HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - May 2007 Volume 3 No.1

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This half term has been dominated by the IGCSE examinations for our Year 11 pupils. The Chief Examiner for CIE who inspected our facilities was very impressed with the provision for the candidates. The initial feedback from the candidates has been positive. The IGCSE results will be available from the school on August 7th. These will be supplied as computer print outs. The Statement of Results should be available from the school on August 20th. The certificates normally arrive at the school in October. Pupils who will not be in Kenya at the appropriate times can leave e-mail and postal addresses to which their results will be forwarded provided all text books have been returned and clearance has been obtained from our accounts office.

Our year 10 pupils are now well over half way through their IGCSE courses. The end of year examinations, that start in mid June, are vital for consolidating their knowledge of topics covered during this year. This is the time to perfect revision techniques for each subject and to sort out any difficulties that remain. Our teachers are there to help - please use them.

Year 9 pupils have end of year and SAT examinations towards the end of the term. The SAT examinations are a good indication of their progress relative to all pupils in the UK and also on an individual basis, when compared to the KS2 results.

Year 9 pupils have now chosen the subjects to be studied for their IGCSE examinations. We have endeavoured to ensure that they chose wisely and played to their individual strengths. Much effort has been put into helping them with the choices. Firstly there was the careers' evening in March; then the options booklet that was circulated at the end of last term. PSHE lessons helped each individual examine his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Then sample lessons of subjects not taught in year 9 were delivered earlier this term and finally the options evening was held on May 17th, when pupils and parents together made the final choice.

School Production
Licensing issues for "The Wizard of Oz" have now been resolved and it will be staged on September 20th, 21st and 22nd 2007. The cast has put in a tremendous amount of effort and we look forward to an excellent show in September.

Prefects
With the onset of study leave for our current year 11 pupils on May 1st, the new cohort of prefects took over their duties. The new team plus Mrs. Bishop and Mrs. Wanyeki spent May 2nd at Brackenhurst developing teamwork, tackling tasks that promoted thinking about aspects of leadership and undertaking personal challenges. It was fun and informative for all concerned. It is just over three weeks into the tenure of the new team and things are going well.
Our congratulations to the following:

We look forward to working closely with this team over the next year.

School Council
A number of constructive suggestions originating from Council members have been implemented this year and improved the environment of the school for all users. It is a valuable forum for debate relating to certain issues and helps those involved develop skills such as public speaking, analysis and negotiation. The next and final meeting of the year will be on Thursday June 14th.

Sport
This term the major league sports are rugby for boys and netball for girls. Both sports are incredibly popular with keen competition to enter the U15A and U15B teams and represent the school. Training has been intense but enjoyable and the results have been good. On the pitch or court the competitive spirit and sportsmanship of Braeburn High's teams is evident and makes the matches a pleasure to watch. This term we will be awarding Colours for the first time in recognition of outstanding individual contributions to rugby or netball.
Squash is being played competitively for the first time this term. On alternate Friday evenings, our excellent squash courts host matches between players from Hillcrest, Peponi and Braeburn High. It is good to see new faces representing the school and it is hoped that the "Squash tri" will become a permanent fixture on the calendar. Many thanks to Mr. Dean for introducing the concept.
It is also really pleasing to see pupils and staff making good use of the swimming pool at the top of the sports complex.

Community Service
This club is important as it demonstrates practically that every individual can make a positive difference to others or to the planet. This term, twenty five members of the community service and President's Award clubs certainly made a difference to the planet. On the weekend of April 21st-22nd they joined the Friends of the Environment group to plant two thousand trees in a deforested area of the Kabage forest on the slopes of the Aberdares. The tree planting will have a double benefit - sequestering carbon and so helping to reduce global warming and protecting the watershed. The weekend was very enjoyable with good food, good company and a worthwhile project. There was even a game drive and sight seeing on the second morning. Braeburn High is aiming to make this an annual event and fund raising has already commenced towards next year's project. At one hundred shillings per tree, we have a long way to go, and any assistance would be welcome.
Our thanks to Mrs. Sanya for making the project possible and to Mrs. Shah for the excellent logistics.
The event has been entered as part of the Billion Tree campaign launched by Professor Wangari Maathai and can be viewed at www.unep.org/billontreecampaign

Looking forward:

The Year 10 pupils, will go on work experience from 5-7th June. This is always a valuable experience both in terms of personal development and in dispelling myths about the work place. The logistics of placing all our year 10 pupils with professionals in the Nairobi community are daunting, yet Mrs. Sanya has once again accomplished the task efficiently and effectively. Many thanks, Mrs. Sanya for your efforts. We trust that the Year 10s will all take the three days seriously and will represent both themselves and the school well. The continuation of this project from year to year relies on the pupils making a good impression on the professionals with whom they are placed.

Year 10 parents' evening - Tuesday 12th June between 4 and 6 pm in the Library.

Tea time Music concert - this will be held on Thursday 14th June at 4 pm in the music room.

Finally end of year examinations for Year 9 begin on Wednesday 20th June and for Year 10 begin on Monday 18th June. All examinations end on Wednesday 27th June.
It just remains for me to wish you a pleasant half term break and to thank you for your support.

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

Best wishes,

Mrs. A. Bishop

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