Primary Newsletter October 2011

OC T O BER 2 0 1 1

T H E P R I M A RY N E W S L E T T E R

Primary News from the Pupils and Teachers of The British School of Alicante

Helping Somalia

F io n a Th oma s He ad of Pr i mary I would like to take this opportunity to thank pupils, parents and staff for their fantastic support and effort towards our fundraising for Somalia. We raised a total of 785€ from the Coin Trail in Early Years and Key Stage 1 and the toy sale in Key Stage 2.

Not only did the pupils thoroughly enjoy the experience, but it gave them an opportunity to learn about global issues, develop skills and values as active global citizens and feel that they are making a difference to the world.

Through such events our pupils are broadening their understanding of what other children go through and how they

live. With 13 million facing desperate food shortages, survival depends on getting help fast, and we felt as a school that our children could do something to help.

According to Oxfam´s Humanitarian Director it is the “worst food crisis of the 21st century” and hopefully BSA´s contribution has helped.

Fiona Thomas Head of Primary Pag e 1

Early Years News

This month the Nursery have been learning their colours and have had lots of fun on their special colour days.

The Reception children have been talking about people who help us. We had a visit from Ana, who came to talk to us about her important job in the school and how she helps us every day by keeping the school safe and clean.

We are very happy to welcome back Mrs Williams who has been off on her maternity leave. We wish her and Mr Williams many congratulations on their new baby boy Jayden.

Thank you very much to Mrs Lovis for covering as the class teacher in Nursery and all the Nursery W Team, Mrs Port and Miss Plant for their great work this term whilst Mrs Williams has been away.

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Nursery C

Nursery E

Nursery W

NC enjoying blue & green day with green & blue visors Pag e 5

Somalia

Pupils in Early Years and Key stage 1 classes brought coins to school to cover the letters SOMALIA. Their efforts raised an amazing 400 euros. The children in Years 3-6 held a successful book and toy sale which raised another 380 euros and they went home with some very interesting purchases!Local children in need also benefited as the leftover books and toys will be donated to Asociaci贸n Humanitaria Americana. Thanks to everybody supporting the East Afican Appeal, BSA will be sending a cheque to the Disasters Emergency Commitee Fund.

Thankyou!

Thanks to Mrs Davidson and all the staff and pupils in Primary for organizing this event.

Well Done !!!!!

Navratri To continue finding out about, respecting and appreciating other cultures and religions, Years 3 to 6 attended an Assembly to find out about Navratri.

Navratri is the Hindu Festival of Dance, and is one of the most popular festivals of the Hindu calendar, celebrated in September or October, according to the moon. Nav means Nine, and Ratri means Night, so the meaning of Navratri is Nine Nights. The first three nights are dedicated to Durga, The Warrior Goddess. The next three nights are dedicated to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. The last three nights are dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge. The festival is related to Goddess Shakti, the Hindu Mother Goddess, who is associated with the fertility of the earth. Farmers sow seeds and thank the Goddess for her blessings and pray for a better harvest.

The festive activities include the Dandiya (a stick dance) and Garba (a clap dance), and the children thoroughly enjoyed practising both of these dances during the Assembly.

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Primary Council Photos

Ye a r 2

Ye a r 3

Ye a r 4

Ye a r 5

Ye a r 6

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News from the library As a way of encouraging children to read, the school hold its first book fair of the year, on Friday 30th September. It was a very successful day. Our students, teachers and parents enjoyed flicking through books and buying lots. Thanks to all those who bought a book because with every purchase we earned FREE books for our school.

A drawing and writing competition also took place on the day of the book fair. Many children from Nursery to Y8 participated.

The winners were: Marta (Nursery C), Elisa (Reception H), Javier (Y1F), Nicolás (Y2D), Elías (Y3S), Mª Luisa (Y4J), Lorena (Y5R), Yaiza (Y6F), Sonsoles (Y7F) and Leonora (Y8C).

They all got a free book of their choice from the book fair.

Congratulations to all of them and thanks to all the students who participated.

Absence from school We would like to remind parents of the procedure for reporting absence from school. If you wish to request time off school for your child during the school term, you are asked to submit a written request to the Headteacher. Please remember that taking holidays during term time is not permitted and, unless in very exceptional circumstances, such requests cannot be authorized by the Headteacher.

If your child is absent from school due to unforeseen circumstances (such as illness) you are asked to telephone the school office on each day of absence before 9.30am. You should follow this up with a written explanation for absence on the first day your child returns to school. This is a school requirement

C l i c k H e re to Download Absence Form for Health Safety reasons and also to allow us to support your child on his/her return. School Office : 965 106 351 Our policy at BSA is to challenge any attendance which falls below 90% in any 3 month period as this is likely to have a detrimental effect on your child´s learning and progress. When pupils are absent from school it is important that they keep up with their school work whenever possible, through the Moodle site and ClaSSic gateway on our website and by communication with fellow pupils.

Mr. Derel Laidlaw Headteacher

Important Dates 1st November - School Closed 2nd November – Winter Uniform 14th November – Year 2 “Ciencia Divertida” visit to school – Interactive activities about the planets and astronomy 22nd/23rd November – School Photos 25th November – Early Years Reports home Week Beginning 28th November – Early Years Parent Meetings

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