Moving forward - in good health

Welcome back to Ashford School Trinity term, followers of AIB! I hope you’ve all had an enjoyable Spring break.

This week’s blog will herald in the new Ashford School prefects, look forward to the looming exams and cast a well-deserved spotlight on the ladies that look after our health.

New Prefects

10:40 Thursday morning. Anxious Year 12 faces huddled around the noticeboard by the sixth form common room, or hunched over computers and smartphones waiting for the email on the VLE that could shape their future. They were awaiting the confirmation of whether or not they were to be the latest in the line of school prefects, Ashford School’s vanguard and ambassadors for the year to come.

The process had begun with 66 student applications and over 90 student and staff recommendations last term. As Mr Thompson then informed Yr 12 on Thursday morning, it had moved onto a rigorous selection process, conducted over 2 hours by Mr Thompson, other senior teachers and the current prefects. Names had been mulled over, considered, discarded then reconsidered. Now it was time. The email sent and pinged up across 100s of phone and computer screens across the school; the notice went up.

As the eye scans over the sheet of names, it is clear to see how much of an influence our boarders will have on the school in the coming year: Ed, Yana and Daichi, Judy, Shanahan and Vicky, Janice, Toby and Claudia, Gleb and Summer. These eleven would be part of a team of 35 that would become the faces of Ashford School. Congratulations to you all!

AIB was up in the EAL department with Judy and Toby when the email came in. The relief was palpable, the smiles a mile wide. Even after six short months at the school, they knew what this meant, they understood the significance but more to the point, they understood the work that was yet to come. We here have no doubt that they and all the rest will be up to the job!

 

A testing time

The new prefects will take over from their Year 13 colleagues on the 9^th June when their study leave ends. In a week’s time Yr 11-13’s lesson timetable will be suspended while they undertake their GCSEs, ASs and A2s. For each year group this is the most important exam that they will have ever taken and will have a significant impact on their near future. The Yr 13s, after having received their university offers, now need to make it happen, while, for the Year 11s this will be their first taste of formal exam pressure. Over the coming weeks AIB will be interviewing boarding students from the three exam year groups to see how they are doing and what the future will look like for them. For now, good luck with the remainder of your revision everyone!

Medical Attention

Just before the beginning of the term a glaring oversight was brought to AIB’s attention. Though we have previously spoken of peer mentors, house staff, activity co-ordinators and other students we had failed to highlight the fantastic job that our three school nurses do for the boarding community here at Ashford School. Apologies Sister Field, Sister Hall and Sister McCormack, the stage is now yours:

It is perhaps the most fundamental thing in life, our health. If we’re not fit and healthy, it’s difficult to be happy and work/study as well as we could. If we are unfortunate to have an accident, suffer a sport’s injury or are taken seriously ill, it is vital that we get the rest and recuperation we need. Usually this will be at home but for our boarders the Medical Centre, staffed by the three school nurses and aided by the school doctor, Dr Riches and the school councillor Ms London, provide this all important care. These staff are in constant contact with both boarding staff and parents to inform and update on any issues concerning boarders’ health.

Nothing is too big or too small for the ladies in blue. Weather is not an issue; AIB first came across Sister Field on a miserably cold and rainy Saturday afternoon, up at Ashford Rugby Club, providing much needed first aid support for our 1^st and Development XVs (I know Bruce was very grateful!). Neither is time; if anyone is ever ill in the boarding house, whether day or night, they’re on the other end of the line. Most importantly, you will be treated with the same confidentiality, care and compassion if you have a broken ankle or a nasty head-cold or you simply need someone to talk to about something that’s bothering you.

Thank you to all the Med Centre team for everything that you do for us! Hopefully we won’t need to see you too often!

Take care everyone and see you next time.