BRAESIDE HIGH SCHOOL - NEWSLETTER, OCTOBER 2006 Vol. 6 NO. 7

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Since the school re-opened on the 5 September 2006 it has been an action-packed six weeks leading up to the half-term break. And as we break off for this well-deserved half-term holiday which runs from the 17th to the 22nd October 2006 we find this an opportune time to pen down a few words on some of the successes and developments so far achieved, to bring you news of ongoing progress in the various facets of school life, and, generally just to share our thoughts and explore ideas on pathways to further improvement. To the parents and guardians of the Ninety Two (92) new pupils who have joined us this term, both from our Primary Section as well as from other local and overseas schools we extend an especially warm welcome. From the smiles and general good cheer on everybody's faces I think it is reasonably safe to say that we have all got off to our usual great start!

INTERNATIONAL GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (IGCSE) RESULTS, August 2006

Eighty two candidates took the 2006 session of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) in May/June this year - again a number of candidates that clearly puts Braeside High School as one of Cambridge International Examination's largest centres in Kenya (if not the largest!). Although to some extent anticipated, the results were still surprisingly brilliant in many respects. For one, fifty four (54) of the eighty two (82) candidates entered scored five credits (C Grades) or greater thus securing for themselves automatic places for their A / AS Level, IB or pre-University courses at good schools and colleges. Many of these have even secured partial or full scholarships! Further, a number of subjects posted excellent results - Economics had a 100% A-C pass rate, Design & Technology 90%, Literature and Swahili 88% each, History 79% while Math and Chemistry each posted a 70% A-C pass rate! And then the Mathematics results are particularly worth pointing out as seventeen candidates scored Grade A* (Distinction) and Grade A while a further fifteen scored Grade B, an amazing achievement indeed for what is considered a relatively more difficult subject!

Top IGCSE pupil this year was Tony Machani who returned fantastic grades. Tony, who has been a student at Braeside since Year 1 scored, in his eight subjects, a whooping six (6) Grade A* and two (2) Grade A's ! - An achievement that would rank at the top in any good International School. A big well done to Tony who has set a proud example for all to emulate! The challenge this year will, of course be, whether any of the current Year 11 can better this achievement! It is instructive that in addition to his top academic achievements Tony is also a Grade 8 Pianist, is a highly proficient Golfer and was usually deeply involved in a number of extra-curricular activities at any given time - truly an all-rounded achiever!

And the illustrious, popular and widely respected golfer, champion basket ball player, actor Mungai Ndichu was a close second scoring a brilliant four (4) A* Grades and four (4) A Grades! Once again, Mungai is a proud son of Braeside having joined the school in his early primary school years.

Janet Bett came a highly deserving third with four (4) Grade A*, three (3) Grade A and one (1) B Grade. Janet has been a steady academic performer since joining Braeside and was also a committed member of the Model United Nations, Youth Leaders International and Christian Union societies. A big well done to our three top candidates, and the many more who performed so well in this year's IGCSE session for doing us all so so proud!

Standard Curriculum Tests (SATs)

Also very pleasing were this Year's results from the National Curriculum Tests (also known as SAT's) that were taken by our pupils in Year 9 last term. Seventy two pupils took the tests out of whom fifty six scored an average Level 5 or above (Level 5 is the expected level for the majority of pupils at this stage in their education) across the three core subjects of Mathematics, English and Combined Science. This overall school performance is a clear indicator that our pupils currently in Year 10 are working well towards the achievement of good grades in their final examinations and forms a basis from which further plans for improvement can be worked on. Worth noting from this very good overall performance are again the Math results where in the higher tier paper (Level 6-8) six (6) out of the ten (10) pupils who took the test scored the highest Level (8) while the remaining four (4) scored Level 7 - a remarkable achievement indeed! And in the Level 5-7 tier test sixteen pupils (16) out of the thirty five (35) who took the test also achieved the highest possible Level 7 in that paper. A big well done to all last year's Year 9 pupils for this cracking performance and particularly to our top candidates.

Tanweer Jaffer led in Mathematics with a remarkable Level 8 (122 marks), Maria Mmari led in English with a brilliant, well deserved Level 7 (72 marks) while Mimi Mundia was first in Science with a fantastic Level 7(121 marks). Taking overall top spot in this Year's SAT's was…..once again…..Tanweer Jaffer who secured Math (Level 8-122 marks), English (Level 7 - 69 marks) and Science (Level 7 - 120 marks) - A big well done to Tanweer!

SCHOOL BUSES - ALL BRAND NEW FLEET!

After over twenty eight years of faithful, steady , solid and reliable service our much [envied!] and beloved Leyland fleet of blue buses was finally retired from regular school use earlier this term. And replaced by a sparkling fleet of nine (8) brand new Tata Mini buses (sample pictured left) and one Tata sixty-eight (68) seater bus. This has been an eagerly awaited development at the school for many years and we are most grateful to our Board of Directors for having accepted and effected our proposals. The new buses will go a long way in enhancing the school image but mainly in improving the reliability, safety and comfort with which our pupils travel while on daily transport or on school trips and excursions.

SCHOOL CANTEEN - NOW OPEN!

After years upon years of requests from pupils for the establishment of a School Canteen the doors to one opened within the High School section at the beginning of term. And judging by the large queues that form up at Break and Lunch times, pupils are enjoying the facility tremendously and utilising it effectively. It is noteworthy that pupils are very quickly learning how to manage change and choice for maximum advantage.

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE HALL / NEW CLASSES & ICT LABS

Progress towards the completion of construction of our School Performance Hall (Theatre) has been a little slow, hampered by various issues external to the school, but the good news is that the specially designed theatre seats have now arrived and the Braeburn Workshops are preparing to commence work on fitting them in. Fitting of the ceiling, touching up of the floors and setting up of the lighting are then on next. We are looking forward to its completion any time soon.
Construction of the four new High School classes is set to resume soon, pending the granting of planning permissions, but in the meantime a pair of pre-fabricated classrooms was set up in the summer holiday and are already in full use. These are going a long way in ensuring that class sizes are kept to a strictly manageable number so as to provide as much individualised attention to each pupil as we possibly can.

The ICT labs were moved out of their previous accommodation in the summer holiday and into rooms under the main school performance hall. Serious work is on-going at the minute to ensure that they are brought to full and proper use by the commencement of the second half of this term on the 23 October 2006. Likewise, a fully equipped Audio - Visual suite is also being developed in the adjacent space to the ICT labs and this too is set for full use in the second half of term.

CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP CENTRE, 2006

Following seven highly successful years as a Cambridge International Examinations Centre Braeside High School joined the prestigious group of only a few select Centres worldwide when earlier this month we were awarded the Cambridge International Fellowship Centre status. The benefits of this status are numerous and include Amazon vouchers of up to £200 for our use, a free place at a Teacher Training event, features in the local and international press regarding our new status, a link from the Cambridge website direct to our website and an amazing opportunity for our top IGCSE student to win a higher education scholarship of up to £1,000 per annum for up three years! We welcome this development and recognition as a most positive step in motivating our pupils and staff to keep aiming high.

INDIANA AFRICAN FESTIVAL REPORT - JULY 2006

Representatives from Braeside High School participated in the African Cultural festival in Indianapolis, USA over the summer break. Our pupils put on a great show and shared the stage with many professional groups from Africa and other parts of the world. Due to this successful venture, we were most honoured by the organiser's invitation for us to attend next year's event as well! From the report, the children had a breathtaking experience and learned to work hard as a team during rehearsals. In addition to performing at the festival itself the group was also invited to make a presentation at a Lutheran Church in Carmel, Indiana. They also visited Buckley University and the Indiana Museum amongst many other activities. A fun time was had by all and we look forward to making this an annual event for our talented pupils in the Music Department.

The Braeside High School group attending the festival included; Mrs. Kaumbulu (Deputy Headteacher), Camila Chebet, Jeevanjyot Ghaley and Eva Nganga.

BRAESIDE HIGH SCHOOL MOUNT KENYA EXPEDITION - JULY 2006

This year was our first ever attempt to take a group of students up the full extent of Mount Kenya - and it was a brilliant success! Under the auspices of the President's Award Scheme, and as part of the requirements for the fulfilment of the Gold Standard our group of thirty three hit the track up the mountain and after a gruelling experience ten of these were to emerge successfully 'riding above the clouds' to complete the challenge. These successful pupils are now in the process of completing the other sections of the programme and it is expected that in August next year they will receive their well deserved awards from The Honourable President of the Republic of Kenya at State House, Nairobi. A big big well done to the entire group for their perseverance and determination is completing this invaluable youth programme!

YOUTH LEADERS INTERNATIONAL - GRADUATING CLASS OF 2006, CAMBRIDGE, UK

The culmination of three years of leadership training for the five YLI students from Braeside High representing their country and continent was a colourful graduation ceremony at the Girton College, Cambridge UK. The five Gichuhi Kamau, Sam Kagochi, Gitonga Geteria, Nomaqhawe Ndlovu, Njoki Chege and their counsellor, Ms. Winnie Mbithe also took part in the Cambridge Challenge (a survey of the Camnbridge area), visited the magnificent Kings College with its beautiful historic chapel, held a discussion on international conflict resolution amongst many other activities in what was a very busy schedule indeed. But it was all worth it when they were called up in twos at the end of the week to receive their certificates to the rapturous applause of their colleagues from all parts of the world - and only then did they realise the impact they had had on all present. Well done to you all!

DIARY

HALF-TERM BREAK

The half term break commences 4:00 pm today, Friday 13 October 2006 and runs through to Sunday, 22 October 2006. Pupils are expected back in school at 8:00 am on Monday, 23 October 2006 to resume the second half of this term. We take this opportunity to wish you a restful, peaceful, fruitful holiday!

SCHOOL MUSICAL - ROMEO LOVES JULIET

This year's School Musical production officially opens this evening at the Braeburn Theatre along Gitanga Road. Our pupils and staff have worked hard over the last few months to get it together and from the response at yesterday's School's Show it is bound to be another great Braeside High hit! The show is set in a small pub named VERONA and is about the old rivalry of Shakespeare's Montague and Capulet families with the battle lines drawn over the question, Who actually wrote the Complete Works of Shakespeare? How then does Romeo, a Montague get to love Juliet, a Capulet? Come and join us a we see the plot unfold!

IDD - UL - FITR

Idd has now been gazetted as a public holiday on Tuesday, 24 October 2006, straight after the half- term break. This means that pupils will report back on Monday 23 October 2006 but that the school will again close for one day on the gazetted holiday. Many of our Muslim children have worked hard to observe their holy month of Ramadhan and I am sure all are looking forward to its successful completion. We take this opportunity to wish all our parents, guardians and pupils Eid Mubarak / Eid Macbul

FORMAL ASSESSMENTS - TEST WEEK 2

Due to the announcement of the Idd public holiday on the 24 October 2006 all formal assessments scheduled for the week straight after half term will now commence on Wednesday, 25 October 2006 and run through to Tuesday, 31 October 2006. Pupils have been reminded to make good use of the long half-term break in revision and practice of work that will be tested during the scheduled sessions.

Jack Kimutai
HEADTEACHER & ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD

12th anniversary 1994- 2006

Celebrating a proud decade of quality education!

Braeside is a member of the Braeburn Group of International Schools and incorporates an Early Years Unit, a Primary and a Secondary School. Programmes of study adhere to the British National Curriculum across four Key Stages. Braeside is a friendly, orderly and secure school with a dynamic learning environment offering a refreshing balance between curricular and co-curricular activities. Braeside places a high priority on positive achievement and a strong premium on teamwork with our partners, parents and guardians.

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