy. It can be our comfort and also
our worst enemy. No matter how tumultuous your
relationship with it, however, food is a necessity.
And for that reason it will continue to be a topic of
conversation for generations to come.
What is food then if we do not know how to cook?
Cooking is a necessity. We can eat the food we want
anywhere but it is the magic touch of our cooking
that will satisfy our palates. Thus, the CCA Cooking
was offered. It aims to make students learn to prepare
simple dishes that will introduce them to the wonders
of food preparation.
The students show their enthusiasm in
learning to cook and at the same time
they always look forward to the next
cooking activities that they will have.
By Gabriella Lawi and Sashenka Nikolay (Sec. 1)
types of rocks. They also showed the fossils of both big
and small dinosaurs. When we thought it was over,
On October 22nd, the students of Secondary 1 had an they brought us to a place where planets are projected
excursion in Bandung. They went to various tourist on the walls. In the end, they played a movie about how
attractions such as Geology Museum and Saung Udjo. the earth changes.
They had lunch in a Sundanese restaurant named Raja
Sunda.
After the Geology Museum, they brought us to a
They went to the Geology Museum first. The museum
is filled with ancient fossils and the leftovers of many
natural disasters (such as tsunamis, earthquakes,
landslides, etc). They also showed the fossils of many
extinct and non-extinct animals, and people of ancient
times and shells of different kinds. The museum also
taught us how natural disasters happen and the signs
when they are about to happen. Not only that, but they
also showed different kinds of precious gems and many
Jason (Sec. 2- Victory)
Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, dead silence
fills the room as the students and teachers start to flip
pages of their chosen books, immersed in the trance of
their own worlds.
Implemented the year before and spearheaded by Mr.
Andy, Freedom Readers Program has metamorphosed
into more than a simple reading activity that hopes to
improve the vocabulary of the students. It becomes a
haven of inspiration and comfort as each one starts a
new day.
Betrayal, romance, friendship, family, and
different struggles are only some of the
Sundanese restaurant for lunch. We had gado-gado,
rendang, gulai ikan, and all other kinds of Sunda food.
After we filled our stomach with food, we headed to
our next destination which was the Saung Udjo.
When we first came to Saung Udjo, we were given
beautiful necklace with a figurine of an angklung
hanging from it. We were offered a huge ice cream
made out of natural ingredients.
stories that seem to capture the interest of many of us.
Seemingly, we are offered each day of smorgasbord of
words that enkindle that writer in us.
The catchy story lines keep our eyes glued to the book
and to keep us guessing the ending of the story.
Twists and surprises in every part of the book stimulates
and plays with our emotions, with cliffhangers leaving
the readers just anxious to read through the next series
of the books as they fantasize what might happen next
to the character.
The reasons to read might just go on and on but
everything boils down to one thing, its positive effects
on us are undeniable.
By Vanessa Lie (Sec. 2- Victory)
The night before was long and I kept on tossing and
turning on the bed, picturing how exciting the school's
long awaited excursion would be. The clock struck at
four and I was wide awake. I could not sleep a wink
anymore! I quickly dressed in my houseshirt, checked
my luggage, and finally, I was off to Soekarno Hatta
airport!
Upon arrival, I quickly scanned the place looking for
my friends. Rainbow colours ruled Gate F- red, yellow,
blue, and green. I spotted my classmates and I ran to
them and immediately started a conversation while
waiting for the rest.
By Andrew (Sec. 2- Zeal)
The stone staircase, ancient and exotic with slight
tainted colour, caused by aging greeted us. The entire
structure was gigantic to us. It had three different
temples next to it, each representing a god.
It was only upon entering that I realised the intricacy
of the architecture. Each wall, made by hundreds of
stone bricks were stacked upon each other with utmost
precision.
Each class was divided into different groups with
approximately ten students and a teacher. I was so
excited when I received my plane ticket and later on
waited patiently for our flight.
Some of the walls were decorated with intricate
carvings. Only time can make this significant shade
of gold. The sheer beauty of the entire structure is
marvellous and a true wonder of the world.
Unfortunately, our flight was delayed. We were so
relieved when we finally boarded the plane. We had
broad smile plastered on our faces as we enjoyed our
flight. One hour seemed like eternity.
A dense forest shrouds the temple from the disease we
call mankind. It has staged the same ever since it was
built, no renovations. It stays true to its original image.
Finally, Yogyakarta. Museums, temples, and green
sceneries greeted us. As we started exploring the
different places, we were immersed with the different
cultures and traditions of Indonesia. The structures
are beyond descriptions and we had fun looking for
answers in the worksheets given to us.
The trip was short because it only lasted for three days
and two nights. Yet, it was so memorable and filled with
experiences and realisations about so many things.
Ceilings of the temples are decorated with stories,
depicted in gruesome paintings, painted with skill and
passion. The air in the temple smelled of the jungle and
rusted fresh and undisturbed.
The basalt flooring, deteriorated and discoloured, yet
still beautiful and clean. The growth of the shrubs
and bushes are outstanding, complimenting the wall
designs. Each painting and carving tells a
different story, judging from stories of life
and death.
By Yvette (Sec. 3- Noel)
By Alessandro Figo Saleh (Sec. 3- Noel)
Our trip to Bali has provided us a lot of learning
opportunities far beyond what the four corners of the
classroom could offer.
It was Friday, our second day in Bali when we visited
Penglipuran Village. We were greeted with music and
dances like the traditional music from "Rindiu" and a
beautiful traditional Balinese dance.
Bali has a special combination of the cultures of
India, China and Indonesia. Most of the people are
Buddhists. As I travelled around the island of Bali,
some handmade offerings are found along the crowded
streets. Some of them are made from leaves and local
flowers. A villager once explained that it was a form of
worship to their Gods and the people are forbidden to
touch, step or cross over it.
Balinese dance had a great impact on me. It is an ancient
art form that genuinely mirrors the Bali culture. When
we watched at the Cultural Centre, it was a euphoric
experience witnessing such magnificent show that
depicts the culture of their land. There were also some
dances famous in other provinces of Indonesia which
were shown.
The trip also provided us an opportunity
to experience playing their bamboo
xylophone. Besides that, the distinctive
attire is something to treasure since we
experienced wearing it also.
The experience was not limited by watching
presentations alone. We also had a glimpse of the way
the local villagers live. We entered houses made of
stones and bamboos. The structures were not more than
three metres tall. The houses were tightly packed side
by side. There were no walls between the nighbouring
houses due to the tradition there.
We saw that each house was divided into three small
structures- the house, the kitchen, and one room that
serves as the resting place.
Each house has a family shrine made from stones. The
tour guide explained to us that because the village is
fortunate enough to be rich in bamboo, the houses
were mostly made from the said materials.
The roof is a 'snap-fit' with each other. It means that
they did not use any glue or nail. The houses were very
small, but everybody who lives there seems so happy
and have this contented look.
Secondary 1- TRUTH
Secondary 2- VICTORY
Secondary 3- GRACE
Secondary 4- VICTORY
JC 1- NOEL
JC 2- LOGIC
students from different countries.
Reach Cambridge is meant to be a learning experience,
with courses offered such as Physics, Chemistry,
Biotech, Psychology and Business. I chose Physics and
though I admit some lessons could be rather dull, we
learnt many new things. Some of the interesting topics
that sparked our interests included Einstein’s Theory of
Relativity and Schrodinger’s equation. Being in a room
full of educated, knowledgeable people allowed us to
have intelligent arguments on scientific matters and
discussed our own thoughts and hypotheses.
In addition to this, nightly lectures ranging from
evolution to the lack of education being provided for
children in unstable and low income families which
really opened up our perspectives and made us aware
of global matters. Personally, it made me aware of how
privileged I was to be able to receive an education and
I want to strive harder in order to achieve success in the
future.
By Jamie Lee (JC 1 Noel)
Besides just learning from the textbooks, we also learned
a great deal about taking care of ourselves. For most of
us, this was our first time travelling without our parents
and so, we were responsible for our own well-being, as
well as having to keep track of our own expenses and
utilize our time appropriately. We had to be extra cautious
especially whenever we were left to explore Cambridge
without adult supervision. If you do get lost, however,
do not panic. Most of the locals are nice, friendly people
From the 1st to 16th of August, 40 students (including
myself) participated in the Reach Cambridge program,
where we stayed in Cambridge, one of the most
respected universities worldwide, known for its
academic achievements, and notable alumni.
Unfortunately, we did not stay at the dorms of one of
the actual schools of Cambridge, but we did stay at
BBC, a building where actual Cambridge students and
professors resided in during school terms. BBC was
a small, sparsely decorated building that made for a
cozy home for the next two weeks. It was a ten- minute
walk from Trinity Hall, which was the main Reach
Cambridge assembly area.
For the next two weeks we were immersed into a daily
program of attending lectures for six hours per day
(reminiscent of our arduous school days
in Indonesia), punctuated with breaks
in which we were able to explore the
city of Cambridge, and socialize with
who would be happy to point out to you where Christ’s
College is.
Lastly, the thing that made Reach Cambridge truly
memorable was the fun and enjoyment that came out
of it. During our time there, we were able to explore
the beautiful streets of Cambridge, whose magnificent
old buildings stand in all its grandeur, showcasing the
architecture styles of over 800 years old. These same
streets that contain the prestigious colleges that make up
Cambridge University also contain an eclectic variety
of food establishments, from inexpensive street food to
high- end restaurants. I recommend trying the Cambridge
Chop House, which serves prime steaks, and Wasabi,
where you can get fresh sashimi for a reasonable price.
and of course fulfilled our shopping desires at shopping
centrals like Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street.
There were also extra activities the Reach Cambridge
staff prepared for us that we thoroughly enjoyed, such as
Disco Night and an auction where we sold Indomie for
nine pounds (roughly 120,000 IDR). Not to mention the
weekends when we went to London. We visited famous
landmarks including the London Eye and Hyde Park,
Reach Cambridge was an enhancing experience that
has undeniably furthered my personal growth, and
secured a long term position in my memories. I strongly
recommend Reach Cambridge to the next batch of
graduating Secondary students.
(left to right) Mr. Mark, Mr. Akbar and Mr. Lito representing
Bina Bangsa School at the World Association of Lesson Study
(WALS) Paper Presentation and International Conference at
Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
But the thing that stayed closest to our hearts was the
strengthening of our bonds with each other, and the new
friendships made with the diverse group of people that
makes up Reach Cambridge 2015.
Following attendance of some Bina Bangsa School
delegates to the World Association of Lesson Study
International Conference held in Bandung in 2014,
the school this time sent three delegates to the same
conference at Khon Kaen University, Thailand to
attend and present an action research entitled 'Use
of Lesson Plan Reflections to Inspire Lesson Study for
Improving Pedagogical Emphasis.' This is a two-phased
paper aimed at improving not only the delivery of
lessons at the school but also the impact
of it through substantial and significant
lesson reflections. The event was a 3-day
conference participated in by various
WALS members and delegates from
around the world.
“But both of our hearts believe
All of these stars will guide us home”
-Ed Sheeran, All of The Stars
OST The Fault In Our Stars
Dylan stood in the empty hall, looking down at the
black-and-white soccer ball beneath his left foot.
School had been dismissed 30 minutes ago and all his
friends had probably gone home, leaving him alone.
The spiky-haired boy shrieked and his foot reared
back and slammed into the ball with brutal force. The
frustration and angst strangling him echoed off the
walls of the spacious hall, the memories stabbing him
in his mind’s core.
“Dylan, why won’t you talk to me? Why won’t you even
look at me?”
“Shut up, Rhys!”
“Dylan…why-”
“Don’t you get it? We are no longer friends; we aren’t
even in the same level anymore! You’re just someone
from the past, okay? Why can’t you quit being a baby
and face the present?”
“Dylan…you changed…”
That was two days ago. Ever since two months ago
in March, Dylan had been sticking with the ‘popular
gang’ more as the days flew by, causing him to leave
his old friend, Rhys Oliver behind. Rhys was more of
an introvert; he could only truly express himself to his
close friend Dylan. However, the two drifted apart as
Dylan continued to ignore his friend’s attempts to chat
with him and walk away if he saw his friend tormented
by their classmates. Sometimes he would even mock
Rhys.
However, the minute he took a close look at Rhys’s
face two days ago during their argument, something
pierced deep inside him. The younger boy had a broken
smile plastered on his face stained with hurt, as if he
was trying to hide his true feelings. His hazel eyes were
flooded with sorrow as the tears silently slipped down
his bruised cheeks. The words had clicked something
in Dylan’s head like a lock and key; his friend was right.
He had become an entirely different person. No; he had
become a monster to his own friend.
Remorse was welling up in Dylan as
the ball rebounded off the wall. Rhys
was never going to forgive him. He had intentionally
scarred the innocent boy and ever since that argument,
Rhys always wore that same painful look on his face.
You’ve changed, Dylan thought, remembering Rhys’s
words. He panted hard as he tried hard not to cry. Sure,
he had cut off all contact with the ‘popular gang’, all
whom turned out to be bullying Rhys. Sure, he had been
miserable these past few days. But it did not change the
fact that he betrayed his best friend.
“Dylan,” a voice said quietly.
Dylan froze. He slowly looked over his shoulder and
saw the flaxen-haired boy he had emotionally damaged.
Rhys Oliver. Dylan inhaled. Rhys deserved someone
better.
“Rhys,” Dylan muttered. “I was a horrible person to
you. You are better off without me, dude.”
Dylan began to walk away, but the same voice stopped
him. “Dylan, you are my friend. How could you say
that?”
Dylan clenched his fists. “I don’t deserve to be your
friend. I hurt you on purpose and you didn’t deserve
it!”
“We all make mistakes, Dylan.”
Dylan could hardly believe Rhys. Why was his friend
not yelling at him or slapping him or killing him? “I
know, but-”
“Yes, you changed. I know. But it’s not too late to go
back to the Dylan you were. The Dylan…who was my
best friend...”
He said the last statement in a softer, almost inaudible
tone. But those were not his last words. As Dylan
turned to face Rhys, the younger boy extended a hand,
smiling that shattered smile.
“Just…come back.”
Dylan gasped. Rhys…forgave him? His heart could
no longer bear the emotions and for the first time ever
since they were seven, Dylan broke down. He could
hear Rhys beginning to cry too and feel his friend
burying his head into his chest. Dylan wrapped his
arms around the boy, his voice strained.
“Rhys…I don’t deserve you.”
“Dylan…just come back.”
"Most people think that
being a prefect is a position.
For me, it is an action.
We are expected to do our
works and serve the school
while maintaining balance
in everything. It is a good
training ground for our
leadership skills."
-Madelyn Halim,
Sec. 2- VictoryBy Sophie (Sec. 2- Victory)
enveloped with inexplicable happiness because despite
of the difficulties and the challenges each of us has
faced, we all survived it.
For some, it was just another day. For others, it was a
dream come true. As all prefects lined up, I could feel
my heart pounding against my chest at a faster rate than The speeches of our outgoing and incoming head prefects
usual. Finally, the day has come. The time to affirm our were so inspirational. Then, we were asked to raise our
commitments and renew our vows to serve.
right hand and recite our oath which I remember by
heart. It felt so surreal.
To earn the badge was not easy. You need to prove your
worth to be deemed deserving of the title. As somebody This year, I have a higher position. It is tough but
who started from the lower position, I understand too challenging. There are more responsibilities placed
well the pride and honour of walking in front to receive on my shoulders and the burden was twice as before.
the certificate. As I watched my classmates, I was However, I will not stop giving my best in everything to
serve the school.
"Being a prefect is not an easy task. It takes great
determination and perseverance to go through all the
hardship and challenges. Through all the interview, the
camp, and the anxious waiting of the final selection, I
really had to push myself to the limit. The camp really
taught me about BBS Prefectorial Board and its duties
and responsibilities." (Zoeryan Daniel, Sec.2- Victory)
lot of effort in studying.
(Brianna Gautama, Sec. 2- Victory)
"Looking at the tie given to prefects, I realised that
wearing it was what I have always looked forward to
since the day I started studying in BBS. Now, I would
be one of those who will be wearing it. I could feel the
"As a prefect, I am always reminded to be disciplined, pride inside me but at the same time, I know that it
responsible and have leadership skills as these are the entails a lot of sacrifices, commitment and hard work."
basic values prefects should have. Being a prefect also (Emily Chen, Sec. 2- Victory)
adds to my responsibility as a student as I need to put a
Instilling the value of patriotism at a young age has
always been one of the aims of the school. Thus,
in commemoration of the country's Independence
Day, the school celebrated it through a simple but
meaningful ceremony.
Back to back success capped off this term when both
the Women's Volleyball Team and Men's Basketball
Team won champion in the recently concluded
President's Cup for Term 2.
Volleyball Team: Ms. Jennifer, Ms. Naomi, Ms. Nina,
Indonesia has been under the Dutch colony for over Ms. Maricar, Ms. Marissa, Ms. Emily, Ms. Rashidah
300 years before it was granted independence by the
Netherlands.
Basketball Team: . Mr. Alex, Mr. Hector, Mr. Ryan, Mr.
John, Mr. Rodel, Mr. Pedro