KSI Montenegro kalendar

KSIM Winter Concert

Term 1

School Dance

Winter Break

KSIM Community gatheringHoliday Crafts Fair

1st December 8th December

20th December

25th January

9th December

21st December - 9th January

We are proud to present three fif-teen-year-olds who received scho-larships worth EUR 90.000 for their secondary education and new chapter at our school’s Boarding house.After having completed their primary school exceptionally successfully, stu-dents from many Montenegrin cities joined this year’s KSI competition. Among them was a large number of children who met the high demands set by the school, and the testing designed by the KSIM team - 20 of them were invited in total. After that, only the best students were invited to the final interview.

Congratulations to Simona, Bojan and Petar for a successful start in the KSI community!

The school’s vision is to educate the community of global citizens by providing them with oppor-tunities to be all they can be and inspire them to

make a positive difference in the changing world. That is why we are proud to introduce Montenegrin citizens into a prestigious international program, such as the International Baccalaureate.

From the Inside, Out!

KSI SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS OF 2017Knightsbridge Schools International Montenegro annually hold a scholarship competition for talented students.

Autumn-Winter 2017

www.KSI-Montenegro.com www.facebook.com/Knightbridge School Montenegro Info@KSI-Montenegro.com Porto Montenegro 85320 Tivat

From the Inside, Out!

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A GLOBAL CITIZEN

by KSI Montenegro Director Drew Alexander Embrace the idea or ignore it - we are all global citizens. While this citizenship is a birthright, we do have the choice of being contributing global citizens who revel in diversity and seek solutions to the challenges facing our planet or being passive ones who allow others to provide the answers for us.

Now, more than ever, this global generation needs to possess and use the skills necessary to be the environmental stewards of the planet and the international peacekeepers. So, exactly what does it take to be a contributing “global citizen?”

If one is open to it, possessing a passport, traveling internationally and learning about other cultures and norms do create an awareness, but this plays only a small role in global citizenship. A true global citizen possesses a wide view of the world and the part he or she plays in it. Glo-bal citizenship is a way of living that is entrepreneurial and tech-savvy, involves taking risks, and encourages critical thinking and connecting the dots. Students in an increasingly global society glean information from all their learning experiences, and analyse and synthesize it when dealing with shared societal issues, be they environmental, financial, social, educational, or political.

This global generation is very different from their 20th-century coun-terparts. Students need critical thinking skills, a level of self-awareness and confidence that will empower them to take on unfamiliar challenges. They need to be able to work on teams of diverse individuals, opinions and experiences. As they will most assuredly be faced with some of the world’s greatest challenges, they will need to ensure there are sustainable supplies of food, water, and energy; address the needs of more than seven billion people living on a planet with ever-dwindling natural resources. Whatever the challenge, they will need to innovate, work collaboratively and creatively, across borders and disciplines, and with ethics.

Having been an educator in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, I have seen first hand what makes an international education suc-cessful, and I am mindful of the life-changing impact such an education has on its students. Via an international curriculum, students become aware of “how the world works.” This is manifested in their open-min-dedness to new situations, their desire to strive for a world where social wrongs are eradicated and environmental sustainability is achieved. In a school that is truly international, thinking and acting ‘globally’ is ubiquitous to all grades and content areas as students develop critical thinking skills, gain empathy and the understanding that they can make a difference. Global citizenship must be developed and cultivated. If one is lucky enough, it is a partnership in the formative years at home and school, alike.

Global citizenship sees beyond the world’s political borders. By encoura-ging our children to share their opinions and explore their own values, while respecting the values and opinions of others, we are creating a foundation for a contributing global citizen that lasts a lifetime. We are also helping to secure our planet for future generations by preparing our current one to take on the challenges that will undoubtedly lie ahead.

*The preceding is an edited version of an article authored by Director Drew Alexander and published in the Huffington Post. (December 2013)

SUPPORTING OUR BILINGUAL AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

by professor Rob Ingham

When they arrive in our classrooms, our BMLs bring their language bac-kgrounds, experiences and cultures with them. It is absolutely essential, if they are to succeed and thrive, that we recognise the power and strength that exists with their Mother Tongue, and the critical role that it plays in main-taining and reinforcing new learning.

Having a grounding or well establis-hed level of language and literacy in their mother tongue is a huge asset, as being able to speak, read and write effectively in another language enables a student to access information through that language. It is worth noting that this is still the case, even if their peers and teachers don’t speak their mother tongue. To understand concepts fully our students need to understand them to a high level, and if their thinking and understanding can be facilitated in their Mother Tongue (or L1) rather than English, then surely this is what matters most. Either language can faci-litate learning and, if content-learning continues while students are learning English, they will be more engaged and able to make meaningful connections.

Unfortunately, despite the significant amount of evidence-based research, many people still incorrectly subscribe to the “either-or” myth that the first language (mother tongue) must be pushed aside in order that a second language can be learnt. Research shows the opposite to be true… the more highly developed the first language skills, the better results in the second language. So, contrary to the idea that two languages will confuse our stu-dents, evidence shows that having well developed skills in their mother tongue will actually enhance their learning and cognitive abilities.

From the Inside, Out!

I have been to many places in the world, however, there is no such place as Nepal. The breathtakingly beautiful country opened my mind to a whole new world that I never knew existed.

I made my decision to go last March, and it is one of those decisions I would never regret. Booking a two week volunteer trip in Pokhara, Nepal, last August was one of the most mesmerizing experiences that I could get. I knew that going to such a place would widen my perception of the world, which is why I wanted to go. Additionally, I wanted to help the people who were really in need of it, and this was one of the most important aspects of my trip. I’ll never forget the cultural shock I got when I arrived at the Kathmandu airport, or all the Monkeys around me that were trying to steal my bags, or even all the cows that stood in the middle of the muddy roads.

There were others who joined me on my journey, people who also signed up to volunteer and help in Pokhara. These people’s nationalities varied, as some were: Icelandic, English, American, Malaysian, Singaporean and Italian. It was interesting to work and communi-cate with people from such a wide range of locations. The friends I made there are ones that I will never let go of. I’ll never forget our plane ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara. It was one of those really old small planes that barely carried the 15 of us. The propellers made an awful deafening noise that destroyed our ears as the plane landed and took off. At some stages, I even doubted that the plane would manage to land, as it seemed so unstable and flimsy. Thankfully we landed and the rest of my journey continued.

The volunteer work was difficult. Part of it involved re-decorating a dorm room for young refugees (ran-ging from 9-14 years old), which meant repainting the walls and rearranging all of the messed up furniture

and bunk beds. The other part in my opinion was a little more difficult, as we were meant to dig a hole that was two meters deep and 3 meters wide so that the Monks could install a new water filtration system for the living quarters. Re-decorating and cleaning the room was a long lasting job as it involved us getting rid of the biggest cockaroaches and spiders that I have ever seen. Repainting the walls was difficult as the two rooms were quite huge. However, it was a team effort that made us get through it. As for the big hole, only four of us did it. It was very difficult because the weather changed constantly in a matter of hours, from intense sunlight to intense rain. The cow manure next to our faces didn’t help either, but one of the most difficult things we dealt with was the humidity. It usually ranged from 90% to 100% in the mountains, which means that we were constantly sweating. When we finished all the work I never felt better.

The trip continued with a four day trek through the mountains where we hiked a total of 45 kilometers. Throughout the trek we saw all sorts of wildlife in the woods, like cobras, eagles, and leeches which constantly got stuck to our legs and feet. One even got onto my neck. However we got used to them quickly. Through the trek we had the opportunity to eat some of Nepal’s amazing delicacies like Dal Bhat and Thukpa, and we were able to see some of the most beautiful views that anyone has ever seen.

I would say that throughout all the hard work, the new things that I have learned about Nepal’s astonishing culture, the new skills that I have learned, and all the people that I have met, my trip in Nepal could be seen as a huge success as it truly did broaden my mind and the way I perceive the world. For anyone looking to do the same, I highly recommend going to Nepal, as I promise you that it is one of the most beautiful and interesting places that you could ever go to.

NEPAL TRIPWhat adorns and distinguishes IB students is their commitment to IB learner profile. The following story will show you which attributes are cherished and polished in an IB student, and what it means to be a global citizen. Being caring, open minded, risk-taker, balanced, inquirer, communicator are just part of it.

By student Vasil Vulic

From the Inside, Out!

After careful planning of the programme and activities, on 28th of August, KSI Montenegro has opened its doors with great excitement in order to welcome old and new students. That morning, students approached the building with a smile on their face, as they were welcomed by a new director at the front door where they all shook hands with him. Perhaps this day will be most memorable to 1st grade students, who have

entered the school for the first time, met their teachers and new classmates. Other primary students have rushed to their classrooms, hugging the teachers, and, with lots of excitement, recounted their summer adventures. Seven new staff mem-bers have brought new energy and ideas, and added to the quality of education.In honor of this day, the opening ceremony started with the parade of all the nations that we have in our community. This magnificent event gave the opportunity to the new members of the KSI team to present themselves to students, and at the end of the day, all students had the opportunity to get to know each other better and cooperate in a creative contest of school houses.

The European School Sports Day (ESSD) is a school day dedi-cated to having fun, playing together and promoting physical activity and health for everyone. It is a celebration which pro-vides the opportunity for schools to:• Raise the profile of physical education (PE) and school

sport• Create fun and enjoyment through physical activity initia-

tives for young people• Promote health and wellbeing for lifelong learning• Foster social inclusion and develop social competences

among their students.This year, KSI Montenegro joined the community of 6,500 schools from Europe in trying out new ways of delivering physical education and school sport, while raising the team spirit among every participant. The event was opened with the parade of flags of all the natio-nalities that we have in our school community, and continued with various sports-activities played by students, parents and staff members. The positive energy that always follows sports activities in our schools could be felt all around the playgrou-nd. Everyone loved being sporty and active on such a beautiful day as it was September 29th. The teams were great playing dodgeball, basketball, volleyball, while the others were chee-ring or doing some other sport activities. Thank you all for participating and we are looking forward to having another great European School Sport Day next year!

FIRST DAY OF 2017 - 2018 SCHOOL YEAR

EUROPEAN SCHOOL SPORTS DAY

From the Inside, Out!

WELCOMING NEW STAFF MEMBERSBeing an international school, our expat staff members change every couple of years. This year we have welco-med seven new staff members: Drew Alexander - Head of School - is coming to us with 42 years of experience in education, both in the USA and internationally in public and private schools. Drew originally hails from Arkansas. Mustak Nakhwa - Math, Science and TOK teacher - has worked in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, before coming to our school. He has a passion for science and mathematics and loves being with his students sharing experiences, learning and discovering new concepts and ideas together. Mustak calls South Africa his home.Joshua Cook - English language teacher - comes from state of Colorado, USA. He has been teaching for ten years in Peru, Japan and Bhutan. Also speaks Spanish. When he is not working, he enjoys writing, reading, rock climbing and exploring the mountains.Biljana Spasic - Science and Biology teacher - brings us 20 years of experience in teaching. She started teaching in Belgrade, continued in Chicago, and after 10 years in the USA, Biljana returns to the Balkans, to be teaching in KSI Montenegro. Alayna Sales - Year 1 - 2 teacher - has been teaching for 10 years already and comes to us from Texas, USA. Alayna recognises the importance of establishing a positive classroom environment that fosters the growth of her students, and provides the inspiration and motivation for them all to become happy, independent learners.Maisie Bradley - Year 3 - 4 teacher - has been teaching Year 4 and Year 6 students for four years before joining KSI Montenegro. She is passionate about creating a learning environment that understands and celebrates the whole child, understanding psychological and social factors that influence our life-long learners. Maisie is from England. Widlande Pinarel - Gap Year PYP Teaching Assistant / Boarding House Assistant - has graduated last year in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs, and freshly graduated in Sociology of Childhood and Children’s Rights. Widlande is from Italy.

From the Inside, Out!

CIS MEMBER SCHOOL(COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS) We are delighted to announce that KSI Montenegro is now a member of the COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS. Following the CIS visit last term, the team noted that KSIM had successfully demonstrated its alignment with the CIS Code of Ethics and Principles, a commitment to international education and continuous improvement, and a desire to embrace diverse perspectives. For this reason, the school has been given the opportunity to become a member of this high-level institution - the CIS.The Council of International School (CIS) is a global, non-profit, members-hip organisation: committed to high quality international education. It is a membership community that shares our desire to provide students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to pursue their lives as global citizens, and a commitment to high-quality, international education. To achieve these goals, all school and college members must infuse their programmes and offerings with an international and intercultural perspective. This enables the students to move forward with the attitudes and understanding that will provide them with a solid base, wherever their studies or work may take them.We are proud to be the first school in Montenegro to become part of the CIS community, which currently includes 729 schools and 556 colleges and univer-sities (representing 112 countries). For more information about the Council of International Schools, visit the website: www.cois.org

From the Inside, Out!

• A play “Kosti nema, a kosti lomi” is your first piece presented in a the-atre. Please tell us more about the play.

The play was made in colla-boration between the Youth Club in Tivat and Drama Club in Knightsbridge Schools In-ternational Montenegro. It is a youth play, meaning that it was made by youth from the beginning to the end. The play is the product of several months of long drama works-hops. During the workshops, we were improving our acting skills as well as exploring the problem of hate speech and discrimination, which later helped us to write the script.

• Who is an initiator of the idea to create this kind of artwork?

The idea for collaboration was mine, as I wanted to put together two drama clubs that I was part of. I was looking for the idea for my CAS project, which is a requirement in Diploma Program. However, all of the further ideas and work came from the whole group together. One of the activists in Youth Club, Polina Čečina, was at the time starting the campaign for ra-ising awareness of effects of hate speech. The group decided to be part of this campaign and to create a play on this topic.

• Who supported you in the realization of the play?

We were supported by the Youth Club, Knightsbridge Schools International Montenegro, and Secretariat for Youth and Sport of the Municipality of Tivat. In the beginning of the process, we were also helped by a former youth worker of the club.

• How long did it take from the idea to realisation?

We started in October. There were weekly workshops until 1st of June when we had our premiere in the

Cultural Center Tivat. Of course, for Nikola Jevtić and me, the ones who wrote the text, the whole pro-cess was including more than just 2 hours long weekly workshops. • When did your interest in

acting started and is that going to be your future profession?I was always in one way or another involved in artistic activities. I did act and compete in my primary school. I also danced for ten years, and I think that acting is a big part of dancing. I decided to continue with this interest of mine because acting is a great way to expre-ss yourself even though you are pretending to be somebody else. However, I am not planning to act

professionally, even though I would love to continue acting as my hobby.

• What encouraged you to test yourself in writing the script?

I love to write, and I really wanted that play to be personal to our group and not an already existing one. Always having people behind me that were putting so much of themselves into the classes motivated me to keep on working and writing because we wanted to tell our story. What is an important fact about the play is that all of the stories are in one way or another personal to someone from the group or their friend or family member? We really wanted to show what is affecting us. Every actor kept their name in the play, as even though we were acting, discrimination and hate speech is very often in our real life.

• How satisfied are you with the critics of the audience and do you plan to do new projects of this type?

We were more than happy with the audience’s reaction and support. We performed four times for now and each time the number of compliments was overwhel-ming. We even got many new members in the group, and currently are preparing another piece of our own, which might be a play or a short movie.

“KOSTI NEMA, A KOSTI LOMI”An Interview with our student Saška Gomilanović

From the Inside, Out!

Editor: Zorica Djurovic Collaborator: Suzana Prodanovic Proofreading: Maisie Bradley

Graphic design: Studio MousePrint: Studio MousePublisher: Knightsbridge Schools Montenegro Ltd.

Impressum

ZUPA PARK CLEANINGIn the middle of September, a group of our Year 9-10 students got together in their efforts to clean up an area in Zupa Park. They were proactive, by coming up with the idea themselves, identifying the area that was littered with plastic bottles, aluminium cans and plastic bags and planned amongst themselves. Accompanied by their science teacher, they spent two hours cleaning; they finished up with collecting 20 bags of trash and properly disposing them 500m away. Dear students, this was a very admirable action! And remember: you too can make a change in the world! Think globally, Act locally and Take action! Think of the ways in which you can help protect the nature and the environ-ment you live in.

PARK(ING) DAYPARK(ing) Day is an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks. Students from our school have partici-pated in Park(ing) Day at the big city parking, within the Mobility Week, organised by the Municipality Tivat in cooperation with vario-us institutions and clubs. Promoting healthy lifestyle choices, this year’s participants were active by playing sports, traditional games, exploring outdoor activity varieties, getting a haircut or their blood pressure check. Our students prepared an interesting “step” game for the participants, keeping them active whilst having fun.