Sekolah Bogor Raya

February and March are typically the most frenzied months of inter-school competitions. Therefore, this seems to be an appropriate time to reflect on the year’s competitions to date and honor our winners. And their mentors and coaches.

Coloring
Cynthia Jonathan (Prep A) took first prize in a Kindergarten Coloring by Number Competition, organized by BPK Penabur at Sentul on 1 March 2008.

English Writing
Aninda (SD3B) and Audrey (SD5B) won first prizes in an English writing competition sponsored by Ray White on 29 September 2007.

Football
We have three teams playing in the Coca-Cola Schools Football League, Under 9s, Under 11s and Under 15s. Of the three, the U9 team has been most successful, emerging as the winner of its group. A special vote of appreciation to Pak Widi, the PE teachers and Andy Wood.

Guitar
On 26 February 2008, Christian (SMP3) won a classical guitar competition at Bina Tunas Bangsa School, beating some ten participants from four other schools. He played two pieces confidently with perfect fingering, coached by Ibu Niken.

Christian playing his winning guitar

Math
Audrey (SD5B) and Edward (SMP3) won silver medals in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools on 31 August 2007, each placing in the 99th percentile for their groups; the fact that grade 5 had 25,244 participants, and SMP3 had 6,345 gives an idea of the competition faced by these medalists.

Edward with his silver medal

Modern Dance
Ibu Erlin’s dance troupe from Prep earned the title Best Performance in a kindergarten modern dance competition at Ekalokasari Plaza on 8 December 2007. These kids are really incredible!

Ibu Yani and Erlin with part of the dance troupe

Spelling
On 15 March 2008, Sekolah Bogor Raya held its fourth spelling bee with 450 students from 30 schools competing. Anisa (SMP2) and Edward (SMP3) won first place for their levels. At English First’s regional spelling bee on 15 September 2007, Audrey (SD5B) and Haidar (SMP3) won first place. Aninda (SD3B) took first place in Penabur’s spelling bee on 1 March 2008.

Haidar (left) and Edward took 2nd and 1st place trophies for SMP3.

Swimming
At the SPH Sentul Sports Festival 2008 on 1 March 2008, our swimmers excelled. Fifi (SD4A) was declared Best Swimmer for Grades 3 and 4, and Disha (SMP2) took the title of Best Swimmer for Grades 7 – 9. Fifi and Disha each won firsts in three events and Ayudia (SMP3) took one first place. At the provincial PORSENI SMP 6 – 8 August 2007 Disha took one first place medal, and Fifi won two firsts at an invitational swim meet in Bogor 9 February 2008.

Disha and Fifi, our champion swimmers

Taekwondo
At the British International School Taekwondo Games held 1 March 2008, Indra (SD5A), Stephen (SD4A) and Adianto (SD4B) won first place trophies for sparring, speed kicking, and sparring, respectively. In fact, twelve of our students brought home ten trophies and five medals. They are all products of our extra-curricular taekwondo run by Matra.

Stephen and his speed kicking trophy

Although I have singled out our winning students here, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all our competitors, not just the winners mentioned here. School sponsorship of students in competitions can be a sensitive topic. When should the school pay and when should the parents pick up the tab? Obviously, we cannot afford to enter every student in every contest. But the temptation to only sponsor winners must be resisted. We need to reach a balance between sponsoring our very best and giving an opportunity to our second best or our unknowns.

Next year we will be preparing for science competitions, since our new science teacher, Dave Booth, is experienced in leading students through competitions, and also blogging, since we will organize a blogging competition.