NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER

2009

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The British School of Alicante Monthly Update

New School Council Members

New House Captains

New Teachers

Message from the Head of PrimaryHappiness and security is of paramount importance to every Head Teacher, all the classroom staff and of course to Parents. I am pleased to report that our new pupils are settling well; they all seem happy and focused on working hard. Our new staff are also settling into their new jobs, their new homes and, for most of them, a new country.

A special feature of 2009-2010 will be the changes to the curriculum we have started to make. From Reception to Year 6 we are introducing the ‘Primary Framework in Literacy and Maths’. This is an important way in which we can raise standards even further and personalise learning so all our children are able to reach their full potential. Another curriculum development is the introduction of the “Creative Curriculum” in Reception to Year 3. This approach involves linking subjects such as History, Geography, Art and Maths in order to develop more creativity.

Shortly I will be writing to Parents in Year 5 and Year 6 to explain about another programme which will focus on communication skills in general and the development of oral language skills in particular. This initiative will also help with confidence building and should stimulate imaginative and creative thinking as well as acknowledging the individual levels of achievement reached by each child.

This is only a glimpse at the year ahead but I am sure you will agree that these developments will benefit not only the academic curriculum, but also the social and pastoral care that we give to our pupils so they continue to flourish in a stimulating and fun academic environment.

Fiona ThomasHead of Primary School

NewsletterPRIMARY

Four lucky class captains from Year 6 met Valentín Botella Ros the President of Hercules CF and José Juán Aso, the football club's "Comisión Deportiva" when they visited King's College, Alicante. The children were presented with a Hercules CF football shirt signed by all the players.

RORY 6H MARTA 6H

ALBA 6L CESAR 6L

CRISTOBAL 5M REBECCA 5M

PABLO 5F ZAY 5F

School Council MembersCongratulations to all those elected:

LARA 4J JORGE 4J PABLO 4S SARA 4S

PABLO 4H

OLIVIA 4H ALEX 3O

MIREIA 3O ELENA 3P

ADRIAN 3P

ANTONIO 3S ALICIA 3S SOFIA 2A KOSTA 2A SAMI 2T

House Captains________________________________________

The prestigious role of House Captains in Year 6 have also been filled. Class members voted for the best candidates to solve problems and communicate ideas:

Fire: Harry 6L, Lucía 6H

Wind: Martin 6L, Sofía 6H

Water: Sara 6L, Adrián 6H

Earth : Adriana 6L, Fernando 6H

CreativityCreative thinking is being developed in Years 5 and 6. 5M have been looking at portraits, asking questions and learning new "ways of seeing":

Questions: Why do we do portraits?What can we tell about someone from a portrait?

The class looked at 2 portraits in particular, one of Henry VIII painted by Holbein about 1536 and the "Weeping Woman" painted by Picasso 400 years later. Mrs. Manners says that "...thinking creatively and asking questions" not only helps develop other areas of the curriculum but also the "whole child".

Responses to the portraits:The weeping woman is ugly but inside she is kind.I think she is suffering from grief.The portrait is really ugly but at the same time lovely.

Was she a friend of Picasso’s?How did she know Picasso?

The exercise was not designed to find the answers to specific questions but to nurture independent thinking and to develop "reflective learners". The discussions and questioning also helped to improve their spoken English and communication skills.Creativity in other Classes:

• Year 2 and Year 3: The children have been introduced to their topic on Castles. There is a castle role-play area as well as using "talk partners" to discuss how to use the area and then transferring their ideas into writing.

• Year 1 have been reading the book “Owl Babies” and have used the story to create artistic collages and develop their language with the puppets, also producing abstract drawings inspired by different types of music.

Self portraits by Carlos and Aitana 4J

Our new music teacher, Miss Archibald is teaching many of the Primary classes and has begun with Reception working on rhymes. There are plans for a "Teddy Bear’s Picnic" later in the term. Miss Archibald has set up some interactive activities in her room which includes sound baskets for younger musicians.

A SONG FOR EVERYONE:One, two, three, four, five,Once I caught a fish alive,Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,Then I let it go again.Why did you let it go?Because it bit my finger so.Which finger did it bite?This little finger on the right.Fish picture by Ma Carmen Y3-O

Music

Playground NewsThe Key Stage 1 playground has now been painted with the children’s designs. A competition was run last term and the lucky winners had their very own designs painted on the ground for all to enjoy. From hopscotch to stomper trails, target boards and many more all our Year 1 and 2 pupils have plenty of choice at playtime.

Likewise the Reception classes all have their outside areas. This enables some of the teaching and learning to be extended outside where the children can improve their discovery and investigative skills, concepts which are embedded in the Early Years Curriculum.

Classroom NewsInteractive White Boards A further six interactive whiteboards were fitted during the Summer Holiday. Mrs. Carmona’s class has one and the layout of the classrooms easily enables it to be shared with the other Nursery classes.

New Notice BoardsWe now have a new notice board specifially for Primary news and messages. You can find it on the wall by the enterance to the Siesta Hall. Do please keep an eye on it. A small notice board has also been fixed to the wall by the School gate. Please check it from time to time.

NewsFish by Mª Carmen 3O

We have welcomed four new teachers to Primary along with a new music teacher who will work in both Primary and Secondary.

Miss South Year 4

Lisa writes: "I have been living in Spain for a year and a half. I was previously living in Javea, teaching Year 6 children at an International school. I have now moved to Gran Alacant and I am really enjoying my time at King's College, Alicante. It is hard work but I have a lovely class, all the children are very kind and polite. The staff have all been very helpful and friendly, helping me to settle in. I am looking forward to the coming months at the school and I hope the children are too."

Miss Haris Year 6Salma writes: "Before I started working in Year 6 I had been teaching for five years in Leicestershire, England. I decided that I would like a change from the rain and cold winters. So here I am. I have really enjoyed my first weeks at King's College, Alicante and am really impressed by the school and the large number of pupils. My classroom has amazing views of the harbour and castle so I am very pleased. Most importantly the other staff and children have been very welcoming and I feel very happy to be here. Alicante is a great place it has everything you need, I love living by the sea."

Miss Owen Year 3Jenni Writes: "I have moved to Alicante from a little village in Wales called Llangadog. The two places are extremely different but I already love living here, the scenery is beautiful and I have always loved the sea. I am teaching Year 3 which has been a wonderful experience so far and the staff at King's College, Alicante are very friendly and welcoming. I am really looking forward to learning Spanish."

Mrs. Pereira Year 1

For the past year Michelle has been teaching in the Early Years Department at King’s College, Madrid. Michelle and her family moved to Alicante in July and now live in Gran Alacant. Her two children are attending the school, Olivia in Year 4 and Malachi in Nursery. Michelle's first impressions on joining King's College, Alicante are: "The school is a very well resourced estab-lishment with a strong sense of team work and sincere compassion for the staff. When walk-ing around the school I felt that everyone embraced the ethos 'that children are at the heart of education' and everyone had a desire to want to further improve the standard of education they offered to the children of the school."

new teachers

November 2009

20th Reports sent home23rd Parent Meetings begin

October 2009

5th Y1 and Y2 Maths and Literacy Meetings for Parents6th Y3, Y4, Y5, Y6 Maths and Literacy Meetings for Parents9th Holiday12th Holiday26th - 30th PSHE week30th School closed for teachers conference in Madrid

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A MATHS JOKE

Teacher: Now class, whatever I ask, I want you to all answer at once. How much is 6 plus 4?

Class: At once!

new teachers