Friday 9 March 2018

25: Friday 9th March 2018

From the Director


STOP PRESS: ABC TEAMS WIN BOTH TEAM COMPETITIONS IN MEXICO AND ABC STUDENTS WIN FIVE OF THE TOP SIX POSITIONS. READ THE ABC NEWS BLOG FOR MORE DETAILS. For more information, visit our Newsblog.

We have our Mathcount team in Mexico this week with Ms. Bradburn and Mr. Cañas. We received news yesterday that they came second overall in the Math relay competition which is another excellent result. They have the Mathcounts competition today. We also have our HACIA Democracy team in Cartagena this week and look forward to hearing of their event.


Congratulations to all the students involved in the IB Music recital last week. It was a great show from our first IB Diploma musicians. Well done to all of them.

We had a visitor in school yesterday, talking to students about his time as a famous footballer. Jorge ‘Magico’ Gonzalez gave his time to talk to our children individually and sign autographs. We appreciated his generosity and thank him for coming to inspire the next generation!


Next week at the ABC is Brain Awareness week and we will be talking about some of the amazing things our brains can do. Our ABC children already have shown the power of their brains to learn at least two languages as well as all the other things we require of them at school and in their lives. However we need to keep their and our brains healthy and focused. Brains need sleep, water, healthy food to sustain them but they also need challenge and problems to solve. It is important that we do not allow them to be distracted by obsession or addicted to inappropriate activities. As parents we need to ensure we provide opportunities for healthy brain development and growth. Please help your children avoid over exposure to gadgets and help them discuss ideas with you and their friends. 

I would like to say another thank you to all our staff and students who made the Bicultural Arts Festival such a success. I was proud of the show we helped facilitate here at school and thought the shows were amazing. Next year we will probably return to the Teatro Presidente but it was nice to see the way the ABC community was able to support this event. 

This week we have been finalising our plans for infrastructure developments this summer. We are rebuilding our Secondary Science and Mathematics classrooms as well as the Administration and car park entrance. We are hugely aware of the importance of science and technology in our world and we want to ensure our school has the best possible learning spaces and resources. Science inspires children as we have seen with our amazing STEAMFEST each year and our focus on creativity. I will talk more about these plans at the forthcoming Coffee with the Chair of the Board and myself on Tuesday at 7 am. We hope to see many of you there!

We have been supporting Teleton in school again today, connecting with a project which we have a long history and we are proud to support. All of us need to help connect our children with causes which help develop their empathy and support for a better world!

On behalf of the School I would like to thank the Interact students for their donation to our Fairs to Educate project. They have been working hard selling healthy snacks during break, lunch times and at sporting events and have raised over $200 for our scholarship fund.


Primary News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Today has been STEAMFEST - look out for our reports next week!

I have been in touch with some other members of the school this week. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the IB music students recital on Tuesday evening. I was thrilled to see the talent, skill and professionalism that they demonstrated in their performances. I have also been visited by CAS students promoting the cause of Paraiso Down. They have been very keen to liaise effectively with Primary management and produced the materials needed to support the campaign. In Mr Keslakes piece above we have more students working together for a good cause. I feel so privileged to work in a school that produces such outstanding individuals and I am delighted to know what the future may hold for my students in Primary.

Demonstration Lower Primary Swimming lessons are underway now. Thank you to all those parents who are able to attend. I love to see the children developing their confidence in the water and making progress at their own independent rate. We value that the children are moving forward, not necessarily transformed over night but making those steady steps, or should I say strokes, to lasting and secure development. Well done to the students and their teachers.

Pre-K have been out and about.


Last Friday the school was a sea of colour as the children wore their Teleton t-shirts. Today was another opportunity to get the most out of the T-Shirts and next friday will be too.

Please note that there is a strong correlation between academic success and attendance. If your child misses school at any age right from Pre-k they are impairing their chances of success later in their school career and in life. We are sending out personal reminders to those families where absence is higher than expected.

As mentioned above our CAS students are working hard to support the local charity Paraiso Down. They have prepared a presentation for the students and organised leaflets and order forms. This year it is a very cool t-shirt in bright yellow to publicise the cause. If you feel able to support this cause the children can wear the t-shirt on the 21st MArch. If you would prefer just to make a donation please send any money in a named container. This is an optional event. There is no compulsion for students to participate but of course it is a very good cause if you can.

We have also had some of the primary Maths days in school this week here there has been a focus on maths for the Day. Students have taken part in some fun Maths activities. KS1 have been busy so will have their Maths day on the 20th March. Please ask your children what they did to celebrate.

Dates for your diary

Lower Primary
March
Monday 12th - Prepa Kennedy Swimming lesson - 8:10 - 8:55am - LP pool
Tuesday 13th - Prepa Macdonald Swimming lesson - 8:10 - 8:55am - LP pool
Wednesday 14th - Prepa Ware Swimming lesson - 8:10 - 8:55am - LP pool
Wednesday 14th - Pre-Kinder Egg hunt - Res. Tenerife - 8:30am
Thursday 15th - Prepa Pashley Swimming lesson - 8:10 - 8:55am - LP pool
Thursday 15th - Kinder Cáceres G1 Swimming lesson - 9:45 - 10:30am - LP pool
Friday 16th - Kinder Suárez G2 Swimming lesson - 9:45 - 10:30am - LP pool
Friday 16th - Kinder Francés G2 Swimming lesson - 11:15 - 12:00m - LP pool
Friday 16th - Teletón jeans day
Saturday 17th - LP Sport morning & Family day
Monday 19th - Pre-Kinder González G1 Swimming lesson - 10:30-11:15am - LP pool
Tuesday 19th - First grade Swimming Gala - 11:30 am. - 1:00 pm. - Big pool
Tuesday 20th - Pre-Kinder Carbajal G1 Swimming lesson - 10:30-11:15am - LP pool
Wednesday 21st - Pre-Kinder González G2 Swimming lesson - 10:30-11:15am - LP pool
Thursday 22nd - Pre-Kinder Carbajal G2 Swimming lesson - 10:30-11:15am - LP pool
Friday 23rd - Pre-Kinder Siri assembly - 7:40am - PAC
Friday 23rd - Last day of term

Upper Primary
March
Monday 12th - Friday 16th - Upper Primary 3-Way “Learning” Conferences
Friday 16th - Teletón T-shirt Day
Friday 16th - Teletón (Fri- Sat)
Friday 16th - 2nd Grade Chocolate Showcase 12:45pm - 1:45pm (classrooms)
Monday 19th - Friday 23rd - Upper Primary 3-Way “Learning” Conferences
Tuesday 20th - 2nd Grade Swimming Gala (11:30am - 1:00pm) 
Wednesday 21st - 3rd Grade Swimming Gala (11:30am - 1:00pm)
Thursday 22nd - 4th Grade Swimming Gala (11:30am - 1:00pm)
Friday 23rd - 5th Grade Swimming Gala (11:30am - 1:00pm)
Friday 23rd - Last day of Term 2

Please note Ana Gloria Mena and Edda Padilla are Designated Primary Safeguarding Officers

Secondary news

Dear parents and carers,
This week has been an incredible explosion of learning, enthusiasm, adventure and emotion! I would like to start by saying a massive THANK YOU to my incredibly talented colleagues who have made this week so amazing! We have the Mathscounts team in Mexico - Phenomenal news! CONGRATULATIONS on your performance thus far! Please see Mr Keslake’s message!!) HACIA DEMOCRACY in Colombia and here at school we hosted our STEAM FEST and SCIENCE FAIR, as well as our IB Music recital and last week our Biculturals Festival.

I also must say thank you to our wonderful students who make the most of the opportunities and it is wonderful to be part of such a vibrant learning community where students are able to explore their interests and talents and discover their passions.


STEAM Fest
From Mrs Jennifer Garcia- LRC coordinator

Today the ABC hosted its 3rd annual whole school STEAM Fest. This event showcases the active learning and innovative work our students engage in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. This work takes place in lessons and clubs as well as during student free time outside of school. 

The event is open to students across Primary and Secondary and also includes winning projects from the 6th and 7th grade Science Fair. Special guests including schools and organisations around the country also attend as part of the STEAM Fest community outreach initiative. This year schools from as far away as Morazan and La Union are taking part along with school from Santa Tecla and San Salvador.

The festivities kicked off at 7:30 this morning and ran until 12:20 pm. An innovative go-kart project was introduced this year. At 10:30 the access ramp next to the large pool was closed off and the races began. We will share the results along with pictures from the race and the exhibition in a latter post.The entire STEAM Fest event was streamed live on the ABC Facebook page. If you were unable to catch the live streams you can also them from the Facebook page after the event. 

Here are a few pictures from Thursday evening when the STEAM Team and Crew set up the Auditorium with the help of our wonderful maintenance people. 


Let’s celebrate the Francophonie
From Mme. Escobar- Head of the French Department
Very soon we will celebrate “Francophonie Day”, from the 19th to the 23rd March. The French Department will organize assemblies for the students, one for KS3 on Wednesday, March 21st and another one on Thursday, March 22nd for KS4 and IB.

We will also have a French-Belgian tasting (which will be served by Shaka and Dres’ restaurant, ‘Gofres’). We are asking students to contribute with $5.00 to buy the Francophonie T-shirt which they will be able to wear with jeans on March 22nd, and to participate in the tasting on Thursday 22nd during lunch time in front of the LRC. Students can buy their T-shirts from Mr. Navarro or Mme. Escobar.

Mille merci et Vive la francophonie!


Science Fair
This week we also celebrated our Science Fair with the theme of British Science Week: 

'Exploration & Discovery.' 

Congratulations to the winners!

G6: Wakanda: Bouncing Bubbles - Andres Claros/Hugo Perdomo/Marco Handal ''A well designed experiment and great links to exploration of strong materials of the future' 

G7: Food4Mars- Kiana Collins/Maria Fernanda Molins/Catherine Van Breukelen. ''A well thought out and carefully conducted investigation, that demonstrated many skills of the scientific method''

Next week we celebrate Brainweek and I invite you to watch this video with your children and talk with them about the importance of looking after their brains and bodies. 

CAL 2 REPORTS PUBLISHED
Today Grade 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 reports were published on iSAMS portal. Please analyse them with your children and discuss their progress and target setting for Cal 3.

IGCSE Options Evening and Parent Teacher meeting for Grade 8
Please join us next Thursday at 4.30pm- 6.00pm to speak with your child’s teacher and then at 6.00pm in the PAC for our IGCSE Options information session. Mr Hall has sent via email the relevant information. Please try to read it before that evening.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Kind regards,

Natalia Cáceres Escalón

Dates for your diary
March
Monday 12th - Friday 16th - Class 2018 IB Arts exhibition- by invitation only
Thursday 15th - 4:30pm - 7pm- Grade 8 Parent Teacher Meetings (N.B IGCSE Options evening in PAC at 6.00pm)
Friday 16th - TELETON t-Shirt Day for whole school
Monday 19th - Convocatoria - Annual Parent Meeting
Wednesday 21st March: Paraiso Down T-shirt day
Friday 23rd: Last day of term Two 
Friday 23rd -Sunday 8th April - Easter holidays
Monday 9th April- First day of Term 3. PLEASE ARRIVE before 7.00am!

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