DECEMBER 2012
THE CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER News from the Pupils and Teachers of King’s College, Alicante
G i v i n g Tre e Message from the Headteacher Pope John XXIII in his Christmas message of 1959 emphasised that Christmas, as a time of peace, starts with every individual, extending to family and friends and with regard for the wider world; what he labelled Peace of the Heart, Social Peace and International Peace. Christmas, whilst being a very personal experience is also synonymous with spending quality time at family gatherings, enjoying fun parties with friends and attending special local events. However, the wider world is often brought into our Christmas through news reports of tragedy, strife and disasters. It seems to invade our personal space casting a shadow on our own enjoyment. Yet it also offers us a timely reminder of just how fortunate we are to have what we have, live where we live and go to school where we do. We can celebrate our own personal achievements, the successes of our wider school community and the increasing involvement we have in the wider world through travel, further education and work. Christmas is also traditionally a time for giving and sharing. We ask our pupils to
reflect on what Christmas means to them personally and what they can learn from the values of the Christmas message. We encourage generosity and selflessness every day towards our fellow pupils and others: we are proud to be a very caring and sharing school community. We also support various charitable causes throughout the years and especially at this time of the year we bring donations of clothes, food and toys for the less fortunate families in Alicante. Today, the world has become a much smaller place than it was in 1959 in terms of travel, media and understanding. Throughout the year our pupils learn about the different cultures, political, ethical and moral issues we face in the 21st Century and we are more able to address and embrace the wider world. Our Eco-School project extends from every pupil´s individual responsibility to the school environment, to the local area through beach clean and tree-planting projects to the wider world through projects supporting water aid and children´s charities. In other words, we consider ourselves, our school and the wider community.
I am immensely proud of the young people who attend King´s College Alicante and of the work of the teachers and support staff in creating such a caring and sharing environment. I am also grateful for the cooperation and support of our parents and other friends in the community. This Christmas, I hope you all have a very happy and relaxing time; enjoy the company of family and friends, reflect on your own achievements and hopes for the future and spare more than a passing thought for those children and families who continue to endure the hardships of life in the 21st century and offer them the hope of peace. I look forward to welcoming you all back on January 8th 2013, refreshed and full of hope and optimism for the year ahead: for ourselves, our school and the world in general.
Mr. Derek Laidlaw Headteacher Pag e 1