Extra Curricular activities
As one of our aims is to develop the whole person, we feel that education should extend beyond the purely academic; and consequently we offer a variety of extra-curricular clubs and activities after the teaching day finishes. These enable the children to take part, on an entirely voluntary basis, in a variety of activities based on drama, music, dance, ballet, football, art & textile crafts, computing, Latin, gardening etc. We do ask that once a child joins a club that they continue the course for the term. The selection of clubs changes on a termly basis. Clubs are a great way for children to get to know other children outside their year group; to work with different teachers; to develop their skills and interests, and most of all to have fun.
Towards the end of the term / beginning of term your child will bring home a list of clubs on offer for the following term. There is usually an average charge to cover activity costs and this will be added to your school account. Clubs are very popular and certain activities have limited places available. Places are allocated on a “first come first served” basis and the remaining children go onto a waiting list. Also a huge range of clubs and leisure activities for children exists in Brussels and a brief selection of these can be recommended through our Parents Association or the school office.
Recognising the stamina required for an extended school day the school provides different practical activities to both Kindergarten and Reception class children, for example, Gymbaroo, ballet and art.
Our after school programme
This term's After School Clubs & Activities have been organised for 10 weekly sessions from the week beginning Monday, 23rd April until Friday 22nd June; this applies to clubs run by teachers; other courses may run for a different period. Activities are €5 per session unless stated otherwise. Scroll down.
Music & Instrumental Tuition
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At the British Junior Academy of Brussels we have the services of musicians who visit the school weekly to teach singing, piano, guitar, and recorder. Pupils are taught either after school or at lunch time. (They are not withdrawn from lessons.) Any communications and fees for these lessons are invoiced and collected directly by the teachers concerned. Details of teachers for other instruments may be sought through the music teacher or the school office.
In order to give our young instrumentalists the opportunity of performing in front of a live audience, informal instrumental concerts are held either in the autumn or summer term. Everyone who takes lessons – both from our own teachers in school or from private teachers outside school – is invited to perform.
Private tuition in music is also arranged through the school with piano, violin and guitar being the most popular.
Piano Lessons
For Children of All Ages and Abilities
Mrs Rie Compton, Dip ABRSM offers piano lessons covering classical, jazz, improvisation to pupils over 6 years old. Pre- piano lesson programmes for young children using Rythmic method (movement and music) are available either at her house or at school. Preparation for grade examinations is available on request (Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music).
Charges are: €16 per 30 min, €23 per 45 min, €30 per 60 min which should be paid directly to the teacher. Visiting charges are €2 (no charge for the third child). Tel: 0484 147 003
Miss Monica Timofticiuc (Bmus, Mmus, at JRAM ;RCMB) began her musical studies in Bucharest.
She pursued her musical education at Luzern Conservatory of Music- Switzerland, Jerusalem Academy of Music-Israel and Royal Conservatory of Music-Belgium. Between 1988 and 1997 she won many prizes in International Piano Competitions such as "Jeunesse Musical" (II Prize), W.A.Mozart (III Prize), Gold medal and I Prize -Tivoli International Piano Competition. She participated in Master Classes in Luzern,-Switzerland, Jerusalem-Israel, Brussels-Belgium, Murhhardt-Germany and London-England.
Miss Monica Timofticiuc will be continuing to offer piano lessons on Tuesdays from 16.00, Wednesdays from 13.00 and Fridays from 17.00. Preparation for grade examinations (Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music) is available on request. Miss Timofticiuc contact details are: 0474 801 799 or by mail:
picasso_rafael@yahoo.com
Her fees are €20 per 30 min, €35 per 45 min, and €40 for one hour. This should be paid directly to the teacher.
Guitar Lessons
Guitar lessons are available by private arrangement with Mr Nicholas L'Herbette and will take place Tuesdays from 3.35 to 4.30pm.. You will need to have your own guitar. Payment should be made directly to the teacher.
Singing Club for Years 2 - 3
A singing club for children from Year 2-6 will continue with our music teacher Mrs. Leclerc and will be held on Mondays. It will include pupils being taught songs from different repertoires (Classical, Musical Theatre, Art Songs and Pop) and learning how to present and communicate as a young singer in performance.
Ballet
Julie Verbinnen will be offering a course of Ballet lessons in the gym on Mondays from 3.40pm. The cost will be €10 per session payable directly to the teacher. This term she would like to continue to offer two groups:
- Kindergarten and Reception 3.40 - 4.10pm
- Year 1 & 2 4.15 - 4.40pm
Please note that if your child signs up for ballet it will be for the whole term. Payment should be made directly to the ballet teacher.
Art & Craft
Madame Pascale Lorge, a highly qualified art teacher, will be offering two clubs for both KS1 and KS2 children. These clubs will be offered in French this term although English is spoken by Madame Lorge. As in the autumn term the children will discover a variety of different techniques: painting with watercolours, ink, acrylic paints, pigments, drawing with charcoal, making prints, modelling with clay. The children will give form to their own creativity.
For children in Years 1 and 2 this will take place on Tuesday from 3.35 p.m. - to 4.30pm for a maximum of 10 children at the cost of €10.
Children need to bring in a snack and drink.
For children in Years 3 to 6 this will occur on a Wednesday from 12.40 p.m. - 13.45 p.m. for a maximum of 12 children at the cost of €10. Children need to bring in a snack and drink. Payment for this activity should be made directly to the Art teacher.
Football Club
A football club will be offered for children in Years 1 and 2 on Thursdays and Years 3,4,5,6 on Fridays and is for a maximum of 16 children in each session. The cost per session is 5 Euros and payment should be made directly to the teacher.
Latin Club
Mrs O'Rourke will continue to offer a Latin Club for existing children from Years 5 & 6. This is a fun club and has been well supported by pupils from previous school years. This will take place on a Friday from 3.35 - 4.30.
Eco Explorers Club
This club will be offered to children in Reception, Years 1 and 2 on Wednesday from 12.35 - 1.30. If you want to explore the outdoors and learn about our environment then come along to this club! Try your hand at making all sorts of things! The children will be gardening, making crafts, constructing with various materials and visiting local parks.
Computers Club
On Tuesday a computer club will be run for children from Years 3 - 6 from 3.35 - 4.30pm. A club for children from Years 1 & 2 will be held on Thursdays from 3.35 - 4.30pm. As well as learning to use a variety of programs the children will learn to develop many skills as well as having fun into the bargain! This club is for a maximum of 10 children.
ASC (Adventure Service Challenge) Group
This year BJAB will be starting its own ASC group for the first time. It will be open to years 4, 5 and 6. The Adventure Service Challenge scheme is a junior version of the highly regarded British Duke of Edinburgh award. It is a scheme also used by many scout groups to provide a progressive program of activities around different themes. More information is available from http://www.asc-scheme.org.uk The BJAB ASC Group will meet on Thursdays from 3.35 - 4.30pm.
Outdoor Games Club
On Wednesdays, an outdoors games club will be taking place, involving a wide range of games and activities suitable for children from year 4 to 6. We will use lots of different games to develop our physical skills and competences. This club will take place at the local park from Wednesday 25th April to Wednesday 20th June. This activity is invoiced.
Cookery Club
Join Mrs. Perry and Mrs. Khogali an Tuesdays after school from 3.35 to 4.30pm. This club is especially suitable for those young cooks who want to know "what happens when we cook?" We shall make some tasty treats and discover how our food changes when we mix, chop, bake and boil. Please book early as there are only 8-10 places available. This class is offered for children from Years 1 and 2 and sessions begin on Tuesday 24th of April until Tuesday June 19th inclusive. This activity will be invoiced.
Karate Club
Mr. Bartley will continue to run this popular club which started last term. He has been practicing Karate for over 20 years and currently holds a 3rd degree black belt (sandan) in Wado Ryu karate as well as black belts in the Shito Ryu and Shukokai styles. This club will run on Wednesday lunchtimes from 12.35 to 1.30 and will be for children from Year 2 onwards for a maximum of 12 pupils. It will start on Wednesday April 25th and run until Wednesday 20th June. The cost per session will be 7 Euros paid directly to the teacher.
Gymbaroo
Get ready to jump, hop, climb and move around! Join in gym activities and games using every part of your body and a variety of gym equipment. The sessions take place on Thursdays from 15.35-16.30 beginning April 26th to June 21st inclusive and is offered to children from Kindergarten and Reception. A maximum of 12 children can be accommodated. The activity will be invoiced.
BJAB Summer Term Activities
Out & About
We love to get ‘out and about’ on school visits and as there is such a wealth of educational, environmental, and cultural events to experience in and around Brussels, we naturally take every opportunity to make the most of this. Well organised visits are an enriching part of the BJAB programme which children throughout the school take part in on a regular basis. We have experienced much over recent years, from visits to the Blegny coal-mine where we donned hard hats and descended deep into the bowels of the earth to witness the mining in coal seams; to the dramatic visit to a naval mine-sweeper; add to this a most varied range of visits to environmental exhibitions, and museums, together with star gazing at the Planetarium and much loved visits to the Beaux Arts, and you will see that life at our school has much to offer.
Nor do we confine ourselves to just going ‘out & about’, as visitors to our school are always warmly welcome. The dentist paid us a recent visit to show us how to care for the biggest set of dentures you have ever seen; and now we know what we must do to keep the BJAB smile sparkling!
Residential Week
Our junior school children also spend one week in early summer on a residential course. Sometimes we visit and environmental centre in the UK, where we have the chance to visit Dover Castle, dress in medieval garb, discover Roman treasures, study seashore habitats and do a fair bit of pond-dipping. As an alternative we may take a week in the beautiful riverside centre at Logne, where we may be seen kayaking, abseiling, hiking, doing archery and be generally pretty adventurous.
Environmental studies and programmes organised by our teachers also keep our minds pretty alert. As they say, a healthy mind - a healthy body! Whatever the week may bring, it is one of the best of times when the teachers and children have a genuine opportunity to develop a sense of team spirit and we are grateful for the opportunities that these types of events afford us.
School Events
Our school calendar must be amongst the busiest in Brussels! As a small ‘family’ school we arrange a host of events for both children and their parents. These are many and varied, ranging from school plays, Christmas Fairs, a most popular Halloween Masked Ball, Quiz Nights with wine- tasting, coffee mornings where we welcome new arrivals, BJAB concerts at the British Embassy, group trips to musical events in Brussels... the list is great. But what is really important about our events is the warm and welcoming atmosphere and the fun we have. “Not only a great success, but one of the best events ever...”; so quotes one of the families who enjoyed an evening of entertainment at our Halloween Masked Ball.
The success for much of this is due to the commitment, creativity and imaginative hard work of our thriving Parent Teachers Association.
© 2011-2012, British Junior Academy of Brussels. Accredited member of the Council of British International Schools.
