SEPTEMBER 2011

THE PRIMARY N E W S L E T T E RPrimary News from the Pupils and Teachers of The British School of Alicante

Welcome to the first monthly newsletter of this academic session. The start of term has been very busy as is normal at this time of year, and I am very grateful to all the admin., cleaners and maintenance staff who have worked tirelessly over the summer to make the school ready for the pupils´ return. I am also delighted with the manner in which pupils and staff have approached this new term. Our new members of staff have all settled in quickly and I am looking forward to the expertise and enthusiasm they will add to our current staff. New pupils have all been assigned ´buddies´ to help them to get used to their new surroundings and they have started making new friends. Central to our ethos at BSA

Headteacher’sWelcome

is that we are a caring and supportive community. This is immediately evident to our new staff, pupils, and visitors and, I hope, parents. A school should be more than just a centre of learning, it is a place where people of all ages can come together for mutual benefit and ultimately to share in all of the successes of our pupils through cooperation and understanding. Communication is key to this success and I would urge you all to read and sign your child´s school planner every week, talk with them about what they are doing at school and visit our website regularly for information and updates. (www.bsalicante.com ) We are striving to become more ´eco-friendly´ and will be reducing the amount of paper

correspondence in favour of electronic correspondence and I would ask you to inform the office of any changes you may have made over the summer to your e mail and telephone details.

I look forward to seeing you at the many events and meetings over the coming weeks and months and I wish you all a very successful new term at BSA.

Derek Laidlaw MA, NPQH, Dip T MusHeadteacher

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´To sustain and develop an educational environment in which all pupils are able to fulfill their maximum potential, both as individuals and as members of a community´

T h e F u nS t a r t e d !

Fiona ThomasHead of Pr imary

We have welcomed a number of new pupils this term from our 78 Nursery pupils to new members in Reception through to Year 6. All our pupils, both old and new have settled really well in their new classes with their new teachers and for some even a new country!

We have also welcomed a number of new staff in Primary. Mr. Compton (Yr 4C), Miss. Snook (Yr 3S), and Miss Pyner (Reception) have joined us from the UK. Mrs. Davalloo (Reception P) and Sra. Moll will be with us until Mrs. Perea and Sra. Berenguel return from maternity leave and Mrs. Lovis will remain as class teacher until Mrs. Williams returns later in the term. Mrs. Rose and Mrs. Gandhi have also joined us on a permanent basis and are now class teachers in Year 5 and Year 6. Miss. Plant and Sra. Torres are assisting in Nursery and Year2 and four university students have joined the Year 1/2 team. Finally, as I write this newsletter we have welcomed back Sra. Maeva Rodriguez.

The word “Welcome” has been part of our start of term assemblies and pupils have been exploring the meaning of the word. We have been investigating how we welcome one another to our community and how we can improve it. It is a word that is used often but has a very powerful message behind it. We are welcoming pupils, parents, friends and colleagues to our community and every day we learn from one another and feel supported by all those who make up our community.Like so many of our pupils, this summer I eagerly awaited the arrival of the final film in the Harry Potter series. However, I was disappointed when it was over, so

A very warm welcome to a new school yearat BSA and the Primary Department

I started to watch the Harry Potter films all over again. As I did so, I recognised many similarities between Harry Potter and our experiences here at BSA. Like Harry, we also have a strong sense of community and some of the pupils we are sitting in class with today and playing on the patio with, will be our friends for life. Just like the teachers at Hogwarts, year on year our staff will continue to support, help, listen and guide along the way, with the whole school community continually in the background. The relationships built here, along with the new people we meet will benefit us for life. But, like the pupils at Hogwarts, we too have to take action; we cannot sit back and expect the greater school community to do everything. We have to realise the importance of self-motivation and be prepared to help ourselves. We must make the most of the fantastic opportunities we have and by helping ourselves we can help others also.

Just as I eagerly awaited another Harry Potter film, I eagerly awaited another school year full of opportunity and promise. For those of us who have not read Harry Potter yet, I encourage you to do so as the story is much like that of our school: community, belonging and excellence.

Best of luck to everyone at BSA for the year ahead.

Fiona ThomasHead of Primary

UpdateWe are very pleased to inform parents that we have now installed additional shading (toldos) outside the Year 2 classrooms. This will help to control the temperatures in these rooms. We have also completed installing heat reflective film to the 1st and 2nd floors of the primary building and taken receipt of 12 more fans to help cool the rooms in the continuing hot weather. Please continue to remind your child to drink water throughout the day.

UniformAs you may already know, we are delighted to have opened a school shop on site. Uniform and other useful items are on sale at the following times:

Monday and Friday from 9am – 5pm (closed 2pm - 3.45pm) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am – 12pm

Emergency DrillSeptember 16th, we held our first Emergency Evacuation Drill of the new term. A representative from FREMAP was in attendance and was very impressed with what she saw. I was very pleased with the manner in which the pupils conducted themselves and congratulate them on showing calm, order and sensible attitudes. We will carry out more drills in the coming weeks.

BusesThere have been a number of changes to bus routes for children recently which has caused some problems for our school office.

I would, therefore, request that you do not make changes to bus routes or travel for your child/ren unless it is completely unavoidable.

Pupils, particularly young pupils, become very unsettled and can become anxious with frequent or random changes to their routines.

I will be monitoring the situation over the next few weeks and contacting individual parents if I have continued concerns over this matter.

ParkingWe are very pleased that the majority of parents are abiding by the yellow lines and no parking sign at the main entrance to school.

This is a Health & Safety issue for our pupils and I must insist that all parents adhere to my request not to park in front of the gates, especially in the mornings.Thank you.

ContactIf parents should wish to contact the school with an urgent matter please telephone the school office – 965 106 351.If the matter is not urgent please use one of the preferred methods below…

For senior members of staff - Telephone 965 106 351 and ask to make an appointment to speak with or meet with the member of staff concerned.

For teaching / admin staff - E Mail the member of staff concerned (all e mail addresses are on our website)Parents are also reminded to sign and write in the pupil planner every week, if you wish to communicate general information

Details

King´s College, The British School of AlicanteGlorieta del Reino Unido , 503008 Alicante, SpainTEL : 0034 965 106 351 FAX : 0034 108 096www.bsalicante.com Headteacher : Mr D Laidlaw MA, NPQH, Dip T Mus

News Flash

King´s Group Central OfficesAvda Pio XII , Madrid0034 913 598 800General Manager : Sra Elena Benito

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NEW TEACHERS IN PRIMARY

Chloe Pyner EYFS TeacherHi my name is Chloe Pyner and I am the new Reception teacher at BSA. I am from Plymouth, but trained and worked as a teacher in London for 6 years. I worked in a large Infant School, teaching for one year in Year 2 and then two years in Reception.

First ImpressionsI have been really welcomed by the other staff, children and parents at the school and I’m really looking forward to the year ahead at BSA and adapting to life in Spain!

Gerald ComptonYear 4 Teacher

My name is Gerald Compton and I will be teaching in Year 4 at BSA. I am from Oxford and have been teaching in a primary school in Manchester prior to moving to Alicante. Outside of school, I am passionate about football, film and theatre as well as seeing as much of the world as possible. As a keen traveler, I am looking forward to experiencing a new culture and lifestyle, while also hopefully learning a new language.

First ImpressionsI have enjoyed a very warm welcome from everyone at BSA.

Victoria SnookYear 3 Teacher

Hi, I am Miss Snook and I have the wonderful opportunity of teaching the Year 3´s here at BSA. Previously, back in the UK, I worked for a high achieving primary school set in the outskirts

of London. I taught in Year 1, 2 & 3. What I really find rewarding about teaching is watching each child´s development, from the beginning through to the end of the year. I enjoy capturing

children´s imaginations and helping them to produce work of which they are proud of.

First ImpressionsThe reception from all members of staff, children and parents has been over-whelming.

So far my short time in Spain has been everything I have wanted and I have found that I have settled well into Spanish culture.

Deborah HenryEYFS

I travelled to Spain a few years ago and worked as a KS2 teacher. I then travelled to Australia to enhance my teaching experience, where I taught in a variety of schools in Sydney and also taught English to foreign students at Sydney´s college of English.I am working with Reception children Mon, Tue and Wed. I also work in year 2 and year 4.

First ImpressionsI am enjoying working at the BSA, the school has a wonderful ethos for children, staff and parents.

Cathy PlantClass Assistant

Gaynor GravesMusic Teacher

Coming from a performance background which for over twenty years was an integral part of my life, I am looking forward to sharing my passion for music with others at the British School of Alicante. As well as bringing two wonderful daughters into the world, my major

achievements include a commendation for electro-acoustic composition which was celebrated during the Liverpool Capital of Culture 2008 festivities. Additionally, I

also hold a part masters degree in Assessment for Learning. I am excited about the prospect of working across all key stages and employing recent AfL strategies in

order to make music accessible for all.

First ImpressionsI would describe my first week at the BSA as being a ‘treat for all my senses’.

I am overjoyed to see happy and smiling children and teachers alike in a multicultural setting.

Nadine DavallooTemporary Teacher

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Early Years News

The new Nursery and Reception children have settled really well into their new classes and it is lovely to see so many happy

smiling faces every morning.

You can see from all the photos that the children are having lots of fun at school. The children are especially enjoying the new equipment on the Nursery playground which includes the fantastic new slide, soft flooring and the huge sand tray.

We have also got two new interactive whiteboards in Reception P and Nursery C and the children love using these and it really helps them with their English.

The Early Years Open evening was a real success and it was lovely to see so many of you. The children enjoyed showing their family their classroom and playground.

We would like to thank all of you for your support with the staggered entry procedure in Nursery and for all your co-operation with the security cards in Early Years. We would like to remind you that the siesta hall door will be open from 8:45 to 9.10 and 4:15 to 4:30. It is very important that the children are punctual in the morning. If you arrive outside school hours you must report to the school office and the office staff will take or collect your children to/from the class. Thank you for your co-operation.

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KS1 PhotosBack to Work!

Exploring natural objects Y1

Ready for School

Working in the shade

Singing in Y1 Studying dinosaurs in year 2

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KS1 Photos KS2 PhotosY3 using laptops

Y3-4 Assembly Y3-4 Assembly

Y4 topic

Y3 listening to Y8

The week beginning the 12th September was packed with lots of activities going on in secondary school. Why? On the 13th September, the school celebrated the birthday of one of the most famous children’s authors, Roald Dahl. Not only this but this week was the 50th anniversary of one of his books, James and the giant peach.

Students were involved in a variety of tutor activities, creating ´horrible monsters´, puzzles and teamwork. Some students were lucky enough to attend Roald Dahl readings by Mr Green, Mr Pemberton, Miss Taylor, Ms Bowers and Miss Parry throughout the week. They entered international competitions and to end the week on a fun note, students were invited to a ´peach party´. Where they could try ´revolting recipes´, discuss the week and partake in more fun and games.

Glorieta del Reino Unido 5Alicante 03008 Spainwww.bsalicante.com

email: carlos.lazaro@kingsgroup.org

Tuesday, October 11th Nursery Coffee MorningWednesday, October 12th School ClosedW/B October 17th Year 1–6 Parent MeetingsTuesday, October 18th Nursery Coffee MorningW/B October 24th Yr 1 6 Parent MeetingsTuesday, October 25th Nursery Coffee MorningFriday, October 28th School Closed for TrainingMonday, October 31st School Closed for TrainingTuesday, November 1st School Closed

Important Dates