Philip Hurd
As another successful academic year draws to a close at the International Community School, I am pleased to read in this newsletter about the many events that have taken place since our last edition of News that Matters.
The summer term is always an extremely busy one and the ‘2012 version’ has been no exception. Term began with our Diploma 1 students returning from a challenging, but fulfilling, visit to Ghana and in the weeks that followed we have had many trips, events as well as, internal and external exams, most notably for our older students with IB Diploma and IELTS. In spite of the changeable weather we have managed to enjoy a number of outdoor activities, including our Charity run in Hyde Park and just last week, an extremely enjoyable School Sports Day with students from the Primary and Secondary schools competing together in teams. The Secondary School Prom held at the Grange Hotel near St. Paul’s was also a huge success and a fitting way for our students to end the year, and in some cases say ‘goodbye to ICS’.
With the academic year drawing to a close we inevitably have to say some goodbyes to students, their families and teaching staff. I am pleased that this year these are relatively few in number but nonetheless we wish those students and their families, who will not be returning at the end of August all the very best for the future.
Furthermore, I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of the whole school community to Sjors Duursema, Stephanie McMillan, Katya Toneva , Jack Kurty and Beryl Jones, who are all leaving the faculty this term. We wish them well in their future pursuits.
As part of our ongoing commitment to personal development and wider opportunities I must also announce that our Secondary School Principal, Brenda Murray, will be taking a sabbatical from ICS next academic year and will return to us in August 2013. We will miss Brenda on a professional and personal level, but of course, are fortunate that Rose Threlfall will be returning to ICS at the start of next term, to resume the role of Head of Secondary School . Rose will be supporting Alex Moreno-Hemming, who will take up the role of Acting Secondary Principal from August.
For those returning in August, School begins on Wednesday 29th August at 8.45am and please note that classes will run until 4.30pm from that day onwards. This will be followed by an extended programme of after school activities from Monday to Thursday. On Friday’s school will finish at 2.05pm at which point the school bus service will run. Teaching staff will be involved in planning activities as a requirement of the IB Programmes. Those students not able to go home at 2.05pm can stay for Homework Club until 4.30pm. A weekly timetable on page 2 shows the changes. Please also note that the October half term will now be a 2 week half term.
Finally, I wish you and your families a wonderful summer break and I am sure like me you are excited about the Olympic Games that are so nearly upon us. If you are leaving us then please keep in touch with the School wherever, you may be and rest assured that you will always be part of the ‘ICS family’.
Be sure to keep an eye on what we’re up to on the official ICS blog, and if you’re a Twitter user or LinkedIn member, say hi!