Dear Parents,
Traffic around school
Some very positive feedback has been received from you the parents regarding our efforts to alleviate the traffic situation in the mornings by opening another pedestrian gate. For those who may not have read last week’s newsletter parents can, if they wish, drop off their children by pulling into the bus stop. Children can then enter via the pedestrian gate and walk down the path inside the perimeter. Let us continue to monitor the situation. Meanwhile, I would ask parents not to abandon their cars in the central reservation, please.
New pupils
I have now met all new Secondary pupils for a chat and to find out how they are settling in. They have offered me some interesting advice on how we can make our school even better. The next step is for me to meet all Primary pupils to discover if they too are happy at Aloha College Marbella.
Core Values
We have added one more value to our list of four – Resilience. Ask your children to explain what this means
Respect – Honesty – Care – Effort – Resilience
Simon Snell
Simon has now completed all the safeguarding training for managers, staff and governors. He spent his last visit repeating the talk on online safety to our parents.
He sent us the following links to valuable resources, which I hope you will find useful in your quest to keep your children safe while using social media.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/digital-parenting
Absence Policy
I am noticing that some pupils are being collected early on Fridays. Please remember that full attendance is expected except when children are ill. Weekend breaks should start after 16.00 h.
Aloha College U19 Football Champions 2019!
We are pleased to celebrate yet another sporting victory – here is Mr Toal’s report!
The U19 Boys and Girls football teams travelled to UD San Pedro to compete in the Costa Del Sol International School Football Tournament.
Both squads made short work of their group phases, winning each one out right. The boys were undefeated scoring 14 goals and conceding 0. Likewise the girls won their group scoring 22 goals and conceding 1.
In the semis however the boys lost a tough penalty shoot-out after a 2-2 draw with Laude. The girls advanced to the final to play Sotogrande and ran out 5-1 winners with Sofia Elgaily Y10 netting 3 goals herself!
It is pleasing to see new players stepping up from the junior ranks to now represent Aloha at senior level.
Our vision is to develop each and every individual and allow them to express themselves in competitive situations. Today was a great example of our vision in action.
We are extremely proud of our students as they were true ambassadors for everything the college stands for on and off the field.
Congratulations from a very proud Mr Toal and Miss Booth
Boys player of the tournament – Lucas Sole Bravo
Most valuable player – Jose Acosta
Girls player of the tournament – Adriana Zugasti
Most valuable player – Sofia Elgaily
I hope you all enjoy a lovely family weekend.
Yours sincerely
Elizabeth Batchelor
Principal
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Dear Parents,
As all year groups have been learning from the IPC unit ‘Being Me in My World’, Monday’s assembly was an opportunity for children to share their thoughts on being global citizens.
39 children of different nationalities came to the front to demonstrate the internationality of Aloha. The Primary Eco Committee presented their inspirational photos and messages following the recent Beach Clean in Estepona. Even the Nursery children who joined us for the first time shared their ideas! The children’s ideas and responses really touched the hearts of all the adults in the room.
This assembly was also our first monthly celebration of the year when one child from each year group is awarded a special certificate for consistently demonstrating the monthly goals. For September these were RESPECT and COOPERATION. As symbolism in Primary reaches a wider audience, especially with so many different first languages, these monthly prize winners are also awarded with a ‘Blossom’ to hang on our ‘Learning Tree’ in the main entrance. As an extra bonus and recognition of this outstanding achievement, the children are currently planning what they would like to do as an extra treat. Congratulations to:
Zoueva Alexandra in NSERI, Blazquez De La Fuente Marta in NSCCU, Nijmeh Raphael in RCEMA, Duwe García Alexander in RCEMA, Vaiciulyte Milana in 1MTI, Kononenko Anastasia in 1KED, Hultgren Olivia in 2ARS, Bittan Sacha in 2ARS, Kuznetsova Sophia in 3EK, Sánchez Valenzuela Blanca in 3EHI, Bensouda Amira in 4ES, Lozano Chemerynsky Carlos in 4ITA, Le Carvennec Yohan in 5ASH, Kalkamanova Sofia in 5ASH, Zhukov Kovrikov Ilya in 6LBA and Hormigo Delgado Claudia in 6PSM.
Yesterday was a non-uniform day and children dressed in their national dress/colours of their country’s flag. It was a spectacle and exemplifies my favourite sentence from our recent PSHE meeting ‘Difference is the only thing we ALL have in common’.
PRIMARY ECO COMMITTEE NEWS
On 14 and 15 October, the Palacio de Congresos in Marbella is holding an informative event for children called “Towards Nature”. This event is to inspire children to reach for their potential whilst also raising awareness about Climate Emergency and charities.
It is very exciting that Johan Ernst Nilson; who is a well-known world traveller, motivational speaker and a Guinness record holder, will be giving a Talk and Answer session about children’s roles in our Climate Emergency. The entrance for students is free and Adult tickets are €20 with all proceeds going towards charities. Monday’s event is suitable for children aged 13+ and Tuesday ́s for children aged 8 to 12. Children need to register online for entrance and bring ID on the day.
Follow the link below for more information: https://www.towardsnature.life/about-event.html
FS-Y6 Parents’ Evenings with Classteachers
The first Primary Parents’ Evenings with CLASSTEACHERS will be on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 October (16-18:00 h, School Hall). You can book your appointments until Wednesday 9 October. Please find more information here.
Next week’s target is: RESPECT
Talk Homework: What would life be like without the internet and what would I do instead?
Yours sincerely
Kathryn Salmon
Headteacher, Primary
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Dear Parents,
The main themes for most of my newsletters come from meetings and conversations I have had with your children, my colleagues and you. This week’s idea came after a meeting with the mother of a Year 10 student who asked me: Do you know the poem Ithaca? At that time I could not work out the connection between our conversation and this literary work. The parent said to me: “I don’t care if my son takes longer to achieve his aims: what I want is, that by the time he arrives at his destination, he has enjoyed many learning experiences “.
I went home that afternoon and read the poem. It was then when I understood the importance that Ithaka has in our lives. Here are some verses from the poem:
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery
…
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time
…
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way.
The poem tells us of the importance of enjoying the journey, whatever it may be, without constantly thinking about the final aim. The journey is far more enriching than the arrival at the final destination! Ithaka doesn’t really have anything exciting to offer, and that’s why we have to get there when we’re old, having enjoyed and learned on the way.
During that journey of life, we will face fears that can hinder our progress. Fear of change, uncertainty and the unknown is often the main hurdle that we must overcome. We need to take time to enjoy life’s pleasures, thus gaining wisdom.
I hope you have a nice weekend.
Yours sincerely,
Francisco Escobar
Headteacher, Secondary
