This week, our Community Connection Cafe met for the 3rd time, and the topic we spoke about was Screen Use and Growing Brains.

We know that about 90% of brain development occurs in the first five years of life, and that excessive screen use can interfere with this growth by reducing time for sleep, physical activity, and social interaction. At the same time, screens can offer valuable benefits when used mindfully. In this session, we shared what we know, explored our hopes and concerns, and discussed how families can aim for a healthy and sustainable balance.

We are very grateful to our Wellbeing Department for preparing and guiding this workshop, and of course to the parents who came and contributed so much to the discussion!

Read more about screen use and its effects on children in this handout.  It includes:

• Age-based screen use recommendations
• Considerations for healthy screen use
• Additional resources
• Tips for low-stimulation content

See all of the IBIS Community Connection Cafe Sessions
✨ A short, evidence-based info session to spark ideas
💡 Practical tips and strategies to support your child at home
❓ A chance to ask questions and receive guidance
🤝 Time to mingle, share experiences, and build connections with staff and other families

Der Beitrag Screen Use and Children | Parent Workshop erschien zuerst auf IBIS School.

We know that when children understand how to manage disagreements, it helps prevent bullying and supports their emotional wellbeing. These skills encourage respect, empathy and cooperation among pupils, and help us as we work to promote kindness, reduce tension and build a culture where everyone feels valued.

Thank you to all of the parents who came and contributed to this session, and to our brilliant Wellbeing Team who prepared and guided the session.

You can download the handout that was shared at the session here. It includes:

• Definitions and facts
• Positive tips for children to help themselves and others
• Video and book recommendations (for kids and adults), with discussion questions

Der Beitrag Conflict Resolution at School erschien zuerst auf IBIS School.

Self-esteem refers to the way that we think and feel about ourselves and is an important ingredient for positive mental health and wellbeing. When we have high self-esteem, we are able to be more resilient in the face of challenges, like those often faced at school and beyond.

Thank you to all the parents who came and contributed to the session, and to our awesome Wellbeing Team who prepared the session.

You can download the handout that was shared at the session here. It includes:

• Positive daily practices and tips for developing a culture of confidence.
• Book recommendations (for kids and adults).
• Age-appropriate chores for kids (and how they can have a positive impact on self-esteem and confidence).

Der Beitrag Developing Self-Esteem and Confidence erschien zuerst auf IBIS School.

To attain the award, the school assessed the current mental health practices within the school community. Through the evaluation process, we identified gaps as well as areas of excellence and areas for improvement. Using this analysis, we developed and strengthened our practices to work towards a healthier emotional environment by prioritizing mental health to develop a positive culture that promotes mental health and wellbeing for everyone. A few examples include teaching mental health and wellbeing content through the PSHE curriculum and in assemblies; participating in Mental Health week; providing time for staff; calming corners in various classrooms and a dedicated wellbeing support room.

Wellbeing in childhood is the foundation for healthy, confident, and resilient adults. We believe that supporting the holistic needs of children and developing social-emotional skills in line with the academic growth students are engaging in is important. We also know that the mental health and wellbeing of the adults in children’s environments plays a significant role in the wellbeing of the children. By consistently embedding mental health and wellbeing initiatives in our community we proactively prioritize supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our staff and students.

Our Wellbeing Champions, pictured above, meet regularly with our Wellbeing Lead to discuss ways they can have a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of their peers. They are a vital part of our programme!

Der Beitrag Wellbeing Award for IBIS erschien zuerst auf IBIS School.

“I think maths is very important, but so is dance. Children dance all the time if they’re allowed to, we all do. We all have bodies, don’t we?”

Creativity and education expert Sir Ken Robinson

Dance allows people to express their feelings, thoughts, and connections through movement and rhythm. It is a fundamental aspect of every culture and has been around since time immemorial, without a single inventor. Its functions span from leisure to sacred rituals, encompassing all forms of social purposes.

Many types of dance are naturally social, like ballroom dancing, where partners move together, displaying empathy through physical contact, which fosters respect and cooperation.

Furthermore, dance helps to alleviate tension and has the potential to bring happiness and stability to individuals and groups of people, not least at school!

Here at IBIS we purposefully use dance, music and drama to enrich the culture of the school by cultivating collaboration, respect and compassion. We start in Kindergarten 3-4 years with music and dance lessons incorporating drama and performance. Music, drama and dance is a theme that runs through the whole school for all age groups. We aim at this young age to promote confidence, cooperation and above all joy, forming an all round healthy, happy and sociable child ready to take on the world before them.

By Patricia Mackenzie
IBIS Dance Teacher

Students aged 4 – 7 were asked how dance makes them feel:

“I feel hot, strong and excited”
“Happy and brave”
“Excited happy and the best
“Excited and happy
“Funny, happy and big”
“Dancy, sporty and fast”
“Happy and a big girl”
“I feel hot, strong and excited”
“Dance makes me feel so happy and friendly”
“I love dance because I feel free, I love to move, l love music and I love being with Mrs Mackenzie”

Der Beitrag The Importance of Dance erschien zuerst auf IBIS School.

It was a massively rewarding experience for everyone at the school, but there is no doubt it is also a rigorous process, one in which COBIS truly got to know us inside out.

As a result, we are very proud to have received ‘Patron’s Accreditation’, the highest level of accreditation they offer, with COBIS judging us to be compliant with all of the standards they set forth. It’s a great achievement – our staff, board, families, students and community as a whole have shone throughout, but beyond compliance, we are especially delighted to have received particular commendation in several areas.

The below quotes have been lifted from the report summary (the whole summary can be downloaded here): this is our school in the eyes of the experts who visited us.

Commended for quality of our teaching and learning

“The school recognises that their core business is teaching and that the quality of this helps to define the school. The school celebrates and supports the development of high-quality learning and teaching for all students and encourages positive attitudes to learning.”

“…creativity that is evident in the classroom and the copybooks.”

“The excellent rapport between the teachers and the children and the teaching staff.”

Awarded ‘Beacon School’ status (something for other schools to aspire to) for wellbeing

“The school has a very effective approach to wellbeing, which combines a strong family atmosphere of caring and fun, with its seven values and the rigorous structure of the Mental Health in Schools Award. It has been described as “warm hearted professionalism”.

“The school provides a safe and supportive environment for all young people.”

“We believe that this relationship-based approach to mental health and wellbeing should be shared with others and Beacon School Status is awarded.”

Commended for quality of our Communications

“The establishment of such a caring community where parents understand the values of the school and feel they can approach the school without hesitation.”

“Personalised, inclusive approach to admission offering support and opportunities to embrace the community aspects of the school.”

Commendation for Outside of the Classroom offering

“The wide range of extracurricular activities offered. The school ethos of celebrating all children’s talents and interests is a strong motivator for ensuring a diverse offering.”

“All students are encouraged to engage with the outside world actively, with strong values and confidence that the school’s family atmosphere nurtures.”

“A collective responsibility for the world is encouraged, which starts with the school, and then expands locally and globally.”

Would you like to find out more about our school? We warmly invite you to see our school on a tour with our headteacher. Get in touch with us on visit@ibis-school.com to arrange your visit.

Der Beitrag Independent Bonn International School | COBIS Report erschien zuerst auf IBIS School.

81 pupils provided answers, and as always we are grateful to them for taking part and for their honesty.

In addition to the above multiple choice questions, pupils were also asked two questions where they could expand on their answer. The answers below are representative of the feedback received.

What do you like about being at I.B.I.S?

• I like playtime. I like that the school is positive, even in hard times like this.
• That there is not much pressure on us as children.
• I like that the school will accept me as myself.
• It is really nice that there are children from different cultures.
• I like that my friends and teachers are kind to me.
• I love the relationships between the students.
• You have lots of things to do and play.
• I like that it is easy to find friends here.

We felt it was really important to capture the pupil voice in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore included questions relating to this. It is evident from the words below, how the pandemic has been impacting them.

How has COVID-19 made you feel?

• Mentally it was horrible not seeing my friends. I cried a lot.
• It has made me feel lonely and isolated.
• Scared, because I don´t want anyone to pass away.
• I hate feeling out of control of everything. Sometimes I wish the world would just stop.
• It has made me very sad, angry and annoyed.
• Made me feel like it´s a barrier to learning.
• Worried, because it´s dangerous.
• Makes me feel like I´m being pushed to my limit.

These answers strongly capture the voice of the pupils and how the pandemic has impacted on their wellbeing. A powerful read, however it’s important that we repay their honesty by being equally transparent. We take their COVID-19 concerns seriously, and will look to support our pupils wherever possible. For instance, our Wellbeing Lead has already begun exploring Resilience programmes and approaches and how these could be embedded into the curriculum.

If you’d like more info about any of the above, our Wellbeing Lead Mrs Sarah Hall welcomes questions and feedback.

Der Beitrag Pupil Pastoral and Wellbeing Survey Results erschien zuerst auf IBIS School.