Skylight - Summer 2020 by Haberdashers' Boys' School

Summer 2020

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Featured in this issue...

Dawson Prize Assembly

DT department produces 3,500+ PPE National Youth Theatre Success

Sports Reviewannual Habs celebrates Diversity Week 2020

Inter-House Challenges

Routine Reminders

The Headmasterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

End of Term Letter

Dear Parents, This academic year has seen the best of times and the worst of times. Just as it has been worldwide, this has been a time of great uncertainty for the entire Habs community. However, what follows in this edition of Skylight celebrates the resilience, positivity and creativity of our pupils and staff, who have adapted superbly to these quite unique circumstances. I have been enormously proud of them all and have genuinely enjoyed watching them rise to the challenges and do things they did not believe they could, or would ever have to, do. What follows is a much-deserved celebration of so much that is good. Yet it is, nonetheless, bittersweet.

of our Design and Technology department, who worked tirelessly to make PPE for front line workers, or the hours devoted to volunteering by so many pupils and staff, deserve underlining. There have been terrific academic successes, too, with three of our leading physicists selected for the most prestigious courses in the country, as well as Year 9 Dawson Projects and Lower Sixth Aske Projects, which were truly remarkable in their quality. The Frontiers and Horizons Programmes forced us to look beyond the syllabus and to step out of our comfort zones; these are just two of many initiatives that will, I suspect, outlast the current crisis.

It would be entirely wrong not to acknowledge the very real hardship and loss that so many in our community have suffered during the Covid outbreak; it has taken lives and livelihoods and changed the landscape for so many. Nor should we overlook the atrocious murder of George Floyd and the subsequent movement which has highlighted injustices worldwide, including within our education system. The concerns that have been raised about prejudice and privilege are not unique to Habs. However, as a school that prides itself on diversity and inclusion, we must resolve to do what is necessary to address these and live up to the promise of a school in which all pupils, regardless of difference, feel valued and welcome.

With cricket and tennis off the table, our young men took to baking, reading, drawing, photography and filming themselves playing music or delivering monologues and Shakespeare by Heart. Their ease, confidence and flair in front of the camera (talents that seem to have evaded me) leave me wondering whether the coming years will see an abnormally large gravitation towards the media or stage from this generation of Haberdashers; they have been a revelation!

Throughout this period of challenge, there have been any number of superb highlights worthy of celebration. The tremendous work

Perhaps the greatest success of the term, however, features very little within these pages. It is merely the fact that pupils and staff simply found ways to carry on, to keep learning, to keep smiling and to make the best of the situation. Some will have fared better than others and we are under no illusion that the coming academic year will require a great deal of consolidation.

As I write these words, the senior teams across both schools at Elstree are working hard to interpret the latest Government guidelines regarding reopening in September. Our strong intent is to be fully open and to resume normal teaching, although life at school (just as life beyond school) is unlikely to feel like normal for some time yet. For my part, I am enormously grateful for your continued support and encouragement. I am looking forward to the new academic year enormously and wish everyone the very best for a little rest over the summer holiday.

Gus Lock

Headmaster

Habs Heroes

3,500+ Design and Technology department produces

Personal Protective Equipment for the NHS The entire Habs community is proud of its Design and Technology department, made up of Mr Vincent, Mr Hardman, Mr Roncarati, Mr Ryan and Mr Hughes-Caley, who managed to produce over 3,500 pieces of PPE for the NHS. Additional staff members from across different departments at Habs also volunteered to help in the assembly of the essential protective equipment. School Nurse Ms M McGrath was also called up and worked on the front line at Watford General Hospital. She has since returned to Habs. A huge thanks to all involved in this crucial service, which helped so many, particularly over April and May.

Face shields were made for: • Homerton University Hospital • The Nightingale Hospital • National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery • The Royal London Hospital • Longrove Surgery GP Practice, Barnet • Barnet Hospital, COVID-19 response team (a parent at Habs running a COVID-19 Assessment Unit) • Northwick Park Hospital (a parent at Habs who is a Consultant Vascular Surgeon • Watford General Hospital • Princess Alice Hospice, Esher • Elliott Hall Medical Centre • Mid Essex Hospital, NHS Trust, Chelmsford • Elms Surgery, Watford • Milton Keynes University Hospital • Schopwick Surgery, Elstree • Queen’s Hospital, Romford • Torrington Park Surgery, North Finchley • Westgate Healthcare, Borehamwood • Luton and Dunstable University Hospital • Royal Marsden Hospital • Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leytonstone • Bridgewater Surgery, Watford • Princess Alexandra, Harlow

NHS staff using Habs PPE

Habs Heroes Science department donated supplies to local GPs The Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Science department has donated essential supplies, including goggles, sterilising fluid and paper towels, to GP services in Hemel Hempstead, Harpenden, St Albans and Hertford. The photo below shows a nurse from The Village Surgery in Harpenden distributing supplies from Habs to another GP surgery.

Thanks also to our pupils!

Awards and Achievements Virtual Keith Dawson Prize Assembly

Keith Dawson Project Prize Winners 2020:

Wednesday 17 June 2020 marked the fourth Keith Dawson Independent Learning Project Prize-Giving Assembly, albeit virtually. The Dawson Project provides an opportunity for Year 9 boys at Habs to pursue a subject of special interest. Over a period of five months pupils research, engage with, and delve into a question of their choosing before presenting their project in any format they think suitable.

Humanities

Haberdashers’ students are rightly known for their intellectual energy. It is this fact, along with the passion that Habs boys possess to explore new ideas, concepts and theories and to discuss these with their peers, that is fundamental to the vision of the project. This year’s prize winners reflect the outstanding quality of projects, academic engagement and intellectual accomplishments of our Year 9 students. It is especially pleasing to see projects in fields not usually considered on a Year 9 curriculum, such as Psychology, Sports Science, Economics and Law. We hope that this spirit of enquiry and the sense of achievement it brings will stay with our pupils for years to come.

Slava How did the battle of Stalingrad become the turning point of world war two? (History) Yonel Is a ‘global country’ feasible? (Politics) Aryan How will AI affect Religion and Morals? (T&P) Nikhil The World’s Population is Increasing; Resources are depleting. Was Thanos Right? (Geography)

Maths/Economics

Rishi Can technical analysis help your investment trading? (Economics) Sai Mathematical Paradoxes: Friends or Foes? (Maths)

Science

Kavin Is Synesthesia the “Sixth Sense”? (Biology) Sohan An investigation into the significance of HHV6 in Catatonia and Mental Health Disorders (Biology) James How to best optimise performance in endurance sport through nutrition (Sports Science)

Creatives

Christopher Composing a Fugue (Music)

Computing and ICT

Fraser Is Jazz once again the music of the people? (Music)

Asher What does the future of AI hold for us - Can we trust it? Faraz What significant influences will Artificial Intelligence establish in regards concerning our jobs, businesses and economies?

Awards and Achievements Shreyas selected for Isaac Physics Senior Physics Challenge The School is very excited to announce that Shreyas (Lower Sixth) has been selected to participate in the Isaac Physics Senior Physics Challenge Summer School Competition, run by the University of Cambridge. Places on this prestigious course, which will run virtually this year, are awarded for commitment and excellence in problem solving, and are limited to some 40 to 50 Year 12 physics students from across the United Kingdom. Shreyas will surely excel as the Summer School takes a deep dive into university-level problems in quantum mechanics. Congratulations, Shreyas!

Awards and Achievements Habs physicists to represent UK Having achieved Gold Awards in the British Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad respectively – as well as Round 2 of the British Physics Olympiad - Josh and James (both Upper Sixth) attended online training and selection camps this Easter run by the University of Oxford. As a result of this, we are delighted to report that Josh has been selected for the UK International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad team, and James has been selected as a reserve for the UK International Physics Olympiad team. Many congratulations to them both!

This photo was taken in front of Aldenham House before the campus was closed, well before the lockdown, and was used in another article.

Varun sings in five languages on radio As part of a quarantine home performances’ programmes broadcast by Radio ARA Luxembourg, Varun (Year 11) recently had the opportunity to record a number of songs. The genres varied from Indian Carnatic music and Indian film songs to popular Western songs from the Shows, including a piece from the play Les Misérables. Varun particularly enjoyed putting together the ensemble of songs, spanning five languages and exploring diverse musical styles Visit our website (https://bit.ly/30QcMIi) to listen to Varun’s segment on Radio ARA Luxembourg.

Awards and Achievements National Youth Theatre Success The School is delighted to share the news that both Manish (Year 11) and Sam (Year 10) have been accepted into the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, after successfully auditioning earlier this year. This is a remarkable achievement, with over 6,000 young people between 14-26 auditioning this year! The National Youth Theatre has produced some of the most celebrated actors, directors and writers in the country and will provide a wonderful opportunity not only for the boys to challenge themselves and receive training from industry professionals but also a chance to work with other amazingly diverse and talented young people from around the country. Congratulations to Manish and Sam!

Awards and Achievements Pupil named Volunteer of the Year Jack in Year 9 has been recognised as a Volunteer of the Year, working with Project Impact. Project Impact is a Jewish youth volunteering programme that Jack has worked with throughout this year. He has worked with a number of charities, including Beit Halochem, a charity that helps rehabilitate war veterans; Crisis, a charity dedicated to helping end homelessness; Jewish Blind and Disabled; and Norwood, a charity for helping those with learning disabilities. Sessions ran on a Sunday afternoon and included activities such as learning basic sign language, making posters for Beit Halochem and running a fair on Mitzvah Day. Throughout lockdown, the programme continued to run, as Jack listened to guest speakers and made baked goods for key workers. The School is proud of Jack for making such a great contribution to the local community.

New College of the Humanities Essay Competition 2020 Many congratulations to Ahan (Lower Sixth) who has been awarded third prize in the Economics category of this year’s New College of the Humanities Essay Competition. This year’s essay title was: ‘Which problems will economists need to solve within the next 20 years and will artificial intelligence help them?’ This is a great achievement by Ahan, reflecting his great dedication and tremendous capacity for independent work and thought.

Kavin supports Local Food Banks Kavin (Lower Sixth) took the initiative to deliver leaflets to every letterbox in his local neighbourhood asking for food bank donations. He then started a collection round, visiting his neighbour’s homes and gathering enough donations to fill a van. Finally, he made a trip to the local food bank, delivering the donations to those most in need. This helped families in the local area that relied on food banks get through the difficult times they’ve been facing. Kavin would like to urge others to do the same, stating ‘A few cans of beans and spaghetti may not mean much to you, but

it’ll mean the most to someone in your local community.’

Awards and Achievements Habs launches Frontiers Programme This term, Frontiers has been a programme of live online sessions providing our students with a greater insight into the area of study they are hoping to read at university, while also aiming to broaden their intellectual horizons and support their pastoral wellbeing. Over 70 tutorials and 50 online courses were made available and over 40 talks were given by Old Haberdashers, who were able to offer advice and talk about their recent experiences at university. Covering such topics as included managing work-life balance, mental health and wellbeing, and relationships, these sessions really were invaluable. Many thanks to all involved.

Year 8 baking Year 8 have been learning about microbiology in their Biology lessons. Part of their work was looking at how yeast can be used to bake bread. Here are some of the results. They look absolutely delicious - well done Year 8!

Awards and Achievements Prizewinning flower photography Congratulations to James in Year 8 for winning the School’s photo competition for the month for May!

Prizewinning portrait photography Congratulations also to Saul in Year 7 for winning the School’s photo competition for month of June with a portrait of his brother reading!

Lunar eclipse photography Over the past few months, we’ve seen a boom in entries for our photo competition. Yash (Year 10) recently captured these photos of the lunar eclipse, adapting his DSLR camera for a bit of astrophotography!

Awards and Achievements School publishes two magazines Over the past few weeks, the Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s History and Theology and Philosophy departments have been busy putting their publications together.

Visit https://bit.ly/3fkoQ9G to view Timeline, the History department magazine.

CCF inspection winner Congratulations to Cdt. Sai in Year 10, our recent remote CCF (Combined Cadet Force) inspection winner.

Visit https://bit.ly/3gsln8D to view Veritas, the Theology and Philosophy department journal.

Events Horizons Week “Horizons Week has been my highlight of lockdown and I have loved every moment” Charlie (Year 7) From Monday 22 June, the boys in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 took a break from remote learning and positively engaged with the Horizons Week programme. The week was a unique opportunity for pupils to learn something new and move out of their comfort zone. The diverse programme celebrated the very best of our Haberdashers’ community; enabling staff, parents and students to share and showcase their interests and passions to inspire our boys to broaden their horizons. Over the course of the week: • Every pupil was given the opportunity to ‘speak out’ and develop their oracy skills. • Over half of the staff body celebrated their love of reading with every student through the reading symposium. • Over 300 of our students learnt how to save a life from a masterclass delivered by two parent consultants. • Staff, parents and students delivered over 30 masterclasses and over 20 virtual trips/tours to broaden our boys’ horizons. • Our Senior students ran and hosted the first ever virtual, student-led Habs MUN debate with over 450 Years 7-9 students making the most of this opportunity. For many staff and students, Horizons Week was the highlight of the past 13 weeks and our thanks go to everyone who was involved in making it such a success. Here’s what our community had to say: “Horizons Week has been my highlight of lockdown and I have loved every moment - from the Masterclasses and Virtual Trips to the Habs MUN today.” Charlie (7J) “Horizons week was a fabulous week. It enabled us to be able to take a break from normal lessons and enjoy an entertaining range of activities regarding topics ranging from Diversity to The John Muir Trail to the Habs MUN. Each day was truly an experience worth treasuring.” Evan (7M) “Thank you so much for today and the week. It has been amazing. I have really enjoyed it and I will consider Habs MUN for the future!” Frederick (7J) “We just wanted to say how much we enjoyed doing the masterclass on CPR for the boys last week. We are most impressed by the engagement and interest shown by both the groups. The questions they asked were relevant and demonstrated their inquisitive mind.” Ambalika and Shyam Das “I loved it and think it was a great success and should happen every year in some form or other.” Mr Roncarati (Teacher of DT: Bike maintenance masterclass)

Events School Diversity Week 2020 “Why a School Diversity Week? Because it asks us to consider others From Monday 22 June, Habs celebrated Diversity Week as part of the School’s enrichment, education and awareness of issues about race, gender, identity and our values as a community. The prime aim has been to reflect upon the Black Lives Matter campaign. The School also affirms support for LGBTQ+ freedoms, hence the logos of Black Lives Matter, Progress Pride and Stonewall School Champions alongside each other this week.

The major events were the two assemblies on anti-racism, given by pupils to their peers in the Middle School and the Sixth Form. These pupils - and one former School Captain - were exceptional in their presentations; frank, honest, dignified and composed. Tamilore Awosile (OH 2019), Dayo (Year 12), Malcolm (Year 10), Tolu (Year 13), Abim (Year 10), Jamar (Year 12), Samadi (Year 9) and Jonathan (Year 11) deserve our heartfelt thanks and respect. The week started with a ‘Speak Out’ competition for the whole of Year 7 and Year 8. After an opening Zoom talk on why we support and promote diversity, pupils had the day to create and record 90 second ‘speak outs’ on the challenges, benefits or heroes of diversity. The calibre of the entries was incredible. The finale was a brilliant event and the quality of public speaking and content was very high. The winner was Freddie in Joblings. His speech was original, articulate and persuasive. And he did it from his garden, using examples from nature! The ever popular HabsDashGo! was transformed into ‘RainbowDashGo!’, as it has been before.

Each of the School’s House Captains led by example, running 3.5km to kickstart the campaign with a determination to show that sport is everyone’s game at Habs!

Events School Diversity Week 2020 and where we stand on issues and freedom of expression.” There was also a separate HabsDashGo! session dedicated to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Other events during the week included protest poetry writing, poster design and a fantastic ‘Heart and Home’ Cookery Club task bringing together favourite and meaningful recipes. Resources for reading and educating ourselves about Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ support have further enhanced understanding and commitment. Form time throughout the week has been spent reflecting on what diversity and inclusion means and we will continue our efforts into the future. Habs can, and will, do more!

Events Inaugural House Bake Off A large number of boys and staff competed in the inaugural House Bake Off competition, with entries including pain au chocolat, macaroons, stir frys, cookies dedicated to the NHS and dishes from around the world. In true Haberdashersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fashion, the standard was extremely high and competitive. It was lovely to see the faces of those who submitted photos smiling and proud of their exploits in the kitchen and it gave a sense of community in these difficult times. The winning House was Russells and the Star Baker Award went to Rafferty (Year 9) and Nicole Brown for making an incredible replica of Aldenham House out of gingerbread!

Events Book Club: Year 11 read with Prep/Pre-Prep boys Year 11 pupils volunteered to take part in a new reading initiative (‘Book Club’) with boys from the Pre-Prep and Prep Schools. There was a tremendous response, and 47 Year 11 pupils volunteered to give their time one evening a week to virtually read along with a group of younger boys via Zoom. The demand from the Pre-Prep and Prep School students was incredible, with 117 boys signing up for the Book Club. The sessions proved a great success and there have been a lot of positive emails from parents of the younger boys thanking the Year 11 pupils for volunteering their time and reading expertise.

Zoom session with Paediatric Surgeon It was a real privilege to listen to Mr Alexander, a parent and consultant neonatal and paediatric surgeon, as he ran an online Zoom session for pupils of all ages, as well as staff, to help them understand the science behind COVID-19 - and why it had caused a pandemic. After his talk, Mr Alexander fielded questions from students, ranging from ‘is it safe to take in your shopping?’ to ‘the complexity of herd immunity’. This was a really rewarding discussion and pupils left the meeting feeling far more informed. Many thanks to Mr Alexander for giving up his time to speak to Habs pupils.

Events Habs boys mark VE Day from home Pupils created some wonderful music to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day from home. The work they have put into this is superb and certainly fitting for this special occasion. Please visit https://bit.ly/2WOI7I7 to listen to a range of pieces: these include Alfie’s original composition that sampled Winston Churchill’s speech that was broadcast from Downing Street on 8 May 1945, as well as Nathan’s vocal performance of “We’ll Meet Again”, which was famously performed by Vera Lynn, the “Forces’ Sweetheart”. Here’s a photo from the Habs Airfix Club, which is led by Louis (Lower Sixth), as they held a Zoom meeting:

Student Council Zoom meeting Even during the lockdown, the Student Council has been meeting regularly, as this photo shows. A special mention must go to Daniel who, with his excellent Aldenham House background, looks like he is fielding at point with his back to the action on the cricket square!

Events Virtual Questioning with Local MP The Habs Politics Society hosted their first remote, online event on Thursday 7 May 2020. Dean Russell, who was elected Conservative MP for the bellwether seat of Watford in December 2019, spoke about how the Government had to react quickly to the health and economic challenges of COVID-19, as well as what he had seen of the local impact as a volunteer with the Salvation Army and at Watford General Hospital. He paid tribute to the heroic work of NHS staff and the strong sense of community he has witnessed in Watford. The School are grateful to Mr Russell for giving his time generously to answer questions from our pupils - and to everyone who helped arrange the event.

Ishaan delivers two talks at London Climate Action Week Ishaan (Lower Sixth) was invited to speak at the Mayor of London’s ‘Climate Action Week’ about efforts in tackling modern slavery and human trafficking. He focused on ‘No Poverty’ and ‘Climate Action’.

3. Put pressure on businesses and companies to become more sustainable. This involves urging them to become eco-friendlier and also making sure that workers in the supply chains are treated and paid fairly.

He explored the links between poverty and human trafficking, highlighting that: “traffickers will prey on vulnerability and often, that is economic vulnerability… Especially during this COVID-19 crisis, we can see that people are becoming increasingly economically vulnerable and traffickers are taking advantage of this.”

4. Buy second hand clothing or even share, exchange and borrow clothes with friends and family. In doing so, not only are you reducing your carbon footprint, but you are also playing a part in countering the fast fashion industry.

In his second talk, he discussed that the links between poverty and human trafficking are not just occurring in faraway communities and countries, but also here in the UK: “27% of victims referred to the UK Modern Slavery Helpline in 2019 were UK nationals themselves”. Throughout the week, Ishaan provided the audience with four calls to action that they can take to tackle both human trafficking and climate change today: 1. Educate yourself and raise awareness about these two issues and the links between them. 2. Write to your local councillors to adopt a robust strategy to tackle modern slavery and pollution on a local level.

Ishaan concluded his last talk by urging young people across the globe to take action on these very important issues. He said: “Do not be afraid to speak out if you see something that needs to be changed.” The School is very proud of Ishaan!

Events Great to see pupils from the Lower School reading at home! “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” - Dr Seuss

Art, Music and Drama Weekly Art Challenge The Art department has been setting a weekly creative challenge for Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9. Each week they are set a theme and encouraged to create an artwork based on that title. It is entirely open to the boys as to how they wish to interpret it and what materials they wish to use. The themes so far have been ‘Fantasy/ Surreal/Sci Fi’, ‘Animals’, ‘View from my window’ and ‘Portrait’. Here are some examples of the wonderful creativity and imagination that has gone into their work.

Art, Music and Drama

Inter-House Art Competition a Huge Success In an exciting new addition to the inter-House competitions, pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 have had the opportunity to enter a second Inter House Art competition. Using 5cm by 5cm squares, Year 7 and 8 pupils demonstrated their keen observational skills and quick pace to draw 20 and 30 objects respectively. Year 9 took on an origami challenge and drew complex paper forms, expertly capturing the light, folds, shadows and dimensions. We also saw entries from staff, including Mr Handley, Ms Revens and Mr J Teague. Congratulations to the overall winners, Russells, and to all who entered.

Art, Music and Drama Music Festival 2020 The Music Festival has continued to be one of the musical highlights of the year, and despite lockdown we had over 130 individual performances submitted, showing that music-making is still going strong within our community. The music department has been bowled over by the quantity and quality of performances of boys who have really embraced this opportunity to share their musical talents during this lockdown period. Performances varied from Classical to Popular to Jazz, from singing to whistling to rapping, from exam pieces to composed performances to 5-part arrangements, from US to UK to India. The diversity, passion and talent has been incredible. Year

Winner by Runners-Up Year

Year 7

Viraj

Toby & Jonny, Freddie, Tom, Nathan

Year 8

Alex

Dylan, Robert, Parsa, Joshua

Year 9

William

Joseph, Dylan

Year 10

Louis

Robin, Armaan, Christopher, Thomas, Anurag, Abim, Yash

exceptional and that it was extremely difficult to pick just one winner. However, he was won over by the “technically polished” and “truly dynamic performance” of Louis in Year 10, who played Pieces One and Three from Stravinsky’s ‘Three Pieces for Solo Clarinet’ Winner of the Music Festival & Young Musician of the Year 2020: Louis (Year 10)

Winner of the Audience Prize: Abim (Year 10)

Congratulations to all the finalists (above) who put on a fantastic musical display, showing confidence, expression, maturity and passion. The musical expertise of our external adjudicator Iain Carnegie was extremely useful to decide the overall winner and to award the accolade of the Young Musician of the Year 2020. He agreed that the standard was

Winner of the House Music Shield: Russells House A huge congratulations to Louis, Abim, Russells and all our finalists - well done!

Habs Jazz Podcast The Habs jazz community has been busy adding more to their Soundcloud channel each week. To listen now as you read the rest of Skylight, visit https://soundcloud.com/user-502479741.

Art, Music and Drama Actor Dominic West enters Habs Monologue Competition Actor Dominic West (The Wire, Les Misérables, Tomb Raider, The Forgotten, The Affair, Brassic, and more) left a message for the Habs InterHouse Monologue Competition! Please visit https://bit.ly/2Vla0Yg to listen to his entry.

Year 7 illuminated poems Mr Dunne asked his Year 7 English class to take one of their own poems and transform it into an ‘illuminated’ or ‘kinetic’ poem. Below is a wonderful entry from one of his pupils, Laksh. It is called ‘Counting My Blessings’ and is an upbeat piece about what Laksh has been grateful for during the challenging recent months. Listen and watch it here: https://bit.ly/2N0r3Km

Shakespeare Off By Heart Competition 2020

As part of the Shakespeare Off By Heart Competition, organised by the English department staff, pupils in Year 7 were asked to create films of themselves performing one of Shakespeare’s speeches. The results were joyous - the sheer endeavour and creativity of the boys, along with willingness to not play it safe, was wonderful to see! All the pupils should be really proud of the work they produced! Please see our website for a film of some of the shortlisted entries: https://bit.ly/3elycAE

Sport Summer Inter-House Challenge The Sports department were delighted to announce their Inter-House challenges for the summer term encouraging students to stay active during lockdown whilst earning points for their House. The overarching inter-house challenge saw students â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Go the Distanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; walking or running as far as they could for an hour a day.

It has been wonderful to see students, staff and even parents joining in. Weekly challenges gave students the opportunity to earn bonus points with press-ups, planks, keepy-uppies and a cycling challenge. With exceptional efforts from all students, notably Saaj (Year 7) and Joshua (Year 7), Russells have been taken into an early lead. We look forward to receiving more entries, releasing new weekly challenges and to eagerly watch the rest of the challenge play out!

The Sports Newsletter The Sports Newsletter delivers weekly updates, academic resource information, skill and practical challenges and access to vast amounts of content to ensure students are keeping active and healthy in both body and mind. With links to bespoke fitness programmes designed by Habs PE staff for each year group, along with links to external resources from trained professionals, the newsletter encourages and emphasises the importance of staying active during this testing time.

Students were also provided with mindfulness and yoga exercises and tutorials. The newsletter has been hugely successful gaining 1,900 hits for the first edition!

Sport Fitness Programmes Support for those wishing to follow a more structured approach to their fitness was provided via links to suggested 4-6 week training plans.

encouraging boys to try different activities throughout the period, rather than being too sports specific.

Guidance here has been based on a range of fitness components, recognising that pupils will have differing levels of access to space and equipment. The PE department has deliberately maintained a more generic approach,

Believe Perform: Sports Psychology and Wellbeing During this time of remote learning the School has extended our relationship with Believe Perform. The platform provides full access to a range of tutorials, athlete support and infographics based on developing the mental side of sports performance and psychological wellbeing more widely.

Introducing our Habs Elite It has been particularly pleasing that the PE department has been able to raise the profile of some senior sports performers and captains through the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Meet Our Eliteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; video presentation series. The Habs Elite describe their greatest sporting successes, provide a description of their sporting CV along with tips to stay fit during lockdown.

Sport Games Afternoons “I really enjoyed doing sports outside in my garden. It wasn’t as good as school, but I can manage.” - Year 8 Student Remote games afternoons were a great success this term. Students were delivered a programme spanning five sports and provided with fitness, skills and a tactical analysis exercise along with a wellbeing survey to fill out each week.

Monitoring Student Wellbeing The inclusion of a weekly wellbeing survey has helped us to track engagement, monitor pupil responses to exercise, understand what sleep patterns look like and give us data which we could use to either follow up on individuals or highlight areas of concern. The focus on both physical and mental wellbeing has underpinned all that we do, with additional resources on mindfulness, yoga and healthy eating all featuring regularly.

Fitness/Skills Challenges

Sports Webinars

Games afternoons also provided students with the opportunity to try out skill and fitness activities set for them through the weekly newsletter. From juggling to cricket, and basketball to hockey skills, videos and pictures flooded in of students attempting the challenges.

GCSE and A-level Sports Science students from both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools have been involved in a series of seminars led by staff and external speakers. Weekly Zoom sessions have covered topics such as cognitive inhibition training, hydration myths, sports technology, sport psychology and being an Olympic athlete. The sessions were very well attended and provided in-depth discussion of topics beyond GCSE and A-level specifications.

Prep and Pre-Prep Nine Habs boys in top 3.7% of ‘500 Words’ competition entries BBC Radio 2 and Oxford Dictionaries for Children teamed up for ‘500 Words’ – the nationwide competition to find the most talented young writers in the UK. Nine Habs pupils entered the competition. The School is delighted to announce that Aarav, Connor and Ish (Year 3), Aiden, Bartholomew, Saish and Shaurya (Year 4), Jacob (Year 6), and Ray (Year 8) have been shortlisted and are now in round 2 of the competition. Only 5,000 write-ups were shortlisted from the 135,000 entries in total - which means that these nine boys are in the top 3.7% nationally! The School would like to congratulate the pupils on this fantastic achievement.

Matt Lucas gives message to Prep Old Haberdasher Matt Lucas had a message for Prep pupils in an assembly from the end of April. Sadly, no rendition of #ThankYouBakedPotato. Maybe next time! Watch the video here: https://vimeo. com/412266364

Pupils write Head of Prep’s blog In a recent blog, Head of Preparatory School Mr Rossetti introduces guest writers Ravi, Rahil and Alex in Year 6. The boys talk about their return to Elstree. Read the blog on our website: https://bit.ly/2AWpon3

Prep and Pre-Prep House Distance Challenge Boys from Years 1 to 6 recently took part in a House Distance Competition. By walking, running or cycling as far as they could over a period of seven days, they â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;collectedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; kilometres for their House. The effort and motivation shown by all pupils was only topped by the enjoyment they experienced taking part. Collectively, the boys managed to travel an incredible 3,913.29km, with Georges pipping the other Houses to top spot, contributing 1,239.04km. Whether boys used this a fitness challenge or a chance to spend some family time outside in the sun, it has been fantastic to see so many taking part. Well done, Prep boys!

Prep and Pre-Prep Mini Olympics House Competition Pre-Prep and Prep School pupils spent the past week completing Olympic-style events both at home and in school. The five events were selected to test speed, endurance and power, allowing pupils to push to their physical limits. Every pupil who submitted a score earned points for their House, and in the end every single point made a difference.

Congratulations to Andrews who narrowly pipped Patricks to the top spot. Well done to all the pupils who took part and a special well done must go to our Victores Ludorum: Year 1: Mylo Year 2: Reeday Year 3: Lewis Year 4: Francis Year 5: Lani Year 6: Samuel

Prep and Pre-Prep Sunflowers and broad beans Ms Peck gave all the Pre-Prep boys sunflower seeds and broad beans to plant and grow for the period of lockdown, as part of their remote learning. They were asked to keep a diary and monitor the growth of their seeds together with labelled diagrams and measurements of the stem.

Who was to know that they are such a green fingered bunch of boys? The boys were very responsible - they took such great care of their seeds and ensured they had plenty of sunlight and water to enable their seeds to thrive and grow. They monitored the seeds, updated their diaries regularly and took the challenge very seriously indeed!

When the plants grew tall enough, the boys supported the stems with sticks to keep them strong. The boys found watching their seeds grow from tiny seeds into flourishing plants extremely rewarding!

Prep and Pre-Prep Year 2 leafy learners The Year 2 boys continued their â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;leafy learnersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; wild adventures during remote learning. Following weekly video lessons, they explored den and nest building, smelly potion making, pebble bug creations and kept wild pets [snails and woodlice]. They delighted everyone with their photos and videos as well as reporting on their discoveries.

Year 2 blend Geography with Art One of the highlights of the Summer term for Year 2 has always been their annual visit to Brighton in order to study a seaside environment. As this could not happen this year, the boys continued their topic work remotely and they all should be applauded for their amazing work which involved learning about geographical features of coasts, beach formations and seaside buildings. They were able to create some fantastic Art work using oil pastels and water colours.

Prep and Pre-Prep Creative and resilient Year 1s The Year 1 boys showed great resilience and creativity during lockdown. Their determined and enthusiastic spirit is admirable, and we are very proud of them. Look at some of their fantastic projects!

Year 3 make dens

The Habs Community Matt Lucas and The Class of 2020 In addition to the many fond farewells from their teachers and all the staff at Haberdashers, The Class of 2020 have received a special valedictory message from none other than Matt Lucas (OH 1990). Recorded while in lockdown, Matt’s message congratulated Y13 on successfully negotiating a Habs’ education from whatever age they joined the School and exhorted them to come and say `hello’ were they to see him in the future. But not all at once! In the Summer Skylight we would of course normally be including a report and photographs for this term’s Founder’s Celebration Evening. Due to lockdown this has not taken place, but we look forward to welcoming back to the School the Class of 2020 as soon as possible after the summer holidays for this very special occasion.

HabsCommunity HabsCommunity was launched in December 2017, and two and a half years later we have over 1,700 Old Haberdashers registered on the network and it is still growing.

them to use The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School’s series of networks, spanning over 25 countries and 5 continents to contact and build on career and social connections.

It is a free platform that allows OHs as well as former staff to reconnect with old classmates and colleagues, keep in touch with friends, share photos, hear about reunions and find out what is going on at Habs.

If you are an OH and have not registered yet, please do so at www.habscommunity. org. It’s quick to sign up either via LinkedIn, Facebook or email.

The site offers opportunities for mentoring and professional advice with over 70% of our members willing to offer help. The burgeoning Business directory allows OHs to highlight their business interests and offer bespoke services specifically to the community. It also enables

OHs in the Community The efforts of numerous members of the wider Haberdashers community to assist others during the pandemic and these uncertain times, has been remarkable. In late March, the HABS Foundation put out an appeal for Old Haberdashers to assist those more at risk than themselves who might be shielding or in quarantine. The response has been truly humbling and since then up and down the country OHs have been queuing at 7am at the local supermarket to buy groceries for

their vulnerable neighbours; collecting and delivering prescriptions to those who would be unable to do so themselves, making phone calls to other OHs to check that they are comfortable and being looked after and gently encouraging those in isolation to participate in Zoom calls with other OHs (which ultimately they really enjoy and appreciate).

The Habs Community OH Spring Clean Being aware that many will have been using this enforced time of self-isolation for belated Spring Cleaning and general clearing out, another project in lockdown has been the gathering of memories, photographs and other pieces of memorabilia to do with the School from the 1930s right up to the present day. Photographs of special guest speakers, recollections of theatrical and musical productions over the years, sporting successes and disasters and reflections on fondly remembered former teachers have all be sent in, along with fascinating accounts of the development of the School estate at Elstree and schooldays at Westbere Road and Flower Lane (where the Prep. School was situated until 1961). And then there are the tales of the Royal Visits. The number of OHs who met HRH Princess Margaret when she came to the School (overleaf) must surely rival the multitude who witnessed `Dr Who’ or `The (original) Avengers’ being filmed in the School’s grounds in the 1960s and ‘70s.

The Habs Community

Summer Activity School

Staff News LEAVERS Marcus Baird has been with us for four years, and within that time has had a positive impact on the Geography department, the Meadows house team and the wider life of the school. He upholds and insists upon the highest standards, conducts himself with an air of calm and patience, and is well respected by staff and students. Within the department he has contributed to developing some excellent teaching materials and has been an invaluable support to colleagues with department activities, including helping to lead two trips to Iceland and numerous field trips. He has also enjoyed the experience of field days with the CCF Army section. A keen sportsman, he has spent many hours with the U13 1st XI cricketers and contributed to the squash programme. He has also participated in staff social sport where his talent for squash has tested others to their limits. He will be missed when he leaves to start his new life in Cambridge. Maria Bousiopoulou has assessed, taught, mentored and advocated for our pupils since 2013 in her role as Specialist Teacher and Assessor, as well as leading the Academic Support Department for a term. Whether revealing the magic of metacognition for Years 7 and 8 in Key Skills, liaising with parents about their sons’ progress or guiding staff through the intricacies of the exam board regs, Maria’s calm, assured approach has helped the Habs’ community to understand how learning really works for people with SEND. Maria joined Habs following an international career involving shipping magnates and finance; the diplomatic skills (using her four languages) she acquired there have been put to great use in education. Moreover, her support of pupils’ individual learning will last them a lifetime. Maria’s commitment to the whole school is evident in her successful Year 12 reading buddy course helping Prep School boys and her research-driven staff training on AD(H)D, Asperger’s and other areas of neurodiversity. Although sad to see Mrs B leave, we wish her all the very best at UCS; we will miss her humour, advice and kindness. Wassila Boutchich has spent three years with us as a French assistant, for which we are very lucky. Our pupils became extremely confident French speakers thanks to Wassila, and she went above and beyond: accompanying three exchanges to France and preparing pupils for the inter-school debating and drama competitions. Habs has been so successful in these events over the years thanks to her. We wish Wassila all the very best for the future. Mark Catley leaves us this summer after a teaching career which has spanned over thirty years. Mark served as Head of Economics at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Girls’ School from 2000 to 2015 before continuing as Head of Economics at the Boys’ School. He has led Economics with enormous skill, dedication and diligence as evidenced by the phenomenal success his department has achieved. We recognise Mark as a true gentleman whose love of teaching, his humanity, wisdom, warmth, patience and unrivalled technical knowledge have been truly inspirational to generations of pupils and all of those who have proudly worked alongside him. We will miss Mark very much; he is one of the most kind and generous people one could hope to encounter. We wish Mark a retirement full of happiness and fulfilment which includes plenty of time playing golf and enjoying cricket, two sports which we know are very close to his heart.

Staff News Stephen Charlwood joined the Maths department in September 1989 having previously taught at Hemel Hempstead school and Malvern College. Aside from teaching a generation of Haberdashers up to Further Maths A level, Stephen has coached football teams for 27 years and also ran the Duke of Edinburgh provision at Habs for his first four years at school. Stephen’s main co-curricular involvement however, has been Cricket. Having coached 3rd XI and 2nd XI in his early years, Stephen took over from Doug Yeabsley as Master in charge of Cricket in 1994, a role he has held for 26 years. Apart from the annual Devon Tours, Stephen has accompanied Cricket tours to the Far East, Sri Lanka and South Africa as well as Football tours to Germany, Holland and Italy. He has also helped out in recent years on MFL exchanges and Classics trips. The Ashes will be a much quieter time in the Maths office in years to come! We wish Mr Charlwood a long and happy retirement and hope to see him back at Habs in the near future. Rachel Edgell, Aske-Princeton Fellow (Economics) has been with us since September as our AskePrinceton fellow. She quickly became an integral part of the Economics Department working with a variety of groups and colleagues wherever she could assist most. Her help with access arrangements for departmental tests was hugely valuable. In addition, Rachel has delivered Enhancement and Enrichment courses on applications to US universities and Anthropology. She gave up many hours outside the classroom to assist individual applicants. She has also worked with dedication as co-tutor to L6M1. Rachel will be remaining in the UK to work in the field of US university applications and leaves with our warmest wishes for the future. James Emery has proved himself a capable practitioner who, through his warmth, kindness and great sense of humour, has that essential ability to make the boys feel at ease. A science graduate, he has demonstrated remarkable versatility which has allowed him to make a substantial impact in the Prep School, right across the curriculum. Despite his initial reservations, he has found a new appreciation for football and rugby as a Games teacher and deserves great credit for running the Prep’s chess provision so stoically, during which time the boys have won numerous national awards. Undoubtedly James’ biggest contribution to the Prep School has been in the outdoors. As a qualified Forest School teacher, he has helped instil a love of nature in the boys, able to inspire even the most resistant pupil into embracing everything the environment has to offer. As an avid climber, James has also attended and led Prep climbing trips to the Peak District that have provided the boys will 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 of the Prep. James leaves us to take up a position as Head of Year in a primary school in Telford as he and his wife Jess move to Shropshire to begin the next stage of their lives together. I have no doubt he will excel in the role and be a great asset to his new school community. He will be missed at Habs, both as a colleague and friend, and we all wish him the very best for the future.

Staff News Andrea Fielden will be retiring after 27 years of distinguished service to Haberdashers’. Mrs Fielden moved from Chester to Radlett and started her career at Haberdashers’ in 1987 as a Year 3 teacher. She particularly enjoyed accompanying the Prep boys every year on Ski trips and Camps and continued to teach at the Prep School for 12 years before leaving to take up a Deputy Headship. Mrs Fielden didn’t stay away too long and was invited back to Habs once again in 2005 to help set up a Pre-Prep department on the Elstree site, consisting of just 2 classes. During this period, she also took responsibility for taking the Year 6 cricket team! Mrs Fielden was then appointed as Senior Teacher in 2007 and was instrumental in overseeing a successful period in the schools’ development when the Pre-Prep was established in Park Street. As Senior Teacher, Mrs Fielden was responsible for the day to day running of the Pre-Prep school and her informed and considered approach to pedagogy has ensured that the quality of teaching and learning is, and has remained, of the highest standard. Mrs Fielden said “It has been so rewarding to watch our Year 1 boys grow into young gentleman over the years and then to see them as 6th formers, off to University. I have recognised some of the boys I have taught during my 27 years at Habs at the Pre-Prep Open days, now fathers with their own 5 year old sons, wanting them to experience the education that they once had!” Mrs Fielden is looking forward to spending her retirement travelling, doing yoga and taking long walks. A loyal teacher and a devoted servant of the school, Mrs Fielden will be missed but she will retire with the knowledge that her legacy can be evidenced in the generations of young people who have been taught by her. I’m sure you will join us in wishing her a wonderful and happy retirement. James Fletcher joined Haberdashers’ in 2018 as a Teacher of Theology and Philosophy. He has been a superb addition to the department teaching Year 7 upwards and including A Level Philosophy. He will be fondly remembered by students involved in Lunchtime Lyceum having run the Lyceum for the last two years. Outside of the department James contributed to the wider life of the school through his involvement in Schools’ Challenge and leading the U15B Hockey team. His commitment to the boys’ learning has been first class. Mr Fletcher has the highest standards which has raised the academic attainment of those fortunate enough to be taught by him. We wish him every success as he leaves Haberdashers’ for a warmer climate in Gibraltar. Mark Gainey retires after just over 16 years of dedicated service as Premises Manager at the Girls’ School and more recently as Head of Estates across the two schools. He has overseen the building of the Girls’ School swimming pool, the Infill block, the Sixth form common room, the dining block and learning and resource centre, the refit of the old library into new classrooms, the refurbishment of the Sime, and the completion of the STEM building, these together with countless other office moves and redecorations and the landscaping and planting of the external grounds to the current high standard. To top them all, I think he will be most proud of the creation of the Forest School area at the Girls’ School, with its inhouse designed, hand-built shelter for the girls to enjoy the natural outdoors. He made an immediate impact to tidy up the presentation of the Boys’ School site with the refurbishment of the Bourne Hall and other areas of redecoration including the uplift of the DT block. He retires with all our good wishes and thanks for all he has achieved.

Staff News Clare Harrison leaves us after 7 years as a Teacher of Biology. In the seven years that Dr Harrison has spent at Habs she has played a pivotal role in the success of so many boys’ experiences of the school, both academically and pastorally as well as on the hockey pitch. She has led Henderson’s House as Housemaster for four years and has shown tremendous empathy and support for all members of her house, students and teachers. She has led on many important innovations across the school and has championed student well-being. She was also previously Head of PSHCE. With her huge appetite for hard work, she is a teacher who always sees the full potential in pupils, always encouraging and understanding but without being a pushover. The boys enjoy her lessons for the intellectual challenge and they recognize her expertise and calm no-nonsense approach. The Biology department will miss Dr Harrison as a wonderful colleague, and will miss her expertise across the whole subject, especially in biochemistry. She brings this to life and makes it relevant for boys and staff by drawing on her experience of working in research labs in the UK and Japan. Sixth Formers have benefited from the work experience Dr Harrison arranged for them in a Japanese research laboratory. We will also especially miss her willingness to share this expertise with other members of the department and to produce and share engaging resources, plus her energy and ability to maintain her excellence in teaching with the unpredictable demands of being a Housemaster. She is always willing to give up her time to support any pupil who needs or asks for extra help. She will be sorely missed at Habs but we wish her well in her new much-deserved post as Head of Upper School at Merchant Taylor’s School. Geoff Kissane and his wife left Australia in April 2007 for an extended holiday with the intention of being back home in time for the start of a new school year in January 2008, or possibly January 2009 if suitable employment could be found. Geoff was appointed to teach Mathematics from September 2008 and ended up staying for 12 years! As well as teaching all levels of Maths in his time at Habs, Geoff has been involved in the School and Community service programme, running the whole programme for a seven year period, and also taught 6th form boys the basics of Australian rules Football through the General studies programme before it evolved into the current Enrichment & Enhancement. He has also given countless hours to providing study support for boys at lunchtimes when not acting as the Chief Timekeeper for HabsDash! We wish Mr Kissane a long and happy retirements and hope to see him back at Habs in the near future. Alison McKenzie leaves Habs this summer after 16 years of distinguished service to the school. Joining us in 2003 from Copthall School where she had been Head of Department and Head of Section, Alison began her career at Habs as a teacher of Spanish and French, but her leadership experience and personal qualities soon led to her being given pastoral responsibilities. Initially a highly valued tutor in Strouts, she held the position of Acting Head of Junior School for a year before being appointed Senior Tutor for the Junior School in 2012. As Senior Tutor, Alison has offered support and encouragement to hundreds of junior boys over the years, who have valued the calm and patient way she listens to them as well as the clear and sympathetic advice she provides. These same qualities, along with her legendary organisational skills, have also made her one of our most consistently effective teachers: her pupils always feel reassured, sensing that they are in the hands of the consummate highly experienced professional. Alison has also made a significant contribution to the co-curricular programme: she led the junior trip to Barcelona, one of our most popular trips, or more than a decade, as well as supporting the annual Old Folks’ Christmas party and various scrabble and quiz competitions. Given the range of her interests and skills, Alison will doubtless be keeping busy during her retirement, and we wish her all the very best as she brings her distinguished career to a close.

Staff News Andrew Marlow slotted into place smoothly in January as maternity cover for Ms Galuszka, and quickly developed a close rapport with the boys in short order. The move to remote learning and one-on-one video teaching was effective and Andrew managed the new systems that were put in place easily and without complaints. We’re hugely grateful for the time he has given to the boys, and the way he has unflinchingly continued to deliver lessons without missing a beat during these very strange times. Eyleen Paul joined us as our German Assistant in September 2019. She immediately made a significant impact in the German Department, not only helping our IGCSE and A level boys gain confidence in their spoken German, but also creating new resources and encouraging the boys’ interest in German society and culture. Eyleen leaves us to start her teaching career in Germany and we wish her every future success. Ben Rylands has taught Theology and Philosophy at Haberdashers’ for five years, in addition to his roles as Deputy Housemaster (Joblings) and Senior Tutor (Middle School). His proudest achievement is helping to coach the U15 rugby team to the Quarter Final of the Natwest National Plate competition this year and having helped Joblings win the Crossman for the second consecutive year. Beyond teaching, Mr Rylands has supported colleagues and students on trips to Stuttgart, Venice, Barcelona, Seville and Biarritz. His positive impact on the school and contributions to the wider life of our community have been outstanding. He is a superb teacher, excellent at gutting fish during Bushcraft Field Day and we wish him every success as he moves to Edinburgh. Graham Sims joined in January as maternity cover for Ms Galuszka, and quickly developed a close rapport with the boys. Very shortly after joining he then had to adapt to remote learning and oneon-one video teaching, which he managed easily and without complaints. We’re hugely grateful for the time he has given to the boys, and the way he has unflinchingly continued to deliver lessons without missing a beat during these very strange times. Phill Stiff is an OH, who having flirted with High Wycombe for a short while decided that there was no place like home and joined the PE department here September 2006. In his time with us he has taken on a number of roles beyond his core teaching, notably as Head of the RAF section in our CCF, Head of Swimming, Head of Athletics, whilst also coaching hockey, water polo and rugby teams across the full range of ages here at Habs. His time with us has seen some of our most successful periods for many of these sports with regular regional success also being backed up by triumphs on a national level. His broad range of coaching ability will be missed, as will his calm demeanour within the department. He leaves us to explore new opportunities and we wish him the very best with whatever his new venture might be.

Staff News Janet and John Swallow leave Habs this summer as they joined us 35 years ago – together! John had in fact been a student teacher at Habs the previous Spring, clearly making a favourable impression on the Head of Department, Jon Corrall. Having met on the Cambridge PGCE course, Janet and John had been teaching at schools in North Yorkshire before getting married in the summer of 1985 and joining Habs that September. Their contribution to the teaching of Modern Languages as well as to wider school life over four decades has been immense. John, in addition to teaching German and French (and occasionally Latin), is our longest serving Housemaster, having taken over the leadership of Joblings in 1988 and therefore helping many thousands of ‘Jobloids’ navigate life at Habs happily and successfully. He also made a significant contribution to the coaching of hockey, running the U16 and 2nd XI teams for many years. He has been a stalwart of the school choir for many years, singing as a tenor in many concerts and Carol Services, and also enjoyed working on the lighting for various school productions. Janet has been in charge of UCAS for the past eight years, a period of time in which this role has changed beyond all recognition and which she has therefore been instrumental in shaping. Despite the many demands of this role, she has continued to inspire Habs boys in the classroom, her teaching of French and German characterised by a nice balance of great fun and great rigour. She has supported innumerable school productions by providing costumes and has even performed (as has John) in Sixth Form and Modern Languages plays. One key area of school life to which both John and Janet have contributed a great deal over the years is our programme of trips and exchanges. By their reckoning, more than a hundred of these Habs trips – including exchanges to all our partner schools in France and Germany - have been accompanied by at least one Swallow, and John has been running the junior German exchange to the Schiller Gymnasium in Offenburg for over twenty years. Janet and John’s contribution to the Habs community will surely be remembered for many years to come, and we wish them a long and happy retirement. Claire Williams joined Habs in September 2018 as a Singing Teacher, a new position which she quickly set about making her own. In the two years she has worked here she has created a closeharmony group of sixth formers and a chamber treble choir, she has contributed immensely to the work of HABS choir, and has built up a large group of singing pupils who have benefitted immensely from her expertise and care. She is leaving us to begin a degree in Law in September. She will be much missed and we wish her all the best in this new endeavour.

Staff News APPOINTMENTS Virginie Dallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Aqua Joseph Boorman Aidan Gray Michaela Jeffries Michelle Kahn Shalaka Karlekar Rudayna Fahan Sebastian Seidal Suzanne Shiradski Sophie Stables Pierre-Alexander Walter Richard Walters Kevin Watson

Teacher of French Teaccher of Mathematics Aske Princeton Fellow Classroom Teacher Teacher of Academic Support (Senior School, p/t) Alumni, Fundraising & Events Officer. Teacher of Mathematics Language Assistant (German) Teacher of Biology Classroom Teacher Language Assistant (French) Teacher of MFL Teacher of T&P

INTERNAL APPOINTMENTS (NEW/ADDITIONAL ROLES) Deborah Bardou Michael Broadwith Dr Georgina Chapman Richard Davis John Dunne Che Gannarelli Tom Hardman Matt Herd Loren Hooker Tom Jones Adam Lawrence Rinesh Mehta Josh Plotkin Christoph Raatz Tom Taylor James Teague Catherine Turbett Joanna Wolfson

Teacher of History and SEND Head of House (Russells) Head of House (Joblings) Head of T&P Second in English Senior Tutor (Middle School) Head of Lower School Musician in Residence Deputy Head of House (Meadows) Head of House (Hendersons) Head of Middle School Deputy Head of House (Strouts) Director of Outreach and Partnership Senior Tutor (Sixth Form) Head of Jazz Senior Tutor (Lower School) Head of University Applications Head of Economics

Stay connected to Habs

www.habsboys.org.uk www.habsboys.org.uk /habsboys /habsboys

@habsboys @habsboys @habsboysschool #NurturingExcellenceOnline

J Suchak and T Lunn - July 2020

Routine Reminders PUBLICATION OF GCSE AND GCE RESULTS 2020 Results will be emailed to candidates shortly after 8 am on each Results Day. We will also be posting out hard copies on the same day. Results will not be available by telephone, on HabsNet or by collection from School. Advanced GCE & AS candidates: GCSE candidates:

Thursday 13th August Thursday 20th August

Look out for a draft results report arriving in your son’s email inbox when we are making our final checks.

POST EXAM SERVICES 1. Senior members of staff will be available after the publication of results. 2. There will also be a representative of each department available on the morning of Results Day to discuss any subject-related matters. This is likely to be done remotely and further information will be sent. 3. Also, we await further guidance from the DFE on the ‘Appeals’ system this year. We will then be able to update you on this as well as the anticipated Autumn Series of Examinations.

PRIVATE ENTRIES FOR PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS Boys in Years 9, 10 and 11 follow a full and demanding curriculum in school, which sees the introduction of GCSE coursework. We are concerned at the small but growing number of boys who are taking additional subjects for public examinations outside school, often without our being aware that this is happening. In some cases, these extra courses can seriously distract a boy from his normal schoolwork and bring additional and unnecessary pressures in the Summer Term, when school and public examinations are scheduled. In a small number of cases, boys who are fluent speakers of a language, which we do not teach in school, have wanted to take a public examination in the language. In these circumstances the additional demands are mitigated by their natural knowledge and understanding, and this is therefore less likely to be a problem. However, parents should be aware that certain language exams which include an oral element preclude the School being able to act as an examination centre for these subjects. Parents who are thinking of entering their son for an additional academic course outside of school should discuss this matter with the School (via his Form Tutor, Housemaster or Head of Section) before their son undertakes the course. At the very least, this will enable us to monitor any potential disruption to the boy’s study throughout the year. Please also be aware that entry for GCSE using a different Unique Candidate Identifier (UCI) Number can create significant problems with verification of academic records for university entrance and in the checks carried out by some employers. It is essential that parents contact the Exams Office for their son’s UCI number if their son is being entered for a public examination at another centre. The School strongly discourages boys in Year 9 and below from sitting any form of external examination early. It is worth remembering that all results must be declared on the UCAS form when boys apply for University. We do not allow boys in Year 9 and below to sit external examinations here at the School. If parents are keen to enter their sons for extra subjects, we recommend that this is done in Year 10, here

Routine Reminders at the School and not Year 11 when they could suffer clashes with their GCSEs. In the light of events this summer, we are anticipating that boys who enter for an extra examination here at School will be expected to take a mock in this subject around January/February.

YEAR 10/11 CAREERS PROFILING The majority of Year 10 pupils took the Morrisby profiling test at the end of the Summer term. This is an online test which is designed to help the students identify their skills and assist them with important decisions about A level choices, higher education and careers. Boys have now received their results and can start using the various resources and search functions on the Morrisby website. Follow up work, including interviews with form tutors, will take place next term.

YEAR 11 WORK EXPERIENCE Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Year 11 work experience could not take place as planned this year. However, students have been using this time productively by participating in virtual work experience programmes, either organised through our own contacts or larger-scale schemes being run by employers; as well as attending a range of career related talks and workshops. Through virtual work experience, students have gained valuable contacts, been introduced to different ways of working and have seen first-hand the importance of being flexible in the workplace. We are extremely grateful to the parents, Old Haberdashers and other friends of the School who have supported the students during this time by providing them with such valuable opportunities.

LOWER SIXTH UCAS APPLICATION All Lower Sixth pupils should have used the guidance sent via email and posted on HabsNet to register on UCAS and complete the first sections of the application form by the end of the Summer Term 2020. Details of how to complete a UCAS university application form will be issued to all applicants at the start of the Autumn Term. Appropriate deadlines are published in the two University Handbooks available on HabsNet. For your convenience the key dates are repeated below. Personal statement preparation: advisers are available on 13th August (AS and A Level results day) and in the week beginning 31st August to offer further advice. From the beginning of the Autumn Term pupils may submit their UCAS form to the School system. No applications are sent during the October half term holiday. It is recommended that pupils submit well ahead of the deadlines below.

Early applicants (All Oxbridge applicants, Medics, Dentists, Vets) must submit their application to the School system Deadline:

Monday 14th September

Non-early applicants must submit their application to the School system Deadline:

Monday 2nd October

Routine Reminders SUBMITTED WORK FOR THE OXBRIDGE COLLEGES Applicants who are required to submit work to Oxford and Cambridge Colleges must consult the relevant Head of Department/Applications Adviser immediately following the submission of the application to UCAS in the Autumn Term. Advice and cover sheets can be downloaded from the relevant college or university website. Applicants are responsible for posting their submitted work directly to the College, but it must be verified by the Head of Department and authenticated by a School stamp. Applicants are expected to submit their work at least two weeks ahead of this deadline. No work can be verified over the half term holiday.

INTERVIEW PREPARATION Applicants should read the advice in the University Handbook Part 2 and consult the suggested references. Mock interview practice will be put in place in the Autumn Term with the relevant Head of Department/Adviser in conjunction with the Enrichment and Enhancement programme.

UPPER SIXTH UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS TESTS UCAT applicants should consult the relevant website. The UCAT should be taken ahead of the application so that you can tailor your application following your result. https://www.ucat.ac.uk/ucat/ucat-2020/ tells you that registration is open and you are encouraged to book your test as early as possible. Those applicants taking the BMAT must go to https://www.admissionstesting.org/for-test-takers/ bmat/ for all information. Applicants for the LNAT should consult the website and register from 1st August 2020. Oxford has specific deadlines which you must heed. Access the website for all other LNAT university deadlines https://lnat.ac.uk/registration/dates-and-deadlines/ Most admissions tests for Oxford and Cambridge are taken in school on Wednesday 4th November although you can also expect a test at the university on the day of the interview. It is essential that all applicants consult the university website for details. You will find the Examinations Dept internal deadlines for registering to take a test in this newsletter. It is the responsibility of the university applicant to ensure he has full knowledge of any admissions test to be taken. This is clearly indicated on the university websites and course information. If you are in any doubt, call the University Admissions Officer for your chosen course.

Routine Reminders Admission Tests Information for 2020 Deadlines: 12:00 noon on Thursday 24th September Deadline to submit an application to sit ALL University Admissions Tests where modified papers are required 12:00 noon on Thursday 24th September Deadline to submit an application to sit the BMAT test and the Test of Mathematics for University Admission 12:00 noon on Thursday 8th October Deadline to submit an application to sit ALL Admissions Tests ie ELAT, GAT, HAT, PAT, CAT, MAT, MLAT, OLAT, Philosophy Test or TSA (Oxford) tests; Admissions Tests for Cambridge Dates: Wednesday 4th November Friday 27th November Monday 30th November Monday 11th January 2021

UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS TEST DAY Release of results for BMAT Release of results for Test of Mathematics Release of results for ELAT & TSA/TSAS1

UPPER SIXTH UNIVERSITY CLEARING ADVICE 13th AUGUST 2020 Because of the Covid-19 restrictions this provision is not yet finalised but we are hoping this event will run as traditionally. Post A Level higher education advice will be available in the Aske Hall from 9:00â&#x20AC;&#x201C;12:00 and 14:00â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 16:00 on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th August and into the following week. Detailed written advice about Clearing was issued to all Upper Sixth pupils and made available via the Parent Portal to all parents of Upper Sixth pupils. It is essential that university applicants make themselves available for at least 10 days following publication of their results should they need to contact universities urgently regarding their admission. Universities will deal only with the applicant or that person especially nominated by the applicant on his UCAS application form.

TRANSPORT NOTICES Your e-ticket will be sent to you in July giving details of your route and timings. Please ensure these are printed and given to Prep and Junior School passengers and kept in a convenient location if stored electronically by Senior School pupils. E-tickets for occasional use of the coaches will be available from 1st August. Requests for amendments or cancellations must be made via the parent portal. Due to increased pressure on some of our routes there may have to be several changes with stops being moved from one route to another. It is appreciated how disruptive to friendship groups this can be. Please be assured we only make these changes to accommodate all passengers, new and current, from the stop of their choice. Along with the movements of stops to different routes comes the necessity to amend timetables.

Routine Reminders We are always reluctant to move timings as we do realise how difficult it is to juggle drop offs and onward journeys in the morning. If we did not believe that it was essential to amend timings, we would not do so. The number of applications to our coach routes means that many routes in that area are running at capacity and it is imperative to take the coach you are assigned to. Changing routes will lead to an overload. If your coach overloads, passengers on the wrong route will be identified and asked to disembark and make alternative arrangements to get to school. Route changes will be communicated to you by email before the end of July. Full Routes Autumn 2020 H03 Northwood H11 St John’s Wood, Swiss Cottage 2nd Route, Golders Green H12 Swiss Cottage, Finchley Road Lyncroft & Briardale H13 H13 Hendon, Mill Hill, Edgware If you have any questions, please contact the Transport Office on 020 8266 1705 or via email at transportmanager@habsboys.org.uk

Covid-19 The Transport Office is following government advice regarding public and private transport closely. Changes to travel on the home to school coach service will comply with guidance that is in place at the time of travel, such as the use of PPE for passengers. We will keep you informed of any changes to the service by email during August. Please ensure that you check your email account regularly for updates from the Transport Manager. The Transport Office will be on skeleton service over the Summer break from Wednesday 8th July and reopening 2nd September 2020. All ticket amendments, cancellations and new bookings must be made via the Parent Portal.

BOYS’ SCHOOL CAR PARKING We plan to resume the normal morning one-way circuit drop off system around the Boys’ School and parents are reminded to drop their boys in the designated area. Please enter the site via one of the Butterfly Lane gates. Boys should have all their school bags with them in the car (not in the boot) and swiftly move to the pedestrian walkway. Parents collecting in the afternoon must do so from the Girls’ School Car Park. The North Drive Car Park is the designated parking area for parents coming onto campus at other times. On arrival, the Gate Security Porter will direct you to this car park which is the first turning on the right once you have passed the first security barrier. Please park in marked bays and avoid blocking the entrance for other users of the car park. Parents are requested not to jump the second barrier to drive into the heart of the School and are kindly asked to use the pedestrian footpaths from the North Drive Car Park.

Routine Reminders PARENT CAR PASS – INJURED PUPILS If your son has been injured and is having difficulty walking, parents should request a temporary car pass to gain access to the School via the Butterfly Lane entrance. Mrs Julie Regelous, Facilities Assistant, will issue the car pass which must be displayed when entering the School. The car pass is to be used for drop-off and pick-up purposes only and only on a temporary basis. The car pass, once issued, can be collected from Gate Security. Parents are kindly asked to provide the following information: • Boy’s name and form • Vehicle registration number • Make of car • Model of car • Colour of car • Dates access is required

SAFE PEDESTRIAN ROUTES Pedestrians are requested to use the school footpaths and avoid walking on the campus roads when there is a high flow of vehicle traffic. The school bridge on the main route to Aldenham House is out of bounds to pedestrians and the route along the side of the Bates building should be used to walk to the Prep School.

SIXTH FORM CAR PARKING Car parking spaces (non-transferable) are allocated to the School Captain, his three Deputies and the six House Captains in recognition of their year-round contribution to the running of the School. Students who for serious medical reasons need to be driven to school can apply for a parking space which will be granted in exceptional circumstances only. The policy of both the Boys’ and the Girls’ School is to promote the coach service. Any parking at Aldenham Country Park (ACP) is a private arrangement; however, parents and students should note that ACP sometimes fails to open in time for school and students can therefore be left in difficulty, especially during the exam period. Parking at the Girls’ School is strictly forbidden, and parking on roads and car parks adjacent to the School is not approved, given the obvious dangers in approaching the School on foot. Any questions should be addressed to the Deputy Head of Sixth Form.

DOGS ON CAMPUS For reasons of health and safety and to protect the playing fields and campus from soiling please note dogs are NOT permitted on the School grounds at any time. This includes weekend sports fixtures. The ONLY exceptions to this policy are dogs belonging to on-site residents and Guide Dogs. Your co-operation in this matter is appreciated.

SMOKING Parents and visitors are kindly reminded that the School is designated as a No Smoking area. This also includes e-cigarettes.

Routine Reminders FEES IN ADVANCE We would like to remind parents that Habs operates a Fees In Advance scheme which offers a competitive discount in return for payments made within the scheme rules. If this scheme is of interest to you, then please contact the School’s Fees Manager, Mr Hiren Shah, on 020 8266 2424 or shah_h@habsboys.org.uk for further details.

PARENTPAY – LUNCH PAYMENTS Parents are reminded to add funds regularly to their sons’ lunch accounts by logging on to their own accounts at www.parentpay.com As we have previously advised, the School no longer accepts cheques towards lunch payments. All payments for lunches are via ParentPay. Parentpay.com enables you to see what food and beverage purchases your son has made. Please note if you find your son is making purchases of items you have said he should not buy (e.g. fizzy drinks) or want to restrict purchases of certain items, you may do so by writing to the School Office who will inform the caterers accordingly. If you have misplaced or require a copy of your activation letter, or your personal circumstances mean that you would like to create a second payer account to make payments and access meal information, then please email Ms Tina Riley, Finance Assistant, at riley_t@habsboys.org.uk For further information on ParentPay please see the FAQs which are posted on the Parent Portal.

SCHOOL FEES REFUND SCHEME Parents who subscribe to this scheme are reminded of their right to make claims for absences from the 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, costs per term for 2020/2021 are £96.63 for Senior and Prep School and £72.84 for Pre-Prep School. Please contact the Fees Office. Please note claims must be submitted not later than 30 days after the close of the term to which they relate.

PERSONAL EFFECTS INSURANCE Parents are reminded of their responsibility to insure their son’s personal property whilst at the 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.

PARENT PORTAL Any communications with parents are posted on the Parent Portal every Friday. Progress grades are published on the Portal. You are encouraged to access the Portal on a regular basis. If you require a new access code or assistance in accessing the Portal, please do contact Mrs Diana Tyerman at tyerman_d@habsboys.org.uk

Routine Reminders PARENT CONSULTATION EVENINGS We will be using an online appointment booking system for parent consultation evenings for Years 7 to 11. You will be sent an email prior to the date of your son’s parents’ evening detailing the time the appointment system is opening. Please make sure you inform the School if you change your email address. In the Sixth Form, boys will make their own appointments with subject teachers.

HOMEWORK The School will use Show My Homework to set homework in accordance with the homework timetable. Parents and pupils can access homework via the app or on the School Portal. If you have misplaced your PIN please contact ICT support. Pupils are expected to check Show My Homework once a day.

SCHOOL SHOP The opening hours during the summer holidays will be advertised on the School’s webpage. Enquiries regarding school uniform are welcome on 020 8266 1710 or shop@habsboys.org.uk In order to give you the best possible service it is essential that you make an appointment. Items can be purchased during term time through our online shop, which can be found on the School home page, giving the option to collect the items from the shop, to post the items or arrange delivery to class for Year 6 and below. The School Shop also offers a selection of nearly new uniform. Please be advised the School Shop does not accept credit cards. The School Shop is open 08:30–12:00 and 12:30–16:00 each school day during term time. Please be advised that the School Shop is located at the Medburn Centre. Parent parking is in the North Drive Car Park. Signage showing the location is in place around the campus. All visitors are required to sign in at Aldenham House where they will be issued with a Visitor’s Pass.

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, to dispense over-the-counter medications and to assist any boys who may have chronic conditions that have been notified to the School.

Medical Information Held On The Parent Portal As you are aware, the medical information and consent for medication is now completed by you on the Parent Portal. Please ensure this is up to date. If you need to make any changes you can do this via the Parent Portal. If you wish to discuss the changes, please contact the nurses directly in the Medical Centre, especially if it’s a new illness or condition.

Routine Reminders Dispensing Prescription Medication If your son requires any prescription medicine to be taken at school, please fill in the consent form on the Parent Portal and print or email it to us; schoolnurse@habsboys.org.uk. Either you or your son should bring the form to the Medical Centre, along with the medication to be dispensed in its original labelled bottle. It is your son’s responsibility to attend the Medical Centre to be given the medication.

Covid-19 If your son is displaying any of the main symptoms of Covid-19 or if you suspect he may have it please don’t send him to school. Please refer to the NHS website for further information on Covid 19 by following the link https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19 If your son becomes unwell at school with any symptoms of Covid 19 he will be isolated in a room until he is collected. As in any emergency please ensure someone is available to collect him.

Collecting An Unwell Boy A reminder that if your son is unwell and wishes to go home, he must attend the Medical Centre, where either he or one of the nurses will phone you. The nurses will then inform your son’s Form Tutor, Housemaster and Head of Section thereby ensuring that the relevant personnel are aware that your son is no longer in school.

Diarrhoea And Vomiting Owing to the contagious nature of the above, we request that you wait at least 48 hours after the last episode of sickness or diarrhoea before returning your son to school, as advised by the NHS Choices website.

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, please ensure he has all the required medication in school with him and that it is in date.

Reporting Pupil Absence Due to Illness If your child is unable to attend school because of illness, you do need to let us know on each day of the absence. This can be done by sending an email to absences@habsboys.org.uk before 08:45.

Leave of Absence All boys must attend school and all timetabled activities punctually and regularly. Except in the event of illness, no boy may be absent from school without permission previously obtained from the Head of Section/Tutor (if one day or under), who will then inform absences@habsboys.org.uk For permission to be away from school for an appointment this should be directed to the Form Tutor/Housemaster. Permission for a full day’s leave should be sought from the Head of Section

Routine Reminders Any request for leave over one day should be requested in writing to the Headmaster at hm@ habsboys.org.uk. There is no right of leave of absence for holidays in term time. In exceptional circumstances, the Headmaster is prepared to consider a request made to him before any commitment or booking is made. In the event of parents being away from home, parents must inform the School who is looking after their son during their absence. The School must have contact details in case of emergency and in order to fulfil our responsibility in knowing that pupils are being looked after.

INSTRUMENTAL LESSONS AND MUSICAL ENSEMBLES All Instrumental Lessons will begin from Monday 7th September: timetables will be posted and available at the end of the previous week (Friday 4th September). Musical Ensembles will begin from Tuesday 8th September: lists for all ensembles will be posted and available in advance of the ensembles’ first day.

MOUTHGUARDS Parents can visit https://www.opro.com/Catalogue/Build-Your-OPRO/Mouthguard-Builder to select and order a mouthguard for their son. If your son is only taking part in rugby, then a mid-impact mouthguard will be sufficient. If your son will be playing hockey or any sport involving a hard ball, they should be looking at ordering a high or pro impact mouthguard. You may select any design you wish. However, a Habs branded mouthguard is available from the Opro website and this matches the colours of the School’s sports kits. You can order this by visiting the same link as above, selecting ‘School/Club’ in the first drop-down menu and then scrolling down to ‘Habs Boys’. Note that mouthguard fittings will take place on the 15th and the 17th of September, in the McGowan Hall balcony.

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J Suchak and T Lunn - July 2020

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Skylight - Summer 2020