Welcome back everyone and Happy New Year! We hope you had
and fun-filled and relaxing holiday.
Before we get on to the business of the blog, can we take
this opportunity to wish all those who are unwell at the moment a speedy
recovery and extend heartfelt thanks to our medical team, headed by Nurse Field
and all the members of the boarding staff, who have been working so hard to look
after you all.
Well, the Christmas decorations are down, bags long since
un-packed and the new term is well and truly under way. For many this has meant
mock exams, as the Year 11s and 13s test their knowledge of their courses so
far and (for the 11s) have a first-hand experience of a formal exam situation.
It has been testament to the environment here that, although the pressure has
been on, the atmosphere in the boarding houses has remained light and positive.
A new term also means new boarding trips and we’ve already
had a group enjoying the sights and sounds of Canterbury and this weekend the
history of Dover Castle. Thank you to Miss Ith for leading the trips and for
all the staff who have been involved. Fun tuesday has been at Battle Zone again and if anything the competition was ben more fierce than last time.
The beginning of the year traditionally sees the departure
of last year’s gap students and heralds the arrival of our new ones. I’m sure
you’ll join us by thanking Miss Hurley, Miss Parks and Mr Richards for all the
great work they did while at Ashford School. We wish them every success for the
future.
Fresh-faced and raring to go the present group are here and
beginning to get to grips with life in Ashford. As is our practice here at AIB,
we have asked our new boarding staff a few questions about themselves and their
aspirations for the coming year. One thing we can say about all of them is that
they all have a great sense of humour, as you’ll soon see.
One name might be familiar to many, as we welcome the
younger member of the Vevers family. Joining him is Miss Salter, also from
Australia (Sydney, to be exact) and Miss Wilson who joins us from Cape Town,
South Africa. We hope you enjoy their responses:
How would you
describe yourself?
Mr Vevers: Sergeant
major of the banter brigade
Miss Wilson: Fun loving, pancake burning, photo taking, Barbie
playing aspiring astronaut and international knitter. (May well need to attend Mr. Rayner’s cookery club then)
Miss Salter: Australian
What do you enjoy
doing in your spare time?
Miss Wilson: Protecting
my hands from frostbite, learning how not to burn pancakes and discovering how
to use the London underground without losing myself (with much help).
Mr. Vevers: taking long
walks on the beach and helping old people across the road.
Miss Salter: Swimming at the beach, going to Sainsbury’s
and planning trips to explore England.
What should the boarders know about you?
S: Don’t talk to me
before 10am (good luck with that one!)
W: I am a
renowned food lover. Don't come near me with anything that looks tasty -
it will be devoured. (not pancakes
then)
V: I played for
Uganda in their World Cup Qualifier in football (Did they get through now?)
What do you think you will bring to your
post and the school as a whole?
V: A ‘can do’ attitude.
W: South
African sarcasm, a wide and foreign vocabulary of '' bru's '', '' takkies ''
and '' just now's '' and no cooking skills whatsoever! (I think we may have picked up on the last
one with the pancakes)
What are you most looking forward to in the
months ahead?
S: Wearing shorts
outside
W: I'm greatly
looking forward to educating the population about the goodness of biltong,
learning how to greet by saying 'you alright?' And somehow developing a tan to
prove this winter wrong (A quick glance
out of the window shows a blizzard in full flow!)
V: Having my first
kiss
Joking
aside, our gap students play a vital role in helping the boarders, especially
in their evening and weekend activities. They have also been ably manning some
of the boarding houses while the children have been ill. We are sure that you
will all make them feel welcome and that they will, in turn, enjoy their time
with us. Judging by Miss Salter answer
to her first impressions of the school, this has already begun:
“Creds to that lovely girl
who showed me the way to the library on my first day and to the boys who said “thank
you” to me for holding the door open for them. I wish I had your names to
say thanks, you really started off my time here well!”
That’s just the Ashford
way. Have fun all, mind the snow and see you next time.
