Senior Newsletter 3rd February 2012

Newsletter 

It’s raining paper wads…

On Tuesday 31^st January the population of Sunderland High School had a big treat - all the way from across the Atlantic Ocean!Mr David Kelso and his wife, Cheri, took Assembly on Tuesday in a very inventive way.  Mr Kelso began by telling us about his childhood in America, and how at the time he did not understand the need for the authority that was put over him.

Carrying on, he emphasised how with age came wisdom and he realised that authority was needed and also helped him.

Mr Kelso and his wife then emphasised the point by using a literal and metaphorical umbrella, showing you have more help under ‘the umbrella of authority’ than alone.  This entailed the front two rows of the Assembly audience throwing paper balls – or paper wads, as Mr Kelso referred to them – at Cheri, who defended herself with the giant umbrella!

Year 13 exam period over 

As most senior students of the school have returned from their study leave after another intensive exam period. There’s no respite for our A Level troopers, though, as they begin the final trek towards university, so good luck to them as they begin the last push.

Year 9 theatre trip to ‘Romeo and Juliet’On Wednesday Year 9 pupils went to see ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Middlesbrough, accompanied by Mrs Bovill, Mrs Craven and Miss Greest.   We can only hope that the pupils were prepared for the emotional  onslaught… get the tissues in!

News from Malawi

Mr and Mrs Wayman have recently received two e-mails from Mr Kaombe Ambali, Headteacher of Julia Sharpe Secondary School. 

Read on for an update on life at our partner school in Nkhotakota…

Dear Mr and Mrs Wayman,

Happy and prosperous new year.

We are hopeful that you are fine.

The board members, directors and staff and students of Julia Sharpe wish you a happy and successful new year.We are in the second term of the 2011/2012 academic year.

The school is receiving more students because of last year’s good results in the Malawi Schools Certificate of Examination.

The school is full to capacity.

We were also number one at District level in both quantity and quality.The girls’ hostel is not yet finished. Construction has reached beam level. The delay has come up because of a number of factors.

The economic crisis that has hit out country has made purchasing building materials far more expensive than was planned. Worse still, sometimes commodities such as cement become scarce.

And if they are unavailable from vendors they have to be bought at high prices. This has really affected our budget.However, we are still struggling on in order to finish the project.

The ministry officials have encouraged us to complete the hostel soon since it will improve the education of girls.I hope to communicate to you soon.

Best regards,Kaombe Ambali

Headteacher 

Dear Mr and Mrs Wayman, 

We forgot to inform you that two girls and a boy from this school became the best players in the district in netball and football respectively.

This was announced during  the ‘Entertainers of the Year’ awards for our district, at which officials from various ministries were present. 

It is rainy season. Much of the area is now green.

If the rain continues then we may have a bumper harvest in maize and soya beans.

Very few people have cultivated tobacco, popularly known as green gold, this year.  This is due to the disastrous prices they received  last year – the lowest in living memory.

Some parts of Malawi are experiencing floods, especially in the lower shire. Schools will close for second term on 16^th April 2012.

However we will have a short holiday for one week in March. Greetings from students and members of staff.

 Kaombe Ambali

Headteacher                  

Whats On!

Tues 7th - 6.30 PTA Committee Meeting Langham Tower

Wed 8th - Y8 Lunch with Father Andrew

Fri 10th - School Communion Service, The Space, 12.45pm

Half Term break starts 4pm