Primary Newsletter April 2013 English

APRIL 2013

THE PRIMARY NEWSLETTER

Primary News from the Pupils and Teachers of King’s College, Alicante

Action Against Hunger Assembly

Acting Head of Primary Message Welcome back to the third term! We hope you all enjoyed your Easter break, and that your children have the had chance to recharge their batteries for the busy term ahead.

During this term, I shall be in a new role, Acting Head of Primary. I will be working closely with the team to ensure that the final term runs smoothly, and that the children thrive in all areas of school life.

We have had a great start to the term, the children have settled well after the holidays and already we have had several “celebration assemblies” where we have recognised the skills and effort of our pupils.

Alongside the day-to-day learning this term, we will see a range of new topics, interesting and fun visits, exciting sports events, “change over morning”, Year 6 SATs, and end of term assemblies. It’s going to be a busy time! It’s great to see the children engaged in these learning opportunities.

I’m sure this term will be enjoyable for all. I look forward to seeing you around the school, and feel free to contact me if I can assist in any way.

www.bsalicante.com

Mrs Phillips Acting Head of Primary

NURSERY

NEWS

In Nursery we have been enjoying the lovely warm weather and making the most of playing on the playground and using all the different activities and zones in child initiated play.

In class we have been learning about the season of Spring. We have painted some lovely pictures and loved learning about all the amazing things that happen in spring.

We have looked at books and seen all the wonderful things that happen in this season.

This term, because the weather is warmer, we are making the most of our outdoor area and we have many more exciting activities to choose from.

Last week we started our mini topic “Pets�. We have brought in lots of books etc from home and we are enjoying sharing with the rest of the children pictures of our own pets and talking about them in English and in Spanish!

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SPLISH SPLASH SPLOSH In Year 1 this term our topic is Splish, Splash, Splosh.

As you might be able to guess we are learning all about water!

Here are some pictures of what we have been doing so far. We have been learning how to measure capacities with different kinds of containers in the water tray.

We have been guessing which materials will float or sink and then exploring the materials to find out what happens when you put them in water. We found that it can depend on the shape of the different materials.

We will be learning some history about what it used to be like to go the seaside in the past.

Maybe you can help if you have any artefacts or books at home related to the history of Alicante beach.

We will also be doing a variety of art activities related to water, which will include looking at the work of artists Warhol and Monet, textile work - sewing fish and creating 3-D moving sea pictures.

Our topic will also cover learning about marine life and will culminate in our school trip to the aquarium at the end of May. This term we will be preparing the children to move to Year 2 which will involve small changes to their normal routines. The children should now bring reading books to school on a daily basis so that they can read to their teacher. Also next month they will begin to change for PE in school. More information about the year group transition will follow.

We love our Pirate corner and under water sea world!

YEAR 2

HEALTHY ME, HEALTHY PLANET! In Year 2 we have begun our new topic ´Healthy Me, Healthy Planet!´ We have been talking about food that we can eat everyday and food that we should only eat sometimes.

We have also been learning about the importance of exercise to keep our bodies healthy. The children have been telling each other about all the different sports and activities they do. We certainly have very healthy children in Year 2!

We know that it is important to keep our planet healthy too and the children have been using books to find out about recycling and reusing different materials.

“It is better for the planet to recycle things than just throw them away.”

“Our bodies like healthy food.”

“Boxing keeps us healthy.”

“We have drawn healthy plates of food...now we feel hungry!”

“Ballet keeps us healthy.”

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HEALTHY US YEAR 3 As part of their topic “Healthy Us”, Year 3 visited the Central Market in Alicante, in order to make biscuits. (This was a Science element of the topic, “changing state”) First the children washed their hands; then put on a hat and apron so that they would not contaminate the food. Next they were shown how to make the dough for the biscuits.

Afterwards, they all had a piece of dough, and, using moulds, they made biscuits of different shapes. When the biscuits were cooked they wrote down the list of ingredients in the same order that they appear on commercial packets, starting with the largest quantity, and finishing with the smallest. They then compared their biscuits with factory produced ones, finding that theirs were healthier.

Lastly, they looked at the commercial packaging to see how the packets are made attractive in order to persuade you to buy the product. (This is what they are studying in English at the moment – “persuasive writing”) The children thoroughly enjoyed the trip, and agreed that the biscuits were “delicious”.

TERM 3 IN YEAR 3 The Year 3 children will have a busy final term, their first Creative Curriculum topic is based around the theme of pattern.

During this topic the children will: • • • • • •

Investigate patterns from different cultures Study symmetrical and geometrical patterns Research patterns from around the world Investigate and observe patterns in nature Create nature sculptures Study influential artists

TERM 3 IN YEAR 4

The new Creative Curriculum topic this term is called “Tomb Raiders” and is based on a study of Ancient Egypt. Through this topic the children will develop many skills across the curriculum.

They will be: • • • • • • • • •

Learning about everyday life in Ancient Egypt Using atlases and developing map skills Comparing similarities and differences between the past and presetn Learning about reason for ancient settlement locations Investigating in science how to separate materials Writing recounts about historical events Studying Egyptian art and writing Researching rituals and traditions Investigating and exploring shapes and nets of pyramids

POETRY IN MOTION

Three poems have been submitted to COBIS (Council of British International Schools) on the theme of “Make the Judges Laugh!”

Every year COBIS launch their poetry competition with a specific theme and it is well known in the international education field that this is a very prestigious challenging competition for those who enter. Entries come from all over the world so for those children whose poems are successful in being entered have done really well.

This Year the judges wanted to laugh. Candidates had to write in no more than 40 lines about an episode or a person (real or imaginary) that is/was hilarious, absurd, funny. The poems were required to be more comic verses than nonsense verses.

The judging panel will include educators, children´s authors and international publishers. Prizes and certificates will be awarded to winners and runners up in each category.

This year eleven children from Year 6 participated in the competition and three of them have been chosen successfully submitted to COBIS. You can read these poems in the newsletter. Mrs Philips, Acting Head of Primary, said, “Well done to Kyla Watkins, Rachel Garrido and Manuela Lobraico for their excellent poetry... they are our winners today and we hope they will be COBIS winners.”

Mrs Gandhi, Literacy Coordinator Key Stage 2, said that “it was wonderful to have eleven children who had participated in their own time and she hoped that this would inspire more children to take part next year.”

Miss Taylor, Head of English in the Secondary School, was one of the judges and she stressed how impressed she was with the three Kings College Entries.

All eleven participants were presented with certificates and book vouchers by the Headmaster, Mr Laidlaw and Mrs Phillips at assembly on Wednesday 17th April.

SELECTED POEMS

MY LAZY-CRAZY BABY SISTER

MARIA

BY MANUELA

There was a young girl called Maria, Who´s brother was a pain in the rear.

Once every year, They walked on the pier.

Poor Maria and her brother, bending her ear.

He had nothing to say, But he said it anyway.

Maria felt her life wasting away.

She hatched an evil plan, To destroy her brother Stan.

In desperation she went to the train station, And bought a ticket to a far off destination.

Before he could understand, Stan was off to a faraway land.

She sent him off on the train, But her plan was in vain.

As to universal acclaim, Stan started his reign, As the rightful King of Spain.

Back home our Maria, Poor thing shed a tear.

The message is clear, That unlike Maria, We must respect and hold dear, All those who are near Or the outcome, I fear Will be quite severe.

Tomorrow she has a literacy test But she didn't study a word She's got this crazy virus That no one's ever heard!

This virus is so rare There's nothing to compare It's just NOT FAIR!!!

It's difficult to understand her She keeps giving me hugs, I don't know what she has inside I guess it makes her NUTS!!!

She never does her homework She's always dreaming of boys You'll never see a book in her hand But surely you'll find a GLOSS! Every day she acts differently: Sometimes she's lazy and another she's crazy!

What a crap of a virus she has I think she's just faking...

She's super girly, dresses like a princess, Has the voice of a cute baby, walks like a lady But when she starts to shout RUN, HIDE!!! It's a fright!!!!

Her monstrous side comes out.

Although she's all messed up And freaky and scary most of the time She'll always be my cheeky-sweetie-pretty baby sister And I'll love her For the rest of my life.

BY KYLA

MY BROTHER

BY RAQUEL

One day my brother Max became mad.

He went to the loo, To spread Super glue Mostly on the WC. When mum got there, There she stayed.

Dad got a knife, To rescue his wife, She thought it was the end of her life, But dad only wanted to rescue her, Although he couldn’t.

When Max came back, He thought he was going to be whacked, But even worse, He went to jail.

The funny part is that there wasn´t any loo at home, Mum had it attached to her.

After Max came out of jail, He checked his e-mail and told everything to his friends, And when his friends saw mum, They laughed and laughed.

One night the super glue came off, She was free again, So she planned to paint Max´s nails and bedroom pink, While he was sleeping.

When Max woke up, He noticed something strange, Mum had painted his room and nails in permanent pink.

Mum didn´t stop laughing, Now Max was the embarrassed one!

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Earlier this month we were happy to be visited by volunteers from Action Against Hunger charity. They came to talk to us about the problems of child hunger around the world.

We found out that food shortages can be caused by war, natural disasters and poverty. Action Against Hunger look after children under 5 years old who suffer from malnutrition; also they help provide access to drinking water and provide equipment and seeds so people can grow their own food.

Action Against Hunger runs life-saving programmes in over 45 countries which benefit seven million people each year. On Thursday 30th May we will be doing our bit to raise money for this charity. The whole school will be taking part in “The Race for Hunger� a sponsored run.

Last year children and teachers had great fun running laps and raising money for such a good cause.

SPRING TERM

HOUSE COMPETITION

At the beginning of this term the children waited with bated breath to find out who the House Champions were for the Spring term. The results were announced in assembly:

4th place – Fire 3rd place – Earth 2nd place – Water 1st place – Wind Congratulations to WIND who, with a fantastic team effort, won the competition by quite a margin. All the children were rewarded with a certificate and treat. Víctor and Mireia have been brilliant team captains, encouraging their team and collecting and totalling their house points every week. Well done!

One term left of this academic year. Who will be the champions for this final term. Come on Earth and Fire, you can do it!

SAFETY FENCE The children are once again enjoying the climbing equipment on the KS 1 patio following the fitting of our new and improved safety fence.

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PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT OPENS KING’S SCHOOL The British School of Panama is a part of King’s Group, one of the largest and most successful international school groups that deliver the National Curriculum of England and Wales. The school was officially opened on Feb. 21, 2013

by His Excellency Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal; President of the Republic of Panama, Lucy Molinar; Panamanian Minister of Education, and Michael John Holloway; British Ambassador.

Sir Roger Fry, Chairman of the King’s Group, attended the event and added; “because of the tremendous growth being seen in Panama every day, there is a clear need for more educated youth of the future. For this reason, King’s set about its mission to offer a first-class Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal at the official British education.”

King’s College Inauguration From Sept., 2012 entry has been open to children from Nursery (aged 3) through to year 5 (aged 9 and 10) who were all present on the day to welcome the diplomatic party with banners and chorus singing.

The new school’s Head Teacher is Vanessa Whay who was also the Head Teacher at King’s Infant School in Madrid. Shan Hardy who also taught at a King’s College school in Madrid will be the Nursery Teacher. Another former teacher from King’s School, Madrid is Alexandra Hernández Head Teacher Vanessa Whay gives the Panamanian President a tour of the new school.

who will be the Year 3 teacher. Samantha Whay-Jenkins is the Director of Teacher Training. The school has signed an agreement with the Panamanian Ministry of Education to train local teachers in the latest British teaching methods. A purpose built training centre will be located in the new school.

(Above) Head Teacher Vanessa Whay gives the Panamanian President a tour of the new school. (Above, right) Sir Roger Sir Roger Fry, the founder of the King’s Group Fry, the founder of the King’s Group with H.E. Michael John with H.E. Michael John Holloway, the British Holloway, the British Ambassador to Panama who was Ambassador to Panama who was previously the previously the Consul in Madrid. (Right) King’s College young students get ready for the big moment.

Consul in Madrid.

NEW STAFF

We would like to welcome a members of staff to our Primary department.

Miss Sarah Williams who is teaching in Early Years: I moved to Spain four years ago in order to gain a better quality of life for my family. During my time in Spain I have spent three years working in the Early Years department of Laude Newton College. After taking a short break from the classroom in order to spend some time with my baby daughter I am really happy to return to teaching. I have enjoyed my time so far at King´s College Alicante. The staff are very helpful and friendly, the parents have been really supportive and the children are a pleasure to teach!

SWIMMING CHAMPION Marina from Year 5S won a Life Saving Trophey for Alevin Class in Valladolid. 70 people (girls) took part in the competition. There will be a sea base competition in July in Alicante.

Important Dates 29th April – 3M Biscuit making trip to Alicante 30th April - 3S Biscuit making trip to Alicante 30th April – Year 5 trip, Classical music concert to Alicante University 1st May - School closed 10th May - Author, Korky Paul visiting 23rd May - Year 1 trip to Santa Pola aquarium 30th May – Race for Hunger

Glorieta del Reino Unido 5 Alicante 03008 Spain www.bsalicante.com email: carlos.lazaro@kingsgroup.org

31st May - Change over Morning (visit your new year group) Week beginning 20th May - Year 6 SATs week Pag e 13