Friday 29 November 2013

14: Friday 29th November 2013

From the Headmaster

Progress report on the construction work at school
Thank you for the patience shown by our school community during the construction of the Cafeteria building. Here is some information about this and other projects:
  • We expect to receive the Cafeteria building from the builders Lopez-Hurtado Ingenieros-Arquitectos, on Monday. They have done a tremendous job and our community will be able to view the building during the Christmas Fair on Thursday 12th of December.
  • The two refurbished science laboratories are in full use in the Secondary school.
  • The two French classrooms are well settled in to the “Auditorium Tower”.
  • The building of four spaces for classrooms in the LRC will be carried out during the Christmas break.
  • Many of the Drama and Dance classes will now be given in “The Studio”, the new multipurpose space of the Cafeteria building.
  • The PE and Team Sports staff will be moving into their new offices very soon - these are spacious and are central to the sports facilities at the ABC, providing better supervision.
  • The Facilities Subcommittee of the Board has been working on the plans for improvement of the Maintenance area, the emergency car park and the access to this via our own main entrance. The process does take time since the school follows all requirements from the various authorising bodies very carefully.
  • The construction projects have generated quite a bit of re-usable materials which we are storing in the emergency car park area - apologies for the unsightly area but we want to recycle as much as possible.

Influenza vaccination - second and final call!
The ABC has offered the influenza vaccination with the help of the unit in Santa Tecla, the last time being in May 2012. This year we are informed that there are no influenza vaccinations available through the Ministry of Health, so we have obtained an alternative source. The cost of this is $14 including IVA.

If you wish your child to be vaccinated, please register your interest HERE so that you can receive a permission form - this form will be sent with your child for your signature.

Primary News

UP Achievement Assemblies
Next week we will be holding our first achievement assemblies of the school year. In these assemblies will will be celebrating the achievements of our children in UP who have made a significant effort in different areas of the curriculum in order to achieve their best. We are also identifying those children who are learning to persist, even when the work is challenging. To be resilient, bounce back if you get something wrong or find something tricky and keep trying. To learn from their mistakes - mistakes are a great way of learning, don’t give up! Try, try and try again. ( Thank you to 1st Monks for emphasising this point in therir assembly this morning!)

We will be celebrating the academic achievement of those children who have attained a high Cal grade this Cal but also awarding our ROCs. Children that have been identified by staff as being excellent role models for their peers in all areas of school life and the responsible and outstanding citizens of the future. 

By invitation only:
Grades 2 and 3 09.10am Wednesday 4th December
Grades 4 and 5 11.55am Wednesday 4th December

Independence
Helping our children to develop independence is one of the most important things that we do in the primary school. All primary aged children should be able to come into school by themselves carrying their own bags, even if they are going camping! Please help us to help your children develop this very important life skill, leave them at the school gates. We will look after them. Thank you.

Christmas Grams
Christmas Grams will be sold to help the Spring Scholarship recipients. They cost $2.00 and starts Monday December 2nd. They will be sold in the Jubilee Library.

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary
Friday 6th December: Prepa Pashley Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 13th December: LP Reports go home
Wednesday 18th December: LP Christmas shows
Friday 20th December: Last day of school - children leave at 11am - no Play Room

Upper Primary
Wednesday 4th December: CAL 1 Achievement Assembly, 2nd and 3rd grade 9.10 in the PAC
Wednesday 4th December: CAL 1 Achievement Assembly, 4th and 5th grade 11.55 in the PAC
Wednesday 18th December: UP Christmas fair
Friday 20th December: Last day of school 

Secondary News

Healthy Meals
The building housing the new Cafeteria will be inaugurated at the Christmas Fair on Thursday 12th December. The Student Council is asking students in school for ideas for healthy meals and we hope to see many more children eating healthy hot meals at school.

Parent Partnership
We have very important pre mock Parent Teacher Meetings next Thursday for Grade 10 and Grade 12. Please make sure you are there to discuss ideas for preparing for the forthcoming mock exams

Next week is HIV/AIDS Awareness week and as part of the week we want to help our students understand two issues. The importance not to discriminate against people because they are HIV positive and secondly for our older students that they understand how to remain HIV negative. 

Grade 8 (Class 2018) and Grade 9 (Class 2017) have Prefect led Empowerment Events on Saturday 7th December. Grade 8 will be from 8-10 and and Grade 9 from 10.30 -12.30. Please ensure your son or daughter arrives early. We suggest 7.45 for Grade 8 and 10.15 for Grade 9.

Peace One Day
Last week the Student Council donated $400 from the money they raised through Peace One Day to Sana mi Corazon who work with unwell children. Members of the Executive can be seen handing over their donation in this photograph

Secondary dates for your diary
Thursday 5th December: Grade 10 and 12 Parent Partnership and Parent Teacher meetings. Cal 1 reports issued.
Friday 6th December: Grade 11 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Saturday 7th December: Grade 8 and Grade 9 Empowerment morning
Thursday 12th December: ABC Christmas Fair from 5 to 9pm
Friday 13th December: International Award Silver trip
Tuesday 17th December: Grade 6 and 8 parent Partnership meeting. Cal 1 reports issued
Friday 20th December: Last day of term. Grade 7, 9 and 11 Cal 1 reports issued

Friday 22 November 2013

13: Friday 22nd November 2013

From the Headmaster

“Obras en la Panamericana”: Communication #5 (Friday 22nd November, 2013)
Please note the following and the special arrangement for drop off of Secondary students:
  • There is no access to the Panamericana from the SISA parallel road - this has now been closed off by Fovial.
  • For the time being, there is access from “El Trebol” on a contra-flow system on the Panamericana to 17th Avenue. We are told that the access to 19th Avenue (the ABC and LF road) will be closed during the weekend.
  • The “ventana” between Biggest and Burger King will be closed over the weekend, we are informed.
  • All vehicles entering along Avenida El Boqueron and the SISA parallel road have to leave the same way they came.
Special drop-off arrangement for the Main Entrance of the ABC ONLY.
The ABC will provide additional security and traffic personnel so as to allow Secondary students to be dropped off just before the ABC Main Entrance, SHOULD THE PARENT WISH. We still recommend driving into school and dropping off as usual. 
  • This applies to Secondary students ONLY - no younger student to accompany them.
  • Secondary students may walk in from the drop-off point between SISA and the ABC Main Entrance, crossing at the entrance and walking along the path to the ABC field.
  • Liceo Frances students may walk through to the Admin exit gate and straight into their Primary school entrance.
  • ONLY available at the peak hours of 6:30 am to 7:00 am.
  • The vehicle will do a u-turn at the space in front of the Main Entrance under the direction of the traffic personnel.

Influenza vaccination
The ABC has offered the influenza vaccination with the help of the unit in Santa Tecla, the last time being in May 2012. This year we are informed that there are no influenza vaccinations available through the Ministry of Health, so we have obtained an alternative source. The cost of this is $14 including IVA.

If you wish your child to be vaccinated, please register your interest HERE so that you can receive a permission form - this form will be sent with your child for your signature.

Primary News

Maths Workshops
UP maths workshops held last were were well attended as can be seen from the figures below and, I hope, valuable for those parents who were able to come along.

2nd Grade - 52% parents
3rd Grade - 35% parents
4th Grade - 30% parents
5th Grade - 29% parents

Please remember that we value the support of our 5th Grade parents equally as much as those in Grade 2!

Web Influence - School for Parents
Another well attended event with around 109 parents present who represented 89 children from Grades 1 - 5. Thank you to those parents who attended this really important presentation. From the feedback I have seen and heard I know that you found it really practical and useful. We will continue to work with you on the sharing of information and responsibility for the digital safety and literacy of children in our school.

Kinder Parents are invited to join us in the PAC on Tuesday 26th November
7:10am - 8:00am
Jolly Phonics - How to help your child at home
The Kinder teachers will present ideas to explain phonics and to help you support your child during this early stage in learning to read.

The workshop will take approximately 40 minutes with 10 more minutes afterwards for questions.

Space Explorers
Next week the 4th grade children as part of the IPC UNIT: Space Explorers will be finding out the size of the Sun. To do this they are going to create their own pinhole viewer. As a take-home task they will repeat the experiment using the Moon.

School for Parents – Lower Primary
Speaker: Flavia de Escobar
27th November, 7:10am in the PAC
"Development of independence during the early stages"
  • How to promote independence in early childhood?
  • Overprotection vs independence, one of the characteristics of the current generation.
  • Is there relationship between encouraging independence and the development of self-esteem?
  • What is the role of parents in the development of independence?

5th Grade camping
On Thursday 28th November, Grade 5 will be attending their annual camp at Portezuelo Park, Juayua. After the success of last year´s camp, 97 children, about 15 parents and 8 teachers will camp for two nights and undertake two intensive days of Environmental Education and team-building activities. The children are really excited by it already and we can not wait to get the show on the road.


On another note, Grade 5 will be holding their Moving People IPC Unit Exit Point in the Lecture Theatre. We have invited a Historian to talk about Migrations in Central America, there will be a talk about the Pilgrim Fathers and Thanksgiving and various parents will be talking about their experiences of migrations within their families. If any parents from other grades have similar experiences to share, then we would love to hear from you. Please contact iantruscott@abc-net.edu.sv if you would like to be involved in this interesting event.


Dates for your diary

Lower Primary
Friday 29th November: Prepa Monks Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 6th December: Prepa Pashley Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 13th December: LP Reports go home
Wednesday 18th December: LP Christmas shows
Friday 20th December: Last day of school - children leave at 11am

Upper Primary
Wednesday 27th November: CAL 1 Goes Home
Thursday 28th - Saturday 30th: 5th grade Camping

Secondary News

Special drop-off arrangement for the Main Entrance of the ABC ONLY.
The ABC will provide additional security and traffic personnel so as to allow Secondary students to be dropped off just before the ABC Main Entrance, SHOULD THE PARENT WISH. We still recommend driving into school and dropping off as usual. 
  • This applies to Secondary students ONLY - no younger student to accompany them.
  • Secondary students may walk in from the drop-off point between SISA and the ABC Main Entrance, crossing at the entrance and walking along the path to the ABC field.
  • Liceo Frances students may walk through to the Admin exit gate and straight into their Primary school entrance.
  • ONLY available at the peak hours of 6:30 am to 7:00 am.
  • The vehicle will do a u-turn at the space in front of the Main Entrance under the direction of the traffic personnel.

Secondary dates for your diary
Saturday 23rd November: International award Bronze trip
Thursday 5th December: Grade 10 and 12 Parent Partnership and Parent Teacher meetings. Cal 1 reports issued.
Friday 6th December: Grade 11 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Saturday 7th December: Grade 8 and Grade 9 Empowerment morning
Friday 13th December: International Award Silver trip
Tuesday 17th December: Grade 6 and 8 parent Partnership meeting. Cal 1 reports issued
Friday 20th December: Last day of term. Grade 7, 9 and 11 Cal 1 reports issued

Friday 15 November 2013

12: Friday 15th November 2013

From the Headmaster


“Obras en la Panamericana”: Communication #4 (Friday 15th November, 2013)
Thank you for keeping up to date with the information about the works on the Panamericana carriageway. You will know that the reality is often different to the dates provided to us, but they serve as a guide to what is happening. The project engineer tells us that there are two reasons for this: firstly, it depends upon what they find with large holes and leaks being the main hold up; secondly, they are working very much on a trial-and-error basis, changing routes and dates to try to improve the traffic flow.

Closure: the moment of the closure of the Panamericana in front of the ABC is very close. The project engineer informs us that this is likely from Wednesday 20th of November or shortly after. This will mean that all access by car to the Liceo Frances and the Administration Entrance of the ABC will be via the Plaza Merliot traffic lights, 17th avenue, Calle El Carmen, and then 19th avenue. The Main Entrance of the ABC can be accessed via Calle El Boqueron and the road parallel to the Panamericana that goes by SISA. Note that these routes are for arriving AND leaving. The engineer informs us that they will NOT be able to leave the “ventana” between Biggest and Burger King open once they start work in front of the ABC.

We shall observe the development of this final closure and we have some contingency plans that we may activate, but please consider your route to the schools carefully and be alert to changes. The ABC Facebook page is used for any urgent traffic announcements: www.facebook.com/academiabritanicacuscatleca

Important Date Change
Please note that the ABC Christmas Fair will take place on Thursday 12th of December in order to accommodate events at the Liceo Frances (and thus avoid heavy traffic problems).

Would you like to order a table to sell things at the Christmas Bazaar in the Auditorium? Contact Marta Vásquez <martavasquez@abc-net.edu.sv> or Lucila Gonzalez <lucilagonzalez@abc-net.edu.sv>.

Primary News

School for Parents - Web Influence - Wednesday 20th November - 7am in the PAC
Parents who have children in Grades 1 to 5 are invited to come along to a special School for Parents to learn more about keeping their children safe online. Digital technology is as important in your children’s lives as reading and writing and it is vital that we all understand how to keep children as safe in the digital world as we do in the real world. A team of ABC staff including Chris Hall the Deputy Head of UP, LSU staff, Will Fastiggi our ICT coordinator and Fernando Montes the school’s Systems Manager will talk you through and give practical advice to help you to ensure your children’s online safety. Parent’s are welcome to bring their own digital devices if they would like some help from our ICT technicians to set up web filters to help them to control and supervise their children’s online activity.


Maths relays
Maths is a challenging area for children and requires their understanding of maths concepts, processes and skills. One of the most important things we can do to make maths learning successful is to make it fun and meaningful for the children. The more meaningful the activity is the more likely it is that children will grasp and understand the different mathematical concepts. Next week in Upper Primary we will be having our Maths relays which, through exercise and excitement, help our children to practice and reinforce some of the areas studied in maths during CAL 1. Maths relays are done in Tribes which adds a healthy element of competition! Please ask your children about this activity and encourage them share their learning with you.

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary
Friday 22nd November: Prepa Cáceres Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 29th November: Prepa Monks Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 6th December: Prepa Pashley Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 13th December: LP Reports go home
Wednesday 18th December: LP Christmas shows
Friday 20th December: Last day of school - children leave at 11am

Upper Primary
Thursday 14th - Friday 15th: 3rd Grade camping
Wednesday 20th November: 2nd Mena Assembly, 9.10am in the PAC
Wednesday 20th November: 5th Linares Assembly, 11.55am in the PAC
Wednesday 20th November: School for UP parents. At 7.10 am in the PAC
Wednesday 27th November: CAL 1 Goes Home
Thursday 28th- Saturday 30th: 5th grade Camping

Secondary News

British Fortnight
We continue with British Fortnight next week and we are asking all our students to think about events which happened in British history. There are 21 dates - 10 of them we have announced with short clues so far and the rest will be issued through Vista next week. You might see how you can do on the ones we have so far, feel free to discuss them with your son or daughter.

A significant event in 1066 
A battle in 1805
Sporting success in 1966 
Started in 1914
Caught in 1605
Battle in 1485 
Began in 1953 and still going strong!
Abolished in 1833
Signed in 1215 
Won in the skies in 1941

Grade 10 Day trip to Cardedeu leaves on Thursday at 7am

Thank you to all the parents who have supported the class trips over the last few weeks. On the whole they have been excellent in terms of building group relationships and teamwork.

Grade 6-8 ABC Internal Mathcounts takes place on Tuesday at 2 pm to help choose our teams for the forthcoming Central American competition.

Grade 6 and 7 have Prefect led Empowerment events tomorrow (Saturday), Grade 6 should be at school at 7.45 and Grade 7 at 10.15. Please check the class blogs for more details.

Secondary dates for your diary
Friday 15th November: Grade 9 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Saturday 16th November: Grade 6 and Grade 7 Empowerment Morning
Tuesday 19th November: ABC Internal Mathcounts
Thursday 21st November: Grade 10 Day trip to Cardedeu
Saturday 23rd November: International award Bronze trip
Thursday 5th December: Grade 10 and 12 Parent Partnership and Parent Teacher meetings. Cal 1 reports issued.
Friday 6th December: Grade 11 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Saturday 7th December: Grade 8 and Grade 9 Empowerment morning
Friday 13th December: International Award Silver trip
Tuesday 17th December: Grade 6 and 8 parent Partnership meeting. Cal 1 reports issued
Friday 20th December: Last day of term. Grade 7, 9 and 11 Cal 1 reports issued

Friday 8 November 2013

11: Friday 8th November 2013

From the Headmaster

Important Date Change
Please note that the ABC Christmas Fair will take place on Thursday 12th of December in order to accommodate events at the Liceo Frances (and thus avoid heavy traffic problems).

Would you like to order a table to sell things at the Christmas Bazaar in the Auditorium? Contact Marta Vasquez <martavasquez@abc-net.edu.sv> or Lucila Gonzalez <lucilagonzalez@abc-net.edu.sv>.

Primary News

Remembrance Day 
On Monday 11th November and Tuesday 12th November we will be having assemblies for the children to talk to them about Remembrance Day.The poppy is a symbol which is used on Remembrance Day to help people to remember those who die or are injured fighting for their countries. We will be selling poppy stickers in school on Monday next week and would ask you please to send 50 cents with your child to buy a sticker. All money raised will be donated to Hospital Bloom. Please talk to your children about what they have learned after next week’s assemblies too.

UP maths workshops
We look forward to welcoming parents to our maths workshops next week. Our teachers will be helping you to learn how best to help your children with their maths at home. All workshops will begin at 7.10am and we would ask you please to use the emergency car park so that our teaching staff are not delayed from getting to their classrooms. Please see below for dates applicable to your children.

3rd Grade camping night
Children in 3rd Grade will be away from school on their camping adventure on Thursday and Friday next week. Their teachers have very cleverly tied this trip in to their IPC entry point for a unit on Festivals so I am sure that they will have a wonderful and educational time. Grade 1 children and teaching staff will join the Grade 3 team on Friday as they too are learning about Celebrations so they will have a joint entry point. It sounds like Great Learning, Great Teaching and Great Fun!

School for Parents
Thank you to all 5th Grade parents who attended this weeks School for Parents about drugs awareness. 52% of children in Grade 5 were represented there by one or both parents

5th Brenes 16 
5th Truscott 23 
5th Linares 27 
5th Molina 16

We look forward to welcoming as many parents as possible from Grades 2 to 5 to our next School for Parents, Web influence. This will take place on Wednesday 20th November at 7am. We will cover a range of current issues related to technology and the safety of your children. As well as information we will be giving you practical advice on how to keep your family safe. Please make space in your diary for this important event. 

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary
Friday 22th November: Prepa Cáceres Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 29th November: Prepa Monks Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 6th December: Prepa Pashley Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 13th December: LP Reports go home
Wednesday 18th December: LP Christmas shows
Friday 20th December: Last day of school - children leave at 11am

Upper Primary
Monday 11th November: Maths workshop for parents of 5th Grade
Tuesday 12th November: Maths workshop for parents of 3rd Grade
Thursday 14th November: Maths workshop for parents of 2nd Grade
Friday 15th November: Maths workshop for parents of 4th Grade
Thursday 14th - Friday 15th: 3rd Grade camping
Wednesday 20th November: 2nd Mena Assembly, 9.10am in the PAC
Wednesday 20th November: 5th Linares Assembly, 11.55am in the PAC
Wednesday 20th November: School for UP parents. At 7.10 am in the PAC
Wednesday 27th November: CAL 1 Goes Home
Thursday 28th- Saturday 30th: 5th grade Camping

Secondary News

We start British Fortnight next week and will be celebrating various aspects of life in Britain. On Monday we are celebrating Remembrance Day as it is the anniversary of the end of the First World War on 11th November 1918. Please send your son or daughter with a dollar to buy a poppy. We will be selling them and donating funds used to our charity of the month, Hospital Bloom.

We will also be supporting the Movember campaign which since 2004 has become very active in Britain whereby men are sponsored to grow moustaches with the aim of raising awareness of men’s health issues specifically prostrate and testicular cancer. The campaign encourages men to adopt healthier lifestyles and to have regular health checks. We will be allowing our older boys to participate.

On Thursday we will be celebrating Book Day with Grade 9-12 who are welcome to come to school dressed as a book character or in jeans and a T shirt but ready to answer questions about a book they have chosen!

Grade 8 and Grade 9 are on their class trips next week. 
Grade 8 go to Cardedeu on Thursday for a day trip and Grade 9 are going on an overnight trip to Portezuelo on Friday. we want these to be the whole class so we can work on class dynamics and relationships and we hope all students will attend.

The University of British Columbia is visiting the ABC on Tuesday at 2 pm in the PAC. This meeting is open to all students and their parents who are possibly interested in studying in Canada and especially at UBC. On Thursday Franklin College from Switzerland will be visiting also at 2 pm in the PAC

On Saturday 16th we have Empowerment Mornings. Grade 6 will be from 8 am to 10 am and Grade 7 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. These events will be run by the ABC prefect team with teacher supervision. Please ensure your son or daughter arrives in time!

Secondary dates for your diary
Friday 8th November: Grade 7 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Monday 11th November: British Fortnight
Thursday 14th November: Grade 8 Day trip to Cardedeu
Friday 15th November: Grade 9 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Saturday 16th November: Grade 6 and Grade 7 Empowerment Morning
Thursday 21st November: Grade 10 Day trip to Cardedeu
Saturday 23rd November: International award Bronze trip
Thursday 5th December: Grade 10 and 12 Parent Partnership and Parent Teacher meetings. Cal 1 reports issued.
Friday 6th December: Grade 11 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Saturday 7th December: Grade 8 and Grade 9 Empowerment morning
Friday 13th December: International Award Silver trip
Tuesday 17th December: Grade 6 and 8 parent Partnership meeting. Cal 1 reports issued
Friday 20th December: Last day of term. Grade 7, 9 and 11 Cal 1 reports issued

Friday 1 November 2013

10: Friday 1st November 2013

From the Headmaster

“Obras en la Panamericana”: Communication #3 (Friday 1st November, 2013)
There has been an improved traffic flow at drop-off and pick-up times around the schools. The Liceo Frances has been on vacation this week and this has eased the pressure somewhat. Additionally, the closure of the Panamericana up to the “El Trebol” petrol station has reduced the non-school traffic making it much easier to travel on Calle El Carmen and 17th avenue.

Training: the traffic staff have been trained by the PNC. With two days of theory and practice in the classroom and on the streets, the traffic staff of the ABC and the Liceo Frances have undergone a thorough course in order to standardise the way we deal with traffic around our schools.

Latest information that we have from the project engineers:
On Monday 4th of November (or shortly after) the Panamericana will be closed from El Trebol up to Finca El Carmen. This means that there will be no access to the ABC or the Liceo Frances coming along the Panamericana from San Salvador. It will still be possible to use some u-turns coming along the Panamericana in the opposite direction. Please use the access provided by avenida El Boqueron and the SISA slip road. It will still be possible to travel along the Panamericana in front of the ABC.
Coffee with the Headmaster and Board Chair 
Parents are cordially invited on THURSDAY 7th NOVEMBER at 7:10 to 8am. In order to plan properly for parking, space and catering reasons, please let us know by Tuesday 5th of November that you are coming, using this simple form.

Date for your diary - Friday 13th December
Due to construction work, we are unable to have our usual Guy Fawkes event. However, we shall be having a Grand Christmas Fair on Friday 13th December. In addition to delicious food and drink by our Madres Enlace, fireworks, entertainment, the bazaar in the auditorium and a special Friday 13th Student Council event, we shall be inaugurating the new Cafeteria building. Don’t miss this great ABC community event.

Primary News

UP Maths Workshops
Maths workshops for parents will be taking place in Upper Primary on the week of the 11th of November, all Grades will be covering basic operations in response to all the requests from the parents survey.

These workshops aim to help parents understand how children learn different strategies to solve basic operations. Please feel welcome to participate. Check the school calendar for days and times for each grade!

Next Friday 8th November 3rd Grade will host a Salvadoran Bake sale for all children in UP. A letter of invitation, including menu, went out this week. Choices can be guaranteed by sending money before Wednesday and children will be able to pay on the day also.

On Wednesday 6th November at 7.10am at the PAC we will have a Escuela para Padres specifically for you called: “30 most frequently asked questions that parents have about addictions”, which is mandatory for both parents because it is necessary to prepare for and facilitate greater dialogue at home between the students and their parents. This session will be presented by Lic. Jaime Zablah, external consultant of this school, who has extensive knowledge on the subject. Our 5th grade teachers, learning assistants and Learning Support Unit staff will attend this session, they will be the ones in charge of developing the subject together with the teachers.

On Wednesday 20th November at 7am we will be hosting a School for Parents, entitled Web Influence. We will cover a range of current issues related to technology and the safety of your children. As well as information we will be giving you practical advice on how to keep your family safe. Please make space in your diary for this important event. 

We would like to remind you that your child's attendance directly affects their academic performance. Whilst we understand that there will be certain occasions when it will be necessary for children to be absent, we expect parents to make every reasonable effort to make appointments after the school day has finished. We do not expect children to be absent for family events or celebrations as these should also be scheduled appropriately. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support with this.

Please support our, “If you love me, keep me safe campaign”. In this week’s assembly as many as 50 children indicated they had travelled to school not wearing a seatbelt. Seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths by about 50%. The decision should be simple!

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary
Friday 8th November: 1st Aguirre Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 22th November: Prepa Cáceres Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 29th November: Prepa Monks Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 6th December: Prepa Pashley Assembly 7:20am in the PAC
Friday 13th December: LP Reports go home
Wednesday 18th December: LP Christmas shows
Friday 20th December: Last day of school - children leave at 11am

Upper Primary
Wednesday 6th November: School for parents, 5th grade. At 7.10 am in the PAC
Wednesday 6th November: 2nd grade Spanish Assembly, 9.10 am in the PAC
Wednesday 6th November: 5th grade Spanish Assembly, 11.55 am in the PAC
Friday 8th November: UP Salvadorian Bake Sale
Monday 11th November: Maths workshop for parents of 5th Grade
Tuesday 12th November: Maths workshop for parents of 3rd Grade
Thursday 14th November: Maths workshop for parents of 2nd Grade
Friday 15th November: Maths workshop for parents of 4th Grade
Thursday 14th - Friday 15th: 3rd Grade camping
Wednesday 20th November: 2nd Mena Assembly, 9.10am in the PAC
Wednesday 20th November: 5th Linares Assembly, 11.55am in the PAC
Wednesday 20th November: School for UP parents. At 7.10 am in the PAC
Wednesday 27th November: CAL 1 Goes Home
Thursday 28th- Saturday 30th: 5th grade Camping

Secondary News

International Award Trip
The Silver award trip is not taking place this weekend for a variety of reasons. This will now take place later this term.

Book Week
Next week we will be celebrating books in our Book Week. This will include a Book non uniform day on Wednesday for Grade 6-8 to coincide with their Book Week assembly. We are asking students to dress simply in non uniform or as a character from a book but they must also bring something with them which relates to the book they have chosen - either an item or a quote from the book. At the assembly we will be sharing book reviews. We would also like to invite any parents who would like to join us to share a book they have read to contact Mr. keslake. It will of course need to be suitable for the ages. 

Wednesday 6th November: Grade 6-8 Book assembly at 10 am
Thursday 14th November: Grade 9-12 Book assembly at 10.45 am

Secondary Trips
The first of our Class trips go out next week. Grade 6 are going to Cardedeu, Lake Coatepeque on Thursday. They will be leaving at 7 am and returning at 4pm. We would like to request that you please arrange to collect them as soon as they return to school. We will try to keep you posted of any changes to timings on the day of they occur. Grade 7 are going on an overnight trip to Portezuelo, Juayua - leaving 7.00 am on Friday and returning 11.00 am Saturday. Please note full details of these activities are on the relevant Classblogs. The aim of these trips is to promote class unity and we really hope that all students will be able to attend.

University Visits next week
Universidad Anahuac, Mexico is visiting on Monday at 2 pm in the LRC and Michigan State University and Hope College, Michigan will be visiting at 2 pm on Tuesday in the PAC. Parents are welcome to come along with their son or daughter.

Mobile Phones before and during school hours
Please note students are not permitted to have their mobile phones turned on before school or during school hours. If they need to make a call during school hours they are allowed to make a call from the school office.

Handball intertribal events are taking place next week 

Secondary dates for your diary
Monday 4th November: Book week
Wednesday 6th November: Knowledge Bowl tournament
Thursday 7th November: Grade 6 Day trip to Cardedeu
Friday 8th November: Grade 7 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Monday 11th November: British Fortnight
Thursday 14th November: Grade 8 Day trip to Cardedeu
Friday 15th November: Grade 9 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Saturday 16th November: Grade 6 and Grade 7 Empowerment Morning
Thursday 21st November: Grade 10 Day trip to Cardedeu
Saturday 23rd November: International award Bronze trip
Thursday 5th December: Grade 10 and 12 Parent Partnership and Parent Teacher meetings. Cal 1 reports issued.
Friday 6th December: Grade 11 Overnight trip to Portezuelo
Saturday 7th December: Grade 8 and Grade 9 Empowerment morning
Friday 13th December: International Award Silver trip
Tuesday 17th December: Grade 6 and 8 parent Partnership meeting. Cal 1 reports issued
Friday 20th December: Last day of term. Grade 7, 9 and 11 Cal 1 reports issued