Dear parents,
Welcome to the final Newsletter of 2018! Even though we only have four days of school remaining before we break up (next Thursday 20th December at 2.30pm), there is so much still happening with Christmas celebrations, achievement assemblies, class parties and of course Brilliant Britannica!
New staff
As we finish one term, so another will begin and I am extremely excited to welcome some newcomers to our Primary and Secondary staff teams for 2019. In year 5, we have two new teachers with Mrs Yvette Kmetty taking over 5 TEME and Miss Jade Archer teaching 5 THAMES. Both are highly experienced International teachers. Yvette is moving over with her family from Australia, returning to the homeland of her parents. Jade is joining us from the UK having previously worked in Asia and Africa. She has just finished a spell travelling around South America and is looking forward to experiencing what Europe has to offer. To support with their transition into class, we are delighted to be able to count on Mrs Brandon for a further few weeks prior to her maternity leave in February. She will be working closely with both teachers, initially full time and then in a part time capacity, to ensure the transition is a smooth one. Included within the Primary section of this weeks’ Newsletter are Yvette and Jade’s biographies, as I know you will want to get to know them better and give them an ex-tremely warm (although it may be snowy outside) welcome to our community in January.
In the specialist subject areas, we are delighted to announce the arrival of Nigel Muter as a full time member of staff teaching Art and History. Nigel is a British trained teacher, with 9 years International teaching experience. He holds a degree in Fine Art from Central St Martins College in London and will be joining us in mid -January when he and his wife move back to Europe from Doha, in Qatar. Prior to his teacher career, Nigel set up his own Sports business in Manchester, England. Nigel’s arrival is tinged with sadness, as it means Mrs Tina Gibson will no longer be with us an official member of the teaching staff. I would like to thank her for ‘stepping in to the breach’ caused by a previous member of staff’s late departure at the end of the last academic year. She has been a huge support to the school during this period and brought great enthusiasm, passion and know-how to the department this term, introducing some excellent structure to the departments’ schemes of work. Don’t worry too much, though, as Tina will still be a vibrant member of our community, continuing with her extra-curricular clubs and supporting the school as our resident artist on further exciting community projects, in the same manner as she did with Project Mural last year. I know Tina is looking forward to having more time to spend with her children and husband in the New Year.
Brilliant Britannica Timings: Next Wednesday, 19th December.
We hope to see you there!
11.35: vendors and primary (KS2) set up tables
11.35: secondary set up tables
All lunch breaks are as normal (12.15 Primary, 12.40 Secondary)
Parents are welcome to attend from 13.30
13.45 event begins
14.30:Musical Interlude in the auditorium orchestra and choir perform
15.20:Primary and secondary stalls close
15.30:End of school day: All students dismissed
External vendors can remain open until 16.20
16.20: Official end of the event
Parental Survey
Thank you to all the parents who have already completed the Orbital Parental Survey for 2018. This is hugely valuable feedback to the school and the group in terms of how you view the school and which areas you think we do well and which areas we need to develop. If you have not completed already, you need to be quick, as the deadline is midnight tonight!
Canteen Terrace
The much anticipated canteen terrace construction has been taking place this week. This will allow all-year-round use of the area outside of the canteen for students and staff to enjoy their lunches. It will provide a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere for forty people. Thank you to Balint Rokas, our Premises Coordinator, for organising and supervising the work.
Christmas wishes
Finally from me this week, I would like to wish all members of the Britannica International Community a wonderful Christmas holiday and a fantastic New Year. It has been a fantastic year for the school as we continue to develop and grow together. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your contribution to making Britannica such a happy and exciting place to work. Enjoy the break and we look forward to seeing you back here on Monday 7th January at 8.20 am.
