From the Director
Thank you for your patience yesterday with collecting children earlier. We have learned some lessons to ensure a smoother pick up at these times next time! Please note we have RAF coming in next week to do individual and class photographs. These will be available for purchase in due course.
We have decided to return to wearing full school uniform across the school next week. We have worked hard to reduce mosquito reproduction possibilities on campus and we have seen a significant decline in mosquito numbers.
Last week we had a very interesting talk by Dr. Guttfreund and Dr. Barrios who are local experts in the area of teenage addiction. Their talk covered many things including concern over addiction to cigarettes, alcohol, drugs and pornography. It ended by concluding that we as carers and parents must be communicating with our children and ensuring we guide them through adolescence with a genuine interest in their lives and concerns. It also emphasised the importance of us all working together as parents of a class, grade or section. This event was open to all parents from Grade 6 to 12 but unfortunately less than 100 parents were able to attend and some of them were from other schools who we had also invited. I would like to appeal on behalf of the school that we all find time to ensure we are able to participate in these types of information evenings so we can act together on advice and ensure the wellbeing of not just our own children but of the whole body of children at school.
On Tuesday morning Mrs. Ana Maria Portillo the Chair of the Board and myself will be hosting a coffee morning for parents at 7 am. There will be an opportunity to talk informally and a short presentation. If you are available at that time please drop in.
Can I please take this opportunity to remind you of the forthcoming Bicultural Arts Festival at the Teatro Presidente on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th March which our children are already preparing for. We have drama workshops in school tomorrow and music preparations are in full swing.
I hope to see many Primary parents at the Primary Spring Fair tomorrow and please remember the upcoming Summer Carnival next Saturday. Enjoy your family time at the weekend and see you on Monday.
Primary News
Dear Parents and Carers,
As mentioned above we are back to proper school uniform next week. Please ensure your children are dressed correctly.
Some important information for you all.
There have been several situations recently in the Primary school where the internet and social networking sites have been used unsafely. Please note that no Primary school age child should have access to the internet at home or at school, without supervision and no primary child should have a social networking site. Both of these are extremely dangerous. We strongly advise that you shut down your children’s social networking sites and remove their internet access unless you are present. The best advice is that you should only allow the use of the internet in public spaces in your home where the whole family can see what is being researched or explored.
I thought it would be helpful for you all to understand how bronchitis is caused as there have been a few cases lately, both in staff and students and there are some misconceptions. Bronchitis is the inflammation of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles. In children, acute bronchitis usually occurs in association with viral respiratory tract infection. The virus can be picked up at anytime anywhere. It is not caused by being either damp or cold. Please see this site for more information. http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/az-bronchitis.html?ref=search . I have suffered from chronic bronchitis for many years and have done considerable research on the matter.
We recognise the importance of including children in family birthday celebrations but please note that it is not appropriate to take time off during school for birthday celebrations. I am sorry to say that if a request is received it will not be approved. Please inform your relatives so that celebrations can be planned at the weekend or in school holidays if they actually want your child to attend.
Today was Teleton day and the children came in their Jeans and Teleton t-shirts if they wanted to. The school has traditionally supported this event and I would like to congratulate the members of staff in primary who have supported the CAS students in the organisation of the event. In Primary we raised over $5,500 but we are waiting for a final total.
If you would like to have some ideas for really good activities for children of any age please have a look at this website. So cheap and easy to do and so valuable for the children. Much better than hours in front of the TV or on a tablet!
The Spring Fair is tomorrow. We look forward to seeing you all there with your children and hope you have a really great time. The children who are running stalls etc should be here at 8.30am and things will be open for 9.00.am. The raffle will be drawn around 10.30-11.30am and things should be finished by 1.00pm or earlier if we are all sold out! The Lower Primary choir will be performing at 9.00am and 10.00am. I am really looking forward to it.
Best wishes for a fun packed weekend.
Sharon Short
Head of Primary.
Dates for your diary
Lower Primary
February
Saturday 20th: Spring Fair 9:00 am - 12 pm
Friday 26th: Kinder González assembly - 7:45 am - PAC
Friday 26th: Extra-curricular activities - session 3 finishes
Monday 29th: Extra-curricular activities - session 4 begins
Upper Primary
February
Saturday 20th: Spring Fair 9:00 am - 12 pm
Wednesday 24th: 5th Caceres Assembly at the PAC. 9.20 and 12.15
Friday 26th: Extracurricular Activities Session 3 Finishes
Monday 29th: Extra-curricular activities - session 4 begins
Wednesday 16th March: ABC Steamfest
Friday 18th March: End of Term Two
Secondary News
Dear Parents / Guardians,
Business Management/Economics New York Trip - Thursday 11th of February to Monday 15th of February
The Grade 11 & 12 Business Management / Economics students had a great time in New York last weekend. It was cold, but that did not stop the exciting programme of visits.
Thank you to Mr Murgatroyd, Head of Business Studies and Economics, for organising and accompanying the students and thank you also to Miss Burns, Head of Grade 7, for giving up her time to accompany the students.
Grade 9 Empowerment ‘Labels and Stereotypes’ - Thursday 17th of February
Yesterday, when the other grades finished at 11.15am for teacher planning, the Grade 9s had their 'Stereotypes and Labels' themed empowerment afternoon. The objective of the afternoon was explore the issue of stereotypes and to give the Grade 9 students the confidence and tools to combat stereotypes.
Teenagers are often unfairly labeled by the media and society as a whole. Stereotyping can be detrimental to a teenager’s mental and emotional development. When a teenager is stereotyped, s/he might assume that they have to behave a certain way. Once labelled a young person may not pursue opportunities, despite having the skills and talents to do so and succeed. Stereotyping can also make teenagers resistant to change.
Some stereotypes result in a poor self-image, isolation and rejection. As a result, teenagers may struggle with depression and have trouble fitting in with peer groups.
Stereotyping can sometimes be divisive, driving a wedge between different groups of teenagers and resulting in discriminatory behaviour. Discrimination is one of the most harmful effects of stereotyping because it is usually based on race or gender - factors that have nothing to do with a person's values or character traits.
Thank you to the Madres Enlaces for providing lunch and the snacks and thank you to everybody that contributed to what was a really fun afternoon.
Please see the Grade 9 Blog for more pictures.
Bicultural Schools Art Festival
The ABC is once again hosting the Art and Drama workshops as part of the now traditional Bicultural Arts Festival next week. We look forward to welcoming students from the different bilingual schools and their artistic performance at the end of the Festival.
IB Geography Antigua Trip
In Geography next week (Wednesday February 24th to Saturday February 27th) the Grade 11 students will be visiting the city of Antigua, Guatemala, to collect data for their IB Internal Assessment and experience some of the region’s most fascinating physical geography first hand.
Over the four days the students will be investigating the impact of globalisation in the area using fieldwork techniques they have been evaluating within lessons. On the Friday of the trip the Grade 11 students will be taking a guided hike up Volcan Pacaya allowing them to come up close and personal with one of the most active volcanoes in Central America. This will truly be a well rounded geographical experience for all of them.
‘7 Things Parents and Teachers Should Know About Teens’
And finally … I recently came across an interesting article in the online education magazine ‘Edutopia’ about transitions in a teenager’s life and how parents and teachers can support youngsters at these times. It is well worth a read:
Kind regards,
Stephen Spicer
Head of Secondary
Secondary dates for your diary
Monday 22nd & Tuesday 23rd: Bicultural Schools Art Festival
Wednesday 24th - Saturday 27th February - IB Geo Antigua, Guatemala trip
Saturday 27th February: Summer Carnival 2016 (organised by the Asociación de Padres de Familia)
Monday 29th February: Grade 10 IB Options Meetings & Parent Teacher Meetings, 5:30pm PAC
Tuesday 1st - 5th March: MUN New York trip
Thursday 3rd - Friday 7th March: Book Week
Thursday 10th - Monday 14th March: Music Week
Monday 14th March: Brain Awareness Week and British Science Week
Grade 6 'Friendship and teamwork' empowerment afternoon (11:30am-5pm).
Wednesday 16th March: Steamfest 2016
Wednesday 16th March: Open Parent Partnership “Netiquette” 6pm PAC
Thursday 17th March: Grade 12 Parent Teacher Meetings, 3.15pm Auditorium
Friday 18th March: Last day of Second Term
Friday 21st March - Friday 1st April: Easter holidays (school closed)
Monday 4th April: Back to school - First day of Third Term
Monday 11th April: Art Week
Friday 15th April: World Art Day
Monday 18th April: Earth Week
Monday 18th - Thursday 28th April: Grade 11 exams
Thursday 21st April: Secondary School closes at 11:30am - Grade 7 'Assertiveness and independence' empowerment afternoon (11:30am-5pm).
Thursday 28th April: Last day of school for Grade 10 & 12 students
Monday 2nd May: IB exams start for Grade 12 students
Saturday 7th May: Spiritual retreat for Grades 9 to 12 students (Comité Católico ABC)
Monday 9th May: IGCSE exams start for Grade 10 students
Tuesday 10th May:Grade 6 trip
Monday 16th May: Cultural Diversity Week
Wednesday 18th - Friday 27th May: Grade 9 exams
Friday 20th May: Secondary School closes at 11:30am - Grade 8 'Ethical and moral choices' empowerment afternoon (11:30am-5pm).
Thursday 19th May: ABC Digital Awards, 6 p.m. PAC
Monday 30th May: Health Awareness Week
Tuesday 31st May: Thanksgiving Ceremony for Class 2016
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