With last week's theme being 'Responsibility' and this being anti-bullying week, staff and pupils have been encouraged to think seriously about our role in the world. Many of our boarders have already taken this to heart this term by volunteering for some of the community service opportunities available here at Ashford School.
Monday saw the unveiling of one such service, the new group of Sixth Form peer mentors and there were several members of the boarding community who, having proudly collected their badges from the Headmaster last week, gave an assembly to introduce themselves to the rest of the school.
The peer mentoring system is designed to give any pupil in school friendly faces and willing listners that they can go to with any issue or problem that they may have.
Nowhere is this more vital than within boarding, so wanting to know a little more about the role and the people involved, AIB met with new peer mentors Fiona, Kitty and Toby (all Brabourne) and asked them first of all what encouraged them to get involved.
New boarder Toby thought that it might help her to get to know more about the school and that she "liked helping people and listening." Kitty added that it would help her to improve her communication (particularly listening) skills. Fiona considered it a chance to do what others had done for her in the past and help simply "because I can."
It appears strange that when asked about the training they received, all three girls brought up how it was stressed that they don't actually advise anyone as to what to do. "[We were told] to share their thoughts, not to offer solutions." Toby said. It's not a question of not helping though. "We can research together, help them reflect, be a shoulder for them." Fiona added while Kitty elaborated "[We should] follow what they want to do and not what we think is right. Don't judge it the same way [we do], we will feel differently."
Indeed, as part of the training they were asked to listen to a description of someone's holiday and every time they thought it related to them, they had to put their hand up. Fiona explained the object of this exercise: "The moment we start to relate to something they say, it becomes about us. We need to process information while keeping a distance."
Despite this 'distance', the empathy these girls felt for thier colleagues and friends was palpable. When talking about the younger year groups, Kitty put it it very eloquently: "What their mind does is what what ours did." As the for those who stay at school, for whom the mentors will be available in 2-hour slots in Brooke at the weekend, Fiona was clear: "[What they talk to us about] may not have worried them during the week, because of school stresses. Things like homesickness. As boarders [ourselves] we've been through it."
Just sitting and listening to Fiona, Toby and Kitty was an inspiring experience. Not only was it obvious that they were the right people for the job, it was comforting to feel that should there be any boarder who is concerned, worried or upset about anything, we know that there are mature,caring and dedicated people willing to lend an ear and help them through. Just look for the long, green badge, they're there for you.
Thursday 21 November 2013
Sunday 17 November 2013
Broadening Horizons
The half term has come and gone in a rumble of suitcases, a fluttering of permission forms, the squeaking of taxi breaks and the thunk of the house doors as they open once again to welcome our boarders back. Though many had spent the ten-day break deep in deserved relaxation or some early revision work, a number of our our cultured community took to the Eurostar, along with Mr Smith, Mr Hughes, Mr Raynor and Miss Garcia, pour un grand weekend á Paris.
In an action packed itineraire, our Year 12 artists took sampled a smorgasbord of the highlights of the French capital's artistic treasures including: Le Musée D'Orsay, Le Musée D'art Moderne, the Eiffel Tower, the Tuillerie Gardens, the FIAC international art festival at Le Grand Palais and even managed a stroll around the chic Latin Quarter and Pere Lachaise cemetery, final resting place of ancient and modern celebrities alike.
Two of the group, Zekai and Shanahan, took some time out from their studies to come to talk to AIB about their experiences in the City of Lights.
When asked what they enjoyed most about the trip the answers varied not so much detail but in scale. Zekai appreciated the wider viewpoint, "I got to know more about the situation of art these days." Indeed, there wouldn't be too many other places where you could have such a varied look at different types of art.
Shanahan, whose prolific talent can be viewed in many areas of the school, pinpointed, not a famous museum, but the FIAC modern art festival as his highlight. "You would have to travel a lot around the world to see such a mixture of art." he enthused. One piece in particular caught his attention, a common-or-garden shopping receipt enlarged to wall-size. "Although I didn't understand the French writing, the way it was presented was really fun! I learnt a lot."
We cannot underestimate the educational benefits of such trips and it's not just subject-related either. Independently dealing with different situations is just as, if not more, important. Shanahan exemplified this astutely with his next point; "[When allowed some time by themselves] we couldn't speak or understand the language, so we had to try to find different ways of communicating; gesturing, body language etc." He didn't say whether or not they were understood!
Paris, no doubt, left an indelible mark on our two artistic explorers, but again, in very different ways. An early morning ascent of the Eiffel Tower proved quite something for Zekai, "I will never forget the sunbeams coming through the clouds." he said.
For Shanahan, the special came through the mundane, a lunch at the Chartier restaurant, "They had old-fashioned luggage racks above the tables," he mused. "People put their motorbike helmets on them. I'd never seen a resaurant like that [before]."
It doesn't matter which way you look at it, through a sunbeam, a luggage rack or a giant receipt, art, as beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and the experience of it won't be leaving these boarders in a hurry. When asked if this trip had inspired them to go back to Paris, on their own, the answer was emphatic: "Yes, we'd go again!"
The Paris art trip hasn't been the only chance the boarders have had to head off to foreign climes. A couple of weeks previous to this a group of A-Level physicists travelled to CERN, in Switzerland, to visit the Large Hadron Collider.
Now, in matters of particle physics AIB is largely ignorant, so it was with some trepidation that enquieries were made into the highlight of the trip. It turned out however, that this involved somewhat larger particles (a physics student, a bicycle and a park bench) coming together at some speed (admitted lower than the particles in the collider). The identity of said student will remain hidden, for privacy's sake - though the pronounced limp gave it away for a while.
More amazing trips will be coming our way over the course of the year, not least of all the ski trip. More on that when it happens. Before we share some of the great pictures from our boarder's recent adentures, AIB would like to give an extra large thank you to all the teaching staff who give up their time to make these trips happen.
(Top and above) Terrence and Shanahan in the zone and in their own space while (below) Derek and co. admire some Damien Hirst at the FIAC festival
Despite the efforts of this kindly old Parisian gentleman Mr Smith manages to locate the rest of the group.
Zekai aks Mr Hughes why he would want to take a picture of his shoes (left).
(Right) everyone strikes a pose at Pere Lachaise
In an action packed itineraire, our Year 12 artists took sampled a smorgasbord of the highlights of the French capital's artistic treasures including: Le Musée D'Orsay, Le Musée D'art Moderne, the Eiffel Tower, the Tuillerie Gardens, the FIAC international art festival at Le Grand Palais and even managed a stroll around the chic Latin Quarter and Pere Lachaise cemetery, final resting place of ancient and modern celebrities alike.
Two of the group, Zekai and Shanahan, took some time out from their studies to come to talk to AIB about their experiences in the City of Lights.
When asked what they enjoyed most about the trip the answers varied not so much detail but in scale. Zekai appreciated the wider viewpoint, "I got to know more about the situation of art these days." Indeed, there wouldn't be too many other places where you could have such a varied look at different types of art.
Shanahan, whose prolific talent can be viewed in many areas of the school, pinpointed, not a famous museum, but the FIAC modern art festival as his highlight. "You would have to travel a lot around the world to see such a mixture of art." he enthused. One piece in particular caught his attention, a common-or-garden shopping receipt enlarged to wall-size. "Although I didn't understand the French writing, the way it was presented was really fun! I learnt a lot."
We cannot underestimate the educational benefits of such trips and it's not just subject-related either. Independently dealing with different situations is just as, if not more, important. Shanahan exemplified this astutely with his next point; "[When allowed some time by themselves] we couldn't speak or understand the language, so we had to try to find different ways of communicating; gesturing, body language etc." He didn't say whether or not they were understood!
Paris, no doubt, left an indelible mark on our two artistic explorers, but again, in very different ways. An early morning ascent of the Eiffel Tower proved quite something for Zekai, "I will never forget the sunbeams coming through the clouds." he said.
For Shanahan, the special came through the mundane, a lunch at the Chartier restaurant, "They had old-fashioned luggage racks above the tables," he mused. "People put their motorbike helmets on them. I'd never seen a resaurant like that [before]."
It doesn't matter which way you look at it, through a sunbeam, a luggage rack or a giant receipt, art, as beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and the experience of it won't be leaving these boarders in a hurry. When asked if this trip had inspired them to go back to Paris, on their own, the answer was emphatic: "Yes, we'd go again!"
The Paris art trip hasn't been the only chance the boarders have had to head off to foreign climes. A couple of weeks previous to this a group of A-Level physicists travelled to CERN, in Switzerland, to visit the Large Hadron Collider.
Now, in matters of particle physics AIB is largely ignorant, so it was with some trepidation that enquieries were made into the highlight of the trip. It turned out however, that this involved somewhat larger particles (a physics student, a bicycle and a park bench) coming together at some speed (admitted lower than the particles in the collider). The identity of said student will remain hidden, for privacy's sake - though the pronounced limp gave it away for a while.
More amazing trips will be coming our way over the course of the year, not least of all the ski trip. More on that when it happens. Before we share some of the great pictures from our boarder's recent adentures, AIB would like to give an extra large thank you to all the teaching staff who give up their time to make these trips happen.
(Top and above) Terrence and Shanahan in the zone and in their own space while (below) Derek and co. admire some Damien Hirst at the FIAC festival
Zekai aks Mr Hughes why he would want to take a picture of his shoes (left).
(Right) everyone strikes a pose at Pere Lachaise
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