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
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