From the Director
I have just come back to my office following the most amazing performance of Aladdin this afternoon. It was a magnificent show and I want to congratulate everybody involved. There are more shows this evening and tomorrow and you can still buy tickets at school and space permitting you can also pay at the door. If you can, please come along and support them. You will have a great time.
This morning saw the arrival of the Class 2016 for their final day of classes. They start their IB exams on Monday and we wish them well. I am looking forward to the school community sharing their success at the graduation on Thursday 9th June.
This week an exabrit from the Class of 2011, Fernando Mejia has been talking to students about the Somos Fernando campaign. Fernando has talked about his father who is in need of a kidney transplant and how we are trying to raise funds to help pay for the operation. He is also raising awareness of the importance of a healthy life style and of drinking plenty of water in order to protect your kidneys. It's an important message and great to hear from someone we remember so well when he was a student at the school. We are all proud of his efforts to support his father and make people healthier. You can support the campaign by buying a raffle ticket with some amazing prizes or by buying a T shirt through school. We will be sending details of these to you by email. The school is having a T shirt Day on Friday 6th May to show our support for this campaign. Please join in if you are able to.
Last week we had one of our early closure days to allow for staff training to take place. Following a review we have seen that these days are awkward for parents and although we have one more in May we are planning to replace these five half days with two full training days next year. We hope this will work better for most parents.
I would like to wish the U16 Boys football team further success on Monday when they play in the final of the Bilingual league. They have already had an amazing season and it is great to see some of them already playing in the Varsity team.
As a final point I would like to remind you of our forthcoming community protection programme for our children. Our focus will be working together as a community to protect children from the internet which will only be effective if we all work together. The dates are as follows and as a community that cares and wants to protect its children we are asking ALL parents in these grades to attend.
Class 2025 and 2026 (2nd / 3rd grades) - Wednesday 11 May at 6.30 pm
Class 2023 and 2024 (4th / 5th grades) - Thursday 12 May at 6.30 pm
Class 2021 and 2022 (6th / 7th grades) - Tuesday 24 May at 6.30 pm
Class 2019 and 2020 (8th / 9th grades) - Thursday 26 May at 6.30 pm
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Primary News
Dear Parents and Carers,
On Thursday afternoon I had the privilege of watching the first performance of Aladdin in the PAC. It was a great show with lovely scenery, stunning costumes and really talented singers and dancers. If you have not got a ticket yet I really recommend it. There are shows Friday and Saturday at 7.00pm. Congratulations to the cast and crew on a terrific job well done. (I am going again on Saturday I enjoyed it so much.)
Last week I attended a conference for Latin American Head Teachers and I have to say it was very worthwhile with excellent speakers and workshops relating to school improvement. I am however very pleased to be back in school and working with you all.
Can I reiterate, it is not appropriate to take your children out of school for holidays and it damages their education. We know that the brain learns through making connections to previous experiences and learning. When your child misses a great chunk of school time it really damages their progress as when they return they are unable to make those connections and move forward.
Thank you to the Prepa parents who came to see the children’s work at their exit point this week. I know you were impressed with all that the children had done as they recorded their ideas and learning. We had budding artists, talented builders and designers and enthusiastic writers all contributing to a wonderful display.
I came across this interesting home design a few days ago!
The Pre-K demonstration swimming classes were also very successful especially as the children were working with a different instructor. Their usual swimming teacher Mr Eduardo Chandiere has been absent for an operation and Mr Oscar Lima, the head of Primary PE, has stepped in along with members of his PE team to ensure the lessons still took place. Well done to all the children who were involved and who already demonstrate confidence and ability in the water.
Today the School Council made the final presentation of the clean water dispenser to the school in Zaragosa. The 16 students accompanied by Ms Avilés and other members of school staff were able to hand over the machine which is fully installed and the 500 bottles of water. It is great to see a school community effort come to fruition.
Have a lovely week ahead.
Best wishes,
Sharon Short
Head of Primary
Dates for your diary
Lower Primary
April
Friday 29th: Extra-curricular activities - 4th session finishes
May
Tuesday 3rd Lower Primary Olympics entry point
Wednesday 4th: Pre-Kinder Rampone and Francés trip to Pizza Hut Las Cascadas
Thursday 5th: Kinder Suárez visit La Granjita
Tuesday May 10th Mother’s Day. School closed
Wednesday 11th: Kinder Carbajal visit La Granjita
Friday 13th: Kinder González visit La Granjita
Upper Primary
April
Friday 29th: Primary extra-curricular classes - 4th session finishes
May
Monday 2nd: Primary extra-curricular classes - 5th session begins
Tuesday 3rd: 5th Grade Field Trip to Tin Marin
Wednesday 4th May Upper primary Olympics entry point.
Tuesday May 10th Mother’s day. School closed.
Wednesday 11th: Online community protection project - 2nd and 3rd Grade: 6:30 pm
Thursday 12th:Online community protection project - 4th and 5th Grade: 6:30 pm
Friday 13th: 3rd Grade Camping
Friday 20th: Upper Primary students go home at 11:30 am
Wednesday 25th: IPC 2nd Grade-Feel the force- Field Trip to Tin Marin
Friday 27th: 4th Grade Camping
Secondary News
The Last Day for Grade 12 - Friday 29th of April
For teachers the last day of school for Grade 12 is a day of mixed feelings, it is a bittersweet time. The last day for each senior class is a milestone in our careers as teachers and, contrary to what students may feel, we are left with many fond memories. In later years, when news of a ex-student comes to the attention of the Staff Room, teachers will take pleasure recalling having taught Student X and sharing those memories will snowball accounts of other students in that grade and provoke questions like “how is Student Y?” and “have you heard what Student Z is doing now?”.
The last day for teachers is also a proud and rewarding day as we send students off to new pastures, with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed and tackle life’s challenges. That said, things aren’t quite over yet! The Grade 12s still have the IB examinations to sit over the next month or so before they can truly celebrate completing their time here at the ABC.
I hope the Grade 12 students will be able to look back fondly at their time at the ABC. Today’s experience - with the Last Entrance, the final assembly and the traditional flinging themselves into the pool - will surely be added to their mental scrapbook of happy times at the ABC.
The British comedian Paul Merton once said, “My school days were the happiest days of my life; which should give you some indication of the misery I've endured over the past twenty-five years.” Ignoring the last part of the quote (!), school days are deservedly some of the happiest days of our lives. I am sure many Grade 12s are not convinced this will be the case, but with time they will see this to be true.
Close friendships have been formed amongst the Class of 2016 and I hope these remain for many years to come.
In respect of this the Last Day for Grade 12, I am keeping my section brief this week and I leave you with some pictures from today.
Warm regards,
Stephen Spicer
Head of Secondary
Secondary dates for your diary
Monday 2nd May: IB exams start for Grade 12 students
Monday 16th May: Cultural Diversity week
Wednesday 18th May: Grade 9 exams start
Thursday 19th May: ABC Digital Video Awards (DVA) event
Friday 20th May: End of IB exams for Grade 12 students
Friday 20th May: Secondary School closes at 11:30am - Grade 8 'Ethical and moral choices' empowerment afternoon (11:30am-5.00pm).
Tuesday 24th May: Class 2021 and 2022 (6th / 7th grades) Community protection programme for our children. Is for all Parents, at 6.30 pm
Thursday 26th May: Class 2019 and 2020 (8th / 9th grades) Community protection programme for our children. Is for all Parents, at 6.30 pm
Friday 27th May: End of Grade 9 exams
Monday 30th May: Health Awareness Week
Tuesday 31st May: Thanksgiving ceremony for Class 2016
Thursday 2nd June: Moving up day- 5th Grade to 6th Grade and Parent Partnership meeting “Secondary Induction” 6.00pm PAC
Friday 3rd June: Moving up day - 5th Grade to 6th Grade
Friday 3rd June; Class 2016 Headmaster's Reception
Thursday 9th June: Class 2016 Graduation Day and Graduation Ceremony at 5.00pm Auditorium
Friday 10th June: End of IGCSE exams for Grade 10 students
Monday 13th June: Grade 6 and Grade 7 Award Assembly; Lap of Honour at 7.00am; Logros Event at 6.00pm PAC
Tuesday 14th June: Group 4 Science project
Wednesday 15th June: Grade 8 and Grade 9 Award Assembly
Thursday 16th June: Grade 10 and Grade 11 Award Assembly and CAL Report issued for Grades 6-9 and 11
Friday 17th June: Last day of School Year
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