| Review
of Developments There have been several significant
developments this academic year:
 Following
Ms Jo’s and Ms Lynne’s departure in June Ms Sarah
was appointed Key Stage One Co-ordinator and Mrs Ritchie for
Key Stage Two. The three of us make up the Senior Management
Team of the Primary Department. For Mrs Ritchie, of course,
management is not a new experience but, for Ms Sarah this
is her first promotion. It is because of their support and
expertise that we are able to fit so much into the primary
day, week, year.
Ms Ruth moved from the classroom to the sports field! Having
taught Year 4 and Year 5 for two years Ms Ruth took the opportunity
to teach her main subject PE, full time and is ably assisted
by Mr. Alex. Having a full time PE teacher dedicated to the
Primary Department has enabled us to increase the amount of
time for sporting activities. The range of experiences offered
to the children has widened resulting in units of work that
have motivated all the children and increased fitness.
Another new development that has been very successful is
the introduction of basic French in Years Four, Five and Six.
Ms Lola has done a marvellous job as witnessed very early
in the year when the French groups contributed a stunning
rap as part of the Poetry Week Assembly in October.
 Maybe
the most significant development for Key Stage Two children
has been the introduction of a Team System. Each child is
in a colour, red, blue, yellow, green. Brothers and sisters
are in the same colour. The Team Point system has really motivated
children to do well for themselves but to have a co-operative
spirit and commitment. Each colour has a boy and girl Captain
chosen from Year 6.
Each week the Captains have the responsibility of collecting
and counting the team points and announcing the results in
assembly. They feel very grown up as they go to lunch by themselves
and they do their collection task whilst the other children
are in the lunchroom. The Captains noted that Key Stage Two
lunch could be noisy so they suggested that good behaviour
could be rewarded by choosing two people each week from their
colour to have lunch with the Captains and collect the team
points. This has proved an excellent incentive and good training
for future Captains.
Working for your team has been the focus of four events this
term:
| The Team Quiz |
Cross Country Challenge |
 |
 |
| Sports Day |
Triathlon |
 |
 |
Teaching and learning
Primary children learn best when all lessons involve listening,
looking and doing. As the saying goes:
“Knowledge becomes wisdom after it has been put
to practical use”
 This
year there have been so many examples of how these three elements
have come together. Bringing learning alive is one of our
philosophies. This can be done in many ways either in the
classroom or out in the community. Two classrooms have interactive
whiteboards which can bring learning alive. Children can manipulate
knowledge on screen from spelling Key words to preparing an
Egyptian Pharaoh for burial. We hope to have more boards in
Primary next year.
 Using
the internet and email wisely can be very powerful in school.
The teachers with the interactive white boards use a number
of educational websites on a regular basis. Ms Bev, our ICT
teacher does so much to make our children competent with computer
technology. It is important that children have good key board
skills to be proficient users.
It is also important that children know how to use email
and internet wisely. This is a very important role for Ms
Bev. We hope to have more parents’ courses next year.
 Developing
scientific knowledge is made so much easier at EIC as the
Primary Department has access to the Senior laboratories and
equipment. Working in the Labs was made so exciting this year
with the arrival of the new Bunsen Burners. Year Six, protected
with goggles, enjoyed the topics of evaporation. However,
seeing the heart, lungs and eye dissected was probably the
highlight especially as one eye still had part of the eyelid
and eyelashes!!
Visiting in the local area is proving to be more and more
of a motivating resource. A visit related to a classroom topic
suddenly makes sense of all the textbooks and videos. The
mountains of El Torcal and the Alcazaba in Málaga brought
Geography and History alive for Years 6 and 3 respectively.
There are a number of centres opening, just inland, that provide
excellent activity days during which children practise their
Spanish. Caring for the environment is part of our curriculum
and of special interest to Ms Katya (1K). She took Year One
to Aula del Mar in Málaga port where they saw an injured
dolphin.
It is very important that we join in with local activities.
Year 5 went to plant trees in Marbella as part of an Ayuntamiento
initiative to care for the environment.
The Marbella “Design a Christmas Card Competition”
was won by Sophie Miester
(4M). She was presented with a bike at Marbella Town Hall.
 Our
own grounds are a marvellous resource. “Elmer the elephant”
was found by the Reception class in the garden. What a wonderful
way for young children to extend their Literacy lessons based
on a favourite book.
 To
meet a really successful artist enthralled Year 5. Andrew
Hewkin visited us while in Marbella for an exhibition of his
work. Andrew set the children a challenge inspired by his
picture depicting two snail holders as two people-based on
Picasso’s “The Kiss”. Prior to his visit
the children had to personify two objects in a setting. On
the day of his visit Andrew gave a talk about his life as
an artist and judged the competition. The winning picture
by Tom Hargreaves featured in local papers and magazines.
The children still talk about Andrew as it had made Art come
alive for them!
These are just a few examples of how the curriculum is brought
to life in the Primary Department.
Pat Dodds |
Mr
David Cale joined us as Primary Music teacher. Mr Dave has
become known as the ‘wandering musician’ as he
is usually carrying a guitar, keyboard or CD player in and
out of the classrooms. 
Many
thanks must go to Miss Ruth and the other staff members for
organising the annual ski trip to Sierra Nevada, as well as
to the parents who attended and lent a hand. A word must also
be said about the students who behaved admirably throughout
and were great ambassadors for EIC.
The
last week of the summer term saw the final of the Primary
School typing competition organised by Miss Beverley in the
computer lab. ‘Touch typing’ was the order of
the day and to ensure that there was no peeping the maintenance
boys had made a set of hoods for the keyboards. Rather than
typing text, the contestants played a game where you have
to burst balloons by typing the correct letter. The balloons
float up the screen at an ever increasing rate. 
On
Thursday 1st July, Year 6 entertained us in the hall in fine
style as their last act as Primary students. They performed
several pieces including, the highlight of the show, a version
of ‘My Heart Will Go On’ with their own words,
telling us how they are looking forward to joining the Secondary
School next year, especially being able to go to Gordon’s
cafeteria. Then they each received a ‘leaver’s
certificate’ from Miss Pat.