Berlin Metropolitan School: Newsletter 05/2015

Quarterly
News
May 2015
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dear BMS Families and Friends,
18.05. - 22.05.15 Secondary Camp Week
We developed the format of our Quarterly Newsletter in order to
provide you, as parents and friends of BMS, regular and reliable
insight into the strategic issues of the school’s development. The
continuous development of our school is important to us and as
such, we are consistently striving to align our school program with
the highest academic standards, newest legislation, and the most
current developments.
20.05.15 Primary Parent Rep Meeting
26.05. - 28.05.15 Grade 5 Exhibition
01.06.15 Grade 5 to Grade 6 Transition Evening
03.06. - 05.06.15 Grade 5 Move-up Week
15.06. - 19.06.15 ELC Move-up Week
15.06. - 19.06.15 Secondary Exam Period
19.06.15 Primary Sports Day
22.06.- 26.06.15 Grade 9 Internships
22.06.- 26.06.15 Grade 5 Musical
03.07.15 Summer Fair
06.07. - 10.07.15 Secondary IB Core Week
13.07.15 Secondary Sports Day
14.07.15 Last Day of School - Report Cards
15.07. - 28.08.15 Summer Vacation
15.07. - 24.07.15 Vacation program
27.07. - 18.08.15 School closed
19.08. - 28.08.15 Vacation program
19.08.15 Early Learning First Day of School
31.08.15 First Day of School
05.09.15Einschulung
Newsletter 05/2015 | © Berlin Metropolitan School
Currently, we are preparing BMS for the last big step in the finalization of our fundamental growth phase and the conclusion of our
organic growth phase. In the coming school year, 45 grade 12 students will be the first to graduate with an IB Diploma at our school.
On July 6, 2016 the International Baccalaureate Organization will
provide the examination results for our students. This graduation
will represent a big step for each and every student, for their families
and for BMS as an institution. In order to enjoy these last key steps
of school development, we are currently concentrating our efforts
on preparing ourselves in the best manner possible.
We find ourselves in a phase of the school year that is important
for our school routine. Each individual student must use the remaining weeks to ensure that the end of the school year is successful and that learning goals are reached. Many students will be
beginning a new phase in their time at school, for which we would
like to prepare in the best way possible together with students,
families and teachers so that the transitions are organized in a
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successful manner. Furthermore, April, May and June are the months in which we prepare for the year
ahead – make adjustments to our concepts, place orders and make investments, put together teams for
the coming school year, plan rooms, and accept new students. In this respect, the months of April, May
and June are important months for our students, but also for our institution, as we will bring the organic
growth phase to a close in the next school year.
These months are also influential months for many students and are of great importance – especially
for our Secondary School students. The grade 9 students are required to complete their exams for the
Berufbildungsreife (BBR) (the advanced vocational training certificate) and students in grade 10 are
writing both their Mittlere Schulabschluss (MSA) (Grade 10 Diploma) as well as examinations for their
Internatinal General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). 45 students are completing exams for
their grade 10 certificates. On average, all students will need to successfully complete 15 written tests
and 8 oral examinations on their way to achieving the IGCSE and the MSA Diploma. These exams have
already begun and will be completed by the end of May. We have our fingers crossed and hope that every
student can demonstrate his/her potential in each of the respective exams. A good result in the final examinations is the prerequisite for a successful transition into grade 11. As part of our IB Diploma Subject
Expo that already took place back in March, our grade 10 students, together with their parents, were able
to inform themselves about our IB course offerings and selected their preferred subject combinations.
We are proud to be able to offer a wide range of courses from which students can create their individual
course plan based on their interests, strengths, and future career plans. With this wide range of course
offerings, we are in a position to offer each student diverse possibilities for the selection of the best-suited
combination of subjects. As the combination of courses is an important building block for the further
professional development of our students, parents and students receive support in the decision making
process and in the planning process for post-secondary studies, both in Germany and abroad, from our
College Counselor during individual consultation sessions. The following IB DP courses are available for
our students to choose from for the 2015/2016 school year:
IB Course Offerings
SUBJECT
Block 1 –
English
SL
English A
Literature
English A
Language &
Literature
HL NOTES
Language A is for native speakers or speakers with high
fluency. Most of our students take ENG & GER A. In this
case, you must choose one LIT course and one LANG &
LIT course. Most students choose LIT in their stronger language.
English B
Block 2 –
German
German A
Literature
German A
Language &
Literature
German B
German ab
initio
Block 3 –
Humanities
Economics
History
Geography*
Newsletter 05/2015 | © Berlin Metropolitan School
Language B is for students who have studied a language for
2-3 years (B SL) or 4-5 years (B HL).
Language ab initio (SL only) is for beginners or those with
very little experience of a language.
KMK IB: You cannot choose Language ab initio or Language B SL in either Block 1 or 2.
If you select Geography, please indicate a second choice
here:
Second Choice: ___________________
2
Block 4 –
Sciences
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Block 5 Maths
Maths Studies
Block 6 –
Arts &
Electives
Visual Arts
Maths
Theatre*
Spanish B
French B
Business &
Management*
If you want to take two sciences, you can choose Chemistry
or Physics here and Biology in block 6.
KMK IB: If you want to study at university in Germany, you
must take either your science subject OR mathematics at
HL.
KMK IB: If you want to study at university in Germany, you
must take either your science subject OR mathematics at
HL. You cannot choose
Maths Studies SL.
If you choose a subject marked with an asterisk, please
make a second selection here:
Second Choice: ___________________
For a description of language levels see notes in Blocks
1&2 above.
Philosophy*
Biology
What the final examinations are to our students in grade 10, the transition from Primary School into Secondary School is for our students in grade 5. This is a big step that brings with it many changes. On the
one hand, these changes affect academic requirements that become more demanding with the transition
into Secondary School; on the other hand, the social and emotional challenges that come from the change
of the until now familiar classroom and timetable structure present a challenge for our 10-year-olds. It
is our goal to best prepare all students for this important step in their development and to provide them
with support in this transition process. In preparation, we have evaluated experiences over the past years
through discussions with students, parents and our teaching team, and have let this feedback flow into the
further development of our program. As a result, we will set up the grade 6 program as a hybrid between
the structure of the Primary and Secondary Schools and have already strengthened our staff and expanded our team of specialists for this age group. With this adjustment, we are preparing for a next developmental step, which includes keeping the grade 6 class in the Primary School. This will be implemented
in the 2016/17 school year and will thereby align our structure with that of the German system as well as
with common international school structures. With this structural change, Primary School will include the
grades 1-6 and Secondary will begin with the transition to grade 7. With the improved program for our
current grade 5s, we are laying the foundation for this structural change.
We are looking forward to having 60 new students in the future grade 6 class and hope that the transition
will be successful for each student. The dates and details for the upcoming information evenings and
diverse activities for the preparation of our students will be made available to you in a timely manner.
The step for our Primary School students when they transition into the secondary level is as big as the
step for our preschoolers when they enter into grade 1. As the majority of our future grade 1 students are
already learning in the Preschool, they are being prepared under the supervision of our Preschool team
and our grade 1 teaching team. This year, on September 5, 2015 we will once again celebrate Einschulung
as 88 students start grade 1 at BMS. For this, there will be preparatory parent evenings and various activities to prepare our preschoolers. The details will be provided to you as soon as possible and the invitations
for the Einschulung ceremony will also be sent to you in the days ahead.
In the way in which we are preparing our students for the next development steps, we are also preparing
our institution for the next school year. Currently, the composition of our teaching team is our greatest
priority. As BMS is still in its organic growth phase, we will again be reinforcing our staff in the Secondary
School. Next school year, we will be expanding with 16 new special subject teachers who we need in order
to implement the complex program in the Secondary School with the variety of courses in the IB Diploma
Programme. We will be filling 35 new positions in total. As a result, we are currently investing a great deal
of time and concentration on attracting the best teachers for our school. Due to the quality of our program
and the growing reputation of BMS, we can select from a large applicant pool of optimally trained and
skilled professionals. In the past 18 months, we looked at the strategic goal, “BMS is attractive for an
ambitious staff and student community”, (see strategic goals 2015-18) and further developed our offers
for teachers together with a group of teacher representatives. We have already implemented several of the
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measures to improve working conditions for our teachers and could thereby enhance the attractiveness of
BMS for qualified professionals from both Germany and abroad. The majority of contracts have been put
in place and as such we can already look forward to working with several interesting new staff members
with great expertise.
Arising from our strategic goal to “do justice by each student”, we will be structurally building up
our Student Support Section this year. Due to the programs and diplomas that we offer our students, BMS is already addressing the highest academic quality that can be addressed in the Primary and
Secondary School levels. It is now our goal and our challenge to implement these ambitious programs on
a daily basis with the highest level of quality and for the implementation quality to undergo permanent
critical reflection. This includes the best possible support and individual advancement of particularly
high-achieving students and the effective support of underachieving students. As we have not yet fulfilled
our expectations in this area, we will be developing our opportunities for individual advancement and will
thus be structurally investing in this issue in the year ahead. For the coming school year, we have hired
a Head of Student Support, who will build a strong team of people with diverse skills for the support of
our students, will implement a training program for teachers and educators, and will initiate an advisory
service for parents.
Besides the investment in structures, we will also be making extensive investments in the IT area and
in the expansion and modernization of our building. It has surely not escaped your attention that we are
currently restoring the washrooms in the area near Torstraße. The first floors have already been completed
and, as far as we can tell, students are very pleased with the new amenities. This construction project
is the preliminary step for extensive renovations in the summer months, the result of which will be the
creation of four new classrooms and new offices, and through which a further qualitative improvement
for the learning environment will be implemented. You will be informed about the details for the planned
building projects in due time.
In past newsletters, we informed you that beyond the upgrades and improvements in our existing buildings, we are planning an additional building project together with the architectural firm Sauerbruch und
Hutton. I am pleased to inform you that we have now received the building permit for our extension. This
building permit is an important milestone in our school’s development. With the permit for our planned
construction project, the growth and further development of BMS is secured in the long term. However, as
this process took four months longer than expected and planned, we have missed the intended timeframe
for the timely implementation of this construction project. To ensure that we do not interfere as our first
grade 12 graduating class completes their IB Diploma examinations, we will refrain from starting these
building projects this summer. In light of these considerations, we plan to start building in summer 2016.
We will use the time until then to prepare for this extensive building project as best as possible. Negotiations for the contracting of the project are already well underway and the signing of a corresponding service contract will take place soon. In the meantime, we will ensure that the necessary space requirements
for the coming school year are met. We are confident that we will be implementing a big developmental
step both qualitatively as well as conceptually in the coming year.
You will especially be able to notice these conceptual readjustments in our afternoon program in the
Primary School. These modifications are motivated by realizations emerging from conversations with
parents, students, and our teams of teachers and educators. This feedback and our need to increase
safety for our students in the afternoon, further develop the quality of the program, further alignment of
the the school and the afternoon program, as well as to further develop the service level provided to our
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families, will influence the new concept of our afternoon program offerings. We will inform you about these
changes in a timely manner.
In addition to the shaping of our structure and the expansion of our building, the third determining investment theme is the organization of further IT resources, the digitalization of further parts of our curriculum,
the implementation of school management software, the added upgrading of our IT infrastructure, and the
adjustment of our working and learning culture. In the past months, we laid critical foundations for the further development and the digitalization of our program. The ManageBac system has now been completely
implemented into all areas of the school, intelligent filter software has been installed, a training program
for our teachers is planned, and the future learning environment for our students is currently being evaluated. We are engaged in exchange with specialists and providers, but also with various school models
that have chosen different digitalization approaches. Along with the digitalization, we are reworking our
offerings for our students within the different age groups in the area of IT skills, the implementation of
teaching programs, and the integration of coding skills in our teaching programs.
I would like to use this Quarterly Newsletter to again thank you for the impressive aid provided to the
refugees of the Elisabethhaus. With your support – starting with the fundraising campaign during the winter concert and the gift campaign before the Christmas holidays – we were able to provide much joy and
could extend active neighbourhood assistance. As announced, we implemented and have now already
further developed our sports project with your donations. Every Wednesday and Saturday, we make our
sports hall available to young students from the refugee home of the St. Hedwig hospital and with your
donations we have purchased the necessary equipment for them. The teams now have running shoes and
jerseys that can be borrowed for each game. The trainers and counselors of the refugee home have provided us with confirmation that our sports program and the equipment have had a very positive influence
on the process of settling in for both the students and families. With our involvement, we have given joy to
many people, have provided them with a goal, and have extended a sign of welcome. Thank you for your
contribution and for your engagement!
In the meantime, we have expanded our support and have taken in refugee children from different countries – from the Preschool through to the Secondary School. These students come to us with traumatic
experiences, are often separated from their families and do not know what their futures will bring. These
are destinies that are difficult for us to understand. Currently, we are looking after one young student in our
Secondary School who fought his way from Syria to Germany on his own and on foot. What a moving story!
In turn, we as a school wish to provide help in a way that is quick and uncomplicated; I ask for your understanding should last-minute changes be made to your children’s class communities due to short planning
and preparation times. I would like to thank everyone who is supporting the familiarization process of our
refugee children and all those who helping us in giving them a little joy and hope.
The last weeks were characterized by many activities and projects that are, in each case, an expression
of the different talents and interests of our students as well as of our strong school community. Within the
scope of the Art Show, we had the opportunity to admire an interesting cross section of student work and
to see the development from Preschool through to the exam pieces created by our students in grade 11.
The solar eclipse gave us an interesting morning that was made into an especially impressive experience
through the support of our parents from the MINT association. The many experiments surrounding this
experience were inspiring for all of us. The participation and curiosity of our students as well as their level
of ingenuity were impressive. Over the past weeks, interesting collaborations with the Charité and the Max
Born Foundation took place in the field of the sciences and have surely made a lasting impression on our
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Secondary School students. The same is true for the stimulating TOK lectures for students in grade 11
for which we welcomed representatives from the different areas of life. An engaging event for our parents
was surely the past round table discussions about such topics as “Bilingual Learning” and “Adolescence”,
which gave us the opportunity to have a conversation with experts from each respective area of expertise.
We will continue with these roundtable discussions in the coming academic year.
The coming weeks will not be any less interesting or active! I invite you to join us for the final sprint to the
finish line. We will be using the last weeks of the 2014/15 school year to provide your children with the best
support possible, to challenge and to encourage them, and to continue to inspire their learning.
For now, I would like to thank you for your support and for the productive collaboration and would like to
direct your attention to two current projects: As you know, we will be undergoing the reevaluation for our
Primary Years Programme in October of this year and are intensively preparing ourselves for this evaluation. In order to collect your opinions regarding our programs, we will be contacting our community in the
coming days and weeks for your feedback, to collect your opinions on certain key areas, or simply to invite
you to collaborate with us directly. I thank you in advance for your feedback. The second project is related
to our website to which we have made a few updates. Please feel free to visit us at
www.metropolitanschool.com.
I look forward to your feedback!
Silke Friedrich
Executive Director
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