Friday 28 March 2014

28: Friday 28th March 2014

Primary News


5th Grade trip
On Thursday (3rd April) next week, 5th Grade students will be going on a field trip to San Andres and Joya de Ceren. This trip is related to the IPC Unit - Building a Village (about Settlements). The children have been learning about the reasons for the locations for ancient settlements, and they will be able to see first hand evidence of this next week. We will be taking a historian with us, will use the local guides, visit the museums and complete other tasks related to settlements at both locations.

IPC - World Cup Exit Point
It’s time to celebrate the children’s learning during our special World Cup day on April 4th, from 7:00am to 11:30am on our school PE Field. We will livestream the event so parents have the opportunity to watch their children during the event.

OPENING CEREMONY:
All children from primary will contribute to the opening ceremony parade. We will have a real Brazilian feel to it with samba music, dancing and chanting.

FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT:
The main objective of the day is to decide the winners of the ABC ‘ World Cup’ football tournament. Children will have painted a t-shirt with the flag of the country they are representing and have created class flags. All primary children will take part in the tournament during the morning.

LEARNING DISPLAYS:
The day also provides plenty of opportunities for children to display and talk about their learning through this unit in subjects other than PE. The children’s learning in geography, history, art, music, international and social will be displayed in the Jubilee Library.

AWARD CEREMONY:
No tournament would be complete without an award ceremony. The class representing the winning country will be awarded with the World Cup trophy; we will allow them a lap of victory around the field. We will acknowledge children who have exhibited values important to our school such as of teamwork, cooperation and good sportsmanship during the tournament and congratulate all involved for working together to put on such a great World Cup tournament and celebration of our learning.

1st Grade Sleepover ( Friday 4th April)
First grade children, along with the rest of the primary school, have been learning about the World Cup in IPC and as part of the Exit Point we have planned this year’s Sleepover. We have arranged many surprises for this special night and it will allow us to continue fostering the children’s independence. The children are very enthusiastic and excited about spending the night in school and sharing this experience with their classmates. We expect all the children will participate in this fun and memorable event!

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary 
Monday 31st March: 1st grade trip to stadium Las Delicias 
Friday 4th April: 1st grade Sleepover
Monday 7th April: 1st grade swimming gala - 11:00am - Big pool
Monday 14th - Friday 25th April: Easter Holiday

Upper Primary
Wednesday 26th March: 3rd Padilla Assembly, 9.00am, PAC
Wednesday 26th March: 5th Brenes Assembly, 11.55pm, PAC
Tuesday 8th April: 2nd Grade Swimming Gala - 11:00 - 12:30pm
Wednesday 9th April: 3rd Grade Swimming Gala - 11:00 - 12:30pm
Wednesday 9th April: 2nd Quijano Assembly, 9.00am, PAC
Thursday 10th April: 4th Grade Swimming Gala - 11:00 - 12:30pm
Friday 11th April: 5th Grade Swimming Gala - 11:00 - 12:30pm
Monday 14th - Friday 25th April: Easter Holiday
Wednesday 30th April: 4th Avilés Assembly, 11.55pm, PAC

Secondary News

Bicultural Arts week
We have already celebrated the Art festival in school although the exhibition takes place on Saturday 5th April, but the Drama, Dance and Music festivals continue next week. We would appreciate your attendance at the Drama and Dance productions at the Teatro Presidente on Wednesday evening at 7 pm and for the Music and Art Exhibitions on Friday at the same venue

School Photos
All individual and group photos will continue this week

Football Success - Girls and Boys
Congratulations to the U18 Boys and Girls football team who play in the finals of the Bilingual Cup on Friday afternoon at the school. The boys are unbeaten so far this season and will play Liceo Frances and the girls who have also had a superb season play again. We wish them all the best of luck

ESEN Debate Team
Following the success of our team against the Escuela Americana and Maquilishuat last week we have qualified for the final rounds this weekend and we wish our team an enjoyable day again tomorrow. The event takes place at the ESEN campus 

Secondary dates for your diary
Wednesday 2nd April: Drama and Dance Production at Teatro Presidente at 6pm
Friday 4th April: Bilingual League U18 Football Finals at school
Saturday 5th April: Art exhibition, Foyer at Teatro Presidente
Saturday 5th April: International Award Silver Expedition
Monday 7th April - Wednesday 9th April: Grade 8 History project
Friday 11th April: Last day of term two
Monday 28th April: First day of term three
Wednesday 30th April: Last day of classes for Class 2014
Thursday 1st May: Public Holiday
Monday 5th May; IB Exams start

Friday 21 March 2014

27: Friday 21st March 2014

Primary News

Considerate
We are very proud of Alessandra Cassanovas who has taken our school traits and values to heart. Alessandra had her hair cut short and donated her hair in order to help patients who are receiving treatment for cancer. She looks as beautiful as ever! Alessandra was awarded Rocky in assembly in recognition of her consideration for others. Here is a note from her Mum:

Last week Alessandra donated, for the second time, her hair for patients under cancer treatment. She was 5 years old when she first decided to donate her hair; she proved to her proud parents patience and compassion and kept her promise for a year. When her hair was long enough to meet the required length to make a wig, she got a gorgeous haircut.

This year, after losing her grandfather to Cancer, this donation has a greater meaning. Now her short hair is a wonderful reminder that a selfless act can have a great impact. Please take a minute and share this act of love with others.

Donations can be made through:

Ayudame a Vivir
Eduardo Matheu (90 Grados) 
edumatheu90@gmail.com
Fundación Edificando Vidas

Swimming Galas
Our Pre Kinder swimming lessons this week were attended by the children’s parents who enjoyed the opportunity to see how their children learn water confidence and swimming during their lessons in school. Swimming Galas for all other grades in primary take place over the next few weeks, please check the dates below.

Assemblies
Next week we look forward to welcoming parents who have children in 3rd Padilla, 5th Brenes and PK Carbajal to their class assemblies. Again please check dates below. Please remember that when attending assemblies and other functions during the school day parents must use the emergency car park.

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary 
Monday 24th March: Prepa swimming gala - 11:00am - LP pool
Tuesday 25th March: Kinder swimming gala - 11:00am - LP pool
Friday 28th March: Pre Kinder Carbajal Assembly - 7:20am - PAC
Monday 7th April: First grade swimming gala - 11:00am - Big pool
Monday 14th - Friday 25th April: Easter Holiday

Upper Primary
Wednesday 26th March: 3rd Padilla Assembly - 9.00am - PAC
Wednesday 26th March: 5th Brenes Assembly - 12.00md - PAC
Tuesday 8th April: 2nd Grade Swimming Gala - 10:00 - 11:30am 
Wednesday 9th April: 3rd Grade Swimming Gala - 10:00 - 11:30am 
Thursday 10th April: 4th Grade Swimming Gala - 10:00 - 11:30am 
Friday 11th April: 5th Grade Swimming Gala - 10:00 - 11:30am 
Monday 14th - Friday 25th April: Easter Holiday

Secondary News

IB Art Exhibition
Congratulations to the Class 2014 Art students who have their work displayed in the PAC. The event was opened by Mr. Hobson on Tuesday and is a fine testimony to the talents of these young artists. Well done to all of them

Welcome home to the Mathcounts students who returned from Mexico and to the HACIA Democracy who returned from Panama this week. Both trips were very successful and all staff who went with our students expressed their pride in the way they performed and behaved. It is great to see ROCs in action.

Cal 2 Reports
These are being sent home over the next week. Grade 11 today and then Grade 9 on Wednesday of next week Grade 6 and 7 will be issued at the Parent Partnership Meeting and Grade 8 will be sent home at the end of school on Thursday. We hope all Grade 6 and Grade 7 parents will be able to attend the Parent Partnership on Thursday.

Internet
The internet is an amazing resource but please remember to check the usage your son or daughter is making of it! There are some areas of the internet that young people should not be exposed to…….

Secondary dates for your diary
Friday 21st March: Reports issued for 11: students will take them home at 1.50 pm
Saturday 22nd March: Parents Association Summer Carnival for the whole ABC community
Wednesday 26th March: Reports issued for 9: students will take them home at 1.50pm
Thursday 27th March: School photos will start for Secondary students/Reports issued for Grade 8-students will take them home at 1.50pm
Thursday 27th March: Parent Partnership, Reports issued for Grades 6 & 7 at 6pm PAC

Friday 14 March 2014

26: Friday 14th March 2014

From the Headmaster



On behalf of the Board of Governors of the school I would like to invite you to the parents’ information meeting to be held at the school’s Performing Arts Centre (PAC), at 18:00 hours on Wednesday 19th March 2014. Should there not be 50% plus 1 of all parents present, the meeting will reconvene at 18:30 hours on the same day and proceed with those in attendance.



We look forward to seeing you at this important meeting. 


Entrance into Prekinder - August 2014: Members of our community are reminded that the ABC point of entry is into Prekinder (children born 1st July 2010 to 30th June 2011 inclusive). There is no normal entry into Kinder since the grade is full from those moving up from Prekinder. 

We have had a greater than normal registration into Prekinder August 2014 than in previous years and have very few places left (3). We are concerned that members of our community might not understand these aspects and will leave it too late to enrol their child into our school. Prospective community parents are asked to contact the Admissions Officer, Estefania Chacon, with urgency if they have not enrolled already.


Primary News

IPC World Cup 
This week, in a very special assembly, the children in primary learnt which country their class would be representing in our IPC World Cup units which we will begin work on soon. 

Mrs. Dickson’s opening speech gave an overview of the learning which will take place whilst we are using these, very enjoyable and exciting, units.

As I am sure you know the World Cup 2014 will take place in Brazil in June and July.

Something as simple as football can bring countries and people together. The game is played all over the world and the World Cup is a special event to help us celebrate this.

Here at the ABC, over the next few weeks, we will be having our own version of the World Cup which will end on the 4th April with a football tournament in which every child in primary will take part. We will be using the IPC units to learn more about the World Cup itself and about Brazil.

In Geography we will be learning about the 32 countries taking part in the World Cup and using maps and scales to find out more about them. We will be finding out more about Brazil, the football stadiums being built there and the social, economic and environmental impact of hosting the World Cup.

In History we will be developing an understanding of events that happened in the past and the differences in our own lives and the lives of people who lived long ago. We will be researching the history of Brazil.

In art and design we will be planning and making mascots, posters, football kits and logo’s and in science carrying out investigations about materials. In music we will be learning about Brazilian dance and music.

In PE we will be learning the rules of some activities and games, working on our coordination and control, developing our understanding of the effect that exercise has on our bodies and, of course, playing football.

Our International lessons will help us to understand the similarities and differences between our own lives and the lives of people in other countries and the importance of team work.

The IPC units are called:
Going for Goal in MP1
Football Fever in MP2

All in one rhythm in MP3 (All in one rhythm is the official slogan for this year’s world cup.)

There are 32 countries playing in the World Cup and 32 classes in primary. The flags are here. Today you are going to know which country your class will be representing so that you and your teachers can begin to make plans for the learning that you will be involved in over the next few weeks.

Like the players in a World Cup team, at school and in our lives, we must learn to respect, support and work with one another, no matter who we are or where we come from. I am sure that we are all going to learn lots and have fun as we work our way through our IPC units about the World Cup.

World Cup Day
This will take place on Friday 21st of March and involve a number of different activities by each grade. Each child is invited to wear clothing of the colours of the country they became in last weeks draw, for a fee of $1. Proceeds will go toward 5th Grade funds.


World Poetry Day
In Primary we will be celebrating World Poetry day on March 21st. For us, it coincides with our IPC entry point for the World Cup unit. So, on that day, we will be listening to poems about football and in our grades, during the week, writing and listening to poems on other subjects as part of an English based poetry unit. It promises to be fun. 

Brain awareness week
This week is Brain awareness week and in primary we have been learning more about our brains. Children are gaining a better understanding of what our brains are made up of, how we can keep them healthy (nutrition, water and exercise!) and how our brains learn. The children have found this really interesting. The websites below will help you to discuss this learning with your children.


Assemblies
We look forward to welcoming the parents of children in 2nd Gilchrist and PK Flores to their class assemblies next week. Date and times below. Please remember to use the emergency car park for these events as otherwise our teachers and assistants are unable to park and get to their classes on time.

Pre Kinder Swimming Classes
This year in Pre Kinder we have decided to invite individual classes of parents to observe their child's swimming lesson. This will take place instead of a swimming gala. Our intention is to explain the learning objectives and demonstrate some of the key skills the children are in the process of developing. Eduardo Chandiere will lead the lesson supported by his colleague Daisy Flores. The lesson will last 45 minutes and parents may help their child change afterwards, receive a snack and then take them home if they wish to do so. We hope you enjoy this valuable experience.

Tuesday 18th March
09:30am - 10:15am - PK Flores
11:00am - 11:45am - PK Carbajal

Thursday 20th March
09:30am - 10:15am - PK Siri
11:00am - 11:45am - PK Cáceres

3rd Grade Fashion Show
Third grade children have been developing different art and technology projects related to fashion. They have put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into them, as they have been asked to design and produce their own street fashion outfit, to paint a t-shirt in the style of Andy Warhol and to plan an advertisement campaign in English. They have been very busy learning through practical activities. Next week they will have the opportunity to showcase what they have done by participating in a fashion show.

If you love me keep me safe!
Staff in the primary school will be wearing their yellow T shirts again today as a reminder to the school community that wearing seatbelts saves lives! Please, please make sure that your children are wearing their seatbelts whenever they are in the car.

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary 
Friday 14th - 1st grade trip to Galaxy Bowling - 8:30 - 11:45am
Monday 17th - Friday 21st March: IB ART Exhibition - PAC
Tuesday 18th - PK Flores Swimming lesson with parents - 9:30 - 10:15am - LP pool
Tuesday 18th - PK Carbajal Swimming lesson with parents - 11:00 - 11:45am - LP pool
Thursday 20th - PK Siri Swimming lesson with parents - 9:30 - 10:15am - LP pool
Thursday 20th - PK Cáceres Swimming lesson with parents - 11:00 - 11:45am - LP pool
Friday 21st March: Pre Kinder Flores Assembly - 7:20am - PAC
Monday 24th March: Prepa swimming gala - 11:00am - LP pool
Tuesday 25th March: Kinder swimming gala - 11:00am - LP pool
Friday 28th March: Pre Kinder Carbajal Assembly - 7:20am - PAC
Monday 7th April: First grade swimming gala - 10:00 am - Big pool
Monday 14th - Friday 25th April: Easter Holiday

Upper Primary
Friday 21st March: Poetry day
Friday 21st March: World Cup Day, 5th grade ME fund raising event
Wednesday 26th March: 3rd Padilla Assembly - 9.00am - PAC
Wednesday 26th March: 5th Brenes Assembly - 12.00md - PAC
Tuesday 8th April: 2nd Grade Swimming Gala - 11:00 - 12:30pm 
Wednesday 9th April: 3rd Grade Swimming Gala - 11:00 - 12:30pm 
Thursday 10th April: 4th Grade Swimming Gala - 11:00 - 12:30pm 
Friday 11th April: 5th Grade Swimming Gala - 11:00 - 12:30pm 
Monday 14th - Friday 25th April: Easter Holiday

Secondary News

HACIA Democracy
Our team in Panama are having a good time and started their Conference today. We look forward to hearing about the debates, how they are going to change our world and the leadership experiences they have had

ESEN Debate
Our team are involved in the first round of competition on Saturday 15th March and we wish them the very best

Mathcounts
Congratulations to our team who came second overall in the Math relay event on Thursday in Puebla, Mexico. They are coming home on Saturday and are being looked after by Ms. Bartimote who reports that they are having a fantastic time and making us all very proud of them!

Brain week
This week we have been celebrating Brain week with ideas for how to improve your brain. We will be sharing some of our feedback to individual grades next week. The message is that our brains have the potential to do wonderful things if we treat them right and are confident. Treating them right means having 8-9 hours of sleep per night, eating breakfast in the morning, eating a varied diet with fresh food and vegetables as well as meat and fish as well as not getting dehydrated. It also means we need to challenge our brains and try to solve puzzles and problems which make our brains think. We all need to be aware of the needs and potential of our brains and realise that even when we are older our brains can still learn and do amazing things

Caps for PE
It is very important that your son or daughter brings a cap for his or her PE lesson.

Grade 9 and 11 Reports are being issued next Friday at 1.50 pm.
Please sign and return the photocopy on monday morning

Responding to reports
If your son or daughter has got disappointing grades you must talk to them and encourage them. We know that all our students can be successful if they are positive and determined to do better. If they feel they need some more help than ask them to talk to their teachers who will help them decide how to improve on areas they think they need to work on. it is important to be proactive and to think positively about ways to do better or to do even better

Secondary dates for your diary
Monday 17th March: IB Art exhibition starts in the PAC. Opening Ceremony on Tuesday at 6 pm
Friday 21st March: Reports issued for Grade 9 & 11: students will take them home
Saturday 22nd March: Parents Association Summer Carnival for the whole ABC community
Thursday 27th March: School photos will start for Secondary students/Reports issued for Grade 8-students will take them home/Parent Partnership and Reports issued for Grades 6 & 7 at 6pm PAC

Friday 7 March 2014

25: Friday 7th March 2014

Primary News

IPC World Cup 
At our primary assembly on Monday 10th March we will beginning to plan our new IPC units in which the children will be learning about the World Cup. During the assembly we will draw the names of all the classes in the primary school from a tombola and each class will find out which country they will be representing during our learning from the IPC units; Going for Gold, Football Fever and All in one Rhythm. It works out perfectly for us that there are 32 countries taking part in the World Cup and 32 classes in the primary school. This assembly will be live streamed to allow parents and friends to be a part of the excitement! There will be a link on the ABC webpage.

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary 
Monday 10th March: World Cup Draw
Friday 14th March: Pre Kinder Siri Assembly - 7:20am - PAC
Monday 17th - Friday 21st March: IB ART Exhibition - PAC
Friday 21st March: Pre Kinder Flores Assembly - 7:20am - PAC
Monday 24th March: Prepa swimming gala - 11:00am - LP pool
Tuesday 25th March: Kinder swimming gala - 11:00am - LP pool
Friday 28th March: Pre Kinder Carbajal Assembly - 7:20am - PAC
Monday 7th April: First grade swimming gala - 10:00 am - Big pool
Monday 14th - Friday 25th April: Easter Holiday

Upper Primary
Friday 7th March: Cal 2 reports go home
Monday 10th March: World Cup Draw
Friday 21st March: Poetry day
Friday 21st March: World Cup Day, 5th grade ME fund raising event
Wednesday 26th March: 3rd Padilla Assembly - 9.00am - PAC
Wednesday 26th March: 5th Brenes Assembly - 12.00md - PAC

Secondary News

Brain Week is next week in school and we will be focusing on the huge potential all our brains have and encouraging students to get active. We all need to work to ensure all students seek to make the best use of their growing brains.

PE Uniforms
We are concerned that some of our students are still not bringing caps to school for PE lessons. In the hot sun it is essential that your son or daughter is protected from harmful sun rays and we would really appreciate you ensuring your son or daughter has a cap. We also require that our students wear appropriate sports trainers.

Keiser University and Central Florida University are visiting school next week at lunchtime to talk to interested students about their programmes, scholarships etc.

Secondary dates for your diary
Wednesday 12th March: HACIA Democracy trip for participating students
Monday 17th March: IB Art exhibition starts in the PAC
Friday 21st March: Reports issued for Grade 9 & 11: students will take them home
Saturday 22nd March: Parents Association Summer Carnival for the whole ABC community
Thursday 27th March: School photos will start for Secondary students/Reports issued for Grade 8-students will take them home/Parent Partnership and Reports issued for Grades 6 & 7 at 6pm PAC