Welcome to the Parent Teacher Association of the British International School Istanbul
The PTA’s aims are to support and connect the school community during the academic year, to expand learning and social opportunities – to help students, families and staff, and of course to have fun while doing it!
Being a parent or a teacher at BISI automatically includes you into the BISI Parent Teacher Association (PTA). So welcome to all new and welcome back to all returning PTA members for a new school year! You can choose yourself how active you want to be, by supporting us for an occasional event or in a committee throughout the year.
If you are a new parent to BISI, then the Communication Sub-Committee might be able to help you. This committee is active all year long to provide you with information about school life and family contacts. The coordinator, Nell Rees can contact other families of your nationality in our school to give you advice and connect you with your compatriots. Please feel free to contact her at nellinturkey@gmail.com.
Below please find information on the PTA Board, the sub-committees and the activities and schedule for 2011-12. We would love to have your contribution: an hour, a day, a project or even a whole event! Throughout the year, you can find detailed descriptions, dates and contact information at www.bis.k12.tr. Another way to stay informed of school & PTA events is the monthly PTA Newsflash.
PTA Newsflashes
PTA -Newsflash February 2012
Tourist Visa 1 new law 2012
BISI Career Fair
PTA Party and Book Sale
PTA - Newsflash January 2012
PTA-Newsflash December 2011
Primary Winter-Bazaar
Mother Tongue Coffee Morning
Winter Concert Show BISI
PTA Newsflash November 2011
PTA Newsflash October 2011
PTA Newsletter September 2011
PTA Events
Dear BISI families,
Please find hereafter your weekly PTA Email Reminder, containing important information and a list of upcoming events happening in our school.
* PTA THEMED COFFEE MORNING “TEENAGE E-SAFETY” – Thursday 26 Jan from 9h-9h45
Join us for a talk with Felix Fearnley, Head of Information Technology at BISI in the meeting room of the admin building (top floor). Topic: how parents can monitor children’s internet use and support safe practices at home, how to recognize threats of e-viruses and scams.
* HUGE PTA 2nd HAND BOOK SALE – Friday 3 February from 9h-15h30
Clean out your book shelves now and donate your unwanted, good condition books (for children, teens and adults – all languages welcome!) to the PTA. Drop books off in the Secondary library from now until Wedn, Jan 31. On Feb 3, from 9-15h30, you can buy from the huge choice for just 1TL per book. For more info or to offer help with sorting and selling books, please contact Kiki Findikliev at kipiko@gmail.com. Please open attachment for more info.
* BISI INTERNATIONAL PARENTS PARTY, Saturday 4 February, from 19h30h
Tickets on sale now! Join us for this fun International Evening Party at Bloom Restaurant in Ulus. All BISI moms, dads and staff, are invited to join! There will be a buffet, drinks and music – LET’S DANCE!
1.) Dress up in any international costume, colours or simply small accessories.
2.) Can you volunteer to bring a dessert snack from your country for the buffet?
3.) Tickets will have to be purchased in advance, and will cover drinks (local wine, beer and non alcoholic drinks), dinner, DJ music and a charity donation. Tickets for sale at Zek reception and from several PTA members. Please open attachment for more info or write to Güllüvan Bulté: guelluevan@hotmail.com
* SUNDAY SPORTS CLUB
Football hours: 10-11h: The little ones until year 2, 11-12h: Y3–5, 12–13h:Y6 and up. If your child didn’t join in yet, please know that they are still welcome! We kindly ask you to bring the total payment for the period until 31 march.
SIGN UP FOR NEW SPORTS:
- Basketball Y5-7, has started SUNDAY 15/1, from 11- 12h in the orange gym, price 15 TL. Please inform Judith Kuiper if your child is interested to join.
- Join 17 ladies in our new successful Step Aerobics Class for Adults and Secondary students with Sandra Watson! Time 12-13h in the orange gym, price 10 TL per session. Bring your own steps if you have.
More info here: http://www.bis.k12.tr/SCHOOL/Parent-Teacher-Association.aspx, or contact Judith Kuiper: Judith-kuiper@novodoor.com
* SPORTS POSTERS WANTED
The PTA wishes to decorate the locker rooms of the orange gym with framed sports posters. If you can donate posters with your kids‘ favourite sports person, please drop them at reception or contact Kiki Findikliev at kipiko@gmail.com.
* BISI SKI TRIPS: Y4-6 to Uludag from Feb 6-8 and Y7-8 to Kartalkaya from Feb 8-10
Reminder: If you are interested, please sign up your child and pay the fees as soon as possible.
* PRIMARY MOVIE CLUB, Friday, 10 February, 16h-17h30.
Mark your agendas for this event – this time we are showing the very funny animal movie „Furry Vengeance“ – great for all ages. Tickets will go on sale Feb 1.
* BISI MARKETPLACE – “sell, buy, offer, search, recommend” goods and services
Our next PTA Newsflash on Feb 21 contains a section where you can offer, recommend or search services (housekeeper, babysitter, driver, music teachers, etc.) or buy and sell goods. To place an ad, please contact alina_oztoprak@hotmail.com by Feb 14 with your request.
* DO YOU KNOW ANY ENGLISH AUTHORS?
The PTA Curriculum Committee is looking for English language authors to present their work to BISI students. Please contact Carmen Martino (carmens.world@hotmail.com).
* “CAREER FAIR” FOR YEAR 10-12, March 16
The PTA Curriculum Committee is still looking for parent volunteers to talk about their professional experience with the secondary students in March at our career fair. If you could come into school for one or two hours to motivate, inspire and inform students for their future career, please contact Carmen Martino (carmens.world@hotmail.com).
** CLASS FAMILY CONTACT LISTS
If you are new in our school, you can get a FAMILY CONTACT list for your child’s Primary or Secondary class. Please send us your email address and telephone number to add to the list. Contact your class parent representative in Primary through Nell Rees, head of the PTA Communications Committee, nellinturkey@gmail.com or one of the following in Secondary:
Judith Kuiper: Judith-kuiper@novodoor.com (for Y7),
Ulrike Denhof: udenhof@yahoo.com (for Y8),
Sandip Sharma: sbsharma@indorama.com.tr (for Y9),
Kiki Findikliev, kipiko@gmail.com (for Y10).
* COUNTRY PRESENTATION WALL IN PRIMARY
Did you see the informative country presentation wall in the Primary Building staircase? Parents from SWITZERLAND are presenting their beautiful country to Primary students until Feb 6.
We hope you will participate in our projects and enjoy the events!
Your PTA Chairperson
Ulrike Denhof
(udenhof@yahoo.com)
PTA Objectives The objectives of the PTA have been defined as follows:
a) To create a communication ground for the parents, students, teachers and the school administration and to facilitate communications between these parties by;
- Welcoming all families into the school community—Families are active participants in the life of the school. PTA helps them feel welcomed, valued, and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are learning and doing in class.
- Communicating effectively.
- Partnership with School—Families work in connection with the school to support the learning community.
b) To set up supportive committees on Curriculum, Campus Environment and Social Activities of the school for the best of our BISI students by:
- Supporting student success—PTA provides the grounds for parents and school staff to continuously collaborate to support students’ learning and mental development both at home and at school, and have regular opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
- Speaking up for every child—Through the PTA, families are empowered to be advocates for their own and other children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning opportunities that will support their success.
c) To support the school community – PTA creates grounds and opportunities for families and school staff to collaborate with community members to connect students, families and staff to expanded learning opportunities and community services.
PTA Values
The following are the values that PTA stands for:
Collaboration – We work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organisations to accomplish our agreed upon goals.
Commitment – We are dedicated to promoting children’s health, well-being and educational success through strong parent, family and community involvement.
Accountability – We acknowledge our obligations. We deliver on our promises.
Respect – We value our colleagues and ourselves. We aim to provide the same quality of effort and thought that we expect from others.
Inclusivity – We invite the stranger and welcome the newcomer. We value and seek input from as wide a spectrum of viewpoints and experiences as possible.
Integrity - We act consistently with our beliefs. When we make mistakes we acknowledge them and seek to make amends.
Members of the PTA
All parents and/or guardians of students at the British International School as well as the teachers are automatic members of the PTA. Current members of the PTA Board is as follows:
| Chairperson | Ulrike Denhof
udenhof@yahoo.com |
| Vice-Chairperson | Judith Kuiper
judith-kuiper@novodoor.com |
| Secretary | Fleur van Bree
fleurvanbree@gmail.com |
| Treasurer | Susannah Spicer
philipandsusannah@yahoo.co.uk |
| Member and Head of Curriculum | Carmen Martino
carmens.world@hotmail.com |
Senior Staff Member
| Amanda Ilhan
amandailhan@bis.12.tr
|
School Director
| William Bradley
williambradley@bis.12.tr
|
| Reserve Board Members | The PTA Board of Control Members |
Nell Rees
nellinturkey@gmail.com | Güllüvan Bulté
guelluevan@hotmail.com |
Tracy Whitehead
tracy.whitehead@googlemail.com | John Bosman
John.bosman@bisistanbul.org |
Sue Cranston
cranstonpaul@hotmail.co.uk |
Sub-CommitteesCommunications Sub-Committee Head of this committee is Nell Rees, please contact nellinturkey@gmail.com
The purpose of this subcommittee is to communicate between the PTA, the school administration and the parent body. It also presents the PTA page on the BISI website, connects the families of the school by children’s grades and nationality, and announces important information and events to everybody in letters and the monthly PTA Newsflash.
Social Activities Sub-Committee: Joint Heads of this committee are Tracy Whitehead (tracy.whitehead@googlemail.com) and Sue Cranston (cranstonpaul@hotmail.co.uk)
The purpose of this committee is to organise social activities for students, parents and staff, taking into consideration various age groups and seasons of the year to help grow an active and friendly school community. Such activities include, but are not limited to the following examples: Parent Outings, International Day, Halloween, Winter Bazaar, Easter activities, Fun Day, Teachers Day, Fundraising etc.
Curriculum Sub-Committee: Head of this committee is Carmen Martino (carmens.world@hotmail.com)
The purpose of this sub-committee is to facilitate an understanding on parents’ behalf of the school’s academic environment and to support the academic development of students through parent involvement where appropriate by:
· contacting parents to share their knowledge and experience with the students through visits, presentations or seminars
· helping to find alternative or external curriculum resources
· supporting the accreditation process of the school.
Campus Sub-Committee: Joint Heads of this committee are Filiz Gursoy (mfilizgursoy@yahoo.com) and Kiki Findikliev (kipiko@gmail.com).
The purpose of this sub-committee is to review and help find solutions for improvements covering all aspects of the school campus. This covers the classrooms, play grounds, sports grounds, cafeteria, parking, safety, etc.
Charity Sub-Committee: Head of this committee is Andrea Kreetz (a.kreetz@gmx.de).
The purpose of this Sub-Committee is to launch projects to help the less fortunate, contact national and international charity organizations and present them to the school community, distribute funds to them, and to involve students, parents and teachers in doing so.
You can also be a Class Parent Representatives in Preschool-PrimaryClass Parent Representatives are volunteer positions which are organized at the beginning of the school year by the pre- and primary teachers and the PTA. The role of these volunteers is to work together with the teachers, the class parents, the school management and the PTA to help build a communicative, integrative, and active community. They communicate, connect the class and welcome newcomers.
PTA-supported activities and schedule 2011/2012, first term
October 17-21 Collection of Second Hand clothes for charity
October 22 Ladies’ Night Out – Radisson Blu Ortaköy
October 28/31 Halloween
November 4 International Week Food Court
November 24 Teacher Appreciation Day
December 15 Christmas Bazaar
We look forward to a year of cooperating, communicating, socialising and hope this has encouraged you to take an active role in our Parent Teacher Association – please share your talents with us. Your support will help us to create a truly caring, respectful, active and exciting school environment for our children in which they will feel at home and excel.
With best wishes for a great year at BISI,
Ulrike Denhof, PTA Chairperson
Contact Details:
bisipta@bis.k12.tr
2011-12 Letters
Intro Letter for 2011-12 Academic Year
BISI Weekend Sports Clubs
PTA Board Election Letter
PTA Committee Meetings
Weekend Sports Clubs