Gymnastics classes in 2ºESO

 During the second term the students of 2ºESO practice different skills and specific elements that they must know to build their own exercise. Among these skills we can highlight rolls (forward and backward), vertical jumps, rotations, balances (such as handstand and headstand) and supports (like the nail and the bridge). Besides this, the students have to perform other skills like the horse jump.

The work is accompanied by Bach´s music which helps them concentrate and creates an atmosphere  suitable for gymnastics.

 

Teamwork and Orienteering in Action

 Our 3ºC students have recently taken part in a cooperative orienteering gymkhana designed to combine Physical Education and English in a practical and motivating way. This activity challenged them to work together while using English as their main language of communication throughout the different stages of the course.

Throughout this unit in Physical Education, we have been working on basic orienteering skills such as map reading, spatial awareness, and decision-making. During the gymkhana, students had to complete different physical challenges in groups while following instructions and communicating in English. The focus was not only on physical performance, but also on teamwork, cooperation, and effective communication.

Participating in this activity allowed students to experience how important collaboration is when facing challenges. They organised roles within their teams, supported each other, and used English as a real tool to solve problems and move forward in the course. Beyond completing the tasks, the most valuable achievement was strengthening their team spirit and confidence in using a foreign language in a practical context.

Congratulations to 3ºC for their positive attitude, effort, and enthusiasm.

We look forward to many more active and collaborative learning experiences!

 

A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT IN REGIONAL ATHLETICS COMPETITION

 We are proud to share that our selected athletics students have taken part, (for the very first time), in a regional championship in the Community of Madrid, achieving excellent results and representing the school with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship.

Throughout the first term in Physical Education, we have been working on relay techniques, jumping, and endurance running. These sessions have focused not only on improving physical performance, but also on teamwork, perseverance, and confidence, values that were clearly reflected during the competition.

Participating in an event of this level has been a fantastic experience for our students. They showed commitment, respect for their peers and competitors, and a true passion for sport. Beyond the results, which were outstanding, the most important achievement has been their personal growth and the opportunity to put classroom learning into practice in a real sporting environment.

Congratulations to all participants for their effort, attitude, and dedication.

We look forward to many more experiences like this!

 MEET OUR 2025-26 LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS!                    

Riley: Hello everyone! My name is Riley Nieboer and I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Michigan is considered to be in the Midwest of the United States, and it is surrounded by five Great Lakes! I live about a 30 minute drive from the beach, where I love spending time when the weather is nice. I studied Elementary Education and English as a Second Language in university and wanted to pursue a career in education outside of the United States. I picked Madrid because I wanted to learn more about the culture and live in a beautiful and vibrant city. Teaching abroad merges my two passions: working with students and travelling. I also wanted to practice my Spanish! I am looking forward to the rest of the year here at IES Calatalifa, as I have enjoyed getting to know the teachers and students so far.

Melanie: Hi! I'm Melanie Santiago, and I'm from Chicago, a big welcoming city filled with culture, good food, and beautiful views of Lake Michigan. I've always loved working with children, which is why I'm so excited to be teaching this year. I'm thrilled to be living in Madrid, practicing my Spanish, and traveling whenever I can. I can't wait to learn from my students and be part of this community!

Charlie: Hello! My name is Charlie and I'm from Oxford in the UK. Oxford is famous for its university and its beautiful architecture. I recently graduated from the University of Bristol in Theatre & Spanish and have come to Spain through the British Council. I love Spain and I'm really liking living in Madrid for the first time! I've taught English in Argentina and Guatemala before so I'm excited to continue teaching at IES Calatalifa!

David: Hello! My name is David and I am from Los Angeles in California. In my free time I enjoy learning languages, cooking, and watching baseball. I wanted to teach in Spain because I am passionate about teaching and learning about new cultures. Working with all of the amazing staff at IES Calatalifa has made my first few months in Spain an incredibly enriching experience.

Emily: Hi everyone! My name is Emily and I'm from San Francisco, California. San Francisco, which is on the west coast of the USA, is famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, redwood trees, and sourdough bread. I came to Spain because I love Spanish culture and am excited about the opportunity to learn a new language and travel. In the future I hope to work with youth in the mental health field, so I felt this was all around the perfect opportunity. So far I am really enjoying my time here in Madrid, and I look forward to the rest of the year! Working with the IES Calatalifa staff and students has been such a great and positive experience that I am so grateful for.

GLOBAL SCHOLARS

Some of our 2nd ESO students in the bilingual groups are taking part in Global Scholars, an international program that connects young people around the world to share ideas and create projects related to the UN 2030 Agenda.

This year’s theme is “Food and Our Cities.”
We’re excited to share a beautiful digital recipe book featuring healthy Spanish dishes created by students in classes 2A and 2D.
Take a look at the link — we’re sure you’ll be impressed!

https://www.storyjumper.com/book/read/186423211/6937d4b401fd0

2º ESO's Final Global Scholars Project

Raising Awareness on Climate Change at Calatalifa School

Throughout this school year, our section 2nd ESO students have worked hard at the Global Scholars program. They've learned about sustainability and overconsumption, connected with peers around the world, and created different projects to demonstrate their learning. 

For their final project, the students were tasked with making a change around their school and/or their community to address some of the climate change-related issues they have learned about. The students in 2ºF chose the goal of raising awareness about climate change by creating posters, building a website, and giving talks to different classes around the school.

To view their work, please visit their website: Raising Awareness on Climate Change at Calatalifa School.

Be sure to explore the different pages of the website to see:

• their informative posters (that have been put up around the school and that have QR codes leading to the website,
• a video and photos of their talks given to both older and younger students,
• the presentation they used in their talks,
• and their sustainability photojournals that offer suggestions on how to be more sustainable.

The students have put in a lot of time and effort into this project and into the Global Scholars program for the whole school year. Not only have they learned about topics like sustainability and climate change, but they have also used what they've learned to make a difference in their community. We hope you enjoy the results of their efforts, and maybe even learn something new from their projects!

                                    

 

Art is everywhere! Exploring art through design

In Arts, the students of 1st and 2nd ESO have developed an exciting project that has allowed them to delve into the History of Art and, at the same time, apply their knowledge of graphic design and composition.

The challenge consisted of creating informative posters about different artistic periods and plastic techniques. To do so, the students organised themselves into teams and chose an artistic movement (such as Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionism or Cubism) or a specific technique (watercolour, oil painting, collage, among others). From this choice, they began a research phase in which they gathered information on the most representative artists, the visual characteristics of each style and the tools used in each technique.

Once the research phase ended, it was time for creativity. The students designed their posters by applying principles of visual composition, typography and colour combination to achieve an attractive and harmonious result. To do so, they made preliminary sketches and used both manual and digital tools, reinforcing their graphic design skills.

The result was a gallery of posters full of colour, information and creativity, which were displayed in the school corridors for the whole school community to enjoy and learn from.

We look forward to seeing the next projects of these young artists and designers!