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TRANSCRIPT
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Preparatory News:Head Teacher's Message:
"Curiosity is the spark behind the spark of every great idea. The future belongs to the curious''. (Mike Byster,American mathematician and maths educator)As you know curiosity is a value we hold very dear at Hillcrest and is the value that we will be focussing on thisterm. Not only does this mean that we will talk about it in assemblies, but we will seek to embed opportunitiesinto our lesson plans and homework tasks. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Samira Leakey forsupporting this work on Friday when she came to lead an assembly for Prep.
Well for me, it’s the end of my first two weeks at Hillcrest and I have been overwhelmed by the positive attitudesof students and staff and the very warm welcome from our families. Thank you very much to those parents whocame to meet me at our Coffee Morning. This is an exciting time, as we move to enrich the curriculum for ourpupils and provide multiple opportunities to inspire and engage them.
Last weekend a group of 17 children left for St Andrew's School, Turi for an orchestral weekend and had theopportunity to perform in a 250-strong orchestra for a joint performance.
This week our Year 8 pupils took part in a study skills workshop delivered by Elevate Education. I spent themorning with this group and took part in the workshop myself which was fun and full of great tips. Parents alsohad the opportunity to join a workshop on Monday evening which was very well attended.
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Our young swimmers took part in a warm-up swimming gala at Banda this week and demonstrated greatdetermination and resilience. A particularly pleasing result was girl's freestyle relay team. They came second inan extremely strong field.
A reminder that it is the eagerly awaited Hog Charge this Sunday at Sukari Ranch. This will be a first for meand I am very excited about seeing our pupils in action. I look forward to seeing many of you there on Sundaymorning.
Also, you will note from the calendar that there is a Reading Workshop for Junior parents on Tuesday 23rd.Please do come along to gain some useful insight into how best to support your children with reading at home.
Finally, I would like to wish Miss Jacqui and Miss Barbara lots of luck as they head off to Ghana to representthe Telkom Kenya Hockey team in the Africa Cup of Club Championships. They are defending a 5-year reign aschampions! We are lucky to have such talented and inspiring coaches on the Hillcrest team.Enjoy your weekend.
Best regardsVikki AldenHead Teacher [email protected]
Early Years News:Head Teacher's Message:
Dear Parents and Friends,It has been a fantastic start to the term and we have so enjoyed getting to know all our new children andparents. Our new children have done so well settling into the unfamiliar environment and I'd like to say welldone to all the parents who have been brave at drop-off time! Teachers will invite all new parents into school fora settling-in meeting further into the term.
Next week Reception class will be leading our assemblies with a focus on good manners which the teacherswill also be revisiting throughout the week during classroom times and play. Reception parents are invited intoschool on Friday for the assembly at 8:30 am.
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Nursery 1 and Playgroup are invited to bring their bikes, trikes and scooters to school on Thursday for theirWonderful Wheels project. We will shut down the carpark and let the children learn some simple road safetyrules whilst having lots of fun!
I would like to thank all the parents who attended the Parents Forum on Thursday morning. These sessionsprovide an important opportunity for our parents to help us improve our day-to-day practice. We had some goodideas shared and the minutes of the meeting will be shared with all parents to ensure everyone is kept up-to-date. Please come and find me if you have any further ideas, we are ever trying to better our standards of careand education.
We are very excited about our upcoming Super Saturday where we will be exploring dance and movement.There will be family zumba, early years Mummy/Daddy and child dance sessions and much much more. Pleasecome and join in the fun and bring along a friend! We will start at 9.30 am and finish at 12:00 pm.
Please note the following dates for next week:
Tuesday 23rd - Reading Workshop 2:30 pm in The Space (Year 1 parents invited)Wednesday 24th: Year 1 Friendly Football at Brookhouse
Wednesday 24th: Reception trip to Karura Forest
Thursday 25th: Playgroup and Nursery 1 Bring Your Bike to School Day
Friday 26th: Reception Class Assembly at 8:30 am
Saturday 27th: Super Saturday! Dance and Movement 9.30 am - 12:00 pm
Have a wonderful weekend
Jenna RawlingsHead Teacher Early Years
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Prep Deputy Head Teacher News:
This promises to be an exciting term as we get curious to learn more, ask questions and make observations toengage in deep knowledge and higher order thinking skills. During the Enrichment hour this term, the childrenwill be working together on STEAM challenges. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering,Art and Mathematics. Children will use their understanding in each of these areas to solve a problem given tothem. This is aimed at enhancing the problem solving and critical thinking skills, with the aim of making ourpupils global citizens. Along with providing STEAM opportunities the teaching staff is dedicated to implementingthe TEEP training in their practice.
We are looking forward to becoming problem solvers and higher order thinkers!Have a good weekend.
Surbhi VashishtDeputy Head - Prep
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Admissions and Marketing News:
New Students - A big welcome to our 28 new students across the schools this term.
Communications Survey - As we start the new year we would like to take a few minutes of your time tocomplete a communications survey – this has been sent home with all Prep Children. Please do complete itand return to school at your earliest convenience.
Hillcrest Community Walk – Our 2nd walk will be on Saturday 3rd February to Ol Donyo Sabuk. Open to
anyone in the Hillcrest Community – bring your family and friends - do let us know by Tuesday 30th if you arecoming so we can organise appropriate transport.
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Zumba at Hillcrest – A reminder that we offer a weekly Zumba class for parents on Tuesday mornings 8 am to9 am in Prep. Run by Zumba and fitness instructor Maria Hudson.
International Cultural Day – Saturday 24th March – Our diversity amongst our students and parents is one ofthe things that makes Hillcrest stand out and something we are very proud of. We celebrate this annually at ourCultural Day. Please do put this date in your diary and start talking to other families within your culture abouthow you can showcase your country with food, dance, music & song.
If you are able to be involved please do send us an email on [email protected].
Christina LaceyHead of Admission & [email protected]
Alumni Hillcrestians News:
DEVI SHAH – Class of 1986Devi obtained a first class honours degree in law at University College London and read the BCL at Pembroke
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College, Oxford. She has practised law for 25 years and is now the head ofInsolvency and Restructuring and a partner at Mayer Brown International LLP,London.
Jackie GuestAlumni [email protected]
Junior School News:
Welcome to Term 2 of the school year. All of us in Junior School are excited to be back and look forward towhat the term has to offer. The children got a special chance to interact with our new Head Teacher, Mrs. VikkiAlden, who came into their classes last week during her meet and greet walk. They all made her feel verywelcome.Our value of focus this term is Curiosity. The children have had and will continue to have opportunities toexplore this throughout the term. Our first pastoral assembly this week allowed the children to review the pastthemes of Respect and Determination before having a discussion on Curiosity.Kindly keep yourself updated with upcoming parents' events listed on iSAMS that have been planned for theweeks ahead.
Have a great weekend.
Mary MuchangiHead of Junior [email protected]
Want to help your child STRETCH and FLY?
On Thursday 1st February, I will be holding a Parent Workshop providing you with activities you can do at hometo help develop your child’s full potential. This workshop is open to all parents in Prep and will have a focus on
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how the brain works and how focusing on ‘higher order thinking activities’ can develop skills and talents thatyour children have! I look forward to seeing you in the Space on Thursday 1st February morning at 8.15 am!
Want to help your child STRETCH and FLY?
On Thursday 1st February, I will be holding a parent workshop providing you with activities you can do athome to help develop your child’s full potential.This workshop is open to all parents in prep and will have a focus on how the brain works and howfocusing on ‘higher order thinking activities’It can develop skills and talents that your children have!In the Space on Thursday 1st February morning at 8.15am!
Michelle HendersonYear 4 Class [email protected]
Senior School News:
Happy New Year and welcome to the second term of this academic year! We at the Senior School join the restof the Hillcrest community in extending a warm and heartfelt welcome to our new Head teacher, Mrs. VikkiAlden. We look forward to working closely with her.
On Monday 15th January, the Year 8 pupils attended the Elevate Study Skills workshop. They spent some timelearning about effective study methods and have gained some practical and useful tips as they prepare for nextterm's Common Entrance examinations.
The theme for the term is Curiosity – the 3rd of our 4 Hillcrest Values. During the term, the children will explorethis theme, thinking about what curiosity means to them, and how it can be a useful tool at school and beyond.
On Wednesday 17th January, the Year 5, 6, 7 and 8 pupils got together for our first pastoral assembly of theterm. We talked about what curiosity means to us, and how it keeps us interested in the world around us,pushing us to pursue new horizons. We also discussed the Mars Rover aptly named Curiosity, and discoveredhow it got its very fitting name.
Have a lovely weekend.Julie Kimutai
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Head of Senior [email protected]
Maths Department News:
Global Maths ChallengeHillcrest registered a number of pupils for the global maths challenge in the last week of Term 1.Global Math Challenge, GMC, is a worldwide math competition held online and hosted by Sony GlobalEducation, Inc. This corporation has hosted thousands of students from across the world, from London toLagos, San Francisco to Siberia.Global Math Challenge is of course more than a contest – it’s a celebration of creative mathematical thinking.This challenge offers pupils brain-teasers that stimulate their curiosity and logical thinking, beautifully illustratedquestions that are easy for anybody to follow.With questions that focus on creative, logical thinking rather than formulas and a focus on the world stage,GMC provides something you don’t find in most textbooks.
I would like to congratulate Youhann Chandok (Y3) who earned a bronze certificate in this challenge. Welldone, Youhann.
Zuleka AbdulMaths Faculty [email protected]
English Department News:
Next week we are starting a whole school poetry writing genre, in all English lessons, in response to theCOBISs competition, please see below. We would like to begin to flood the school with poetry and will beginwith the teachers and parents favourite poems. Please would you send the name of your favourite poem, or thepoem itself with your name to me and we will print them off and display them in the quad.With thanks,Tracy ThomasEnglish Faculty [email protected]
The COBIS Poetry Competition is a fantastic competition, allowing for students across the world to see howother students approach the same topic and issues.
This year's theme is "Through a Looking Glass" and students of any age can enter.
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Schools may submit three entries in three age categories (no more than 9 entries in total).The categories are (as of 1 January 2018):
Category A: 10 years and underCategory B: 11-14 years
The closing date for this competition is 9 February 2018.
Sports News:
Welcome back all!!I hope that everyone enjoyed the break and had a fulfilling festive season.This week saw our pupils start back with fixtures. We are very keen to develop the swimming at the school andas such are very proud of the efforts and achievements during the U13 warm up gala at the Banda school.
The girls 'A' squad competed well and came a very creditable third in their individual competition. This wasrounded off with a superb display in the freestyle relay where they placed second (see above). The other teamsworked extremely hard. As a warm up it gave us the opportunity to assess the swimmers against some verystrong opposition and look at areas for improvement. I am extremely proud of all of the swimmers as theychallenged in each event.
As we improve we ask that the swimmers that are chosen for the squads attend the training sessions that areallocated. If they are unsure which ones they are needed at - please ask one of the coaching team.
We will be hosting the U11 warm up gala on Monday 22nd January. Please come and support the swimmers!Next week the Hockey fixtures will commence. Look out for the team sheets and the times of fixtures. Thepupils have been working very hard on their skills during lessons and practices.
This week we will also be announcing our team captains for each team this term.On a personal note Hannah and I would like to thank everyone for the good wishes on the safe arrival of Mollie.Thank you!
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Nigel MoyseHead of Physical Education and Sports [email protected]
Creative Arts News:
On Friday 12th of January a group of 17 Hillcrest Prep School Orchestra children packed their instruments andbags. We went away for a weekend of fun and music at St Andrew's School Turi. This is an annual event whereabout 300 children rehearse and present a concert to parents.Hillcrest Prep School Orchestra
1. Nisha Ocholla Recorder2. Tanisha Wathika Clarinet3. Gakenia Kagucia Flute4. Nimo Kariuki Violin5. Claire Gitau Clarinet6. Wambui Mwangi Saxophone7. Alex Mikosz Saxophone8. Makena Kirimi Recorder9. Furaha Wasunna Recorder
10. Neema Chekoko Flute11. Talya Harel Guitar12. Amari Hayakawa Percussion13. Mweni Muange Flute14. Wayua Kagucia Violin15. Rosamaria Oudia Clarinet16. Matipa Tapela Violin17. Joshua Denga Percussion
Yoland MasidzaHead of Creative [email protected]
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My canvas and I
Every Tuesday from 3.45 pm to 4.30 pm a group of pupils meet and paint on Canvas using Acrylic paints. If youare interested in joining this activity. Please see Mrs. [email protected]
ECA / Trips News:
We would like to remind you that the paid activities began this week and if your child has not returned their signup sheet they will not be able to attend the full number of lessons.There are a few changes made on the times and dates of some activities at the request of parents. Golf for Kidswill be held on a Friday at lunch time and Fava Dance which was originally scheduled to take place after schoolon Wednesday has been moved to lunch time.
The Chess Club will be offering lessons on Monday and Friday after school. If your child has an interest inChess they can sign up for this club on Mondays or Fridays. There will be a Chess Tournament organised byNairobi Chess Academy and Club in the U8, U10, U12, U14 and U18 categories for both boys and girls. Kindlysee attached poster for further information.
The U11 Express Soccer will be free for any boy who would like to sign up for it this term. This is in a bid topopularise the sports amongst the Year 5 and Year 6 boys. It is our sincere hope that more boys sign up for thisclub that is scheduled to take place on Tuesday after school.
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For any queries about the extra-curricular activities please see Florence at the reception directly or send anemail to [email protected].
Year 2 will be away on the 25th of January on a day trip to St. Francis Church, Karen as part of their REcurriculum. They will get to walk in the Church and learn about the history and its structural design. Pleaseensure that your child has returned his/her reply slip and payment to the Form Tutor.
Barbara Simiyu & Jacqueline [email protected] or [email protected]
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