United in diversity

As promised in the last blog, here are a few of the names that make boarding at Ashford School as great as it is:

Brooke and Refuge: Yr6-Yr13 Boys
Mr Single, Head of Boarding at Ashford School
and Housemaster
Mrs Cashdan, House Matron
Mr Munteanu, House Tutor
Mr Dudley, House Tutor
Mr Forse, House Tutor
Jessica, the cat.

Brabourne: Girls' House
Mrs Single, Deputy head of Boarding
and House Mistress
Mrs Connel, House Matron
Miss Cawardine, House Tutor
Miss Jelfs, House Tutor  
Mrs Barber, House Tutor


Mrs Penfold, 'Floating Matron'
Mr and Mrs Rayner, House Tutors at Brooke and Refuge and Brabourne House

Alfred: Yr10 - Yr13 Boys
Mr Vaughan, Housemaster
Mrs Eagle ,House Matron
Mr Kadinopoulos, House Tutor
Mr Atkinson, House Tutor
Mr Straw, House Tutor
Dr Wood, House Tutor


Now, each and every one of these people are dedicated to providing a home from home for our 150 plus boarders (apologies to any I may have missed). In this too are Boarding Captain, Bruce; Deputy Boarding Captain and Head of Brabourne, Vlada and Joon, Head of Alfred, and it's them along with all our boarding boys and girls that really make the place what it is.

What with the new school year well and truly under way and what with so much going on, it is often easy to forget that many of the boarders here are new to Ashford and also new to Britain! Thousands of miles from their homes in China, Russia, Kazakhstan and others, they are trying out life in a different culture, with all the possible shocks that could bring.

With this in mind, during the last week, we have been asking some of our new boarders what their first weeks in Ashford School and boarding have been like. Here are some of their thoughts, but first some words from the present Year 13 Boarding Captain, Bruce:

"It has been my honour to be a part of the Ashford boarding community. As this was my first time being in a boarding school, I was really concerned about how it would be before I came here. This thought was then erased by the warm welcome from the staff and the past boarders. Ashford creates a comfortable environment for boarders to socialise . There are loads of social activities in school , such as trips and workshops during weekends."

Yr 10:

Alex: "By the end of the first week I liked everything: people, food, sports, teachers and of course, mates."

Angel: "[over the first week] The boarding house has filled up with love and joy and I've got to know lots of friends. Everyone has been very generous and friendly."

Jonathan: "I like school assemblies because I can share that feeling that I am a part of the school...We can think of ourselves as a body, this makes us feel close...In sports activities people always praise and encourage each other."

This feeling of unity was echoed by Vova who "liked the system of boarding that mixed people from different countries together. This helps to improve language skills and make new international friends."

Wonderful demonstrations of these points of view were to be seen this last week as a number of boarders turned up on damp Saturday morning at Ashford Rugby Club to cheer on their friends as Ashford School took on (and narrowly lost to) Buckswood.

Boarding Captain Bruce (more from Bruce in later blogs I'm sure!) was in the thick of it, making tough tackles and taking a nasty knock himself, though he soon cheerfully shook it off. New boarder Mwaniki was only making his second appearance; seasoned campaigner Michael put in some ferocious hits and generally got in Buckswood faces and Subair threatened with some sparkling runs and had a deserved try controversially disallowed. Over on the Development 15 pitch, boarders Chak, Howard, Islam, Farid, Dan, Petr, L.A., Yuri and Mischa all put in sterling efforts in a brave defeat. Well done to all the boys!

On Thursday night it was the Chinese Autumn festival to mark the Autumn Equinox and Bruce had organised a Sparkler night in which, with the help of Mr Cowan and Mr Vaughan, the boarders joyfully lit up Upper Nightingale Field. Though it is a Chinese festival, boarders from many countries joined in with the festivities and Mr K even learnt a bit of Cantonese (thanks Kevin!)

The following day, before even the last crumbs of Moon Cake had been swept up from some of the rooms, Bruce was canvassing our Eastern European boarders as to what festival they'd like to celebrate later in the year.

Keeping up our different cultures' traditions can comfort those so far from home, but sharing them with others keeps our community strong.

Wet and wild at Chessington

Hello everyone and welcome to Adventures in Boarding, the Ashford School boarding blog. We will introduce you to some of our members next week, but first an adventure at the World of Adventures.

Adventurers

Though a smudgy blanket of cloud had settled over the M25 and begun to spatter its raindrops somewhat absent-mindedly across the landscape, it hadn’t dampened the atmosphere aboard the boarders’ coach for Chessington World of Adventures.

Filing though the gates of the park, bright umbrellas began to sprout amongst the group and waterproofs were shuffled on epitomising the spirit of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ as they dispersed toward the many attractions.

Accessiorising Chessington style

Aiming for a leisurely start, a number of the group headed for the zoo. While the gorillas were taking a rain check, Mehnaz and her group marvelled at the languid majesty of the Asiatic lions and the Sumatran tigers.

Down at Sea Lion Bay, teachers Mr Kadinopoulos and Mrs Byles were educated and entertained by Danté who, with his trainer, demonstrated the differences between sea lions and seals, the dangers posed to his kin in the wild by both sharks and people (plastic) and even indulged in a spot of front-flipper break dancing – has to be seen to be believed.

Mr Single, though, headed straight for the rides, first taking on the bone-juddering Rattlesnake. Snake hunter turned paparazzi at the lunchtime roll-call as Mr S snapped away, producing grins and groans aplenty with cries of “Just one, more. That’s it! Nice big smile! Just one more!”

It's scarier than it looks

Its behind you!

Back with the animals it was feeding time too, though all agreed we’d rather stick to our sandwiches than join the tigers in their enthusiastic dismembering of ‘rancid horse’, while in the Creepy Cave Mrs Single distinguished herself with her knowledge of all things lizard.

Sumatran take away.

The reptilian theme of the afternoon continued in Wild Asia as both boarders and teachers braved the spinning, swinging Cobra ride, though reactions were varied. Some, who shall remain unnamed, clung on for dear life. Terrence and Caviar, however, flung their arms in the air while wearing face-splitting smiles and Frank sat cross-legged, arms behind his head as if enjoying a nap on a sunny Sunday morning.



Various thoughts on the Cobra

Back at the meeting point, it was clear that many had enjoyed much success at the park’s various ball games – Vladimir and Faisal clutching bespectacled ‘Minions’ – the Top Shot award though should probably go to Yana who left with a bag full of stuffed toys!





Minion 2



Minion 1

 

 

A busy day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More happy snapping followed with YiJin doing a hilarious and quite passable impression of Mr S! 

Everyone was full of smiles – Jonathan grinning from ear to ear as he told us about his encounter with ‘The Vampire’ –and everyone agreed that, despite the weather, it had been a thoroughly enjoyable day (many were even planning a return trip).

As with all trips, thanks must go to the staff (especially Mr Single) for making it possible and giving up their Saturday for the children and to our boarders for being such happy and courteous ambassadors of Ashford School. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to many more Saturday afternoon adventures!