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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Addressing your child's anxiet y over t he dangers of Coronavirus

Welcom eIntroduction from Mr. Wicks

Head of Upper SchoolMesssage from Mr. Hayes

Welcom e t o our f ir st newslet t er !

I'm delighted to be able to bring you the first edition of a newsletter that we are launching this year, to keep you updated about things that are happening in school; to open up discussions on issues that are important to all of us; and to celebrate the talents, skills and successes of your children.

We will rotate through the key stages each week, providing you with information on what is important to pupils in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 with the third week dedicated to the mental health, well being and safeguarding of all of our young people.

Because of the time that goes into bringing you this newsletter we will not be translating it each week but would encourage you to sit down with your children and allow them to help you if English is not your first language. It 's a good opportunity to spend some time together and a great way for them to improve their language skills also! There is also an article in this newsletter that shows you how to use Google to translate PDFs so you have that option available to you as well.

We do hope you find these newsletters informative to read as we provide you with a snapshot of life here at KCA, as well as have the opportunity to collectively celebrate the successes of our pupils over the coming academic year.

Mr. S. WicksHead of Secondary School & Deput y Head of KCA

NEWSLETTER Key Stages 4 & 5

King's College Alicante

CONTENTS

Year 10 Updat esNews from Mr. Webster

Year 11 Updat esNews from Sr. Belda

Sixt h Form Updat esNews from Mr. Hollingsworth

Mont hly FocusCoronavirus & your child

Hint s & TipsUsing Google Translate

M R. HAYESSubd i r ect or de Secundar ia

Head of Upper School

Well, would you believe we are already half way through October! It is amazing how quickly the staff and student community have adapted to the ?new normal?, and it is pleasing to see how solutions have been found in order to ensure school life can continue as normal, as far as possible.

In a change to the usual way of working, we did not hold our annual welcome meetings at the start of term, but I do hope that you received my video presentation and welcom e slides, and I hope that they served to introduce and welcome you to the new school year in an effective way.

Year 10 students have made an effective start to their iGCSE courses, and I am delighted that our brand new ?PE Leaders?, ?ICT? and ?Combined Science? courses are going very well for students. I extend my thanks to our enthusiastic teachers for the hard work that they have put into

introducing and launching these courses. Similarly in Year 12, our brand new A Level in Psychology has been launched, and the feedback from students thus far has been positive.

I am also pleased to report that our students in Year 11 are benefitting from more personalised pastoral care, as the number of tutor groups have been increased from 4 in the last academic year to 8 this academic year, meaning that form tutors have the time to get to know students exceptionally well, and are able to offer them more personalised support and guidance.

Earlier this term, Year 13 students sat mock examinations. Parents will receive the results shortly, and teachers will be working with students to identify areas for improvement. I look forward to seeing students engaging closely with the feedback in order to ensure that they are making rapid progress. The

We have redef ined com m on spaces t o safely accom m odat e ou r pupi ls

Head of Upper School

Our own CV19 research facil i t y!

M R. HAYESSubd i r ect or de Secundar ia

year will fly by, and before we know it, we will be sipping the finest wine whilst wearing our finest outfits at the graduation ceremony (depending on the CV-19 restrictions of course? ). I send my best wishes to our Year 13 ?early applicants? whose UK university applications were sent in advance of the 15 October deadline. This year we have students applying for courses at many prestigious universities including Oxford and Cambridge, and a record number of applicants for medicine in the UK. Good luck everyone!

I was keen not to mention the global pandemic in every edition of my newsletter, but I wanted to share with you some of our very own ?in house? research undertaken by our biology students. A student was asked to read a poem out aloud without wearing a mask, and the droplets were captured in a petri dish a metre away. The same student repeated the experiment into another petri dish, but this time wearing a mask. Both samples were incubated for the rest of the day at 30oc. The results showed that the amount of bacteria that gathered in the first sample was significantly higher than in the second sample, and so proof generated by our very own students, that mask wearing is of great importance especially where social distances cannot be maintained.

So that?s all from me for the time being; I finish by sharing with you a selection of

What a dif ference a m ask m akes!

photographs on the following pages that I hope capture the mood in school at the moment. It is business as usual, as much as possible, and regardless of everything that is going on out there in the world, we are certainly showing the KCA value of ?courage? as both staff and students continue to work hard and give of their best despite continued unusual circumstances.

?I shall participate, I shall contribute, and in doing so, I will be the gainer.?

News and Updat es

Year 10 has begun, and with it the start of students? prospective GCSE programmes. Upon returning to school life, it is clear that all members of the year group have made a successful transition from life as a KS3 student to the more demanding academic schedule that KS4 presents. This has already been reinforced by the wealth of positive achievements given to students in all areas of the curriculum, from great work and enhanced engagement to being active role models in the school community. What continues to impress me is the amount of determination and resilience that students exhibit, especially when confronted with these complex set of circumstances that face us on a daily basis. All of the above act as a strong foundation and one that I wish we will build upon in the months to come, both on campus and online.

10Year

MR. WEBSTERH e a d o f Y e a r T e n

Sp o r t & We l l b e i n gEducation is not simply academic, rather an enlightening experience in all areas. It is crucial that we also remain healthy and focus on our emotional and mental wellbeing. Through a revised strategy to physical education in wake of the current situation, students have been able to access an array of activities, namely rallying at Blu Padel, participating in a dribbling masterclass at an indoor football pitch or delving into the depths of dance. In addition to this, students have been able to take a deep breath from their studies and absorb the beauty of El Palmeral as well as beginning their journey to mindfulness through Chair Yoga. All of the aforementioned have clearly helped harness students? self-motivation and act as a suitable accompaniment to academic success. Namaste, Yogi Bears!

Back in the classroom and the online learning platform, I was ?grateful? to participate alongside GCSE PE students in a high-intensity work out, under the watchful eye of Mr Rowan. Evidently, all were fully immersed in this particular physical challenge and were making up for the time lost earlier this year! I will see you back in the gym some time soon!

Going Forward

A c t i v e & H e a l t h yWalt er Annenberg

News and Updat es

It is a pleasure to greet you in this first edition of the newsletter. It seems incredible but we have already been back to school for a month following the long period of quarantine and distance learning last year.

Various initiatives have been launched this year to support students both with their academic performance and their general well-being. Firstly, at the start of the year, a survey was conducted among year 11 students to gather their thoughts on what themes they would like the group assemblies to deal with; what activities they would be most interested in participating in during tutor time; and what things, in general, are causing them anxiety or worry.. The results of this survey have directly impacted the activities we are puttnig in place for them each week.

Students requested training on study techniques and to fulfill this request a series of workshops on this topic have been launched: procrastination and the organization of time have been the aspects treated so far. Likewise, with the invaluable collaboration of Sra. Soler, an assembly has been organized to explain which options are open to students between now and their arrival at university, Spanish or otherwise. Another topic that many of the pupils requested more information about was that of International news; thus, some of the weekly assemblies I have led have focused on themes such as the American electoral process or news about the Corona virus pandemia.

Finally, and in order to contribute to the well-being

11Year

SR. BELDAHead of Year El ev en

Form Group of t he Mont h

Sm aller Y11 Tut or Groups

and relaxation of students in these first weeks as they adapt to the new reality in school, walks of approximately an hour have been carried out in the surroundings area.

On a final note, it is important to acknoweldge that Year 11 students' overall attitude to school and study is incredibly positive, which is crucial for their success at IGCSE. Well done and keep it up!

CO M M EN DATI O N

From an academic point of view, it is impressive and very satisfying to see the large number of positive comments received by Mar iia Tarabarova from her teachers; more than 40 in the short space of time elapsed!

From the perspective of values, I would like to highlight Lucas Avellán , who with his manners and courtesy as well as his spirit of solidarity and honesty, perfectly embodies the ethical values of our school.

Congratulations to you both!

Congratulat ions: Mariia & Lucas

Wellbeing walks in Year 11

News and Updat es

The beginning of the year could not be more different for our Year 12 and 13 pupils. For the students joining us in Year 12, although they were not able to experience our usual induction programme due to the restrictions, they started the year by getting to know their new classmates better and being introduced to the many new skills needed to succeed at A Level study. For example, they were introduced to key study skills like referencing, wider reading, deeper learning and memory techniques, as well as being reminded of the severe consequences of plagiarism. The students seem to be settling well into working routines and getting to grips with the extra freedoms and responsibilit ies granted during study periods.

For our returning Year 13 students, things were also quite different. They have already sat exams based upon last years? content and a number of students have even submitted university applications to destinations around the world including the UK and the USA. I am sure the students would like me to thank their teachers that have been helping them with their applications. For example, our new biology teacher, Dr. Sidebotham, given his background in medicine, has been working with some of our aspiring doctors to help them with their applications; and Sra Soler, with her wealth of experience and expertise in university applications, has been

12/13Year

MR. HOLLINGSWORTHH e a d o f S i x t h F o r m

St udent Leadership

regularly meeting students to offer career support and guidance.

Upon returning to school in September, there have been some physical changes to the site. The former canteen, staff room, staff offices and common room have been reformed into more useable spaces for sixth form study, and despite working within the CV-19 restrictions we are gradually seeking to make further improvements to sixth form provision as much as possible. I am grateful to students for their patience during this time. Whilst the sports hall might not have the calm and romantic ambience of a restaurant, it is making a very good addition to our canteen, which means that sixth formers can go for lunch earlier than the younger students and have their own exclusive dining space with a full hot food service!

I was also delighted by how many sixth formers have applied to be buddies for students lower down the school. Sixth form students will be deployed to help younger students with a variety of things, from helping them to develop their study skills, or subject knowledge for example. The overwhelming response reflected the strong sense of community our students share and is the kind of quality that makes me confident that in spite of the new circumstances we find ourselves in, we can face the year ahead with optimism.

I wish our sixth formers every success for the year ahead.

Rory WeirHEAD BOY

Zhané PresidentHEAD GIRL

Aline AkkoucheDEPUTY HEAD GIRL

Carlos Sigfrido SeguíDEPUTY HEAD BOY

We have added to our team of student leaders; Last term, Rory and Zhane were selected as Head Boy and Head Girl, with Carlos and Aline appointed deputies. We now have a full team of prefects to support them, so congratulations to Gema Fuentes Membrilla, Polina Kairiukstyte, Roser Guillén Ripoll, Vicente García Valls, Marío Lafuente Marín and Ismael Gamero Vera. I am looking forward to working with the whole team over the course of the year on many projects to make the sixth form and the wider school as welcoming and happy as it can be for the whole community.

Academic Scholars

Our examination results this year were, once again, the best we have ever achieved. Our success however, like that of our pupils, is not left to chance but is rather the combination of hard work with a clear vision of ensuring all our pupils achieve success and are best placed to realise their dreams.

Regardless, however, of what we do in school or you do at home, only the students themselves are able to guarantee that success in public examinations. A big part of that process is them having their ownvision for the future to drive them through the inveitably tough months of study ahead; that determination helps them as they systematically develop the knowledge and skills necessary in order to gain outstanding results and ultimately take a step closer to their ambition.

10-13Year

Mr. WicksEach year we review the final IGCSE results, as well as performance in Year 12, in order to reward those whose results are truly outstanding . This year 's IGCSE results were exemplary and as such only those students with all subjects at Grade 9 were awarded an academic scholarship!

Congratulations to all our scholars who now take on the task of acting as academic role models and mentors to all members of the school community as part of the terms and conditions of receiving this prestigious award.

Sra. Soler is available t o any st udent who needs help or guidance t o help t hem form a vision for t heir own fut ure.

Upper School Phot os A snapshot of l i fe in

Years 10, 11, 12 and 13

Deal ing w i t h your ch i ld 's anxiet y

Coronavi rusIf you feel stressed about coronavirus, you're not alone. Coronavirus (COVID-19) has had ripple effects into almost every aspect of our lives. It 's affected the way we live every day. So much has changed in such a short time.

It 's natural to feel anxiety when we face a crisis, the unknown, or sudden change. It 's a normal reaction to feel the need for safety, certainty, predictability, and control. Anxiety is a normal emotion and serves as a signal to pay attention so we can protect ourselves. Anxiety alerts us. It prompts us to adapt. But when we're overwhelmed by anxiety, it sometimes can do more harm than good.

When anxiety becomes overwhelming, we're less able to rise to a challenge, and sometimes we get stuck.

If you are worried about your child's mental health and well-being our safeguarding team is here to help. Please contact our school counseller by email on sinews.kca@kings.educat ion or, in emergencies, contact the school office

Tips for t alk ing t o younger children

1. Deal w it h t he news head-on and t alk about it openly and calm ly, giving t hem t he fact s

- Give them age-appropriate information ? take a look at:BBC Newsround hub? regularly updated with information and advice#covibook? for under 7s

- Educate them about reliable sources of information and how some stories on social media may be based on rumours or inaccurate information

- Encourage them to take breaks from listening to or reading the news ? overexposure isn't helpful

2. Encourage quest ions

- This will give them the confidence to reach out and ask, if they have anything to ask

- Use comforting tones and be honest when

answering questions ? it 's ok if you don't have all the answers

- Allow for repetition ? children tend to repeat themselves when they're feeling uncertain or worried, so you might have to answer the same questions more than once as they seek extra reassurance

3. Be a role m odel

- Recognise and manage your own worries first

- Be open about sharing this with children ? e.g. I'm also finding the news a bit worrying, so I'm doing X which makes me feel calm

4. Let t hem know it 's norm al t o be concerned

- If needed, reassure them that the effects of this virus on healthy young people are very mild

The resources above will also help but wy not encourage them to put these steps into practice:

- YoungMindspractical steps to take if you're anxiousabout coronavirus

- Mindhow to take care of your wellbeingif you need to self-isolate

These resources can help to dispel myths:

- Myt hbust ersfrom the World Health Organization

- Dat a visualisat ion packfrom Information is Beautiful (regularly updated)

For further information, the KID'S HEALTH website offers great resources in both English and Spanish

5. Prom ot e awareness of our body 's im m une syst em

- It 's constantly working against germs without us knowing. We can't and don't need to control this process

- Explain that we're taking precautions against this particular germ because it 's a new one which our bodies haven't come across before

- Remind them of the benefits of healthy eating, sleep and exercise ? which help to fight germs

6. Be aware of children w it h higher levels of anxiet y (e.g. those with existing phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorders)

- Get them to do activities such as counting, ordering and sorting tasks which can help with heightened levels of anxiety

- Encourage them to use relaxation techniques such as controlled breathing

- Detect any obsessive or compulsive behaviours early and intervene before they become entrenched patterns of thinking. Do this by challenging unhelpful thoughts and assumptions. Frame worries as situation-specific by relating them to the current situation, which is temporary and unusual

7. Keep doing your bit t o help children reduce t he spread of germ s

- Remind children how and when to wash their hands

- Encourage them to sing 'happy birthday' twice when they're washing their hands

Tools and st eps for older children

Cor onav i r usDealing with your child's

anxiety

WITH MANY THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING SOURCES

https://safeguarding.thekeysupport.com/ https://kidshealth.org/

Oct ober 20208th Hello Yellow Non Uniform Day9th School closed12th School closed13th School closed - Monitoring Day

Novem ber 20202nd School Closed

Decem ber 20207th School Closed8th School Closed18th Last Day of Term 1

Tools and st eps for older children

Hel lo Yel lowWor ld Ment al Heal t h Day

Non un i f or m day bu t w earsom et h ing yel low !

Dat es Cycle Test s

Every Wednesday, starting the 14th October, pupils in Years 7 -13 will be participating in "cycle tests". The aim is to provided regular, summative tests in core subjects to help pupils to progress at a steady rate. Tests will be cumulative in nature and will test all prior learning as well as the most recent learning.

On Wednesdays these are the only tests your child will sit and the homework the previous week in that subject will be to revise for the test; other subjects can set tests on other days of the week. We hope this regular preparation for exams introduces our pupils to good study habits that will be beneficial to them in the future.

For fut her informat ion on anyt hing in t his newslet t er please cont act your child's form t ut or

Thank you! Your donat ion helped raise 1113? for Fundación ANAR

source: ht t ps://suppor t .google.com/t ranslat e/answer /2534559?co= GENIE.Plat form%3DDeskt op&hl= en

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KING'S COLLEGE ALICANTE