[Cultural Week 2026] CINEMA, AGAIN

It's the second time that the school devotes its traditional annual Cultural Week to the topic of CINEMA. The first time was 7 years ago in 2019, as you can see above on the first poster, below is this year's. This counts as the 16th cultural week set up in the school.

So today we bring a flashback post and on this link CINEMA you can see the English works done by students for that first time. You can also remember the complete information of that first Cultural Week on our library's blog "ARQUIVOS DO TRASNO".

Here's also the flasback to all Rafael Dieste's cultural weeks held up to now, since 2010 to 2026, except for 2020 which had to be put off due to the lockdown. Each of the links show the previous posts devoted on this blog to each of them.

2010 - GREECE

2011 - MULTICULTURALISM & DIVERSITY 

2012 - HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS

2013 - OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE

2014 - TRADITIONAL GAMES

2015 - HISTORY OF WRITING

2016 - HISTORICAL PIONEERS

2017 - COSMOS

2018 - GASTRONOMY

2019 - CINEMA

2021 - THE SEA

2022 - HEALTH

2023 - CITIES

2024 - CULTURAL MELTING POT 

2025 -

2026 - CINEMA

3rd AQUÍ TAMÉN SE FALA MUSIC FESTIVAL, TODAY

 What was born in a state secondary school in Coruña... is already a phenomenon that crosses borders: the #AquíTaménSeFala Festival celebrates its 3rd edition today Friday, 12th June at the Tolerance Square and gives its international jump featuring Carolina Deslandes, one of the most important musical artists from Portugal.

Apart from her, three other from the Galician scene: Apolo 18, Kid Mount & De Ningures.

But this is much more than music... not only because it's the only professional festival in Europe organized by a secondary school, but also ATSF is the largest lingustic revitalization movement in the country, actively carried out by more than 25.000 teenagers.

Fotos superiores do Instagram AquíTaménSeFala.

GRADUATIONS 2026 (2nd BAC & 4th ESO)

"Rafael Dieste" second BAC students celebrated their Graduation yesterday evening (5th June) at the assembly hall of the Conservatorio Superior de Música of A Coruña.

The event had Jessica & Iker Cárdenas as hosts and the speeches by Alberto Pombo (head-master), teachers Pedro García, Isabel Viña & Carlos Blanco and students Susana Doldán, Aroa Rodríguez & Román Rojo.

Furthermore, for the first time, the hymn of the school, an adaptation of a text by Rafael Dieste published in the book "Rojo farol amante" and changed into music by Jei Noguerol,  was performed

Congratulations to students, families & teachers! The best of luck to them all!

Update Thursday, June 18th.- GRADUATION 4th ESO

The 2026 4th ESO Graduation was held yesterday (17th June) at the school's central hall, featuring Xurxo Souto as host and music by MOU. 

Congratulations to students, families & teachers. Lots of luck to all of them, too!

Also the school's best 2⁰BAC students atended the MEGABAU 2026:

(Photos from Rafael Dieste social media)

RAFAEL DIESTE'S HOMECOMING 2026

Rafael Dieste's 2026

Homecoming 2026 Facebook video link

Homecoming 2026 Instagram video link

Fifth edition of Homecoming 2026 organized by English teacher Isabel Viña on Friday, March 24th.

Video by @rodri_vibees (César Rodríguez) from RafaelDieste social media.

DIESTE'S BRAND NEW OFFICIAL BASKETBALL TEAM

 This year "Rafael Dieste" has its own brand new basketball team. The first official one in the history of the school. It kicks off as an integration project for recently arrived immigrant students.

Today they played their first match in the Copa Colexial winning against Santa Mª del Mar.

Hurray, Dieste! Up!

RAFAEL DIESTE'S NEW DOME ROOFTOP

 "Rafael Dieste" school has undergone a complete refurbishment throughout this last year. Changing windows, indoor lights and the central dome rooftop. These three photos show the difference between the new and old central dome: the two above with the new one (on 25/11/25 minute of silence in favour of the ellimination of violence against women) and below, the old one.

RAFAEL DIESTE'S NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM & LOGO

Photo: Casteleiro / Roller Agencia "La Opinión A Coruña"

 From today "Rafael Dieste" secondary school has its new management team made up by Alberto Pombo (headmaster), Rafael Fernández (secretary), Mónica Reixía, (deputy headmistress) & Arcadio González, (head of studies-supervisor). 

Good luck to them all in their posts.

Link to local newspaper article about them.

The school also has new logo:

THE 'RAFAEL DIESTE' ENGLISH DEPARTMENT REUNION

Hilda Fraga, one of the original members of the 'Rafael Dieste' secondary school English Department since its beginning back in 1990,  celebrated her retirement today. For the first time, all the official members that have been part of this department throughout all these years gathered together. From the first members: Mª Luisa, Carmen (Rubio), Elsa & Elena (exception of the late Paco de la Iglesia), to the ones who came after replacing them chronologically: myself (Ramón), Belén, Carmen (Peña) & Isabel.

All these members (plus Juan Carlos & Inma), many other stand in substitutes and 12 conversation assistants have been teaching English in this school for the last 35 years. Three of them will still carry on and there will be others to follow and continue the task...

Hoping Hilda enjoys this new period in her life, knowing she has been such an inspiring, caring and very respected person in this school.

It has been an honour working with her and all the others. All the best to them!

RAFAEL DIESTE'S STUDENTS CAMPAIGN FOR O DEPOR DA CORUÑA (UPDATED JUNE 2026: THEY MADE IT!)

Students from "Rafael Dieste" in their campaign through their programme "Aquí tamén se fala" to rename the city's football team's name in Galician, have acheived a first step: the city council renames the street Ronda Real Club Deportivo DA Coruña, opposite our school.

(20th June 2025)

  UPDATE 24/JUNE/2026 

One year later, the football team has officially announced the change of the name to adapt to the only accepted name of our city, and all this was achieved by the students of "Rafael Dieste" and all the activities carried out in this issue and after the club members voted to choose it.

Proud of aquitamensefala from IES "Rafael Dieste". Thanks!

GRADUATION 2025

The Graduation of "Rafael Dieste's" 2nd Bac students was celebrated this evening. Here the official group photo of the 2025 promotion. Good luck to all of them!

TRIBUTE TO ANGEL LOZANO IN MEMORIAM

So sad to announce something that was never imagined to be said so soon: the school's current technology teacher, Angel Lozano, passed away yesterday. 

Angel has been a very active member of our school community for the last 25 years, having been the school's Head of Studies between 2008 and 2012 and having taken an important part in setting up and developing the Bilingual Sections, to teach his subject in English together with the other ones of this programme (Music and P.E.). 

Both his two sons attended the same school so their family connections with "Rafael Dieste" are many.

Today the school community shared a minute of silence in his memory. 

Next Thursday, February 6th, at 12:10 there will be a tribute to him, planting a tree in the school's garden and giving his name to the classroom where he used to teach.

To his wife and sons all our love and respect, Angel will be remembered as a hardworking teacher/professional and an even better person. 

RIP.

UPDATE:TRIBUTE PHOTOS & VIDEO

Monday's minute of silence (Feb, 4th).

Thursday's tribute (Feb, 6th).

THE GALICIAN EDUCATION COUNCILOR VISITS 'RAFAEL DIESTE' PROMISING REFURBISHMENT WORKS

 Today, the Galician Education Councilor Román Rodríguez visited 'Rafael Dieste' to supervise the refurbishment works, which the school is undergoing. The works are due to be completed by next summer, with an investment of more than 1.7 million €. They are part of the priority objective of the New Pedagogical Architecture Plan to improve schools energy efficiency and increase comfort for the whole educational community.

In the photo above Román Rodríguez together with the school principal Norma Fariña and the rest of the school's management team: Isabel Viñuela (viceprincipal), Flora García (secretary) and Ramón Barreiro (head of studies).

- More info on Galician government's webpage.

Part of these refurbishment works (the changing of the central roof) had already been announced in the local press ('La Voz de Galicia') in June 2021, photo (with previous principal Mateo Torres and local educational authorities) and link below:

Link to the news on school's blog.

"RAFAEL DIESTE" GRADUATION 2024 + "ATSF" CONCERT

Yesterday we celebrated the Graduation of our 2nd BAC students. With their ABAU exams already finished, they all got together at the assembly hall of the Conservatorio Superior de Música to celebrate with their families y teachers. Congratulations and luck to them!

At the same time at the Tolerance Square, nearby our school, the "Aquí Tamén Se Fala" concert was held with great success. Lots of people gathered to listen to different artists singing in Galician: Leria, Lontreira, Boyanka Kostova, & Grande Amore.

"And full of pride we say that yesterday @aquitamensefala made history. That a state secondary school in a working-class neighbourhood organized like this that has no parellel throughout all Europe.

But we say it proudly for the work done by the teenagers of @iesrafaeldieste. we say it full of emotion and passion because yesterday we celebrated the festival of Galician youth of the active youngsters who did basic work all over the country!

[Instagram aquitamensefala]

A huge success having been organized from a public school!

REMEMBERING OUR CONVERSATION ASSISTANTS

On the day before we say goodbye to this year's conversation assistant, we also want to remember the previous* who have been teaching our students ever since we started our Bilingual & Plurilingual Programmes. Thanks to all of them wherever they are now.

[*Including all the existing assistants that have been until I left the school in Dec 2023]

Sarah Wade (USA)

(School year 2022-2023 & 2023-2024)

Kayleigh Vantassel (USA)

(school year 2020-21 & 2021-22)

Joshua DeYoung (USA)

 (school year 2018-19 & 2019-20. Fulbright programme)

Ben Davidson (USA)

 (school year 2017-18. Fulbright programme)

Laura Oxenreiter (USA)

(school year 2016-17)

Byron Santi (USA)

(school year 2015-16)

Tom Pazo (USA)

(school years 2013-14 & 2014-15)

Paul Behrend (USA)

 (school years 2011-12 & 2012-13)

Sarah Needham (UK)

(third term in school year 2010-11) 

(school year 2010-11) + another Canadian girl called Nicole

 

Kasia (UK)

(school year 2008-09 & 2009-10)

Rose (from UK)

(school year 2007-2008)

THE SCHOOL SAYS GOOD-BYE TO CARLOS, THE CARETAKER

 Today, "Rafael Dieste" says good-bye to our caretaker, Carlos. He hasn't been here many years, but he has definitely become a dear member for all the staff and among the students.

Good luck in your new life, Carlos!

REMEMBERING MY ING3-CLASSROOM

 There was a time, during a period of around 10 years (aprox 2008/9 to 2018/9), when we used to have "subject classrooms" in "Rafael Dieste". That is, each classroom was devoted to a particular subject and mostly that subject was the only one taught in that room, although sometimes and due to availability it was shared with others. It was a way of being able to have specific materials and customize the classroom with English themed issues, in our case.

While this system of classrooms was implemented, I was based mostly in classroom ING3, which was on the second floor and the one nearest to the English Department, all advantages. As a reminder, I've recollected the photos I keep from this classroom. The first picture shows what my classroom (ING3) had on the wall board with projects my students had done over the years for the cultural weeks. The photos below, show the welcoming session to the exchange German students in 2019 and the breakfast that followed. It was 5 years ago today.

The classroom system had to be removed after the COVID lockdown when we returned to classes in September 2019 and hasn't been recovered since and there aren't any plans to, either.

Welcoming German students of 2019 exchange in classroom ING3 (30/4/2019) [link here]