From the Headmaster
Guy Fawkes Event
Our community is cordially invited to the annual Guy Fawkes Event on Friday evening, 18th of November. The invitation card will go home on Monday (together with cautionary information regarding Fireworks) - an invitation card is necessary for entry since this is a private function and not a public event.
We shall be able to enjoy our usual music and dance shows, the Student Council Spooky Cellar, the Beatles combo, the bonfire and fireworks. We shall also have the Christmas Fair in the Auditorium with plenty of tables of interesting things to look at and buy, and thanks to the Madres Enlaces we shall have delicious food and refreshments. Don’t miss it!
Auditorium floor resurfaced
The court area of the auditorium has been resurfaced. This special sports floor was first put in with funds from the Parents Association in 2005 and it was totally resurfaced last week. We have noticed a great reduction in the number and type of injuries whilst playing on this surface and the Parents Association have yet again helped ensure the safety and comfort of our students by paying for this improvement. The new line markings conform to the latest configuration as required by the sports federations.
The court area of the auditorium has been resurfaced. This special sports floor was first put in with funds from the Parents Association in 2005 and it was totally resurfaced last week. We have noticed a great reduction in the number and type of injuries whilst playing on this surface and the Parents Association have yet again helped ensure the safety and comfort of our students by paying for this improvement. The new line markings conform to the latest configuration as required by the sports federations.
Remembrance
At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns fell silent in Europe at the end of the First World War. The event is recognised in Britain by the wearing of a paper poppy and ceremonies including a token silence at that exact time.
At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns fell silent in Europe at the end of the First World War. The event is recognised in Britain by the wearing of a paper poppy and ceremonies including a token silence at that exact time.
The poppy reminds us of the need for peaceful approaches and the terrible cost of war.
Funds generated from the sale of poppies go to the Poppy Fund (helping those harmed by war) and to recharge our CAS emergency disaster fund which we used up during the recent rain emergencies.
Knowledge Bowl
Congratulations to the victorious ABC Knowledge Bowl Team! They put in an unbeatable performance in this highly competitive knowledge quiz, winning against each of the teams from the other schools, and then beating the Maya School in the final.
Congratulations to the victorious ABC Knowledge Bowl Team! They put in an unbeatable performance in this highly competitive knowledge quiz, winning against each of the teams from the other schools, and then beating the Maya School in the final.
The team: Maria Emilia Naranjo Padilla, Hector Manuel Melara Espinoza, Marco Nedungadi, Ting-Che Lin, Andrés Mateo Leiva Marmol and their coach Jonathan Arnold.
One of the heads of the other schools wrote to say about our team: “...was pleased to see not only their excellent performance in the matches, but the courtesy and respect with which they conducted themselves during the event. You must be very proud of your students!” I most certainly am!
Telephone messages
Please note that the messaging system for the school’s telephones is not working. Until the new system is in place, the recorded message system will not be used. We are happy to receive messages by e-mail and directly at our offices and switchboard, of course.
Please note that the messaging system for the school’s telephones is not working. Until the new system is in place, the recorded message system will not be used. We are happy to receive messages by e-mail and directly at our offices and switchboard, of course.
Primary News
Prepa visit to the art gallery
To link to the art section of our IPC topic 'Who Am I?', Prepa visited the Marte museum in Zona Rosa before the half term break. It was a very interesting day where all classes were taken around parts of the museum with a guide to explore the artwork in more detail. The children were able to ask questions and discuss their feelings and opinions towards the pieces. There was also an outdoor workshop where the children could make their own sculptures from clay. They were shown different techniques they could use when working with this material.
The following Friday, Prepa had an 'Art Day' at school where they developed some of the techniques they learnt at the museum. They also found out about different sculptors and artists.
Intertribal Basketball competition
During the week of 24th – 28th October, the children from 1st to 5th grade participated in the Intertribal Basketball Competition. Results and photos can be found in our PE blog. You are welcome to visit it.
Kinder phonics workshop for parents
The workshops held for parents of children in our Kinder classes were very well attended this week. They have, we hope, helped parents to understand the importance of phonics teaching in Lower Primary and how this really helps their children to develop into fluent and independent readers.
We will be having more workshops for Primary parents in the second and third terms of this year. Please watch the newsletter and the school calendar for more information.
Kinder Music Assembly
For our last music assembly we only invited those Kinder children who had been studying about pulse and rhythm. We developed the assembly based on what they had learned in class, as the closing point of this stage.
For this presentation we invited a percussion musician form the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de El Salvador, his name is Victor Rosa, who only requested a drummer to do an activity with the children. Victor explained how to make different pulses and rhythms with the different instruments that make up a drummer. He also asked two groups of children to join him with rhythms and pulses in order to see if they had understood his explanation. He also interacted with the other children encouraging them to join him and follow the beat with their palms.
The assembly continued with a transverse flute piece, together with the drummer. They performed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s piece called “A Little Serenade”.
And to end this activity, the children watched a video called “This Old Man”, and followed the beat using their palms.
Grade 5 UK trip - parents meeting
The team of teachers leading next year’s Grade 5 trip to the UK had their first meeting this week with parents and children going on the trip in June 2012. The audience was shown some photos and videos from previous trips and the draft itinerary for next year was discussed. Suddenly, it all seemed to become very real for those children selected to take part in this event.
Some people have already offered to sponsor the children’s shirts for the UK tour. Thank you very much for your generosity.
Kinder curriculum night
The Kinder curriculum night this week was very well attended by parents who learnt more about the school day in the Kinder classrooms where the emphasis is on a play based learning curriculum. The staff explained, with the help of some lovely photographs, videos and practical activities, how well structured and challenging play tasks encourage the children to be inquisitive, independent and enthusiastic learners who ask lots of questions and who are able to record their understanding in a variety of ways. Thank you to the Kinder teaching team for their hard work to get this event ready in what has been a very busy week.
Prepa Pashley Assembly
Thank to the children and teachers of Prepa Pashley who reminded us in their assembly today about the school’s vision of helping all of our pupils to become ROC’s - Responsible and Outstanding Citizens. Children in Lower Primary begin their journey towards this goal by working on the values of independence, curiosity, enthusiasm and respect. The children from Prepa Pashley were able to tell us about these values and what they mean.
Saturday School
Children in Grades 1 and 5 will be in school tomorrow morning (7 - 12noon) to catch up on some of the work missed during the school closure last month. Children in both grades should wear their PE kit (Grade 1 children also need their swimming kit) as they will spend some part of the day catching up with missing lessons from their PE curriculum as well as their normal, rigorous academic studies. Children will need to bring one snack for break time as they will be leaving school at noon.
Children in grades 2, 3 and 4 will be having their catch up lessons on Saturday 3rd November.
Prepa Curriculum Night
Prepa parents are invited to attend the Prepa curriculum night which will be held at 6.30pm on Monday (14th November) evening in the PAC. This event was postponed earlier in the term due to the school closure. We look forward to seeing you there.
Bonfire/Guy Fawkes Night
Our annual Bonfire and Fireworks event will take place next Friday, 18th November and we are looking forward to seeing as many of you there as possible. The evening starts at 5pm and will conclude at 10.00pm. In addition to the bonfire and fireworks there will be plenty to eat, a market selling Christmas gifts and entertainment will be provided by a variety of children and staff from our school community.
This week in Primary the children will all be discussing firework safety with their teachers and the older children will be finding out more about Guy Fawkes and the reason that Bonfire Night is celebrated in England.
A brief version of the story of Bonfire Night is below
After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, English Catholics who had been persecuted under her rule had hoped that her successor, James I, would be more tolerant of their religion. James I had, after all, had a Catholic mother. Unfortunately, James did not turn out to be more tolerant than Elizabeth and a number of young men, 13 to be exact, decided that violent action was the answer.
A small group was led by Robert Catesby. Catesby felt that violent action was warranted. Indeed, the thing to do was to blow up the Houses of Parliament. In doing so, they would kill the King, maybe even the Prince of Wales, and the Members of Parliament who were making life difficult for the Catholics. Today these conspirators would be known as extremists, or terrorists.
To carry out their plan, the conspirators got hold of 36 barrels of gunpowder - and stored them in a cellar, just under the House of Lords.
But as the group worked on the plot, it became clear that innocent people would be hurt or killed in the attack, including some people who even fought for more rights for Catholics. Some of the plotters started having second thoughts. One of the group members even sent an anonymous letter warning his friend, Lord Monteagle, to stay away from the Parliament on November 5th. The warning letter reached the King, and the King's forces made plans to stop the conspirators.
Guy Fawkes, who was in the cellar of the parliament with the 36 barrels of gunpowder when the authorities stormed it in the early hours of November 5th, was caught, tortured and executed.
Even for the period which was notoriously unstable, the Gunpowder Plot struck a very profound chord for the people of England. In fact, even today, the reigning monarch only enters the Parliament once a year, on what is called "the State Opening of Parliament". Prior to the Opening, and according to custom, the Yeomen of the Guard search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster. Nowadays, the Queen and Parliament still observe this tradition.
On the night that the Gunpowder Plot was foiled, on November 5th, 1605, bonfires were set alight to celebrate the safety of the King. Since then, November 5th has become known as Bonfire Night. The event is commemorated every year with fireworks and burning effigies of Guy Fawkes on a bonfire.
Lost and Found items
Parents are invited to browse through the Upper Primary Lost and Found items. These items are usually kept in a locked cage. The key can be requested from the Upper Primary Office, but every Friday all items are displayed out of the cage from 7.30am to 2.00pm. We encourage parents and students to come by and claim any personal items.
Upper Primary helping many Salvadoreans
Your child’s $2 contribution towards flood victims was able to buy the following items:
124 toilet paper packages
180 soap bars
125 tubes of toothpaste
120 packages of sanitary pads
200 Boxes of 5 disposable diapers size M
240 Boxes of 4 disposable diapers size L
Thank you to all the families who sent their donations. Upper Primary Tribal Chiefs were in charge of delivering these goods to FUSAL. Visit the Upper Primary News blog at http://abc-upnews.blogspot.com/ to see some photos taken while making.
Juice 2Day
Finally we have a logo! Many thanks to all the children that entered in this competition! The final design was made by joining together two designs by Mateo Castillo (2nd Mena) and Stephanie Safie (5th McCall). They will receive their prize in Monday’s assembly. This design will now be used as a symbol for the juice bar around the Primary school.
Please remember that juices are now sold on the last Wednesday of each month so the next day will be November 30th!
The next thing: We sell 3 juices: Orange and vanilla , Strawberry and Banana and honey. However, we need some names to make them sound more interesting! For example, Strawberry Sensation or Banana bee-hive. If you would like to take part, you have 2 weeks to give Mr Moore your ideas for each flavour! Best of luck!
School for Parents
Our next School for Parents will be on Wednesday 16th November at 7am and again at 6pm in the evening. The focus of this session will be on learning to control and channel anger so that children are brought up and nurtured in a calm and supportive home environment.
Dreaming of Disney 23rd and 24th November
Tickets for our UP production of Dreaming of Disney will be on sale in UP and LP offices from Tuesday 15th November. The cost of tickets is $5 per adult and $3 per child. Tickets are limited!
Dates for your diary
Lower Primary
Monday 7th - Friday 18th November: British Fortnight
Saturday 12th November: 1st Grade make up day: 7am - 12pm
Monday 14th November: Prepa Curriculum Night, 6.30pm in the PAC
Friday 18th November: Guy Fawkes Night
Friday 9th December: Reports sent home
Wednesday 14th December: Christmas Shows
Friday 16th December: School breaks for Christmas holidays
Monday 9th January 2012: School reopens and back to classes
Upper Primary
Monday 7th - 14th November: British Fortnight
Saturday 12th November: Grade 5 Catch up day - all children in school 7am – 12pm
Friday 18th November: Guy Fawkes Event
Wednesday 16th November: 4th Hernández Assembly, 12:00 - 12:40pm in the PAC
Wednesday 23rd November: 2nd Padilla Assembly, 10:00 - 10:40am in the PAC
Wednesday 23rd & Thursday 24th November: Primary Production - Dreaming of Disney, 6:30 - 7:30pm in the PAC
Friday 25th - Saturday 26th November: 3rd Grade Camping, Friday 3:00pm - Saturday 10:00am
Wednesday 30th November: CAL 1 Achievement Ceremony 2nd and 3rd Grade, 10:00 - 10:40am in the PAC
Wednesday 30th November: CA 1 Achievement Ceremony 4th and 5th Grade, 12:00 - 12:40pm in the PAC
Secondary News
British Fortnight
We have been celebrating British events this week and will continue to do so next week. We will be holding a British Quiz for students and parents to share at the end of the fortnight.
IGCSE Certificates
Congratulations to all the students from the Class of 2013 who received their IGCSE certificates this morning. They are an example to the rest of the school in terms of showing what can be achieved.
Saturday School
A reminder that we have school this Saturday from 7am to 12 noon. Please ensure students are collected promptly at 12 noon. This is part of our plan for making up for the time we lost during the rains.
Parent Partnership Meeting on Internet Safety
All Secondary parents are invited to the parent Partnership Meeting in the PAC on Tuesday at 6.30 pm. This session will look at ways of helping to protect your children on line as well as tips for you as parents of children in this digital age.
ABC Students meet Jeremy Gilley of Peace One Day
Our Student Council representatives had the opportunity to talk to Jeremy Gilley of Peace One Day this morning. He talked to us about our own preparations for the Day of Truce in 2012 and how we can spread the message to other young people here.
Cal 1 reports
We will be issuing Cal 1 reports soon and we have parent teacher meetings soon after the start of Cal 2 so you will have the opportunity to talk to teachers about progress. Please remember we are sending the reports home rather than holding Parent Teacher meetings as we held these in the middle of the cal. You will need to send a signed copy back to school.
Dates for your diary
Saturday 12th November: School Open for lessons, 7am - 12pm
Tuesday 15th November: Parent Partnership Meeting - Internet Safety
Friday 18th November: Guy Fawkes Night
Friday 2nd December: Cal 1 Reports issued for Grades 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11
Wednesday 14th December: Cal 1 Reports issued for Grade 10 and 12
Thursday 15th December: Award events for Grades 6-8 and 9-12
Friday 16th December: School breaks up for Christmas holidays
Monday 9th January 2012: School reopens and back to classes
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