Skylight - Summer 2021 by Haberdashers' Boys' School

Summer 2021

BOUNDLESS

Featured in this issue...

Habs awarded UNICEF certificate Bridge and Horizon programmes Bringing the IPL to Elstree Students accepted into National Youth Theatre

Class of 2021 Celebration Habs launch Reception classes

The Headmaster’s

End of term letter

Dear Parents/Carers, It has been quite a year! Whilst I don’t think I would ever wish to do it all again, despite the vicissitudes and challenges, there have been many happy memories and reasons to be both proud and hopeful. During a year that has invited us to be imaginative and take risks, one astute student confidently asserted that ‘creativity is the future,’ and creativity has been a central theme this term. The most obvious physical manifestation has been the glorious ‘Nature at Habs’ mural project which now adorns the massive building site hoarding. It is not often that we ask students to engage in graffiti, but watching pupils and staff play their part in this sprawling and vibrant installation was one of the great highlights of the year. The Design and Technology department has enjoyed no less success, whether it be reaching the F1 in Schools Regional Finals, the fantastic Electric Drift Trike Project or the national acclaim for Gianpaolo’s HydroCharge project, a brilliant, relevant and sustainable solution to a real world problem. Our actors have faced more than their fair share of frustrations with theatres closed on account of the pandemic, yet the atmospheric and captivating performance of ‘Haroun and the Sea of Stories’ was as fine a production as anyone will ever see from Year 8 pupils. That six Habs students have won places at the prestigious National Youth Theatre in the last two years says it all. Our musicians also had to navigate restrictions, but persevered and found a way. The Music Festival was a real success and Prep’s Battle of the Bands and Young

Musician of the Year were of the highest possible quality. For musicians of all ages, no mountain was high enough and our second foray into musical video is a real treat to savour. You have to watch it: https://vimeo.com/570246683/a6896087a7 After several terms of cancelled sports fixtures, this term finally felt like a return to normality. Over 130 cricket matches have been played across the School – there would have been many more had the weather gods been kinder. The 1st team had an exceptional season, losing to only one other school, whilst our 2nd XI went undefeated in 11 games, as did several junior teams. Our athletes enjoyed great success with Adefuyi and Ben becoming county champions, whilst our U13 and U15 tennis teams have enjoyed tremendous seasons. Above all things, many hundreds of students represented the School and did so with an outstanding attitude – and they really enjoyed it! This has all been, of course, alongside the business of lessons, remote and in person and every variation in between, the setting of internal assessments for exam cohorts and the calculation of Teacher Assessed Grades. Staff have worked incredibly hard and I must pay tribute to the way in which all my colleagues and our wonderful students have come together to encourage each other. That sense of service has reached out beyond the gates too, with the Bookybox Project and the support of numerous foodbanks and charities. I was delighted that the School was awarded the UNICEF UK OutRight Certificate, a fitting follow up to last year’s Green Flag Award, and our celebrations of Diversity Week and Mental Health Awareness Week were both pertinent and memorable; we must and will continue to strive towards our vison of being the most

inclusive and caring of schools. You will recall that the governors launched an ambitious and exciting 10-year strategy for Habs Boys and Habs Girls in 2019. A series of cross-school working parties were set up and have been working hard to implement the strategy. I am delighted to share our progress to date, which you can read via our website: https://bit.ly/HabsStrategyUpdate Next year is going to be busy. Everything is crossed for a little more normality. As part of our strategy and the closer collaboration between our two schools, we have been working on a new joint brand identity and a refreshed school brand. We look forward to unveiling this very soon. We will progress on our enormous building project and are also excited to be recruiting our first ever Reception classes at 4+. In the meantime, I offer you and your families the very best for the summer. Thank you, most sincerely, for your incredible support during a year like no other.

Gus Lock

Headmaster

Success Stories Habs awarded UNICEF UK OutRight 2020/21 certificate We are delighted to announce that the School has been awarded the UNICEF UK OutRight 2020/21 Certificate! OutRight is a campaign that helps children understand their rights, assists them in speaking out in support of children’s rights and promotes these rights around the world. The Student Council worked towards achieving this certificate through promoting World Children’s Day in November 2020, producing a short video for this and sharing resources on children’s rights with the School community. OutRight’s focus this year was children’s rights and climate change, which linked in with the School’s achievement of the Green Flag Award. This focus also aligned with the Student Council’s commitment to improving the physical environment at Habs, as well as the drive to increase social awareness of environmental issues through the new Habs Environment Committee. Many thanks to the Habs Student Council.

Welcome to our new 2021/22 Prefects

On Monday 14 June, a special assembly was held in the Bourne Hall to appoint the School’s incoming Prefect Team for 2021/22. We are delighted to announce that our new School Captain is Felix (L6M2) and the three Vice-Captains are Lucas (L6H1), Jatin (L6S2) and Viren (L6H2). They will have the opportunity to take on leadership roles within the Sixth Form and across the wider School community. The new Prefects were elected by their teachers and the Sixth Form and will assume their roles with immediate effect. With speeches from the Headmaster, the former School Captain Gabriel and Reverend Brandon, this event marked one of the highlights of the School calendar, celebrating the achievements of the previous team as well as anticipating the progress of the incoming one. Congratulations to each and every one of the students who have been awarded the prestigious honour of becoming a Habs Prefect, as well as to our House Captains and Senior Sports Captains.

Success Stories Habs student wins two engineering awards Congratulations to Gianpaolo (L6S1) for winning two engineering awards: The Energy Institute Climate Change Special Award as part of the Big Bang Competition and the Triumph Design Awards Innovation Prize. His entry, HydroCharge, is a portable mobile device charger powered by flowing water, which he designed and built. The Big Bang competition is the UK’s top science and engineering competition; it inspires inquisitive minds to think big, challenge facts, ask questions and invent solutions. The Energy Institute Climate Change Special Award is given to a project designed to help bring about a lasting reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as a contribution to the UK’s goal of reaching net zero by 2050. The Triumph Design Awards competition promotes and recognises the talent of students aged 16-18 to solve real world problems with innovative and creative thinking in order to help young design engineers to develop their potential whilst demonstrating how engineering is an exciting and useful career that has helped shape the world we know. The Triumph Design Awards Innovation Prize is awarded to the student who has presented the product with the most innovative design. On Wednesday 23 June, Gianpaolo was announced as the winner of The Energy Institute Climate Change Special Award at a Big Bang Competition virtual awards ceremony. A few days later, on Thursday 1 July, Lord Digby Jones, the non-executive Chairman of Triumph Motorcycles, announced Gianpaolo as the winner of the Innovation Prize at the Triumph Design Awards virtual awards ceremony. After interviewing Gianpaolo live, Lord Digby Jones said: “Now, that’s brilliant! I think it’s absolutely the future, so many, many congratulations!” Well done, Gianpaolo!

The rise of the writer: creative writing success at Habs Three students have found success in creative writing this term. Aditya (11C1) came second in the Connell Guide Short Story Competition for his humorous story ‘Bingo with Grammy’, whilst Arjun (11H1) was a runner-up with his story ‘Date Night’. Selected from the best fiction from students across the country, the competition was judged by former journalist, historian and best-selling author Robert Harris. Meanwhile, Anurag (11J1) has been chosen to take part in the Young Writer’s Studio, a prestigious writing workshop run by Iowa University. Anurag will have the opportunity to hone his craft alongside other writers and be taught by noted novelists, playwrights and poets. We would like to congratulate the students for this fantastic achievement. Scribe, creative writing workshops and many more competitions will be on offer next academic year.

Success Stories Habs student selected to represent the UK in the International Informatics Olympiaad The School is very pleased to announce that Erekle (11M1) has successfully passed Round 2 of the British Informatics Olympiad and has been selected as one of four students to represent the UK in the International Informatics Olympiad. This is the most prestigious computer science competition for students aged under 19 from around the world. Each participating country in the competition will select a team of up to four contestants to represent their nation. The team, accompanied by a team leader and deputy leader, will compete in a two-day competition. Each contestant then competes individually to maximise their score by solving three algorithmic problems within five hours. This is a fantastic achievement, with Erekle beating A Level students to represent the country. The School would like to wish him the best of luck and we very much hope he enjoys the experience.

Schroders essay competition 2021 Economics students took part in the annual essay competition run by Schroders Bank, against other Haberdashers’ Schools. The title this year was: ‘Governments are rapidly increasing their deficits and debt to support the economy. Running a government deficit is i) bad for the economy and ii) will require taxes to go up in the future.’ The Economics department was very impressed by the essays submitted: Jamar (U6H2) came 2nd place across all schools, Aly (U6C2) was a runner up across all schools, and Jai (U6M2) was commended for his essay. The School would like to congratulate all the students who entered the Schroders Essay Competition - the quality of writing was excellent.

Success Stories Sixth Formers win the Isaac Senior Physics Challenge

Sixth Formers Gianpaolo (L6S1) and Samzi (L6S1) were named as two of the winners of the University of Cambridge’s Isaac Senior Physics Challenge and have been invited to an extraordinary summer camp. Only 50 students nationwide were selected! The shortlist was based on their aptitude in problem solving in Maths and Physics, with challenging questions ranging in difficulty from AS extension to pre-University difficulty. During the summer camp, selected students will dive into the second year Cambridge Quantum Mechanics course, with the aim to enrich participants’ understanding of the subject. The course will also entail evening lectures from Cambridge professors. Overall, it promises to be an invaluable experience for all involved.

Success Stories David Grossel History Essay Prize 2021

The School is pleased to report that Dhilan (10S1) and Aarush (11M1) were recently named as runners-up in the David Grossel History Essay Prize for 2021. The competition was established three years ago with the aim to help students in the Middle School develop their essay-writing skills in History and to commemorate the work of David Grossel, who started his teaching career in the History department at Habs and went on to have a significant impact in a number of London independent schools. Dhilan’s essay on ‘Which President did the most to advance the civil rights of American citizens between 1945 and 1980?’ was praised by the judges for making a cogent and convincing case for President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Aarush was commended for doing the most difficult thing in his response to ‘Was the French Revolution a Revolution of Ideas?’: making a link between ideas and actions. The School congratulates all who took part in this year’s competition for seeking to develop their historical scholarship and writing skills.

F1 in Schools Regional Finals Year 8 pupils taking part in the F1 in Schools Regional Finals have been very productive during their preparations, readying their model F1 cars after they were CNC Machined and 3D printed. This year, the cars will be posted to a remote race. The boys will watch their cars being launched on the F1 in Schools Official YouTube channel all week from Monday 12 July to Friday 16 July. Teams also created design portfolios, verbal presentation videos and enterprise documents to support their project. Good luck to all those involved!

Success Stories Durham Schools Debating Competition

Seven Habs teams participated in the 2021 Durham Schools Debating Competition. With 133 teams, the competition lasted two intense days. All teams were proud of the results. Fola and Alex (both 10M1) participated in the open quarter finals where they faced some of the best teams in the competition. The Year 10 team placed 7th overall, a fantastic achievement considering the overwhelming majority were significantly older than them. Furthermore, Aarnav (L6H1) and Lucas (L6H1) made the top 40 for speaker scores while Fola proved his skills by ranking in the top 30. Finally, four Habs teams reached the top 50: Alex and Fola in 7th, Lucas in 19th, Maanav and James in 38th and Ahan and Keshav in 41st. Reaching the quarter finals was an immense achievement and demonstrates how much progress Habs has made in debating in recent years.

Success Stories UN Generation Equality Forum Ishaan also co-organised the Generation Equality: Young Feminist Unconference. The Unconference virtually hosted over 1,000 guests internationally, providing them with a platform to make commitments and influence the outcomes of the GEF. Ishaan presented youth demands regarding Economic Justice and Rights to Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women; Lopa Banerjee, Director of the Civil Society Division; Delphin O, Secretary-General of the GEF and Action Coalition Leaders. These included improving financial literacy, providing universal education, combating modern slavery and effectively building back better from the pandemic.

Ishaan (U6S2) participated in the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) 2021 convened by UN Women and the Governments of France and Mexico. The GEF is a process for member states, private sectors, civil society, and youth to make concrete commitments to advance gender equality over the next five years. In response to the exclusion of tackling modern slavery at the GEF, Ishaan co-led the creation of the Youth Against Slavery Manifesto, which provides governments and private sectors with tangible and effective measures that they can adopt to help end modern slavery. With the Generation Equality Youth Taskforce, youth leaders of the Action Coalitions and National Gender Youth Activists,

Ishaan and his colleagues are proactively working to stop the ongoing tokenising and exclusion of youth from decision-making spaces within the GEF and beyond. They are developing accountability measures, demanding increased funding for youth efforts, and pushing for meaningful youth inclusion; co-creation, co-leadership and co-ownership in decision making spaces at an international level. Well done, Ishaan!

Success Stories Habs Allotment

During the spring term, a group of students involved in the School Community Service planted a selection of different crops in the hope that they would be able to pass them on to the chefs with the School’s catering providers, Holroyd Howe. There has been an overwhelming response from students from all year groups and staff, who have been eager to learn more about the crops that have been planted and have volunteering to help. As a result, all the crops, apart from the fruit bushes, have been grown from seed by the students. Towards the end of the summer term, a small group of students carefully harvested the redcurrants and cucumbers from the allotment and delivered them to the chefs in the Bates dining hall. The School would like to thank Holroyd Howe, who have been brilliant and have made use of the produce grown and given to them by the students. It is hoped that all pupils will have the opportunity to tend to the plot and benefit from it. We also look forward to inviting members of the wider community to enjoy the space in the not-toodistant future. The School would like to thank Mrs West and all those who supported in the creation and management of the allotment.

Events Diversity Week During this week, the School celebrated and promoted thought and reflection about diversity. Mrs Bardou hosted a super breakfast Zoom with Benjamin Cohen, CEO of Pink News. Zaver, our Year 12 School Council Director of Diversity and Inclusion, recorded an interview with Sam Dowler, Old Haberdasher and journalist, in which Sam talks very informatively about his experience in the media and LGBTQ+ issues. Zaver also connected students with the excellent resources and speaker masterclasses on the ‘Just Like Us’ channel. Year 9 attended anti-racism lessons using poignant Stephen Lawrence Foundation materials and discussion of the BBC documentary ‘Football. Racism and Social Media’ and the media debate around the England football team taking the knee. Forms looked at the meaning and powerful effect of Yinka Shonibare’s

extraordinary work, ‘The British Library’ (https://thebritishlibraryinstallation.com/) in the Tate Collection. The biggest event was three major Zoom talks from The RAP Project, at age-appropriate levels on digital life and the problems facing young people, such as online hate and pressures from social media and pornography. These are major issues and part of the diversity of our experiences across the year groups; we look forward to the challenge of continuing and bettering our support in 2021/22. Many thanks to Mr Bass for organising Diversity Week at Habs.

Events Mental Health Awareness Week The week beginning Monday 10 May was Mental Health Awareness week. The Student Council, working closely with Mr Bass, provided a week filled with fun and informative events. The week started with discussions in form time, using the Action for Happiness booklets. Tuesday brought HappyDash, which was a huge success, with an all-time record turnout of over 300 runners. On Wednesday, the Lower Sixth watched an incredible assembly led by fellow Lower Sixth student Adeel (L6S2) about mental health and the impact it has on our lives. The School Counsellor, Mr Grufferty, also wrote and shared with us a beautiful piece on mental health, mindfulness and nature. On Thursday, the Lower Sixth had another talk led by Aadarsh Gautam (Hyphen) (OH 2011), who shared his deeply moving mental health journey and gave students fantastic advice about looking after their own mental health. Overall, the week was a resounding success, with brilliant events led by students, Old Haberdashers, teachers and more. We believe that the Habs environment is a better, safer place as a result. Thanks must go to Mr Bass for arranging the activities and events for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Events Bridge Programme Ahead of September, every Year 11 student had the opportunity to get a taste of what Sixth Form study and life is like. Every student has experienced a sample of their A Level timetable, completed Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), heard from a range of wellbeing and academic speakers, and attended careers workshops to broaden their horizons. On Friday 18 June, for the first time, students from both Habs Boys and Habs Girls worked together as they shared their subject passions and reflected on the skills needed to thrive academically and make the most of all the opportunities for scholarship in the Sixth Form. On Friday 25 June, students were inspired by the engaging Old Haberdasher speaker Simon Duffy, and then chose two diverse career workshops to attend; topics ranged from medicine and healthcare, to sustainable finance, to how to present yourself at interview.

With over 90% of the year group saying they had enjoyed the Bridge programme and that it helped them finalise their subject choices, we believe that it has helped many boys feel more confident as they look ahead to September, so that they are able to make a smooth transition and fulfil their potential. What has been the best thing about the Bridge programme? Dhruv (11C1): “It has given me a better insight into what the A Level courses will be about and how life in the Sixth Form works in terms of more freedom to work independently and explore deeper questions.” Amay (11S2): “It was helpful to start more challenging work and to get an insight into what A Level study will be like.” Yash (11R2): “It has been a great experience to get a taste of the A Level timetable, as well as to truly get an understanding of the type of lessons we will experience in the Sixth Form. I have also enjoyed this process, because in each of my subjects there has been an opportunity to develop my scholarship.” Kai (11J2): “I enjoyed learning about new subjects, such as Economics.”

Events Frontiers Programme For three days in mid-June, Year 13 students came back into school to equip themselves with a practical toolkit to survive and thrive at university. Students attended a number of workshops focusing on cooking, recruitment and interview technique, renting and housing maintenance, advice on travelling and adventure, first aid and basic bike and car maintenance, as well as a range of academic interdisciplinary seminars. It was lovely to have these students back in school, working collaboratively and making the most of all the opportunities afforded to them as they start a new chapter of their lives at university. We wish them and every member of our Class of 2021 the very best!

Habs London Mayoral Hustings 2021 On Thursday 29 April, the Politics Society hosted a mock London Mayoral Hustings in the Bourne Hall. Members of the Lower Sixth from the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools represented seven of the candidates for London Mayor. The students faced questions on issues such as violent crime and the economic recovery from the pandemic in London, with debate coming from the hosts Daniel (L6R1) and Harry (L6C2), as well as the other candidates. It was a real pleasure to welcome 70 members of the Lower Sixth from both Schools to this first, in-person. Politics Society event of the year, alongside more students joining on a Zoom call.

Events Bookybox Project Success A small group of Habs Sixth Form students have continued their involvement in the community initiative: Bookyboxes. Working from a list provided by Mr Plotkin, Director of Partnerships, students each chose a high-quality text and created a guided reading resource to go with it. Each finished Bookybox contains a text, a set of student-made resources, discussion questions, as well as a fun, relevant item. Primary schools might use the boxes to support reading in a small group of students, send boxes home with Pupil Premium (PP) children, or provide work for students isolating. 15 completed boxes have already been delivered to two local primary schools, with another collection ready to go. Well done to all those involved!

Electric Drift Trike Project Year 12 Design and Technology students have been given the opportunity to learn design, technical theory and detailed practical processes whilst producing a fun project! The students have experienced every element of the design process to develop their problem solving, before putting their designs on paper or Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Their task was to design and build an Electric Drift Trike with minimal guidance and help from Mr Roncarati. They have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Events Inter House Science Competition This term, the School held the first events in the Inter House Science competition, providing the opportunity for students to stretch their knowledge and skills in different scientific areas. Years 7 and 8 participated in a three-round quiz, hosted remotely by the Year 12 members of the Science Society Committee (Samzi (L6S1), Sajeev (L6M1), Lucas (L6H1) and Samuel (L6M2)). Meadows clinched the top spot for both year groups. The hotly anticipated Year 12 ‘titrate-off’ took place after school. This event tested the problem-solving, practical and analytic skills of students, who had to accurately determine the concentration of an acid using volumetric analysis. At the end it was incredibly tight, so a draw was called between Strouts and Calverts. It was fantastic to see such determination and commitment by the titrators, who fully engaged with the spirit of the event!

Students support local charity Goods For Good This term, Joblings have been continuing to support the local Watford-based charity, Goods For Good. Through links with Ayman Khan (OH 2020), a former Joblings member currently studying dentistry at university, members of Joblings have been collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste to support families from the local area. Over the last couple of weeks, Joblings has collected around 250 toothbrushes and 100 tubes of toothpaste. The School would like to thank everyone who kindly donated – it really will make a difference.

Events Year 8 student organises Foodbank collection As part of his Bar Mitzvah celebrations, Sami (8H1) organised a collection for Food Bank Aid. He requested from friends a selection of items that could be donated to help those in need during these difficult times. By the end of the collection, the car was overflowing with items. Well done, Sami!

Habs welcomes advocate and human rights lawyer Rayhan Asat On Thursday 6 May, the Politics Society was honoured to host Rayhan Asat over Zoom from Washington. Rayhan shared the harrowing story of her brother Ekpar’s disappearance in Xinjiang in 2016, and the treatment of Uyghur Muslims around the globe. Students from all year groups attended the insightful and fascinating event. Rayhan spoke in conversation with Jonathan (U6J2), having worked together previously for the youth social action group Burst The Bubble. Following the talk, Rayhan answered student and staff questions, as well as explaining how her brother’s story has influenced her life. It was a pleasure to have welcomed all students and staff who attended from the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools for another Politics Society event, despite it not being in-person. Many thanks go to Dan (L6R1), Harry (L6C2), Jonathan (U6J2) and Mr Clark for helping organise such an insightful event.

Events Outdoor Leadership mountain biking Among the organised trips for Field Day, a small group of Year 12 mountain bikers took to the trails around Habs, with Dr Chapman, Dr Hobbs and Mr Roncarati acting as guides. Despite the conditions, the students dived in, embracing the challenge. Given the weather, the group took two shorter loops, with a lunchtime stop at School. After the necessary bike checks, the morning circuit saw the cyclists travelling around Aldenham Country Park, out past Aldenham, across the Munden Estate and back through Radlett, visiting local landmarks along the way, as well as the odd climb! Mr Roncarati used a break in the weather to give a bike skills masterclass to improve bike handling. With the weather appearing to clear, all looked set for a decent afternoon ride up to Shenley and a welcome café stop at the top of a challenging climb. Dr Hobbs led the way, but after the encouragingly dry start, the rain set in. Eventually, the team arrived back at Habs drenched but still smiling. It is a credit to the group who remained positive throughout, keeping each other going and making the most of the experience. Thanks to Dr Chapman, Dr Hobbs and Mr Roncarati for their assistance, experience and local knowledge.

Events

Year 9 visit Fairlop Outdoor Activity Centre For Field Day, Year 9 students visited the Fairlop Outdoor Activity Centre in Ilford, where they spent a day on the water canoeing and sailing. Staff at the activity centre were full of praise, and commented on the enthusiasm students displayed. They were taught how to canoe and sail in pairs and develop their communication skills. The rain did not dampen any spirits. Thanks to Mr Lawrence, Dr Gannarelli, Ms Leaver, Ms Gomez, Dr Elias, Mrs Bardou, Mr Vrionides, Mrs Fielden and Mr B Ward for accompanying the students and organising the trip.

Habs Boys and Habs Girls welcome Dr Aric Sigman The Boys’ and Girls’ Schools welcomed, albeit virtually, Dr Aric Sigman to speak to a mixed group of Senior School parents from both Schools on ‘Parenting the Demanding Generation’. After explaining the title of his talk, and the sort of challenges facing parents today, Dr Sigman touched on a range of subjects, from managing screen-time to how best to instil sensible attitudes towards alcohol and drugs in teenagers. Throughout, he endorsed a firm, clear and boundaries-led approach to parenting, pulling straightforward, pragmatic and actionable suggestions out of the vast swathe of literature. Examples included the importance of family meals (even if only a few times a week and only with one parent at a time), ensuring you have regular, uninterrupted quality time with children (however brief it has to be), and using any opportunity to set up a debate and encourage children to develop their own voice and opinions. Dr Sigman also talked about the importance of a supportive relationship between parents and school, where these two important influences in a child’s life work as a team. We were delighted to see so many parents and guardians join us for the live event.

Events Army Field Day On Friday 18 May, the Army Section engaged in an exciting, on-site field day. While the Lower Sixth platoon played the enemy, undertaking recce patrols in the woods of the Aldenham Estate, Year 10 cadets undertook lessons on stalking, patrol harbours and counter-ambush drills. On receipt of intelligence that the enemy were operating in the woods, the Year 10 platoon embarked on set of clearance patrols to reclaim the territory. Quickly identifying the trail, they stalked their enemy through the woods, not realising they were walking into an ambush. Due to their excellent patrol discipline, and quick tactical withdrawal, the Year 10s were able to escape. A terrific time was had by all. Particular praise goes to Cadet Instructor Shay (LH61), as well as Platoon Commanders Stefano (L6C1) and Oscar (LH62). Dr Gannarelli would like to thank all of the officers and cadets who made the day such a success.

Events Royal Navy Cadets For Year 12 cadets, Field Day held an array of aquatic adventures! They began in groups; windsurfing and sailing. The windsurfers took a hands-on approach to remind themselves of the previous course. The sailors navigated a triangular course, one after the other on the massive reservoir. After lunch, the group all gathered for some windsurfing before the highlight of the ‘board games’. The student favourite, ‘King of the Board’, where two people would stand on opposite ends of a paddleboard and try to knock the other off. A great day for all involved! Thank you to A/SLt Willows and SLt Redfern for leading the day.

DofE Easter trips Having started the skills training over Zoom, the School held a series of skills training days leading up to Easter, with over 230 students attending. The team delivered a series of sessions to ensure that the students could safely use the tents and stoves, provided guidance on camping food and nutrition, a session on navigation and some practical first aid. After Easter, there was a practice canoe expedition for 15 students participating in the Gold Award. There were also a practice Gold expedition and two Bronze practice expeditions. It was poignant to be on DofE during the weekend of Prince Philip’s funeral. The students recognised the significance of the day and all observed a minute of silence at 3pm.

Art, Music and Drama ‘Nature at Habs’ mural During the last few weeks of the summer term, all our students participated in creating a largescale mural across the building site hoardings. Students worked in teams to make stencils and spray paint a vibrant, layered design inspired by ‘Nature at Habs’. Years 9 to 12 contributed by forming the overall composition by laying down abstract lines, shapes and patterns as well as making and spraying stencils of animals. Years 7 and 8 worked on insects and leaves, adding the final touches and detail to great effect. Everyone enjoyed learning new skills, working as a team and havingthe opportunity to make their own mark on such an exciting and public artwork.

Art, Music and Drama Habs welcomes visiting artists Shelley Jacobs Habs A Level artists enjoyed a talk from prize-winning Fine Artist Shelley Jacobs, who has explored a wide range of media and ideas in her work. Shelley shared her journey, from A Level Art to her degree and then on to her Masters, before speaking about some of her current projects. This talk highlighted the importance of the development of personal ideas and connections in an artist’s work, as well as providing greater insight to the genre of conceptual art. The explanations Shelley gave as to how, why and when she took creative leaps was particularly interesting for our pupils to consider and relate back to their own practice. Jane French The Art department was delighted to welcome practising artist Jane French. During the immersive workshop the Year 10 Fine Artists’ had the opportunity to hear from the artist, observed as she created a stunning portrait and were introduced to the process of oil painting, furthering their own coursework portfolios along the way. Jane French is an accomplished figurative artist and portrait painter. She is a proud member of the Contemporary British Portrait Painters collective (CBPP) – a group of some of the best portrait artists working in Britain.

Habs Art Stars

Art, Music and Drama Habs students accepted into the National Youth Theatre Habs is delighted to announce that six students from across the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools have been accepted into the National Youth Theatre (NYT) of Great Britain, after successfully auditioning earlier this year. Demi (L6M2), Arman (L6S1), Abim (11R2), Senitha (11R1), Jessica (L6LWA) and Avital (U5A) undertook a series of self-taped and live recall auditions, and will now take their places on the residential summer training courses before they become part of the wider NYT company. The Drama department worked with 15 students this year, supporting them with their speeches and a series of workshops exploring audition technique, from which six reached final recalls and five were accepted - this is an incredible achievement since over 6,000 young people between the ages of 14-26 auditioned this year! The NYT is a fantastic training ground but most importantly gives the students the opportunity to work with a group of amazingly diverse and talented other young people. Demi: “I feel truly blessed to be given this opportunity.” Arman: “It is humbling to know that I have been accepted into such a prestigious institution.” Jessica: “I feel so grateful to be accepted into the NYT as it puts great emphasis on uplifting the younger generation.” Avital: “The NYT is an organisation that has inspired so many young people. I look forward to being a part of it.” Abim: “I am incredibly excited at being able to attend the same institution as incredible actors such as Daniel Craig and Benedict Cumberbatch.” Senitha: “I feel privileged to be part of NYT. Thanks to Habs and Mr Weinman in particular. The hard work has paid off.” Congratulations and best of luck to all those accepted!

Art, Music and Drama Haroun and the Sea of Stories

“Your head is full of make-believe, so there is no room in it for facts!” So speaks Soraya, Haroun’s mother, as she runs off with the neighbour, Mr Sengupta. Haroun’s father, Rashid, is left bereft, as his power to tell stories falters. On Wednesday 23 June, Year 8 performed Haroun and the Sea of Stories, rekindling the power of storytelling in the first live performance the School has seen for 18 months. Their dynamic, beautiful storytelling proved there is most certainly a point to stories that are not even true. The cast has worked incredibly hard through many of the challenges of the past year to produce an outstanding piece of theatre. The rehearsals emphasised the importance of ‘play’, encouraging the students themselves to take responsibility for crafting the performance, with lines allocated live in the space of the moment. We would like to congratulate all the students who took part, as well as Mrs Morris-Wolffe, who has worked incredibly hard over the past year to bring this story to life. As Haroun said: “I always thought storytelling was like juggling ... You keep a lot of different tales in the air, and juggle them up and down, and if you’re good, you don’t drop any.”

Art, Music and Drama Devising in Drama This term a range of Drama classes have been busy devising original pieces of theatre. Year 9 classes have been exploring physical and ensemble techniques, creating wonderful ‘Through the Portal’ sequences. Year 10 GCSE classes, meanwhile, have been creating pieces of children’s theatre for Prep School audiences. Finally, the Year 12 classes have been working on an adaptation of Ismith Khan’s short story ‘The Red Ball’, using the style and techniques of the theatre company Complicité.

Art, Music and Drama ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ For our second music video of this academic year, Habs students have come together to record a brand new arrangement of the Motown classic ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, written especially for us by Musician-in-Residence Mr Herd. This video features many of our school’s most celebrated ensembles; String Orchestra, HabsBeat, Prep Choir and Big Band. In addition to this, we have a talented string quartet, wind quartet and two incredible lead singers. Over 150 students were involved in the process, an exceptional celebration of music making. Watch it now: https://vimeo.com/570246683/a6896087a7

Habs Music Festival The Habs Music Festival is one of the most exciting, intense and rewarding events in the School calendar. Students of all years take part and this year there were over 250 participants. A wide range of musical styles was celebrated: from jazz standards and pop groups, to traditional tabla performances and baroque violin solos. After a breathtaking interpretation of Jimmy McHugh’s ‘I’m in the mood for love’, Fraser (10J1) secured the Junior Young Musician prize on the saxophone. His relaxed yet professional stage presence and his stirring ability to weave personal improvisations into a well-known jazz standard left the audience in awe. An accomplished performance of Cécile Chaminade’s ‘Concertino for Flute’ won Leandro (L6S2) the Senior Young Musician prize. This choice of repertoire, a piece written for the Paris Conservatory Concours de Flûte in 1902, was decorated with technically demanding flourishes, which Leandro played with surprising ease and fluency. Huge thanks go to the Music department for organising and adjudicating these performances.

Sport Cricket Report Despite the many challenges faced this year through lockdowns, restrictions and some very poor weather, the cricket season at Habs has been a great success. The 2021 season has seen more boys playing than ever before, with as many as 22 teams fielded in a single day. Our internal fixtures at the start of the summer were exceptional, allowing students of all standards to play competitive cricket, and is definitely an initiative that we will continue with in future seasons. This season also saw the introduction of girls’ cricket, with over 40 cricketers from Habs Girls joining Habs Boys every Tuesday for training. Additionally, a real highlight has been four girls regularly representing boys’ teams in Saturday block fixtures. This summer, the U14s, U16s, U17s and U18s all played in national cup competition and the Year 7 to Year 10 sides also had strong representation in the Herts County Cup once again. We strengthened our card and welcomed new opposition for midweek block fixtures against Harrow, Eton and Bedford School. The 1st XI led the way with a very successful season, including beating St Albans in a two-day game by five wickets and also beating a very strong Merchant Taylor’s side by 117 runs late in the summer term. Credit must go to Captain of Cricket, Joseph (U6H2) and his senior teammates who have led the way in developing the culture of Habs Cricket Club, prioritising a high work ethic, values and competitiveness. The School has had many students also represent Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Middlesex, Essex and London Schools this summer. Furthermore, Joseph (U6H2), Jay (10H1) and Chinmay (U6S1) have been involved with the Middlesex Academy. We are all very grateful to the grounds team for working tirelessly to prepare the pitches for training and fixtures in a very difficult summer. Also thank you to the catering staff for working within the limits of Covid restrictions and still producing so many individual packed teas

for all the teams this season. Finally, thanks must go to all the teaching staff who have given their time so generously to coach and umpire teams all year

Sport Cricket Success The School is delighted to announce the recent success of two Habs pupils, Jay (10H1) and Chinmay (U6S1). Jay, who is a member of the Middlesex Cricket Academy, was selected to play in the Bunbury Festival. The festival brings together the most talented U15 school cricketers from England and Wales to compete in 50-over and T20 matches. Jay scored 36 not out and was a member of the victorious Bunbury London & East A team. Chinmay, also a member of Middlesex Cricket Academy and a key all-rounder in the School’s 1st XI team, was selected to play for Middlesex CCC 2nd XI team against Somerset 2nd XI. The team won by 11 runs and Chinmay was also selected for the next game at Old Trafford; however, due to availability, he was not able to attend. He looks forward to getting another opportunity again soon. Congratulations to Jay and Chinmay!

Habs in The Cricketer Mag: Bringing the IPL to Elstree Head of PE Mr Kerry spoke to The Cricketer Magazine. He discussed the School’s links to the Rajasthan Royals, the hopes of connecting with the Royals academy in Nagpur, and the School’s very own version of the IPL! Read the full feature here: https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/news/ haberdashers_askes_bring_the_ipl_to_hertfordshire_.html

Sport Tennis Report – U13 through to county finals Both the U13 and U15 Habs tennis teams have made excellent progress in the Herts County Tennis competition. The U13 team, made up of Sam (7S), David (7S), Kaaviyan (7J), Kian (7H), Saaj (8R2) and Gautham (8C1), cruised through their initial group matches against Watford Grammar and Berkhamsted without dropping a set. The semi-final against Sandringham was a step up in quality but the team raised their game to win every singles and doubles match and reach the county final. The prospect of progress in the regional tournament is now a realistic aim for this talented group of players. The U15 team also remain unbeaten after comprehensive victories against Berkhamsted and Marlborough.

Pre-Prep and Prep Habs Boys launches Reception classes

Habs Boys is delighted to announce that, for the first time, the School will be creating a new 4+ entry point. We will be admitting 4+ Reception students at our Pre-Preparatory School in 2022. A 4+ entry point at Habs Boys will ensure a seamless start to life with us in the Pre-Prep. This will also relieve pressure on families facing the disruption of having to attend another school for Reception before making the move into Year 1 at Habs. Mr Lock, Headmaster, said: “I am absolutely delighted that we are now able to offer entry to Habs Boys at Reception. It is an important moment in our history as we now become a 4-18 through-school. By doing so, we have aligned entry points between both Habs Boys and Habs Girls to provide a coherent and consistent offering to families. I very much look forward to welcoming our first Reception cohort in September 2022.” Mr Rossetti, Head of Preparatory School, added: “We are thrilled to be creating these Reception classes. Pupils and families will be able to embark on their educational journey with us at 4+, and immediately be part of a vibrant and exciting community. I cannot wait to meet our newest and youngest pupils in the next academic year.”

Habs is also delighted to announce that the School has recently had planning permission approved to construct a bespoke, state-ofthe-art, eco-friendly Pre-Prep building. The plans seek to respect and respond to the environment and have been developed from the concept of ‘learn, nurture, grow’. The new, world-class building will be located next to the recently refurbished Preparatory School on our Elstree site. This will bring the existing Pre-Prep onto the same site as the rest of the School, whilst maintaining its separate private space. In addition, a new academic hub is being constructed at the Boys’ School, comprising over 40 classrooms and a Drama studio akin to a West End stage, whilst at the Girls’ School an outstanding STEM building recently opened for use, to supplement both Schools’ exceptional facilities. The future of the School is both ambitious and exciting. Habs will not compromise on providing students with the very best environment for them to feel happy and safe, enabling them to push boundaries and discover their boundless potential.

Pre-Prep and Prep Pre-Prep collect items to donate to Goods for Good The Pre-Prep has been collecting nappies and wipes for the charity Goods for Good. The Pre-Prep received an extremely generous amount of donations, which have been greatly appreciated. David from Goods For Good delivered assemblies to the PrePrep pupils, outlining how the donations will be distributed to families who are financially struggling around Watford and northwest London. He encouraged the pupils to continue doing kind acts and explained how these gestures have a huge positive impact on the community. A heartfelt thanks to all who have donated.

Police Community Support Officers visit the Pre-Prep Pre-Prep students had the privilege of receiving a visit from their local Police Community Support Officers, Hannah and Louise. They were given a very informative talk about road safety, the importance of ‘stranger danger’, wearing seat belts, where to get help and diversity in the police force. In true Habs style, the students were bursting with curiosity and asked the officers some very interesting questions! The blue lights were flashing as the pupils got to take a closer look at the special police equipment that is kept in the boot of a police car.

Prep and Pre-Prep Year 6 outdoor Maths Scavenger Hunt Year 6 ventured out onto the Solai Woodland Trail ready for their Maths Scavenger Hunt. Armed with a measuring tape and iPad, the search celebrated Maths in Nature through spirals, shapes, angles and Fibonacci. It was a great way for Year 6 to celebrate the end of their assessments!

Year 6 Collaborative Activity Day Year 6 celebrated the end of their time at the Prep School with a week of fun-filled events, with activities to cater to every taste. It was also an opportunity for pupils to bond, as several events were held jointly with the Girls’ Junior School.

Prep and Pre-Prep Pre-Prep celebrate St George’s Day Pupils in George’s House had a fish and chip lunch followed by a delicious St George’s Daythemed cupcake. They joined Mrs Young and Mrs Elliott to hear the story of St George and the Dragon, while having fun colouring and posing with our very own Pre-Prep dragon – a less scary one of course!

Pre-Prep visit Knebworth The Pre-Prep had a thoroughly enjoyable day exploring the beautiful grounds of Knebworth and the rain did not hamper their fun! In the morning, the Year 1 classes were led around the Gardens by one of Knebworth’s experienced guides. They explored shape, colour, nature and numeracy. They were fortunate to find out about prehistoric life with a visit to the Dinosaur Trail. The Year 2 classes, meanwhile, learned about life in the Victorian times. In the afternoon, the boys had lots of fun exploring the fort and adventure playground. This was a perfect way to end the School year!

Prep and Pre-Prep Year 1 STEM club construct marble runs Year 1 STEM club got off to a successful start outside in the sunshine. Pupils were set their first challenge aimed to promote critical thinking and problem solving. After months of remote learning, their collaborative skills were really put into practice: turn taking, effective communication and lots of patience was necessary in order for them to construct the marble run. Lots of fun was had by all!

Year 2 student volunteers at local Foodbank During the Easter break, Year 2 pupil Kayan has been going, with a relative, to his local temple to help pack up hot meals for the homeless and those unable to have access to regular meals at home. At the temple, volunteers make up to 300 meals every day, including traditional Indian food like roti, daal and biriyani, along with pasta, chips and noodles. Kayan has really enjoyed the experience which allowed him the opportunity to give back to the local community.

Prep and Pre-Prep Young Musician of the Year The School was thrilled by the stunning quality and musicianship experienced in the Prep Young Musician of the Year finals. The performance standard was phenomenal and the adjudicators’ feedback ensured tangible musical development. Performers were introduced to strategies such as daring to look up and connect with the audience, not rushing into the first notes, prioritising musical expression and communication over and above technical perfection, acknowledging nerves before an event and achieving an inner sense of calm when it matters most. From 153 entry pieces, 68 finalists were chosen across all year groups. The pupils worked incredibly hard to perfect their pieces and the School would like to congratulate all those involved.

Prep and Pre-Prep Battle of the Bands The Prep School saw the organising and rehearsing of a fantastic Battle of the Bands Competition this term. The pupils’ enthusiasm was unmatched and it was a delight to see them become fully immersed in the experience, where they were offered the opportunity to perform music of their own choosing in front of their peers. They were also provided the chance to name their own bands and pick their own attire, and the Prep School saw a wide range of costumes, from bow ties to monkey ear headbands! Playing together in a band offered the pupils an opportunity to work as a team as they saw the importance of rhythmic cohesion, balance of sound, tuning and the appropriate covering of certain parts of the song. The event resulted in a very entertaining, highly skilled and brilliant set of competition finals

The Habs Community Old Haberdasher to appear in new Marvel Netflix series Congratulations to Old Haberdasher Rish Shah (OH 2016) for landing the male lead in Marvel’s new series, ‘Ms Marvel’! Rish said: “It’s certainly surreal working for Marvel in my dream role and I’m really grateful and humbled to track it all back to my school plays and inter-house competitions at Habs. I’m proud to be a part of the wave of representation for South Asians in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! I’m extremely grateful for the foundations I built at Habs as an actor and hope that other pupils see that this is a career path which can be achieved!” Rish’s next big feature film role is in Netflix’s ‘Stranger’, a modern day take on ‘Strangers On A Train’ meets ‘Cruel Intentions’ set in an elite Santa Barbara high school.

OHFC cup winners Old Haberdashers Football Club, who play their home matches at the School, recently won the Arthurian League’s Gareth Dineen Cup, beating Old Westminster 1-0 in the Final held at Hendon FC. Very many congratulations to all!

The Habs Community Class of 2021 Celebration As with so much else at Habs over the last year, in order to comply with Government regulations, the Celebration of the Class of 2021 had to be slightly modified from what we had hoped might originally be possible. However, this did not diminish from the occasion. The award ceremony in the Bourne Hall was a fitting tribute to the resilience and commitment to all things Habs of this remarkable group of young men. Interspersed in the prizegiving, the farewell speeches from the Headmaster Mr Lock, former Head of Sixth Form Mr Amlot and interim Head of Sixth Form Mr Wheeler were equally matched by the humorous account of this particular cohort’s Habs journey, provided by School Captain Gabriel Mendoza. Director of Foundation Mr Llewellyn then congratulated all on their achievements and exhorted them to keep in touch with the School, a place where they would always be welcome. Festivities continued on the Aldenham House croquet lawn to the sound of DJ Shrey’s mobile disco, and all looked forward to returning for their first reunion on the evening of 14 December 2021.

The Habs Community Old Haberdasher makes West End debut as director Congratulations to Adam Lenson (OH 2003) on his West End debut as a director! This comical musical, Public Domain, started life during lockdown as a live stream, which Adam then developed from the real-life words of everyday internet users and social media gurus. Learn more about the musical: https://www.nimaxtheatres.com/shows/public-domain/

Got Zoom fatigue? Then how about an old-fashioned phone call? A cohort of Sixth Formers and recent leavers from the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools will call hundreds of Habs alumni and parents in the UK, North America, mainland Europe, Israel and Australia over two weeks this summer, starting from Monday 16 August. This will be the first Summer Telephone Campaign at the Boys’ School since 2018, and the first one ever – we think! - for the Girls’ School. Callers will give an overview of what the Schools have planned as the world slowly returns to normal, discuss the importance of scholarships, bursaries and other fundraising priorities, and describe volunteering opportunities for those who want to get more involved with the Schools. Parents and alumni will be invited to consider making a gift and/or volunteering, but, equally important, this will be an opportunity just to have a good chat. We know from past campaigns that callers find it hugely helpful to get insight into the careers and life experiences of alumni and parents. Even if this isn’t the right time for you to make a gift or spare your time, we hope you will take the call and share a Habs story or two. We are confident you will enjoy the chat and the callers will greatly appreciate it.

Staff News LEAVERS Richard Amlot was first appointed in 2011 as second in English. In the 10 years that he has spent here, Mr Amlot has played a central role in the success of so many boys’ experiences of Habs. In 2014, he led Calverts House as Head of House, where he showed tremendous empathy and support for all members of his House. In 2016, Richard was appointed Head of Sixth Form and most recently Acting Deputy Head (Pastoral), where he has given countless hours providing support not only for boys but for parents and staff alike. He has always thrown himself enthusiastically into school life, taking assemblies, accompanying trips and supporting the many charitable events here at Habs. A kind, intelligent and approachable colleague, he is popular with parents, staff and boys - a true ‘gentleman’ in every sense. Richard has inspired a strong loyalty from pupils in his care and will be greatly missed by us all when he leaves to become Deputy Head Pastoral at King’s College School, Wimbledon. We wish him every success and happiness in his new job. Anne Baron, Teacher of Mathematics, joined the Maths department in 1999, after spells at James Allen’s Girls’ School in Dulwich and St Michael’s Catholic High School in Garston, either side of raising a family. As well as being the complete Maths teacher, Anne has been a staunch supporter of the School Chapel community over the years, as well as spending a number of years overseeing the School’s charity committee. For over 20 years, Anne has had major input into the 11+ admissions process, ensuring a continuing high calibre of entrants. Anne has also been at the forefront of Further Maths Statistics teaching for many years, single-handedly sourcing and guarding the prized “Hugill” textbooks now that they are out of print! As an exceptionally skilled baker, Anne was also in her element when organising Macmillan coffee mornings at school, and there can be few staff who haven’t been privileged to sample her talented creations at some point! We wish Anne a very happy retirement from teaching and a well-deserved rest! Virginie Dall’Acqua leaves us after only one year to take up a position as Head of French at City of London Girls’ School. During her short time with us, she has worked extremely hard to establish positive relationships with her classes which have enabled them to make real progress. She has also become a valued member of the Modern Languages department. An excellent linguist and experienced practitioner, Virginie deserves her promotion and although we are sorry to lose her so soon, we are confident that she will make a real impact in her new role. Jacob Farrell, Sports Centre Assistant and Lifeguard, joined us last year during lockdown and started work with the caretakers. He quickly became a key member of the Estates department, assisting in maintenance of the site and getting the School ready for the staff and students returning. He has been a great help in running the sports facilities in both the Boys’ and Girls’ schools; always able to offer a different insight into the work that needed to be complete. He will be missed by all of us who worked with him but we wish him luck in his new role as a fibreoptics engineer. Aiden Gray has been with us since September 2020 as our Aske-Princeton Fellow. Despite arriving in the middle of the pandemic, he quickly became an integral part of the Classics department working both across the Prep and Senior School, teaching several classes and delivering some superb enrichment talks. Aiden made a telling contribution to a number of pupils, providing knowledgeable assistance with several applications to US universities. He will be remaining in the UK to further study at Cambridge and leaves with our warmest wishes for the future. David Hall, Teacher of English, has been a stalwart member of the English department for 11 years. During his time with us, he has taught across the age range and inspired boys with his detailed knowledge of literary texts and has impressed colleagues with how lightly he wears his learning. He recently resuscitated the fortunes of school debating and led us back to winning ways. David leaves us to return to study at Oxford University before joining the ranks of the clergy. The church’s gain is very much our loss.

Staff News LEAVERS Leo Harrington, Classroom Teacher Prep School, joined in 2015 as a Key Stage 2 teacher. His ability to interact with and relate to the boys has always been particularly noticeable, and it is testimony to the care that he has provided that many pupils speak so fondly about him. His introduction of the Jigsaw PSHCE scheme has been a success and his support of annual Prep and Pre-Prep wellbeing days have been wholly embraced by both boys and teachers alike. Leo’s contribution to PE, Games and cocurricular activities has been significant and he has helped inspire pupils to acquire a lifelong love of physical activity. He leaves us to take up the role of Head of Co-Curricular, Sport and Assessment at St Michael’s School in Hillingdon. We wish him all the very best for the future. Richard Kingdon, Teacher of Physics: Since joining the School in 2000, Richard has made clarity of messaging and sound advice the hallmarks of his teaching and wider interaction with students. As well as his outstanding contribution to the teaching of Physics at Habs he has provided exceptional pastoral care within the Joblings House team. Many students who have forged successful careers in Engineering and Industry could trace their first steps on this path back to conversations with him. We wish him every happiness in his well-deserved retirement. Greg Monk, Teacher of Music, joined the department during lock-down and taught a significant number of lessons to his classes remotely before he ever met them for the first time. He is an excellent musician and teacher, and his classes hugely enjoy his lessons which are always stimulating and engaging. His work with ensembles is similarly impressive. We will miss him and wish him every success as Head of Music at Maida Vale School. Olivia Moreira, Apprentice Teaching Assistant, joined in January 2020. She settled in quickly, proving to be flexible, hardworking and above all full of joy. She has not only run the School’s After School Care facility but has read with the Year 2 boys, helped with the Key worker provision, and when the boys returned, she even took on a role as a Games teacher. She has assisted in lessons, ran the Year 5 and Year 6 tennis provision and other countless duties! Olivia has built up a wonderful rapport with both the boys and the staff over the past 18 months and she will be sorely missed by all. Maureen Parrington, has taught violin, viola and piano at Habs for an impressive 31 years, and is now taking a well-earned retirement from teaching. Over this time, Mrs Parrington has changed the lives of countless boys for the better, whether it be teaching an individual their instrument, running ensembles (including the Prep School Orchestra) or simply giving sage advice from a seat in the middle of an orchestra. She always has a calm and caring manner in everything she does. We hope she will continue to visit us; regardless we will be reminded of her through the Maureen Parrington Trophy for Outstanding Contribution to Orchestral Playing in the Lower School which she has kindly donated as a lasting legacy of her long career at the School. We will all miss her hugely and wish her the best of luck for the future. Rash Patel, IT Operations and Support Services Manager, leaves us after four years leading the front line IT support team. We thank him for his dedication and enthusiasm and in particular for successfully moving the School to remote teaching whilst managing a very busy and efficiently run helpdesk. We wish him well in his retirement. Ian Phillips, leaves us after nearly 15 years as Director of ICT. Since joining the School, Ian has put pupils and excellence in the study of ICT at the heart of everything he does. Innovative in both his teaching and the co–curricular programme of the department, he has introduced many initiatives and clubs, and extended thinking beyond the classroom. Leading a forward-thinking team, he has nurtured a love for the subject amongst the pupils. Ian has a very impressive presence beyond the bounds of the School, most recently working extensively for the Independent Schools Council Digital Strategy Group. His work for this team has supported the placement of digital technology at the heart of learning across the entire country. We wish him happiness in his well-deserved retirement.

Staff News LEAVERS Caroline Pluck leaves Habs with our enormous thanks after 16 years of professional dedicated service. She joined Habs Girls’ in 2005 as PA to the Head of the Junior School. In May 2008, she became PA to the Girls’ School Bursar, David Thompson. This was a diverse role which covered many duties, some of which now sit within the current HR and Finance teams. In April 2018, when David took on the Director of Finance and Operations role across both schools, Caroline moved to be his PA, along with looking after the Director of Operations. This new role also involved a move to work in Aldenham House where Caroline started to get to know and work with many more Boys’ School colleagues. Her role and responsibility continued to grow with the integration of the support staff across the two schools and, in January 2020, she became PA to the Chief Operating Officer, Director of Operations and the newly appointed Director of Finance, thus showing Caroline’s flexibility, adaptability and skill of multitasking! We wish Caroline every happiness in her well-deserved retirement. Nick Raven, Teacher of Theology and Philosophy, departs after three years, in which he has been a much-valued member of the team. His wisdom, calm demeanour and good humour will be missed by colleagues and pupils alike. He leaves to take up a teaching post at Manchester Grammar School; we wish him every happiness and success with this next phase of his career. Alexandra Simms, Development Officer leaves us after nearly six years’ sterling work in the Foundation Office. Always bright and cheerful, Alex has been a wonderful ambassador for the Foundation and has been key in establishing cordial and friendly relationships with the many thousands of people who make up the global Haberdashers’ community. We thank her for her hard work, dedication and good humour at all times and wish her well for the future. Sebastian Sultan, Classroom Assistant Prep School, has been a guiding light for the boys this year, navigating them through their online learning whilst offering much needed games and fun on the playground to brighten their days. He will be hugely missed by staff and boys alike for the fun, humour, and wit he has brought to all that he does. Seb has shown the boys that giving is the key to success and roused them to follow suit. We wish him every success as he begins his career in accountancy where his strong work ethic and creative mind will be well received.  Anna Thomas, Prep School Administrator leaves us after six years. She is a very calm, kind, approachable and professional colleague who adapts to all dramas that surround a ‘Day in the life’ at Habs! Anna has been extremely flexible on her journey here, with supporting the Pre-Prep for maternity leave, covering reception, covering as PA at the Prep, the list is endless. She will be very much missed as she leaves to take that next journey in her career to become a PA to the Head at a primary school in Apsley. We wish her all the very best for the future. Chris Whalley, Second in Chemistry: After a career in the pharmaceutical industry, Mr Whalley made the decision to become a teacher in 1995. As anyone who has been taught by him would agree, he found his vocation. As a keen amateur dramatist, the classroom is his stage, which, combined with his enthusiasm and passion for Chemistry, makes his lessons engaging and interesting. He has taught at Habs for 17 years and has helped numerous students succeed in Chemistry, many of whom have pursued scientific or medical careers. Outside the classroom, Mr Whalley has shared his enjoyment of racquet sports by running the badminton club and teaching many students and colleagues alike how to do cryptic crosswords. We wish him well in his retirement and hope that he will be able to pursue his greatest passion - foreign travel. Nigel Woodall, Contingent Commander CCF leaves us after six years to become Head of Outdoor Education at Millfield School. Nigel has worked tirelessly in this role to improve CCF and Outdoor Education for the boys and provide them with life experiences far beyond north London. It is testimony to his contributions that so many boys highlight their outdoor experiences as one of their favourite memories. We wish him every success in his new role.

Staff News APPOINTMENTS: Martyn Allison Rachel Bradshaw Edi Brkovic Naomi Brown Nina Byrom Manish Chandaria Arthur Chester Brannan Cooper James Franklin Nicole Grossman Brendan Grufferty Thomas Gurney Jan Guthrie Matt Harrison Thomas Holder James Lee Basil Letts Helen McKay Rebecca Mills Georgie Noble Oluwatimilehin Oladeji-Olanrewaju Joo Phin Ooi Chris Ovia Rebecca Palmer Tabitha Palmer Blanca Peris Christopher de Ray Jackie Reddin Binnur Rogers Claire Shooter Glen Simons Martin Smith Esiloku Ugboma Tom Vidall

Teacher of Physics Teacher of Violin (Temp) Head of Aquatics Individual Specialist Learning Support (SEND) Part-time Library Assistant Head of IT and Data Caretaker (Temp) Junior AV & IT Support Officer Senior Groundsperson Classroom Teacher (Prep) School Counsellor Groundsperson Temporary Music Assistant Drama Assistant Graduate Sports Assistant Graduate Teacher Second in Physics PA to the COO, Director of Operations and Director of Finance Second in Chemistry Head of Sixth Form Teaching Assistant Graduate Teacher Head of CICT Classroom Teacher (Prep) Classroom Teacher (Prep) Teacher of MFL (Temp) Teacher of T&P Lead IT Trainer Admissions Registrar Deputy Head (Pastoral) Apprentice Grounds Person Caretaker Teacher of Music (Temp) PGCE Trainee

INTERNAL APPOINTMENTS (NEW/ADDITIONAL ROLES): Gemma Caplan Ellen Flynn Nick Geering Michaela Jeffries Claire Leaver Mark Pedroz Deepali Sangraajka Sophie Stables Tom Taylor

Y5 and Y6 Phase Leader (Prep) Head of English (Prep) Teacher of MFL is also Deputy Head of House, Calverts Geography Coordinator (Prep) Teacher of English has moved from temporary to permanent Teacher of English has moved from temporary to permanent Y3 and Y4 Phase Leader (Prep) Head of Wellbeing (Prep) Director of Performance Music

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@habsboys @habsboys @habsboysschool The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School