September 2013 - 2014 - Chiswick House School

Letter to the CHSMC Community
September
2013 - 2014
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.” Plutarch
Dear CHSMC Community,
and present them at a special session for parents where
independent statistician, Mr Kevin Gatt presents the figures
and compares our results to the national benchmark in 2013
and to the achievements of previous years.
We do hope that you have had a wonderful summer.
We have been very busy! This update will succinctly
highlight our events – further details will be available
on our website by the end of September and the
middle of October. Please look out for constant
updates on our website.
Our top five students achieved the following results: Krsna
Mohnani 10 passes 8 of which were 1s, Sara Vella, 9 passes 8
of which were 1s, Victor Zammit, 10 passes 6 of which were 1s
and Terrance Micallef and Marie Herbert who got 9 passes, 6
of which were 1s. What was really impressive was the fact that
with a mixed-ability cohort over 50% (59/102) of the students
managed 8-11 SEC passes. 44% (45/102) managed more than
9 passes. 80% of the students managed 6-11 passes . These
results are only possible when the Faculty at SMC, parents and
students work together. Well done!
1. Great Results at CHSMC
Annual Assessments For and Assessments Of Learning
By mid-July all Assessments for Learning and Assessments
of Learning were sent out to parents and we are very pleased
that these have certified that all our students have made
steady progress and have really enjoyed their learning. We
are very proud to mention that our gifted students (the
number of gifted students continues to increase) have scored
very high levels of achievement and that our ALP students
have made remarkable gains.
At Sixth Form we have also had excellent results with our
top student at Second Year, Martha Zammit achieving A in
Biology (Adv), Chemistry (Adv), English (Int), Philosophy
(Int) and Pure Maths (Int) together with a B in Physics (Adv)
and Systems of Knowledge. Martha will be joining the Medical
course at The University of Malta.
SEC Results: also out by mid-July, proved that our Form
Five cohort worked well to attain excellent grades –
outstanding results in fact. To mention but a few: This
cohort (102 in all) got 3 1s in Maltese, 20 1s in English
Language, 17 1s in Literature, 14 1s in Maths, 21 1s
in Physics, 11 1s in Chemistry, 8 1s in Biology, 3 1s in
Computer Studies, 5 1s in Italian, 7 1s in French, 2 1s in
German, 3 1s in Accounts, 2 1s in Art and one in P.E. and
Religious Education. We also managed very high percentage
passes in nearly all areas of learning. We await the results
of the re-sit exams to be able to get the final picture. Please
remember that on January 17th we publish all our results
All our second year students have fared as expected and all
students will be attending The University of Malta or other
universities/colleges overseas. Further details will follow.
The Benchmarking results were good but not as outstanding.
Anne Grima did manage 100% in Mathematics while Michael
Spiteri Staines managed 99%. 75 students (97.4%) in English,
69 students (88.5%) in Maths and 32 students (60.4%) in
Maltese scored over 50%. During 13/14 we will be discussing
the Benchmarking exercise with teachers, parents and students
in order to determine the way forward.
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School doors open at:
CHS at 8:00am
SMC at 7:30am
2.S ummer months at CHSMC
Our summer has been full of wonderful educational journeys!
At CHS we were aboard an exciting “ship” that took us to
marvellous destinations! Using classic texts to inspire us such
as 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, Treasure Island, Dr Suess
and others we sailed through imaginative waters as pirates,
sea urchins and the like. The myriad of activities including
hockey, fencing, taekwondo, messy fingers, water play, cookery,
swimming, music and movement, outings and much more
kept over 300 children very happy. Learning through inquiry
was achieved in the most exhilarating way. Ms Kareen and Ms
Rose co-ordinated this very popular programme beautifully
and they have already started planning next year’s adventure!
3.N EW for scholastic year 2013/14
Pupils and Students: We are delighted that CHSMC has filled
its classes with our wonderful students returning to meet
new students who have registered over the summer months.
We welcome all our newcomers and returning students and
eagerly prepare for a gratifying year ahead. Unfortunately we
have had to turn away many prospective new entrants since
most classes are full. We have started a waiting list in seven
levels and this year we have added an additional class
at Bumble Bee Level (Reception) and at EY1 (KG1).
At SMC Mr Daniel Schembri with many assistants, bravely
took on over 35 youngsters and together devised a fun-filled
adventure. This included canoeing, horse riding, camping,
cooking, fishing, sports, water games, trips to gozo and
comino and much more. The programme came to an end in
early September with many youngsters wishing it would go on
and on!
This year we have given new level names:
EARLY YEARS
Bumble Bees (Reception)
Early Years 1 - Dragonflies (Kindergarten 1)
Early Years 2 - Grasshoppers (Kindergarten 2)
Early Years 3/Level 1 - Sunflowers (Junior 1)
Early Years 4/Level 2 - Poppies (Junior 2)
EC again took over parts of our premises to see many
international students learn English.
Mr Nello Calleja and his team have worked
tirelessly throughout the summer to ensure that
all activities run smoothly and are hard at work
preparing the premises for the forthcoming
scholastic year.
JUNIOR YEARS
Level 3 - Olive Trees (Junior 3)
Level 4 - Carob Trees (Junior 4)
Level 5 - Almond Trees (Junior 5)
MIDDLE YEARS
Level 6 (Junior 6)
Level 7 (Form 1)
Level 8 (Form 2)
SENIOR YEARS
Level 9 (Form 3)
Level 10 (Form 4)
Level 11 (Form 5)
SIXTH FORM YEARS
L12 (Sixth Form 1st year)
L13 (Sixth Form 2nd year)
Teachers and other staff members: We welcome our new
teachers, LSAs and helpers. We also thank, most sincerely, the
few staff members who have moved on to new opportunities,
for all their hard work at CHSMC over the years.
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The Senior Leadership Team
The classification process has been completed. It has taken us
hours to ensure that learning groups are such that every child
has at least one friend and that the dynamics of the group will
work well. All our teachers have already been given their lists
to ensure that preparation gets off to an early start and that
individual and collaborative tasks are set with the learners’
prior knowledge and skills in mind.
Joe Balzan
Senior Leader
for Recruitment
and Professional
Learning
Nello Calleja
Senior Leader
for Premises,
Operations and
Development
Clare Camilleri
Senior Leader Head of Finance
and HR
Bernie Mizzi
Senior Leader
- Director at
CHSMC and
Head at CHS
Tonio Pace
Senior Leader Head at
Sixth Form
Patrick Padovani
Senior Leader Head at Middle
& Senior School
Marica Portelli
Senior Leader
- Head of
Administration
Anita Seguna
Senior Leader
- Head of
Curriculum
Design
Roberta Zammit
Briffa - Registrar
& Senior Leader
for Promotion &
Communication
Mr Julian Xuereb will be assisting us on a part-time basis
during 13/14. He will be Co-ordinating the Pastoral Care and
SEL teams at CHSMC.
New Structures: We have continued to grow and train our
professional teams.
Senior Leadership Team (SLT): The role of the SLT is to drive
the school in the right direction. It aims at working mindfully
with other teams to:
Ne w Mi d d l e L e ad ers at CHSMC
Create, plan, implement and evaluate School Development
Plans for CHSMC which
Chiswick House School
♦♦ cater for all the needs of the learners entrusted to our care.
Most specifically through the learning programmes and
opportunities of excellent quality for all students. It ensures
that all learners’ potential is fully developed.
We are delighted that Ms Audrey Fenech Adami
has accepted to be Middle Leader responsible
for the Early Years (Bumble Bees-EY4/L2)
with immediate effect. Ms Audrey needs
no introduction. She has been working at
CHSMC for over 16 years. Over the past 4 years she has been
responsible for reviewing the EY Programme and working
with teachers to improve teaching and learning strategies.
Ms Audrey is also an accomplished Special Needs expert. We
are sure that Ms Audrey will be an inspirational leader to her
team.
♦♦ recruit, grow and support an excellent Faculty of
professional educators and staff.
♦♦ use all the resources at its disposal in a most efficient and
cost-effective manner.
♦♦ dream up, create and guide the implementation of
innovative policies, practices and procedures through a
systemic approach to improvement.
Ms Roberta Camenzuli is the new Middle
Leader of the Junior School (L3-5). Ms Roberta
will start on reduced hours during the Autumn
Term. She will be working longer hours during
the Spring and Summer Terms. In 14/15 Ms
Roberta will take on her full duties. Until this
time, Ms Bernie will be responsible for the Junior School.
♦♦ communicate effectively with parents, other schools, the
Board, Educational authorities, suppliers and all stakeholders
♦♦ model inspirational leadership to create the flow required to
support high-functioning teams of learners at all levels.
Ms Roberta has been an excellent member of staff since
1999. Over the last 13 years Ms Roberta has taught at many
levels and is well placed to take on this new responsibility. An
enthusiastic educator and natural team player, we are sure that
Ms Roberta will continue to improve teaching and learning in
the junior years.
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CHS Mi d d l e L e ad ers
SMC Mi d d l e L e ad ers
E arly Ye ars
Ms
Audrey
Ms
Catherine
Ms
Nella
EY Middle
Leader
Bumble Bees
Level Leader
Ms
Nathalie
Ms
Charmaine
EY2
Level Leader
EY1
Level Leader
EY3/L1
Level Leader
Ms
Sandy
EY4/L2
Level Leader
Mi d d l e S cho ol
Mr
Bertrand
Ms
Giselle
MS Middle
Leader
EY SEL
Leader
Ms
Rebecca
EY
Literacy Leader
Ms
Cynthia
Ms
Andreana
Ms
Venessa
Innovation &
Summer School
Leader
Ms
Joselle
RE, PSHE,
VEE Leader
Ms
Maria
Int. & New
Students
Leader
Parent
Capital
Leader
Activities
Leader
Mr
Andre
Sciences
Leader
Ms
Celia
CAT
Leader
ALP Leader
Ms
Tina
Ms
Maria
International
Languages
Leader
Mr
Paul
History, Geo., Env
Studies & ACCS
Leader
Mr
Dennis
Maltese
Leader
Mr
Steve
Mathematics
Leader
Ms
Jenny
PE & Sports
Leader
Mr
Anthony
JS Middle
Leader
L3 Leader
Ms
Charmaine
Mr
Victor
English
Leader
Ms
Roberta
Ms
Suzanne
L8
Leader
L7 Leader
Ms
Rose
ALP Leader
Ms
Daniela
L6 Leader
EY Summer
School
Leader
Ms
Dalevene
CAT
Leader
Mr
Bertrand
Mr
Mario
Ms
Kareen
SS Middle
Leader
Ms
Rachel
Ms
Laura
L5 Leader
L9 Leader
L4 Leader
Juni or S cho ol
Ms
Pat
Mr
Charles
L11 Leader
L10 Leader
S eni or S cho ol
These teams are assisted by:
Ms Rachel Cutajar - School Secretary (Early Years)
Ms Stephanie Bugeja - School Secretary (Junior School)
Ms Karin Fells - Front Office Administrator
Ms Rose Agius - Front Office Administrator
Ms Vicky Zammit - CHS Premises Co-ordinator
Ms Doreen Deguara - Resources
LSAs and other support staff.
These teams are assisted by:
Ms Lina Chircop - School Secretary/Administrator
Ms Rita Camilleri - Sixth Form Administrator
Ms Christianne Cassar - Middle School Secretary
Ms Diane Erasmi - Sixth Form Secretary/Front Office
Administrator
Ms Kristine Kerr - Front Office Administrator
LSAs and other support staff.
The Faculty of teachers at CHSMC will be made known to
you during the first week of school. Please look out for the
whole CHSMC community plan in late October.
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The Middle Leadership role exists to:
Assist the SLT with the implementation of the School
Development Plan.
The role of Middle Leader includes:
♦♦ supporting learners
♦♦ Implementing, monitoring and evaluating learning (at
their specific level) to ensure that all learners have suitable
programmes that address their needs
♦♦ Assisting the SLT to implement the SDP
♦♦ Offering high-challenge and high-support to SLT members
♦♦ Working collaboratively with and growing their teams
♦♦ Supporting all staff members in the day-to-day running of
CHSMC
♦♦ Assisting the SLT to create and dream up new programmes,
policies, practices and procedures which improve the school
New Services
Enrichment Programmes (EP)
♦♦ Communicating and supporting parents and all
stakeholders
CHS pupils EP1 for pupils aged 3-5 (Mon-Fri from 13:00-16:00)
EP2 for pupils aged 5-10 (Mon-Fri from 14:30-17:30)
(1 hour for growing food, cooking and eating, 1 hour for
homework and 1 hour for sports).
1-day to 5-day programmes are available.
Ms Rose will be running a dynamic programme with a team
of expert educators to ensure an enriching experience for
our young children. In collaboration with CHS teachers, we
will meet the broad range of every child’s social, emotional,
recreational, physical, intellectual and creative needs and to
reinforce learning for students who need additional support.
These afternoon programmes are intended to ensure that
pupils go home ready to enjoy precious time with their
parents. Of course although homework will be done some
reading in Maltese and English through story-time is always a
must for parents!
More information will be made available through MySchool
within the coming days.
Please also look out for the Extra-curricular Activities
Programme, School of Excellence Programme, Extra Hour
and SOPA Programmes.
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Chiswick House School & St Martin’s College
Vi sion Statement
Chiswick House School and St Martin’s College are a
professional learning community. Building on our successful
past, we are collectively committing to 21st Century learningcentred education to become the best
we can be.
Our high standards of teaching for learning are embedded
within an enquiry-based, knowledge-rich and inclusive
environment. We plan stimulating and active learning
experiences that arouse curiosity and fire the imagination.
By developing emotional intelligence, encouraging effective
communication and critical thinking, learners become
responsible and autonomous. Every member of the community
aspires to be a collaborative and creative lifelong learner able
to confidently face new challenges in a fast-changing world.
New 2-Year School Development Plan
The New SDP (School Development Plan) will continue to
work on Learning 360 - Becoming the Best we can be by 110!
Process. In 13/14 we move into the New Design Phase. More
details will be available during staff and parents’ meetings.
An integral part of the school improvement process is the
importance given to Professional Learning. In fact, between
16th-20th September our two critical friends and consultants,
Prof Louise Stoll and Mr Richard Townsend will again be
leading and facilitating professional learning sessions.
Premises & New Spaces
Since this is the Design Phase of our Process, we have given
the limelight to designing what our best will look like.
Various initiatives: Ms Anita has taken on the role of Head
of Curriculum Design; and the robust Middle Leadership
Teams in place will ensure that time, space and shape will be
given to designing new programmes of study, new policies,
practices and procedures. Our first task was to develop the
new Virtue and Ethics Education Programme (please see it on
our website), the next reviews will include Maths, Maltese and
Religious Education. This re-visiting and re-modelling process
will ensure that updated learning and teaching techniques,
content and evaluation processes are brought up to spec. This
whole-school approach is enhancing continuity and freshness.
Assessment across the schools is also a major process being
overhauled over the next two years. A systemic approach
allows us to integrate and intermesh the technological,
educational and communicative functions. As parents you will
benefit from being able to access more information about your
children in a timely manner. More details will follow.
The usual annual refurbishment programme at CHSMC is in
place with many areas being redecorated. The NEW stateof-the art Science laboratory at SMC will reach completion
soon and will be used this coming term. We will send
photographs of the new lab in October. This lab will be used
by SMC and Sixth Form students.
New Interactive Whiteboards will be in place this scholastic
year. All CHS EY2 and Junior classrooms will have this
technology in place and over 21 more classrooms and
learning spaces at SMC will have Interactive Whiteboards
and other technologies so very necessary nowadays.
New spaces are being rented for Sixth Form. With an
increase in the number of courses and students, Sixth Form
has rented 5 state-of-the-art learning spaces very close to the
College.
As you can see we are well geared-up to start our
new scholastic year. We look forward to working
closely with you. Please do not hesitate to contact
us should you require further information or
assistance.
Best Regards,
Ms Bernie and the whole CHSMC team
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