Hello everyone! Good to be back after a great summer holiday. There have been loads of new things happening around the boarding community in Ashford in the last 3 months, so we're going to take this first blog of the year to give you a quick insight into what's happened.
Firstly, let's go back to the end of last term when, as the Year 13s left us, a new crop of prefects were announced, along with the all important post of School Captain. This prestigious position is a feather in the cap of all who attain it and this year that feather, for the first time, sits proudly in the cap of a boarder, Brabourne's Mo! Congratulations to her! In her short time at the school so far, Mo has been involved in virtually every aspect of school life, coming to particular prominence in debating competitions. She is an extremely popular choice as School Captain and we have no doubt that she will make a success of it. Good luck Mo!
With the new year, we have seen departures, additions and changes to the staff boarding team. We say farewell to Miss Swaine, Miss Salter, Miss Meja and after a stalwart eight years in Alfred House, Mr Atkinson. Good luck to them all in their future positions. The team has been augmented by the arrival of Mr Ireland (Alfred), Mr Field (Gap student), Mr Bragge (Brooke-Refuge) and Mr Vafidis (Brooke-Refuge and ASIC, more on that later). Mr Kadinopoulos has moved down the hill to become Head of ASIC with Mr Appleton stepping into his shoes in Alfred House. Last but certainly not least we also welcome Miss Beroule as the new Assistant House Parent of ASIC.
Most importantly we welcome all our new students, from all around the world, as they join our boarding community and become an integral part of Ashford School. We hope you have a fantastic time with us and I'm sure you'll make the very best of it.
Perhaps the biggest change to boarding this year has been the opening (after 5 years of careful planning) of ASIC house. Previously Bridge House and once the site of the school nursery, ASIC is part of the new face of Ashford boarding also being home to the new Ashford School International Centre. The new centre's role will be to offer intensive 1-year courses (this year IGCSE only) to international students to help improve their English language skills and enable them to join the main school. They will also board in the house.
Building work for ASIC finished at the end of July and was officially opened on 25th August. In his speech to those assembled, Chairman of Governors Mr Massey thanked those who had made the venture possible, not least our own Mr Cuffley (Head of Operations) and Mr Single (Head of Boarding) who saw the project through from conception and Mr Connolly (Head of Maintenance) whose team oversaw the construction.
In the weeks following the handover the facilities team, in all their guises, worked tirelessly to bring the house up to the wonderful state in which it welcomed our newest group of boarders. Particular thanks must go to Mr Pallett, Mrs Rowell, Mr Connolly and Mr Ricks and their respective teams for ensuring every aspect was as good as it could have been.
So, the big day, Tuesday 1st September came around and once the new children had trod the well worn circle around Brake Hall (thanks to the EAL, Admissions and Medical teams and Mrs Pender) the bags started to arrive - thanks Tom, Steve, Bill and Dan - shortly followed by the new ASIC boarders many accompanied by their slightly nervous parents. As first impressions go, we don't know whether the children were more impressed with the house or Miss B and Mr K were with their charges. Polite yet good humoured, they soon began to settle in, mingling with each other over games of giant Jenga. They clearly have the Ashford boarding spirit down to a 'T'. This was made even clearer, when AIB joined Mr K on boarding duty and witnessed some of the boarders helping their housemaster unload the new dishes and stack the dishwasher.
The first couple of days of the year came and went and though there were the usual uncertainties and occasional loss of direction, our new boarders soon began to find their feet. Maria from Russia walked straight into the chamber choir! Having heard the sound of the big band while doing his EAL tests Zuka from Georgia asked straight away to go and check it out. His fellow HMC scholar Tini had, by the end of Friday, signed up for 4 different activities and this a year 12 student! As she'd earlier said to Mr K, she is determined to make the most of her year here, and we believe she will.
Indeed, as we all walked up to the refectory one evening in the second week and it was clear that many were not a little tired after their first ten days, Tini gave the meaning to all we do and will always do here:
"If it's good, it's worth working for." Indeed so!
Welcome back everyone and have a great year!
N.B. If you have anything that you would like to see on the blog, please let Mr K know as soon as possible and we'll get it uploaded. We want to hear from you!
