ELIS Villamartín officially commemorated its 20th anniversary last Friday, 18th October, with a heartfelt event held on our premises. The ceremony was attended by local and regional authorities, members of the educational community and representatives of civil society, including the Mayor of San Miguel de Salinas, Mr Juan de Dios Fresneda, the Councillor for Education, Mrs María Noelia García, the Education Inspector, Mr José Luis González and other dignitaries, who unveiled a commemorative plaque in honour of this significant milestone.

During the ceremony, the school’s trajectory was highlighted as a benchmark for international education in the Vega Baja. Over these 20 years, ELIS Villamartín has provided a multilingual education, enabling its students to obtain both Spanish and international official qualifications. This dedication has facilitated access for many students to prestigious universities in Spain and abroad. The cultural diversity of the school, which hosts students from more than 35 nationalities, contributes to an enriching and diverse educational environment, reflected in the high level of multilingualism and the excellent academic results of its students.

One of the highlights of the event was the involvement of the students themselves, who led the presentation. Speeches were also given by Mr Álvaro de Miguel, Managing Director of Cognita Spain and Italy, the international family of schools that ELIS Villamartín has been part of since 2008, as well as by the attending authorities and members of the school’s leadership team. The school’s founders, Mr Antonio Alonso and Mr José Lorite, employees who have been with the institution since its beginnings, and other members of the educational community came together to celebrate this milestone.

The event concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque that thanked the entire community for their contribution to the success of the school. The statements from the mayor and other authorities underscored the importance of education in the development of the town and the region, highlighting the role of ELIS Villamartín in the holistic development of its students.

The following day, Saturday 19th, the school continued the celebration with a community party open to parents, students and families. The day was filled with fun and educational activities, including workshops, musical performances and sports. Attendees enjoyed a varied array of entertainment, including giant paellas, a book fair, a comic workshop led by Anastasia Mezikaeva (freelance illustrator) and various sports activities, with a notable golf session organised by the Vistabella Golf Club. The music was provided by professional singer Edward Blundell Williams, who entertained the celebrations. We also had the pleasure of hosting writer Fran González Amorós.

Children participated in craft workshops and face painting, while there were also activities such as balloon modelling, a badge-making workshop, and circus activities (bubbles, targets, hoops, diabolo, yoyos, stilt walking, a giant ball, directed games, parachute games and worm games) run by Wen Animaciones. We also welcomed the presence of the animal protection association Finca La Castellana, with whom we regularly collaborate.

ELIS Villamartín takes pride in these 20 years of history and wishes to express its gratitude to all those who have been part of this journey. The school looks to the future with the intention of continuing to contribute to international education in the Vega Baja, offering a high-quality teaching and learning experience where the priority is the wellbeing and holistic development of its students.