NEWSLETTER ASD

American School of Durango NEWSLETTER
The Official Publication of American School of Durango
IN THE PURSUIT OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

KINDERGARTEN COORDINATOR
Miss Akui Santiesteban
We began this 2015 celebrating 100 days of school. To
commemorate this event we created a bulletin board with 100
pictures from students that have been in preschool. We invite
you to come and see our bulletin board located outside the
main door.
At the same time we are very excited to be at the middle of
the school year, therefore, we are encouraging our students to
do their best and enjoy every moment at ASD.

NURSERY
Miss July Salas
Happy new year!
In Nursery children listen to everyday life stories where
they learn about everyday tasks and they relate to their
personal lives. At this early age they also learn to
manipulate, take care and share books in the classroom.
At the same time we help students to develop their fine
motor skills. To do so they work with appropriate
material such as painting, didactic material and puzzles
on a daily basis.

PRE KINDER
Miss Marymar Ramírez
Yoga class helps to develop their fine motor skills and
the children enjoy playing and learning.
We celebrated “100 days of school” and now the
children are 100 days smarter.

K1
Miss Saskia Bravo
In K1 the children are learning to recognize the
letters of the alphabet and their sound, they are
learning the directionality of the letters by using
different materials and textures.
We celebrated 100 days of school and the students
brought different types of candies to count and
share. At the same time, each child made one bag
with 100 candies.

K2 A
Miss Pearl Gear
In order to celebrate the conclusion of
December holidays, and to usher in the New
Year, a Rosca de Reyes is eaten on January 6th.
The KII-A classroom partook in this tradition the
day after the recognized holiday. It was quite a
delight to see the students search for the doll in
the pastry, with Ruth, Anwar, and Santiago
claiming ownership of the doll.

K2 B
Miss Brenda Botello
We celebrate “One Hundred days of School”.
Kids counted things and classified them by tens using their math
skills.
We also had a party where we practiced the value of sharing by
bringing some food and candies.
Every month we invite parents to come and help us decorate our
bulletin board so our students have the connection between houseschool.
Thank you for your help!!

K3 A
Miss Ellen Barbour
This month in K3 our theme was Art. We learned the
basics of art including the 3 primary colors and how to
mix them to make new colors. We experimented with
paints, markers, crayons, collages, and more.
We looked at the works of famous artists such as Frida
Kahlo and Andy Warhol, and we tried different styles of
art such as abstract art. This was a great opportunity to
practice colors, shapes, and to let our creative expression
shine.

K3B
Miss Cynthia Saucedo
100 Days of School
During the month of January ASD celebrated “100 days of school”.
Celebrating 100 days of school is a great experience for the children
both educationally and socially. Throughout the day KIIIB students
worked on activities related to the number one hundred. They
counted from 1-100 in various ways such in tens, ones and using
different materials; they also made beautiful necklaces using 100
beads, painted 100 dots and many more activities.
The 'real life' nature of the activities provide the students with a very
meaningful context for their learning in numeracy.

PRIMARY
December in Primary at the ASD was exciting getting ready for
our Christmas show and UN week coming in February. Teachers
and students tried their best to make our Christmas season fruitful
as well as enjoyable.
In January, some teachers and myself attended a Professional
Trainning for Spanish Teachers in Colegio San Roberto de
Monterrey about “Lecto-escritura balanceada”. Part of the training
was addressed to parents, therefore, you will have some valuable
information about your kid’s reading and writing processes during
our “Spring Book Fair” next May.
Lic. Lariza Niebla

PRIMERO GRAY
Nuestros alumnos han estado trabajando en el reconocimiento y
valor de las monedas y billetes que utilizamos en México. Ellos se
sienten emocionados de manipular este material que les está
sirviendo para comprar productos de la tiendita del salón. Esta
actividad la continuarán realizando durante todo el año escolar para
que logren sumar los valores de estos mentalmente y aprendan a dar
cambio cuando así se requiera.
~Miss Silvia Rodríguez
~Miss Faby Torróntegui

1st Maroon
This Friday January 23rd marked the first 100 days of school. The children got
together and had a gathering while also learning facts that had to do with the
number 100. They counted by 5´s, 10´s and 2´s until getting to 100, every number
that ended in 0 had to be included with a jump or a shout. The students
enjoyed the fact that they got to do something that included both groups.
While watching a movie, they enjoyed pizza and soda. The point of all of this
was to show the students that at the end, hard work, will always pay off! We
hope they will continue with the same motivation they have shown the first 100
days of school. Congrats kids!
Miss Jasmine Castañeda and Ms. América Marín

2nd GRAY
In mathematics class, students worked enthusiastically as
they used some of the new materials brought in this
academic year. They used bouncy scales to weigh different
things around the classroom and to understand what it
meant when something is heavy or light and heavier than or
lighter than. Also, two separate teams were responsible for
each side of the balance and they had fun finding ways to
ensure that the scale remained at a balance.
Miss Donna-Lee George

2º MAROON
DECLARACIÓN UNIVERSAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS ANTE
LA ONU.
Los alumnos utilizando la tecnología y aportando su creatividad,
investigan y plasman en sus Carteles todo lo referente a este día
de júbilo para todas aquellas personas que de una u otra forma
se han preocupado y ocupado en lo que respecta a la difusión y
defensa de LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS y que trabajan aportando
su granito de arena en pro de la justicia, igualdad, respeto,
equidad, vida, paz, educación, libertad en todos sus sentidos y
desde los diferentes puntos de vista, consagrados y legitimados
en la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos adoptada
y proclamada por la asamblea general el 10 de Diciembre de
1948.
Ms Lourdes García

3rd Grade
En el área de Español, los alumnos elaboraron un
folleto en el cual pusieron en práctica los
conocimientos aprendidos, al identificar las
características que debe de tener, reconociendo su
importante papel como herramienta de
comunicación informativa y publicitaria sobre
distintos temas.
~Ms. Betty Sánchez Y.

4to grado Grey and Maroon
Los alumnos de cuarto grado realizaron dos interesantes proyectos:
El primero (historia) de las Culturas Mesoamericanas, en la que
elaboraron figuras representativas de cada una e hicieron su
presentación contando con la asistencia de padres de familia.
En la clase de español, el proyecto fue “La entrevista”, el cual fue muy
enriquecedor, pues se trataron temas muy diferentes: medicina, venta
de seguros, música, arquitectura, cocina, programas de televisión,
etc.
Una de las entrevistas que llamó mucho la atención fue la realizada al
“Chef” Mariano Olvera Muñoz, pues mientras le hacían las preguntas,
él preparaba una pizza de frutas que después fue degustada por los
alumnos.
Miss Betty Veloz

Fourth Grade Science
Science – Animal Adaptations
In January, our Fourth Grade Gray and Maroon
class started a project about animal characteristics,
habitats, adaptations, learned and instinctual behavior,
and conservation efforts. Students worked in pairs and
chose an animal to research using books from the library
and internet sources. In addition, we researched the
polar bear and performed an experiment called the
‘blubber glove.’ Students learned how important polar
bear blubber is to their survival and the impacts of global
warming on the polar bear’s habitat and survival.
Miss Lynda Long

Fourth Grade Science

5th Grade
Christmas time is a time to share, and add to your loving memories.
Students and I had a great time rehearsing for the Christmas Festival.
They shared ideas, worked in group, helping each other. We had a lot
of fun setting the dance, they were very happy to be preparing for their
parents, it was amazing!!
Posada time!! Part of our holiday traditions.
Prior to heading off to enjoy their X-mas vacation, students shared
playtime with board games interacting among each other.
During that lovely morning, kids also enjoyed breaking their piñata,
and having their traditional tamales.
It’s all worth it, when you see so many smiley faces on both sides!
Thank you Parents for all your support!
May this 2015 be filled with joy, laughter, and health!!
~Miss Adriana Ordóñez

5TH GRAY
As the christmas cheer started to take effect, the fifth graders
were awed to find out, as they researched CHRISTMAS
AROUND THE WORLD, that not everywhere in the world this
Christmas cheer would be shared. The students during a period
of one month, worked on their christmas Project. As they went
along, they visited these places in their mind, understanding the
Christmas traditions in India, Germany, South Africa, Cuba, Saudi
Arabia, China, Japan, Brazil, The United States of America,
Australia. In China, they learned that apples were given as gifts,
Santa came riding on the surfs of Australia, and that the
japaneses have dinner at KFC. This event proved to be an
eyeopener for the students, as they really began to realize that
the best Christmas ever is spent with their families here in
Mexico.
~Ms Dalia Joseph

6 GRAY
It has been a very busy couple of months for 6 Gray! On the
school events side of things, we have been working very hard on
our Ireland projects and traditional Irish Dance for United Nations
week. Things are coming along, but we have a lot of dance
practice still to do! In the classroom, we have been preparing for
CADMUN by learning the position paper format and honing our
research skills. We also finished our novel study of the BFG and
completed a story arc final project. In science we completed our
brief look at evolution and have since, made a study of the
structure of the earth and its layers along with fossil fuels with an
eye towards a better understanding of our CADMUN topic:
hydraulic fracturing.
Mr. Linen

6 MAROON
Festival de Navidad
El pasado mes de diciembre los niños de sexto de
primaria participaron en el festival de Navidad organizado
por el ASD con la canción de “Feliz Navidad” del grupo
Moderato.
En esta ocasión los niños tuvieron la libertad de escoger
sus vestuarios y poner la mayoría de los pasos, haciendo
uso de su creatividad y gusto.
~Miss Consuelo Aguado

Music Class
Teniendo muy intensos y divertidos ensayos, trabajamos en
conjunto los grupos de 1° Gray~Maroon así como los de 5°
Gray~Maroon todos juntos para el montaje del festival navideño.
Los niños de primero trabajaron muy bien las dinámicas en el
canto, al interpretar con gusto los temas que seleccionamos, esto
nos da la pauta para seguir trabajando en la creación de un coro.
En los grupos de 5° tuvimos un buen avance en las guitarras al
trabajar en sus acordes de manera grupal; con las flautas
tuvimos un trabajo a voces, es decir, 2 melodías creando
armonías.
~Prof. Jesús Betancourt

Physical Education
Se realizan dinámicas de equipo que les sirve para
desarrollar estrategias, técnicas, tácticas y habilidades
durante los juegos. En estos meses de lluvia y frio se
trabaja en el salón de karate y se realizan ejercicios con
globos y pañuelos, desarrollando diferentes actividades.
~Prof. César Luna

COMPUTACIÓN: CUARTO GRADO
Este mes los alumnos de cuarto grado, formaron equipos para realizar
un periódico en grupo. Cada equipo eligió una sección del periódico:
deportes, policiaca, sociales, diversión, entre otros temas. A su vez,
cada equipo se organizó por medio del correo electrónico, es decir,
como si estuvieran alejados físicamente, se mandaban información en
archivos adjuntos para modificarlos y agregarles lo que les hiciera falta.
Con las herramientas que los alumnos han adquirido en el programa de
Office llamado Word, diseñaron el artículo y cada uno le agregaba su
toque personal, además de insertar algunas imágenes para darle más
vista al artículo. Para finalizar el periódico, todos los equipos mostraron
a sus compañeros como había quedado su trabajo y entre todos, se
dieron recomendaciones para mejorarlo en la entrega final.
Ms Aidee Conde

COMPUTACIÓN: SEGUNDO GRADO
Los alumnos de segundo, empezaron una nueva etapa este
semestre, aprendiendo a manejar las herramientas básicas de
programación en lo que conocemos como Scratch.
Scratch es un programa de animación básico en el que los
alumnos aprenden a manejar objetos, fondos de escenario,
instrucciones para mover, hablar, insertar sonidos, posicionar un
objeto, etc. Todo esto de manera muy básica e introductoria.
Algunas de las prácticas que se realizaron fueron: carreras de
objetos, cambia el disfraz al objeto y cambia de escenario.
Ms Aidee Conde

MS-HS Principal’s Office
Many thanks to everyone who helped organize and who came to
support the many events that we have had recently: Christmas
Festival, Semester Exams, Presidential Debates, PSAT and MS
Soccer Award presentations, outstanding New Year’s/Martin
Luther King Jr. Day and Australia Day Flag Ceremonies, and the
list goes on. Our students are well-rounded as a result of the
wide variety of projects through which our dedicated staff guide
them. Speaking of our team of educators, we are also continuing
professional development with our exciting new Rediker grade
reporting system that will allow parents and students to access
their grades online. More coming soon!
Warm regards, Mr. Sharp

Grade 8 English – Flag Ceremony
“In our flag ceremony we gave presentations about different festivities. We made it like a news
program with two anchormen and a camera man. The holidays that we represented were Chinese
New Year, New York´s New Year, Epiphany, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We had a really good
ceremony, but we know that even though everything went well, we still need to improve for future
flag ceremonies.” (Jorge Maa Silerio)
“I am proud of my teacher and classmates because we had fun. We could have improved more
things, but I liked our performance. I hope we can do another flag ceremony.” (Victoria Dorador)
“We were so happy about how the flag ceremony went. Mr. Sharp also congratulated us and
thanked us for our efforts. That made all of us feel proud of our flag ceremony. We did a great job.
I am happy about it and I know that Mrs. Linen was happy too.” (Grecia Gamero Flores)
“I think this flag ceremony was one of the best flag ceremonies that we have ever done. I liked it so
much because it was funny and it was realistic. We need to improve on some things, but the next
flag ceremony will be even better than this.” (Yamile Majul)
“Overall, the eighth graders did a great job. Everyone was fascinated by the show and the eighth
graders were so happy. After practicing a lot, we did it!” (Tufic Bermudez Luevanos)
“The flag ceremony was a wonderful
experience that taught us a lot. We
learned about other countries’
traditions, how to be organized, and how
to prove ourselves. We learned from our
mistakes, and that is the most important
part of all; to learn new things each day.
We also proved that eighth graders can
do it too. We can handle important
things and do them even better.”
(Sandra Lizeth Martinez Diaz)
“Teachers congratulated us, even
classmates! It was a funny and clever
idea.” (Emilia Estrada Renta)
~Ms. Barbara Linen

Química 9°
Los alumnos de química han estado trabajando en proyectos de
tabla periódica y enlaces químicos, además han presentado el
proyecto de bloque de los temas: Elementos que forman parte de
nuestro cuerpo y metales pesados que ocasionan daño a la
salud.
En este mes de enero están trabajando en su proyecto de Feria
de Ciencias por lo cual ya entregaron la propuesta y el primer
borrador. La Feria de Ciencias este año será el 19 de Marzo.
Ms. Elba Mayela Júarez Z. y Ms. Mercedes Serrano G.

9th
En las presentes fotos tomadas en la biblioteca de nuestro Colegio
Campus Campestre, se aprecia a alumnos de noveno grado trabajando
colaborativamente, investigando en distintas fuentes las palabras
exactas o más aproximadas dadas por el cura Don Miguel Hidalgo y
Costilla al pueblo de Dolores, en la madrugada del 16 de septiembre de
1810, mejor conocidas como “Grito de la Independencia”, para
posteriormente comparar sus conocimientos adquiridos y llegar a una
conclusión.
- Mr. Gutiérrez

9th Grade
Clase EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA
Los alumnos participarán en actividades de cancha dividida,
de muro, de bate, y de campo de invasión, a fin de analizar y
reflexionar sobre la lógica interna del juego y con ello
desarrollar el pensamiento estratégico. Se propone así que
los adolescentes participen de manera decidida.
Saludos,
Maestro: Manuel García Carrasco

10th Grade English
The 10th grade students continue their study of
World Literature, having read Elie Wiesel’s Night
and Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes. During their
unit on the latter book, students completed “found
poems” (see below; please ask your children about
them). Students have also finished a cross-curricular
project incorporating subject matter from English,
World History, and computer classes. Now students
have begun to study George Orwell’s classic
dystopian fable, Animal Farm.
~Mr. Price

11th Grade
In 11th grade, students are learning how to evaluate
primary and secondary sources within their historical
context. The model they are learning follows the
OPVL (Origin, Purpose, Value and Limitation)
method taught in the International Baccalaureate
program. Students must learn to evaluate sources
by practicing how to interpret, criticize and
synthesize new information from the sources given.
Thinking outside of the box is the key.
~Mr. Ken Nomura

12th Grade
December found us distinguishing from Vector and Scalar
quantities. Once the difference was clear, our ASD Seniors
learned and practiced how to add vectors using graphic and
algebraic methods. Twelfth graders understood that intangible
things like force or velocity need graphical representation to better
understand them and perform operations with them.
Right after this came projectile motion, which we saw
as a marriage between free-fall and horizontal constant velocity.
The Angry Birds game was an immediate connection to it.
In our future is relative motion. When you ride the
cable car in “Cerro de los Remedios” have you ever wondered
why the car that you are not riding seems to go faster than yours
Ask the seniors for the answer.
- Mr. Rodríguez

11th Diseño Gráfico
Objetivo:
Logar que el alumno utilice una variedad de herramientas y
efectos que le permitirán trabajar de manera eficiente en la
interfaz del programa y con esto producir un gráfico de alta
calidad.
Diseños por Liz Cerna 11th
Tarjeta de Presentación
Muñeco de Nieve
Saludos cordiales,
Prof. Ángel Barrita

Music Class
Llevamos con buena participación el Festival Navideño, los
alumnos Patricio Guerrero de 7° Maroon, Natalia Tucker del 7°
Gray así como Héctor Arredondo de 9° Gray. Tuvieron la iniciativa
de incluir algunos temas como participación extra de los montajes
navideños, lo cual es importante destacar por la iniciativa y el
gusto por la música que demostraron además de su talento.
Gracias a los buenos resultados obtenidos a lo largo del
semestre, los alumnos de 12° tuvieron una excelente
participación, destacando el gran ánimo y compromiso por la
clase, trabajando con gran esfuerzo en todos los ensayos y
teniendo como resultado un grupo que participa unido en las
actividades del colegio propias de nuestra materia.
- Mr. Betancourt

Dibujo y Pintura 7th
Los alumnos de 7th realizan ejercicios constantes con lápices de
grafito, esto para lograr un mayor dominio de la técnica.
Circulo de tonalidades.
Perspectiva en base a puntos de fuga.

SPORTS
El equipo de Basquetbol Femenil en la Categoría Infantil (2003-2004) del
American School of Durango logró el trofeo mas preciado del Torneo
ASOMEX 2015, EL PREMIO AL ESPÍRITU DEPORTIVO.
Este premio se le otorga únicamente a un equipo de cada rama de todos
los equipos participantes. Todos los equipos participantes pasan por una
serie de evaluaciones que les va dejando una puntuación. Entre las
evaluaciones más destacadas son la limpieza y orden de la papelería para
participar, puntualidad en el registro de los integrantes del equipo,
uniformidad, disciplina de los jugadores, padres de familia y entrenadores
dentro y fuera de la cancha, disciplina en el hotel, compañerismo con los
demás equipos participantes y participación en las actividades
programadas en el evento.
Este evento ASOMEX se llevó a cabo del 30 de enero al 3 de febrero del
2015 en la ciudad de Saltillo, Coahuila donde el anfitrión fue el Colegio
Americano de Saltillo.
El equipo representativo de nuestra institución tuvo una destacada
participación, ganándose el respeto y el cariño de los demás entrenadores,
jugadores y padres de familia de los equipos participantes y del Colegio
anfitrión, sobrepasando todas las expectativas a lograr.
A decir del entrenador del equipo de esta categoría, destaca la
participación de las 12 integrantes quienes dejaron el corazón en la
cancha. Las integrantes del equipo son: Natalie de la Peña, Luisa Oubiña,
Alexandra Vázquez, Francia Gamero, Regina Benítez, Ximena Ávila,
Natalia Terrones, Aisha Majul, Jimena Salgado, Susana Oury-Jackson,
Valentina Ruiz y Ariel Patiño. Todas ellas dirigidas por el Entrenador de
Basketball Eduardo Varela y como Asistente Martha García.