Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! We hope you all had an excellent restful holiday and are now raring to go for 2016.

Well, there have been lots of exciting things to report at the start of this spring term. Our year 11 and 12s have been busy with their mock exams during the these first couple of weeks and, judging by many of the results that we’ve already heard about, they should be on for some excellent grades this summer. Well done for getting through the mocks and also a big well done to all your teachers who have had to mark them! Isn’t that right Mr Vafidis?!

In other news, congratulations to boys boarding captain Sam on his offer to read Mathematics next year in Cambridge. We wish you luck with the process Sam. Congratulations are also due to Helena from Brabourne and Amanda from ASIC who have both won prizes in this year’s Ashford Photography competition. AIB will be joining them at the awards’ ceremony at Ashford College on 27^th January (Photos will follow) Well done girls!

Our boarders have been in fine form on the sports’ field too as our First Basketball team including Sam, Manson, Jackson, Peter, Balthazar, Michael, Marcus, Matthew and Zheng have put together a string of victories recently including a hard fought 58-53 win over the North School followed by and even more convincing 58-45 result against the same opposition. With captain Matthew pulling the strings and Manson and Marcus driving, Balthazar and Michael made an unstoppable combo at the net. Coming to a court near you!

Mandy and her team of boarders have also been busy organising the festivities for next month’s Chinese New Year. There’ll be a dinner and fireworks as well as an assembly (Traditionally organised by the EAL department) to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Monkey. There’ll be more on this next time out.

Over in ASIC Mr K and Miss B have a new team of staff to help out and look after their boarders: Mr Vafidis remains, new CCF SSI Mr Burke, German assistant Miss Schorpp, Mr Butt and Mr Munteanu join. A great mix of old and new! Many thanks to Mr Vaughan and Mrs Williams for all your help last term.

Talking of Mr Burke, he has been working hard to start up Ashford School’s first CCF (Combined Cadet Force) contingent. An extremely informative assembly last Friday gave us all an insight of what new recruits could learn and become a part of should they join up. Every Wednesday from 15:45 to 17:15 they’ll be taking part in amongst other things: drills, field craft, navigation skills, skill at arms and various types of adventure training. More importantly, Mr Burke pointed out, CCF will develop leadership qualities and a sense of team spirit. Head along to the CCF Firefly page if you’d like to know more or find Mr Burke and ask him yourselves.

It won’t have escaped the eagle-eyed attention of most that we now have a new Head of Boarding, Mr Liston, who joins us from The Priory Academy LSST in Lincoln, and before that Cranbrook School, to take over the role vacated by the departure of Mr Single to Bournemouth Collegiate. Mr Liston, along with his wife and two children, has settled well into Ashford School and has quickly become a firm part of the community. It’s no mean feat to take over a management position one term into a school year, so AIB has been very lucky to take-up a few minutes of Mr Liston’s precious time for a few words of welcome and some gentle interrogation.

 

Q. What are your first thoughts about the boarding community at Ashford School and how do you think you’ve settled in?

The students and staff seem lovely and have been very welcoming. What struck me immediately about the school was that there is a wide cultural and linguistic diversity amongst the boarding population - which is a joy to be a part of – and yet such a strong sense of community.

Q. How does your role here compare with those you played in LSST and Cranbrook and what will you bring to it?

All three are very different schools and so each role was and will be different, but ultimately the role of leading a boarding house or leading a boarding community is largely universal. What will I bring? Well, I’d say, commitment, enthusiasm and a desire to ensure that Ashford School continues to be a place in which people can grow, thrive and learn; to live the adventure in a warm and nurturing atmosphere.

 

Q. What are your hobbies and interests outside of your job?

My family, first and foremost, spending time with my two lovely children, Ollie and Orla. For my sins I enjoy reading political biographies and running, cycling and swimming (all of which I do badly! laughs)

 

Q. What do you think the future holds for boarding in Ashford School?

There are already so many positives that need to be held onto, but there is also so much potential to move boarding here forward.

Q. Describe yourself in one sentence.

I’ll leave that one up to you.

 

On that enigmatic note, we’ll say goodbye for now and wish Mr Liston an excellent start to his new post and look forward to seeing how boarding in Ashford progresses with him at the helm.