Libuš Newsletter [20/09/2019]

Dear Parents,

Over the past two weeks, Key Stage 3 students have been on their Expedition and the feedback I have received has been very positive. The atmosphere in Vlastina and Kamyk is very different after the trips and so positive. New friendships have been formed, existing ones reinforced and new students have been made to feel part of our community. Year 10’s and Year 12’s will go next week and I hope that they too find it a great experience.

Clubs have now started and children are getting used to the new routines. There is a wide range of clubs on offer, something for everyone! Buses continue to be a challenge, so another plea from me. Please let school know if there are any changes to your child’s routine that can affect the buses. This and traffic is the main cause of bus delays.

Student leadership elections are taking place over the new few weeks. We feel that student voice is very important in school and I would encourage all students to be involved.

Finally, our new fitness suite has been opened in Libus. It will be available to students during their PE lessons, clubs or CAS activity. It will be located on the bottom corridor next to the café until the new Sports and Exercise area is completed which is expected to be in November.

Michael Bardsley
Principal

Message from the Head

Week 3 thoughts…

School is really getting underway now. Students are refocussing their study habits and getting involved in all that we have to offer. I can hear music down the corridors, students rehearsing in the atrium and serious discussions and debates being had on both academic and global issues. The atmosphere is positive and thriving. This week the students launched their elections and eloquently motivated their peers to take up positions and get more involved in the school life whilst developing skills in leadership, communication, problem solving, negotiation and teamwork; amongst many. I strongly encourage students to ‘challenge their limits’ in all that they do and not to focus always on the ‘now’ but to plan the next steps ahead, to longer term goals. Sometimes we can get too bogged down with what’s happening today and miss opportunities. I would like the students to think about the challenges they have and how they will overcome them. What ‘storms’ are they facing and how are they learning to dance? Pause for thought…

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the Y10 and Y12 students a fabulous time on their residential trips and hope, if time allows, to get out and join you.

Wishing a great weekend to you all

Jane Cordes

Head of Libuš Campus

Kamyk and Libus Friends

This week we held our first Kamyk and Libus Friends Committee Meeting. We discussed the calendar for the year as well as the upcoming Halloween Disco. Minutes from the meeting are here. If you would like to get involved in the organising of events, please contact anthony.peachment@pbis.cz

Friends Social Event 27th September

Come and join us for a night of wine and Tuscan cuisine in Vinohrady on Friday 27th September. A wonderful opportunity to meet other parents from all three campuses. More details here

Places are limited. Sign up here.

Transport update

Dear parents of children traveling on the Průhonice shuttle bus,

Due to roadworks and heavy traffic around Průhonice and Kunratrická spojka, please note that there will be a 5 minutes earlier departure time for the Průhonice shuttle bus in the morning. Please make sure your child(ren) is (are) ready to board the Průhonice shuttle bus before 7:40 am.

The new departure time will be 7:40 am as from Monday 23^rd September 2019 until further notice.

Thank you for your understanding.

I wish you a lovely weekend,

Berlin Trip

Twenty four year 11 pupils took part in a joint history/geography visit to Berlin last week. The pupils arrived at Berlin Hauptbahnhof on Thursday lunchtime and spent two nights in the German capital visiting a number of sites linked to their IGCSE curriculums. These included an exhibition on Weimar Germany, the Holocaust Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie as well as some field work for the geographers. The pupils' attitude and conduct was outstanding and they were a credit to themselves and to the school.

Instrumental lessons at Libus Campus

Instrument lessons have started at Libus campus and we have slots available for woodwind, piano and guitar students. If you are interested and for more information, please contact Ms Donaldson, sheonagh.donaldson@pbis.cz.

Whole School Maximum Music Weekend - Sign Up Now Open!

Only three weeks to go, sign-up is open for the PBIS Maximum Music event on Saturday 12th October. This is the first event of its kind, gathering together musicians in years 3-13 from Vlastina, Libus and Kamyk, for a day of music making and workshops. All the PBIS music teachers will be there, leading choir and instrumental rehearsals, with some visiting musicians dropping in throughout the day.

https://pbis.fireflycloud.net/the-arts-3/music/pbis-maximum-music-weekend

School ensemble clubs are already rehearsing and the singing repertoire can be found on the Maximum Music page on the VLE. If your child would like to participate in the choir, or plays an orchestral instrument but isn’t in a musical ensemble - we recognise that there are clashes with some clubs, please e mail ailsa.frazer@pbis.cz.

If there are parents who would like to participate either in choir or orchestra, also just send an e mail to the address above!

Student Leadership Launch Assembly

Yesterday morning we held our launch assembly for student council and other leadership positions. Our Head Students – Jefta, Adam V and Sean – spoke to the student body about the importance of student leadership in the school, as well as how vital it is for pupils to use their interests and ambitions to make a difference for all in school life. Ilike stressed the importance of the school’s house system and ways in which house leaders can really make a difference in encouraging school spirit. Adam L, Head of Student Council, and Joseph L, who served as Year 10 representative last year highlighted the accomplishments and the continued significance of the student council in driving change from the student body.

All interested students in the other available leadership posts – House Captain, Head of Events & Charities, Ambassador of Eco, STEAM, Juilliard and Global Goals – should consider how they would be an asset to the school in these particular respective areas and be ready to fill in their application as soon as these are published.

We encourage as many students as possible to look into applying for these rewarding posts!

Applications and information can be found on the VLE – follow this link:

https://pbis.fireflycloud.net/student-leaders/student-council/student-council-libus/application-for-student-council-representative-2019-2020

Applications close on 27^th September 2019. Campaigns run from 30^th September to the 4^th October with elections on 7^th October.

An opportunity to change ‘I Could’ into ‘I Have’ as Ms Cordes promoted.

Students share their voice at the Climate Strike

On Friday 20^th September, a large number of our students took part in the #FridaysForFuture climate strike in Prague.

The Fridays for Future movement began in August 2018 when 15 year old Greta Thunberg sat in front of the Swedish parliament every school day for three weeks to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis. Our students who attended the strike also aimed to raise their voices in asking parliaments to develop viable climate policies in line with the Paris agreement.

A number of our teachers supported the students in their protest and offered reflection sessions at the end of the strike for those who participated. They considered the power of peaceful protest and the importance of being open-minded in considering other people’s perspectives when developing policies and projects for change.

We hope this event, and the climate action week in Prague, will inspire critical debate across the Libuš school community about climate change and encourage people to share a range of opinions and perspectives on the situation.

Since taking on her role as student leader of the strikes in PBIS, our student, Ilike Kumsova was invited to speak at the UN regarding her vision of quality education. You can see her comments on this and the climate strikes here at the opening of EcoSoc on 16 July 2019.

University and careers department

This Monday, students enjoyed the Open day at the Faculty of Social Sciences, one of the 8 faculties of Charles University in Prague. After an info sessions, students could take part in a model lesson, take a tour around the faculty and ask questions about programs taught in English, application process, requirements etc. Lately, the Czech Universities, both state and private offer more and more interesting and well accredited courses in English, and Czech Republic became destination number two of study at University, after UK.

Students, who are interested to study in US, had the chance to attend an info and demo session of a preparatory course for SAT on Thursday lunchtime. SAT are standardised test required by most US Universities. Sometimes, they are optional, but they often provide a chance for CP students or for DP student with lower IB score to be used for their application to top US (and some European) Universities. Therefore, we strongly encourage students to sit these test. Course will be run by external provider, GMAT, and it will take place at school once or twice a week, depending on students’ interest and availability. If you missed the session or for more information, contact Ms. Wilburn or Ms. Choc.

PERFORMING ARTS at LIBUŠ

The year 13 IB Careers Program Performing Arts students are Directing three one act plays for performances on October 16-18. At Libuš over 20 students and teachers auditioned. Sean Renwick, the director of Lockdown by Douglas Craven says “ we were blown away by the talent that we saw”. Natassia Bustamante also held auditions at Kamyk for the KS3 students, giving them an opportunity to participate as dancers and younger children in the play I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Celeste Raspanti about Terezin during WWII. The directors cast almost everyone who auditioned with Alina Kurmakaeva, director of The Little Prince, based on the story by Antoine St.Exupery, re-writing her script to include more characters. Rehearsals are now in full swing at lunch and afterschool with a short rehearsal schedule. Stay tuned for more details as we near our production dates!

Reminders:

• Uniform is getting better but we should not see any jeans, jeggings or leggings
• Mobile phones are not to be used once inside the building
• Y12/13 - some still need to think more about what is appropriate for a work/business environment.
• Students should have a Microsoft compatible device to work on in school
• Lunch cards – if they are lost then get these replaced and there will be a zero tolerance on negative balances from 1^st October 2019. Students will not be able to purchase food if they have no credit.
• Y10 go on residential on Monday and Y12 on Wednesday. Please make sure that they have the right kit. There are no lessons in school for these year groups.

PBIS (Libus) Extra-Curricular Sports Timetable

Term 1

Prague British International School
Address: Brunelova 12 | 140 00 Prague 4 | Czech Republic
Tel: + 420 226 096 100

jane.cordes@pbis.cz