Mad March miscellany

It's been a pretty crazy month here at Ashford School and once again our boarders have been right at the heart of it! From the wonderful impression given to the ISI inspectors to taking part in Jesus Christ Superstar and all else in between. Here are just a couple of the highlights from the last 30 days.

Putting the 'fun' into fundraising:

We have a very strong tradition of giving to charity at Ashford School. Mr Buchanan volunteered at the  Ashford Food Bank over Christmas and we are once again being encouraged to 'Phil a Bag' this Thursday.

It doesn't get much bigger than Sports Relief though. Every other year the whole country goes sports mad, doing all sorts of crazy stunts, to raise loads of cash for needy clubs and organisations helping less-advantaged people both in the UK and abroad.

By far the biggest event is the Sports Relief Mile and egged on by Mrs Fox, we ran our own version, with over 12 teams of teachers and students running 25 lengths of the sports' hall during lunchtime on Friday 21st. Boarders were well represented amongst the athletically and wackily attired groups, with many also helping to tick off the laps.

Amongst those exhorting themselves were Team EAL made up of Yr 10 boarders Yjin, Savio, Chak, Andy, Angel, Tiger and Terrence, ably asissted by Mr M, Mr K and Miss Dores (who doesn't do running, you know!). Careening off the boards, they clocked up a very respectable 5 minutes and 46 seconds. Nice one!

Team EAL, still looking fresh after their Sports Relief Mile.

We had to wait a whole ten days to find out who had pipped everyone to the post, but when Mr Wilding did announce the result, in assembly this week, it was revealed to be another team of boarders. Team DND, comprised of Jason, Frank, Faisal, Michael (sporting a fetching pink tutu on the day), Artur and Subair, sprinted to glory in and amazing 5 minutes 18 seconds!

What the result we all wanted to know was how much we had all raised. When it all came in the total stood at a whopping £900! Now that was 5 minutes well spent! Well done all!


Next up, boarding reporter Vlad gives a spell-binding account of one of our most memorable boarding trips.

Magical Mystery Tour.

On Sunday 23rd March we went on a trip to the Harry Potter studio. It took 2 hours to get there. There were lots of pictures of characters which were involved in the film. At the entrance to the Harry Potter studio was a guide who told us a little bit about the history of how it was made. After that we went to the cinema and there was an introduction. 

Afterwards we all looked in the Great Hall and then went to the museum. In there was a lot of stuff. You could see how there special effects of flying was created, through a wind. You could also see laboratories, kitchens and ice castles. Then you can see a design of all the buildings and the final one was the Hogwarts castle that took up the whole room. It looked awesome! Everyone took a photo. 

After that there was a shop. You could buy some wands (Harry Potter’s for example) or you could buy a special pillow or some posters. I think it was a great trip because I saw a lot of very good stuff and I discovered some new stuff about the main characters (about their lives, how they live, what they do) so it was great!

Final Showdown

With the end of term in sight, you would have thought that the boarders will be winding down. Not a bit of it! Tensions are tighter than watch springs for this evening's battle of the brainboxes. It's time for the Big House Quiz!

Teams of four from each house (and perhaps a staff team) will face off with each other in Alfred Sky Room at 19:45 for the honour of displaying the Prime Time Quiz Cup. Quiz Master Mr K. has set the questions that he thinks will test the little grey cells and is looing forward to a titantic contest. We'll keep you posted on the result.

For now, have a great Easter holiday all and we look forward to seeing you next term!

Addendum 02.04:

After a closely fought contest and not a little creative scoring (Felix!) the Brooke/Refuge team of Nazar, Chris, Chak and Mr M emerged victorious from the Big House Quiz. The Brabourne team of Michelle, Sumy and Karina came a valiant second, only four points behind.

In a tighter than tight finish, Chris held his nerve and beat everyone to the buzzer in the quick-fire round to clinch the all important winning points. Congratulations to Brooke/Refuge, who have now earnt the right to display the Prime Time Quiz Cup. Until next term!

Making the most of their time

It has always amazed and delighted us here at AIB to see our boarders making the very most out of all the amazing opportunities they are given here at Ashford School. In this week’s blog we are going to be looking at just three of these from across the range: the annual half term ski trip to Arosa, Switzerland, the Steinway evening of Friday 28th February and the IELTS examination on 1st March.

Taking the Piste:

Several weeks ago Mr Atkinson took a number of boarders, including Zekai, Kitty, Jonathan, Renata and Oscar to a dry ski slope to put in some practise before the trip to Switzerland. As you can see from the photos below, they learnt a lot and had a lot of fun!

Onto the real thing however and at the beginning of half term a coach left Ashford with all the skiers on board led by Dr Childs, Mr Atkinson and Mr Cuffley. The trip to Arosa was about 20hrs in total and on the way it picked up parties from other schools, including the International School of Brussels, where Mr K had first trod the boards as a stage struck 5-year old.

Each day ran a little like this: wake-up, breakfast, skiing with qualified instructor, lunch, more skiing, dinner, activities (such as treasure hunts, ice skating, discos and ski shows) and then bed. Per day the groups chalked up a total of 5 hours on the slopes. As Mr Atkinson related to AIB afterwards, not all was plain sailing.

 

Part time boarder Lukas fell foul of the exacting standards set by his Scottish instructor, but far from being put off, Lukas and his group threw themselves into it and were soon last ones in, first ones out of lunch, in their eagerness to carve up the slopes. 

He went on to tell us how Jonathan became ensnared on a gondola and instead of exiting for the Blue run (the second level of difficulty) was ejected on a Black run (the highest difficulty) and had to be escorted down by a rescue party of other students, taking several tumbles on the way (see below).

This experience doesn’t seem to have weighed to heavily on his mind as he used it to crack a joke in EAL class. While practising the modal perfect he delivered: “If I’d have learnt to do the snow plough stop, I might not have hit that tree.” A learning experience in more ways than one then! (A big thank you to Dr Childs, for organising the trip and to Mr Atkinson and Mr Cuffley for helping out)

Modest musical maestro

All-rounder Jonathan, as well as Norman and Jervis also took part in the more sedate, but just as spectacular, occasion just recently as the school’s pianists showed off their glorious Steinway pianos in style, in Friday’s Steinway Concert. All, who attended agreed it was a superb evening, including Alfred Assistant Houseparent, Mrs Williams, who gave it a double thumbs up.

Jervis (Yr 10, Alfred) was one of the stars of the show with his glittering performance of Rachmanninov’s Prelude in G Minor. Jervis has been playing the piano for about six years, though, after only four and a half, he had already achieved the distinction of Grade 8 (the highest of the Associated Board music exams). He is currently working on the next set of qualifications, the Diplomas, of which there are three. This level of attainment does come at a cost however.

 

“I had to practise my recital piece for over a month before the concert and for six hours on the day of the performance. I had to miss a day of school.” He admits. This level of effort and achievement would surely point the way to young Jervis becoming a professional concert musician. Not a bit of it!

“I’d like my playing to be a hobby,” he assures a somewhat dumbstruck AIB, “something I enjoy.” This might even include some part time teaching. Whether or not time and experience may alter this idea, such a mature attitude must be applauded. Jervis will be taking part in several music competitions in the near future and all of us here wish him every success.

Under testing circumstances:

As indeed we do to our IELTS students, who took their exam on Saturday at Chaucer College, in the historic city of Canterbury. Their score in the International English Language Testing System exam - compiled of tests in the four key disciplines of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking - would be  heavily scrutinised by future university admissions officers and might well determine which of their preferred further education courses they might embark upon. 

You may have then expected the atmosphere  on the way to the test centre to be one of quiet dread. The skies under which the coach of 35 students, together with Mr K and Miss Dores, left the school at 08:15 were gloomy and foreboding. The mood on the journey along flood-soaked fields, however, was more of busy apprehension, as spellings were checked and tricks rehearsed. 

The preparation for this had been serious. Almost every available study period, lunchtime, after school club session over the last three working weeks had been taken up doing mock exams and speaking practice sessions. Now, as the two teachers watched their charges file into the test centre with almost parental anxiety, the time had come to see if it had all payed off.

Perhaps the most daunting prospect would be the speaking exam, conducted by a stranger, on  unknown topics (On the trip back both Mis Dores and Mr K wondered if they might be able to succeed in such a test) and where not a small amount of luck was required if you were to be given one that you were familiar with. As it turned out, as AIB gleaned from some of the candidates later that evening, Lady Luck had indeed been a fickle friend. 

Harris beamed as he spoke about his test, which involved talking about favourite TV programmes. Patricia and Matthew, however, were less fortunate, having to speak about a coastline they knew well and Kevin was less than happy with his topic of ‘your favourite historical character’. The listening too, Patricia admitted had been much harder than the mock. Swings and roundabouts though; part one of the writing was virtually identical to that task on their last practice paper.

These students are, though, if anything, resilient and Caviar, Patricia, Shirley and Elaine all joked with Mr K about looking forward to seeing him again next year (should they not achieve the required 7 out of 9). You couldn’t help but admire them; thousands of miles from home, sitting a test that might alter the course of their future, in a strange town, with strangers and being so light-hearted. It could only be that they were taking this on together and together, with the help of their teachers and pastoral staff, they would succeed, come what may. (Looking forward to seeing the results in two weeks time folks!)

The Chinese New Year

新年快乐！Happy New Year! It may have started two weeks ago but there is still a festive feeling among the Hong Kong and Chinese boarders. It is now the Year of the Horse. Those of us born in the Year of the Horse are considered to be born travellers, something that might apply to many of our community. As many of you will know, like our own zodiac, the Chinese have twelve symbols, but unlike the Western one , the Chinese equivalent gives each of twelve years a symbol. But how did these come about, how did each year get its animal? Here is Vlad with a story from Ancient China:

                   What's the Story Behind the Chinese New Year?

A long time ago the Chinese Jade Emperor decided to name the 12 years of the zodiac. And he thought about animals. So he said the first twelve animals which cross the river will have a year named after them.

All animals lined up near the river. The cat and the rat which were best friends asked the ox to carry them across the river, because they were bad swimmers. And the very friendly and kind ox said OK that’s fine. As the ox swam neared the far bank of the river the rat pushed the cat off the ox and then jumped onto the grass and he came first. Good work! Said Jade you will fist zodiac of the year. Second came the ox.

“Well done!” said Jade Emperor “you will be the second zodiac year”.

After a short period of time with put a lot of effort the tiger came third. And the Emperor congratulated him with third place. Afterwards was the rabbit. It didn’t swim at all. It just jumped from stone to stone and at the end he found a big log from a tree and came fourth.

Emperor: “I am very happy that you came fourth good job!” The dragon took fifth place.

The Jade Emperor asked him: “Why you didn’t come first?”

Dragon: “I helped some people and I made rain, because they hadn’t got any water and then I saw a little rabbit on a log in the water and I blew on it and he came before me.”

 “That was very kind of you” said the Emperor “thank you.”

 Afterwards the snake was very sneaky. It was in the horses’ hooves and at the end of the river the snake jumped from horse and came sixth and the poor horse came seventh.

Not long afterwards, a small ship arrived carrying the goat, the monkey and the rooster. They explained to the Emperor how they did it together. The Emperor was very pleased with the team work. He decided that the goat would be the eighth zodiac animal, the monkey the ninth and the rooster the tenth.

The next animal was a dog. Chinese king asked a dog why you didn’t came first you very good swimmer.

Dog: “The water was very clean so I decided to have a bath in there.” His reward was to have the eleventh year named after him.

There was the last place and it was the boar.

“It took you a long time to cross the river, didn’t it?

The boar: “I was hungry and I thought about to eat and after my very good food I went to sleep.”

“But you did well,” said The Emperor “well done!”

 The cat, which had been pushed, was very upset and he climbed onto land but he was the very last and there weren’t any more years for him and from that day on he hated the mouse for that. 

So now you know, but I bet you were wondering how the Chinese new Year festival itself came about and what goes on during it. Well, here is Terrence to explain:

The Chinese New year festival  (procedure/practise) is as follows:

Two days before the event, Chinese families clean their houses thoroughly.

There is a Cantonese saying of  “Wash away the dirt on nin ya baat” nin ya baat = the 28^th day of the year. This is because they rhyme in Cantonese as the purpose of it is to ward off all the bad luck of they year. This event can be associated with “spring cleaning” in western society.

One of the biggest events of the Chinese New Year's Eve is the Reunion Dinner, named as "Nian Ye Fan” or “tun nin fan".  This meal can be compared as “big” as the Christmas dinner in the western world. The whole family will sit on the Chinese “circle-like” table, this is to gather the whole family closer as a group and represents unity.  

For the meal, they will definitely have dumplings, which symbolizes wealth because their shape resembles a Chinese sycee. Also, niangao simply means “New year cake” but it is a homonym for “a year higher than the previous years”, basically to have a better year. They will also save some pieces for their families or relatives as a gift to wish them good luck in the coming year.

After the meals, some families would go to local temples a couple of hours before the new year to begin, to pray for a prosperous new year by lighting the first incense of the year. Nevertheless, in the modern days, they go out for a “New Year Fair” or for a “count down” event with fireworks.  

The first day is for the welcoming of the idols of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight. It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers and to make as much of a din as possible to chase off the evil spirits as encapsulated by nian (Chinese: 年) of which the term guo nian (simplified Chinese: 过年; traditional Chinese: 過年; pinyin: guònián) was derived. Some consider using knives to be bad luck on New Year's Day, so all food to be consumed is cooked in the days before. On this day, it is considered bad luck to use the broom so they won’t sweep on the day.

 

The 2^nd day is usually for visiting friends and relatives. The married couples, which are parents, have to give a ‘red pocket’ to their friends or relatives’ children to ward off the monster “nian” which is a homonym of ‘year’ in Chinese, (the monster comes from a traditional fictional story). Everyone is meant to say positive words on the day to wish each other good luck.

 

 

Thanks Terrence and here's our man again on one of the most enduring symbols of the Chinese New Year Festival, The Lunar New Year Fair:

The Lunar New Year Fair history can be tracked back to the Wanli Emperor age of the Ming Dynasty. At that time they started selling flowers at a market. The ancient flower market was held everyday, but without a fixed location.

In the 1860s, the flower market turned to the modern mode, which is held on the Lunar New Year's Eve. In 1919, the Lunar New Year Fair changed into a wider range of time.

There are similar events/ functions across the Asia region like Japan and Vietnam during their New Years. 午12:00至午夜12:00

In Hong Kong, the lunar New Year Fair is held in Fifteen parks and playgrounds all over Hong Kong. The most important ones being Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island and Fa Hui Park in Mong Kok, Kowloon. It is usually held for a week and this year it started on 25-31Jan, midnight to 6am.

Guangzhou is said to be the source of the Lunar New Year Fair, After the PRC's ruling, the Lunar New Year Fair was only interrupted in a few years during the Cultural Revolution, but it continued in the following years. Guangzhou's market was held 3 days before the New Year comes till the Lunar New Year's Eve.

Nowadays, The Lunar New Year Fairs are known as Flower Markets in Cantonese areas, they sell different kind of goods not only traditional flowers like Plum Blossom, Narcissus, and Kumqua. Hundreds of people congregate in the present-flower market. There are people who write “fai chun” and sell them, inflatable dolls, nostalgic snacks, a variety of traditional Cantonese street food like fish balls, turnip cakes, rice cakes etc. Political memorabilia from the past and a wide mix of new and old-styled gadgets are for sale in different type of stalls.

What an informative piece! I think you'll agree that we've learnt a lot from our reporters this week. It just leaves me to add that two sixth form boarders, Ed and Patricia, will be giving a special assembly tomorrow to mark the occasion that officially ends the Chinese New Year Holiday: the Lantern Festival. There will be plenty going on, so enjoy it! Well done Patricia and Ed!

 

Have a great half term from all at AIB!

A taste of things to come

Carrying on our theme of new faces, AIB is very happy to welcome our two new, full-time, boarding blog reporters: Terrence (Yr 10, Alfred) and Vladislav (Yr 8, Brooke and Refuge). Both new to the school in September, they have taken to their new surroundings quickly and made new friends and colleagues aplenty. From now on, they will be reporting on special events taking place in the boarding community and you will soon see just how well they have responded to their extra responsibility. Let us not forget that both will be interviewing and reporting in their second language, no mean feat, as I'm sure you'll agree. Congratulations on your new posts gentlemen, it's great to have you on the team!

To start the ball rolling, or should I say "bouncing", here is Terrence's report on last week's away basketball fixture between Ashford School (1st and 2nd Vs) and fierce local rivals, Cranbrooke. Terrence interviewed three members of the team, Captain Jeffrey, Jeff and Harris both before and after the game:

Before:

Jeffrey:

Jeffrey is the captain of the team who takes on a defensive role. He said that this was a friendly fixture, designed mainly  to give more opportunities to those who don’t usually play often.

As the enemy’s team would be physically stronger and generally taller as well, he expected that they would have an advantage in this area.

When asked what they needed to do to avenge last season's defeat, Jeffrey focused on tactics: " Less turnovers, try to rebound after they have missed the a field goal so that they don’t get to shoot again, and gain possession of the game." Also he thought more teamwork would be needed.

 

Harris:

As a sub player Harris wouldn't have played against Cranbrooke before, so he couldn't really judge. However, he was quite confident of doing well.

Also he thought that the difference between this game and others in which he has played before is that he would get to play longer, which would allow him to have more experience on the basketball court as he isn't one of the regular squad.

 

Jeff wasn't interviewed before the game.

 

After [a narrow 50-45 for the 1st V and a 14 point margin against the 2nds]:

Jeffrey [noticeably disappointed]:

We lost procession of the game. Yr12 did better as they had better communication, also some of the yr13s were not at their best. (Editor's note: this is probably down to all the revision they've been doing for their mock exams this week).

Jeff:

I'm disappointed. I feel that if we'd had a more settled team, that we would have done better and I'm sure we will next time. (That's the spirit Jeff!)

Harris:

Harris really enjoyed playing but he felt that there was a lack of the tacit understanding between players that they would have got if they had played with those that they usually train with. "We need to practise the rapid responses to quick turnovers as well."

All in all, a couple of tight games and the maturity with which the squad analysed their performance just goes to show what a serious outfit they are. Great reporting Terrence!

Now it's Vlad's turn, on a subject close to all our hearts (or stomachs), food. More specifically, the range of offerings from the school's new catering firm, Chartwells. As the biggest users of the refectory, AIB thought we would canvass some of our boarders' for their opinions on the new fare. Over to you, Vlad.

We are going to ask some people about our new food. We asked Vova, Nazar, Marcus and Vasilly. The first question we asked was: How have the meals changed?

Vova: The new food company has changed a lot. The food is tastier and there is much more salad, fruit and vegetables.

(Vasilly also raised the point about the better balance)

Vasilly: There are a lot of vegetables and meat that you can eat to be healthier and stronger, especially for people who like sport.

(The increased choice and portion sizes also curried favour)

Marcus: I have a very good choice of what I want.

Nazar: I get very big portions, so I've always got a full stomach. All the meat is very well cooked too.

The second question was: What do you think of the changes?

Vova: Now that we have a lot of other types of food: fruits, vegetables and so, it's very different, but the changes are good.

Nazar: I agree with Vova!

Vasilly: I think the new food is great!

The last question was: Do you think anything else needs to be changed?

All: No!

Nice work Vlad! I think we can safely say that Chartwells have got off to a good start.

On the topic of food, it's been a while since anything more was said about Mr Rayner's cookery nights in Brabourne, so AIB was thrilled when Oscar, in Yr 13, informed us of the latest creation: Mug Cakes. Yep, cakes in a mug. Oscar confided that although Mr Rayner's decision to make his own savoury version was originally doubted, it was finally voted the best. Oscar even kindly provided a picture of said creation:

I'm sure it tasted wonderful!

That's all for this edition folks. Next up, it'll be a quick photo blog and then a bumper edition for Chinese New Year.




 

New faces for a new year.

Hello everyone, Happy New Year and welcome back from all at AIB. We hope you've had a restful break and a great start to 2014.

The end of the Winter term saw us saying goodbye to House matrons Mrs Conell, Mrs Cashden and Mrs Eagle. It was sad to see them go and everyone here would like to thank them for all their hard work and kindness and wish them good luck for the future.

But the Spring term is a time for new beginnings and in this case, the new term has seen the arrival of our three new Assistant House Parents: Mr Willenberg in Brooke/Refuge, Ms Fletcher-Hall in Brabourne and Mrs Williams in Alfred. Welcome to all of you, it's a pleasure to have you here! So, for our first blog of the new year, AIB has taken the opportunity to find out a little more about the new members of our boarding team.

It would seem fitting that to look after such an international group of students our new staff hail from far and wide. Mr Willenberg, though born in England, was brought up in Toronto, Canada. Now, Canadians are widely regarded to be the friendliest people on the planet, though I'm not sure that this extends to boys being late for bed.

From closer to home, though just as friendly, comes Ms Fletcher-Hall. Originally from Wolverhampton in the English Midlands, Ms F. comes to us fresh from a stint with Disney Cruises. Judging by the hat we saw her wearing in the Brabourne common room she's brought a little stardust with her.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Mrs Williams has had 13 years of boarding school experience in many prestigious British boarding schools before joining the Alfred House team. Well, their loss has most certainly been our gain.

When asked what their first impressions of the school and its pupils were, the new staff were unanimous in their praise. Ms Fletcher-Hall describes Ashford as "a very friendly school, with a warm atmosphere and very inviting." Both Mr Willenberg and Mrs Williams describe the pupils as being "polite" with Mrs Williams adding "helpful and delightful."

So, what should our boarders expect from the new members of their boarding family? Quite a lot of food, as it happens. Ms Fletcher Hall has recently discovered that she's a bit of a dab hand at baking muffins while Mrs Williams lists among her hobbies "French, Chinese, Japanese" and yes "English" cooking. If that wasn't enough, Mr Willenberg is a self-confessed chocoholic (though I'm not sure if that wasn't a very early hint at a Christmas present). No doubt Mr Rayner will have some eager new faces at his cookery activity on Thursdays.

Activities are certainly something all our assistant houseparents are looking forward to getting involved in. Boarding captain Bruce had better mind his Ps and Qs as Mrs Williams will soon be joining him in karate club and Ms Fletcher-Hall has become our newest Prime Time contestant while already earmarking the Quiz Cup for a place in the Brabourne office. No doubt Brooke/Refuge and current holders Alfred may have something to say about that come 1st April!

As varied as their interests and backgrounds are all our new team members share common attributes and goals with all three declaring "getting to know the pupils better" as what they are most looking forward to over the coming months and I'm sure the feeling is mutual.

Once again, welcome to all of you and all of us here in the Ashford boarding community look forward to living and working with you.

P.S.

If you'd like to know:

Mr Willenberg declares his favourite pastime as "sleeping", I'm sure the boys in Brooke/Refuge will respect his wishes.

Mrs Williams enjoys making hats, always a useful skill as a member of boarding staff.

and

Ms Fletcher-Hall can do a brilliant impression of a pigeon, which as she rightly says "(You never know when that might come in handy…)."

P.P.S. Watch out for new AIB articles from new reporters Terrence and Vladislav over the coming weeks.

Yule (b)log - well, what did you think I was going to call it?

In the words of Noddy Holder: It's Chrisssssstmassssss! Well, not quite yet, but the countdown has begun and there's a real sense of yuletide anticipation in the air. Not least in the boarding community, as our adventurous learners head back home for a well-earned rest (yes and some revision please Year 12!)

Nowhere was the festive feeling more abundant than at the boarders' Christmas party and disco that took place in the refectory on Sunday night. Before the fun and frolics could get under way however, there was the small matter of laying out tables and decorating the hall. Mr and Mrs Single, Mr Vaughan, Mr M and Mr K were aided and abetted superbly by a hardworking team of helpers. Many thanks, Vlada, Bruce, Sascha, Yana, Summer, Summayya and Danielle for making the dining hall look so stunning!

Talking about stunning, as the students began to arrive, it was as if the Oscars cermenony had decanted into Ashford School, such was the glitz and glamour on show, none more so than little Adeline who wowed all in a gorgeous red and whited spotted number. The boys scrubbed up pretty well we all thought and the girls were simply spectacular ("Big smile! Big smile! Just one more!") Special mention must also go to Mr Vaughan whose natty waistcoat was the pick of the bunch and who proudly told AIB that it was the same dinner suit he'd been bought at the age of sixteen (how do you do it Mr V?).

Once seated everyone enjoyed a delicious meal laid on by Phil and the catering team, thank you very much to you all! This was accompanied by a medly of Chrismas tunes brought to us by the renowned Harry and his Groove Train (yes, Mr Single, we all know you requested all the Cliff Richard tracks!). Crackers were banged, toasts were clinked and jokes were groaned at and as the laughter (genuine, I'm sure) had died down after Mr Single's speech, it was time for the dancing.

Now, Harry admitted to AIB later that evening that he usually keeps a box of tricks aside to encourage reluctant dancers to hit the floor. None such was needed, however, as just as the first base beat thumped into the life it was full scale Sunday night fever!

It would be impossible to talk about all the massive moves busted on that floor that night, but there are some that just couldn't be left out. Thomas, Bruce and Justin popped better than a five-year old with a sheet of bubble wrap (there were dance-offs everywhere!). Vlada circled the arena on her own dance conveyor belt while Yijin crackled with kinetic energy. However, for AIB, the star was Savio. Remember please that earlier this term, this young man dislocated his knee in a rugby accident and is still wearing hefty support strapping. Did this stop him? No, sir it did not! Injured limb held carefully just above the floor and weaving his arms and shoulders to the rythm, this boy let it rip. Don't worry Savio, we won't tell the Med Centre (oops!). Mr K and Mr Dudley would now like to take this opportunity to request that no photos of their moves be published on certain social networking sites as it would infringe copywrite laws.

A little while in, Caviar interrupted the craziness to advertise the sale of the Young Enterprise goodybags and if the entrepreneurial spirit of Polo, Sumy, Michael and co. can even halfways match the hilarity brought on by their Christmas headgear, these guys and girls are going to be worth knowing in the future!

As the clock ticked on and tired toes found high heals to much to bear, enter Gentleman Gleb (tie barely loosened) and his princely posse to give thankful tsarinas the best seat in the house.

When Wham's 'Last Christmas' marked an end to proceedings those who had remained pushed their exhausted legs into one last effort to help Mrs Single and co. return the refectory to a state of normality. The Groove Train pulled out (thanks Harry!) and everyone agreed a fine night had been had by all. Massive thanks of course must go to our boarding heads, Mr and Mrs Single for their endless enthusiasm and wish to give their charges the most fun it is possible to have.

Other Noteworthy notes:

- Last Thursday a number of our musical talents (including Howard, Jerry, Norman, Yana and Anastasia) took part in the annual Christmas Music Concert, the highlight of which was the rendition of several well-know film themes including The Lord of the Rings. Well done to everyone involved!

- Our first XV rounded off a very successful season by thumping a Cranbrooke XV 37-0 before wowing us all with their resounding chorus of 'Swing lo, sweet Chariot' in Monday's assembly. A noteable season boys, well done!

Finally, if there was any question as to how much our boarding students give to Ashford School, it can be well an truely answered by a look down the list of end-of-term award winners, on which they feature strongly. Well done to all, you do us proud!

Well we've had a great first term people and here at AIB we'd all like to wish our staff and students a wonderfully restful holiday (safe journey all) and let's look forward to more of the same come January.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

The Nature of Nurture

Imagine, if you could, the feeling. The feeling of a 13 year-old boy, five and a half thousand miles from home, stood in a strange environment, surrounded by smiling, laughing children from many nations, but not his own. He is different, alone.

Well, not exactly alone, but the feeling of loneliness is palpable as he enters the bedroom of his boarding house that first night. He is the youngest in that house and in this room of three, the other two are already fast friends. They speak a common language, common to many of the boys in the house, but not to him. It is a hard first night.

The following day, school starts for real and the boy throws himself into his work. Hard work is part of his country's culture, but it's hard to work on your own all the time. To his pleasant surprise, however, his colleagues don't see him as a stranger and welcome him into the school community. He makes friends fast. The helpful staff also look on him as any other and do their best to ensure the new boy learns the ropes and becomes a part of the school.

But it's still hard from time to time. All the other foreign students go around in little groups at break time, talking, joking and reassuring each other in their own language, it's natural, but not him. There is no-one. He has to make do, to be tough, resilient.

This matters less and less, however, as the year goes by and the boy, made to feel safe and secure by those around him, has grown confident and comfortable in his new environment. "Anyway," he tells himself, "there's bound to be someone from my country next year." To his disappointment, there is not, nor the next year, nor the year after that. He gives up any hope.

By this time, however, he is seventeen, in his last year of A-levels, a prefect, a well-respected member of the student community, and thanks to his tenacity and the nurturing environment in which he has lived, an erudite, polite young man with aspirations to achieve in higher education. He even wants to become a British citizen. Imagine his joy then, when, on the first day back in the boarding house, he learns that two boys from his own country have just joined the school!

You would forgive this young man, therefore, if he chose to spend his time with his compatriots, conversing in their own language, cooking and sharing national dishes with them, catching up on what he has missed. And indeed he does; with one sizable addition.

He takes the new arrivals, still unsure themselves of what to do and how to act and feeling much as he did, under his wing. He shows them around, introduces them to his friends of many nationalities (even those who are much older), ensures that they would not have to go through the same uncertainty as he did and that they would feel the way that he has grown to feel, that this is home.

"Who is it you're talking about?" you ask.

No names are required. He is a friend, a schoolmate; an Alfred man; an Ashford boarder.