• Albal is a little and old town. It’s located in the west of Spain, near the coast, in an especial area called “Horta Region”

Horta sud region

The albufera (a natural lake)

• Albal was founded in the Muslim Muslim Period (700- 1238). It was named Period (700- 1238). It was named “Alboayal” . In 1238 king Jaume I “Alboayal” . In 1238 king Jaume I conquered this land for ‘Gil de conquered this land for ‘Gil de Atrosillo’ (a knight) as a reward for Atrosillo’ (a knight) as a reward for his contribution in the wars and in his contribution in the wars and in 1244 Albal was sold to the cathedral 1244 Albal was sold to the cathedral of Valenciaof Valencia

Albal has only got 14.900 inhabitants but it’s still growing, so in the future we are going to be a little bigger

Albal has a few monuments

Santa Ana Chapel Nuestra Señora de los Nuestra Señora de los Angeles churchAngeles church

The Arab tower

The Arab tower is

the oldest building

in Albal. It’s a It’s a

square-shaped square-shaped

security and defense security and defense

building. Nowadays building. Nowadays

it houses the town it houses the town

museum.museum.

It was built in the 14 century. It has a good condition after some restoration. It is located ona small hill and around the chapel there are a lot of pine trees.

It was built in 1697and it’s the most important church of Albal

• Fallas 15-19 of March: We build huge monuments with cardboard and wood and all of them are burned on the 19 of March. There are seven fallas in the town and they all compete to get the first prize.

• San Blas 3 of February: There are some religious and non-religious activities.

• Santa Ana of Nazaret 26 of July: There is a pilgrimage to Saint Anne’s Chapel. There are fireworks, concerts and parades. At the end of the festival one girl is chosen as the queen of the festival

IES Albal

HOW BIG IS OUR SCHOOL?Our school started in 2004 with only 60 teachersand 400 students between 12 and 18 years old.The number of students has increased to 900 students and 70 teachers.

WHAT CAN YOU STUDY?• Here we study 4 obligatory years. We start at

12 and we must stay until we are 16 years old. We call this period ESO.

• There are 2 extra years, between 16 and 18 years old, for students who want to study at University and we call this period Bachillerato.

• In addition, you can take up a Professional Training course in Electricity and Electronics. There are 2 years of intermediate level (after obligatory school) and other 2 years of advanced level (after Bachillerato).

In this part of Spain there are two official languages: Valencian and Spanish.

Students can choose to study most of the subjects in one or the other. Every school year there are groups where most of the lessons are in Valencian and groups where most of the lessons are in Spanish.

WHICH LANGUAGES DO WE SPEAK?

Students can also learn 3 other foreign languages: English, French and German. English is obligatory and French and German are voluntary.

Our school has a plurilungual programme where students learn some subjects in English and French.This programme started in 2009.

WHICH LANGUAGES DO WE LEARN?

OUR SCHOOL TIMETABLEOur lessons begin every day at eight o’clock.

Lessons finish at 2 o’clock or at 3.20, depending on the class and on the day. Groups usually finish at 3.20 just one or two days a week.

We have two breaks (of half an hour and twenty minutes respectively). We don’t have lunch at

school. We have lunch at home after we have finished

our lessons.

An example of 1st of Bachillerato timetable:

TIME MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESD THURSDAY FRIDAY

8.00 – 8.55 Biology Philosophy History Philosophy History

8.55 – 9.50 Sports Form class Maths Valencian Biology

9.50 – 10.45 Valencian Economy Sports Religion Economy

10.45 – 11.15 BREAK

11.15 – 12.10 Economy English German Spanish English

12.10 – 13.05 German History English German German

13.05 – 14.00 Maths Spanish Valencian History Spanish

14.00 – 14.20 BREAK14.20 – 15.15 Religion Maths Economy Maths

Spanish Maths Economy

Valencian Biology and Geology Philosophy

English Physics and chemistry Geography and history

French Technology Music

German Technical Drawing Sports

Religion Computer technology Electricity

Latin Ethics Greek

OUR SUBJECTS

The school premises

28 classrooms in a subject classroom system

Students change classrooms

between lessons.

3 art classrooms

3 labs

3 computer rooms

2 music rooms

2 technology rooms

4 professional training rooms

A school cantine

A gym

A library

Multiple-porpose room

Greenhouse

Playground

Our school trips.

If you like travelling you can go on a skiing trip in January.

And on exchange

student trips to other countries.

At the end of the 4th year we go on an end-of-year trip.Last year 4th-year students went to Italy.

In the 1st year of bachillerato we go to Almagro, and attend a theatre festival.

At the end of the 2nd year of bachillerato we go on an end-of-year trip to Mallorca.

Our activities

Also we go on excursions in our town. There is an Arts Centre and we watch plays, or attend other cultural events.

One of the most important events in our school takes place in April. Every year we celebrate the sports and cultural week. There are basketball, football, volleyball and badminton competitions.

And finally, at the end of the ESO or Bachillerato we hold a graduation ceremony.

We are looking forward to meeting you at our school!

This presentation was made by Silvia Giner and Paula Cerdán

Dormagen, October 2013