As Term Two draws to a close, we look back on a season that has been both deeply meaningful and wonderfully eventful. From Janurary through April, Escuela Lomas Altas was alive with the kind of energy that only comes when a community is truly engaged, in learning, in celebration, and in one another. These months brought milestones both grand and quiet, and together they have added another rich chapter to the story of this school.
February opened with a week that asked our 5th graders to step into one of life’s most demanding roles. The “Baby Sack” challenge placed a 2.5 kg baby in each student’s care for five full days, requiring them to manage budgets, honour commitments, and face real consequences when responsibilities were overlooked. It was more than an exercise , it was a mirror held up to the choices we make daily, and the reflections it prompted on empathy, organisation, and accountability were some of the most authentic learning moments of the term. Around the same time, our school gathered to celebrate International Mother Language Day in partnership with UNESCO, bringing the classic tale of The Gingerbread Man to life in a chorus of mother tongues. Hearing the same story told in so many different languages was a beautiful reminder that each voice in our community carries its own rhythms and its own way of seeing the world. February also welcomed an important environmental commitment in the form of Zero Waste Day, where students and families alike rose to the challenge of a day without waste, and in doing so, proved that small, intentional choices truly can add up to something meaningful.
Perhaps the most defining thread of February, however, was the joy of connection across borders. Our 6th graders embarked on their exchange to Ashfield, a small town in Massachusetts, where they experienced life with host families, joined a new school community, and even found time to go sledding in the snow. Living away from home, adapting to a new environment, and building friendships across cultures asked a great deal of our students, and they rose to the occasion with grace and enthusiasm. In turn, we were thrilled to welcome the students of Sanderson Academy to Escuela Lomas Altas. For two weeks, they joined our classrooms, shared our daily life, and experienced the warmth of Mexican culture firsthand. This long-standing exchange partnership continues to be one of the most enriching traditions in our calendar, fostering the kind of open-minded, globally aware citizenship that lies at the heart of an ELA education.
March arrived with a burst of talent, pride, and historic celebration. Our Talent Show lit up the school with soaring vocals, impressive dance, and fearless solo performances that left audiences full of admiration for the courage and creativity our students carry within them. It is always a privilege to watch young people claim the stage and share their gifts so generously. Yet it was another March gathering that will stay with us for a long time to come. In celebration of fifty years of Escuela Lomas Altas, our community came together to honour half a century of curiosity, kindness, and connection. From the youngest children in our classrooms to the alumni who have carried the school’s spirit into the wider world, every single person gathered that day is a living part of this story. To mark fifty years alongside the families, staff, and students who make ELA what it truly is felt like a privilege beyond measure. March also celebrated our students’ love of language through the Primary Spelling Bee, where competitors demonstrated not only impressive vocabulary but the confidence and focus that come from genuine dedication to learning.
April brought the term to a joyful and colourful close with two of ELA’s most beloved community traditions. Our Easter Hat Parade, a decades-long institution, returned with what may have been its most imaginative edition yet. Inventive and bold designs filled the playground with colour and craft, and the atmosphere was one of warmth, laughter, and shared pride in a tradition that continues to bring our community together year after year. We closed the term in high spirits with our Mini Olympics, a day defined by energy, teamwork, and exemplary sportsmanship. From spirited races to collaborative team events, students poured their enthusiasm into every moment, and the pride on their faces was a fitting reflection of everything this term has represented.
Term Two at Escuela Lomas Altas has been a living celebration of who we are and what we stand for. We have honoured our past with fifty years of reflection, embraced the world through exchange and language, cared for our planet and one another, and found joy in the traditions that make this school so uniquely ours. Each of these moments, whether grand or quiet, has been made possible by the generosity of spirit that our students, families, and staff bring to this community every single day.
To everyone who has contributed to making this term so special, thank you. Here’s to all that still lies ahead.
