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Dear Parents and Guardians, It is so nice to have a little warm weather back in Sotogrande. It has enabled our staff to take learning outside again! On Thursday last week we held a whole school celebration assembly. It was a lovely way of gathering the school community together for some reflection time. I would like to personally congratulate M3 student Hattie Greenwood, who stood up and spoke to the entire school community about climate change, a topic she is very passionate about. Hattie raised the profile of Earth Day (April 22nd) and encouraged us all to join in Earth Hour by switching off our lights for 1 hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday 25th March. If you missed the official date, please feel free to switch off for an hour this Saturday, and do let Hattie know that your family supported her initiative.
The D2 students spent the weekend with the Oxford Schools Course (OSC) teachers. The purpose of this project is to give our students a little revision lift before they set off for their Easter break. The students also spent Monday -Thursday with the teachers. Initial feedback from both the teachers and the students is that the week was immensely powerful. We wish the D2s the best as they set out to work hard over the Easter break. On Monday our D1 students returned from the annual Asni trip. This year we partnered with a Swiss International school called ISOCS, taking 1 member of their staff and 4 of their diploma students with us. The connection with the school was made whilst presenting at the IB conference. The trip was a great success and when I asked students about their experience I heard the following comments. “It really opened my mind”, “Wow”, “this was a real life changing experience”. It brings back how important these service trips really are, they really do touch the heart strings of those who go to experience what we offer. With this in mind we send our Uganda expedition off with all our best wishes.
On Monday and Tuesday this week our M5 drama students organised and staged their first self directed theatrical performance – High School Musical! Congratulations to all involved in this lovely example of student leadership.
Over the week we held a number of information sessions for parents. On Monday after school we held an information session for M3 parents about student options as their children move forward to M4. On Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon, we held the P6 – M1 transition session, where parents can begin to explore the choices for students in secondary. Thank you to everyone who attended. I would like to raise awareness of the next Walk-to-school day, which will be Wednesday 26th April. The PTA would very much value help from willing parties, please email pta@sis.gl. Finally, the deadline for formally notifying us that you intend to withdraw students has passed. I would like to congratulate you on making a great decision for your children for the next academic year. It promises to be a wonderfully inspiring year! Over the next week you will have received a copy of the terms and conditions for the year, which you need to read, accept and return before 24th April 2017. I wish you a wonderful Easter break and look forward to welcoming you back on Monday April 17th before 8.50am with perfect school uniform! Best wishes Jak Kearney
Whole School News Some news from the Russian corner This article outlines recent activities involving Russian speaking students of SIS. В течение последних нескольких недель ученики русского языка из М5 изучали газетный стиль и его лингвистические особенности. Была организована поездка в офис газеты SUR, где ребята имели возможность задать вопросы главному редактору русскоязычной версии SUR и затем написать свои собственные статьи на тему Великой депрессии в США 1920-х годов, которую они изучали на школьных занятиях по гуманитарным дисциплинам.  Результат превзошел все ожидания. 8 замечательных и оригинальных статей на тему бейсбола, феминизма, запрета продажи алкоголя, падения акций, влияния джаза, развития синематографа и президентских выборов украсили школьные газеты (на 3-х языках, включая русский), часть из которых будут вывешены как часть декораций к премьере SIS мюзикла Bugsy Malone в конце апреля. В дальнейших планах стоит организовать поездку на местную радиостанцию для русских учеников из М4. Также, по четвергам русскоговорящие старшеклассники SIS могут после уроков посещать русский клуб, где есть возможность закрепить/повторить материал, изученный на уроках, или получить помощь с выполнением домашнего задания на английском. С нашими русскоговорящими малышами проводятся тоже регулярные встречи по вторникам во время обеденного перерыва, где в игровом формате затрагиваются аспекты русской культуры. Хороших каникул и до новых встреч! Save the date – coming to a theatre near you! The secondary school show, Bugsy Malone, will be performed in San Roque theatre on Wednesday & Thursday 26th & 27th April!
Primary School News Message From Emma Butler As we come to the end of another term at SIS I would like to wish all our students and parents a relaxing spring break. The Primary Team look forward to seeing you all again in two weeks. Playing For Change: Semi Finals On Monday and Friday students from P3-P6 took to the stage to perform for a place in the final, which will be held on 3rd of May. Very well done to everyone who took part. I would like to thank Mr. Luis for leading this new initiative within our school and Miss Maureen for her continued support and organisation. Thank you also to Mr. Sid Olivera and Mr, Gary Beaumont who came to be our judges.
It was the first Playing For Change event held by a school in Spain. During the two sold out evenings our students presented us with their amazing musical skills but most of all they set a wonderful example of solidarity and international cooperation. The following students made it through to the finals and will be performing on the 3rd of May:
P1 is currently inquiring about food from the ground. Most vegetables and fruit are easily recognisable, but food made from wheat, a favourite for children is harder to make sense of. With this in mind, they set off by coach and headed towards Jimena in the hope of spotting a wheat field or two. Having been given some clues, they took photos of what they thought could be wheat and then researched when they got back to see if they were right. P3-P6 Football Tournament On Wednesday, our primary students participated in a amazing football tournament organised by the PE Department in La Menacha (Algeciras). Around 390 students from different schools along the coast took part in the event. All the students involved enjoyed this incredible experience. As well as playing great football the students were also commended on their attitude and behaviour as they displayed many of our school values. Well done to all who took part and thank you to our PE Team for organising such a wonderful event.
GCP learning experiences at local farm Creating local awareness is part of the Global Citizenship program. Last week 45 students from M1 visited a farm in San Martin del Tessorillo, approximately 15 minutes away from SIS; this is also the location of the mindfulness centre Fundacion Alma. Surrounded by animals, trees and the river they experienced being mindful of their environment by planting seeds, picking oranges and doing different exercises with horses. Experiencing this natural environment will also act as a stimulus and inspiration for the fair they will be organising on the farm soon. Parents will be invited to witness the results of the project.
Please note that Sofia and Isabel are organising summer courses on Mindfulness and Horse Coaching for different age groups. A limited number of places are available. For more information: www.fundacionalma.eu and www.isabelechevarria.com D1 Asni trip 37 D1 students and 6 staff returned from 5 days in Morocco, safe, happy and exhausted! Students kept parents updated with daily diary entries about what they were doing, and below is one student’s reflection on the whole experience:
M4 Language Acquisition and Language & Literature interdisciplinary unit On Monday 27th, the M4 Spanish Language Acquisition students had the opportunity to attend a presentation from the Spanish Language & Literature students on their visit to Diario Sur in Málaga. This was the first of a series of activities that will take place after Easter, as part of an interdisciplinary unit of inquiry into press and the language of media. The summative assessment task will be the editing of the different sections of a newspaper as a whole year group.
High School Musical Thank you to everybody who came to support the M5 Drama production of High School Musical. This fun show was choreographed and directed by the students themselves. In addition the students created all publicity, set, props, lighting and costume designs. They rose to this challenge with focus and passion and we hope you enjoyed the show.
The M5 students would like to thank Japser Craven (M4) and Julian Barcelona (M3) for running their tech and the PE department for their patience in lending out their basketballs! M2 visit to Apoyo Mutuo As part of our M2 Service Action this year, we are collaborating with Apoyo Mutuo. This week we had the amazing opportunity to visit Apoyo Mutuo, in San Roque. We delivered many donations that have kindly been given by the Sotogrande community.
The donations for Apoyo Mutuo, as well as for Asni & Uganda had previously been organised at school by a group of M2 students. As a year group we worked together in teams, to sort the clothes donations at Apoyo Mutuo into gender, size etc. A small group of students were involved in putting together the ‘pedidos’, packages of requested clothing, and handing them to the various visiting families. It has been a great opportunity, which has made us realize that you don’t need to go far, to see people in need. We feel proud of our involvement with Apoyo Mutuo and hope that our contribution has made a small difference. Rafa de la Rocha & Carlota Machuca Ruiz-Gómez
M1’s Treasure hunt The M1 French students are learning about French celebrations and festivals for their current unit. This week, they participated in a treasure hunt, following clues around the school in order to celebrate Easter. Students worked in groups using their French speaking skills, but also direction and drawing skills.
M5 Preparation for C.C.C. and Diploma Launch Meeting On Monday morning we launched the preparation for the forthcoming Inspiring Futures 1-1 career and university sessions for the M5 students, that take place after Easter. There are a number of very important dates on the calendar before the end of the year for M5, and the students have been set the task of completing an up to date Career Investigator Profile, a CCC Career, Course and Country Questionnaire, as well as updating their Unifrog.com research into University choices across Europe and North America. All of this information will be compiled, alongside their most recent academic report, to aid them with the 1-1 interviews after Easter.
All of the tasks and further information is available to the students through their google U&C Classroom. These are some of the key upcoming M5 dates regarding the U&C programme.
Community This Easter join Sotogrande International Camps for some great fun activities.  La Reserva Club had launched a vibrant Easter calendar loaded with activities for the coming holidays. Whether visiting La Reserva Club and its exceptional surroundings individually or in a group with family, friends or younger children, this year’s events calendar is the most comprehensive yet.
Enjoy a range of activities such as horse riding hacks through La Reserva’s natural sites, sailing at sea or robust kids camps. For a pre-summer fit blitz join the team at Boot Camp, or refocus and tone at El Mirador’s yoga practice, where the long view to the Mediterranean will inspire stillness of mind. Meanwhile baking workshops in one of Los Cortijos’ beautiful houses will teach and inspire. Download the calendar and make sure to book your place early via events@sotogrande.com | Tel. 666 520 155. |
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