Newsletter // May 2021

Dear ESIS Community,

This year has been an emotionally challenging one, not only for our students but for all students across the globe. We have tried to create opportunities that support our students’ emotional well-being through a focus on creative projects, increased group work, and opportunities to make some positive memories together. Our recent High School excursion embodied this idea as students combined creative photography with some time swimming and playing team games on the beach.

As we head towards the summer vacation, I would like to let all parents know that we are placing a greater emphasis on summer reading. This summer students will be given a book to read that will form the basis of their learning for the new semester. Summer reading is therefore not an option, but an expectation. Please encourage your child to read carefully the book or books they have been given so they are off to a positive start to their new academic year. ‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.'

In addition, we have been doing a lot of work with students this semester on the effective use of social media. With the never-ending variety of new apps available to our students, it is easy for them to lose hours of their time on apps such as Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. It is also extremely important that they THINK before posting anything to social media. I have spoken to all students about the importance of being aware who is following them and who they are following. We would also appreciate if parents talk to students about their social media usage, emphasizing that what students put out on their social media should be positive and reflect well on them. It is worth remembering that future admission departments for universities or employers will look at social media profiles and decisions may be based on what they see.

Thank you for your continued support this academic year. It has certainly been an interesting one with great learning opportunities and positive memories. Please remember, my door is always open for you, and I look forward to seeing many of you before the end of the semester.

Mel
Head of School

Upcoming Events

MAY 31 - JUN 04
Revision Week
12th grade ONLY

JUN 02
AP US History Exam
18:00 - 21:00

JUN 04
AP Spanish Exam
8:00 - 11:30

JUN 07 - 10
Final Exams
12th Grade ONLY

Revision Week
6th - 11th grades

JUN 11
Student Awards Ceremony
11:20 - 12:15

JUN 14 - 17
Final Exams
6th - 11th grades

JUN 18
Graduation Ceremony
10:00 - 12:00
Carpa Grande

JUN 19
Recommended
Departure Date

Student Council - Year in Review

Looking back on the 2020-2021 academic year, our Student Council has had to find creative ways to bring students together and create memorable events, all whilst following COVID protocols. It hasn’t been easy! We are especially proud of the money raised for The Make-a-Wish Foundation, at our Thanksgiving Day celebration. We had a blast rallying community members to donate items and experiences, from tennis rackets to private lessons with our teachers, all to raise money for a cause near and dear to our hearts. We also had fun organizing theme days, like Pajama Day and Crazy Hair Day, all to keep spirit high and add a bit of joy to the year. Likewise, we planned a Mixed Doubles tournament for our high

school students, giving Spirit House teams the chance to earn some extra points. Student Council also played an integral role in organizing our culminating Spirit House event, Spirit Day. Council members worked together to brainstorm games, rules, and organization for the event. According to our president, Javier Sanchez, his favorite event overall was Spirit Day. “We really enjoyed being part of the event and making some changes to the sports played this year,” recalled Javier. “It has been an honor representing the academy and school during such a challenging year.” We couldn’t have done it without all of our Student Council members! A big thank you and job well done!

-Ms. Morrison, Student Council Advisor

Outdoor Classroom Day

On May 20th, students in Elementary School participated in a special event: Outdoor Classroom Day. This is a global movement to inspire and celebrate outdoor play and learning, at home and at school. On Outdoor Classroom Day itself, teachers celebrated by planning outdoor lessons for all of their classes with the the aim of developing key skills for life, having a better understanding of the environment, enhancing engagement with learning, and increasing physical and mental health. "We tried to make use of all the different spaces on campus," explained Mr. Matthews. Third grade

did this by making video tours of the campus as they were learning about journalism and reporting. In the 4th/5th grade class, they explored the idea of economy by acting as cashiers and customers. In Spanish and Catalan, students inquired about plants and discussed their importance in our lives.

Children are spending less time outdoors than ever before and this is affecting their health, well-being and development. Time outdoors – on Outdoor Classroom Day and every day – will make children happier and healthier!

Spirit House Competition

Every year the 8 Spirit Teams work hard to earn points by doing excellent things in their classes and upholding our school values around campus. As the points accumulate from month to month, the energy and excitement rises around school. By the end of May, the point totals were very tight and many teams were vying for the coveted 'Champions 20-21' title. On Friday, May 30th, the most exciting day of the year on campus happened: Spirit Day! This challenging event marks the final moment of the year-long championship that has become a

beloved tradition at our school. The teams all compete against each other in several sporting events like soccer, around the world tennis, and capture the flag. The rounds are quick, and teams can rack up many points by the end of the day. We saw many examples of good sportsmanship, teamwork, and effort among all teams during Spirit Day. It was a nice chance for the teachers and students to participate, give their best effort, and support their community. Thanks for keeping the spirit alive all year everyone!

Congratulations RED WOLVES! You are the 2020-2021 Champions!

Click to see more photos from Spirit Day

Beach Day Photography

On Friday, May 21st, High School students enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the beach in Sitges. They played games in the sand and participated in a photography contest. This excursion gave them some time to relax, make long-lasting memories with their friends, and be creative at the same time!

Congratulations to the winners of the Photography Competition:

12th grade winner: Javier (White Buffaloes)

11th grade winner: Atomu (Red Wolves)

10th grade winner: Rosa (Purple Panthers)

9th grade winner: Iva J. (Black Tigers)

This photo was shot by the 11th grade winner, Atomu.

Literary Skills Are Life Skills

9th grader Zachary M. gives a presentation about an indigenous tribe in North America.

Middle School and High School teachers in the Literature Department worked hard to make this year an interesting one for their students while providing the necessary skills for their success. "My goal this year was to practice more intense close reading skills with attention to details in order to help students increase their literary skills for university studies and improve their ability to careful assess and evaluate a variety of texts outside of the classroom," described Mr. Slease. To do this, students in all grade levels worked on alternative assessments with posters, videos, and sculptures that created connections between novels, plays, poetry, and the visual arts. "My biggest goal was to introduce commonplace books, graphic novel creation, and literary

documentaries into the classes," explained Mr. Gaudin. By doing these projects, students not only connect to literature in a meaningful way, but they develop skills such as leadership, critical thinking, and creativity which are essential in the world today. Some stand-out projects from this year include the Catcher in the Rye literary documentary made in Middle School as well as the presentations given about indigenous peoples after reading a novel by Sherman Alexie in High School. It is wonderful to see students connect to such varied authors from Kwamie Alexander to Shakespeare, and learn valuable life skills at the same time.

Don't forget to do your SUMMER READING!

Students in Mr. Gaudin's class made a literary board game project.

Learning Moments at a Glance

The Elementary Garden Club harvested fresh kale from the community garden. They had some for lunch at school and took some home to share with their families.

Students in Mr. Green's Anatomy and Physiology class learned about the inner workings of the heart and conducted a dissection in the Science Lab.

The 12th graders worked diligently in math class as they prepared for the end of the year and their final exams as high school students.

Students in Dr. Boerkamp's Ecology enrichment class harvested the radishes they planted in the community garden.

Elementary students researched, planned, and cooked their own healthy breakfast in Spanish and Catalan class.

Ms. Wynne's history students made some excellent sculptures and posters about different periods from history. Here, 9th grader Nat poses with his jail cell sculpture about the Genovese Family.

Click to see more photos of the History projects

Proud of Our Alumni!

Catarina Luisa Rokke is from the graduating class of 2017. We are excited to share her acceptance into The London School of Economics and Political Science. Well done Catarina!

We do so much more than can fit in a newsletter!

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-OUR MISSION-

The mission of ES International School is to be an exemplary learning and athletic community. We challenge ourselves to be better through an emphasis on critical thinking, and intellectual and social awareness. Students develop a passion for learning through individualized support in a nurturing environment. Our success is founded on effective communication and an engaging academic curriculum.

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ES American School · Autovia Castelldefels C-31 km 191 · El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona 08820 · Spain