Letter from the Headmistress – 5th January 2012
I hope you have all had a super Christmas and much fun over New Year.
Before the term starts I thought I should bring you up to date with our final assembly last term and equip you with further information relevant for the start of this term.
At the end of each term we always have a final assembly in Chapel to bring together all that has gone on in the term. House positions are given out, some Prefects are made and we like to recognise and reward the children for their academic performance in the exams.
Academic Colours
Last term was no exception and we began with giving out Academic Colours. These Academic Colours are similar to our Sports Colours and reflect outstanding performance. The children receive a special tie which they are encouraged to wear, to mark this achievement. The following children were awarded their colours and they are listed in order of achievement-
Isobelle Page
Dominic Shaw
Max Silvester ( re-awarded )
Nicholas Khanypola
Sabrina Robley
Amy Philips
Ashley Kairu
Other Academic Awards
All children know their exam results and where they stand in relation to the average class performance However, we like to go a little further and we also recognise those children in all year groups who have performed exceptionally well. This may be across the board in all subjects or in a particular subject. Thus the following children received a fountain pen to mark their excellent exam results this term.
| ACADEMIC: | ||
| Year 8 | Maths, Science, Geography | Matthew Armstrong |
| Year 7 | Maths, Geography, RS | William Ross |
| French | Maria Page | |
| English | Maya Cunnington | |
| English | Laura Hutchinson | |
| Year 6 | Overall performance | Benedict Shaw |
| Year 5 | Overall performance | Toyah Mowat |
| Overall performance | Ewan Page | |
| History | Imara Silvester | |
| Year 4 | Overall performance | Cody Davis |
| Year 3 | Overall performance | Lemuel Mandara Mbaga |
| Year 2 | Overall performance | Joss Gowar |
| SPORTS: | ||
| Cricket | Under 11 Player of the Season | Xander Nuijten |
| Senior Player of the Season | Max Silvester | |
| Rounders | Under 11 Player with most rounders scored | Maya Cunnington |
| Under 11 Player of the season | Sasha Hewett | |
| Senior Player with most rounders scored | Charlene Tait | |
| Senior Player of the Season | Natalie Khanyola | |
| Colours for Rounders | Georgina Boyd-Moss | |
| Colours for Rounders | Megan Ward | |
Music Exams
The following children took their London College of Music Guitar Exams and each child received a ‘Distinction’ for their exam which was excellent. We would like to congratulate the children for their final mark and for all their practice and hard work in preparation for the exam.
Homer Johnstone: 90
Thomas Farren: 90
Dominic Coulson: 87
Cedric Hoskyns-Abrahall: 86
David Rausch: 85
Sports Scholarships
We then had some excellent news to share with the children. Each year our children in Year 8 apply for a variety of Scholarships and Awards to their next schools. As a Prep School we are doing all we can to prepare the children to tackle their academic papers, the drama scenarios they are given, their music exams and the sports drills and match situations they are presented with when they head off for assessment by their chosen senior school.
Max Silvester has been working hard this term to gain a Scholarship to his next school. We had just heard that Max had been awarded a Sports Scholarship to the three schools to which he has applied. Thus he has received a Sports Scholarship from Oundle School, Cheltenham College and Sedbergh School. This is a tremendous feather in Max’s cap and we are all thrilled with him. After much thought Max and his parents have decided that Max will actually go on to Sedbergh School and he will sit their Academic Scholarship papers this term. His performance here will finalise the nature of the overall award that Max earns to this, the school of his choice.
We also had excellent news for Ellie Jones -Perrott. Ellie had been over to the UK to be assessed by Cheltenham College for a Sports Award. Ellie has been awarded a Sports Exhibition which is a great excitement and well deserved by Ellie.
Many more of our Year 8s are working hard towards their coming Scholarship exams and we wish them all the very best of luck. The Year 8s as a whole all take Common Entrance at the end of the year and this term will be a very important one in setting them up ready for these exams in June.
Deputy Head Boy
The last piece of very exciting news for the School was the appointment of our new Deputy Head Boy. As I have explained in the past the policy at school with regards to School Prefects is that all Year 8s should have the opportunity to be made a ‘Prefect’. There are a variety of senior positions within the School Prefect line up and these roles must go to ‘ the ‘right’ pupil. As we all know children at this age are changing and maturing all the time and thus it is often sensible to just wait until the right child makes the grade.
Thus I have every pleasure in announcing that Hector Hewett is now our Deputy Head Boy.
Goodbyes
Over the course of last term we said good-bye to a number of pupils for a variety of reasons. It is always very sad to say good-bye and we wish the children who have left us the very best in the future and we look forward to hearing how they are faring in their new countries and at their new schools.
Parental Complaint
Towards the end of last term we received a complaint against a member of staff at school. As per the terms of our school policy the member of staff was duly suspended whilst an investigation was made into the allegation.
As a school we investigated the complaint and our Child Protection Officer and our Deputy Child Protection Officer looked into the situation extensively. For your information the balance at the start of such an investigation is always in favour of the child and the child must be protected and believed until we can prove otherwise.
With this in mind we found no evidence to support the complaint. The matter was also investigated by the police, at the family’s request and again the case has been closed with no evidence to support the complaint. In addition, in order to do all we could to sort out the complaint and close the case a third party was asked to come and assess the situation. Thus we invited ‘The Cradle’ an NGO specialising in Child Protection issues to interview the individuals concerned and to see the school, assess all evidence and to write a report. The advice we have received from ‘ The Cradle ‘is that the teacher should be reinstated.
The final report has yet to be submitted to all parties and but there is as yet no evidence to support the complaint made against our member of staff. Thus school will return to normal in January and we are sorry for all the heartache and inconvenience that has been experienced by all parties.
Trust
I would like to say that Pembroke House is a place where ‘ trust’ is held as the most important and central value at our school.
Each and every one of the teaching staff is aware of this and we understand the enormous trust you put in us by sending your children to Pembroke House – a boarding school.
We do everything we can to encourage a sense of trust between staff, pupils and parents and thus we hope that as soon as there are any concerns or fears on any level these matters will be raised with someone with whom you feel comfortable so the matter can be dealt with immediately.
The Lent Term
The school is growing and developing and we must do all we can to support and help our pupils, look after you our parents and nurture our staff. The team at school is second to none and we are trying to do all we can to encourage the appropriate staff to take on the right roles at school and to ‘oil the wheels’ of the sensible and structured changes that lie ahead of us.
Thus I have copied the staff list for you below. There are quite a few new appointments and changes and it is worth spending a few moments running through the list to see how the jigsaw of responsibilitly is divided up. As always you will have members of staff with whom you feel most comfortable. It is important that you talk to such staff and use them to help you. However, now armed with the information on this list you may find quicker ways to get to grips with your particular situation by using this list to help you.
| Senior Management Team: | |
| Mrs. Deborah Boyd-Moss MA (Cantab), PGCE | Headmistress/Head of Geography |
| Mr. Mike Aung BSc | Deputy Headmaster/Maths/Eng/Sport |
| Mrs. Katie Aung BSc | Director of Studies |
| Ms. Hilary Davidson B Ed | Director of Ops/Deputy Child Protection/Head of French |
| Mr. Paul Stevens MA (Cantab), PGCE | Master ic Scholarship, Head of Mackie House, Master ic of Full Boarding, Head of Maths |
| Mr. James Ross BA (QTS) Eng. Sport Sc | Head of Senior School/Head of English/Master ic Rugby |
| Miss Hannah Bird BEd (Hons) Prim. Ed | Head of Junior School & Pre Prep |
| Mr. Ben Hudson BA (Hons) | Director of Sport/ Master ic Hockey |
| Teaching Staff: | |
| Miss. Lola Akwabi | Piano and Music Teacher |
| Mr. Colin King Alcock BA (Hons) PGCE | Head of Religious Studies/Classics/Sport |
| Miss Molly Arbuthnott MA (Hons) PGCE | Junior School Teacher |
| Mr. Stewart Black BA (Hons) BEd (Hons) OTT | Head of Latin |
| Ms. Elizabeth Boakes BSc PGCE | Head of Science |
| Miss Jemma Boyd-Moss BA (Hons) | Head of Girls Games, House Tutor |
| Mrs. Anne Daykin Cert Ed Cambs (Homerton) | Head of Learning Support |
| Mrs. Tanya Green | House Mistress/Learning Support/Year 2 |
| Mrs. Suzanne Haller | Pre-Prep, Swimming Coach |
| Mrs. Sarah Johnstone | Pre-Prep/Assistant House Mistress |
| Miss Emma Laing | Head of Middle School |
| Miss Stephanie Marcellin BA (Hons) | Assistant Director of Studies/ Head of ICT |
| Mr. Samuel Musioki | ICT, Computer Technician |
| Miss Cat Olsen BEd (Hons) | Head of Art |
| Miss Carol Olum BMus (Hons) | Head of Music/Assistant House Mistress |
| Mr. Boniface Onyango | Head of Kiswahili/French Scholarship Teacher |
| Miss Nancy On’gayo | Learning Support |
| Mrs. Paulah Onyango | House Assistant/Junior School Teacher |
| Mr. Greg Quee BEd (Hons) | Middle School Teacher/Swimming/ House Tutor |
| Mr. Mike Raikes MPlan (Hons) | Master ic Cricket/ House Tutor /Middle School Teacher |
| Mrs. Barbara Terry Cert Ed Cambs Dip SPLD | Learning Support |
| Mr. Victor Juma | Teaching Assistant |
| Mr Peter Maina | Lab Assistant / Library Assistant |
| Mr. Paul Samson | Teaching Assistant |
| Pastoral Staff: | |
| Mrs. Paula Pape | Counselor, P.S.E ,ic of San, Child Protection Officer |
| Sis Purity Nyambura KRN K.R.C.H.N. | Nurse |
| Sis Josephine Muriira K.R.C.H.N. | Nurse |
| Sis Mildred Chabwanga | San Assistant |
| Office Staff: | |
| Mr. R. Breare MA (Oxon) | Commercial Director |
| Mrs. MJ Nuijten-Coulson | P.A. to HM/Registrar/Marketing/Hospitality |
| Ms. Lydia Njuguna | Accountant |
| Ms. Mary Nyoike | Assistant Accountant |
| Mr. N. Trent | Estates Manager |
| Mrs Jules Tatton | Head of Catering |
| Mrs. Evonne Wheeler DIP Lesiure/Sc. | Events/Hospitality |
| Miss Wanjiru Njenga | School Secretary |
| Mrs. A. Mutegi | Reprographics/ Librarian |
| Sports Assistants: | |
| Oscar Kambona | Head of Sports Assistants |
| Peter Muturi | Sports Assistant |
| Fred Ochieng | Sports Assistant |
| Bernard Ochuna | Sports Assistant |
| Visiting Staff: | |
| Ms. Juliet Barnes | LAMDA |
| Mr. George Buge | Tae Kwon Do |
| Mrs. Alison Clegg-Butt | Librarian & Bus Escort |
| Mrs. Fleur McDonnell | Ceramics |
| Mr. Bedan Mwangi | Woodwork |
| Mrs. Rachel Robley | Riding |
| Instrumental Tuition: | |
| Mr. Edward Gutu | Guitar/Violin |
| Mr. Romeo Kouemeni | Drums/Guitar |
| Mr. Paul Ouma | Brass/Winds/Piano |
| Gap Students: | |
| Hugo Rogers | Emma Boyd |
| Toby Snape | Charlie Lanz |
| Guy Webb – Super Gap/Junior IT | Poppy Shingles |
| Josh Williams | Bex Turvil – Super Gap |
I would like to draw your attention to our new appointments.
Head of the Middle School: Miss Emma Laing who kindly joined us to help with Katie Aung’s maternity leave has agreed to stay on as part of the team. Emma is going to be our new Head of the Middle School. This is a very important role for it is here that the children make the transition from the class based junior school to the subject specialists of the senior school. The children need to learn to work independently and become more responsible and accountable for themselves. Thus starting prep is an important milestone and the management of the children as they learn to move between classes and cope with different members of staff is very important. Emma was Director of studies at St Andrews Turi and I have every confidence that she will bring much to this section of the school.
Head of the Senior School: Jim Ross has taken on the role of Head of the Senior School. He already contributes much to the leadership programme at school and as Head of English he plays a pivotal role in the development of the children in this part of the school. This new role will allow Jim to further support and structure the children’s routine in the senior school and like Emma he will liaise with the staff who teach the children and help with staff appraisal and development as well as the programme for the children.
Head of Music: I was thrilled to be able to appoint Miss Carol Olum as Head of Music. I know Carol will work tirelessly for the good of this department.
Instrumental Teacher: Miss Lola Akwabi will join Carol in the Music Department and this will support Carol a great deal with the playing of the piano and instrumental tutoring
Learning Support Teacher: Miss Nancy On’gayo will join Mrs Anne Daykin, Tanya Green and Barbara Terry in the Learning Support Department. Mr Quee has also made this an area in which he takes a great interest and he is to study for a Masters in this area over the coming year.
The Science Department: For reasons best known to herself Miss Parry found she was very unhappy at Pembroke House. Despite every effort to help Pip she was insistent that she could not return following the Christmas holiday. Thus Miss Emma Laing who is suitably qualified to teach Science to our middle school will take on this role. Miss Boakes will take over the whole responsibility of the senior school science tuition.
I think this brings you up to date with all everything from last term.
Development focus Lent Term
This term we plan to break ground for our new theatre and as you will see the bus shelter is being moved to a new location to allow for this to start. We have also started to prepare the land for a new pitch below the senior rounders’ pitches.
Lent Term – Calendar Dates
Events to note in your diary are the Open Day – Thursday & Friday 2nd & 3rd March, The IAPS Gala on Saturday 4th March 2012 – Exeat and at the end of term our Pembroke House Ball on Friday 23rd March followed by our Inter House swimming Gala on Saturday 24th March – the last day of term.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy 2012. Please make sure you pick up the phone, send a text message or e mail with any concern, niggle or query that you may have. We cannot do anything to help if we do not know. In addition no problem is too small and we all understand how much the ‘little things’ matter and how keeping this aspect of things sorted out helps with the whole picture.
With warmest wishes,
Debs
Mrs Deborah Boyd-Moss
Headmistress, Pembroke House
