Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back from the long holidays. There have been major changes during the holidays. The construction of our Science Lab and Music Room is now complete. We have a new school mini-bus, new computers, a data projector and new school shirt bearing the Braeburn logo and many other exciting resources.

The majority of items ordered from overseas will arrive next week; these include new textbooks, resources for all classes and equipment for the science lab. The music order has already arrived included in this are flutes, clarinets, a saxophone, violins, a Yamaha 'Portable Grand' electric piano. This is part of our ongoing commitment to music and the performing arts in all of the Braeburn schools.

We also have two new members of staff (not including myself). Mr Geoffrey Nyongesa has joined us to teach Art and Geography, Mr David Makokha, a familiar name to many parents has joined us as a year 2 teacher.

The school day has also changed; I have included a reminder of the school day structure.
To be able to deliver the curriculum effectively over the recommended time scale, changes to the structure of the school have been necessitated. Please note that Music, Sports lessons and Swimming are timetabled within the school day. Lessons will be 1 hour long but have been halved and breaks will be extended for our younger students.

The school is structured:-

8.00 - 8.10 Form period/ registration
8.10 - 9.10 Lesson 1
9.10 - 10.10 Lesson 2
10.10 - 10.25 Break
10.25 - 11.25 Lesson 3
11.25 - 12.25 Lesson 4
12.25 - 1.05 Lunch
1.05 - 2.05 Lesson 5
2.05 - 3.05 Lesson 6
3.05 - 4.05 (or later) Clubs and activities

Clubs and activities will begin next week. Forms have been included with this letter. Please return the completed forms by Thursday in order to allow activities to begin on Monday. Clubs choices will be given out on Friday. Parents and students are reminded to pack and bring correct kit.

New school polo shirts and T-shirts are available from the school office.

All students have been issued with a school diary in which they record the homework set each day and the date the work is to be handed in. Parents can check the homework set and sign it daily in the case of the primary and weekly in the case of the secondary. Parents can also use the diary to make comments if they wish and communicate with the school and teachers. Subject teachers and Form Tutors may use the diaries to pass information or comments about students to the parents.
Children who are excused from swimming or games should bring a note from their parents.
This term' calendar of events has also been issued with this newsletter.

A note from the Music department:-
All students who wish to sign up for Music lessons with the peripatetic teacher please see Ms. Winnie or Mr. Ken ideally before the end of week1.
The London School of Music, a new examining body has been introduced in Kenya. For further details, please contact Ms. Winnie.
Any parents who wish to play an instrument as part of the school band are most welcome to talk to the music teachers.
Please note that payments for music lessons will not be invoiced by the school. Any payments should be made directly to Mr. Ken.

Notes from the Early Years department:-
Swimming will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays this year. Please inflate any floaters to be used before bringing them to school. Games will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays we will have 'Show and Tell'. Please remember to bring a change of clothes for your children.

I wish all a successful year.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Hill
Head teacher