Page 7 - ES MAG 2019

Chairman’s

Message

As always, the activity within the School never ceases as each term All residents of Nicosia are aware of the beauty of our School’s
rapidly succeeds the previous with our students’ achievements in grounds and its elevated location in the centre of town. In order
all elds never ceasing to deserve our hearty congratulations. We to fully develop these natural advantages, the Board has com-
all know that The English School is much more than just a set of missioned a landscaping company to prepare a masterplan of
buildings - it is a philosophy, a tradition and a family to which, I the whole School grounds with a view to making proposals for
know from personal experience as an ex student and as Chairman optimizing its use by the School community, whilst simultan-
of its Board of Management for the last 3 years, we are all proud eously enhancing the grounds’ natural beauty.
to belong.
Another change for our School was the arrival of our new Head-
Once again the high academic excellence of our students has master in April 2018, Mr. David Lambon, who was entrusted to
resulted in our exceptional external examination results, University identify and implement policies of best practice which would
placements and a diversity of extra curricular achievements, which ensure that the School is in a position to allow its students to
con rm the reputation of our School as being ‘A School of Excellence’. reach their full potential in all areas and to keep the School abreast
Our students come to us with a high level of ability, but their achie- of current educational trends. This November we will have another
vements during their time with us could not be accomplished visit from the International School’s Inspectorate to see how the
without the excellent work of our sta , and the dedicated support School has developed since its last visit in November 2015. We are
of their parents, to whom we express our warmest thanks. con dent that Mr. Lambon’s considerable leadership experience
will ensure the enhancement of our School’s successes, both
The English School is proud to be in a position to lay claim to a academic and non-academic.
philosophy of team spirit and tradition going back 119 years
when our founder Canon Frank Darvall Newham rst opened As is the case each year, we have to say goodbye to sta who
the doors of our School to its original 13 pupils in Victoria Street are retiring or leaving to follow other life choices. The Board o ers
within the old Nicosia town. However, parallel to the value of all these teachers its sincere thanks and appreciation of the many
tradition, our School also realizes the need for change in order to hours they devoted to standing by our students and ensuring
keep up with the demands of developments in education, which that they received the best possible assistance to reach their
includes providing the appropriate facilities and equipment as maximum potential.
well as being able to adopt constant curriculum changes. The
Board, with our School’s management, endeavours to ensure that To all sta who will not be joining us in September, the Board is
The English School is not left wanting in this world of change, certain that they will be remembered fondly by hundreds of
including the provision of a suitable campus. To this end, we are students and by their colleagues. On behalf of the Board of Manage-
now proud to be able to provide our students and sta with ment I wish them and their families the very best of health and
the long-awaited Newham Building so that learning can take happiness for the future.
place in a conducive environment, expected from a school of our
reputation. The Board has long been aware that our senior students Finally, I close by wishing all our graduating students success
in Years 6 and 7 need to take up responsibility and ownership of and ful llment throughout their lives and I am certain that they
their own area of learning and relaxation with their classmates will always feel privileged and proud to be able to say that they
before entering university or army life. This is a far cry from their attended The English School. Our motto ‘non sibi sed scholae’
relatively sheltered time in their younger classes and it is for this (not for yourself but for your School) will be the thread holding
reason that the Board is in the process of converting the old Arts The English School family together and is proven by the strong
Centre into a Senior Students’ Common Room where our Year 6 alumni connection regardless of the year of graduation.
and 7 students can study, relax, converse with friends in an adult
and responsible manner. The Board is con dent that the Senior To all returning students and sta , we look forward to seeing you
Students’ Common Room will be warmly welcomed by all. again in September and on behalf of the Board of Management,
I wish you all a most happy and restful summer holiday.
This year improvements have been seen in our Sports Centre
along with new changing rooms and a gym, and through BOT
projects we will soon be in possession of new tennis courts and
improved futsal pitches. Work on our basketball courts, the repairs
to our hockey pitch, and our athletics running track are also on
the agenda for the near future, as is the fencing and lighting of Dr George Theocharides
our sports grounds. The Board of Management is strongly aware Chairman of the Board of Management
of the School’s tradition of sports and the physical well-being of
its students and its planning re ects the importance that our School
has always placed on its tradition of sports, in line with the vision
of our founder Canon Newham.