Dear students and parents,
Languages should be at the forefront of every school, especially in today’s world, where an understanding of each other’s culture and language, within such a connected environment, is pivotal to becoming global citizens and achieving global aims such as the UN’s 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Learning languages also provides students with core and transferable learning skills, especially with regard to memory retention. Finally, learning languages is challenging and enjoyable, as you will see when you read through the rest of the newsletter and see what our students have been learning.
This week, we have conducted interviews for our new Student Prefects. We had 28 applications and Mr. Jayatilake, along with our current Head Prefects, Brandon and Ndeye, have done a fabulous job in speaking with our candidates who have some great ideas for the future development of the school. Brandon and Ndeye continue to lead and represent our student body in such an exemplary manner, and I once again saw this first hand during the interviews, where they skillfully made all candidates feel at ease, whilst gently coaxing from them, their ideas and plans. The feedback they provided on each candidate was kind, thoughtful and formative. They are truly representative of our student body, who all continue to live up to all of our high hopes and aspirations we have for them.
As many of our teachers and families have been relocating during the past week, there have been some amendments to the scheduled learning schedules. These will return to ‘normal’ next week, except in those cases when staff are ill, when as always, we will put appropriate ‘cover teachers’ and learning in place.
We are very proud of our students who continue to be focused and ambitious in their learning; much of this is due to the work of our teachers who are providing such creative and engaging learning experiences, along with parents (especially of our younger children) who once again, take on a more ‘hands on’ role. In order to refine our provision of online continuous learning, we continue to take feedback from all ‘stakeholders’, including students, teachers and parents. Please find below surveys for parents to complete, which will contribute to our ongoing discussions about how we can best help your children.
Following the incredibly sad news of the passing of our former Principal, Dr. John Moore, we are compiling a book of condolence, which will include messages and memories of John’s time here. We will pass this on to John’s wife, Gemma and family next week. If you would like to contribute, please do so, following the link here.
Please stay safe everyone and have a good weekend.
With over 40 different nationalities represented in our school, the linguistic diversity of our community is incredible. Languages, different cultures and international mindedness are abundant and celebrated with great pride and joy in the Primary and Secondary language departments. In fact languages are enjoyed so much in our community that even our pets have started joining in sessions!
Further to this Key Stage 1 are developing into excellent world citizens as they discover and learn all about each other’s Home countries and our own very exciting Host country and work through the International Goals of the IPC. Year 1 have taken a journey on the back of a snail visiting places like Hawaii, Japan and a lettuce factory. If you could hitch a ride on a whale’s tail, where would you choose to go? 
The passion and drive continue in Secondary.
Making the Chinese and Nepali New year coming to life by making dumplings, paper craft and recording beautiful dance moves at home as well as working on complex resources to improve their language skills.
Year 11 students prepared thoroughly for their examinations, which did not mean no
