BSA Bulletin
Annual Newspaper of the British School of Amsterdam
A Letter from the Principal. For enquiries
telephone 020
Chairman of the Board of Governors awarded an M.B.E 6797840 or visit
www.britams.nl
Third Edition — July 2006
Photographs taken by and
reproduced with permission
from
Ms. A Seveno-Weideman
seveno@planet.nl
Inside this issue
additional laboratories for science and
Dear Parents,
ICT, a large music room with individual Shake, Rattle, Roll 2
The end of the academic year is fast ap- practice cells, a design technology studio,
proaching, and once again the school has
Martin Waddell 3
a library with study units and additional
experienced a very successful year. There classrooms. The extension is due to open Charity Week,
4
have been achievements on both personal in September and we look forward to of-
levels and as a school as a whole—there fering such facilities to your children.
A Nursery Rhyme
5
are too many to mention in this short Preparations to offer IGCSE have been
Christmas—Nursery
space but I would like to offer my con- completed and Pupils in Year 9 have now
A Christmas Journey—Year
6
1
gratulations to Mr. K. McCarthy the selected their options and will start their
chairman of the Board of Governors who Photo Shoot 7
coursework in preparation for the IGCSEs
was awarded an M.B.E for his services to that they will sit in 2008. Photo Shoot 8
British education in the Netherlands in
Thank you for your support to the school, The Snowman Band
the Queen’s New Year Honor’s List. Mr. 9
McCarthy joined the Board of Governors M.W. G. Roberts Year 2
Xmas Around the World
in 1992 when his daughter was a pupil at 10
Year 4
the school and has continued to serve as
Our Day Out
Chairman until today. We are very grate- 11
Key Stage 3
ful for his continued loyalty and support
The School Choir
to the school. 12
If you have children at the Middle School The King’s Birthday Cake
13
Reception
you will have noticed that the extension
to the Middle School is well underway. Humpty Dumpty
14
The architect’s impressions show you how
the school will look from the outside, in- Year 4 and 5 Field Trip
15
ternally the new extension includes two Field Trip Year 6-9 16
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 1
Shake, Rattle and Roll!
Shake, Rattle and Roll are probably the noisiest The music ranged from Spanish marimba melo-
visitors who have ever visited the British School dies, to military marches to beautiful Brazilian
of Amsterdam. Jim Bernadin and Paul Whitting- tunes. Some children were chosen to have a go
ton, who make up the musical duo, came to the at improvising on the drum kit. Mrs. Boyle, Miss
Nursery and Infant School on Wednesday 29th Rowley, Mr. Handisyde and Mrs. Rogers also
September and to the Junior School the follow- bravely had a turn at improvising. After the
ing day. shows the classes all took turns to have a music
Both days began with a hilarious show involving workshop with Jim and Paul. Here they prac-
jokes, juggling, audience participation and fan- tised various rhythms using first their bodies
tastic music all played on percussion instruments. and voices and then using the instruments. Eve-
Children heard the marimba, drum kit, cowbell, rybody got to have a turn and the results were
snare drum, whistles, maracas and many, many amazing. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed Shake,
more percussion instruments played at super high Rattle and Roll and we hope to arrange another
speeds. visit in the not too distant future.
Children at the Junior and Infant Schools taking part in the music workshops.
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 2
Author Visit—Martin Waddell.
In October the children at the British School cele- Can’t you sleep Little Bear?, Farmer Duck and The
brated ‘Book Week’ and all their literacy lessons Pig in the Pond. At the Junior school, Martin
throughout the week focused on different book re- Waddell told the children all about his life and work
lated activities. The children at the Nursery/Infant as an author. The children got to ask him questions
School made a class book each while the Junior school about his books and the children in Year 4 who had
studied a particular book and ran a book cover compe- been researching authors on the internet were able
tition. At the end of the week, the author Martin to impress Martin Waddell by showing him how much
Waddell came to visit and read to the children and they knew about him. He read books to each year
talked about his books. The children at the Nurs- group and talked more about each book, for example
ery/Infant School loved him reading some of their all the different Quacks in Farmer Duck…….everyone
favourite books which he has written, these included had great fun joining in with these.
Gruiten Project
The ‘Gruiten’ tour bus visited the children at the British
School of Amsterdam, in association with the Gruiten
Project. This national project is designed to promote
healthy eating in children and to combat obesity which is
becoming a growing problem in society today. In particu-
lar, the project aims to encourage children to eat at least
two pieces of fruit each day. Speakers explained the im-
portance of healthy eating to the children and encour-
aged them to take part in the project. As an incentive, all
the children were presented with a special lunch box
which is designed especially to allow fruit to easily fit.
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 3
Charity Week
The children, parents and staff at a sponsored spell. Pupils paid money raised was donated to the chosen
the British School of Amsterdam to have their hair braided and to causes.
have always generously supported wear silly make up. In the Junior
any fund raising events at the school School the children covered an out-
and this term proved no exception. line of Mr. Handisyde’s head with
In response to the two world disas- coins, made € job boxes in school
ters that sadly occurred in the Au- and earned a euro for every job they
tumn term, namely Hurricane Katrina did at home. They took part in a
and the earthquake in Pakistan, and sponsored silent read and made
in continued support of the BBC’s cakes for a cake sale. In the Infant
Children in Need, and the ‘Sisters of School children covered an outline
Charity ‘in Amsterdam the school of Pudsey Bear in coins, they took
organized a Charity Week during part in a non-uniform day. They
BBC Children in Need
November and as a result raised al- made cakes and sold them at play-
Children raised money by selling
most €10,000. Different events times. Just as the children in the tickets to win a
were organized in each school. In Junior school they made € job Pudsey.
the Middle School, the children ran boxes .At the end of term, collec-
cake, toy and book sales. They or- tions were made at the end of each
ganized a book swap and took part in Christmas production and all money
Sinterklaas
"Zie ginds komt de stoomboot
uit Spanje weer aan.
Hij brengt on Sint-Nicolaas,
ik zie hem al staan.
Hoe huppelt zijn paardje
het dek op en neer,
hoe waaien de wimpels
al heen en al weer."
Sinterklaas paid a visit to all the children at
the British School of Amsterdam on Monday
5th of December. He was welcomed by their
singing of traditional Dutch songs and was
entertained by some children at the Junior
school who played musical pieces for him.
Sinterklaas was accompanied by two ‘Bonte
Piet’, who threw handfuls of pepernoten and
What is written in Sinterklaas’ Sinterklaasje, bonne bonne,
helped to hand out presents for everyone.
book? bonne,
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 4
A Nursery Rhyme Christmas - Nursery
Dear Father Christmas….. Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall……. Little Bo Peep...
There was an air of anticipation and excitement in All the children asked Father Christmas for a
the Nursery/Infant School hall as proud parents character from different nursery rhymes. The
waited for their children to perform their Christ- elves personally delivered the letters to Father
mas Production ‘A Nursery Rhyme Christmas’ for Christmas and then set about making all the toys in
the second time this week. The Nursery produc- the toy factory ensuring that all the wishes were
tion involves careful planning on a large scale. It is granted. The Nursery children had all chosen the
by no means easy to ensure that every child (many toys they wanted to play and were dressed up as
of whom are only 3 years old and have been in the characters such as Spiders, from ‘Incey Wincey
Nursery for just one term) has a part to play as Spider’, mice from ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’ and
well as a costume and a hat! The parents were not soldiers from ‘The Grand Old Duke of York’ etc.
to be disappointed, the production, as always The children obviously enjoyed the opportunity to
proved a huge success. At the start of the per- perform on the stage and danced and sang with
formance the children posted letters to Father great enthusiasm and thoroughly entertained the
Christmas, expressing their Christmas wishes. audience.
Twinkle Twinkle... The Finale—We wish you a merry Christmas….. Father Christmas.
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 5
A Christm as Journey - Y ear One
A Christmas Journey - Year One
The children in Year One this year re-told the The children and staff had obviously spent a
traditional Christmas story of the Nativity by long time preparing for the production from
combining two tales—’Humph the Camel’ and ‘The learning the script, the songs and the dances to
sleepy Shepherd’ . Humph the grumpy camel nor- the more ‘behind the scenes’ organisation in-
mally shows not the slightest interest in any- cluding the costumes and the painting of the
thing. However, to everyone's surprise and de- scenery. All the hard work most definitely paid
light, when he meets the new-born King off. The children gave a wonderful per-
he just can't contain his excitement and formance of which they should be very
joy! The sleepy shepherd lives up to his proud. The children looked splendid in
name, he cannot stay awake for any- their costumes and the dance with the
thing, he even falls asleep counting his ‘illuminated wands gave the most magi-
sheep. However as the story unfolds, he cal effect and left everyone feeling the
does at least discover that Christmas is spirit of Christmas.
definitely worth staying awake for.
Star of Wonder. The shepherds watched their flocks by night. Bringing gold, frankincense
and myrrh.
1,2,3,4,5 sheep The Finale Magical Dancers
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 6
Photo Shoot!
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 7
Photo Shoot!
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 8
The Snowman Band - Year Two
Year 2 pulled out all the stops and we had our very own “Snowman Band”. Jack
amazed us all with their wonderful per- Frost used his magic dust to bring them
formance of “The Snowman Band”. They alive and play their instruments for us all. A
filled the hall to bursting point with proud rather beautiful sun in a stunning costume
parents, brothers, sisters and friends. then warmed us all, but sadly melted the
The story built up with a range of people snowmen who had melted the hearts of the
young and old enjoying the activity of audience. With all the heat generated by
building a snowman. Each time the snow- the cheering and clapping of the apprecia-
man was left with a musical instrument. tive audience, I’m amazed the snowmen did-
Towards the end of the performance, n’t melt earlier! Can’t wait for the next
there were 8 snowmen, each with a dif- snowfall in Amsterdam… Let it Snow, Let it
ferent musical instrument and hey presto, Snow, Let it Snow!!!
‘Sadly, the sun melted all the snowmen.’
‘Jack Frost bought the snowmen to life.’
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 9
Christmas Around the World—Year Four
The children in Year Four performed ‘Christmas the production was clear, that whether you actu-
Around the World’ to a packed and highly appre- ally celebrate Christmas yourself, regardless of
ciative audience at the end of the term. The where you live in the world and how individuals
children took the audience on a lively trip around choose to celebrate it, Christmas is a very special
the world and explained on their journey how time of year for some people. It is a cause for
Christmas is celebrated in different countries. celebration, a time for giving and a time for re-
Children danced the flamenco, showing how flection.
Christmas is celebrated in Spain, Christmas in The children in Year Four put on a great perform-
Hawaii was spent on the beach. A Chinese dragon ance and thoroughly entertained the audience.
dance illustrated how the festival is celebrated They acted and sang with great confidence and
in China and American children showed the audi- obvious enjoyment. The costumes and scenery all
ence how to ‘Rock and Roll’ and had many parents added to the overall effect - a performance to
dancing on their feet. The message throughout remember and to be proud of!
Celebrations around the world from Hawaii to Spain, from India to Africa.
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 10
Our Day Out- Key Stage 3
Pupils in Years 7-9 performed ‘Our Day Out’ at the end taken on a day’s outing by their teachers. The children
of the Autumn term. This play, by acclaimed writer boisterously rampage through a roadside café, a zoo,
Willy Russell, was first seen on BBC 2 in 1977 and has Conway castle and a beach. A joyous celebration of the
now been specially edited for use by schools, colleges joys and agonies of growing up, but also a sharp pointer
and groups. Sad, humorous and true to life it tells the to the depressing present and future, for a day out is as
story of some underprivileged school children who are much as these children can expect.
What the cast had to say…...
I was one of The Bored Girls and I was always The play last year was The Bluez Brothers. We
saying “It’s boring, it’s really boring, it’s bloom- sang along to a CD and people thought that Key
ing boring!” Even after the play was over, I kept Stage 3 children can’t sing like Key Stage 2 chil-
on saying it during the school day for fun! The dren. In fact, in Our Day Out we did all the sing-
play was based in Liverpool and the students in ing ourselves. I think the props were good too,
Key Stage 3 played the parts of children in the like the fake cigarettes, the candyfloss and the
Progress Class at a school. Mrs Kay, their kiss-me-quick hats. The cast performed very well,
teacher, organises a trip to Conway Castle, call- but I want to say thank you to Miku for reminding
ing at Chester Zoo on the way. Mr Briggs is sent me of my lines – I almost forgot them because I
with them to keep an eye on Mrs Kay and to was so nervous!
make sure the kids behave. Junghwa Lee 9AL
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 11
Our Day Out - Key Stage 3
When we first read through the script, I thought it
was a good story, but I didn’t think it was going to turn
out successfully because some people didn’t learn their
lines. When the performance started we were all very
nervous and I nearly forgot the lines. I was playing “a
kid” and by the time it was my turn to speak I wasn’t
that nervous. I think our production of “Our Day Out”
by Willie Russell was very good – it was the best play
ever. I especially liked the fact that we did it to-
gether.—Kan Nagahata 8FM
The School Choir—Carols at Christmas
The British School of Amsterdam school choir sang car- Miss M. Kennedy who accompanied the choir on the pi-
ols under the Christmas tree at the Hilton Hotel and in ano. Visitors at the Hilton hotel were encouraged to join
the Begijnhof church during the lead up to the festive in with some of the more familiar carols, and many did
season. They were well received at both venues and as so, although not everyone sang in tune! There were also
always, sang exceptionally well under the direction of solo and duet flute performances which everyone en-
Mrs. Cowie the choir mistress, Mrs. Reynolds and joyed.
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 12
The King’s Birthday Cake—Reception
The children in the Reception classes performed the
‘King’s Birthday Cake’ to a packed and very appreciative
audience at the end of the Spring Term. The King’s
Birthday Cake was written and composed by Mrs. Stout,
the music director at the school and was originally per-
formed at the British School in 2001. Some of the origi-
nal cast remain at the school and are now in Year 4! The
story is set in the Royal Palace. The King wakes up on
the morning of his birthday looking forward to his day
ahead - a day filled with party games, entertainment,
For the next act, please presents and of course, most importantly—a cake fit for
welcome…… a King. However, in all her planning the Queen has for-
gotten to organize the cake, so hurriedly rushes to the
Royal bakers and orders one post haste. However it will Windmills from Amsterdam
take at least four hours to mix the ingredients, to bake
the cake and to decorate it, so the Queen has to
stretch out the entertainment until the cake is finally
ready. The King gets a little impatient waiting for the
cake but the wait is certainly worth it because it looks
fantastic and it is delicious. The children gave a fantas-
tic performance, they had all learnt the words to the
songs and sang beautifully, they dance with obvious en-
joyment and delivered their lines with great confidence.
A special thank must be said to everyone who helped
with the costumes, they were absolutely stunning.
The Cast The Royal Bakers
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Humpty Dumpty—Year Three
As the lights went down, the audience ap- ing judge, Little Jack Horner, Jack and
plauded the arrival of the Year Three ac- Jill, The Duke of York and his Brigade and
tors as they took to the stage for their many other familiar nursery rhyme char-
annual spring production. The show, acters all brought to life to help tell the
“Humpty Dumpty – was he pushed or did he tale of what turns out to be a tragic acci-
fall?” was based upon a court case to dis- dent.
cover who, if anybody, was responsible for The show was enjoyed by all and demon-
the historic fall of the great egg! The strated the hard work of all those in-
show was a singing and dancing volved in the production of this memora-
‘eggstravaganza’ enhanced by ‘eggcellent’ ble show. After two performances to a
costumes kindly created by a talented packed hall the children hung up their
group of parents and a bright, colourful costumes for the last time. If only it was
backdrop that was also the work of some so easy to pack the songs away too – the
kind volunteers. teachers all agreed they just wanted to
The children rose to the challenge of live be able to wake up without singing
Humpty Dumpty.
performance and entertained the audience “We are fine organic sheep, we belong to
with their singing, acting and comic ad-libs. Was he pushed or did he
little Bo-Peep!”
Besides Humpty himself, there was an ag- fall?
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 14
Year Four and Five Field Trip
Staff and children from Years Four and Five Just when they were thinking the trip couldn’t
had a fun packed visit to ‘De Peelhaas’ in Yssel- get any better, Wednesday bought them to the
steyn in Noord Limburg. The weather was kind Toverland theme park, where there really was
all week and the facilities at the camp were something for everyone. Evenings were as fun-
amazing (despite having to do all the washing packed as the days with an orienteering activity,
up!) Full use was made of the huge field and a Cluedo ‘Whodunnit?’ mystery, Bingo and Beetle
woodland areas both for structured activities games as well as a talent and karaoke evening.
and during free time. On the Monday evening The year Five children also took advantage of
the children enjoyed a sports tournament includ- staying an extra day and took a trip to a war and
ing volleyball, rounders, a blind fold ‘Night line’ resistance museum and had a quiz evening. A
walk and the unusual Peel Golf (something like video record of the week will feature in the
crazy golf through the woods with a clog on the school’s end of year exhibition. A provisional
end of a wooden stick.) On the Tuesday the chil- booking has been made for next years camp:
dren visited a Bell museum, a Nature museum, a week commencing Monday 7th May 2007……..
Planetarium and Observatory and also went on a See you there.
woodland walk.
The blind folded ‘Night Line’ walk The Bell Museum
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 15
Middle School News
School Camp Years 6-9—Nautilus Sailing Camp
Years 6 to 9 went in June to Kerkdriel near Den Bosch to Nautilus Sailing
Camp. There pupils had the opportunity to sail, canoe, climb, go on a zip wire
and skate. They had to work in teams to build a raft to sail across a short
distance of water—some rafts were more sea worthy than others and
though most pupils made it to the other side, some rafts sank and the pu-
pils had to be rescued by launch. In addition to this, they went on a long
walk by the river Maas and took part in a games circuit which included a
gladiator game and a bungee-run. They also worked in teams against each
other to build a tower out of beer crates. Great fun!
Spelling Bee!
On Friday 30th June the first ever Spelling Bee Final was held at the Middle/Secondary
School. Heats were held within the form groups in Years 4 to 9 and the finalists took part
in a nail-biting competition held in the Middle School Hall. In the preliminary heats, words
were spelt from a list of about 300 words which the children had had the opportunity to
learn in the weeks leading up to the final. The final round involved spelling words which were
unknown to the competitors. After a very tense round, the winner was Mayuko Mikogami in
6RC. Her prize was a set of cinema tickets for 4 people. We would like to congratulate
Mayuko on her success and look forward to next year’s competition. Well done to everyone
who took part.
Accredited Centre
From September 2006 we will move for the first time into Key Stage 4. Children in
Year 9 have made their options selections and will begin their courses of study lead-
ing to IGCSE examinations in June 2008. The School is now an accredited centre for
both Cambridge University examinations and Edexcel examinations up to Advanced
Level. You will have noticed that work is in progress for the new extension to the
Middle School. Log onto the BSA Middle School weblog to watch how the building is
progressing. The new building is on course to be in use in September. The school looks
forward to offering new and exciting facilities to its pupils.
Cathedral School Chelmsford ‘Joseph’
On 27th June the children from the Cathedral Years 5 and 6 have been working very
School in Chelmsford in Essex visited us again. They hard on their production of Joseph
were in Holland for their annual summer camp. Dur- and his Amazing Technicolor Dream-
ing the morning they performed some pieces from coat. All the Key Stage 2 teachers
their forthcoming summer production, Midsummer have been working hard too to make
Night’s Dream. The children in Years 7,8 and 9 put this the most ambitious production
together a Crazy Sports programme for the second
ever. Special thanks are due to Mrs
part of the morning for all the Year 5 and 6 children
van Akker for the hours of time that
at the school and our visitors. We hope they will
she has devoted to producing the cos-
visit us again next year. In the coming year we will
tumes and props and to other parents
maintain links with the Cathedral School through a
shared weblog and then next summer the “e-friends”
who have contributed to making Jo- Children on the climbing wall—
will get to meet each other. seph a success. Year 6-9 camp.
Third Edition — July 2006 Page 16