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On 3 August, BINUS SCHOOL Bekasi hosted an Electives Fair, where they presented 26 different activities, each with its respective vendors in attendance. This event allowed students and parents to explore these activities, asking questions and seeking information. Our primary goal is to encourage the students to participate in electives that align with their interests. This not only helps them maintain a healthy balance between their academic pursuits and personal interests but also provides them with a valuable avenue for acquiring new knowledge and enjoying themselves, rather than being confined solely to the classroom. We extend our gratitude to all the enthusiastic students and parents who visited the booths and actively participated in the demonstrations. The showcased activities included Ballet, Digital Arts, Muay Thai, Horse Riding (Equestrian), Archery, and many more. We are excited to announce that the electives will commence on Monday, 4 September. We hope our students will thoroughly enjoy this enriching experience!

BINUS SCHOOL Simprug is delighted to announce that the “Bersama Untuk Bangsa” team of the Class of 2026, in collaboration with Happy Hearts Indonesia, has embarked on an incredible journey this year. They are working towards contributing to rebuilding Sumber Kasih Preschool in Sumba, NTT. The project not only aims to improve the quality of education but also addresses an environmental issue by utilizing eco-bricks made from plastic waste in the rebuilding process. For the past month, “Bersama Untuk Bangsa” has made tremendous efforts in seeking support for their project, such as giving presentations to companies and setting up a crowdfunding platform for public donations (Kitabisa.com). Recently, they have also been accepted by the IB Global Youth Action Fund, and they will receive some funding for their project and mentorship sessions from experts. This will equip them with more skills to make the project successful. This noble initiative would be possible only with the support from the community. Thus, the team has created a Kitabisa.com page: https://link.binus.org/BinusSimprugHappyHearts2023 for people to contribute at their convenience. Also, companies that would like to support them through CSRs (Corporate Social Responsibilities) can contact the team at bersamauntukbangsabss@gmail.com. The contribution will undoubtedly help the team provide better educational opportunities for the children in Sumba. In the end, the project can help achieve our vision of “fostering and empowering society in building and serving the nation.

BINUS SCHOOL Semarang supports community service as a way in which students can learn to engage themselves with the community benefitting in the development of their social skills – connecting to the community and raising social awareness. The last outreach programme of the school year 2022-2023 was held on Saturday, 27th May 2023, with a collaboration of students, teachers, and parents assisted by the Principal and ECYEL Vice Principal of the school. Donation was collected on a voluntary basis. Students and teachers together served and entertain to comfort the elders in the home of aged Panti Jompo Harapan Ibu, Semarang. There are 25 elders hosting the home and the activities were planned to comfort the heart of the aged. Students, teachers, and parents together were joyfully singing lovely songs, serving food for them, and cheering them up. The visit was engaging and received with gladness by the host.

A team of talented students from BINUS SCHOOL Simprug achieved remarkable success in the Blueshift Business Competition held by Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. Led by Morgan Wiradharma, the team represented Indonesia’s CORE, an NGO business organization, proposing innovative solutions for Sporting Wheelies, a Queensland-based NGO. Out of 108 participants, they made it to the finals, becoming the only international team and the first from Indonesia to do so since the competition’s start in 2014. Their strategic journey involved initiating social media virality and creating the annual event, WeLeague, to unite schools and students from diverse areas of Queensland. Despite personal sacrifices, they embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, realizing the invaluable learning experience. The team’s second-place triumph in the competition symbolizes the potential of youth when provided with the right opportunities and support. Their success highlights the significance of nurturing young minds to become future leaders and change-makers.

Beragamnya suku dan budaya di Indonesia melahirkan banyak cerita rakyat, termasuk cerita Timun Mas yang dipercaya berasal dari Jawa Tengah. Kisah ini menceritakan tentang seorang wanita bernama Timun Mas yang harus berhadapan dengan raksasa dengan sebutan Buto Ijo. BINUS SCHOOL Serpong sebagai sekolah yang berbasis kurikulum internasional Cambridge terus mengajak setiap siswanya menjelajahi horizon-horizon baru, serta tetap mempertahankan nilai-nilai budaya dan kearifan lokal, salah satunya ditunjukan melalui pertunjukan drama dari cerita rakyat, Timun Mas. Pertunjukan yang diadakan di BINUS SCHOOL Serpong, Tangerang Selatan, Jumat (26/05), melibatkan lebih dari 100 siswa BINUS SCHOOL Serpong yang juga didukung oleh guru, staf, dan juga orang tua siswa. Ketua Komite Produksi Timun Mas yang juga siswi kelas 11 di BINUS SCHOOL Serpong, Nicole Vashti, menjelaskan bahwa cerita Timun Mas kali ini diadaptasi ulang dengan mengangkat isu-isu sosial maupun lingkungan yang saat ini tengah menjadi sorotan. “Cerita Timun Mas kami buat menjadi lebih modern dengan memasukan unsur-unsur masa kini, kami juga memasukan isu seperti penebangan hutan yang perlu mendapatkan perhatian lebih karena berdampak langsung pada kerusakan lingkungan,” ungkap Nicole. Produksi pertunjukan Timun Mas dikerjakan seluruhnya oleh siswa dari BINUS SCHOOL Serpong, mulai dari aktor dan aktris, penata panggung, penata busana, penata lampu, kepenulisan naskah, dan juga musik orchestra yang mengiringi pertunjukan. Bahkan, sebagian besar musik yang menjadi pengiring merupakan hasil aransemen dari Tim Produksi Timun Mas. Sejak proses produksi Timun Mas yang dimulai di tahun 2022 lalu, para siswa bekerja keras untuk memberikan hasil terbaik dengan tetap membagi waktu antara akademis dan juga persiapan pertunjukan ini. “Kami juga mendapatkan banyak dukungan dan arahan dari guru-guru maupun bantuan dari orang tua, dengan banyaknya dukungan yang didapatkan semakin membuat kami bersemangat memberikan penampilan yang berkesan,” tambah Wakil Kepala Komite Produksi Timun Mas, Calista Zahra Caesariyani, yang juga merupakan siswi kelas 11 BINUS SCHOOL Serpong. Presiden BINUS SCHOOL Education, Michael Wijaya Hadipoespito, mengatakan pertunjukan Timun Mas menjadi wadah bagi siswa dan siswi untuk mengembangkan bakat dan potensi yang dimiliki terhadap horizon-horizon baru di BINUS SCHOOL Education. “Isu sosial dan lingkungan yang diangkat pada pertunjukan ini juga masih sejalan dengan program Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) yang menjadi salah satu perhatian BINUS SCHOOL Education, sesuai dengan visinya, membina dan memberdayakan masyarakat untuk membangun bangsa,” jelas Michael.

The students of BINUS SCHOOL Simprug have done it again! Our class of 2024 has put on an original play that has left audiences in awe. The play, written and directed by the students themselves, showcases their creativity and talent in a production that is truly a must-see. The play, titled “THE RAVEN”, comes from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem of the same name. The poem was written in the Victorian era, in 1845, which also happens to be the same era when The Raven (the play) takes place. The poem talks about the narrator’s descent into madness after losing his lover, which reflects a lot of the themes in the play: loss, insanity, and grief. The plot is masterfully crafted, with twists and turns that keep the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats. The students’ acting skills are equally impressive, with each actor bringing their own unique style and personality to their role. “This whole process has been surreal. I have always wanted to be part of my school play when I reach Grade 11 ever since I was 10 watching all the seniors put on amazing shows with cool songs, actors/actresses, lights, and sets. Despite my experience in various school plays, I could never have thought of how hard being part of the core team could be. Since July last year until today, we’ve been working so hard every day to make this happen, and I just can’t fathom how it is actually happening. Rehearsals happened at least two times every week, the cast and dancers had been working tirelessly for their scenes and musical performances, and the core team works every day for all their departments. It has been a tiring process indeed, but it will all pay off!”, said Nandisty Allura Saputro (Gr.11), The Raven’s Director. The production is a true testament to the dedication and hard work of the students and their teachers. We were preparing this school play since September 2022 and everyone involved in this school play spent countless hours rehearsing and perfecting every detail of the play. From the lighting and sound effects to the costumes and set design, every aspect of the production was carefully thought out and executed with precision. This drama is even more enthralling because it has songs that go deep into every stage act. Some songs titled Quilt and QED were originally made by our students. Other songs like Ballroom, Asturiath Monologue, and Spirited Away, are songs in which the instruments were originally made by them also. No doubt there are some songs that they have successfully improvised such as Dear Theodosia, Yorktown, and Killer King. THE RAVEN’s stage was made even more majestic by the live orchestra performance of our 8 students who played violin, cello, harp, guitar, drums, bass, and piano. “The production of The Raven was a rollercoaster from start to end. The Raven was a story that came to me in a fever dream. I have no clue what kind of name Barry Allen Asturiath Poe is. Initially, the story was a bit too dark for my own taste. I never imagined I’d love the story and the play so much. As more people started joining and I saw the fruition of everyone’s hard work, the play became less of me and about everyone who was involved. I have so much love for this play and all the cast, production crew, and teachers, despite all the trials and tribulations”, said Michelle Soerjanto (Gr.11), The Raven’s Co-Director and Head of scriptwriting. The play has received rave reviews from audience members, with many expressing their admiration for the student’s talent and creativity. More than 100 students joined the play, from the musicians, stage props, cast, and dancers to the lighting crew. Our principal, Mr. Isaac, also took part as a performer in one of the scenes of the play, and in between his busy schedule, he also joined the rehearsal session for the success of the play. We are very grateful to all the teachers and parents who have been involved in the preparation of “THE RAVEN”. The parents are highly involved in the production in terms of costumes, food, and beverages, as well as sponsorships. We believe this event would not have been a success without their support. The school’s drama club is proud to have put on such a successful production and hopes to continue to showcase their talent in future plays. The play has left a lasting impression on all who have seen it and is sure to be remembered as one of the school’s greatest achievements.

As the pandemic eases out, the competitions are up and running again. This year’s Jakarta Regional round of the World Scholars’ Cup proved the thirst for challenge and victory among our students here at BINUS School Bekasi. Out of the more than 1,300 students from all over the region, our 22 Middle School and High School students victoriously brought home 50 Silver Medals, 33 Gold Medals, and 3 Trophies for outstanding performance in the said event with Top 2 for Junior team for Scholars’ Bowl, Top 5 in Overall for Kayla (HS10A), and Top 8 Overall for Junior Team. The achievement is one for the books as our students are mostly first-timers in the event, especially in debating. But the awards garnered once again upheld that it can be done when coupled with hard work in training and dedication in competing. Led by the in-house coach Mr. Frederick of the English Language and Humanities department, 22 students from the MSHS division battled out collaborative writing, scholars’ challenge, scholars’ bowl, and team debate. The confident achievers and humble winners are the following: Putu Kania Saraswati, Serena Talitha Kirana, Wen Claura Aunatalia, Naila Adelin Faiha, Layla Sofia Sudoyo, Rebecca Adeline Mutiha Sitompul, Aurora Lalla Latiefha Sembiring Kembaren, Felicia Kurniawan, Jacqueline Surya Alim, Bernard Shareef Istiqlal, Audric Kaindra Anwar, Laurentia Acyuta Amaranggana, Muhammad Arya Bimasena, Winner Rafif Rasendriya, Teresa Anabelle Kayla Wijaya, Shadrach Mulia Djohan, Adiwignyo Prama Abidin, Anastasia Larasati, Asheila Maharani Maydandaru, Ghita Ilona Fiorenza Simangunsong, Aiden Hioe, and Kayla Safira Azzahra (our top performer). What is best in this already good news is that all our teams qualified for the next round – the globals. Way to go, BINUSIANS!

The Asia Pacific Young Leaders Convention (APYLC) finally returned to its face-to-face activities, with St. Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton, New Zealand hosting from April 12-16, 2023. High school students from five different countries gathered for this event, and BINUS SCHOOL Education sent eight student representatives. These delegates are from BINUS SCHOOL Simprug, Serpong, Bekasi, and Semarang. The APYLC had the theme of “Beauty in Outdoors” which provides an opportunity for students to hone their leadership skills through various activities. These included outdoor activities and group discussions with other students from different schools coming from New Zealand, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Through this forum, delegates from BINUS SCHOOL Education also had the opportunity to learn about new cultures while introducing Indonesian culture to the other delegations. In addition, APYLC is also a platform to establish global connections for the future. President of BINUS SCHOOL Education, Michael Wijaya Hadipoespito, stated that programs such as APYLC greatly enrich the learning process of BINUS SCHOOL students, especially in opening up new insights and experiences that are expected to be impactful to society. “This year, we once again represented Indonesia in APYLC. This program is also in line with our three pillars of education in nurturing exemplary character, innovative learning, and compassionate leadership,” said Michael. Through APYLC, Michael continued, “BINUS SCHOOL Education also has the opportunity to introduce and present the profile of BINUS SCHOOL to schools around the world.” The APYLC is a platform for students from several countries to gather and exchange ideas, to foster leadership qualities that can solve various problems, both local and global. One of the delegates from BINUS SCHOOL Education, Louisa Aretha, a grade 11 student at BINUS SCHOOL Serpong, expressed gratitude for being part of the APYLC delegation. “We gained many new experiences during our participation in APYLC, from workshops, breakout groups, and other activities that are definitely different from what we normally encounter. We also met many other participants from various countries, which was a very inspiring experience,” said Louisa.

Good luck to the representatives from BINUS SCHOOL Education (Simprug, Serpong, Bekasi and Semarang) who will be attending the Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Convention (APYLC) at St. Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton, New Zealand from April 12-16, 2023. For five days, eight students from BINUS SCHOOL Education will participate in various activities aimed at improving their leadership skills. In addition, students from BINUS SCHOOL Education will also have the opportunity to meet and exchange cultures, as well as establish global relationships with other participants, including those from Japan, China, Taiwan, and New Zealand. Looking forward for them to share experiences at APYLC, it’s going to be exciting and fun!