From the Director
I am writing the newsletter this week from Rio de Janeiro where I am helping with a CIS school accreditation visit. In my absence I am still in regular contact with school and Natalia Cáceres and Sharon Short are deputising for me. I know they will do a great job.
I mentioned some weeks back that we were considering some uniform changes and the Board have decided that the school should go ahead with a trial of trousers for Secondary girls. This idea originated with the Student Council and we want to see how functional the trousers are for the girls, and to check they meet our expectations in terms of smartness and school pride. A small number of volunteers will have the chance to try the samples for us and then we will ask the community for their opinion. We will make decisions in December about whether or not we are going to adopt the option of trousers for girls.
Next week is UN Week at the ABC as it marks the anniversary of the start of the United Nations in 1945. I am a big supporter of the United Nations because I believe it sets an example to all of us that we need to work together to address and resolve issues. It has many fine ideals which we want to share with our children and help them become problem solvers in a sustainable and peaceful environment.
This coming Monday is also the 47th anniversary of the legal formation of the Fundación Escolar Británico-Salvadoreña who are the not for profit foundation who are custodians of the school. Mr. Gary York had been appointed as the first Headmaster three days previously. Almost seven years later, to the day, Ms. Bessy de Hércules was appointed to work with Mr. York and last week we celebrated her 40th anniversary of working at the school. She shared many happy stories of her time at the school including the graduation of her sons.
We have sent an email to parents this afternoon following a concern expressed by some parents about a CAS project. Please read the email and rest assured that the school encourages student driven community involvement in a wide variety of projects that they care about. These are all done within strict guidelines from the IB and the school. The school does not affiliate itself with any NGOs or support all the campaigns of any organisation.
I cannot finish without thanking so many of you for helping resolve our pick up problems in the afternoon. We are now allowing Secondary students with Primary siblings to be picked up with their Primary siblings at 2 pm in the PAC car park. The only thing we ask is that parents of Primary and Secondary siblings using this procedure must ask for a pass for their Secondary student from the Secondary office and crucially that you arrive in the car park after 2 pm so you do not block the pick up of Primary students from 1.50 pm. Please continue to be considerate. The PAC car park is open from 2.30 pm for Secondary pick ups and is a good option at that time for all student pick ups.
Have a lovely weekend
Primary News
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have had a busy week with meetings for parents this week and have more next week as well. We know you are busy but it is important you attend if they apply to you and your children
On Tuesday we had the Grade 1 Curriculum Night. The team looked stunning in their black and orange outfits and had prepared an excellent condensed IPC unit experience for parents. The parents took part in an Entry Point, a Knowledge Harvest, shared the Big Idea, did some research, recorded a task, had some home learning assigned and an ‘exit talk’. All in the space of an hour or so. The staff recorded their work ready to assess, by taking photos of them participating in the activities. I was delighted with the ABC traits and values that parents displayed of enthusiasm, open mindedness and team players. Well done and thank you to everyone who attended.
On Wednesday we held a meeting for the 2019 UK Trip and all 4th Grade parents who were interested in sending their children were asked to attend. We have set the final date for registration for this trip as 4th December 2017 and this should be supported with a $500 ‘non refundable’ deposit. Thank you to everyone who attended the meeting with such good questions and to Mr McNeil and Ms Aviles who presented the evening. Please particularly note that if you did not attend the meeting we will not be accepting requests for places after the 4th December unless a child is new to the school. We will need to make definite bookings at that time. However we will ensure we offer places to everyone who pays a deposit by that date.
On Thursday there was a meeting for the students who are going on the Mammoth Ski Trip. There was advice on where to find the right clothing for the cold and the travel documents that the students must have. It was very well run by Mr Turner-Ware and Ms Caceres. We are excited to be taking a bigger a group of students. Thank you to everyone who attended.
Tomorrow is the International Friendship Fair. Staff will be arriving at 8.00 and we would like the children to be at their classroom for 8.30 so they can be registered. The fair opens at 9.00. Each child will be manning their stall for 30 mins during the morning and as team players, they will be expected to help clear up as well. The Primary choirs will be performing with the Batucada band. Students are asked to wear a shirt that represents their country, maybe a colour in the flag or they could pin a picture of the flag to a shirt they have. When we held this event in the spring it was a great morning so we hope parents will stay and enjoy the event as much as the students.
Funzel will be in school on the 23rd October talking to 1st Grade about the food chain and how rubbish can end up hurting us if it is not disposed of properly.
Tuesday 24th November will be the Prepa Curriculum night, all Prepa parents should attend.
Thursday 26th October is the professional theatre company performance of the Wizard of Oz. Students are asked to contribute $2.00 towards this performance, which is obviously extremely good value as a trip to the theatre would be so much more.
The now traditional Colour Run for Save the Children will be on Friday 27th October. All students have paid for their kits and are ready to go. We hope to raise a lot of money for underprivileged children in this area as well as have great fun. Different age ranges will be participating at different times to reduce the crush.
At the end of Friday the school will close for a week for the half term holiday.
Best wishes for a great weekend.
Sharon Short
Head of Primary
Safeguarding officer
Dates for your diary
Lower Primary
October
Saturday 21st - International Friendship Fair - 9:00am
Tuesday 24th - Prepa Curriculum Night - 6:00pm - PAC
Friday 27th - Prepa Ware assembly - 7:30am - PAC
Friday 27th - Save The Children Colour Run for First Grade - Sports Field
November
Thursday 16th - Pre Kinder Curriculum Night 6:00pm - PAC
Friday 17th - Prepa Macdonald Assembly 7:30am - PAC
Friday 17th - Guy Fawkes Celebrations 6:00pm
Tuesday 21st - Kinder Curriculum Night 6:00pm - PAC
Monday 20th - Lower Primary Christmas Toy Collection begins
Tuesday 21st - No PE or Team Sports Extras
Friday 24th - Prepa Pashley Assembly 7:30am - PAC
Upper Primary
October
Monday 16th to Friday 27th - 3-Way Conference Meetings will be held.
Saturday 21st - International Friendship Fair - 9:00am
Wednesday 25th - 3rd Segovia Assembly (9:20 - 10:05am) -(12:15pm - 1:15pm)
Wednesday 25th - “Comité Católico” and “Caminando con Jesus” extracurricular classes (2nd to 5th Grade) are suspended due to 3-Way Conferences.
Thursday 26th - The Wizard Of Oz - PAC
Friday 27th - Save the Children Colour Run (all day)
Monday 30th - Half Term (school closed).
Tuesday 31st - Half Term (school closed).
November
Wednesday 1st - Friday 3rd- Half Term (school closed).
Monday 6th - Back to school from Half Term.
Thursday 30th - Last Golf class from Term 2.
Please note Ana Gloria Mena and Edda Padilla are Primary Safeguarding Officers
Secondary News
Dear parents and carers,
What a week! It has been a very busy and interesting week in Secondary and we are so looking forward to our Colour Run in support of Save the Children. The Prefect and Deputy Head team, under our Head Students Daniela Castillo and Matias Hudson have done a phenomenal job coordinating what I know will be a very successful event! Thank you for all your work and thank you to all the students who helped raise $130.80 for the cause today! I feel very proud of how our students rally around for worthy causes and truly embrace our mindset of “ABC Cares”!
Careers Day- class of 2019
From our University Counselling Department
The ABC Careers Day for Grade 11 students took place last Wednesday 18th. Our students had a great opportunity to look into their future of professional careers and universities. Students started the day early in the morning in the PAC with a keynote speech by Mr. Cortes, Director of Coaching Positivo, on the topic of leadership and teamwork, and setting up goals using the CLIMB system. It was a great message that resonated with our students, which basically said that each person has the power in themselves to achieve the goals they set for themselves! This was immediately followed by a brief intervention by Jose Eduardo Monterrosa, ABC Class of 2017, currently studying at WPI in Massachusetts, USA, who had his own message for the Class of 2019, and it gave them a key to succeed in college: LEARN, LOVE, and LAUGH. Students were dressed up in formal attire to add to the feeling of professionalism that should be inherent to the search of a university and course of study.
Students then moved on to the next activities, and each student had their own schedule of talks led by professionals on their fields of expertise, where they listened, discussed, and had the opportunity to ask questions about careers they had previously chosen, based on their academic interests. And, a lot of positive feedback has been shared by students about these talks that ranged from Chemical Engineering, Journalism, Law, and Business, to Medicine, Fashion Design, and International Relations. With the prospect of a few careers in mind, students rotated and visited our 9th Annual University Fair, which included an array of 20 something institutions from the USA, Europe, Costa Rica, Mexico, Spain, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Grade 9, 10, and 12 students also had scheduled times to participate at the fair. Some of our parents joined us at the fair, and we were happy to see them involved in the university and career process.
We thank parents, students, university representatives, and our guest speakers for their incredible support.
LRC ReciLectura Club
By Hilda Gómez and Judith de Méndez- LRC Librarians.
On Wednesday 18th October, we paid a visit to Children’s Library of Santa Tecla as part of the activities of our ReciLectura Club. The aim of our visit was to share the experience of a ‘storyteller’ with the children who visit the library during the October when Children’s Day is celebrated. Fiorella Velásquez, a student from 9° grade, wrote and illustrated her first book, “The Boy Who Doesn’t Share” (El niño que no comparte); and took the opportunity during her visit to the Children’s Library in Santa Tecla, to present one book to the library as a donation. Both our students and the children who visited the library enjoyed and shared the best hugs they had ever given.
Cancer Awareness Month
From Carmen Chávez- Pastoral Coordinator
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this year, Breast Cancer Care is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the pink ribbon, a powerful symbol for millions of people affected by the disease.
Next week all girls will attend an information talk about Cancer Awareness. We have invited Dra Cecilia de Monroy who is a renamed Clinical Oncologist in El Salvador.
She will be raising awareness and explaining to the girls:
- The importance of feeling confident talking about this topic
- She will increase their knowledge of cancer risk factors
- The importance of understanding why early detection and early screening are key to a successful recovery
- The importance of family history and how we can use this opportunity to spread the word about steps women can take to detect breast cancer early.
All boys will also attend an information talk about cancer awareness for men and our “Movember” campaign.
Paseo educativo de 7° grado al Jardín botánico
From Ms María Haydeé Díaz
El departamento de Español y Ciencias se siente complacido de la actividad académica de este día. Ha sido una jornada muy productiva, ya que los alumnos de séptimo grado se involucraron con mucho entusiasmo. Gracias a todos los padres por el apoyo.
Más fotos aquí: https://photos.app.goo.gl/7wA1vtLr13g3QKsD2
Grade 7 trip to the Jardín Botánico
The Spanish and Science department are very happy with today’s academic activity. It was a very productive day as our 7th grade students eagerly participated in the activity. Thank you to all the parents for their support.
You can see more pictures here:
On a final note, I would like to say that all these activities remind us about the importance of working together and supporting each other. We are grateful to parents for their support and interest and we would like to respectfully ask that if in the future there is a doubt or concern over any of our activities, to contact us directly in order to give us the opportunity to clarify and discuss it. In that way we will avoid creating widespread concern within the whole community which as we know has our students’ well being and interests at its heart.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kind regards,
Natalia Cáceres Escalón
Dates for your diary
October
Monday 23rd October - UN Week starts
Wednesday 25th October - IB Information Evening for parents- parents of the class of 2019 - 6 pm PAC
Friday 27th October- COLOUR RUN!
Monday 30th to Friday 3rd November - School Closed for Half Term
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