15: Friday 4th December 2015

From the Director

I have been in London this week doing some recruiting for new teaching staff and I left on Saturday morning with very happy memories of the Guy Fawkes Party. It was fantastic that so many of you turned out and made it such a family occasion. I want to say a special thank you to all the children who participated in the music and dance performances, to all their parents for supporting them and for the Performing arts teachers for helping them show their talents. It was a magnificent performance and event. I was delighted to see so many children participating in community based fundraising activities and especially the magnificent Student Council who did a great job on the Spooky Hotel. We should be so proud of our students when we see them working so hard for causes they really care about

I have been asked why we have stopped selling alcohol at these events and I want to take this opportunity to explain the school’s view. We believe there are so many events where alcohol is sold that we should show an example of an event where everyone has fun without the need for alcohol and we believe this is a great example to our students. It is easy to have fun with family and friends without drinking alcohol. It is the school’s policy at present not to sell or serve alcohol when we have a family event with children present. We are also happy knowing everyone is driving home after the event with no danger of anyone driving from school when they have consumed alcohol.

We are having our staff Christmas Party on Sunday with up to 500 people attending. It is a chance for us as a community of employees to share some time together with our families. I am also informing you because the school will not be available for other users other than for the swimming pool.

We are still planning to complete our Lower Primary classrooms next summer and applications are filling up for places in per Kinder next year. We only plan to offer eighty eight places in Pre Kinder so if you are hoping for a place please make sure you get your application to Estefania Chacon at school as soon as possible. 

Christmas is coming upon us rapidly and I would like to remind you that we are planning some Christmas shoe boxes for children around our city and country who otherwise would not have much reason to celebrate this Christmas. Please think about getting a shoe box ready. Details can be found in the separate sections of this newsletter but please give your support!

A final thank you to the Class of 2015 who made a donation of 75 cushions to help make sitting in the Auditorium for long events more comfortable. They have also made a significant contribution of $1,019.35 to our beca scheme for staff students. Thank you to the Class of 2015 for thinking of our community. In the photo Rebecca and Chantal are handing over one of the cushions.

Primary News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Last Friday already seems such a long time ago but I sincerely hope you all enjoyed our Guy Fawkes night fireworks, entertainment and bonfire. I would like to join Mr. Keslake in congratulating all those parents who joined us for the event and kept a good eye on their children and thereby contributed to a very enjoyable event. 

On Tuesday we opened up our Pre-kinder department for people to come and have a look. We received a very favourable response from everyone who visited. Thank you to the Pre-kinder staff who gave up their time to be present for the event and for preparing all the things that the visitors enjoyed.

Monday is the theatre production of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. Every child in primary will have the opportunity to attend a professional theatre production and therefore we would like every child to contribute. Please send in their $2 on Monday at the latest if you have not already sent it in. Thank you to everyone who was on time with the money.

Many students are bringing in Christmas accessories in preparation for the concerts and other christmas events. Please make sure there is a name in it. I have no idea who 400 santa hats belong to (and neither do the students!)

Thank you to everyone in Lower Primary who sent in a filled jar for Santa’s Festival. The ones I have seen have been beautifully decorated and filled with fun and delicious things. Today was the last day to hand them in but I am sure if you still have yours at home they will be accepted on Monday.

The shoe boxes from Upper Primary have started to trickle in too. They have also been beautifully decorated and filled with things a child would be delighted to receive at Christmas time.

Next week on Thursday, late afternoon, is the Upper Primary Concert and International Food Fair. Please bring your children to the PAC at 5.30pm. You are then free to go off to the food fair while we warm up the children for the concert. This will start in the auditorium at 6.30pm. Please ensure your children are on time.

Don’t forget the mini fair that our CAS students are involved with tomorrow.

Jingles visited my office today and cast his Christmas magic. Please ask a 2nd Aviles student for more information!

Our bake sales each Friday continue to raise funds for Save the Children. Thank you everyone for your continued support at this very special Christmas time. I hope to ‘bump’ into you all over the next two weeks.

Very best wishes,

Sharon Short

Head of Primary

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary

December

Saturday 5th December: Corazon Del Padre Mini Feria

Monday 7th December: Pirates of the Caribbean Theatre Performance

Friday 11th: LP reports go home

Wednesday 16th: Christmas Shows 4:00 - 6:30 pm PAC and Santa’s Festival

Friday 18th: Last day of term one - finish 11 am with older siblings - NO PLAY ROOM

Upper Primary

December

Saturday 5th: Corazon Del Padre Mini Feria

Monday 7th December: Theatre Performance

Thursday 10th: UP Christmas Concert and food fair at 5.30

Friday 11th: 4th grade Save the children Bake Sale

Friday 11th: UP reports go home

Wednesday 16th: Santa's Festival

Friday 18th: Last day of term one. Students leave at 11.30am (no PASS club)

Secondary News

Shoe Box Campaign - ‘A little Christmas Gift’

As requested in the recent communication from the Secondary School, please support our Shoe Box Campaign, which this year is entitled ‘A little Christmas Gift’, by filling an ordinary shoe box with at least one of the following items:

• A new pair of socks
• Tooth paste and a tooth brush 
• Candles
• Cookie 
• A toy

The items should be new and aimed at a boy or a girl of a certain age range (please label the wrapped box accordingly - see the above image for more detail). 

The deadline is Tuesday 15th of December and boxes can be handed in to the Secondary School Office. 

The boxes will be given to less fortunate children from local communities.

For full details please refer to the recent email. If you still have questions please contact abc-actua@abc-net.edu.sv or the Secondary School Office.

Movember

Movember came to an end with style. Thank you to all those -students and teachers- that have supported Movember.

Well done to Mr Hall, Upper Primary Deputy Head, on being nominated best moustache at the Guy Fawkes/Christmas Fair. 

Secondary male staff that participated in Movember, supported by some Mo Sistas.

Grade 7 Social - Tuesday 1st of December

On Tuesday 1st December, the Class of 2021 enjoyed a fun afternoon of socialising and playing with water. The Madres Enlace worked together with staff and Grade 12 mentors to provide some excellent activities and we all had a wet and wonderful time. The money raised from the event will go to support the Grade 7 charity, Con Textos.

A big thanks to everyone who took part. 

Lucy Burns, Head of Grade 7

Grade 6 to 8 Parent Partnership ‘Internet Safety’ - Thursday 3rd of December

The initial response to yesterday’s Grade 6, 7 & 8 Parent Partnership has been very positive. Below are some photographs from the different workshops that were on offer:

Online Gaming - Potential Issues, Advantages and Examples

Digital Footprints - GPS, Tracking, Filter Bubbles and Settings

Social Networks - Potential Issues, 21st Century Skills and Benefits and Examples

Cyberbullying, Sexting, Predators, Pornography

Cell Phones and Tablets - Setup and Restrictions, Tracking and Text and Chat

We plan to replicate this format in upcoming parent partnership meetings and we are very keen to hear suggestions from parents of possible future topics that you want us to address.

Grade 8 Coffee Fair - Friday 4th of December

Over the past couple of months the whole of Grade 8 have been working hard in an exciting cross-curricular project within IT and Geography. This project involved students taking on different roles to plan and create their own coffee business in preparation for a big coffee fair. 

After presenting their business plans and products within a Dragons Den event to professionals and receiving valuable feedback, the students effectively marketed and produced tasty coffee treats to sell to the rest of the school at the coffee fair. 

Students from all age groups attended the coffee fair and were met by our top class Grade 8 chefs and company mascots, who all enjoyed their lunchtime eating and drinking products produced by these new found companies. Well done Grade 8! 

Alex Kilford, Head of Geography

Turtle Release - Saturday 5th of December

The IGCA is organising a turtle release tomorrow (Saturday 5th of December) at Playa Amatal, La Libertad. Around 30 students will join this activity, as well as some parents and teachers from the ABC. This is a permanent school project to help on the preservation of sea wildlife.

Walter Arevalo, IGCA Coordinator

International Award Expedition - Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th of December

The Year 10 Bronze International Award group will be away from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. They will be camping in the El Limo parque at Metapan. During the expedition they will be taught and assessed on their camping skills, hiking and cooking. We expect to see some waterfalls, forestry and wildlife whilst enjoying the natural world outside of our busy city lives. 

James Merry, International Award Coordinator

Grade 10 Empowerment Activity - Tuesday 8th of December

Next Tuesday Grade 10 have a special empowerment activity beginning at 1.00pm and finishing at 5.00pm. This compulsory event will involve various team building activities and should be a great learning experience for our students.

As mentioned in Mrs Forsyth’s recent communication, students should wear their PE uniform and bring a change of clothes. They should also bring a water bottle and a towel. A light snack will be provided during the afternoon.

Parents please make the necessary arrangements to pick up your child at 5.00pm on that day. 

Grade 9 & 11 Parent Partnership - Tuesday 8th of December (now extended to all parents of children in Grade 9 and above) 

Although originally planned as a Grade 9 and Grade 11 Parent Partnership we now invite parents of children in Grade 9 upwards to join us on Tuesday 8th of December at 6.00pm in the PAC. Our guest speaker is Eduardo Loyola from the Centro Terapéutico Jaime Hill. Eduardo Loyola contributes to the Substance Abuse Prevention unit of our Life Skills programme. On Tuesday the focus will be on class/open parties and the new drugs which are becoming increasingly accessible to our youngsters. 

We hope you can join us.

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

All the best,

Stephen Spicer 

Head of Secondary

Secondary dates for your diary

Friday 4th December - Grade 6, 7 and 8 Cal 1 reports published electronically 

Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th December - International Award Expedition
Monday 7th December - Grade 6 Xmas lunch, 12.20pm to 2.00pm

Tuesday 8th December - Grade 10 (Class 2018) Empowerment Day: Theme ‘Perseverance’ 

Tuesday 8th December - Grade 9 & 11 Parent Partnership. Now extended to all parents of children in Grade 9 and above (Grade 9 & 11 Cal 1 reports issued)

Friday 11th December - Art Mock Part 1

Friday 11th to Sunday 13th December - International Award Expedition

Saturday 12th December - Art Mock Part 2

Monday 15th December - Grade 11 (iGCSE) Certificate Awards Evening (6.00pm to 7.30pm)

Friday 18th December - Last day of term