Dear Parents, Students and Colleagues
 
Academy life has many highlights but also presents challenges at times. We had problems with our ICT system this week, emphasising how reliant we now are on computers in the Academy. I was very grateful to all our students and staff who were patient and adapted to lessons relying less on new technologies. The good news is that we have already bought the servers we will be installing in the new Academy and were planning to start the process of setting these up and testing them in the old building before we move into the new Academy. We just have to keep the old servers running for a few more weeks, during which time we will also appoint a commercial partner who will deliver the ICT services in all three LST academies over the next couple of years. A big thank you to Wai and Graham, our ICT technical team, who worked extremely hard to get the system up and running again. We hope that we didn´t loose any e-mails and that we´ve replied to everyone but I would be grateful if you could message us again if you think we have missed an e-mail from you.
 
We faced challenges with the weather as well this week. Although the snow was short lived, the low temperatures meant that our building contractors couldn´t pour concrete. The special concrete mixture they are using can be poured at fairly low temperatures but it has to be above two degrees centigrade for the ‘pour´ to take place. On the other side of the coin this week was the scheduled meeting where we started thinking about how we will move from the old building to the new one. Anyone who has moved house knows the degree of organisation required, so I´m sure you can imagine the planning required in this case. Starting early and creating a really detailed plan will help the move to be smooth and uneventful. Students and staff both contributed to discussions on the colours we will use in the new school this week. I think the suggestions presented by the architects are really imaginative and will create a subtle but uplifting building. The use of colour in a building is really important so I have been keen that we spend some time talking to students and staff to come up with something special. We hope that a member of the architect´s team will come and present the colour strategy at the upcoming Parents Forum, so please put 28th February at 7.00 pm in your diary. We have a lively agenda and lots to talk about.
 
The international dimension of Academy life shone through this week. Two more members of staff were able to spend a couple of days in one of our Swedish schools. They came back enthused by what they had seen and even better equipped to implement the learning approaches that are now making a real difference. We also welcomed some very special visitors from Uganda on Wednesday.  Members of the Watoto Choir have all lost one or both parents but they refused to let this prevent them from providing magical entertainment, with exquisite singing and dancing. Year 7 and 8 students were joined by pupils from Heathfield and  Bishop Perrin Primary schools. A number of our students bravely took to the stage, trying out some of the dance steps.  This was followed by an opportunity to ask questions and find out about life in Uganda. I was very proud of all our students who were a wonderful audience. When asked if they had any questions one student said ‘Can I give you a hug!".  I´m certain that every student would have gone up on stage if there had been time. The simple embraces that followed expressed both the compassion and gratitude. Compassion for a group of young people who had clearly come through very challenging times in their lives and gratitude to them for sharing their skills, talents and experiences with us. An uplifting and thought provoking experience!
 
I was lucky enough to travel to Africa for the first time last year — a memorable visit to an inspiring continent. It was great to be able to thank the Watoto Choir for bringing a taste of Africa to Twickenham. A big thank you to Christine Kirk for setting up the event.
 
Nick Jones, Principal