From the Director
Next term is going to really challenge our togetherness as a community and so, as today is the 167th anniversary of the birth of the great American poet Robert Frost, I thought I would share with you one of his most famous poems, Mending Wall. In the poem Frost challenges us on our human tendency to want to build arbitrary divisions between us. Have a lovely holiday everyone and Happy Easter in advance of next weekend!
Mending Wall
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun;
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbour know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
"Stay where you are until our backs are turned!"
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, "Good fences make good neighbours."
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
"Why do they make good neighbours? Isn't it
Where there are cows? But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down." I could say "Elves" to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me,
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbours."
Stephen Lang
Director
From the Head of Primary
As we look forward to the start of in-school learning, there is a lot of new information.
Here are some common questions (and the answers) I have received from parents about
our reopening plan. If you have anymore please feel free to email them to me so that I can
answer you and include them in my next Weekly.
Primary FAQs - Hybrid 2021
Will my primary child need to bring a backpack/blue bag/pencil case/any resources? No your child will not need any resources, we will provide everything at
school. They will not bring anything home. Backpacks and blue bags are not allowed in
school.
What should my child bring to school? Your child should only bring a snack box,
spare masks and a water bottle.
Will my child receive the resources bag if they are learning online? The resources
that will be provided in school will also be available for those students who are learning
online. You will be able to collect the bag of resources after April 12th, more details to follow.
Does my PK child need to be toilet trained before starting? Children are not allowed
to attend school wearing pampers, and toilet training must have started. However we
understand that many of our new students will still be learning and we will be prepared to
support you and your child in this process. Please send in spare clothes as requested by
the PK teachers. Please contact your class teacher if you have any questions.
When will we receive the primary online timetables? The new hybrid PK, Kinder,
and Prepa online timetables will start on Wednesday 14th April. These timetables will be
available on Monday 12th via our new Hybrid portal. The new hybrid 1st-5th Grade online
timetables will start on Monday 19th April. These timetables will be available on Friday 16th
via our new hybrid portal. We will send you an email with the link on these dates.
When will I know who will be responsible for my child in-school or online? This
information will be finalised and shared with parents when the timetables are released.
Can I drop off all my children in the same place? Yes you can, please choose the
location allocated for the youngest child.
Can I drop off all my children at the same time? Yes, if you have children in both PK,
Kinder or Prepa (start time 8am) and 1st to 5th (start time 7.30am), then you can drop all
students off at school between 7.00 and 7.30am. The class teachers will be ready in
classrooms to receive your child. Please only drop your PK, Kinder or Prepa child off early
if your 1st-5th grade child is in that week, the week that they are online you will need to
drop your PK, Kinder or Prepa child off at the correct time (8am).
Can I pick-up all my children in the same place? I am afraid that we can not allow
siblings to wait together, this is to ensure social distancing. We will do our best to keep
the traffic moving, but please be aware that pick-up may take longer than expected at
the start of the term as we start the new system.
Can I pick-up all of my children at the same time? Yes all Primary students will be
ready for collection at 11.30am, if you have a Secondary child in school on that day then
they can be picked up or dropped off at the same time in the auditorium where there will
be supervision.
Can my child wear a surgical mask instead of a KN95 or N95 mask? We have been considering the pros and cons to allowing surgical masks. MinEd allows us
to use surgical masks, however the advice we have received from pediatricians is that N95
or KN95 will keep our staff, students and community safer. For the moment we are only
going to allow the KN95 and N95 masks. Our priority is that students and staff stay safe
but also that students learn, and if the mask is a barrier to learning then we will need to
reconsider our policy. If we start to introduce physical activity then we will also again
reconsider our policy. Please be assured that we will have a safe space for children to
remove their mask for a few minutes if necessary.
Will we continue to use Reading A-Z? Yes we will continue to use Reading A to Z
for home reading in English and Spanish, for all students in Kinder to 5th Grade.
We will not be sending reading books home, although you can borrow books from the
library, please see the information on the Parent Portal.
Will there be extra curricular classes next term? All extra curricular classes are
suspended for the time being, we hope they can return at some point this academic year,
more details to follow.
Will my child continue to receive extra classes from LSU? Yes LSU will continue to
support children online, new timetables will be shared at the start of next term.
Will my child continue to receive extra classes from the class teacher/assistant?
All additional support from class teachers/assistants will be suspended for the time being,
we hope they can return at some point this academic year, more details to follow.
Will my child continue to receive Spanish Second Language Support? Children in PK,
Kinder and Prepa who attend in-school lessons will not receive additional SSL lessons as
this will be delivered as part of their main curriculum time. Children in PK, Kinder and Prepa
who are online will continue to receive SSL lessons online, timetables will be shared at the
start of next term. Children in 1st to 5th Grade will continue to receive SSL lessons online,
timetables will be shared at the start of next term.
Do I need to inform you if I am carpooling? No, however you will need to inform us of
any carpooling if your child has a suspected or confirmed case of Covid.
Do we need to inform you of travel plans? Yes all international travel, including trips
that are taken by car need to be reported to us using the Covid Concern Formif you have not already declared it in the March survey or via the covid@abc-net.edu.svemail address.
What should I do if my child feels unwell? If your child feels unwell after the 1st of
April then please complete the Covid Concern Form.
Can my child access the online classes if I have signed them up for in-school
learning? Yes your child will be able to access the online timetable by visiting the Hybrid
Portal. Please let the class teacher know by email why they are not attending, or complete
the Covid Concern Form.
Can my child join in-school classes later in the term if I have signed up for online
classes? Currently we will be unable to allow students to join our in-school lessons
mid-way through the term. However your child will have access to great online lessons and
will be able to return in August 2021.
Does my child need to wear a uniform? No, however please follow our
How can I sign up to visit the classroom with my child on Wednesday 14th April? More information about how to sign up PK, Kinder, Prepa or new students for a classroom
visit will be sent on Monday 12th April. You do not need to do anything at the moment.
What happens if my child keeps taking their mask off? The class teacher will support
and reassure your child to feel comfortable, they will also allow them to have breaks from
the mask in a safe place. However if we feel that they are a risk to themselves or others
then we will call you and ask for you to collect them. Then the class teacher will call you to
discuss next steps.
What happens if I am late to collect my child? Your child will be taken to the
auditorium and supervised by the Primary management team. If you are frequently late to
collect your child then you will be asked to switch to online learning.
What will social distancing look like in Lower Primary? Students will be in smaller
bubbles (5-7 students) they will be socially distanced for group activities like storytime,
independent play and eating. They will be allowed to play together, but will have their own
resources wherever appropriate.
What will social distancing look like in Upper Primary? Students will be in half class
bubbles (10-13 students), they will be socially distanced at desks and will not share
resources.
Marianne Taylor
Head of Primary
Dates for your Diary
PRIMARY
March
Friday 26th - Last day of Term
Monday 29th - Easter Holiday (until Friday 9th April)
April
Monday 12th - INSET for staff (no school)
Tuesday 13th -INSET for staff (no school)
Wednesday 14th - Transition day for Early Years
(Pre-K, Kinder & Prepa) + Primary new students (by appointment)
Wednesday 14th - Term starts Online for 1st to Grade 12
Thursday 15th - Term starts for PK, Kinder & Prepa
Monday 19th - Week ‘X’ Hybrid Plan starts
Monday 26th - Week ‘Y’ Hybrid Plan starts
Wednesday 28th - Virtual “Superhero T-shirt Day”
From the Secondary School Leadership Team
As we look back on the past term and now over a year of online learning, it is impressive to see how much we have all adapted to this learning mode. Looking ahead to next term, it is clear that there is some excitement from all community members for those who have chosen to return to school. On our return to school, we want to ensure that we do so in the safest possible manner. This requires a collective effort from the whole community to fully understand the hybrid programs and follow the schools' expectations and health & safety protocols. Please ensure you absorb all of the relevant information over the Easter break to be well prepared for next term.
Letters to the community
The links below will take you to each of the letters which were sent to the community this
week. Each of these contains key information about the hybrid reopening plans.
Monday 22nd March - Letter to community: Opening dates, Grade 11 and Schoolwear
Tuesday 23rd March - Letter to community: Uniform, Confirmation of in-school or online
Thursday 25th March - Letter to the community: Pick-up and Drop-off
Friday 26th March - Letter to Grade 6, 7, 8 & 9 Supervision Requests
Friday 26th March - Letter to the community: Hybrid expectations
We will continue to keep our communication record with you on the Hybrid Portal.
Secondary Lesson Timings (starting Wednesday, April 14th)
The timings outlined below will commence for all secondary grades from Wednesday, April 14th, when we return online (before the hybrid program begins.) This change in timings will ensure that the allocated students returning on April 19th have some time to get used to these new timings before returning. You will notice that the most significant change to this schedule is the 1 hour 40 min break in the middle of the day. This will allow sufficient time for any tutor activities (more information on this to come), lunch, and transportation time (for students in school).
Your common questions, answered.
Where can I find the information about the schools hybrid programme?
You can find all of the information we have published on the ABC Hybrid Portal, which
you can access in English (link) and Spanish (link).
How do I find the details for each grade?
Scroll down on the homepage of the portal to a section called “Hybrid Program by Grade” (English / Spanish). Each grade has a different page which clearly explains their
programme for Term 3. On these pages you will find important timings, information
about in-school and online learning and a timetable for the grade.
When will students return to in-person learning?
Wednesday April, 14th: Grades 6-12 returns to online learning
Monday, April 19th: Cohort X Grades 6-9 return to school
Monday, April 26th: Cohort Y Grades 6-9 and Grade 11 Cohort Y return to school
What times are different grades allocated in-school?
Grades 7 & 9: Morning session (7.30am - 11.30am)
Grades 6 & 8: Afternoon session (12.15am - 3.20pm)
Grade 11: Whole day (7.30am - 3.20pm)
Do student timetables or classes change?
All students will have the same timetables, classes and teachers as they have had in Term 2. The only difference is the times of the lessons have changed and rooms will be added for return back into school. We will be informing all students when these changes have been completed on the iSAMS Hybrid Student Portal.
How can my son/daughter change cohort?
On Wednesday we sent out a form for any cohort change requests. This form has now
been closed as we are now finalizing the preparations for return.
If you would still like to change cohort, please contact alexanderkilford@abc-net.edu.sv to check if it is now possible.
What happens if we decide it is better for my son/daughter to stay online?
If your son/daughter returns to school and then after a period of time decides he/she would prefer to learn from home he/she can do so.
How will pick-up and drop-off work during hybrid?
All of the main times and locations for each grade were released this week and can be found in the letter sent on Thursday or at any time on the hybrid portal at this link.
I have a child in Grade 7 or 9 and a child in Primary, what will the students be doing while they wait for Primary to finish?
If you have children in Grade 7 or 9 we can arrange for them to wait for their Primary siblings in an open and supervised space (the auditorium) for 55 mins between 10.35am and 11.30am. Students will have their own desk and can complete any pending work they have during this time. Please apply for supervision using this form.
I have a child in Grade 7/9 and a child in Grade 6/8, will they be supervised so I can pick-up one child and drop-off another?
If you have children in Primary or grades 7 or 9 and you also have a child in Grade 6 or 8 we can also offer supervision up until 12.15pm to allow for you to do the morning pick-up and afternoon drop-off at the same time. Please apply for supervision using this form.
What will be expected of Students, Parents and Staff while in hybrid mode?
The responsibilities of all community members were shared in a letter on Friday (see above). These can always be found on the hybrid portal homepage as reminders.
What can Secondary parents do to prepare for sending students back to school?
Purchase a supply of KN95 or N95 masks without valves.
Familiarize yourself with the Hybrid programs, the daily health checklist and the schools' Covid-19 communication procedures.
If you or your child is travelling abroad over the holidays ensure a 14 day quarantine is undertaken.
Secondary parents only: If you intend to allow your child to drive themselves to school please contact carmenchavez@abc-net.edu.sv in advance. Parking will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Secondary parents only: Please ensure that your child has access to a device (tablet or laptop) which can be fully charged ready for when your child comes into school each day.
If you have more questions in the lead up to the beginning of Term 3 please do not hesitate to contact the school. There is a concise guide of who you should contact and when at this link.
We are looking forward to seeing all students again either online or face-to-face depending on your decision. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing everyone to begin the term online at 7.30am on Wednesday 14th April.
Have a restful and safe Easter break!!
Dates for your diary
SECONDARY
March
Friday 26th - Last day of term
Monday 29th to Friday 9th April - Easter holidays
April
Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th- INSET Days for Teachers-no classes for students
Tuesday 13th to Friday 16th - Art Week
Wednesday 14th - Term starts Online for Prepa to Grade 12
Thursday 15th - World Arts Day
Monday 19th – Hybrid system starts
Thursday 22nd - Earth Day
Friday 23rd - Secondary DVA-PAC: Theme Earth a Tribute
Monday 26th to Friday 30th - Book Week
A message from the Music department:
Lunch on the Line - Music Performances
Normally when in school we would have regular "Lunch on the Lawn" music performances
on the grass outside the LRC where students can enjoy their lunch with friends whilst
listening to some great performances from students in both Primary and Secondary.
The Music Department wanted to show that even though we have been online learning for
a whole year, fantastic music is still happening across the school and so this week we were
treated to three "Lunch on the Line" performances. On Monday we started with our
youngest performers from Grades 6 and 7 featuring music on keyboards, violins, recorders,
and flutes and it was great to see how these musicians are stepping into the performing
opportunities we have in our Secondary School. On Wednesday we featured our Grade 9
and 10 students with some fantastic performances ranging from Classical Piano to Musical
Theatre and Pop. Finally, on Friday we heard from our oldest and most experienced
musicians in Grades 11 and 12 who brought our week of performances to an incredible end.
We would like to congratulate all of the musicians who took part and thank the entire
music team for supporting these students during online learning. If you weren't able to
tune in or missed some of the performances, please visit our newly published
"Performance Portal" to watch the performances again.
Alexander Kilford
Assistant Headteacher- Data for Teaching and Learning
