Friday 13 December 2013

16: Friday 13th December 2013

From the Headmaster


Calling all Exabrits!
With just one week remaining it is opportune to remind Exabrit parents whose child will be applying for a PreKinder place, that their child will have priority on the testing and entrance list into PreKinder, provided their complete application is received before the end of this calendar year. We do have some applications that have been made shortly after the birth of their child! It is never too soon to try to ensure that your child has the best education.

Christmas Fair a GREAT Success
Thank you to all who contributed in making the ABC Christmas Fair a wonderful event. It was enjoyed by all and many worked to ensure that it was a success. Thank you.

Primary News

Cell phones in Upper Primary.
Our policy toward cell phones will change when we start school again in January. Smart phones will no longer be allowed to be brought in by Primary students. This means any phone able to access the internet. The only phones allowed in school will be the most basic handsets, available from all network providers, that can only be used by children to text and call parents after 1:30pm. These phones will still need to be handed in at the UP office each day and collected at the end of each day. Any smart phones bought in by students will be kept in the UP Office and only released to parents. This change in policy reflects our concerns, that we have already shared on our blogs and in a recent School for Parents, about the unfiltered content available to children on these devices. We appreciate your support in keeping your children safe and with this important change in policy. It should also be noted that no other electronic items should be brought into school by children, for example, Ipads and Ipods. 

Christmas Shows and Christmas Fair
We look forward to welcoming all children and parents to the primary Christmas fair and LP Christmas shows on Wednesday 18th December. Children in LP will all take part in brief Christmas performances (please see the schedule below) whilst UP teachers and assistants organise a Christmas fair in the LP playground which takes place simultaneously. 

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary
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 18th December: UP Christmas fair
Friday 20th December: Last day of school - children leave at 11.30am - no Pass Club

Secondary News

Christmas Fair
We had a fantastic Christmas Fair yesterday and want to thank all the community for their contribution to a special evening. It was a pleasure to see staff, students and parents all cooperating and working together. Many of our community projects and charities were able to raise funds which will help in our attempts to support the ongoing millennium development goals that we are contributing towards as 2015 approaches.

Parent Partnership and Reports
On Tuesday we have a Parent Partnership Meeting for Grade 6,7 and 8 parents. We have some important issues to discuss as well as handing out Cal 1 reports. We hope to see you there.

Awards Assemblies are coming next week - YOU are invited - please see the dates and times below. We will be awarding ROC Merits as well as the HM Roll of Honour! HoY have details published on their class blogs.

The Last week of Term
This is an important week for us and we will be working through until break time on Friday when we will have our traditional tug of war and Christmas assembly. Please ensure your son or daughter is here all week as usual. Attendance and participation in our community activities are both really important to us.

Secondary dates for your diary
Friday 13th December: International Award Silver trip
Tuesday 17th December: Grade 7 Music and Awards Assembly 1.30 pm PAC
Tuesday 17th December: Grade 6,7 and 8 parent Partnership meeting 6pm PAC. Cal 1 reports issued for Grade 6,7 and 8.
Thursday 19th December: Grade 10 and 11 Awards assembly 10.45 am PAC
Thursday 19th December: Grade 6 and 8 Awards assembly 12.15 pm PAC
Thursday 19th December: Grade 9 and 12 Awards assembly 1.15 pm PAC
Friday 20th December: Last day of term. Grade 9 and 11 Cal 1 reports issued. 
Students leave at 12 noon

Friday 6 December 2013

15: Friday 6th December 2013

From the Headmaster

Special Festive Season dates for your diary
  • Musical Evening - Palacio Tecleño - 6pm Wednesday 11th of December
  • ABC Christmas Fair (Grand Christmas Bazaar, inauguration of the Cafeteria building, music, Spooky Attic, food, games and fireworks - entrance ticket has already been sent home for this event) - 5pm to 9pm Thursday 12th of December
  • Lower Primary Christmas Shows and Fair (for Lower Primary children and their families) - 4:30pm to 6pm Wednesday 18th of December
  • A Christmas Celebration (an evening of songs, readings, dance and food - advance ticket needed for this event) - 6pm to 7:30pm in the PAC Thursday 19th December

Be Hydrated!
We know that keeping hydrated is good for learning. At school we provide potable water in drinking fountains which have a multi-filtration system. These are serviced regularly and tested. The latest tests have come back from FUSADES with the result which complies with the norm NSO 13.07.01:08 (drinkable water - good for human consumption). Let’s keep healthy and hydrated!

Primary News

"Hour of Code" is a campaign to promote computer science education in schools, and is supported by several big names including Apple, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. We will be having our Computer Science Education week to mark the Hour of Code from 9th December to 15th December. Students will learn the basics of coding in their ICT lessons, using a program called Scratch. As maths is closely tied to computer science, children will also learn how to program robots called bee-bots and roamers to navigate different maps. It is set to be a very exciting and worthwhile week for the children, as coding is fast becoming a core skill in the workplace. 

Palacio Tecleño Concert - Wednesday 11th December 6:00 PM
This concert involves students from the extracurricular musical groups (Boys Choir, Girls Choir, Recorder Ensemble and Strings), bringing the beauty of music to the community of Santa Tecla; performing in one of the most beautiful buildings in the city just near the famous Paseo el Carmen. Entrance is free and all ABC Community is welcome to come and join our primary musicians!

ABC CHRISTMAS FAIR - Thursday 12th December 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The traditional Christmas Fair this year is celebrating the inauguration of the new building near the Auditorium, and our Upper Primary musicians are taking part in this celebration. The Boys Choir, Girls Choir, Recorder Ensemble and Strings will be performing a selection of songs from around the world and some Christmas music. Entrance is free and all ABC Community is welcome to come and join this great activity. 

International Primary Curriculum
If you are interested in the IPC and how the curriculum works both in our school and schools around the world you will enjoy looking at the latest version of the IPC magazine - Eye on the World.
https://www.greatlearning.com/docs/uploads/doc_repository/Eye_On_The_World_issue_10.pdf

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary
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 18th December: UP Christmas fair
Friday 20th December: Last day of school 

Secondary News

Cal 1
Cal 1 is ending across the secondary school this week and we will be issuing progress reports over the next two weeks. Please take this opportunity to talk to your son or daughter and reflect on their start to the school year. It is important to think about the coming Cal and ways to help your son or daughter think about furthering their understanding and learning.

Internet Comments
We are still asking parents to be alert to social network accounts that your son or daughter may have. We are especially concerned about ask.com which exposes children to ridiculous anonymous comments and encourages them to like comments which they would otherwise not be part of. Please be vigilant and ensure your son or daughter are using appropriate language on line.

Hour of Code
We will be celebrating basic programming with our Hour of Code next week in school. Ask your son or daughter about it and encourage them to follow up at home as there is so much they can do if they are interested in programming.

Anti Discrimination Month
December is anti discrimination month and we have been celebrating this at school. In particular we have been talking about gender discrimination and helping girls realise that they have the same options as boys in terms of their careers. We have also been looking at the example of Anne Frank and her response to the racism she experienced during the Second World War. As a teenage girl she is an example to us all.

Secondary dates for your diary
Friday 6th December: Grade 11 Overnight trip to Portezuelo returning at 11.30am
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. Students leave at 12 noon