NEWSLETTER #8

JUNE 2024

ISP SCHOOLS: IMPROVE THE OFFERING. WHAT SETS US APART?

Going the Extra Mile: Showcasing Our Schools' Unique Offerings

We are excited to publish the 8th and final edition of Hemisphere for the 2023-2024 school year, a more open-themed newsletter that highlights how our schools continually improve their offerings, what sets us apart from the competition, and showcases our unique value propositions; What makes us better. This edition features stories about our dedicated and talented staff members, highlights our schools' unique facilities, and showcases the variety and impact of our extracurricular programs. It demonstrates the vibrant and supportive atmosphere within our school communities, illustrates the strength and involvement of our parent communities, and highlights notable academic and extracurricular student accomplishments. We also share information about unique and innovative programmes our schools offer, showcase how our schools are involved in and contribute to their local communities, and provide stories of successful alumni who exemplify the values and education received at our schools. Additionally, we feature examples of how our schools go above and beyond for students and families. By exploring what makes our schools special and sets us apart, this edition of Hemisphere reflects our collective strengths and achievements, creating a compelling and inspiring read for all.

“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”

—Marian Wright Edelman (American activist for civil rights and children's rights)

MEET THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT MANAGERS (FEMs): Our Family Liaison Superheroes!

Bianca Praino

Family Engagement Manager at Laude San Pedro International College

b.praino@laudesanpedro.com

Read full article

Rijanne Jurczik

Family Engagement Manager at Lady Elizabeth School

r.jurczik@les.edu.es

"If we take time to care about people, we can transform whole communities. You never know how you can change someone's life by showing them that you care"

Bianca and Rijanne both started with ISP in February as Family Engagement Managers (FEMs). Bianca is based at Laude San Pedro in Marbella, and Rijanne is at Lady Elizabeth School (LES) in Benitachell. Although they've never met face-to-face, they've hit the ground running, supporting each other and sharing best practices. Their role involves liaising with staff, implementing retention strategies, and nurturing existing families.

Rijanne, a parent at LES, has prioritised familiarising families with her role, improving their customer journey, coordinating re-enrollment, and streamlining exit interviews. She says, "Most importantly, in all of these cases, it is the early intervention of the FEM who helps to prevent unnecessary issues for families, or easily resolve issues so they can move forward and enjoy being part of the school community.” A family expressed their gratitude: "We would like to thank Rijanne... Before the first day of school at LES, we already had everything we needed thanks to her support. Without her support, the start would have been a lot more difficult for us."

Bianca has focused on establishing a high profile at Laude San Pedro, overseeing re-enrollment, and identifying opportunities for family engagement through events, information sessions, and a parent ECA programme. Monthly nurturing emails have had a positive impact, providing relocation advice to new families. She introduced two Hungarian families who built a rapport before arriving in Spain, creating a positive customer experience. Bianca plans to introduce a Parent Ambassador Scheme next year. A parent shared feedback after an exit interview: "I appreciate your professionalism and especially referring to my daughter’s feelings... She felt your respect and sincere interest."

The FEM role in both schools ensures parents have a key contact, making them feel heard and valued, and supporting teaching staff by allowing them to focus on academics. The role is dynamic, evolving, and crucial for enhancing family engagement. Bianca and Rijanne look forward to its continued growth and development. The opportunity to have a key person designated to families is rare and sets SPA and LES apart from other international schools where this is not the case.

#WE CARE #HAPPINESS IS JUST A CALL AWAY

LATEST ACHIEVEMENTS & MILESTONES: WHAT TRULY SETS OUR SCHOOLS APART

International School Andalucía, the only school in Seville with the IB Bilingual Diploma Programme in English

From September 2024, International School Andalucía, a British International School in Sanlúcar la Mayor, will offer the prestigious IB Bilingual Diploma Programme in Baccalaureate, making it the only school in Seville to offer this bilingual certification and to teach its subjects in English.

This new milestone reflects ISA's ongoing commitment to educational excellence and the comprehensive preparation of students for a globalised and multilingual world, as well as for access to universities in Spain and around the world.

The new Primary building at The British School of Málaga has opened its doors!

On the 27th May we opened the doors to the new Primary building at BSM. The plans for the new construction were announced in 2021 and the opening of the building was a highly anticipated event. The school community is delighted as it adds 3700 square metres to the school campus to develop school academic life and the children have been able to try everything out before breaking up for the summer holidays.

The new Primary building has capacity for 600 students and includes an indoor sports hall, a large bright space with retractable seating and multi-purpose sports area. The sports hall, which can accommodate over 300 people, adds to the outdoor sports facilities which the school already has.

Internacional Aravaca: The Only ISP School Offering the Full International Baccalaureate Continuum

In 2023, Internacional Aravaca became the first and only school in Aravaca-Pozuelo, Madrid, to offer the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students aged 11 to 16, equivalent to secondary education in the Spanish system. In 2021, the school also became the first and only institution in the area authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged 3 to 11.

With the authorization of the IB Diploma Programme in 2024, Internacional Aravaca is now one of the few educational centers in the Community of Madrid to offer the full IB Continuum, covering all academic stages from ages 2 to 18.

Learn more about the IB Programme at Internacional Aravaca.

FAREWELL ALAN TAYLOR

HEADTEACHER AT NEWTON COLLEGE, ELCHE (ALICANTE)

Even though you are not moving from ISP, you will be greatly missed at Newton College. Thank you for your commitment and for elevating Newton College to new Mastering heights.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2024!

ISP KEY DIFFERENTIATORS

ISP'S SUMMER CAMP ADVENTURE ALL OVER SPAIN

AMAZING ACADEMIC RESULTS & FUTURE PATHWAYS

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ISP's BIG 5 LIFE COMPETENCIES

ISP'S AMAZING INTERNATIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

84 ISP SIBLING SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE

GET TO KNOW OUR SPANISH-SPEAKING SIBLING REGION BETTER: MEXICO-CENTRAL AMERICA (READ NEWSLETTER)

OUR VALUES

#WE ARE FAMILY

WE FOSTER CURIOSITY

AII progress starts with a questioning mind. We encourage curiosity that leads learners to explore new pathways, and professionals to drive innovation in education.

ERASMUS+ El Altillo International School - Erasmus+ Experience in Helsinki: Teachers Learning the Finnish Way

We were excited to participate in the Erasmus+ programme in Helsinki (Finland) to learn about their education system. As teachers, we wanted to see how things are done there and take new ideas back to our classrooms. The opportunity to observe new teaching methods in Helsinki schools was very appealing. We were also eager to explore Finnish culture and sustainable practices.

We are very grateful to our school for giving us this opportunity, which has greatly enriched our professional and personal lives.

An Unforgettable Adventure: St. George Madrid Years 3 to 6 Residential Camp at Castillo de Layos

This year, St. George’s Madrid students embarked on an exciting adventure to the Castillo de Layos, a residential camp nestled in Toledo.

The camp, founded in 1985, is a renowned centre for both national and international camps. Offering a blend of sports, nature, and English, Castillo de Layos has become a beloved destination for our children. The facilities are specifically designed for young learners, providing an optimal environment for outdoor activities and educational experiences.

Trip to the Archaeological Site of Atapuerca - St. George Madrid

On April 18th and 19th, Year 8 and Year 9 students visited the Spanish city of Burgos and the archaeological site of Atapuerca, the largest and oldest collection of remains in Europe. It is considered a cultural heritage site by UNESCO.

The trip was part of the Spanish Geography and History curriculum, as the Year 8 students had recently finished studying Prehistory.

Innovative Programmes at Lady Elizabeth School: London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts

In LES at our Plus Clubs, students can study “LAMDA” (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) to gain qualifications in LAMDA examinations in public speaking and acting.

We are delighted that our students LAMDA exam results are incredibly strong this year with an 85% distinction rate!

Aravaca International Music Degree Programme

Our music degree program offers students an introduction and deep immersion in music and instruments from an early age. From the first years, students have the opportunity to explore various instruments and musical styles, developing technical skills and an appreciation for music. This comprehensive approach not only fosters musical talent but also enriches their cognitive and emotional development, creating a solid foundation for future musical studies or simply for enjoying music throughout their lives.

WE ENCOURAGE OPEN-MINDEDNESS

As an international organisation, we are founded on an ethos of openness. We have an innate global mindset and work hard to be inclusive.

EU Day Celebration at Fontenebro International School

This year’s celebration of European unity is a culmination of our year-long reading initiative, where Secondary students have taken on the role of reading godfathers and godmothers to our Primary and Infant students. Through this program, we’ve fostered a love of reading, built strong inter-age relationships, and created a community of learners who support and inspire each other.

Foreign Exchange Experience at El Altillo International School: Family Host Testimonial

Hosting Louane, a French exchange student, in our home for a week was an incredibly rewarding experience that surpassed our expectations. The decision to open our doors stemmed from a desire to foster cross-cultural understanding and provide our children with the opportunity to learn about different cultures firsthand.

Hosting an exchange student is an experience I highly recommend to all families. It is a unique opportunity to learn, grow, and create bonds that last a lifetime.

INTERNATIONAL WEEK at The British School of Almería

At the beginning of June, The British School of Almeria, celebrated its first ‘Intenational Week’ with its Infant and Primary students as the main subjects. The event included various educational activities which celebrated the multiculturalism and multilingualism present in the day-to-day life of the school, and which shapes its personality.

Each class was assigned a country that was new to all the pupils, so that they could research everything about the country including the flag, anthem, culture, population, history and traditions.

Year 13 IB Visual Arts Exhibition 2024 at St. George Madrid

After 2 years of hard work, Year 13 has finally come to the end of their course. There is no better way to do this than to put on a show of their best work. The exhibition is a 2-day internal event, it is a part of the IB Visual Arts Course that is both internally assessed and externally moderated.

All students have approached the 2 years in different ways, looking to explore the strands of ‘Nostalgia’, ‘Trauma’ and ‘Exploring Oneself’. Artwork ranging from Installation Art, Graphite Pencil and Oil Pastels has been produced and successfully exhibited.

WE CARE

We build a deep sense of empathy in our schools. Our learning methodology puts a strong focus on individuality. We take time to understand each learner and their passions, strengths and needs, so that we can personalise their experience.

Becoming the Best for the World at San Pedro International College

From the ESO-Bachillerato department at LAUDE San Pedro, we aim to nurture not the best in the world but the best for the world, ethical and committed individuals. This involves providing them with the necessary tools to help them acquire the competencies they need throughout their educational journey.

During this 2023/24 school year, we have been carrying out various extracurricular activities such as first aid and CPR courses, emotional intelligence and sex education workshops...

Fontenebro International School is committed to the development of skills and talents

Fontenebro International School offers an international and bilingual educational project from 1 to 18 years of age. Students are encouraged to reach their full potential, guided on their learning journeys by an involved and comprehensive team of professional educational experts.

They work in very small groups and prepare their students thoroughly, equipping them with the knowledge and soft skills they will need to be respectful global citizens and to face the challenges of an ever-changing world.

The Importance of Mental Health and Wellbeing at St. George Madrid

At St. George Madrid, we understand the importance of developing the child as a whole and as part of this place the students mental health and wellbeing at the centre of their education.

From the moment they enter the school, we place an emphasis on the happiness of the child, no matter what age they are. In both our Primary and Secondary schools, there is a dedicated Head of Pastoral that is responsible for overseeing the mental health of our students.

Duke of Edinburgh at Lady Elizabeth School

At LES we offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award where students (Year 9-13) learn new skills, volunteer, go on a physical expedition and work on a new physical goal.

This year we have re-launched our programme and our students have been working hard towards their goals.

Our Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition set off with the aim of hiking for 6 hours to their final destination - a camp site in Vall de Laguar with all their gear in tow neatly packed into their rucksacks!...

The Junior Duke and Mini Duke Awards at International School Andalucía

The Junior Duke and Mini Duke Awards provide valuable opportunities for exploration and growth. Parents have expressed surprise and delight at their children's capabilities in activities like chess, laundry, and hiking, leading to more engaging family adventures.

The Junior Duke is devised into four progressive booklets for students from Year 3 to Year 6. Featuring tasks nurturing vital life abilities such as First Aid, swimming, cooking, household chores, public speaking, caring for others, and more.

The Mini Duke Award for Reception to Year 2 students, encompasses skills like campfire safety, toasting marshmallows, car washing, hill climbing with a backpack, shoe shining, sandwich making, literature reading, and games like Monopoly and chess.

Fontenebro community celebrates Environment Day

This special day gives us the opportunity to reflect on the importance of caring for our planet and taking specific actions to preserve it. To this end, we have organised a series of activities and actions in which we hope to have the enthusiastic participation of our students and their families.

WE ARE CONFIDENT

Self-belief is the core of learning and improvement. By developing people’s knowledge, skills and understanding, we inspire confidence in both our learners and educators.

Bernardette: A Journey of Self-improvement from the Amazon Jungle to Palacio de Granda

At Palacio de Granda we are proud to have a success story that stands out for its perseverance and courage. Today, we want to share with you the inspiring story of Bernardette.

Bernardette R. was born in Bolivia, in the picturesque and remote indigenous village of Misión Fátima, located in the department of Beni, in the middle of the Amazon jungle. Her life, marked by the challenges and opportunities of her environment, is an example of how determination and effort can transform reality and open paths to a promising future.

Arriving at school in the 3rd year of ESO, she faced the challenge of adapting to a new educational and cultural system, far from her homeland.

Student Achievement at El Altillo International School: Andrés C. Wins Second Prize in the National Phase of Spain's "Bridge to China 2024" Competition

Andrés C. has won the second prize in the national phase of Spain's "Bridge to China 2024" competition in the primary category.

Andrés has demonstrated exemplary dedication and effort over several years of studying the Chinese language. His perseverance and passion for learning have led him to reach impressive levels, allowing him to stand out in this highly relevant competition.

Alumni Success at El Altillo International School: Jaime Walter

At El Altillo, I was consistently encouraged to venture beyond conventional learning paths with teachers who enthusiastically supported my projects.

Moreover, I was provided with other amazing learning opportunities like collaborating with ISP to organize the international "World Through Math" competition and participating in the TEDx@ISP, which fostered my international perspective and leadership mindset.

The school's FabLab was also pivotal, igniting my passion for engineering through hands-on projects (I firmly believe that the FabLab is the future of education). All these experiences helped me study Computer Science at the University of Pennsylvania, a leading institution in AI. I aim to leverage the expertise I gain here to make a profound, positive global impact, armed with the mindset I gained at El Altillo.

Alumni Success at Lady Elizabeth School: Carlos, a Musician DJ

Carlos, our student of Y13 at LES, is already a successful DJ playing to 2.5k people, warming up artists like Luude, Cartoon, Wateva and Alcemist.

At LES, we offer Music Technology A Level, and we have a recording studio where you can find Carlos working hard on his production.

If you want to know more about Carlos, read the interview below.

Read the interview here

Interview with Marcos V., Student of 3rd year of ESO in Palacio de Granda - Winner of the ISP Chess Tournament (ILOS)

In this interview, we delve into the fascinating world of chess through the experience of Marcos, a passionate player who discovered his love for the game at an early age, influenced by his uncle.

Since then, he has spent years perfecting his skill, currently playing for Real Grupo de Cultura Covadonga. Marcos shares his thoughts on strategy and the mental challenge that chess represents and reveals his preference for the Scotch opening and the Sicilian defense.

Read the full interview

5th grade EPO students from Internacional Aravaca win South Summit KIDS with their project, The Sustainable Guard

Once again, this year, the students of the 5thEPO have demonstrated their aptitude to be great entrepreneurs. As they do every year, they are taking a subject that prepares them to develop an entrepreneurial project, combining research, capital calculation, creativity and design.

After the students' long and hard work on their prototypes, it was time to send their product presentations to the judges and the people in charge of South Summit Kids 2024, the most important and well-known international entrepreneurship and innovation fair and, in this case, to its KIDS category.

The ISAx Talks at International School Andalucía

On Friday, June 7th, International School Andalucia hosted a public speaking TEDx-style event – the inaugural ISAx Talks. We had six key speakers from years 7-10, who volunteered to share their thoughts and ideas with the rest of the school, staff, parents, and families. This event aimed to celebrate the incredible journey of our students as they transformed from eager learners to confident speakers and critical thinkers, with the whole process being student-led. The concepts and scripts were created and developed by the students themselves and reflected their interpretation of the topic ‘Confidence in an ever-changing world’.

Exciting Alumna Visit at British School of Vila-real

A few weeks ago, we had the honor of welcoming Elena Tomás Bort, a brilliant former student who has achieved great academic success. Her journey, with an outstanding Ph.D. in Tumor Biology from Queen Mary University of London, is a true source of pride for our educational community.

This meeting marks the beginning of a collaboration between BSVR and Elena, intending to build a better future for the province of Castellón.

Stay tuned for more details soon!

WE ARE RESPONSIBLE

As a learning organisation invested in future generations, environmental, social and governance is fundamental to our schools. We are committed to developing conscious learners and colleagues, which is how we contribute to creating a better world.

St. George Madrid International School Celebrates Annual Sports Day: A Showcase of Athleticism and Community Spirit

In May, St. George Madrid International School held its annual Sports Day, celebrating athleticism, teamwork, and resilience. Students from all year groups participated enthusiastically, representing their houses: Malala, Mandela, Marie Curie, and Shakespeare.

Sports Day at St. George Madrid is more than just fun; it’s a vital part of education. It teaches students teamwork while promoting physical health and well-being. Representing their houses also builds confidence and community spirit while embodying the school’s values of Responsibility, Respect, Resilience, Empathy, and Personal Best.

“Gardening” STEAM project at Fontenebro International School

The students from the entire preschool stage have demonstrated active participation and enthusiasm and have enjoyed our garden and orchard, made discoveries, and gained meaningful learning experiences.

The STEAM “Gardening” Project has been an incredibly interesting and motivating experience for all the children. Through their active participation, the children have seen how, by working together and collaborating with all their preschool peers, the orchard and garden are kept well-maintained and beautiful.

Navigating Your Future Event at British School of Vila-real

We are excited to announce the "Navigating Your Future" event, organized for our Year 10, Year 11, and Year 12 students! Hosted on Thursday, 20th June, a day filled with insightful talks about careers and university courses, presented by former students, parents of current students, and other professionals.

This event is a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain valuable knowledge and inspiration for their future paths.

CAREER WEEK at The British School of Almería

The British School of Almeria has celebrated, as part of its ISP Future Pathways programme, its Career Week. This is a practical training programme aimed at secondary school students at the British School.

A total of 18 speakers came to The British School of Almeria to explain the day-to-day work of their profession, the studies and skills required for it, and to resolve all the doubts raised by the students.

Sectors such as professional sports institutions, health, marketing, security, agriculture, food biotechnology, law, IT, banking, architecture and psychology were present at the fair.

Year 10 Students Embark on Real-World Work Experience with Unwavering Parental Support at San Pedro International College

In a new initiative for Laude San Pedro, Year 10 Mastering English Pathway students (our EAL programme) were offered a unique opportunity to explore the world of work as part of their curriculum. This immersive experience, deeply enriched by the active involvement of the International Friends of Laude (IFL) parent group, involved crafting CVs, writing letters of application, and developing essential job skills and experiences. The unwavering support and engagement of the parent community were crucial in transforming this project into a remarkable educational experience.

Career Development Week at Lady Elizabeth School

In Y10 at LES our students have the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace in our summer term.

Students must identify an area of interest; they approach the business and secure their unpaid position for the week.

This experience is proved to be a valuable educational experience which then forms the basis for the development of their future career and educational pathway.

Keep reading to know more about our students' testimonials.

New Parent Ambassadors Programme at British School of Vila-real

Máximo Huerta Presents his New Book at Vila-real's Intergenerational Reading Club Event

Valencian writer and journalist Máximo Huerta presented his latest book in Vila-real as part of the Intergenerational Reading Club, Lecturas púrpura, an initiative by the British School of Vila-real (BSVR) directed by Carmen Gil Catalá, a parent of a BSVR student.

Huerta, a TV presenter and former minister, discussed his book "París despertaba tarde," a love story set in Paris during the 1924 Olympics.

The event at Teatre Tagoba with support from the Vila-real City Council and the Unió de Comerç (Ucovi) included a book signing session with Huerta.

The Intergenerational Reading Club comprises fifteen women aged 16 to 74, including BSVR students and mothers, as well as other residents of Vila-real. The club brings together women from different generations to read and discuss the same book, fostering diverse interpretations and discussions.

Community Engagement: Golf Open + Clinic at El Altillo International School

Last May, the prestigious Sherry Golf Jerez course was the setting for the V Open de Golf El Altillo School - Nunadrola, an event that brought together a large number of players both adults and juniors, bringing together families from both the school and outside with a common goal: to enjoy playing golf together.

Days after the tournament, a golf clinic was held exclusively for the staff of El Altillo International School, offered by the Spanish Golf Federation. This activity, organised with the aim of improving the wellbeing programmes of the Centre's employees, was very well received by colleagues.

Infants Stay & Play at St. George Madrid

At St. George, we celebrate the diversity of the children's home lives and strive to learn as much as we can about their experiences outside of school. In turn, we aim to include our parent community in every step of their child's early education. This strong partnership and open dialogue set the scene for our youngest learners to thrive.

As part of this collaboration, we invite our Infants parents into school every term for a Stay & Play event. This provides parents the opportunity to engage with their children in the classroom and outdoor environment to see what their day-to-day learning looks like.

Community Engagement at British School of Vila-real

The first Charity Football Match between the University and Businesses was a huge success! We raised €2,120 for the Physical Activity and Oncology Chair "Fundación José Soriano Ramos," thanks to everyone involved.

Special thanks to Macer and Pamesa Cerámica for sponsoring, and congratulations to the Business Team for their 1-4 victory in the adult category!

A big thank you to the BSVR community, especially Ms. Carmen and Ms. Amanda, and to Manu Trigueros for donating his signed Villarreal CF jersey for the raffle. Also, thanks to Perico Delgado and Magician Carolus for his fantastic magic show.

We hope this is the first of many events, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration!

Read the news

HAPPY SUMMER!

ISP Schools is a network of 12 private schools in Spain, specialists in British and international education, and part of the International Schools Partnership, one of the world's largest education groups.

We develop bilingual students, help them reach their full academic potential and empower them to adopt an international mindset through innovative learning.

ispschools.es

info@ispschools.es

Av. De Europa, 24. 28108 Alcobendas, Madrid. España

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