Dear Parents I write this week’s newsletter editorial from a chilly Astana. I am here, to paraphrase a British idiom as a gamekeeper turned poacher, as part of a COBIS Patron’s Accreditation team. COBIS schools, like BIST, must be re-accredited every 5 years and the accreditors are always volunteer serving princi- pals or senior leaders from other COBIS schools. As BIST will undergo our re-accreditation in May 2019, it is a very useful insight into how this form of ac- creditation works on the ground. It is also a good way to compare how another similar school works and perhaps borrow their good ideas. The chilly weather in Tbilisi is approaching and we remind parents to ensure children are sent to school appropriately dressed. It is important that the children still go outside at break and lunchtimes to get some fresh air, but they do need to be warmly dressed. Thinking about being warmly dressed, please con- tinue to bring in unwanted clothes for our COATS collection. This is for children, but if you have adult clothes, these can be passed on to Caritas for cloth- ing the elderly. Last week’s Health & Fitness celebration was a great success and the students enjoyed learning about the issue, but also getting in some extra physical activities. BIST NEWS John Lennon 14th November 2018 UPCOMING EVENTS… . 16th - Primary Assembly (parents welcome!) . 17th-18th - Secondary students volunteering at C.O.A.T.S. Charity Drive . 23rd - School closed for St. George’s Day . 26th - Start of Language Rotation 2 for KS1 students . 28th - Parents’ Coffee Morning 8.30-9.30am . 30th - Primary Assembly (parents welcome!) . 7th - Primary Assembly (parents welcome!) . 12th - Christmas Counts Early Years and Key Stage 1 show 2.45pm (all welcome!) . 14th - Christmas Carol Concert 1.30pm-2.30pm - all welcome! . 14th - School ends for Winter Holiday 2.30pm . 9th - Start of Term 2 . 9th-18th - Year 11 Mock IGCSE Examinations “When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’.” NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY From 19th to 30th November 2018, BIST students will be participating in the Mangahigh & COBIS Maths Challenge. Mangahigh is a digital maths competition that encourages children to take learning outside of the classroom. The children will have access to games and chal- lenges that reflect their learning in the classroom. Prior to the challenge start date, children are wel- come, and encouraged, to practise on this site. MANGAHIGH Physical Education (PE) class outside with Primary students during BIST Health & Fitness Week. BISTBILISI @BISTbilisi www.bist.ge