What comes to mind when you think of Saint Patrick’s Day? Leprechauns? Clovers? Well the popular holiday celebrated by the Irish in Ireland and elsewhere has a good amount of history. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland for a reason! Born in the fifth century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 in Roman Britain. He was brought to Ireland as a slave and worked for six years as a herdsman. One day, he dreamed of an escape ship ready to escape in, after which he actually found a way to escape back to (what would be) England. Once there after some time, he had another dream where a man named Victorious (historically, either a missionary or a martyr) delivered a letter called “The Voice of the Irish.” Along with the letter were cries of Irishmen saying, “We entreat thee, holy youth, to come henceforth walk amongst us.” “Deeply moved,” Patrick decided to return to Ireland where he went around baptizing and spreading Christianity, which became his greatest legacy — bringing Christianity to Ireland. He’s now known for his writings Confessio (spiritual autobiography) and Letter to Coroticus (denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians). March 17th is the day of his death — the day dedicated to celebrating him along with Irish pride. Through the years, myths about St. Patrick grew, for instance a legend of him using the Irish clover (shamrock) to explain the Trinity, him driving snakes into the sea and raising people from the dead. Many of the things stereotypically surrounding St. Patrick’s Day include customs that have developed through this wave of myths over time — leprechauns, shamrocks, etc. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated all over the world (including many unexpected places), but a place it’s had much influence in is the US. There are more than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades in the US every year, with the largest in NYC and Boston. The first St. Patrick’s day parade in the US in NYC on March 17th, 1762 when Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through the city. Irish patriotism among American immigrants eventually flourished with the rise of “Irish Aid” societies such as the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the Hibernian Society. In 1848, NYC’s Irish Aid societies formed one NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In fact, NYC’s St. Pat’s parade today is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the US with over 150,000 participants, a 5-hour procession and 3,000,000 street observers. Every city and community has its own way of celebrating the holiday with something unique. NYC has its own huge celebration and Chicago dyes the Chicago River green. But for everyone celebrating, whether while going out with friends or dressing green for the day, remember that this holiday is about something more than just costumes and Irish jigs. Perhaps appreciating a bit of the history could add some more meaningful twists to the festivities. Source: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day

As we approach Valentine’s Day, a day of sharing and promoting love, many things come to mind — romance, dates, chocolate… But perhaps there’s more to this holiday than just sweets and department store knickknacks. Looking at the history, there are many myths, but Valentine’s Day is thought to have ancient Christian and Roman origins. Rather than there being one definitive ancient source or individual, historians say that there were several saints who bore the name “Valentine.” One popular story in particular says that there was a priest named Valentine from the third century who married people behind the backs of the authorities. He was arrested and kept in a noble’s home (who was his detainer). This detainer had a blind daughter, who Valentine healed during his captivity there. Upon seeing their daughter healed, the family converted to Christianity. The account says that Valentine was then sentenced to death through torturing and beheading, as mandated by authorities. Before his death, which would take place on the fourteenth of February, he wrote the formerly blind daughter a note which he signed, “Your Valentine.” Another very similar account claims the Bishop of Terni from the same period was the original Saint Valentine, but historians still maintain that the holiday’s ancient origins are questionable. Some associate Valentine’s Day with Lupercalia — an ancient Roman holiday celebrated on the fifteenth of February. Yet due to the details surrounding the tradition, there is once again little concrete support for a legitimate connection to what we see in modern times. Lupercalia was celebrated to chase away evil spirits and increase health and fertility. Practically naked men would hit people with whip-like goat skin, which some women believed would cause or increase chances of conceiving. What we know for sure is that Geoffrey Chaucer, an English poet from the fourteenth century, had a lot to do with Valentine’s Day as we know it. In his Parliament of Fowls, he wrote the line, “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird comes there to choose his mate.” During that period, romance was celebrated in Europe among the aristocracy. By the next century, aristocrats inspired by Chaucer began writing “valentines” to their loves. Perhaps there still remain questions about the original Saint Valentine, but what can’t be denied is that both the ancient and more traceable accounts in question all surround the concept of love. In the United States, sharing sweets like chocolate, candy (Wonka sweet tart hearts for example), and stuffed animals is a common custom among friends and family alike. Students in (especially primary school) do arts and crafts and can be seen leaving school with Valentine’s Day hats and other creations. And of course, couples go out on dates and make special plans to recognize their love for one another.

“Our Vision at Hello Salamanca is to be at the forefront of Education Internationally” Our mission is to provide high quality  education that delivers a transformative learning experience to all our pupils. Engaging and effective teaching based on our core values and the best, most up-to-date educational practice enables children at our school to achieve their academic ambitions and lifetime careers. At the same time, at Hello Salamanca we nurture their individual talents and emphasise the importance of educating the whole child with attention to their physical, emotional and social development. We are determined to make a positive difference to the future of our pupils and their families, the careers of our staff, as well as contributing to the wider community. Working towards our vision depends on defining a set of realistic and easily achieveable objectives. These five aims are important checkpoints that everyone should consider when important decisions have to be made. 1) To provide a learning environment that educates and develops the independent learning skills and attitudes that build self-confidence and encourage creativity.. Hello Salamanca High Level Strategic Aims: 2) To achieve consistently outstanding educational results for all our pupils, benchmarking ourselves against the best Language school . 3) To ensure that our pupils reach the highest levels of fluency and confidence in their use of the English language. 4) To prepare and equip pupils for employment and the demands of the future in a rapidly changing, dynamic and diverse global environment. 5) To promote and sustain a safe, caring, but challenging culture inside the classroom. We will achieve our goals by: Delivering a curriculum which is supported by evidence-based research and best-practice at the most successful independent schools in the Spain and abroad. Encouraging pupils to lead healthy lifestyles through diet, exercise and sport. Educating our students to be good citizens with values based on ethics. Promoting excellence in our schools by employing teaching professionals who are passionate, knowledgeable and highly skilled in their field. Investing in our staff through effective professional development, training, career planning and talent management. Ensuring effective governance and management of the Group and the school. Making the best use of resources and information to achieve and maintain an efficient, effective and sustainable business. Supporting and actively contributing to our local and wider communities Recognising and celebrating effort, achievement and excellence. Values and Beliefs The Values and Beliefs of Hello Salamanca underpin everything we do. They create an environment that helps our people, our pupils and their parents understand what Hello Salamanca stands for. How we treat one another at work, how we treat our customers. Our Values and Beliefs help us make sense of our working life and how we fit into the big picture. They are fixed and are unlikely ever to change. Honesty, Faith and Courage We believe in professional leadership. We value dedication and commitment. Our educational principles are founded upon traditional values, fostering self-confidence, tolerance and a sense of responsibility. All our pupils are entitled to a high-quality education, grounded in sensitivity to individual dignity, and a positive and nurturing environment. We promote outstanding teaching and learning. We recognise and celebrate academic excellence and achievement. High quality education is based on a collaborative approach to teaching. Innovation in teaching and learning should be informed by research and effective practice. Technology should be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning. We contribute to the lifelong education of individuals.  

New Year’s is always a fun time for everyone, as the fun of Christmas has just ended, we have one more holiday where we can celebrate with family and friends! New Year’s is a holiday where we can look back at everything we have accomplished and done in the past year, and get ready to celebrate what is to come in the new year. A lot of people look at it as a new, fresh start, and some look at it as a time to continue their success they have had in the previous year. Usually this holiday is celebrated with family and friends, parties, food, drink, decorations, dressing up, etc. It is a very festive holiday that everybody loves. Not only do people have their own parties, but major cities like Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, and one of the biggest, New York City, throw huge parties that are broadcasted on TV with singers, dancers, performances, etc. Everyone always gets together on New Year’s Eve to watch the ball drop, which happens at midnight, and everyone goes crazy! Kissing, hugging, celebrating, and of course more partying! In the major cities, there are usually fireworks as well. Champagne is usually the drink that people have, as it is a drink made for celebrations. A lot of people also set goals for themselves for the new year that they would like to achieve. It is a wonderfully amazing holiday that keeps the holiday spirit alive after Christmas. Happy holidays and a happy New Year from the Hello!! family!

For more than 2000 years, people around the world have been observing Christmas as a religious holiday. Christmas is a cultural and commercial phenomenon, respected with traditions and practices that are religious and secular as well. Not only the Christians, people from different faiths across the globe, celebrate Christmas. Centuries before Christmas began to be observed as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ (the spiritual guide whose teachings laid the foundation of Christianity), middle of winter was being celebrated around the world. Europeans celebrated it with light in the darkest days of winter, rejoiced during winter solstice leaving behind the worst of the winter, looking forward to longer days and extended hours of sunlight. Some Interesting Christmas Facts: Christmas was declared a federal holiday in the USA on June 26, 1870. The Orthodox churches of Greece and Russia, celebrate Christmas 13 days after the 25th December. This day is believed to be the one when the three wise men found infant Jesus in the cradle. During the Middle Ages (c. 1000 to 1453) Christmas celebrations were crude and blatant. During 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston, and law-breakers were fined five shillings. Around 30-35 million real Christmas trees are sold in the USA alone. There are around 21,000 Christmas tree growers. Typically the trees grow for about 15years before they are sold. In Scandinavia, the Yule or Christmas used to be celebrated from December 21st, the winter solstice through January. People would burn logs and feast until the log burnt out which could take 12 days. Certainly, Christmas has been an age-old tradition. No matter which particular day it is observed, the spirit remained the same always. Joy, celebration, and welcoming of summer and bounty. Why Hello Salamanca Celebrates Christmas Christmas can bring an entertaining distraction from the study stress brought by the entire school year. The children feel excited, joyous. Hello Salamanca environment gets uplifted with the positive energy of delight and celebration. Even Hello super  teachers feel excited about the much-coveted break from the teaching-learning cycle that goes on throughout the year. Even if it is for a short period. 1. Inculcate The Spirit Of Giving Christmas is all about celebration and offering. Students at Hello Salamanca, get to experience the joy of giving. Children are taught to make hand-made gifts for others. They  take part in the food-drive, toy-drive or gift-drive to less fortunate ones focusing on their needs. 2. Special Learning For The Young Ones The youngsters, the first or second graders at Hello Salamanca, read about Santa, the winter solstice, winter holiday traditions throughout the world. The second graders at Hello Salamanca, learn writing friendly letters to Santa, not only asking for toys or gifts but also wishing something for the world. Peace for everyone for example, or help endangered animals, food for all, keeping the planet clean and green. This instills the spirit of consideration for others in their tender minds. 3.Unity In Diversity Hello Salamanca Students from different backgrounds participate in decoration and festivity. They learn the differences, and yet the bond of love, warmth, cheer and selflessness that bind mankind together. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from our Hello Super Team!!

The day starts off quiet, with only the sound of typing coming from clever Isa’s desk as I make my way to the small entry hall containing only a few classrooms in Hello! I beamed at her as I walked in with a cheerful, “Hola!” I turn right before the desk, about to enter the cold, small classroom I do my work in. She takes a second before looking up to see that it is me. “Ah! Cath, it is you!” She always seems surprised to to see me even though my schedule is taped on the desk backboard that separates her from the rush of parents and students at all times of the day. “Did you have a good weekend?” “Of course, it was a whirlwind, per usual.” I smile and make my way into the room where Abby has already started the work of the day. White walls gleam around me as I sit across from her, grey and white desks lining the walls around us. I settle in, pulling out my Bryant issued laptop. Typing fills the air as we work steadily through radio outlines, blog posts, and media posts. Small voices and laughter filter through the walls, someone playing Simon Says in the room next to us. Sound is all around us, English and Spanish colliding. It is a busy day, and we just continue typing away in our little room.