Parent Newsletter October 2022

  • October 28, 2022
  • Category: Parent Newsletters
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Dear parents,

As you are reading this newsletter, you will be enjoying the start of what I hope will be an enjoyable half-term holiday with your children and families.  We celebrate a very busy, happy, and successful start to our academic year.

Cobis Accreditation visit

As you are aware, we had a team of four Cobis members visit our school for a period of 4 days. They enjoyed seeing our good practice and thought your children were amazing!!! I would agree.

New terrace

Do you like our new terrace space for Years 1 and 2 to use for outdoor learning? They love it!

Early Collection of children

Please, can I remind you of the importance of good attendance. We expect that all children attend school during term time every day, unless, of course, they are sick. Last half-term overall pupil attendance was 96.8%, this is a figure we continually strive to improve upon.

We notice a lot of children being taken out early on some occasions, particularly on Fridays, the time that they miss is difficult to catch up on – Please support us on this matter.

Also, if you need to collect your child early for a medical or any other reason please inform us beforehand, at least 2 hours, so we can inform the appropriate staff.

Welcome Party

398 of us enjoyed a wonderful welcome party on 14 October organised by the APS – the spirit of Aloha shone through – thank you to all APS mothers who organised this event.

What is next on their Agenda

Well, HO HO HO!! It is time to prepare for our traditional Christmas Bazaar which will take place on Saturday 3 December. There is an enormous amount of preparation required, and the moms need your help.

Please re-read Thursday’s letter and sign up to help in whatever area you feel you can. Please remember, all money received from this event is for resources for the school.

The excitement is building already. Let us make this event, following a two-year gap, the best ever!

School photos

You have received a letter regarding school photos, which will take place the week beginning 7 November. All students must be wearing winter uniforms. If you have not yet purchased this, you can place an order online and collect it from the shop Wednesday to Friday from 9:30 until 13:00 hours.

 

Juan Plaza

We have all been missing Juan Plaza, our concierge. Many of you have asked about his health.

He is getting better and hopes to return to school when he is fit and well. We miss you Juan.

 

ECO flag is here!!

Many of you will have noticed the new eco flag flying alongside the ACM, UK and Spanish flags at the main entrance to the school.

Well, this week we have received another flag that accredits us as the first school with the ECO distinction on the Costa del Sol. Congratulations to Miss Meryl and her team of collaborators! ♻

I love it when our beautiful young children innocently say what they see – yesterday in the playground when I was lowering my head, one of them said “Mrs Batchelor why do you have white hair near your head and brown hair everywhere else?” I had to answer honestly: “because I am getting old !!!” Curiosity is an important part of their learning!

Obviously, a hair appointment is due for the half-term break!!

Please enjoy our Primary and Secondary news.

PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS

Another month has flown by: “Doesn´t time fly when you´re having fun!”  We´ve continued with the exciting learning in our classes.  Year 5 and Year 2 had the opportunity to showcase their learning in their Assemblies this month.  It was great to see so many parents come to see their children share their learning with us.  Thank you for coming and of course thank you to the teachers and our fantastic music teacher, Miss Kate Suchoka, for putting it all together.  We now look forward to the Year 4 Assembly later on in November!!

Miss Kate has also been busy preparing the new Primary School Choir for its first public performance.  Again, thank you to all the parents that came to this to hear such amazing singing!! SUPERB!!  Here is just a little taster of what else has been going on around the school…

This week the Reception classes were lucky enough to receive some lovely sets of ice paints from Year 2 and could not wait to use them!  As the children have been very busy learning new sounds in phonics, they were super excited to practise their ‘i’ letter formation in an extra cool and special way. They enjoyed experimenting with and comparing the different colours, and seeing how many letters they could write before the ice began to melt and drip. 

Wow! What a busy start to our learning we have had Year 3. We loved learning about our super brains: how we never stop learning, making new neurons and even how to care for our amazing brains! In English, we have had lots of fun exploring the wonderful world of Quentin Blake and used our creative writing skills to write a variety of versions similar to Quentin’s writing styles. In Maths we have consolidated our Place Value knowledge and are now adding and subtracting up to 3-digit numbers using a variety of methods. 

This month our IPC unit is How Humans Work and we have been busy scientists learning about our amazing bodies and carrying out hands-on experiments. We completed an investigation to discover if you can see sound -yes you can see the sound waves move objects! We made fake lungs that worked exactly the same as real lungs, a lifelike skeleton and lifesize drawings of the circulatory system! One of the great things about IPC is making it as interactive as possible to make real connections with our learning and add to our knowledge and understanding. 

In Year 6, we have enjoyed the scientific focus of our unit, ‘Look Hear!’. We have carried out investigations to find out how a shadow is formed and how light travels. As artists, we created visual representations of sound waves when we learnt about amplitude and pitch. 

The Year 5 & 6 classes also visited the Costa-Del-Cricket club in Cartama to enjoy some cricket coaching and the opportunity to watch some of the European Cricket Tour T10 competition. 

Click this link to see the full photo album!

As you can see, there have been lots of exciting things going on and so we do now look forward to a well-deserved half-term break.  Information on the upcoming Parent-Teacher meetings has already been shared with you, so hopefully, we will see you in school during the first week back. Until then, have a great half term and thank you for reading!

SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWS

Y7 Picasso Museum visit

The Creative Arts Department was delighted to take Y7 students on a field trip to the Museo Picasso and the house of Picasso’s birth in Malaga this month. Students have been studying the artwork of Pablo Picasso this term, as part of an exciting ceramics project. The field trip provided the opportunity to create observational drawings, study Picasso’s work first hand and participate in art history research activities in the galleries. 

Y8 Samba music performance Estepona

Students completed their unit on world music by visiting Estepona beach to present a live samba drumming performance along the promenade on Tuesday 25th October. Our students were excited to perform their own compositions as well as a whole group performance piece that they have been working on in their music lessons. In between sets, the students enjoyed some improvisation sessions, which gave them the chance to experience authentic music creations in a live setting.

Music Celebration Concert

On Wednesday 19th October, we had our very first music celebration concert where students from KS2 – KS4 came together to present an exciting range of repertoire.  It was an evening of musical delight offered by our talented young musicians. Over 70 students were in attendance with performances ranging from drums, saxophone and electric guitar as well as large choirs and band ensembles and duets.

Well done to the fabulous singers in the combined choir, middle choir, and upper choir led by Ms Kate and secondary singers and instrumentalists led by Ms Octave.

Thank you to the following musicians for your excellent contribution to the program:

Amira Shaken – Piano
Christian Porter-Lourdon – Electric Guitar
Emi Eggens – Drums
Yumi Star-  Piano & Drums
Eti Star – Bass & Piano
Thomas Ness- Saxophone
Jimena Garcia- Voice
Anya Zavery- Voice
Marina Mees Pérez – Stage manager 

We would also like to extend our gratitude to our parents, extended families and friends who attended the concert and for showing your support. It is always so lovely to see our pupils up in the spotlight performing to a hall packed full of friends and family. I am sure you were all amazed at the progress our students have made in such a short space of time. We are very excited about the next musical events coming up next half term! 

The Peer Educator Programme

After weeks of interviews, eight successful Year 12 students were selected as Aloha’s first ever Peer Educators with The Mental Health Foundation. The Peer Educator Programme entails a group of Y12 students delivering and leading a series of mental health lessons to Y7 students as part of their PSHEE programme. Y12 students will begin teaching in January and will undergo training with Mental Health Lead, Ms Victoria Thompson, after half term. If you wish to learn more about this programme, please click the link here.

Key Stage 5 Extra Curricular Trips

This half term, Y12 and Y13 have enjoyed residential trips designed to promote physical and mental growth. While this is extremely important to our students on both the A Level and the IB programmes, it also offers a valuable CAS experience for the IB learners.

Year 13 ventured to Tarifa; they are an amazing group that were willing to step outside of their comfort zone and enjoy themselves. Through two days full of activity, fun and bonding, it was a great opportunity to strengthen the relationship between students and teachers. This is an unforgettable memory of this final year at Aloha College.Y12 went to Cortes de la Frontera, where they also formed lasting memories by experiencing interesting activities together as a group, in a beautiful location. Without a doubt, they will remember this trip for a long time.

On behalf of all our Trustees, staff and pupils, we wish all our families a wonderful half term break and look forward to greeting your children on Monday the 7th.

One subject is chosen from each of the following groups:

  1. Language and Literature (Language A). Students take their studies in a language in which they are academically competent.
  2. Language acquisition (Language B). A modern language course with an emphasis on understanding another culture through its language.
  3. Individuals and Societies: Provides for the development of a critical appreciation of the nature and activities of human activities in history and the physical, economic and social environment that people inhabit.
  4. Experimental Sciences: The exploration of concepts, theories, models and techniques that underpin each subject area and through these, develop their understanding of the scientific method.
  5. Mathematics: The development of mathematical knowledge, concepts and principles and the development of logical, critical and creative thinking.
  6. The Arts: Students develop their understanding of the dynamic and changing nature of the arts and explore the diversity of arts and learn to express themselves with confidence and competence. Students may opt to study an additional science, individuals and societies, or languages course, instead of a course in the arts.

The requirement that students take at least one subject from each of the first five groups listed ensures a balanced education. Thus, the scientist continues the study of languages and one of the humanities, while the arts student continues to take mathematics and science. Furthermore, students may choose their study programmes to take into account their interests, abilities and future career or education requirements by the choice of the sixth subject and by the choice of subjects offered at Higher Level.

team
Darren Roth
Headteacher Secondary
Earned his BA(Hons) in English Literature from Cardiff University before completing his teaching qualification as a secondary English teacher at Swansea University. Over 17 years in South Wales, he held roles including Head of English, Head of Sixth Form, and senior management before joining Aloha College Marbella in 2012. A passionate educator, Darren finds immense satisfaction in students’ success.
His diverse interests extend beyond the classroom. Darren obtained his pilot’s licence at 17 through a Royal Air Force scholarship and continued training for years. He volunteered in the Camp America scheme, played water polo for Wales Under 18s, and taught children to swim.
Outside of his professional and athletic pursuits, Darren enjoys reading, cycling, and walking his rescue Yorkshire Terrier, Charley. A paddleboarding enthusiast, he finds joy in outdoor activities. Darren also has a flair for cooking and delights in preparing meals for friends. He holds a special affection for the Andalusian sunshine and seizes every opportunity to explore Spain and beyond.
Headteacher Secondary
Earned his BA(Hons) in English Literature from Cardiff University before completing his teaching qualification as a secondary English teacher at Swansea University. Over 17 years in South Wales, he held roles including Head of English, Head of Sixth Form, and senior management before joining Aloha College Marbella in 2012. A passionate educator, Darren finds immense satisfaction in students’ success.
His diverse interests extend beyond the classroom. Darren obtained his pilot’s licence at 17 through a Royal Air Force scholarship and continued training for years. He volunteered in the Camp America scheme, played water polo for Wales Under 18s, and taught children to swim.
Outside of his professional and athletic pursuits, Darren enjoys reading, cycling, and walking his rescue Yorkshire Terrier, Charley. A paddleboarding enthusiast, he finds joy in outdoor activities. Darren also has a flair for cooking and delights in preparing meals for friends. He holds a special affection for the Andalusian sunshine and seizes every opportunity to explore Spain and beyond.
Darren Roth
Headteacher Secondary
Earned his BA(Hons) in English Literature from Cardiff University before completing his teaching qualification as a secondary English teacher at Swansea University. Over 17 years in South Wales, he held roles including Head of English, Head of Sixth Form, and senior management before joining Aloha College Marbella in 2012. A passionate educator, Darren finds immense satisfaction in students’ success.
His diverse interests extend beyond the classroom. Darren obtained his pilot’s licence at 17 through a Royal Air Force scholarship and continued training for years. He volunteered in the Camp America scheme, played water polo for Wales Under 18s, and taught children to swim.
Outside of his professional and athletic pursuits, Darren enjoys reading, cycling, and walking his rescue Yorkshire Terrier, Charley. A paddleboarding enthusiast, he finds joy in outdoor activities. Darren also has a flair for cooking and delights in preparing meals for friends. He holds a special affection for the Andalusian sunshine and seizes every opportunity to explore Spain and beyond.
team
Louise Verinder
Designated Safeguarding Lead & Pastoral Care

Louise earned her BA Hons degree from Edge Hill University and went on to complete her PGCE. With a lifelong passion for sports, she always knew she wanted to become a PE teacher. She excelled, particularly in sports acrobatics, earning the honor of representing Great Britain. For fourteen years, she served as head of PE in Chorley, in the north-west of England, before embarking on what was supposed to be a year’s sabbatical in Spain.

Louise joined Aloha College in 2014 as a part-time teacher of PE. A couple of years later, she transitioned into the role of pastoral care, a role that she absolutely loves. Tasked with leading the secondary school’s PSHEE program and serving as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, she finds great pleasure in developing positive working relationships with teenagers, supporting their mental health and wellbeing, helping develop their self-esteem and confidence, as well as helping them navigate the challenges of life!
Louise is passionate about learning and developing her skillset. She is an accredited life coach with the ICF, specializing in working with teenagers. She has studied for a Diploma in NLP and has recently been awarded a Level 5 Diploma in Trauma and Mental Health-Informed Schools and Communities. 
Outside of teaching, Louise loves the simple things in life. Spending time with her family and friends, travelling, and spending time outside hiking, skiing and paddleboarding. She loves good food and she feels truly blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world.
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Sara Dickie
Head of Key Stage 2

Graduated from the University of Plymouth with a BEd (hons) specialising in English Literature and teaching children in the primary age range.  For the next 17 years, Sara worked in large, central and outer London schools.  As a senior leader in the UK, Sara raised attainment and supported curriculum development across groups of schools in the local area and worked with the local education authority to provide training across boroughs. She ensured the success of school improvement in roles such as leader of English, Maths and SEND provision over the years.  Sara moved to Spain in 2017 and is currently our Head of Key Stage 2.  

Sara has travelled to many fascinating destinations across the globe and still counts travel as one of her interests.  However, she now spends more time at her rural finca in the Andalucian mountains than ever before due to the increasing number of rescue animals she supports.  Outside of education, Sara loves to spend time in the countryside with her horses, dogs and many other animals under her care. 
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Liz Keys
Teaching & Learning

Liz gained a BA.Hons degree in Scandinavian Studies from the University of Hull.  After her PGCE  she began her teaching career at a state Primary School in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Her passion for teaching and her love of travel soon prompted her to take up her next role as a Reception class teacher at Bangkok Patana School in Thailand where she gained invaluable experience of working in an international environment. 

A desire to move closer to the UK prompted Liz to join Aloha College Marbella in 1997 where she has been a Key Stage leader in both KS1 & KS2. She is passionate about providing children with a Creative Curriculum which  provides exciting stimuli and first-hand learning experiences. Her interests are reading, travel and sampling different cuisines.
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Anna Sweeting
Head of Key Stage 3 and Enrichment

Completed her degree in Business, Accounting and Finance, then later a Certificate in Mathematics. Having worked in banking, accounting and education finance she started teaching by founding a tuition company in 2006 and lecturing part-time in a further education college. These both grew, and a decision was made to sell the business and lecture full time, while also leading GCSE Maths. Anna made the move to secondary education in 2015, then joined Aloha College in 2016.

Anna loves inspiring students to try new things and to grasp opportunities, you never know where they will lead! She enjoys performing in theatre shows and singing, but the most drama in her life comes from being an avid follower of Blackpool FC, a curse that she has passed on to her two sons.
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Jacqueline Brice
Head of Key Stage 4

Achieved a first class Honours degree in Mathematics and Physics from Kings College London before pursuing a career in broadcasting. She indulged her curiosity in the latest scientific and technological advances as a producer of scientific documentaries for BBC Radio and Television and then moved into fly-on-the-wall documentary making for Channel 4 with the police and the Royal Navy. Her broadcasting career has taken her flying through thunderstorms with lightning chasers in North Dakota, to crime scenes with the Metropolitan Police murder squad and from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious to Gibraltar by Sea King helicopter. 

As her young family took priority in her life, she turned her degree into a Post Graduate Certificate of Education and brought her family to Spain, where she has continued to share her love of mathematics, science and life-long learning with the students of Aloha College for almost two decades. Over the years, she has thoroughly enjoyed leading the Mathematics Department and Key Stage 3 and now she is working as the Head of Key Stage 4, hoping to instill a love for learning and international travel in our young adults and to encourage them to value a broad range of creative, analytical and communication skills.
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Ellen Richards
Head of EYFS

Studied at the University of Chester where she completed her BEd (Hons) in  Primary education, specialising in the Early Years. She believes there is no age range more exciting and inspiring with which to work, and feels fortunate to have truly found her vocation. 

Ellen has taught at international schools in Guangzhou, China, Bangkok, Thailand and London, UK, before joining the Aloha College Marbella team in 2018 where she is currently Head of Foundation Stage. Having attended international schools herself in Maseru, Lesotho, Yokohama, Japan and South Wales in the UK, Ellen feels a strong sense of belonging within our multicultural community.
Outside of work, Ellen is most content exploring all and any creative pursuits, be it in a rather haphazard way! What she lacks in finesse she makes up for in enthusiasm, and will happily while away the weekend with her sewing machine. 
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Elaine McGirl
Head of Key Stage 5

An experienced educator with over two decades of expertise in the field of science and education. Originally from Ireland, Elaine graduated with Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Limerick after earning a Bachelor of Science in Education majoring in Biology and Chemistry. 

Driven by a passion for understanding how students learn best, Elaine has held diverse roles in education, including lecturing and tutoring in educational psychology to undergraduate students. She has extensive experience teaching various curricula, including the International Baccalaureate, A Levels and the Irish Leaving certificate, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of various educational systems. 
In 2007, Elaine joined Aloha College Marbella, where she has served as an IB and A-Level Biology teacher, General Science teacher, and Head of the Science Department. Currently, she holds the position of Head of Sixth Form and IB Diploma Programme Coordinator, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to guiding students towards academic excellence and personal growth.
Outside of teaching, Elaine enjoys Irish dancing, Flamenco, and salsa. She can play several instruments from her days in a youth marching band. Elaine loves traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with animals.
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Anne Ross
Head of Key Stage 1

Began her teaching career with a Foundation Degree in Early Years from the University of the Highlands and Islands in Scotland. She managed and developed a Nursery School in the Highlands for several years and was very involved in raising the awareness and the importance of Early Years education throughout many schools in the Highlands and North of Scotland. Anne then furthered her studies, experience and expertise by gaining a PGCE at the University of Buckingham to further her career in Primary education.

At Aloha Anne has always been passionate about extending her knowledge and learning, she is currently studying to become a certified Well-Being coach. She is a strong advocate of student wellbeing, emotional intelligence and social development, these important life skills ensure our students emerge more resilient and ready to face future adversities. 
Even though Anne has lived in Spain for over 20 years, she loves to explore Spain’s rich culture and many hidden treasures. She is an enthusiastic traveller with a love for diverse destinations and learning from different cultures. Anne has always been passionate about sports and keeping fit and in her spare time she loves Crossfit classes, family time and reading.
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Emma Saunders
Primary Designated Safeguarding Lead & Pastoral Car

Emma has dedicated her entire teaching and professional career to ACM. A Saint Mary’s University London honour’s graduate, holding a Masters Degree in International Education from Oxford Brookes, Emma has shaped her career into a student-centric narrative. Her experience and research into “Third Culture Kids’, which recognises our students unique educational, international and Spanish experience, was used in crafting and developing the Primary PSHEE programme, facilitating essential skills appropriate to academic, psychological and emotional well-being.

Emma’s professionalism at Charity, is helping change lives for the vulnerable, in Málaga and Africa where ACM has initiated educational programmes in Kampala. Her work as a rapporteur for the COBIS ConnectED sessions is established and recognised. As a qualified Catechist, Emma’s Pastoral Care role is busy and engaging. As a safeguarding expert and officer, fluent in Spanish, Emma analyses the latest programmes, developments and policies, at national and International level.
As a former ballerina, Emma trained young dancers for school shows and Marbella events in modern/Irish dance, and regularly performed in her native West End. Emma also enjoys entertaining family and friends, however Tara the Afghan Hound as the newest member of the Saunders family, is the one who now steals the show!
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Kate Edwards
Headteacher Primary

Kate graduated from the University of Central England with a BEd (Hons) in Primary Education, specialising in the Early Years. As an experienced leader in both UK and international educational settings, Kate is committed to providing students with a learning environment that celebrates effort and achievement in both academic and personal endeavors. In July 2019, Kate, completed the Cobis Program for Aspiring Heads, before taking on her first headship with us in 2023. 

In her spare time, Kate loves spending time with her husband and three children. They often enjoy trips to the park, constructing Lego masterpieces, strolls along the beach and splashing about in the pool. When time allows, Kate also loves to bake.  At home you’ll often find her whipping up a storm in the kitchen. Rumour has it, she dreams of donning the iconic apron on the Great British Bake Off one day!