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Preparatory News:Head Teacher's Message:

Have a big enough heart to love unconditionally, and a broad enough mind to embrace the differences that

make each of us unique. D.B. Harrop

As you will know, our focus this past half term for Prep school has been the value of respect and we havetalked much about this in class, in assemblies and in the newsletter. We are coming to the end of this halfterm’s focus and I think the quotation above sums up succinctly what we try to work towards at Hillcrest whenhelping to shape our young global citizens. We are an incredibly diverse community and every day, I seeexamples of pupils, parents and staff embracing those differences and I thank you for your support of ourvalues.

Despite this being a short week due to the public holiday, much has been going on and we have packed awhole lot of learning into those four days. It has been a busy week for teachers too as they have been in theprocess of planning their own targets for performance management. Staff targets are a way of ensuring wecontinue to self-improve and move the school and ourselves forward. It also means that we are a community oflearners who always look to our school motto of Semper Prospice to guide our work.

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I have met with many of you this week at parent – teacher consultations. It has been really warming to hear ofthe pride you have in your children and their efforts and progress. I do hope that you have found theseconsultations useful and that you are now in possession of a brand-new target book (the flight plan!) for yourchild. Please do not hesitate to contact your class teacher if you have any further questions about thesebooklets.

I have a small request to make. If you need to request time off school during term time, could you pleasecontact me directly so that I am able to classify these absences as authorised. We all know that time away fromschool always impacts on learning and progress. Attendance is really important to pupils and we do track itcarefully.

Wishing you all a wonderful half term break and I look forward to seeing you all in a week's time.

Very best wishes, as ever

Vikki AldenHead Teacher Preparatoryvikki.alden@hillcrest.ac.ke

Early Years News:Head Teacher's Message:

‘It is hard to believe that this is the end of our first half term, the weeks have flown by and the children havegrown so much both physically and developmentally.  We see our children loving learning and they talkpassionately about the things they have been doing.

This week we were very lucky.   Year 12 drama students from the Secondary came and performed 4 short playsfor our Reception and Year 1 children.  It was wonderful to see the faces on our children as that sat andwatched, and in some cases had to participate in the performances.

This week our Year 1 children went out on their school trip and this is what they have to say:We had a fun trip to the Safari Walk, and we were able to watch all of the animals! The children were able to

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see mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds, which we've been learning about in our Science lessons.A big 'thank you' to Mr. Paddy who extended our Science lesson into nature!

Staff have been working really hard with organising their lessons for next half term and I’m sure you will enjoyreading their topic letters when they come out to you after the break.

A reminder that we are back on Monday 22nd October and our Parent Teacher meetings are on Friday 26th

starting at 1.30 p.m.  Please choose two times and we will try our best to accommodate your choices whengiving you your appointment.

Today we have enjoyed our HEY sports day. All the children loved showing off their athletics skills.  Thank youto everyone for making it a wonderful morning.

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Please do look out in your inbox for a survey regarding our lunch and snack provision. We would very muchappreciate you completing this for us.

I’d like to wish you a wonderful weekend and we will all look forward to seeing you on the 22nd for our busyChristmas half term.  So much to look forward to.

Jackie LeesonHead Teacher Early Yearsjacqueline.leeson@hillcrest.ac.ke

Message from Deputy Head Prep:

I am writing this after I have had a lesson with the Year 8 pupils where they analysed an assignment given tothem. Following the analysis they have set themselves targets for homework, classwork, revision and an examtarget to prepare themselves for the PreMock examination in November. This is an example of just one class ofpupils owning their learning. As the flight plans help each pupil to own and shape their learning journey, we willsupport them to achieve their own personal excellence.

As the half term starts, I encourage Year 8 pupils to rest, relax but keep a routine for revision of the syllabi

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covered in Year 7. As Year 7 embark on their Common Entrance journey they can try making some notes in theform of colourful mind maps, mnemonics and flash cards.

For all pupils this can be a good time for reading a book, writing a story or a journal of their holiday adventure.

Have a restful half term break.

Surbhi Vashisht

Deputy Head Teacher Prepsurbhi.vashisht@hillcrest.ac.ke

Alumni News:

FERNANDA LARRAIN - Class of - 1985Fernanda visited school a couple of weeks ago wrote a letter about her visit.“Thank you for allowing me and my husband to visit the school. He was highlyimpressed with the school installations and beautiful grounds.

It was indeed very special for me to go back to Nairobi and have the opportunityto go to Hillcrest which I attended during the years 84 and 85.

As I told you that day, my father was the Chilean Ambassador in Nairobi duringthose two years and I always felt I had to go back and see it and feel it with myown eyes. Hillcrest definitely marked me and I loved the fact of having all kind ofnationalities studying together, playing lots of sports etc. I remember theswimming galas and I definitely developed my love for sports there and canproudly say I have run New York Marathon twice in my life!

After living in Kenya, I moved to Santiago, Chile then Colombia, Singapore andfinally returned to Santiago where I studied graphic design, but with the years, ended up working in the UN andthen became the PA to the Chairman of a very important Mining Company in Chile (Antofagasta Minerals)which also has office in London (Antofagasta plc)

It was indeed a very special moment to go back to Kenya.I have the fondest memories of this school and Africa and always remember very special friends, Bronya,Myrica, Georgina and so many others.”

Jackie GuestAlumni CoordinatorJackie.guest@hillcrest.ac.ke

Junior School News:

A lot has happened this week in Junior School. During the whole school assembly on Monday, many childrenreceived reading certificates in recognition of their efforts in reading. Team captains in various sports as well asstudent council representatives were also presented with caps and badges respectively. Congratulations to all!

Today, the Year 4 children held Roman Day, this is linked to their Humanities topic on The Romans. You may

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read all about it in a separate article below.

Thank you to all parents who turned up for the Year 2, 3 and 4 parent - teacher consultations held yesterday. Itwas great sharing with you your child’s targets for the second half of term in our newly introduced ‘flight plan’targets booklet.

Have a well-deserved half term break with your child.

Mary MuchangiHead of Junior Schoolmary.muchangi@hillcrest.ac.ke

Year 4 Humanities

In Humanities, the Year 4 pupils have been learning about The Romans this first half of term. The children haveenjoyed travelling back in time and exploring reasons for the Roman invasion as well as Boudicca’s retreat. Thestructure and organisation of the Roman army was a fascinating discovery for them and as a way of bringingthis fun yet insightful unit to a close, the children made Roman swords and shields and with the help of Mr.Moyse, they put together a brilliant Roman Day presentation showcasing some Roman military formations.Well done to the magnificent Year 4s!

Cecilia KariukiYear 4 Humanities

Senior School News:

The Parent Teacher Consultation Meetings were held on Tuesday 9th for Year 5 and 6, and on Friday 12th forYears 7 and 8. We received many positive comments about the “Flight Plan" booklets in which pupils have arecord of all the targets set for them across the different subject areas. These targets will be updated

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continually (as soon as the teacher feels that the target has been met and that the pupil is ready for the nextchallenge). It was, as always, a pleasure meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress thus far.

Year 5s had an exciting Greek Pottery Morning on Tuesday 9th. Please find an article and some photos fromMrs. Henderson below.  Year 6s ended the week on a positive note with suggestions on how children shouldspend their half-term.

Ongoing Uniform Appeal – Just a polite reminder to check that all your child’s uniform items are clearly labelledand that they have not brought mistakenly home any uniform items home that do not belong to them (this canhappen when they are changing into PE kit or swimming costumes). Thank you for your support with this.

I wish you all a restful half-term break. School resumes on Monday 22nd October 2018.

Julie KimutaiHead of Senior Schooljulie.kimutai@hillcrest.ac.ke

Year 5

On Wednesday the Year Five pupils invited their parents in for a fun filled Greek Pottery Morning. Together weused stoneware clay to produce replica Greek Pots. After half term, we will be illustrating our Greek Tragedy(written in English) around the pots, as was the common practice during these times.We look forward to showing you our finished stories and pots in the coming weeks

Michelle HendersonYear 5 Form Tutor

Sports News:

Dear parents,

Thank you all for the huge support shown during the past half term – and if you have not been to see us - whynot!!

This week we have seen our captains named across five sports:

Rounders: U9 Almasi U11- Yasminne U13- ShiruCricket: U9 Andrew U11- Niko U13- AmariAthletics: U9 Rafaela and D'Barl U11- Yelen and Eliott Fricot U13 - Saskia and Tristan S

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Swimming: U9 Max and Samara U11- Caelen and Lila U13 - Dylan K and MinaFootball: U9 Jonathan U11 Mutuma U13 Tapiwa

Well done to them all – we wish them all the luck in their new roles!

Our matches were interrupted due to the rescheduled public holiday however, we still had a chance to take partin the Banda Athletics warm up on Monday. There were many very tough events and some stand outperformances – including the U11 girls relay team (2nd) Saskia in the 800m (2nd) Matuma in the 200m (2nd)and Almasi ball throw (3rd) D'Barl in the ball throw (3rd) Mueni in the 100m (3rd) Pamela in the 100m(3rd) Yelen in the long jump (2nd). We are very pleased with the efforts of the individuals but also that of theteam as even in really challenging races they did not give in and performed to their best.

The U11 girls teams played at Brookhouse in a triangular with GEMS on Tuesday. There was some excellentrounders played and our girls won and drew matches. Mia again getting an MVP – her 5th of the season, alongwith Lila and Sanaa. The U9 girls made the same trip, again successfully. Almasi – who is becoming anotherregular name on here – and Samara performing very well on the day.

The boys had the chance to play football in the same triangular fixtures, U11 at Hillcrest and U9 at GEMS. Insome tough games the boys performed very well, Niko providing multiple assists and showing some excellentwing work as the U11 team was led by Matuma for the first time. Neel performing well for the development teamalong with Mustafa earning MVP’s but some excellent performances from Emmanuel, Max F and Calen. TheU9 performances’ were strong, two free kicks scored by Joshua and Max M and Charles in goal. The A team,captained by Jonathan N played very well. Jonathan putting in a proper captains performance – leading on thefield and off.

This Friday we had a wonderful and fun HEY sports day. It included Turbo Javelins, Speed bounce, Standinglong jump and ball throw as well as all of the races, 300m, 75m, 50m, 30m and of course  25m for the youngestathletes in our school.

The morning went well with lots of fun, sun and parents taking part in their races! Thanks all and well done!!

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Nigel MoyseHead of Physical Education and Sports Departmentnigel.moyse@hillcrest.ac.ke

Creative Arts News:

ART NEWS

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Several of our students have submitted pieces for theKenya Orchid SocietyArt Competition.

We have won this competition several times over the years.Please go along to the Sarit Centre Exhibition Hall to see the Art and you will probably see orchids as well.

Stephanie HooperHead of Art, Hillcrest Secondary SchoolStephanie.hooper@hillcrest.ac.ke

Health and safety in the D.T. roomThe Year 2 class has been learning about health and safety in the D.T. room. They were excited to try out sometools like the mini hacksaw and the vice, which they used to cut out pieces of wood to make simple abstractsculptures.

Yoland MasidzaCreative Arts Co-ordinatorYoland.masidza@Hillcrest.ac.ke

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Lunch Menu Week Commencing 22nd October 2018