LION'S ROAR 3 31 May 2013 - The British School Manila

LION’S ROARAs we approach the end of the year, we are starting to plan Speech Day. I thought it would therefore betimely to remind you how recipients of awards are decided:Subject achievement awardsThese are awarded to the student with the highest average SSA score in that subject across the Nov,January and April SSAs in each year group. The data manager generates the data for the Senior LeadershipTeam (SLT). Where there is a tie, teachers of that subject are asked to adjudicate by looking at theprofile of test and homework marks and their overall contribution to the subject.Overall awards for progress and improvementThe gold, silver and bronze awards are given to the 3 students in each year group who have shown thegreatest improvements in their average SSA score across all subjects throughout the year. The datamanager generates the data for SLT. Where there is a tie, the relevant Assistant Head is asked to adjudicateby looking at the consistency of their progress, the profile of all of their marks and effort grades,as well as overall attitude and contribution to classes.Overall achievement awardsThe gold, silver and bronze awards are given to the students in each year group with the highest overallaverage SSA scores during the year. In the event of a tie, we look at the higher number of 7s, then 6s,5s, effort grades etc. until we determine a winner.Leadership awardsThese awards reflect leadership in class, in extra-curricular activities, in teams and in any other area ofschool life. Students are nominated for these awards by staff and by their peers. The Senior LeadershipTeam assess all the nominations received to determine which students receive the gold, silver andbronze awards for their year group.Contribution to school life awardsThese awards go to those who have made outstanding contributions to school life. These may be formalcontributions such as participation in school events, organising fund raising activities etc., or less formalcontributions such as being the person in the form group who helps resolve conflicts or ensures that newstudents feel comfortable. Students are nominated by staff and by their peers. The Senior LeadershipTeam assesses all the nominations received to determine which students receive the gold, silver andbronze awards for their year group.I look forward to seeing many of you at Speech Day on Saturday 22 June.New staffWith contracts all signed and sealed, I can now reveal the new teachers who will be joining us in August.Although we are only losing 7 full time teachers from the senior school teaching staff, we are actuallyadding a further 12 teachers to the team, as follows:Nicholas Barker joins our English team from an international school in Columbia. He brings a wealth ofIB experience and will be teaching English across the senior school.Laura Fenton joins us direct from the UK, and brings a wealth of KS3 experience, as well as experienceof delivering a skills-based curriculum. She will be teaching English and Drama.Siobhan Horgan also joins us from the UK and brings a middle school and pastoral background. Shewill also be teaching English and PSHE, and will be our Year 7 student co-ordinator.Matthew Bowen joins our Science department. He is coming straight from the UK where he has beenteaching all 3 Sciences to GCSE and Biology and Chemistry to A level.Adam Kennedy also joins our Science department after teaching in London. He is a Chemist, but canteach all 3 Sciences to IGCSE, and Chemistry at IB level. He is also an Edexcel examiner for Chemistry.Kate Gleaves joins the Humanities team, and will be teaching Business Studies, Economics and ICT.She is currently teaching at an IB school in Shanghai.Michael Guinness also joins the Humanities team, to teach Geography. He is currently in the UK and4 31 May 2013THE BRITISH SCHOOL MANILATelephone 860-4800 Fax 860-4900 Website www.britishschoolmanila.org