Spring 2019
Robert Aske’s 400th Birthday This term we celebrated the 400th birthday of Robert Aske, the School’s Founder. Born on 24 February 1619 and the son of a draper, Aske was apprenticed to John Trott, a Haberdasher and merchant with the East India Company. Aske rose quickly within the Haberdashers’ Company and by the 1660s was a very wealthy man. In 1668 he was elected Master of the Company. His will made on 18 January 1689 bequeathed £20,000 and the residue of his estate to the Haberdashers’ Company to build an almshouse for 20 poor single freemen and to purchase enough land to yield an income of £20 for each of them. Any remainder was to be used ‘for the maintenance of soe many poore Boyes at 20 pounds each for Meate, drinke, cloathing and Schooling’. Aske died on 27 January 1689 and following a royally assented Act of Parliament, the building of a ‘Hospital’ consisting of an almshouse for 20 resident old men and a school for 20 boy boarders was approved at Hoxton. This opened in the autumn of 1695, with the first boys being admitted in November 1697. These were the first pupils of what has now become The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School and its sister school the Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls.
Featured in this issue...
Aske Project Awards 2019 Habs Model United Nations
Partnership with Girls’ School
Wellbeing Week
Old Haberdasher Scores for Tottenham Hotspur
Routine Reminders
The Headmaster’s
End of Term Letter
Dear Parents, One of the highlights of the term was the annual HabsMUN, some three weeks ago. We welcomed over 350 visitors, from schools across the country and beyond, to debate topical world issues, and it was an honour for me to give the opening address. Looking into the future, I outlined for them the dystopian possibilities that lie ahead, with ever-deepening ethnic, religious and political divisions and, most worryingly of all, an ever-deteriorating ecology. To avoid this path and to create a better world, I argued, requires young people like themselves to take responsibility for making our world a better place, working together to put the needs of our species and our planet before our own self-interest. Great schools mould the people who will make a positive difference in the world and I hope and believe that this is exactly what we are doing here at Haberdashers. Our assembly theme this term has been ‘responsibility’ and that concept has been evident in so many activities since Christmas. When it comes to our responsibilities towards the world around us, our School Council Eco-Committee has done tremendous work, securing for the School an Eco-Schools Silver Award and, with the unveiling of our School Eco-Code, is now working towards the prestigious Green Flag Status. On Field Day, a troop of boys spent a day clearing a riverbank on the River Chess, to enhance the habitat for the growing community of water voles which can be found there. Another group set to work at Forty Hall Community Vineyard, an award-winning social enterprise that champions quality, sustainability, health, wellbeing and community involvement.
We have just as great a responsibility towards the people around us, and so much good work has taken place this term to ensure we are an inclusive and tolerant community. The inaugural ‘Rainbow Dash’, inspired by the Stonewall ‘Rainbow Laces’ campaign, saw 130 runners from across the School brave atrocious conditions to make a powerful statement of the values that make Haberdashers such a supportive and inclusive place to study and work. Robert Aske’s founding vision was of a school that supported the marginalised and I hope, therefore, in the 400th year of his birth, that he would see that spirit enduring. His mandate was certainly evident during the admissions rounds in January and February, as we welcomed another generation of brilliant and diverse boys to the School. Being able, as we are, to offer a number of bursary places to boys who would not otherwise be able to attend our School is one of the great privileges and pleasures of my job. We are extremely grateful, too, to the many Old Haberdashers who have, in many different ways, given their support to the School this term and have helped to make this possible. There were myriad examples of boys fulfilling their obligations to one other, working together to deliver outstanding plays, such as the fabulous Mary Poppins or the exceptional GCSE and A Level devised pieces; or wonderful concerts, such as the recital series before half-term or the stunning Spring Concert enjoyed by so many last week. The note-perfect performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto was as fine a performance as one will hear in any school in the country. The inaugural Inter-House Debating Competition saw boys working together with great determination and
ambition and there were many excellent examples of collaboration with our counterparts from the Girls’ School too. Yet there was perhaps no better example than the email I received from grateful parents of a boy in Year 7, whose son had been anxious about taking part in the Inter-House Swimming Gala until his House Captain took him under his wing and gave him the confidence to step-up and dive in. Beyond the confines of our Habs community, we look outwards too, with a responsibility to understand and help shape the wider world. Our boys welcomed in many high profile speakers over the course of the term, such as Baroness D’Souza, Chief Rabbi Mirvis and the Israeli Ambassador, all with very different messages about the world around us. Our Outreach Programme saw boys and staff supporting local schools and organisations, hoping to make a small difference to many. We have enjoyed numerous trips and exchanges and it is always a joy to receive, as I invariably do, reports that our boys have been great ambassadors for the School. It is also, of course, our responsibility to nurture the talents we have been given and take advantage of the excellent academic education on offer at Habs. I enjoyed enormously the Aske Project Assembly early in the term, hearing from the boys themselves about their individual studies and their experience of independent scholarship. As the term has progressed, the Lower Sixth and Year 9 have made headway on their own Aske and Dawson Projects and I look forward to seeing the fruits of their labours after Easter. With the end of term upon us, there will be a great deal to be done by those facing public examinations as they seek to
realise their promise at this crucial time. They are very capable young men and will, I know, aim very high. I wish them good luck, and to the whole of the community, I wish the very best for the Easter holiday.
Gus Lock
Headmaster
Awards and Achievements Aske Project Prize Winners Assembly 2019 On Wednesday 23 January, the School was delighted to celebrate the considerable academic endeavour and achievements of our Aske Project prize winners at a special assembly held in the Bourne Hall. The Aske Project requires that students independently research a question of their own choosing over a period of six months. With academic enquiry that reaches far above A level standard as verified by our external markers and viva examiners, our students readily achieve undergraduate standards of research and their projects demonstrate their curiosity, and innovative and critical thinking, all framed within high standards of research methodology. This process, alongside their A level studies, prepares them exceptionally well for university.
explored questions such as the issue of artificial intelligence and the impact on labour markets, music as a medical treatment for pain, bacteriophage therapy in treating antibiotic resistance, and the impact of social class on participation in sport, to name but a few. The School is very proud of our students, both for their commitment to academic enquiry and for the stunning results that their hard work achieves. Many congratulations to Jared (first prize), Ishan (second prize), the other eight prize winners, and the entire Sixth Form.
All our Lower Sixth students undertake an Aske Project and, with the guidance of an advisor, students present work that makes logical and judicious use of a wide range of sources to which our Library team provides extensive access. Many also undertake primary research or produce original scripts or multimedia presentations. This year’s successful projects
Mr Lock congratulates Sixth Form
Awards and Achievements US University Success for Habs boys The School is pleased to announce that all of Upper Sixth Haberdashers who applied to US universities have received offers of acceptances from top-ranked institutions. Tamilore, School Captain, has received a stunning set of acceptances from world-renowned universities, including several Ivy League schools. He has been offered places at Dartmouth College, Princeton, Stanford, Columbia and Brown universities. Princeton University has been ranked the number one university in the United States for the past eight years, according to US News and World Report. In one of its most competitive years ever, Tamilore joins 1,895 students who were offered places, out of 32,804 total applicants. In addition to his offers for acceptance, Tamilore was awarded generous scholarships by all of his universities. Most notably, he was named a John Jay Scholar at Columbia University, a distinction given to only about 30 students in each incoming class. Tamilore hopes to combine his interest in science research and leadership by studying subjects within the crossroads of biology and public policy. The School’s Debating Captain, Ishan, was flown out to Duke University in order to participate in the Robertson Scholars Finalist Weekend. He has been selected to be one
of 100 students competing for full-tuition scholarships and entrance into the prestigious Robertson Scholars Leadership program. Ishan has also secured acceptances from the Stanford, Brown, Chicago and Northwestern universities. Having already received an offer to study Land Economy at Cambridge, Ishan hopes to study the social sciences in the US. One of the School’s CCF Navy Chief Petty Officers, Aryaman, has received offers from many top-ranked Engineering schools including UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech. Aryaman is passionate about continuing his studies of Computer Science in America. The success of this year’s US applicants can be credited to the increasing visibility and strength of the Aske-Princeton International Fellowship. In its third year, the Fellowship invites a recent graduate of Princeton University to contribute to Haberdashers’ academic and co-curricular community for a year. While acting as an American cultural ambassador and an example of collegial scholarship, the Fellow assists with US university applications, academic activities and co-curricular life. The Aske-Princeton International Fellowship echoes positions such as the Annenberg Fellowship at Eton College and the prestigious Fulbright Teaching Fellowship. Through the robust Aske-Princeton Fellowship, student interest in attending US universities has steadily increased each year. Just last week, the School’s fellow, Miss Kerkhof, held an information session on US Standardised Testing Preparation for nine Year 11 boys who are keen on applying to US universities. Our three US applicants have until Wednesday 1 May to decide which US university offer they will accept. No matter their decisions, the School is thrilled for the opportunities available to our Upper Sixth Haberdashers!
Awards and Achievements Mahin Wins the Schroders Economics Prize The Schroders Economics Prize is an essay competition open to all economists across the Haberdashers’ family of schools. This year’s essay title was: ‘Are tariffs bad for all economies?’. Our Head of Economics, Mr Catley, received 21 entries and chose essays by Mahin, Ben and Danial to submit for external judging. The Schroders markers called Mahin’s essay “ambitious and thoughtful” and said that it showed “a great use of game theory”. Mahin received his prize at a lunch at Haberdashers’ Hall in January.
Habs Awarded Silver Environmental Certification
The student-run Eco-Committee, led by Director of Environment, Krish, have been busy working towards the Silver award.
In March, Habs was delighted to receive Silver Environmental certification, administered by Eco-Schools. Eco-Schools is a national body tasked with engaging Schools, and their local community, with environmental projects in an effort to spread environmental awareness.
the teaching of environmental topics in curricula, and this was kindly evidenced by the Biology, Geography and Design & Technology departments at the School, with evidence of student work embracing such topics being on display.
In order to achieve the award, the committee looked to involve and inform the wider community at Habs, with half-termly Eco-Committee meetings involving representatives from every year group. Minutes of these meetings are placed on the Student Council Board, the Sixth Form Notices Board and the brand-new Eco Board. The Eco Board allows for the Committee to inform the student body of any developments in the Eco-Committee’s work, which is also done through regular emails and announcements in assembly.
Aside from achieving the Silver Award, Habs has made significant progress in striving for a more environmentally sustainable school, with the introduction of a reusable cup initiative system at Joe’s Café, the replacement of single-use plastic cups in the Bates and the JCR with new reusable glasses, and a move to automatic double-sided printing.
The second aspect of the Silver Award is
Additionally, the Eco-Committee have made their first step towards the Green Flag Award, with an eco-code being produced and signed by every member of the committee, as well as by the Headmaster, Mr Lock, and the Environmental Coordinator, Mr Cambridge.
Awards and Achievements Habs VEX IQ Teams Reach National Finals The VEX IQ competitions feature a series of games in which teams’ robots are given points for accomplishing tasks such as stacking items and scoring goals. Teams are required to collaborate - as well as compete - against other teams. Several regional events are held, with the qualifying teams going through to National Finals and, ultimately, the World Championship.
Habs teams competed at three such regional VEX IQ events and two teams - Team Zeus and Team Fusion - made it through to the National Finals. Team Zeus, who were crowned Skills Champions at the East Barnet Regional Tournament, qualified with the 10th highest skills score recorded in the UK this year. Team Fusion also qualified by recording the 13th highest score in the UK at the same competition. Congratulations to both teams!
Borehamwood Foodbank Donations The School would like to congratulate all boys, parents and staff who contributed to the Charity Committee’s Borehamwood Foodbank appeals. In recognition of both the 126kg of food donated as part of the Christmas appeal and the 259kg donated during the Harvest Festival by the Habs community, the Borehamwood Foodbank has sent certificates of recognition to the School. Habs is extremely proud to support this valuable community resource and would like to, once again, thank all who contributed.
Habs Boy Wins National ‘Religion on Film’ Competition Danial has won first prize in the Year 9 to Year 11 category of the ‘Religion on Film’ competition run by the University of Cambridge. The competition, set by the Faculty of Divinity, required entrants to create a short film on the theme of ‘Religious Objects’. Danial researched the significance of religious objects across a number of religions in an attempt to answer searching questions such as ‘How much do religious objects feature in religion?’ and ‘How do they aid the practice of faith?’.
As part of the winning prize, Danial was awarded £150 and invited to spend a day at the University to explore ‘Religion and the Arts’. The day included a talk from Dr Jamie Hawkey (Director of Studies in Theology) and Professor Garth Fowden (Sultan Qaboos Professor of Abrahamic Faiths). It also involved an exploration of the significant and unusual religious and scientific objects from the university and college collections, not to mention lunch at Clare College. A fantastic achievement - well done Danial!
Events Partnership with the Girls’ School Pupils from both The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School and Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls have continued to benefit from joint opportunities this term. Together, the School’s have been involved with the impressive large-scale Habs Model United Nations; several careers networking events with parents and Old Haberdashers; a European Youth Parliament debate; sports and games for Junior School pupils; a Year 7 Chemistry competition, and much more.
The Boys’ School and Girls’ School have also hosted and attended talks, including visits by His Excellency Mark Regev (Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom), Dr Peter Vardy (philosopher of religion), The Rt Hon Baroness D’Souza (former Speaker of the House of Lords) and The Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.
Events 11th Annual Model United Nations at Habs Boys
From Friday 15 to Sunday 17 March, the annual Model United Nations Conference (HabsMUN) was held. Given its international reputation as being THIMUN certified, the conference is one of the highlights of the School year.
The conference is open to students from Year 9 upwards, and runs alongside the weekly MUN club and the opportunity to participate in other schools’ conferences. There are also opportunities for students from the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools to take part in running the event, with joint teams in press, reprographics and secretariat roles. The conference was coordinated by two Year 13 students (Alex and Aditya), assisted by a number of boys and girls in the Sixth Form, alongside Mr Cooper, Miss McGrath and Miss Kerkhof. It was a hugely successful event, opened by the Headmaster on Friday evening and closed by Mr Amlot on Sunday. There was a real buzz around campus all weekend, and firm friendships were made across all the participating schools. We eagerly look forward to next years’ event.
Topics ranged from the use of drones in warfare, to the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, to controlling epidemics. These deeply complex topics were discussed by over 350 delegates from 32 different schools. Reflecting the global nature of this conference, and the topics discussed, delegates came from not only the UK, but also France, the Netherlands, Greece and the UAE.
Habs Wellbeing Week From Monday 11 to Friday 15 February, Habs celebrated Wellbeing Week in a number of ways, ranging from guest speakers to sports events. HabsDash, a new lunchtime initiative in the School focusing on health, wellbeing and camaraderie, held a ‘LIVE WELL’ race, with a record 179 participants; Graham Ogden, ex-head chef for a number of Formula 1 drivers, spoke to the Sixth Form about healthy eating; and Olivia Pratt, Senior Nutritionist at Chartwells, addressed the Headmaster’s Assembly. The Preparatory School was also busy, with activities ranging from yoga, zentangles and outdoor games to a silent disco! Mr Bass, our Head of PSHCEE, noted: “It’s great to have the pupils and staff celebrate their health and happiness, whether in active play or being engaged in a choice of ideas, events or charity support.” To hear from the boys and read more about the week, visit http://bit.ly/HabsWellbeingWeek.
Events Habs in the Community The Haberdashers’ Outreach Programme continues to grow in the range and popularity of its offering. The programme is inspired by the conviction that learning is a public good from which all may enjoy and benefit. A school is necessarily a centre of knowledge, ideas, art and reason, and Habs is blessed with considerable educational and cultural capital, located within its pupils, teachers and support staff. The symbiotic relationship with the surrounding community drives the School’s commitment in placing its educational resources at the disposal of any who are willing or able to access them. The School’s Outreach Speaker Programme, for instance, offers a rich array of lectures, talks and classes delivered by Habs staff to local organisations and schools, and this has been a very busy term. Dr Hobbs has visited a series of junior schools to introduce pupils to the physics of gases; Mr Maguire shared his fascination with fossils with schools in St Albans and Harrow; Henrietta Barnett saw talks from Mr Pinkus on ‘Women in Victorian Literature’ and Dr St John on ‘Marxist Economics’; Mrs Pfeffer took pupils into the world of ‘Roman Gladiators’; Mr Broadwith has inspired a series of adult and school audiences with his account of his ‘Land’s End to John O’Groats’ record-breaking cycle ride; while the birds and the bees were
covered through Mr Hardman’s excellent presentation at Grimsdyke School on ‘Garden Birds’ and Mr Patel’s introductions to ‘Bee Keeping.’ Mr Bardou also visited Grimsdyke School, with his ‘Getting Started in French’ sessions. At the same time Mr Plotkin has been taking out teams of Sixth Form pupils to encourage reading at local state schools such as Woodlands in Borehamwood, and Miss Biggerstaff has been visiting Nicholas Breakspear School in St Albans to work with their Year 12 Mathematicians. The feedback from schools and community groups has been exceptionally positive, and the School feels that this is a very worthwhile programme.
Physics Teacher Taster Day - Science department opens its doors On Thursday 28 February, the Science department at Habs opened its doors to budding Physics teachers. Nationally, the demand for scientists and engineers continues to grow and the challenge of supporting those interested in educating our future scientists is significant. The Physics department hopes to support this drive by enthusing potential Physics teachers. They did this by promoting teaching as a profession and demonstrating that Habs is a great place to be for a teacher. Our guests had the opportunity to observe lessons, learning how to analyse and understand the teaching and learning process. They asked questions about the benefits and challenges teachers face. The School received some excellent feedback. A participant said: “It was an incredible day. I have more clarity about teaching that will help me make future career decisions”. Another participant added: “The day was extremely useful and the questions I had in my head beforehand were all answered. I had the opportunity to get a feel of what it is like to be a teacher. It was helpful to be able to talk to teachers directly – this was much better than sitting at home researching a career in teaching on Google!”
Events Former Lords Speaker Visits Habs The Habs Politics Society was delighted to welcome Baroness Frances D’Souza to Elstree on Wednesday 20 March. Frances D’Souza was made a Baroness in 2004 and served as Convenor of the Crossbench Peers from 2007 to 2011. From 2011 to 2016 she served as Lords Speaker. In this role, she chaired debates held in the chamber of the House of Lords, advised the House of Lords on procedural rules, worked with House of Commons Speaker John Bercow on the security and repair of the Palace of Westminster, and represented the House of Lords as its ambassador in the UK and overseas.
spoke of the work of the House of Lords Select Committees. The visit closed with a question and answer session. The School would like to thank Baroness D’Souza for giving so kindly of her time and encouraging our students to take a deeper interest in Parliament and public service.
After lunch and discussions on various topics, including university applications and Brexit, Baroness D’Souza addressed a group of 60 students from both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools in the Old Refectory about the House of Lords. She spoke in defence of the Lords as a chamber of experts who review the detail of legislature and offered some scrutiny on the Government. Baroness D’Souza warmly
Sammy Wilson MP Speaks in Old Refectory The Politics Society was pleased to invite Mr Sammy Wilson, Member of Parliament for East Antrim and a veteran politician from the Democratic Unionist Party, to speak at Habs on Tuesday 26 February. His talk focused on Brexit, particularly the issue of the Irish Border. It was a speech which reflected not only political issues around the problem, but also the economics behind the various solutions to it. He provided a firsthand account of the day-to-day negotiations which surround leaving the European Union and drew on his experiences negotiating the Confidence-and-Supply agreement with Theresa May. This was followed by some excellent questions from the floor. Many thanks to Mr Wilson and everyone who attended the talk.
Events Israeli Ambassador Addresses Pupils in Aske Hall
the floor was then grasped eagerly by the audience. Adam, Lower Sixth, thanked Mr Regev for giving up his time to speak to our students. The School is extremely grateful not only to Mr Regev, but to all the staff from the Israeli Embassy for helping to arrange the event and for making it such a great success. The School is also extremely grateful to Mr Llewellyn for coordinating the event with the Embassy.
The Jewish Society and Politics Society had the honour of welcoming His Excellency Mr Mark Regev, the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, to speak to a packed audience of Boys’ and Girls’ School students in the Aske Hall on Tuesday 5 February. Having been introduced by Avi in the Lower Sixth, Mr Regev was then ‘in conversation’ with Edward, also Lower Sixth, answering a wide variety of questions, ranging from ‘Does he think there will ever be peace in the Middle East?’ to questions pertaining to President Trump. The opportunity for questions from
Robot Rules: Regulating Artificial Intelligence The School was delighted to welcome back Jacob Turner (OH 2007), barrister and author. Mr Turner presented our audience with the challenge that is Artificial Intelligence and the Law. As a leading author in this field, he tackled the question of how the legal system should respond to the new and very complex ethical and moral issues raised by this new technology. Noting that we have the means and tools with which to agree answers to the questions raised, Mr Turner shared with us his views on self-regulation by tech companies as opposed to the need for governments to take the lead and shape AI regulation. Pupils asked equally challenging questions in return and were encouraged by Mr Turner to follow his example and become leading experts in their own fields.
The talk inspired our pupils at a time when they are engaged in extended reading for their Aske Projects (Year 12) and Dawson Projects (Year 9), so are considering the problems of rights, responsibilities and ethics. Many thanks to Mr Turner for such an engaging talk.
Events Inaugral Habs Inter-House Debating Competition ‘This House would welcome ISIS brides back to the UK.’ So opened the inaugural Habs Inter-House Debating competition, hosted in the Old Refectory, to a packed audience of staff, parents and students. Few topics have occupied national headlines as prominently as the desire of Shamima Begum to return to the UK, as was the moral, political and philosophical implications of this statement being debated late into the evening. As Mr D Hall, our Head of Debating, put it: “The evening was just delightful: so many of the boys put in the most impressive display of debating we’ve ever seen.”
We were delighted to be joined by Old Haberdashers Mr Jordan Bernstein (OH 2016) currently in his final year of university and Mr Akshay Kishan-Karia (OH 2012) - now a barrister – to judge the debate. Our 2018 captain of debating, Stanley, also joined us as Master of Ceremonies. Many congratulations must go to Aniket for winning best speaker and to Hendersons for winning the house prize. For more, see the full article at: http://bit.ly/HabsDebating.
Graham Glass Talks to Lower Sixth Mr Graham Glass (OH 1980), CEO and Founder of CYPHER LEARNING, returned to Habs on Monday 4 March to give a presentation on the architecture of his NEO cloud-based platform, which has been voted the best education platform in the world. He also gave useful insights on how he developed into an extremely successful entrepreneur and how his time at Habs helped him along the way. Mr Glass discussed the diverse and beneficial implications of his platform and how it can make a difference within school systems, and what his next steps may be. Exceptionally passionate about programming, he presented the intricacies of the system’s computer architecture to Lower Sixth computer scientists, who found this a most useful learning experience. Many thanks to Mr Glass for coming back to Habs to speak to the boys.
Holocaust Survivor Talk The Haberdashers’ Jewish Society was privileged to host Holocaust survivor Mr Harry Olmer to speak to 300 students and teachers on Holocaust Memorial Day. Mr Olmer’s story and experiences during the Holocaust are truly incredible - he suffered in different camps, such as Plasnow and Buchenwald, in awful conditions. He was finally liberated by the Russian army on 8 May 1945 from Theresienstadt concentration camp. Mr Olmer’s mother, father and three of his five siblings perished in the Holocaust. The opportunity to hear a Holocaust survivor’s
accounts first hand is becoming increasingly rare and it is imperative that stories such as Mr Olmer’s are not forgotten, along with the six million other Jews murdered in the Holocaust and the 17 million overall victims. It is important that we all take something from his strength and resilience in the face of persecution.
Art, Music and Drama Junior Inter-House Drama Competition
The annual Junior Inter-House Drama Competition took place on Tuesday 29 January and proved a highly enjoyable and entertaining evening for all involved. The Senior boys saw the end of their directing journey whilst the Junior boys were buzzing with adrenaline, having performed to a packed evening audience! The School had lovely feedback from parents and staff alike. Mr Matt Harrison adjudicated the performances, and gave very positive feedback to each house.
Every performance was celebrated and received well by the audience. The award for Best Actor was awarded to Arjun, whilst Best Director went to Robbie and Kishan; Best Overall Play went to Strouts – many congratulations to all involved.
Tony Minnion Art Workshop Year 9 Art students took part in a workshop with visiting artist Mr Tony Minnion on Monday 14 January. During the day, they explored combining digital and traditional printing echniques to create exciting and vibrant portraits. Mr Minnion first gave an introduction of himself and his previous work before giving a demonstration of the task ahead. Students then created screen prints of portraits by simplifying photos into key shapes. They moved on to using mono printing to add layers to their portraits in contrasting colours. Finally, in the afternoon, students got the chance to digitally merge their prints with the original photos and create different coloured and formatted versions of their pieces. It was clear to see that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and was inspired to take away some of the techniques taught by Tony to create their own pieces of artwork.
Art, Music and Drama A Little Cloud “I feel a ton better since I landed again in dear dirty Dublin.” Dublin. 1905. Tommy Chandler, an administrative clerk at the King’s Inn, dreams of life as a famous poet. When he meets his old friend, Ignatius Gallaher, a successful journalist on the London Press, he gets a taste of a life of hedonism which stands in stark contrast to the restrained monotony of his own. A man has a striking epiphany that he can’t rise out of his Irish environment, and may never will.
On Thursday 14 March, the A2 drama group, comprising of Daniel, Robert and Guy, produced a piece of physical theatre based on the short stories of James Joyce - his ‘Dubliners’ collection. The inspiration of visionary theatre group Complicite was seen in their use of multi-rolling, puppetry, clowning and, above all, bold, visual storytelling that seeks to thrill and incorporate an audience. Their stimulation was predominantly Joyce’s ‘A Little Cloud’, but took many elements and themes from others in the book, as well as the atmosphere associated with Joyce’s Dublin, a city he saw infected by paralysis and alcoholism.
Art, Music and Drama Spring Concert The School’s Spring Concert took place on Wednesday 27 March, and the Bourne Hall was home to a melting pot of music styles including jazz, Broadway, spiritual and classical. Concert Band kicked off the evening with thick brass as the audience were taken on a journey through the notorious musical, The Producers. With Mr Simm at the helm, the orchestra impressed with effortless changes in mood and tempi. ‘Keeping It Reel’, the new Habs Barbershop group, debuted, first with a Negro Spiritual, ‘Steal Away’ and a John Denver hit, ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’. An outstanding A Capella performance under the guidance of Miss Williams revealed further the sheer diversity of talents at Habs. The Habs Choir, directed with assurance by Mr Osmond, was next with a thought-provoking abridged version of ‘Matra Pictures’ by Kodály. A complex combination of parts in canon and interesting harmonies was handled commendably by the boys. Big Band ensued with three performances under the direction of Mr Simm and the guidance of Mr Taylor: ‘It’s-Just-Talk’, ‘Shaky Jake’ and ‘Groovin’ Hard’. As usual, the audience was treated to a lively and uplifting rendition with some outstanding solos. The Symphony Orchestra followed for the second half of the evening, beginning with the third movement from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. The skill demonstrated by Sameer in the Upper Sixth was absolutely breathtaking and cannot be done justice with mere words. To round off the evening, the audience was treated to the entire Symphony no.8 in G major by Dvorak. Four very different movements introduced us to folk, birdsongs and even a distant (and not-so-distant) thunderstorm. There was vigour and calm. Wistfulness and assuredness. Melancholy and ecstasy. This really was one of the highlights of the evening, particularly as it was unbelievably demanding for an orchestra of such a young age and as it ensued a concerto; two very different skills. Nevertheless, the feat was executed brilliantly, and all thoroughly enjoyed the focus and proficiency displayed across the ensemble. Many thanks to all involved: performers, helpers and coachers. The evening was a great success overall. Finally, a heartfelt congratulations to Kumayl (violinist) and Ayman (double bass) in the Lower Sixth, who won the annual orchestra prize for their dedication, commitment and standard as ‘leading lights’ of the ensemble. Role models for us all!
Sport Fraser Bird Rugby 7s Competition
Our U13, U15 and Senior 7s squads made the long trip to Monmouth in Wales for the annual Fraser Bird 7s competition. The Senior side, full of pace and physical presence, started superbly with a comfortable win against Abraham Darby. A close encounter with Monmouth saw us produce some scintillating rugby in the first half, before succumbing late on to a loss against the eventual winners.
The U15 team showed considerable effort and application, winning two of their matches. The U13s started brightly, winning their first two matches comfortably. A superb first half performance against Monmouth in the next round was the highlight of the campaign. Well done to participants and staff from all of the Haberdashers’ family of schools.
Sport Hockey Report The 1st XI hockey team has had a very successful season, starting with a match against the Old Haberdashers’ team. This match ended 4-1: the first ever time the 1st XI has won against the Old Boys. The season continued in a similar fashion, with a 5-0 win against St Albans School, and a 3-0 against a good Watford Grammar side. The team then competed in the County Tournament, winning 4-0 against both John Warner School and Hitchin School. This set Habs up well for tough matches against local rivals Aldenham School and Haileybury. Habs won both matches 1-0 and travelled to Bedford for the Regional qualifying round. Here, Habs went on to win three of four matches against Royal Hospital School, Stamford Boys, and Coopers Academy. This meant that Habs qualified for the Regional Finals.
Before the Finals, the School played Forest and won 7-1, but lost to Magdalen College School 6-1. After this loss, the team picked themselves up and won 1-0 against Bancrofts School. The next day, Habs beat Wisbech School in the Regional Finals before a late winner against Aldenham School, which was enough to clinch the Regional title.
Habs Golf Tour – Portugal 2019
The annual golf tour to Portugal took place over the February half term. Habs boys and staff returned home after four challenging rounds of golf in Vilamoura and Vale do Lobo. After avoiding some unwanted rain on day one, and with the sun making an appearance, the boys improved and developed their golfing skills over the four days. Rivaan in Year 7 emerged as the most successful golfer of the week.
Other prizes included best ‘rookie’ and best dressed golfer! The boys were excellent representatives of the School and fellow golfers commented more than once on their high standards of behaviour.
Sport Pre-Season Cricket Report The Solai Indoor Cricket Centre (not to mention the outdoor nets during the recent spell of good weather!) has been in constant use this term as preparations for the forthcoming season continue apace. Opening batsman Vinosh will captain the 1st XI, hoping to reproduce the form he showed last year when finishing as leading run-scorer, topping the averages. Much will also be expected of vice-captains Harry and Taif, while competition for the remaining places will again be strong. Lower down the School, our Junior sides will be hoping to perform well in the various County Cup competitions. They have enjoyed much success in recent years, celebrating victories for the U13s (the third successive win in this age group) and U14s in 2018. The latter side will now represent Hertfordshire as U15s in the Inspiresport One Day Cup and have been handed an away tie against Framlingham College, the champions of Suffolk, in the first round. Block fixtures against Magdalen College School, Haileybury, St Albans, Berkhamsted and Merchant Taylors’, amongst others, will test our cricketers, and the Senior Devon Tour will once again be eagerly anticipated. As long as the weather stays good, there is much to look forward to for all our teams.
Pre-Season Cricket Training/Fixtures Arrangements for pre-season training/warm-up games are as follows: Tuesday 23 April Senior practice - 9.30am - 11.00am U12 practice - 11.00am – 1.00pm U13 practice - 11.00am – 1.00pm U14 practice - 1.00pm – 3.00pm U15 practice - 1.00pm – 3.00pm 1st XI v Aldenham - (H: 1.00pm) 2nd XI v Aldenham - (A: 1.00pm) Wednesday 24 April 1st XI v 2nd XI - T20: 2.30pm 4th XI v 5th XI - T20: 2.30pm 3rd XI v QE Barnet - (H: 2.30pm)
Thursday 25 April 1st XI v Sir George Monoux - (H:4.15pmHMC T20) U15A v Dr Challoner’s - (H: 2.00pm) U15B v Dr Challoner’s - (H: 2.00pm Meet at Pavilion (or Sports Hall if wet). Bring footwear for both indoor and outdoor use. In the event of bad weather, check the School website, your emails, or the @HabsPE Twitter account for updates and further details. Support at the games will be most welcome.
Sport Rugby Season Report Autumn 2018 The season saw an increased cohesion with a tight-knit group of committed rugby players representing Habs. The 1st XV season started off with a convincing 34-14 win against St Columba’s. Unfortunately, this strong win was followed by a defeat against a fast Hitchin team. After a sharp wake-up call, the boys trained hard to put in a good game against Mill Hill. The following week the team put in a very strong performance in a National Cup Game vs UCS, although it unfortunately ended in a loss. This was followed by a win against Tring School.
The season concluded on Wednesday 12 December, under floodlights at Allianz Park, with a decisive win against QE Barnet. Overall, an encouraging season, including very notable performances against strong teams.
The Herts Cup was a highlight, where the boys put in an excellent performance against a competitive Haileybury side, drawing 7-7 after a last-minute opposition try. After the half term, they started well against Seevic College, however could not support the performance and so ended their National Plate pursuit.
Water Polo Report There has been much success for the boys that played water polo over the spring term. The U18 side qualified for the National Finals at the University of Nottingham. They also played in the London Water Polo League finals. The U16s finished second at the London Water Polo League finals and the U14 boys also shared similar success, finishing second in the
League finals held in Northampton. At U13 level, the boys qualified for the ESSA National Water Polo Championship semi-finals. The Year 5 and Year 6 boys from the Prep School had an introduction game against Grimsdyke School, where a lot of talent and enthusiasm was on show. The future certainly looks bright for Habs water polo!
U13 Gymnastics Team Success at Trio National Finals The U13 Gymnastics team achieved an excellent result at the Trio National Finals at Fenton Mannor, Stoke. After an early start, the boys warmed up and went straight into the competition. The team of Chris, Jobe, Sam and Sudais (Michael, who missed the tournament, has also been an integral part of the squad this year) all performed brilliantly in all three disciplines: vault, individual floor and group floor. Irrespective of the final result, the pupils were outstanding ambassadors for the School. That said, in a very competitive field, the team managed to podium in bronze medal position, and combining with St Faiths, won the East Region Gold Medal.
Trips Senior Ski Trip 2019 Forty boys from Years 10, 12 and 13 visited Les Menuires in the French Alps for the Senior School Ski Trip. Six days of sun meant the boys were out all day improving their skiing. Alongside skiing, there were other activities, including a quiz run by the Upper Sixth, a pool tournament, a trip to a mini-roller coaster, some French speaking and a chance to watch Mr Hobbs take to the skies in a spectacular ski parapont. The trip culminated in an awards ceremony with the ESF ski instructors, including best skier and most improved
beginner. The boys commented that it was one of the best school trips they had been on. A special mention must go to the Upper Sixth boys, who were exceptional role models to the younger boys. They took responsibility willingly and were great company. Thanks also to all the staff that made this trip happen.
Year 9 Paris Exchange Trip From Friday 15 to Friday 22 February, 13 boys took part in a French Exchange with Institut De L’Alma in Paris. The trip was a great way for the boys to use their knowledge of French in a real-life setting, whilst also being able to explore the amazing sites located in the centre of Paris.
Overall, everyone really enjoyed the trip, and this was only possible due to Miss Drake and Mr Swallow giving up their time to organise and run it.
On the first day, the boys and staff met their exchanges and had a tour of the incredible Stade de France. Over the weekend, the boys spent time with exchanges and their families, giving them a chance to practise French and learn about Paris life first hand. In the coming week, the boys visited iconic sites in Paris, with highlights including the Louvre, the Bateaux Mouches and of course the Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower).
Year 9 Classics Trip to the British Museum The Classics department took 52 boys in Year 9 to the British Museum on Tuesday 19 March, where they toured galleries of Greek, Roman, Assyrian, Persian and Babylonian antiquities. The boys were well engaged and showed a keen interest in the galleries they visited. Over the course of the day, they completed a quiz with the aid of an audio tour, which put the archaeological artefacts into historical context. The British Museum remains one of the world’s great archives of ancient cultural heritage across the world and the boys very much enjoyed their visit.
Trips National Final of Landrover 4x4 Competition Several boys attended the British Motor Museum in Gaydon on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 March to participate in an engineering competition run by Jaguar Land Rover. Team Taurus, composed of graphic designer Dhillon, electronics manager Maxim, manufacturer Krystjan, CAD designer Aarnav and team leader Sajeev, all aimed to make an impact in the automotive industry through the use of their engineering and designing skills. With a good start to the morning, they approached the track with care.
Unfortunately, communication between the car and remote cut, removing chances of securing points for driving for the first day. After a quick fix, they re-attempted the track on day two and were faced with a challenge to climb a steep section. The boys returned to Elstree having achieved 9th place out of 25 teams. They look forward to entering again next year and hope to win a podium place on the Jaguar Land Rover stands. A huge thank you to Mr Teague as well as to Ms Harrison for making the trip possible and for helping the boys during various stages of the competition.
CCF Army Field Day Deploying with 90 boys to the Barnham training area near Thetford, high winds and heavy rain swept through to give the boys a clear night and a beautiful day for training. The rain provided an extra challenge for the boys, as they built proper shelters. The 24-hour exercise for the Army section was the result of weeks of planning and preparation by the staff and boys. Briefings had taken place at Habs, alongside specific training to prepare the boys for their experience. Senior boys were actively involved in the command and control process, as well as delivering some of the training and lessons. Thanks must go to all staff who helped make the trip such a success.
Prep and Pre-Prep Mary Poppins The term was rounded off by a wonderful production of Mary Poppins, directed and produced by our very own Ms Gozzard. Run as an after-school club for boys in Years 3 to 5, the actors put their heart, soul and many, many hours of diligent practice into producing
a vibrant and impressive show which was enjoyed and celebrated by parents. This classic story was brought to life by mesmerising performances and the original songs such as Feed the Birds, Jolly Holiday and of course, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Thank you to all staff who gave so many hours and weekends to putting on the musical, especially to Ms Gozzard, Mrs Hall, Mrs Valente, Mrs Griggs and Mrs Anya.
Eureka Maths Challenge “My name is Alex and I am in Year 5. I recently took part in a Eureka Maths Challenge held at North London Collegiate School. I went with three other boys in Year 5; Francesco, Maanav and Arjun. We took part in many different maths challenges such as Sudoku, working out angles, code breaking and many other tough mathematical challenges. I think the four of us were a really strong team as we worked incredibly well together and contributed quickly and equally in all the challenges. There were many schools that participated in this challenge and Habs Boys came second overall with 64 points. We really enjoyed the experience and hope that next year there will be a similar challenge for Year 6!” - by Alex (Year 5)
Year 2 pupils from the Girls’ School enjoying the performance
Prep and Pre-Prep Sports report from the Prep School In sport this term, both in PE and Games, the School has been continuing to work on instilling the values of Teamwork, Respect, Creativity, Courage and Leadership into the boys. There have been great examples of the boys demonstrating these values in sport, within the football and cross country fixtures that took place this term. In football, the boys across the year groups have made pleasing progress. The School has been trying to work on a possession-based style of play across the year groups. This approach was demonstrated brilliantly in the Year 4 football festival, where the Prep boys were outstanding throughout the morning. The results of their matches reflected how well they played, winning six and drawing one of their seven fixtures. The Year 5 boys also played some terrific football in a tournament at the Merchant Taylors’ Prep School. In a strong field of 16 schools, the team played very well to make it through to the semi-finals. For this tournament, the boys were asked to set themselves their own targets, deliver their own team talks and select their own teams for each match. This really helped to develop leadership skills and build a strong team ethos. Cross country has also been a huge success story this term. The boys have been running at least once each week since September and the success of the cross country teams this term is a testament to the boys’ dedication, courage and commitment to training. One highlight of the season was the Year 3 and 4 team finishing 1st and the Year 5 and 6 team finishing 2nd at the Norfolk House Cross Country meet at Aldenham School. Another highlight was the Year 5 and 6 team’s last race of the year, which took place on a very wet and muddy course across Hampstead Heath. There were 16 schools participating in the event run by Harewood House, with 120 boys taking part in total. The U11 team performed extremely well, with Daniel finishing in 1st place and the team overall finishing 2nd. The U13s also took part in the event and finished 1st overall – a hugely enjoyable and successful afternoon for Habs! The School would like to thank all of the parents who have come along and supported the boys. Once again this term, the Prep School will be awarding colours to the boys in Year 6 and value badges to boys in Years 3 to 5.
Respect
Leadership
Year 3 Football v The Beacon
James finishing @ Norfork House XC
Prep and Pre-Prep
Teamwork U11 Cross Country Team @ Harewood House
Courage Zach finishing @ Norfolk House XC event
Creativity Year 4 Football Festival
Teamwork
Enjoyment
Year 5 Football v Highgate
Year 4 PE
Prep and Pre-Prep Bags for the Homeless The Year 1 and Year 2 boys have been learning about service and giving back to others who are less fortunate. The boys recently took part in a charitable project, where they packed individual bags for homeless people in London. This was an excellent way for our boys to understand a significant problem and, more importantly, to engage directly in addressing it in a positive and meaningful way.
Red Nose Day The boys at the Pre-Preparatory School thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Red Nose day on Friday 15 March. They watched the heartfelt story of a refugee called Farhad and the Year 1s wrote an account of his life. In the afternoon, the boys took part in several activities, ranging from football with our Sixth Formers to parachute fun, tennis, ball games and a dance off between Years 1 and 2. The School is proud to have raised £156 for such an important cause.
Rafi’s One Million Dreams The Pre-Prep was very fortunate to be privy to a father-son duo performance of ‘A Million Dreams’ from the film ‘The Greatest Showman’. Rafi (Year 1) and his father, a gifted musician, delivered a truly uplifting performance in assembly: it was an absolute pleasure to watch. Thank you very much to Rafi and his father for sharing this with the Pre-Prep boys and staff - it was a fantastic rendition. There wasn’t a dry eye amongst the staff!
The Iron Man Invades The Year 2 boys have been busy constructing amazing models of ‘The Iron Man’ by Ted Hughes, their class reader book for this half term. These models really show just how creative the boys have been in interpreting Ted Hughes’s Iron Man.
Prep and Pre-Prep World Book Day 2019 On Thursday 7 March, the Pre-Preparatory School celebrated World Book Day. The boys dressed up as their favourite book character and participated in exciting poetry workshops with our guest poet, Mr Joshua Seigal. Mr Seigal encouraged the boys to depict their own monster and challenged the boys to write a descriptive poem about it using similes and alliteration. Excitement was at an all-time high during the fantastic Mad Hatter-themed lunch.
Trauma Team Doctor Visit Dr Naveen Keerthi, a parent of a Pre-Prep boy, came in to talk to our Year 1s about his profession as a trauma team doctor. He brought along ‘George’, a life size human skeleton, and explained how the body works. The boys were fascinated to learn about internal organs, bones and muscles. Dr Keerthi talked to the boys about green stick fractures and demonstrated how to apply a bandage. The boys enjoyed the informative and interactive session!
Leafy Learners in the Snow Wrapping up warm, the Year 2 boys had a fantastic time in ‘Leafy Learners’. They worked on their snow projects in typical Haberdashers’ style: with enthusiasm and resilience. The boys reflected on their learning over a mug of delicious hot chocolate and a glowing camp fire.
Prep and Pre-Prep Visit from Year 10 Drama Group The Year 1 boys were very excited when the Year 10 GCSE Drama group came to visit them in the Pre-Prep. To begin with, the Senior boys played some small group games, which our Year 1 boys thoroughly enjoyed! The Year 10s then performed short extracts from their drama pieces based on the Oliver Jeffers books, focusing on the stars, the moon and the sea. There was a lot of laughter from all the boys, both younger and older, and it was wonderful to see both age groups interacting with each other. The Year 10 boys were fantastic role models for our Pre-Prep boys and have hopefully inspired them. The Year 1s are very much looking forward to visiting the Senior School to watch the finished performances of the Year 10 boys.
Plastic pollution assembly delivered to Prep School boys On Friday 8 February 2019, Ishaan from the Senior School (Year 11) delivered a powerful and thought-provoking assembly to the boys in our Preparatory School. His speech on the topic of ‘Plastic Pollution in our Oceans’ inspired and encouraged the boys to act on this important issue. Mr Rossetti, Head of Preparatory School, thanked Ishaan for addressing the Prep boys on this very topical and significant issue.
Ishaan ended his assembly with: “Be part of the solution, not the pollution.”
The Habs Community Old Haberdasher Scores for Spurs On Sunday 24 March, Tottenham Hotspur held the first fixture at their new stadium in the form of an Under-18 match between Spurs and Southampton. The Spurs’ youngsters easily ran out as 3-1 winners, and celebrations have since stretched as far as Elstree as ‘Old’ Haberdasher Dilan Markanday started the game and marked the occasion with a goal! In front of 28,000 spectators - including Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino - Dilan scored the third goal in the victory, and his overall performance on the day has received great reviews. Described as ‘a clever attacking midfielder’ on the Spurs website, Dilan is remembered for his mazy runs and technical ability by many of the Habs PE staff. The School wishes Dilan all the very best for what promises to be a bright sporting future for this Old Boy.
Tottenham’s number 7, Dilan Markanday, caps off a fine performance with a goal.
Photo by Paul Childs, Reuters Pictures
Match highlights are available to view via the Tottenham Hotspur website: http://bit.ly/2V35JGz.
The Habs Community History Careers Afternoon and Reunion
Former members of the Habs History department Left to right: Dr Sloan, Mr Griffiths, Mr Dawson, Mr Rowlands, Dr Wigley
Wednesday 6 February saw the first ever History Careers Afternoon take place at Haberdashers. Old Boys who went on to study History at university were invited back to the School to meet current pupils who are thinking about pursuing a degree in the same subject. Talking to the boys about their experiences since leaving university provided valuable knowledge as to where studying History might take their careers. We are very grateful to all those who volunteered their time to come and chat to the boys so willingly. Following the careers event, a reunion was held for Old Boys who had studied History at Habs and then at university. This reunion gave the Old Boys a chance to meet with other Habs Historians, as well as their former teachers. All who attended had a wonderful time and greatly enjoyed the opportunity to meet other Old Boys from a range of over 50 years and to swap stories about life at Habs (and beyond!). Following the success of the event, we hope to hold more like it in the future.
The Habs Community Year 8 Oral History Project On the afternoon of Thursday 24 January four Old Haberdashers visited the School to be interviewed by our current Year 8 pupils about their experience at Westbere Road during World War II. The Year 8 boys came prepared with some fantastic questions and the Old Boys provided a wonderful insight into life at Habs during the 1940s. Among tales of bombs dropping on the School and fire-watching at night, one highlight was hearing about an impromptu mass trip to the local tea shop, led by the School Captain, after becoming bored with the same food being provided in the school cafeteria. The Old Boys met with the Headmaster, Mr Lock, before having a convivial lunch with the School’s archivists, Mr Cheyney and Mrs Drummond-Charig, Head of History, Mr Clark and the Director of The HABS Foundation, Mr Llewellyn (OH 1983).
Prep Reunion 2019 On the evening of Monday 4 March, 60 Old Boys returned to Habs, many for the first time since they left over 40 years ago. They were able to revisit their classrooms in the old Prep Block (now the Art and Design & Technology block) and see for themselves how much Habs has changed, or remained unaltered in some areas, since they were taught here. They were treated to a performance from our very own Habs Big Band in the Bourne Hall followed by a welcome to the ‘new’ Prep building by the Head of Preparatory School, Mr Matteo Rossetti. After inspecting the new Prep facilities, the group headed to the Old Refectory, which for many was their old dining hall, where they were able to spend time catching up with their former teachers and former Head of Preparatory School, Mrs Pamela Bryant. This proved to be a wonderful occasion with a great number seeing former classmates after a more than 30-year hiatus. The evening ended all too soon and contact details were exchanged as well as promises to stay in touch.
The Habs Community A lunchtime with the Archivist Yohaan, from the Sixth Form, sat down with Miss Drummond Charig to discuss the role of School’s Archavist.
What is your job as the School Archivist? The extraordinary history of the School has been recorded in the archive, reflecting the changes brought about by war, technology and immigration. The job of the School archivist is to gather resources that tell these pieces of history and make them available for research. The archive helps form a picture of the School community through time. What we record and how has changed. For example, it is interesting to note the kind of information that was recorded on pupil contact cards – from the father's occupation to religion. The archive allow us to trace demographic changes and keep records of every student who has studied at Habs. This summer, Habs is planning to launch a digital archive for the first time, which will allow greater access to some of the School’s key historic records for researchers, such as Skylark Magazine and First World War records.
What aspects of the School have changed? Looking back, it is evident that Habs has always been at the forefront of innovation and creativity. The School has transformed from its days of being a hospital and a boarding school. During the 1930s, Habs had built a state-of-the-art science block, holding events such as 'Science in Industry' in 1927, an event that seems to echo those of today. Moreover, during the 1970s, with the enthusiasm of Douglas Whittaker and Alan Wood, technology was first brought to the forefront of the classroom through computer programming. By the 1990s the School was already challenging the notion that computers should only been used for coding and considering how they could be a powerful tool in education.
The Habs Community
What aspects of Habs have stayed the same? There has always been a strong emphasis on sport, with the purchase of Chase Lodge in 1926 allowing boys to practise more regularly before the move to Elstree. Cross country has been a longstanding tradition at Habs, and we see running further encouraged in our community today with the HabsDash. In addition, one of the important traditions that has been maintained by Habs is the CCF: given the fact many boys have served in many wars, this is something the School reflects on with immense pride and gratitude. This comes across very vividly in the archive.
Stay connected to Habs
www.habsboys.org.uk /habsboys @habsboys
J Suchak and T Lunn - April 2019
Routine Reminders School Closure Dates The School will be closed over the Easter holiday period from 12:00 on Wednesday 3 April. There will be NO access to the School and there will be minimal caretaking staff. For the remainder of the Easter holiday period the School Office, Finance and Operations and other Support Departments will be staffed as normal from 09:00 until 16:00. Summer Term begins on Wednesday 24 April.
Staff Training Days There will be Staff Training Days on Friday 24 May and Monday 3 June, when the Senior School, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep will be closed to all boys other than those taking public examinations.
General Information Parent Portal Every Friday parents should receive an email listing the letters appropriate to their son. You can also access the half-termly progress grades and pupil targets set during super tutoring week. The dates for progress grades are included in the school calendar but are usually issued on the penultimate Thursday of each half term.
Home Alone Parents must tell the School if they are away from home and give the contact details of the adult responsible for their son in their absence.
Car Parking for School Events Please be advised that the first security barrier on Butterfly Lane is now raised daily at 17:30 Monday to Friday to allow after school parking in the North Drive Car Park. Access for parents and visitors before 17:00 is via the Girls’ School Car Park until 18:00, after which the coach park on Aldenham Road can also be used. The routine drop-off and pick up point for boys still remains the Girls’ School Car Park. Parents are kindly requested not to park in the Girls’ School Car Park after 18:00 for evening events (e.g. Parents Evening, Concerts etc at the Boys’ School); the allocated parking for these events is the North Drive Car Park/Coach Park.
Parent Parking: Beginning and End of School Day Parents are reminded that drop off for pupils at the beginning of the day is via the Boys’ School one-way circuit and pick up at the end of the School day via the Girls’ School Car Park. The Schools appreciate that sometimes there are delays and congestion but parents are kindly asked to remain calm and to respect the site teams. The Schools remains concerned that some parents are continuing to choose not to enter the School car park but instead park on the pavement on Aldenham Road. While the Schools have no jurisdiction over what parents do on the public highway, this is an incredibly unsafe practice which puts pupils and public at risk
Routine Reminders of serious injury and is strongly discouraged. The local police force have been informed and will continue to attend the area from time to time. Your cooperation on this matter would be appreciated. If your son drives to School and parks in Aldenham Country Park, please discuss road safety with them and urge them to cross the road safely and use the proper footpath access to the School site.
Visitors Other than for drop-off and collection or for designated School events for which access, parking and reception arrangements are advised separately, all other visits to the School during the school day are classed as “School visits” for which visitors, including parents, must sign in at the Senior School Reception to collect a visitor’s badge and meet their host. Your son’s safety is of the utmost importance to us and we ask for your support and cooperation in this area.
Visiting the Medburn Centre For the safety of all our pupils during the school day, we ask that all parents sign in at Reception in Aldenham House before making their way to the Medburn Centre. The pupils use the café throughout the day, so it is not possible to open it to parents unless there is a special event organised. When attending an event in the Centre please do not take photographs or videos.
Dogs on Campus Dogs are NOT permitted on campus. This is an important health and safety measure to protect the playing fields and campus from any soiling. The ONLY exception is dogs belonging to on-site residents and Guide Dogs. Bringing dogs onto campus when visiting for sporting events at weekends is also NOT permitted.
Parentpay.com - Cashless Catering System & Trips Parents are reminded to top up their son’s lunch accounts using the on-line payment system at Parentpay.com and not to allow the accounts to fall into deficit. All accounts must be either cleared or with a credit balance by the last day of term. Please be advised that extra activities such as trips can also be paid at Parentpay. com. If you set your account to receive alerts you will avoid missing payments.
Personal Effects Insurance Parents are reminded of their responsibility to insure their son’s personal property whilst at School, on a School-sponsored activity or on the way to and from School. The one exception is where school trips are covered by travel insurance and where the loss of some personal effects may be covered during that trip.
School Fees Refund Scheme Parents who subscribe to this scheme are reminded of their entitlement to make claims for absences from School due to illness, accident or contact with infection for a continuous period of at least five days (including weekends). If you would like to join the scheme for the Autumn Term 2019 (costs are currently £88.91 per term for the Senior and Prep School and £67.03 per term for the Pre-Prep School) please contact the Finance Office before Friday 7 June 2019. Please note claims must be submitted no later than 30 days after the close of the term to which they relate.
Routine Reminders School Shop The School Shop is open during term time from 08:30-16:00 Monday to Friday (closed for lunch at 11:50 – 12:35). Lost property is located within the School Shop and boys are e-mailed weekly when their named lost property comes in. Enquiries regarding school uniform are welcome on 020 8266 1710 or by e-mail to shop@habsboys.org.uk. There is also a website available via a link on the School website enabling parents to buy online and to choose either delivery or collection of the items.
Medical Centre The Medical Centre is staffed by two fully-qualified and experienced nurses, Gillian McGrath (RGN) and Martina McGrath (RGN), who are employed primarily to deal with the unexpected onset of illness or injury, dispense over the counter medications, organise health checks by themselves and the doctors and assist any boys who may have chronic conditions that have been notified to the School.
Dispensing Prescription Medication If your son requires any prescription medicine to be taken at School, please fill in the ‘Request for School to administer prescription medication form’, which can be found on the parent portal, and send it in with your son to bring to the Medical Centre along with the medication to be dispensed. The medicine needs to be in its original container/packet with your son’s name on it. It is your son’s responsibility to attend the Medical Centre to be given the medication.
Collecting an Unwell Boy A reminder that if your son is unwell and needs to go home, he must attend the Medical Centre, where either he or one of the nurses will phone you. Please ensure that you have provided the School with a number that we can contact you on in an emergency, or an alternative name/number that we should call. The nurses will then inform your son’s Form Tutor and Head of Year, thereby ensuring that the relevant personnel are aware that your son is no longer in school. Please report to the Senior School Reception first before collecting your son from the Medical Centre.
Important Notice for Hayfever Sufferers Please ensure your son has the appropriate medication with them during the hayfever season, e.g. eye drops, allergy relief tablets and inhalers as appropriate. This is particularly important for boys taking public examinations.
Medical Reminder – Infectious Illnesses Please do not send your children to school if they are suffering from any illness that could be passed on to other children. This includes any child with a fever or diarrhoea and/or vomiting. The child should not return to school until they have been symptom-free for a minimum of 24 hours (the Health Protection Agency recommends 48 hours symptom-free in cases of diarrhoea or vomiting).
Routine Reminders For further information and recommended guidelines, please visit the Health Protection Agency’s website: www.hpa.org.uk and see ‘Guidance on Infection Control in Schools and Other Child Care Settings’ and consult with your own GP as appropriate.
Asthma:
If your son is asthmatic, please ensure he has his inhaler at all times in school.
Epipen: If your son has been prescribed an Epipen or equivalent, please ensure he has all the required medication in school with him and that it is in date.
Medical Information held on the Parent Portal You can now view the medical information that the School holds for your son on the Parent Portal, so please can you check this site to ensure that we hold the most up to date information on your son’s medical conditions and any medication he has been prescribed. If you wish to make any changes, please follow the steps and once we have viewed them the changes will appear on the Parent Portal. If you want to discuss any changes, please contact us in the Medical Centre on schoolnurse@habsboys.org.uk.
Transport Notices Please note a full half term’s notice is required for amendment or cancellation of the coach service.
Block Leave – Coach Travel for Boys (Year 11 and U6) For members of Year 11 and U6 who use the coaches, the charge for the Summer Term will be reduced by 30% but will be valid for any journeys made on the relevant coach throughout the term. There is no need for parents to inform the Finance Office; the concession will be included in fee invoices for the Summer Term. This concession applies to Year 11 and U6 only.
Exam Students There are two Staff Development days during the public examinations period: Friday 24 May - Coaches will NOT run Monday 3 June - Coaches will still run (Girl’s School is open) The School is closed on both dates and therefore only examination students are expected in school. If you have left the coach service for the Summer Term you must obtain, in advance, a casual e-ticket to travel. From Wednesday 24 April 2019 you may issue your child’s casual coach e-tickets (subject to availability) via the Parent Portal, under School Coaches. You may also continue to obtain tickets from the School Office at the Boys’ School or The Finance Office at the Girls’ School. The cost will be added to your account. Students unable to obtain a place on the coaches due to their route being full must make alternative arrangements well in advance of their exam date.
Routine Reminders What to do if you are likely to arrive after 08:50 if on a School coach: • Ask the Coach Steward or Prefect to telephone the School 020 8266 1700 and ask to be met by a supervisor on arrival • Hand your mobile phone before 08:50 to a member of staff • Remain under the supervision of an adult until you have reported to the Head of Examinations or to an invigilator. It is essential there is no break of even a few seconds in your supervision by an adult If there is no member of staff on your coach, ask a Prefect or Steward to supervise you.
Joining the Coach Service, Amendments and Cancellations For the new academic year if you would like to view, cancel or amend your child’s transport arrangements, you can do so via the Parent Portal from Wednesday 24 April 2019. Select the ‘School Coach’ icon on the left-hand side of the screen and follow the instructions. All amendments, submissions to join or re-join the coach service and cancellations should be submitted by Friday 17th May 2019. After this date, we may not be able to accommodate your request.
Casual Coach E-Tickets From Wednesday 24 April 2019, you may issue your child’s casual coach e-tickets (subject to availability) via the Parent Portal, under School Coaches.
E-tickets for Coaches E-tickets will be sent out over the Easter break. Please check the details and ensure your child has a copy either in paper or electronic form. If you have a query, please contact the Transport Office at transportmanager@habsboys.org.uk.
Examinations Internal Examinations U6 will have four days of A2 mocks from Wednesday 24 April – Monday 29 April. They have their timetable and individual schedules and are only required on site when sitting a paper. Pupils in Years 7 – 10 all have internally assessed end of year examinations immediately after the Summer half term, i.e. Tuesday 4 – Friday 7 June. Years 7 and 8 also have independent learning days. For Year 8 it is on the first day of the examinations on Tuesday 4 and for Year 7 it is on Friday 7. Your son has been given a ‘Candidate Exam Handbook’ along with the following Guide: For Middle School: For Sixth Form:
Survival Guide for Exams for Parents of Students in the Middle School Survival Guide for Exams for Parents and Students in the Sixth Form
These contain all the information you need about your son’s public examinations this summer.
Routine Reminders Examination Contingency day – Wednesday 26 June 2019 A reminder that all candidates must be available to come into School for examinations at any point up to Wednesday 26 June 2019.
Study Leave (Year 11, L6 and U6) Boys are expected to wear full school uniform (dress code in the Sixth Form) and be clean shaven whenever they are in the School, whether they have examinations or not.
Year 11 Study Leave for Year 11 will begin at the end of school on Friday 3 May. During study leave Year 11 pupils are welcome to come to school to work. Classrooms will be set aside for study and a full list of available rooms can be found posted outside the office door of the Head of Middle School. Boys are reminded to thumb in and thumb out when they arrive and depart from the campus during the examination season. All Year 11 pupils are reminded that school dress regulations will apply at all times when at school. GCSE results are due to be published this year on Thursday 22 August.
Work Experience Work experience acts as an introduction to many of the important aspects of working life and provides our Year 11 pupils with a better understanding of some of the skills they are likely to need in whatever career they eventually choose. For many, it can also be a valuable opportunity to sample a career area which may be of interest to them, and to make useful contacts for the future. Work experience is a vital part of the Year 11 curriculum and we expect all pupils to have completed at least one placement prior to entry to our Sixth Form. This year’s work experience period runs from 1 – 11 July – Year 11s are expected to complete a one week placement either during this period or over the summer holiday. The majority of pupils successfully organise placements through their own network of family and friends. The School does its best to assist those who have been unsuccessful in finding a placement; and it is on behalf of these pupils that we ask parents to contact Mrs Howe, our Careers Co-ordinator, if they are able to accommodate a work experience placement. The success of the work experience scheme relies heavily on the goodwill and support of parents and friends of the School. Offers of placements in the areas of finance, medicine and scientific research are particularly welcome. If you are able to offer a placement or would like to obtain further details of the scheme, please contact Mrs Howe on 020 8266 1936 or howe_s@habsboys.org.uk.
Employability Day We are delighted to be running an Employability Day for Year 11 pupils this year. This will take place on Friday 28th June, and we hope the event will encourage our pupils to consider how their skills relate to the workplace, how to present themselves; and that it will also give them an insight into what employers are looking for. Attendance at this event is compulsory for Year 11s – any requests for pupils to be excused must go to Mr Hall. If you would be interested in helping out with this event, either with mock interviews or with another aspect of the day, please contact Mrs Nash, Head of Careers, on 020 8266 1716 or nash_k@habsboys.org.uk
Routine Reminders Lower Sixth (L6) Study Leave for L6 will begin at the end of School on Monday 29 April. AS level results are due to be published this year on Thursday 15 August.
L6 Return from Study Leave The L6 will resume School at 08:45 Tuesday 4 June for an immediate start on essential preparation for UCAS applications.
UCAS Conference Preparation for UCAS applications begin on Monday 10th June when we will be covering the personal statement and the interview. Specific guidance from subject specialist applications advisers will be given on how to write the personal statement for each chosen degree course. It is expected that L6 pupils bring to this seminar all notes they have been making since the November Higher Education Evening on their super curricular involvement. The expectation is that the personal statement will be in its final stage by the end of the Summer Term. This is to ensure that a final consultation with their adviser in September ensures applications meet the early deadlines in October. Full details of the UCAS application process can be found in the University Handbook Part 1 issued last November. Pupils applying for courses which require an interview will be given mock interviews. Further information will be sent to parents nearer the time. All Aske Projects must be submitted without exception by 16:00 on Monday 1 July.
Sixth Form Work Experience and Open Day Visits Students and parents are reminded that no visits to University Open Days are permitted on Field Days in order to safeguard the programme of school activities. Likewise, work experience is not permitted in term time in order to protect the teaching programme. Sixth Form boys are encouraged to do work experience during the school holidays.
L6 University Open Days All L6 pupils are encouraged to attend University Open Days. A special Open Day Exeat is issued by the Form Tutor and pupils are expected to do their utmost to minimise any disruption to their studies. Pupils are limited to two Open Days per term and this attendance is monitored. Most universities offer more than one Open Day and many are held at weekends or during school holidays. L6 boys requesting permission to attend an additional Open Day should do so in writing to Mr Amlot. University Open Day information is available on the university websites, at www.opendays.com and on HabsNet.
L6 Higher Education Evening 2 – Tuesday 11 June All L6 pupils and their parents are invited to this important event which complements the November Higher Education Evening 1, and which is supported by a significant number of university admissions tutors. Parents will receive an invitation with full information nearer the time.
Routine Reminders Upper Sixth (U6) Study Leave commences on Friday 10 May. Advanced GCE results are due to be published this year on Thursday 15 August.
U6 Student Finance Deadlines Information regarding student finance was issued to parents very recently via the Parent Portal. If your son intends to begin his university studies in September 2018, it is time for him to apply for student finance. University tuition fee and maintenance loans and grants are administered by the organisation Student Finance England at https://www.gov.uk/student-finance. Your son does not need to have accepted a place at university to apply for student finance; he can inform Student Finance of his preferred choice of course now and change it later if necessary.
UCAS Offers U6 pupils must check their UCAS status and meet deadlines set regarding the acceptance or rejection of offers. Pupils are reminded that they must keep their options open by having a Firm and an Insurance choice. If you have only one offer, which you do not intend to take up, do not reject it until you receive your results in summer. You may need it! You lose nothing by hanging on to it. Before making any difficult decisions, you must seek the help of your adviser or Mrs Swallow. AS and A Level Results and University Clearing – Thursday 15 August. All U6 pupils and parents will receive information nearer the time. The university applications advisers will be offering advice and guidance on Thursday 15 August and Friday 16 August. PUPILS IN THE U6 MUST NOT BE AWAY FROM HOME FOR AT LEAST A WORKING WEEK FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF RESULTS ON THURSDAY 15 AUGUST. If there is a problem, i.e. you do not get the results you anticipated, admissions tutors will negotiate only with you, the applicant. They will not be prepared to make any decisions based on conversations with either a parent or with the School. Not being available at this time could have serious consequences, i.e. you could lose that place/not access a good alternative!
School Property All books and other school property must be returned to the Department Head by the student by Friday 28 June. Anything returned after Friday 28 June will still be charged. Boys are personally responsible for ensuring that all school property is returned to the appropriate member of staff (please do not return to the School Office). A charge will be raised against misused or damaged property (carelessly damaged books will be charged proportionately).
The U6 Dinner Dance The Upper Sixth Dinner Dance, which is a joint event with the Girls’ School, will take place at the Watford Hilton Hotel on Thursday 27 June. More details to follow in the Summer Term.
Routine Reminders The Founder’s Celebration The Founder’s Celebration of the Class of 2019 (the U6) will take place on Wednesday 26 June commencing with drinks and a light finger buffet at 18:30. This will be an evening of farewell for all U6 students and their families and will include an opportunity for a final farewell to Housemasters and Tutors followed by prize giving and celebration in the Bourne Hall. The event will celebrate the transition from Habs Boys to Habs Alumni, and from Habs parents to Habs former parents, but it will remind all that while they are ending a link with the School curriculum, they remain very much part of the Habs community. Please would all parents indicate their and their son’s attendance at these events and their purchase of the Year Book via the parent portal early in the Summer Term.
Routine Reminders Staff News New Starters: Nicole Brown Pippa Lewis Fiona McEwan-Cox Jason Nunn Ben Taylor
Management Accountant Grounds Department Head of Academic Support ICT Director HR Partner
Leavers: Richard Mussett leaves us after an incredible 32 years of loyal service. He has chosen to take early retirement to spend some very valued time with his lovely wife Annie. During his time at Habs Richard has seen many changes and has always been the rock of the department. A kind, helpful and approachable person, he is popular with parents, staff and boys alike. His attitude to work, love of a good chat and depth of knowledge will be sorely missed. We wish him every happiness in his retirement and hope both he and Annie enjoy this new chapter in their lives.
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J Suchak and T Lunn - April 2019