Exam Updates
IGCSE Music students finish recording their performance pieces
By: Upsana and Nikhil (Year 11)
This Tuesday, the Year 11 iGCSE music students finished recording their exam pieces to send off to the exam board. The recording sessions happened over two days, with one session taking place last week and one session this week (some of the students had to record later on due to the Duke of Edinburgh Expedition). Each of the students recorded around one or two pieces each; instruments included piano, drums, guitar and saxophone. As the majority of the recordings are done now, most of the students have finished the performance section of their course, which makes up around 30% of their overall grade. Below are some quotes from the students about their experiences:
“It was quite a stressful experience, but we had plenty of time to practice and got to take multiple takes to perfect our pieces. I’m glad my performances are done now.”
– Upasana (iGCSE Music Student)
“It was a fun experience and I got to dedicate a lot of time to my coursework. Now I’m a lot more prepared and ready for my exams but it also puts me in a good position to secure a higher grade.”
– Yajur (iGCSE Music Student)
“I tried my best, but it didn’t work out and that’s okay. It showed me where I went wrong and how I can do better next time.”
– Bilos (iGCSE Music Student)
“It was nice to have a break from the regular school schedule and have time to improve our previous recordings.”
– Ira (iGCSE Music Student)
Before their recordings, the students spent some time with their instrumental teachers practicing and improving their pieces. This time was extremely valuable as it made the students more prepared and made sure their performances would get the best grade possible. For the actual recording, the process involved the student playing through their piece whilst being recorded by a high-quality microphone. It must be ensured that the sound quality is as close to perfect as possible in order for the examiner, who will be sent this recording, to assess it.
Some recordings went well, while other recordings didn’t go as perfectly as students had hoped. However, everyone put a lot of hard work into their performances and did an incredible job. Furthermore, getting these recordings done early grants the music students some extra time to focus on practicing for their listening exam and finishing their compositions.
“On February 10, our IGCSE Music students completed their Performance Examination. It was a rewarding and inspiring experience for everyone involved. In the lead up to their recordings, students worked closely with their instrumental teachers, refining their technique, musicality and confidence. Their dedication and preparation were clearly evident on the day of the exam as they stepped up to perform. We are incredibly proud of all our students. Each performer rose to the occasion, with many delivering performances of an exceptionally high standard. It was wonderful to witness their hard work come to completion and to celebrate their musical achievements. Congratulations to all our IGCSE Music performers!”
– Ms Freeman
World Book Week celebrations
The curriculum and CPA prefects launched our World Book Day celebrations. There is a short story competition, a “recommend your best book” table in the library, several “drop everything and read” sessions – all students need a physical reading book with them next week, and of course, we invite all secondary students to dress up as a character from their favourite book on Thursday 26th February.
DoE Reports
Thank you to our Year 11 student leaders who presented an interesting report from the recent DoE Silver Award expedition to Poon Hill.
Duke of Edinburgh.mp4
NISSA League Finals Season 1
By: Bibhushan (Year 11), Ryona Year 11) and Saanvi (Year 11)
On Sunday, our school competed in the NISSA Girls Basketball and Boys Football finals. It has been a great opportunity to represent the school and compete in league matches against strong teams from across the league, and a great way to see how far the teams have come to this moment. In the weeks leading up to the finals, both teams trained consistently, showing commitment and dedication at every practice session. The players balanced schoolwork and training responsibly, demonstrating true determination and passion for their sport.
In the first game of football, TBS played with great ambition and supported one another throughout the match. Although they did not get the result they wanted and lost 2-1, their performance reflected the effort they had put in during training. Despite our first loss, the team maintained spirit, high energy, encouraged each other constantly, and showed resilience until the final whistle. Every player gave their full effort on the field, displaying enthusiasm, sportsmanship, and pride in representing the school. Although they ultimately lost the next game, placing 4th overall in the NISSA boys football division, they walked away with valuable and great experience of the season.
On the other hand, for our first game in basketball, we faced Premier and unfortunately lost 12–5. Despite the result, the team showed resilience throughout the match. Pema and Ghazal scored the points for the team, but every player contributed through strong defence, quick passes, and constant encouragement on the court. The team remained energetic and cheerful throughout, never giving up even when the game became challenging. Their positive attitude and teamwork were truly commendable.
Although the outcome was not what we hoped for, the tournament was a meaningful experience for both teams. The players demonstrated discipline from start to finish. They identified areas to improve, particularly in defensive transitions and communication. Overall, we are incredibly proud of the effort that the teachers and players put in for the tournament. Their hard work, commitment, and team spirit were clearly visible, and we are grateful for the opportunity to compete in NISSA. We look forward to coming back stronger, more confident, and even better prepared next season.
Chinese New Year celebrations
When Chinese culture and tradition come to TBS
By Avigya Chamling
“Celebrate the vibrant spirit of the Chinese New Year 2026 – the Year of the Horse – at our student-led Temple Fair! Join us for a joyful journey of traditional and popular Chinese food, games, and festive treasures, brought to life by our talented young leaders. Let’s welcome the new year with laughter, culture, and community!”- Ms Xiaohong Feng
The start of 2026 has long gone past, but for China, the New Year still awaits. TBS is proud to announce this year’s Chinese temple fair happening on the 24th of February (the first Tuesday after the half-term break) in celebration of the upcoming Lunar New Year and lantern festival.
The fair will be accessible for students in Years 3 to 13 and will consist of both food and game stalls; the items sold in the food stalls will differ in primary and secondary. In primary, they are selling vegetable steamed dumplings alongside juices, while in secondary, they are selling vegetarian and chicken steamed dumplings, juice, curry fish balls and cola chicken wings. If you would like to buy dumplings, you will have to place a pre-order with Ms Feng. Most of the game stalls will not require money, except for a few, so we recommend bringing 1000 to 1500 RS to enjoy the fair. Sanghamitta from Year 7 reported, “I am looking forward to the food.” The fair will be held in the secondary court, outside the Chinese classroom, with some stalls being in the classroom. For primary, the event will last from the start of lunch to the end, with specific timings for each year group in primary to avoid chaos and large crowds. In secondary, it will begin at the start of lunch and end at 13:20, where anyone can come anytime between those times. The event will be mainly run by Year 6 students, supported by Year 7 and Year 8 students who take Chinese and their friends. It was planned and organised by Year 10 and Year 11 students who take Mandarin Chinese, the Chinese Club, and the Leading Linguists, and facilitated by Ms Fallon and Ms Feng. As well as that, the students who helped plan the fair will also be running stalls. To add to the Chinese vibe and feeling, the area will be decorated with traditional Chinese decorations that Ms Feng specially got from China.
Although participating is an option, this fair was not only organised to sell food and raise funds, it was also so that even people who do not take Mandarin Chinese might consider taking in secondary. On top of that, all the funds go to charity and future school projects, so every purchase will make a difference.
For any questions or if you would like to make a preorder for the dumplings please talk to Ms Feng in person or via email xfeng@tbs.edu.np.
As part of our Chinese New Year celebrations, Year 6 students brought their language learning to life through hands-on cultural experiences. They made 草莓糖葫芦 (cǎo méi táng hú lú, candied strawberry skewers), a popular festive treat, and enjoyed 锅贴 (guō tiē — potstickers). These activities helped students connect classroom vocabulary with authentic Chinese food culture while celebrating the festival together.
Looking ahead, Year 6 will host our first Chinese New Year 庙会 (miào huì — Temple Fair) during Primary and Secondary lunchtime on Tuesday, 24 February, with the support of our Leading Linguists, the Chinese Club, and our Year 7 and 8 students who study Chinese. The fair will feature a range of cultural activities, allowing students to see their Chinese lessons come to life beyond the classroom. There will also be Chinese-style accessories and traditional delicacies for sale, with all proceeds supporting our Community Partners.
We wish everyone a restful mid-term break and a joyful and prosperous Year of the Fire Horse, beginning on 17 February.
春节快乐 (Chūn jié kuài lè — Happy Spring Festival ) and 马到成功 (mǎ dào chéng gōng — wishing you instant success)!
