News and announcements for the ASV community

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Issue 196

Saturday, June 8, 2019

International Choir Festival

On May 31 and June 1, 2019, American School of Valencia hosted the first International Choir Festival involving 90 Middle School students from three international schools: American School of Madrid, Cambridge House Community College (Rocafort, Valencia), and American School of Valencia. The event was coordinated by Mrs. Coleen Mann, the ASV Choir Teacher. The scheduled rehearsals and the gala concert were led by Dr. Rollo Dilworth, a renowned composer, arranger and music educator who currently works at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

“Music in the ASV Middle School grade levels is focused on the development of the adolescent voice through choral singing with an emphasis on building confidence and enjoyment of singing,” Ms. Coleen Mann explained. “By taking part in enriching and enjoyable experiences like this one, students connect with one another in a meaningful way and develop a life-long love and appreciation for music.”

Dr. Dilworth’s instruction during the festival ranged from warm-up routines, to vocal techniques, ensemble skills, empathy, and teamwork. The concert program included traditional American, Hebrew and Kenyan songs, an African-American spiritual, an arrangement of a classical work by Haydn, and a song from the well-known musical Rent.

Watch the concert again on the ASV Facebook fan page.

2018-2019 MAIS Sills Award

American School of Valencia is pleased to announce that the students Zlatan Č. (Grade 7) and Héctor F. (Grade 8) have been named as the finalists for the 2018-2019 MAIS Robert Sills Student Award. This award is established by the Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS), a regional international education association comprised of 42 international schools, and is intended to recognize those young people who model the character traits that MAIS values most in its students: persistence, a willingness to take risks, acceptance of other cultures and points of view, and a genuine interest in a sustained commitment to the welfare of others.

The MAIS Sills Award Selection Committee received numerous applications and portfolios from several MAIS member schools and carefully reviewed all of them for their completeness, quality of content, presentation, visual appeal, and creativity.

ASV can be honored for having two students among this year’s finalists. Many congratulations to Zlatan and Héctor, who will receive the award certificate on monday the 10th of June during their middle school assembly

Teacher Appreciation Luncheon

On Thursday, June 6, 2019, the ASV community collaborated to show their appreciation for the work of the faculty and the staff by participating in the traditional Appreciation Luncheon. As you may know, this day families are invited to contribute with their own recipes to the daily lunch that is served to the school staff.

The staff appreciation luncheon was a great success with a cheerful group of volunteers serving in the staff dining hall the dishes collected for the event. A huge thanks to all our families for following this long-time tradition, and for the numerous cards and treats given to our teachers in the morning.

Middle and High School Yearbooks Distributed

Students who ordered a copy of the 2018-2019 ASV Middle and High School Yearbook received it on Thursday, June 6, during the advisory period. Due to their different academic calendar, the seniors (now ASV graduates) had it one week earlier.

All of the students have now a few days to share their books and collect messages from friends and peers. The Elementary yearbook will be distributed starting on Monday, June 10.

ASV+ 2019-2020 Registration Process

The registration process for the 2019-2020 ASV+ Program is open now for all grade levels from PK2 to Grade 10. The information, including a list of activities for each division is available on the school website. If you need the direct link to the registration forms they are:

The Syllabus for the Preschool and Elementary activities are ready. Please CLICK HERE to read about the activities, schedule, coaches/teachers, material needed, activities, etc.

ASV Summer Program Updates

The ASV Summer Program, which is held in our campus in July, is open to High School students who wish to collaborate as volunteers for two or four weeks. Students will be assigned to support teachers and students in class activities and workshops as well as sports activities, special events, and field trips.

This is the last week to register by completing the following form.

Preschool and Elementary School ____

Congratulations to the Kinder class! Yesterday they celebrated the conclusion of their preschool years with their parents. Songs, face painting, photos, activities and refreshments in Park A mark their happy transition to first grade. Hats off to them as they make this transition!

Grade 5 Transition Celebration

As it was previously announced, Grade 5 will celebrate the transition from Elementary to Middle School on June 14. The event will take place in the Athletic Center at 18:30 (doors will be opened at 18:00).

Kinder and Grade 5 Celebration Packs

Families in any of these groups -Kinder and Grade 5- can get a celebration pack including:

Kinder: DVD of the Celebration (including also an Interactive Orla), Group Photo, Conferment of Certificate Individual Photo.
Grade 5: DVD of the Celebration, Group Photo, the Conferment of Certificate Individual Photo.

Please use the following links to order your pack:

Grade 5 into 6 Transition Meeting

On Monday, June 10, 2019, there will be a meeting for parents and students of grade 5 to outline the transition into Middle School next year.

Place: ASV Theater / Time: 15:30 h.

Messages for all Preschool classes (Nursery through Kinder)

Please remember that the school day in Preschool begins at 09:45. If you arrive after 09:45, please go to the office and collect an attendance slip before dropping your child to their class.

Messages for Nursery, Prekinder 1 and PreKinder 2

Teaching Strategies GOLD

Changing our assessment this year in Nursery - PK2 has been an exciting endeavor. It has enabled teachers to more closely view and understand the development of each child against established criteria. GOLD has not only provided deeper insights into each child’s development, but it is impacting the way we are teaching. We would love to hear your feedback about this new system! Please complete this survey so that we can understand how this has felt from the parent perspective.

Messages for Kinder

This past month Kindergarten has been piloting a new phonics program that is aligned with Reading and Writing Workshop. Students are building their super powers as they refine their phonics skills, which will allow them to decode and write more accurately. We have loved getting to know the program’s characters, practice phonics in small groups, play new games and sing songs to wrap up our learning.

End of Year Trips

Grade 5

This week Grade 5 went on their end of year trip, going to Teruel and Albarracin. In Teruel, we visited the city center, replete with Mudejar architecture, and saw the Amantes de Teruel museum. The next day, we had fun at Dinopolis, learning about prehistoric times. On Friday, we had a great time exploring the medieval town, Albarracin, seeing prehistoric cave paintings, and eating in a typical restaurant. Each night, we had a blast playing games organized by our wonderful monitors, and all together we visited 5 unique parks to play in! It was a wonderful trip.

The Grade 5 Teachers

Grade 4

Grade 4 had their trip from Monday to Wednesday and this grade level always visits the Ebro Delta, the area where this important river flows. On their way there the group stop to visit Peñiscola’s castle. Once arrived to the Ebro Delta, the plan included visits to the Ebro EcoMuseum and a boat ride in the river. “The students have enjoyed seeing and learning about the animals here and sharing all they have already learned,” our teachers told.

The Grade 4 Teachers

Middle and High School ____

Grades 9-11 Final Exams

The school highly recommends all students remain at school to study and carefully prepare for their final exams. Historically those students who do stay at school for the study hall periods have been more successful on their exams. Nevertheless, if you decide to authorize your child to leave the campus early and/or arrive late, please note that you will have to sign them out personally or give them permission via this form.

Grade 7 and 8 End of Year Trip

All students attending the grade 7 and 8 end of year trip need to bring in the medical form which was handed out to them this week. A printed copy of their DNI and Medical card must also be brought in by June 14, 2019, at the latest.

In addition, here are recommendations for appropriate things to pack for the trip:

Recommended materials list grade 7
Recommended materials list grade 8

Girls Soccer at ASV

On May 28, the girls enrolled in the ASV+ Soccer activity played a friendly match against Fútbol Club Femenino Rafelbunyol. The activity was one of the several games that coach Ojelade is organizing to conclude the 2018-2019 season. ASV won 4 - 1 and Mr. Ojelade remarked the “great play” and “the attitude of ASV girls who were from Grade 5 to Grade 10!”

During the weekend the ASV Middle School and Varsity soccer teams participated in two soccer events, one held at the ASV athletic facilities and the second one at Cracks' facilities in Paterna. For this last event our students teamed up with players coming from several international schools in Valencia and from Marítim Club de Fútbol Femenino: "It was great to see girls from different schools who usually compete against each other, have the chance to collaborate, build friendships and play together," Mr. Ojelade declared.

Soccer Tournament on June 2, 2019

Last Sunday June 2, 2019 our Soccer teams from Grade 1 to Grade 5 participated in the School’s tournament that El Planter organises every year. ASV couldn’t be prouder of our student-athletes!!!

It was a hard tournament of many short matches with high temperatures and our student-athletes put up a battle to each team, demonstrating our ASV values at every moment, respecting the rivals, coaches and teammates.

Our three teams got three trophies in each of the different categories. The 1-2 grade team was 3rd (Prebenjamines category), the 3-4 grades (in benjamines category) was 4th and our Grade 5 team was the winner (Alevines category).

Coaches said:

“It was an incredible morning for everyone. Players, coaches and parents had great enthusiasm for this tournament and I think that it was a great experience both in the athletic and personal sense.”
Mr. Rubén Bisquert

“It has been a very good experience for children in every way. We have been able to reinforce our team spirit by playing against several teams with a similar soccer level to ours. Beyond the results, the children enjoyed a morning of fun soccer with their classmates and put into practice everything they had trained during the year.”
Mr. Javier Estellés

Last game of the Basketball League

The season is over for the ASV+ Basketball team in Grades 3 and 4 and our athletic staff is highly satisfied with the way our student-athletes have competed during the 2018-2019 season.

The team has had fourteen (14) players who have played in total twenty two (22) games from October to May. This has been the first year that our team has been able to play in ASV’s facilities and it's the first year this players have been involved in a formal league..

ASV would like to thank the families of this group of children for their enthusiasm and good will. The parents organised themselves and prepared a snack for all the games we played at ASV and surprised our rival inviting them every time. It was an amazing experience for children and parents and ASV would like to thank them for this gestures during the year, thank you!!!

Coaches said:

“The experience of participating in a formal league has been a great input for the players and a constant motivation to continue training and improving, thus being able to establish themselves as one of the best teams in the league of the Municipal Sports Foundation of Valencia. Our students have not only improved at their sport level, but also growing as an athlete. They have proven to be fighters, but always with respect, showing the values we pursue in ASV at every moment of competition. This has been the first year competing and, of course, there is a long way to go, but the first step taken this year has been enormous. Congratulations to all the players! I am happy to have been part of their athletic, personal and team development. For me it has been a pleasure to lead the matches with the team, seeing how they enjoy their sport and make a diverse, united and noble group of athletes. Continue like this! Go, ASV!”

Ms. Sofía Soucase

Great End of Season for Xaloc - ASV

The Xaloc-ASV Womens’ Team has finished the Field Hockey season on top positions. The team won the Field Hockey league organized by the Valencian Federation and then qualified to play the 2nd Division National Tournament. In this competiton Xaloc-ASV was included in group B, playing against Iluro (wining 2-0), Catalonia (winning 4-0) and SPV-Complutense (losing 2-0). The game to achieve the bronze medal against Junior FC was played on Sunday, May 26; it finished 1-1 but Xaloc won the shootout series.

Congratulations to all the players involved as well as the three members of the ASV community part of this achievement: Ms. Soucase, teacher in Grade 1 Blue, and Maria S., a student in Grade 9 who regularly plays for the U16 team but was included in the senior roster. María D., a student in Grade 12 this year, did not compete due to an injury but travelled with her teammates.

Next games

Come and cheer for ASV!!!

Basketball Grade 3-4-5 vs Abastos. Monday June 10, 2019 at 17:45 in CEIP Teodoro Llorente facilities (click here).
Soccer middle School vs Rafelbunyol. Tuesday June 11, 2019 at 18:30 in ASV Athletic Field.
Basketball Grade 1-2 vs Abastos. Friday June 12, 2019 at 17:45 in CEIP Teodoro Llorente facilities (click here).

You May Be Interested

La Caixa, one of the banks American School of Valencia and the ASV Foundation work with, has started a fundraiser campaign in favour of the Spanish charity “Banco de Alimentos”. The campaign aims to help Banco de Alimentos to buy and donate milk to families in need, ensuring a complete and balanced diet of young children and adolescents. The idea is clearly aligned with the ASV service programs as well as the ASVF strategies so, if you are interested, you can make your donation by clicking on the campaign banner posted here.

We would like to remind you that any changes related to transportation must be requested by sending an e-mail to buschanges@asvalencia.org before 12:00 on the day of the change. Students not using the bus on an specific day, please communicate by using this online form. Read carefully the ASV Transportation policy before submitting any petition.