PARENT NEWSLETTER (8 – 12 APRIL)

  • April 5, 2019
  • Category: Parent Newsletters
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Dear Parents,

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I begin by thanking all Secondary parents for your support of our Alumni Charity on Thursday.  Primary pupils will support Charity Day on Monday.  Please remember that on that day your child will come to school wearing PE kit with €2, and will compete in a mini-marathon in the afternoon.  Any parent who wishes to contribute more, they are very welcome!

MATHS COMPETITION

Today, as you read this letter, Aloha College Marbella is hosting the ISMTF International Maths competition. 240 children, accompanied by their teachers, will be working on Maths calculation, problem-solving, Maths puzzles, etc. Our guests are students at international schools as far away as Moscow, Milan, Cairo, London, Zurich, Brussels, Geneva, Frankfurt, Amsterdam Toulouse, Paris, The Hague, as well as Barcelona and of course the most important pupils from – Aloha College!

TEAM H1TEAM V2
Adrian OgrzewalskiIker Yang
Pablo Benet VincentiÁlvaro Sánchez Valenzuela
Sofia Elgaily LópezMartin Brun

RESERVE: Marco Santaella

A sincere thank-you to Mrs Turner, Head of Maths, and her department, who worked so hard to put this event together.

Thanks also to all the staff who have made this possible including Fátima and Isabel who met and greeted the visitors at Málaga airport; Juan our concierge, Sergio from maintenance, Alejandro in IT, Marta and Mr Davies who will be taking photos, the cooks, the cleaners, and our Year 10 and Year 12 pupils who organised activities and games at the beach last night.

I know this is going to be a fantastic event for our children and the college as a whole.  I can hardly wait until next week to share with you photos and the details of our successes.  Our wonderful school can hold its head high knowing it is amongst the top international schools of the world.

News of the Maths events will be tweeted on Monday!

SECONDARY SCHOOL INTER-HOUSE SPORTS DAY

Another huge success for Aloha College! For the second time the inter house athletics was hosted in the Estadio Municipal de Marbella and the level of performance was raised yet again.  At least 12 records were smashed and new champions crowned.

Inter House athletics champions – Sevilla  1210 points
Girls Junior Sports Champion – Michelle Lundteppen Y8
Boys Junior Sports Champions  –  Marat Borlakov & Christian Campo Y8
Girls Senior Sports Champion  – Florence Sargent Y10
Boys Senior Sports Champion  – Mateo Iturmendi Y10

The photos speak for themselves!  What an amazing array of athletic talent.

EASTER HOLIDAYS

Please remember that we have one more week until the Easter holidays and learning will continue until 16.00 h on Friday 12 April.  Please ensure therefore that your child is in school and not enjoying an early holiday.

We are very aware that the expectation of attendance of 95% is very high; However, we do have very high standards at Aloha College. Looking at our attendance figures overall, we can see they have improved as parents are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of good attendance in their child’s learning.  As always, these policies are put in place to help your children, not just because we like imposing rules.  Like every policy this will be reviewed at the end of the academic year.

NURSERY ASSEMBLY

Thank you to all our Nursery children for their beautiful assembly on Monday about international food.  They were scrumptious!

Have a lovely weekend – I look forward to seeing you next Thursday at the
Music and Art Evening (18.00 h).

Your sincerely

Elizabeth Batchelor

Principal

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Dear Parents,

This is how our 46 Nursery children greeted us in Monday’s Assembly when they treated us to songs and dances about different foods around the world. It is sometimes too easy to forget that Aloha is a rich culture of children from 57 nationalities learning and playing together. It made us all feel very proud all week!

On Wednesday Year 3 and 4 children invited me to join the exit point of their IPC unit ‘Temples, Tombs and Treasures’. They had transformed their classrooms into ‘Museums’ with their creations of ‘Ancient Egyptian’ artefacts ranging from pyramids to hieroglyphs. They enthusiastically explained the importance of the river Nile and the mystery behind the death of the young King Tutankhamen. It was also explained to me that Mesopotamia had an ancient tribe called the Sumerians who lived between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates thousands of years ago! For me, as Headteacher, the most important part of the visit was the children’s faces. Their eagerness to share their learning, their pride in their writing, research and artwork and finally the fun that they were having collaborating and sharing their ideas!

Have you ever thought of being an author? On Thursday Year 4 and 5 children were treated to a day exchanging ideas, learning new writing tips and being thoroughly inspired by our visiting author Peter Bunzl. He answered some really interesting questions from the children and captivated them with how he turned his small ideas into best-selling books. As Daniele in Year 5 said: “Amazing day! I liked Peter Bunzl because he explained everything about his books and we could do a workshop and draw our own robots after”. The day was a real treat in the build-up to next week’s Primary Book Week.
‘Get Caught Reading’ Competition’ Reminder – All entries to be handed in to class teachers by the end of Book Week (Friday 12 April).

Next target: RESPONSIBILITY (independent thinking in lessons)
Talk Homework: What kind of book would you like to write and why?

Your sincerely

Kathryn Salmon

Headteacher, Primary

SECONDARY SCHOOL

Dear Parents,

If I told you that I am thinking of inviting an outside speaker to talk to your children about literature and, especially, the works of Federico García Lorca, what would you think? And what would you envisage this talk to be like?

I am sure that many of you, if not all, would imagine someone on stage simply addressing a group of students on the benefits of studying literature and preaching on what a great writer Lorca was. You would even start feeling sorry for your children who would have to listen to this boring person talking about poetry and classic novels for over one hour.

Long gone are the days in which literature was taught in a traditional and uninspiring way. Perhaps this is still the norm at other schools, but certainly not at Aloha College!

Noelia García, Head of Spanish, and I had endless conversations about the way we could promote the works of García Lorca to students during book week. An eureka moment suddenly sprang to mind, and MUSIC was the answer to all of our questions. Everyone loves music! We thought it would be fantastic to show our students the connection between literature and music.

Well, I must confess that the guest speaker I referred to above is not fictional. Yesterday, we had a very special guest who was able to explain the connection between flamenco and literature brilliantly. The renowned flamenco singer, Miguel Poveda, came in to do a talk to Spanish First Language students in year 11, 12 and 13 about the importance of literature throughout his career and why he decided to choose the poems of García Lorca in one of his albums.

It was a wonderful experience for students and staff alike. Miguel’s passion for García Lorca was infectious. We left the room in total awe, curious to know more about the famous poet from Granada.

In Miguel’s own words: “The more you know about Lorca, the more you are drawn towards his infinite universe”

I hope you have a good weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Francisco Escobar

Headteacher, Secondary

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.

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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.

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.

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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! 
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Víctor Ranea
Head of Administration

Víctor Ranea se unió al colegio como Business Manager en 2003. Lideró el proceso de transición entre la antigua compañía y la fundación actual. Como responsable del área de Administración, ha participado en varios Planes Estratégicos. Además de las finanzas y los Presupuestos Generales, ha dirigido los proyectos constructivos del colegio y contribuido en los planes de marketing así como en la implementación de nuevos sistemas informáticos del área de finanzas.

Licenciado en Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales por la Universidad de Málaga, Víctor Ranea es un apasionado del deporte, con experiencia en competiciones regionales, habiendo contribuido a la creación de los clubs deportivos del colegio. Un amante de los viajes y la gastronomía, así como de la música, el teatro y el cine.