Parent Newsletter January 2023

  • January 27, 2023
  • Category: Parent Newsletters
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Dear parents,

Our first official monthly newsletter marks the end of our first month back at school after the Christmas break.

It is a delight to see your children so happy and very productive. Thank you for all your continued support, which truly makes a difference in your child’s life at ACM.

We welcome 8 new pupils and 2 staff. We hope they will already feel part of our wonderful school community.

The Primary section welcomes Miss Kate Holding, the Reception class teacher and Miss Louise Friend, a very experienced teaching assistant, joined us in January whilst Miss Russell is on Maternity leave.

Katie Holding

 

Louise Friend

School production 

We are all getting very excited about our forthcoming school production, to be held on 20,21 & 22 February. Please mark one of these dates in your diary to support our pupils, I have had a “sneak” preview and it looks amazing.

Respectful parking

Please, can I once again ask you to be respectful of others when you park or drop off /collect your children.

Please do not block the exit/entrance gates, as always this request is to ensure your children are as safe as they can be.

Visit of Simon Snell

Safeguarding Consultant and former head of the Devon and Cornwall Police Child Exploitation Unit, UK

The recent visit of Simon Snell from the UK to address parents on online safety was a great success, with much positive feedback. Thank you to those who attended. The dangers of online misuse are frightening for us all. Staff and Governors also received valuable updated training regarding child protection and safeguarding. We can never stop learning!!

Cadi Charity Event

As you read this letter, many staff members and pupils are in school working alongside Cadi Charity, participating in Sports, music, and Art activities. Thank you to all staff who have helped with this event, and in particular, our student leadership team, who are true ambassadors of ACM.

Pedro Mees, Lola Cooper & Carlota Ranea

Finally, three of our staff, Mr Escobar, Ms Saunders, and Ms Sweeting, as you are aware, visited Uganda last week in order to prepare for a student/staff visit in the summer. Wow – what incredible stories they have to share and will present to the children. 

Please enjoy the rest of this newsletter, reading specific Primary and Secondary news.

PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS

What a busy start to the new year we have seen in the primary school this month! The children returned to school with some exciting New Year’s resolutions, stories of adventures with their families through the holiday period and an abundance of energy to get the term off to a great start. 

The Nursery children have been busily preparing dishes in our messy mud kitchen! Mud play is a fantastic way for children to practice their fine and gross motor skills, increases awareness of their senses and improves hand/eye coordination. It requires turn taking as well as opportunities to lead and follow instructions, and best of all provides countless opportunities for creative role playing fun!

In Year 1, the children have been reading sentences to follow instructions to create our very own ´cress heads´. We used our ´Green Fingers´ to help them to grow, making sure that we watered them every day. We have learned lots about deciduous and evergreen plants and had fun going on a nature hunt to discover their names too. As scientists, we have been making observations about plants using our senses.

Year 4 – Egyptians

IPC this term has been a hub of excitement and learning as well as reflecting on past knowledge. We have started exploring the life of the ancient Egyptians and what an exciting and interesting topic it is. 

The children started the topic with an entry point, they became archaeologists piecing together ancient paintings to try and decipher the meanings behind the images as well as asking questions about what the symbols meant. 

As we moved on we have been conducting research using our library books, enabling the children to discover new information and ask themselves more questions. This type of learning has allowed the children to be independent in what they discover and grow in confidence as they gain new knowledge and share this with others.

We are looking forward to continuing this topic, we will be making a cartouche and creating personal headdresses as if we were pharaohs. Additionally we will be exploring in more detail the different social classes of the Egyptians and important people who have helped us to learn more about this amazing period of history. 

We hope you enjoyed looking through the children’s learning this month and we can’t wait to show you more learning in the primary school in next month’s newsletter.

SECONDARY SCHOOL NEWS

 

Oscar Vigdal, Year 13, Creative Arts

Oscar is a student who  is extremely passionate about design. For about the last 2 years he has been very focused on graphic design and the experimentation with textures and type. Oscar uses ordinary objects from his day to day life and aims to create extraordinary designs out of them. His works are based on decay, wear, experimentation, and are strongly influenced by typography; they raise the question if graphic design should be considered art.

His efforts, motivation, and determination have been recognised by several important people and organisations within the design industry, the most predominant being the “Club de Creativos” which are the only organisation of this type that exists in Spain. They aim to improve the quality of creative work and defend creativity as the most powerful tool for business growth. They are also the organisation in charge of “Los Premios Nacionales de la Creatividad de Jóvenes Creativos” (The National Award of Creativity for Young Creatives) for which Oscar has been nominated. Only 3-4 people get nominated for this award, and this year Oscar is one of only 2 nominees. The event will take place the 24-25th of March in the prestigious Kursaal de San Sebastián in the main hall.  Oscar will give a speech about his work to leading creatives from the design industry, university students and members of the public. 

International Maths Competitions

Tryouts for our sorely missed (due to Covid) international maths competitions proved to be very popular! We had 14 for the Middle School competition (KS3), 11 for the Junior (KS4) and 7 for our Senior competition (KS5) all trying to be one of the top 3.

Middle school team Harry Cambell, Yousef Toubah and Jack Starrett (reserve Sasha Sergeev) will travel to Munich on March 24-26 with Mr Reynolds.

Junior team Sebastian Vohlmuth, Thomas Ness and Ella Ranin will travel to Vienna on Feb 24-26 with Mr Longworth. Oliver Gorman passed the selection process but unfortunately cannot travel that weekend, hopefully next year Ollie!

Senior team Yassamin Ghassemi, Danil Gulyaev and our Maths Learning Leader William Flores Qu (reserve Avisa Ansari) will travel to Warsaw on March 3-6 with Ms Turner.

They all now undergo rigorous training every Tuesday lunchtime. We wish them all the best in the competition and congratulate them on their success in making the team.

Animal Farm Theatre Visit – a message from Mr Heath (Head of English)

On Wednesday January 18th Year 10 and 4 teachers made their way to the La Cochera Cabaret theatre in Malaga to watch the TNT Theatre group’s stage production of George Orwell’s classic 1945 fable, Animal Farm, on 2 buses. The trip went well and the production was dynamic and engaging for a young audience. The students behaved well and I had the pleasure of thanking the 5 actors afterwards for their efforts. They enjoyed the performance too! We have established a relationship with the theatre now and they are planning other productions so we are excited about being able to take various year groups to high quality live theatre in English locally. My thanks to Miss Broadbent, Mr Sharp and Ms Williams, and, of course, the students. We would happily take this year group on a trip again and hopefully, when it is a bit warmer in the nearby park where we ate our lunch.

CADI day

On Saturday, January 28 we are hosting children and staff from the CADI organisation for a day of sports and creative activities. This is the first time we have organised such an event and we are hoping it will lead to a partnership of learning about different skills and experiences. The event is the brain-child of our Head Students, Mia Windhagauer and Alexey Gudkov, who have worked with our Year 12 Student Senior Leadership Team to create the event. Special thanks to Lola Cooper, Learning Leader for Creative Arts, Pedro Mees Perez, Learning Leader for PE, and Ms Emma Saunders for supporting and planning this initiative.

THIMUN Conference

A popular part of our co-curricular programme is the Model United Nations (MUN). This week, our MUN members have been to the THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations) conference; a four-day simulation of the United Nations for secondary school students, which takes place at the end of January each year in the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague. Every delegation (i.e. every school that attends THIMUN) is assigned a country and they represent that country throughout the conference. ACM were assigned to Suriname as we are a relatively small delegation. It has been an enriching experience for our students! Thank you, Mr Kemp and Ms Vandebilt.

I hope you enjoyed this newsletter, have a lovely weekend with your families.

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.
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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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