The Eagle Beat
March 4, 2022
March
*7: SCHOOL IS OPEN. BIS will have a normal school day as scheduled.
8: International Women's Day: No School
15: Earth Tuesday (wear green)
15: Novruz Assembly 2:30
21-25: Spring (Novruz) Break
April
1: Success Orientation Assemblies: Responsibility
5: PSG meeting
22: PSAT 8/9
22: Earth Day
30: Fine Arts Festival
A note from Ms. Olga
Can you imagine a life without music? It would be like a home without love. As soon as we are born, we respond to the sounds around us.
Music in the school is always fun and a lot of opportunities to reveal and improve creativity.
The ability to create and compose is part and parcel of music education. Students of the arts can more readily think laterally and recognize that there may be several solutions to a problem. It teaches them to integrate their ideas together and come to a solution.
Music brings so many positives to a child's education, whether it be through learning an instrument, using song and sounds in lessons or by discussing musical experiences.v
Counselor's Corner
The international crisis in Ukraine has impacted our QSI community in so many ways. This has been met with fear and confusion by so many of our students. Unfortunately, it is impossible to keep our children insulated from such an event, so it is necessary that we be able to support them during this time.
At the very least the majority of students will have a general idea of what is going on and may notice changes in their usual way of life. If the conversation does eventually come up, it will be most important to stick to simple, objective facts of the situation to avoid misinformation and further confusion. Be sure to be as supportive and encouraging during this time, especially if the students are significantly impacted in order to help them understand the situation in their own way. Some students may find it difficult to verbalize their thoughts and feelings on the subject. Allow time for them to write or draw a picture on the subject. Lastly, after difficult conversation such as this, it can be helpful to end on a good note by engaging in a fun activity or by pointing out acts of goodness in this situation. There are so many people, governments, businesses, and organizations around the world that are tirelessly working to help those adversely effected.
Furthermore, in all difficult situations where rapid changes are occurring, students need some semblance of normality to bring back order to their chaotic lives. If possible, make your schedules consistent and structured with few surprises. You will find that this will reassure the students that their lives will become ordinary once again.
The International School Counselor’s Association has some great crisis and grief resources that you can also utilize.
BIS Summons Spring with Novruz
Just at the peak of spring in Azerbaijan, we are getting ready to celebrate our National Holiday - Novruz, a traditional holiday which celebrates the New Year and coming of spring. The centerpiece of the festival's table is the Khonca, a big silver or copper tray with Samani in the center, surrounded with candles and dyed eggs according to the number of family members. The table should be set with at least seven dishes (place settings).
Tuesday, March 15 will be our Novruz Celebration. The assembly will be from 3:00-4:00 in auditorium.
The school is planning to decorate COMBINED BIS KHONCHAS this year.
To ensure we get enough of the traditional items for the Khonchas, we will divide it by classes.
-Combined Khonca of 3-4-5 year old classes.
-6 years and up aged classes will bring Khonca items either to LOE teachers or IE teachers and Samani (we can use what classes planted)
Now, we need your Great Help to make our BIS Khoncas. Below is the information about Khonca ingredients and some pictures as well. Please, look through and let your class teacher know what you can send.
2022-23 School Year
Novruz Bayram
Happy Wind/Yel Tuesday
Novruz Bayram is National New Year holiday in Azerbaijan with many traditions. One of the traditions is jumping over the fire. On Tuesdays of March children collect woods and make fires in yards. In the evenings both adults and children gather around the fire and try to jump over it. This is connected with some old sayings that while jumping over the fire, all grieves, sufferings, troubles, diseases and evils that you had, get burnt and left in the past. Another tradition is leaving hats at doors. People, especially children, knock at their neighbors’, relatives’, friends’ or even strangers’ doors and after having left hats at doors, hide themselves. The person who opens the door should fill the hat with sweets and leave it again at the door. Perhaps, this tradition reveals generosity of Azeri people, and it considered that the more you fill somebody’s hat with sweets and cookies, the more abundant your year will be and the more you will prosper. Eavesdropping is a national tradition of Novruz that we find most interesting. Having made a wish, you approach some neighbor’s apartment door and begin eavesdropping. According to some old beliefs, if you hear something pleasant or corresponding to your wish, you are sure to have it realized, and on the contrary, if you hear something unpleasant or gloomy, your wish will never come true. Another kind of fortune telling is sinking rings in water. After sinking a wedding ring in water in a glass, you pick it out, then watch it tapping against sides of a glass, you pick it out, then watch it tapping against sides of a glass and count. For young girls it is a total of years left till their marriage. Thus, all Novruz traditions are very interesting and full of meaning.
Lunch Menu for March 7- 11
BIS Important Contacts
School phone number: +994 12 440 66 16
Director of Instruction: Katie Holmquist- katherine-holmquist@baku.qsi.org
Counselor: Michael Lewis- michael-lewis@baku.qsi.org
Business Manager: Parviz Hasanov- parviz-hasanov@baku.qsi.org
Secretary: Gunay Ibrahimli- gunay-ibrahimli@baku.qsi.org
Nurse: Sevda Kerimova- sevda-kerimova@baku.qsi.org
Security/Bus: Hayyam- hayyam-gadjiyev@baku.qsi.org
Lunch: Natavan Hatemi- natavan-hatemi@baku.qsi.org
Parent Support Group (PSG)
How do I stay informed about PSG?
PSG has a WhatsApp group that all parents are welcome to join. This group is used to communicate information as well as gather feedback throughout the year.
Please use the link below or the QR code to join the group.
Want to stay connected with BIS?
BIS WhatsApp Group
This group will be used strictly to communicate general information from BIS to parents. Announcements, updates, reminders, and the weekly newsletter will be sent via this group.
The group is set up as a one-way communication tool, so participants only receive messages but can not respond in the group. This allows BIS to communicate information without the distraction of numerous responses.
To join the BIS WhatsApp group, use the link below or the QR code.
Instagram Nametag
Baku International School
Email: baku@qsi.org
Website: baku.qsi.org
Location: Darnagul Qasabasi Str. Ajami Nakchivani Block 3097 (1.94 mi) Baku, Azerbaijan AZ1108
Phone: +994 12 440 6616
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/qsi.baku