HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - February 2007 Volume 3 No.1

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Year 11 pupils are now entering their last full half term at Braeburn High. The impending IGCSE examinations are their major focus, with serious revision going on in all subject areas. These last few weeks are vital. It is a time when full concentration and maximum effort can really enhance the probability of success, but it is also a challenging time for pupils. Parents can help greatly by giving maximum support and encouragement. Pupils in years 9 and 10 continue to show a positive attitude and make good progress.

Sport
It has been another hectic half term on the sporting front. Our hockey teams have been very active, fulfilling both up-country and local fixtures. Our thanks to all our hockey and football players - your commitment has been outstanding. Thanks are also due to our PE staff - Mr. Dean, Miss Muugi and Mr. Thairu and to our long-suffering parents who have had to deliver team members to Braeburn High before 6.00 a.m. on some mornings and have had to collect them after 6.00 p.m. on numerous occasions. Hopefully the road to Nakuru will be completed in the not too distant future as this will make the journeys both shorter and more pleasant.
Our open girls' football team is playing particularly well. They show a good team spirit and a determination to win. This has led to a series of victories in the league and, on Saturday February 10th , they won the Brookhouse open tournament. Our congratulations to: Karimi Ikuta, Kate Snow, Zahra Abdullahi, Manaal Wadood, Amina Ahmed, Amina Reeve, Varaidzo Munyikwa, Sellah Ogoda, Rolla Sasso and Zeitun Tifow.

Trips
Valued for the opportunity they provide for experiential learning, two were held last half term. On January 12th, the majority of our Year 10 pupils travelled to Laikipia for a weekend of team building and outdoor pursuits. Due to the unusually heavy rain, the travel time was considerably longer than expected, but the trip was still a great success. It was particularly pleasing to see the high level of cooperation between the many pupils who volunteered to unload the bus. Many thanks to Mrs. Sat for organising the trip and to Ms. Dunseith, Mrs. Ayatta and Mr. Atinga for accompanying the pupils.
On Friday 9th February, the Year 10 geographers climbed Mount Longonot and examined the features of the rift valley first hand. The day was hot, dry and dusty, but obviously enjoyable. Our thanks to Mrs. Sanya for organising the trip and to Mr. Herbert, Mr. Thairu and Mrs. Sat for accompanying the pupils.

Model United Nations
Many of our pupils are currently at Gigiri at the MUN conference. This is the culmination of many months of work preparing resolutions, learning formal debate procedures and practising public speaking. It should be an enjoyable and rewarding week.

Post IGCSE options
Career planning is always a major focus of this second term. On January 30th, Mr. Manning, the Principal of Braeburn College, gave a presentation about post IGSE options at Braeburn College, and talked generally about entry to universities all over the world. This was open to parents of pupils in Years 9-11 and was well attended and received.
Then, on Tuesday 13th February, all our Year 11 pupils spent most of the day at Braeburn College and learned about the different options available to them once their IGCSE results are available on August 6th 2007.

Verse Speaking
On Saturday 3rd February Braeburn High sent a team of three pupils to the annual verse speaking competition at Nairobi Academy. Our pupils did extremely well. Wambui Gatende gained 1st place in the U16 category, Farirai Gumbonzvanda gained second place in the U14 category and Sajni Soni earned first place in the Talent category in which each contestant had to both write and perform their own poem. Congratulations to all three pupils and thanks to Mrs. Kimutai for organising our participation.

Chess
Imraan Bhaiji was our sole representative at the Chess tournament held at Oshwal High on February 3rd. He played well and our thanks to him for representing the school and to Mr. Karuri for accompanying him. We hope to have more participants in the forthcoming tournament at Hillcrest.

Lost property
Unclaimed lost property that had been accumulating for the last two years was finally sold on February 8th and 9th. We owe a huge thank you to Mrs. Boyd and Mrs. Patel for volunteering to put their time and energy into this project. The sale raised KSh 10590-00 which will be used to buy trees to plant on the Aberdares on the weekend of 21-22nd April.

Cake sale
We are very grateful to members of the community service club (or their mothers) who were busy baking delicious cakes over the weekend of 3-4th February. The bake sale, held on Monday 5th February raised KSh3195-00 which will also be used to buy trees for the tree planting weekend.

President's Award Club
This club is now entering its second year in the school. A large number of pupils are close to earning their Bronze Award. Our congratulations go to Ankoor Shah, one of our prefects, who is the first pupil to gain the Bronze Award. Thanks also to Mr. M'Mbogori and Mr. Otukho for ensuring the pupils have been given the opportunities needed to earn the award.

School Magazine - 2007
This is now being compiled by Mrs. Wanyeki and her team of budding editors. We were able to subsidise the cost substantially last year due to the large number of advertisements received and would like to do the same again this year. Rates are very competitive and the circulation is large - including embassies and consulates in addition to the school community. If you would like to place an advertisement, please contact Mrs. Wanyeki on 3872300. We look forward to your support.

Drama
Work is now well underway on our annual school production. This year the "Wizard of Oz", is proving to be enjoyable for the caste and, being a musical, will involve a large number of pupils. It will be staged in May in the large theatre and should provide a very entertaining evening. Thanks to Mrs. Kimutai our director, Mr. Richardson and Mrs. Ayatta for their hard work and commitment to the project.

Library/ Media Centre
Since the end of the mock examinations, the media centre has been open for use by pupils from Braeburn Primary at lunch times and for teaching groups during lesson times. This is a pilot project and seems to be working well.

Rift Valley Fever
Our catering manager has thoroughly investigated our suppliers and their suppliers of meat to ensure there is no risk to our pupils and kitchen staff. The pupils would never be at risk as cooking of the meat kills the virus, just as it kills bacteria, and our meat is always well cooked and never "rare". However, to be doubly sure, we are not cooking with beef at present and will not use it again until the incidence of RVF has declined.

Weekly e-mail bulletin
Most of our parents now receive information by e mail each Friday about events to be held in the following week. If you are not yet part of this system, please send an e mail to this effect to nancy@braeburn.ac.ke

Looking forward:

School photographs
Photographs of form groups, sports teams and the whole school will be taken in the second week of March.

Careers' Evening
On the evening of Thursday March 1st, at the Exhibition Hall of the Sarit Centre, we will bring together a large number of professionals from a range of careers who are willing to speak, on a one to one basis, with the pupils of Braeburn High and Braeside High. The evening is valuable to pupils in all years who will probably never again have the opportunity to quiz so many professionals so easily. We request that all Year 9 pupils attend the event as they will be choosing their IGCSE options in the near future and can gain information about the subjects needed for different professions. The event starts at 6.00 p.m. and ends at 8.00p.m. I hope you will be able to support us by being available to speak to our pupils. If you would like to participate and have not yet returned your reply slip, please contact Mrs. Sanya on 3872300.

PADI Diving course
This will be offered this half term. Sessions will occur on Sunday morning and will be held in the pool at Braeburn Primary. Anyone interested should see Mr. Dean for a letter giving details of charges and the course structure. The qualification, if gained, is recognised all over the world.

Tennis coaching
This will be offered this half term. The coaching will take place at lunch times on the tennis courts at the High School. Those interested should see Mr. Dean for details of costs and exact times of the sessions.

Music concert
This will be held on Thursday March 8th.

Parents' evenings

Continuous Professional Development
There may be a little disruption to teaching from Thursday March 1st - March 2nd as the maximum number of teachers possible are being sent on the In Service Training being run by the Cambridge International Examining Board. I am sure that you will agree that the short term inconvenience will be far outweighed by the long term gain.

There are many after school activities going on at present that involve large numbers of pupils staying at school until 5.00 p.m. It is really good to see their enthusiasm and commitment. I would, however, like to request that, if your child is required to stay after school and does not use the school bus, that he/she is collected as soon as possible after 5.00 p.m. as there is no guarantee of supervision after this time.

It just remains for me to thank you for your support and to remind you that we do value feedback and efficient communication, so please take advantage of our open door policy.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Bishop

SPORTS NEWS
This term has seen a huge improvement in terms of participation in sports and extra curricular clubs after school with more success as well.

Braeburn are only one of three of the British Curriculum School that have been able to field an A and B team in the Under 15 league as well as both Open Boys and Girls teams.

The Under 15A Boys teams have had a promising start to the season having lost only one game so far losing to arguably the strongest team in the league, Hillcrest. Other than that the boys have won all other matches with goals being scored by nearly every member of the team.
Outstanding performances from Emmanuel Tande, Ian Melly, Mohammed Tifow and Abdullah Taib among others have helped to secure good performances in each game.

The Under 15B team have not had such a good season. With focus more on development in order to progress into the A team next year the results have been very mixed. The boys have played each game in a good spirit and I hope have thoroughly enjoyed and learnt so far from this experience.

In the Open League, the Boys also have made a very promising start. The boys are competing in two leagues - the British Curriculum Schools and the International schools side by side. Currently in the International league Braeburn are leading their group and look certain to be heading towards the Semi Finals with a match against ISK or Peponi the likely opponents.
In the British Schools League, the boys have lost only one fixture - undeservedly - against Hillcrest A. As it stands at this second , the league is wide open with Turi, Greensteds, Peponi, Hillcrest and Braeburn all having lost one game and with two matches to play left!

The Kasarani Swimming Gala is taking place on March 24th and Swimming training is well under way! Every Monday in the Primary School pool everyone is welcome to attend and display their talents.
We have great hopes with talents of Kush, Emily Moir, Akari, Phillipa Carnelley all putting in so much effort and commitment.

Well done for all the effort and commitment so far - Keep it up!

Andy Dean
Head of Physical Education

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