RoundUp
Term 3 | 2019-2020
Usually my husband and fellow director, Ian Wells grabs the limelight with his article for our RoundUp magazine but, with the end of the school year upon us, I’ve taken the chance to share my thoughts with you as we start the summer holidays.
We’ve seen the word unprecedented used many times this year to describe the effect of the Covid-19 virus on people’s health, their families and their livelihoods and, indeed, we will have seen nothing like this before in our lives and must pray that globally, the virus is got under control and that it stays that way, meaning that we never face anything similar again. We have been very fortunate in Cyprus that the government’s actions have spared us the worst of the virus’ effects but still, it’s had an impact on the lives of us all.
Once threats subside, people often reflect on what could have been and re-evaluate their perspective on life, their environment and those they share it with.
I’m sure all of us have worried about ageing relatives here and overseas and have felt somewhat helpless in keeping them safe.
Here in Cyprus, we shared parents’ concerns over the health and safety of our students, preferring to teach them online until the threat of Covid-19 became insignificant. The ‘unprecedented’ way of teaching and learning at TLC showed me just how adaptable our teachers and pupils could be and we believe that through the rigorous online programme, we will have kept any disruption to your child’s education to an absolute minimum, ensuring they are prepared for their return to class in September.
Recognising the support of the whole TLC community this year, I would like to thank you all, parents, students and teachers, and wish you a very happy, restful and healthy summer.
Laura Wells | Director
It seems like only yesterday we were welcoming our secondary students into the new accommodation at Parkland and here we are at the end of the school year.
After this year’s disruption, I feel I want to look to the future and the increasing hope that life will be back to a semblance of normality in September. I can’t do that without at least an acknowledgement of the silver linings of the last year. Whilst some children have found working online from home quite a challenge, the vast majority have enjoyed it and their achievements have shone through in the reports which have been issued to parents this week. The teachers and I want to commend you all for the way you adapted, overnight, to learning online and the success you have made of it.
The virus caused the cancellation of this summer’s exam series but in ‘making lemonade out of lemons’ our exam students switched to a new qualification, the Extended Project Qualification, which I have had the pleasure of being part of the team that delivered it to the students.
I really would urge you to read the EPQ supplement that accompanies this RoundUp for a taste of what the course entails and how our students have benefited. Those that participated will have the opportunity to present their projects at an event in September which will form part of their assessment and they’re already looking forward to the chance to present and take questions on a diverse range of topics.
Being online didn’t stem the creative talents of our students and, having attended a physical performance of Tea and Tunes in the early part of the year, the online sequel showcased an even wider range of talents in our students, aided by Mrs Outram and Miss Clare.
So, looking forward to September, we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the school and mark the important contribution it makes to the lives of our students and the local community. TLC Private School is unique, in its personality, its aims and especially in its students. Approaching my 27th year of teaching I can honestly say, particularly after working with a very talented group of students this summer, that I have never encountered such a united, aware, caring and positive group of young people and it is my pleasure and honour to be their principal.
David Lewis | Principal
I have spent over 45 years in education but never have I experienced anything like what we’ve all had to endure during the Coronavirus pandemic. Lockdown has been a new experience for all and my heart goes out to those parents who’ve had to manage very young children – it can’t have been easy! Over the last four months, I have been copied into all the emails to parents and had contact with Ian Wells. Whilst I have a specific reason for contributing to this edition of the RoundUp, I’m ‘stealing’ a little more space to commend the work of Ian and David Lewis as well as our amazing staff. Principles, values and consistency are essential ingredients for success in any school. Throughout the last four months, our school’s leadership has stood firm and been resolved to getting through this awful period with health and safety at the top of the agenda.
The response of parents and the school’s leadership to avoid a premature re-opening, has been proved right as we watch in the UK and in Cyprus, the huge issues that schools are having in trying to plot a course through every-changing guidance on safety and control of a virus. TLC has stood firm and I believe Ian’s stance was right for our staff and students. Decisions have been grounded in principles, values and consistency for the benefit of everyone’s health and well-being.
I have family members in school leadership in the north and south of England, as well as France. I also have grandchildren in the French and UK education system from early years to university. Hardly any of the 32,100 UK schools have been able to create an online experience to match what Ian and David have established and which the staff have delivered. I marvel at what they have achieved, and it was established extremely quickly. It is not the same as face to face education where personality, shared interests and relationships prevail but it has become a worthy addition to what TLC Private School can offer its students. A huge well done to the TLC Team!
Introducing a new opportunity to our Year 11 and 12 students
This summer our Year 11 and 12 students put aside their disappointment that their external examinations had been cancelled and turned their attention to the Extended Project Qualification introduced by TLC Private School in April. Designed originally to bridge the gap between A Levels and university, our students raised the bar and completed excellent mini-EPQ projects and are in the process of completing their main project to be submitted to the examination board in the autumn. Read more about what our students and tutor assessors think about this new qualification by clicking the button below.
Term 3 in Reception Class
Well it’s certainly been a unique term, for the children and me! Reception class settled into their online classes and have been really working hard. The children have been beautifully behaved and have shown how adaptable and resilient they are to new situations and have demonstrated enormous motivation towards completing their group tasks. The children attended not only video lessons for Literacy and Numeracy, but we have danced together, exercised together, completed a range of beautiful art and design work (including Jackson Pollock and Piet Mondrian style paintings) together and developed our scissor skills and fine motor control…… all from our own homes!
I would like to thank the children for being so good and the parents for all their hard work and support team-teaching with me.
Ms Toni
Year 1 Continuous Learning
In Science this term Year 1 have been learning about plants and mini-beast habitats. We created our own bug hotels to see who would visit and we have been growing our own vegetables! In Topic we have been learning about Australia. We looked at famous Australian landmarks and studied Australian culture.
Despite the circumstances, we have thoroughly enjoyed term 3. Thank you children for all the effort and hard work! We wish you a wonderful rest and a great summer.
Ms Irene & Ms Louise
Year 2 The Five Oceans of Our World, Art & Design, STEM
The students in Year 2 have been studying the five oceans of our world. They learnt about a variety of sea creatures and how their bodies adapt to different conditions. They discovered famous places on our planet like the Great Barrier Reef, the Mariana Trench, the Bermuda Triangle, Titanic’s shipwreck, the Northern Lights and many more. Students enjoyed being a pirate for a week and learnt how to locate a treasure on a map.
This topic had lots of fun activities including Art & Design, Science, STEM, developing map and research skills and most students were very proud to share their work with the rest of the class. Well done Year 2!
Year 3T & 3L
Dear Year 3T and 3L, you have all been such wonderful young individuals to teach and it has been a wonderful opportunity and experience to meet you and have the pleasure to teach you the latter part of this academic year. I have seen each of you grow and develop in your studies and your progress, as well as in your personalities too. You have overcome difficulties and challenges in some of your subjects. You have been conscientious in getting your work completed to the best of your ability and I can see that each one of you has consistently, really tried so hard. I hope that you have enjoyed your time learning and having fun in our Year 3 lessons. Now, you will be able to enjoy your summer rest, playing with friends, enjoying the beach and sharing fun times with your family. When you return in September, you will be a little more grown up and enter Year 4. I hope we will continue enjoying our next year at school and I very much look forward to seeing you in September. See you soon, Miss Debbie
An Ode to Year 4
In English this term, Year 4 have been working on their poetry skills and in particular writing their own odes. The children had to apply poetic devices such as alliteration, metaphors, similes and hyperbole to praise and glorify their favourite foods. A selection of tasty treats were chosen from oranges to olives and the children enjoyed listening to each other wax lyrical about glorious food!
Mr Richards
The sweet tasty cherry
Such a wonder to life
I love the way you taste
As nice as ice cream
But healthy!
You have so soft sweetness
You are amazing, juicy and delicious
I think of you in boring times.
When I look at you I can just imagine your taste
Because you are a cherry more valuable to me than a ruby
I have stolen you from the fridge many times.
by Oliver J.
Dragons and Humans
In Year 5, the children have been reading The Wyrmstooth Crown, a fantasy tale about a long war between dragons and humans. In the story, both clans try to claim the golden crown. Children in Year 5 were challenged to create their own unique crown. We discussed a wide range of materials, designs and construction techniques before the children built their own headdress. The kings and queens in Year 5 have proven their extraordinary skills by creating these magnificent pieces of art.
Mr Lines
RMS Titanic Sinks!
Imagine you were invited to take a trip on the largest man-made moving object in the world, at the time! The year 6s explored the luxurious RMS Titanic. It certainly was, for some, a glamorous time. As the Titanic set sail no one on board could have predicted the tragedy that lay in store for them in the form of an enormous floating mountain of ice that would sink the ‘unsinkable’ ship. For some the journey was a pleasure trip enjoying the luxurious first class cabins and the very best food and wine, for others it was the excitement of being aboard the ship that might break the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing and earn the Blue Riband, whilst for almost all the poorer passengers in third class it was a journey to a new life, one of hope and prosperity, but for most, it was a one-way ticket to an icy death.
Pupils wrote descriptive recounts about boarding the ship, the disaster and eventually being rescued from the freezing waters of the North Atlantic. Specific language and structural choices were used to change the pace and mood of their writing.
We went further and wrote scripts for televised news reports about the disaster which pupils recorded and edited.
Congratulations to all the pupils on a successful term.
Ms Evie
by Anton Khromov
News Report Film- by Ava Wells and Irene Ricci-David
Year 6 Trade and Economics
Year 6L have been learning about Trade and Economics in Geography and the students of 6L (Evelyn and Aili) created their own Monopoly game which took us on tour buses around the city of Paphos. We even visited Meraki, TLC School and many more! We loved buying and trading property together.
Well done 6L!
Ms Sarah
Year 6 Art
Perspectives
During the first part of term 3, year 6 students have been learning about how to show a sense of perspective in their own artistic creations. To the left, a beautiful piece by Veronika Venzhego which was inspired our lessons on Scandinavia in Geography. Veronika used watercolours and pencil to add detail to the images in the foreground, as well as blending and shading to highlight the focus of the piece – the Northern Lights.
Still Life
Year 6 students have also been learning how to develop their technique when sketching Still Life. Through investigating the new topic Objects and Their Meanings, Pavel Basharimov recreated a beautiful piece of his own (far left), using shading carefully to illuminate the objects with light.
Ms Sarah
KS1 English
In the KS1 English group we have covered a range of topics this term, including time, where we live and where we are from, rooms and items in the house, spring, word classes, jobs and people who help us. The children have all participated really well in the online learning. Well done!
In F1, F1B and F2 we had a mini creative writing competition. All the students tried their best and wrote some lovely stories, and the winners are:
F1 – Oscar Wang Year 3 – Ninja Forest Fight
F1B – Levente Bus – Year 4 – Tilted Towers Mystery
F2 – Barizhan Ayati – Year 5 – A Sad Journey in Paris
Well done to all the ESL students for their hard work and perseverance!
Ms Emma
Online PE
Y8 have been completing different tasks throughout the term which demonstrate their strength, flexibility and skills in different areas. They have each chosen tasks that suit their level of fitness and surroundings and sent in evidence in different forms to show progress – here are some of their creative pictures. Ms Clare
Tea & Tunes
2nd June saw our first online Tunes on Tuesday event which entertained a fantastic audience, not only here in Cyprus but from across the seas as well.
We had twenty performers playing or singing from their own homes with a wide range of instruments and musical genres. Some of our students even dressed up to match their song! It was a lovely afternoon enjoyed thoroughly which really brought the sense of community we have been missing recently back to life – what a wonderfully talented group of students, but don’t take it from us Ms Outram & Ms Clare
Here’s what the audience had to say…
'A truly international event!'
On 2nd June at 4:30pm Mrs Watts and I had the pleasure of watching and listening to the Tea and Tunes concert from the UK where we’ve been located throughout the lockdown period. This of course, made the show a truly international event! In Maria Outram and Clare Hurrell we have two extremely talented and phenomenally committed music teachers. TLC’s got Talent is not just the name of an annual summer concert, it is a strong statement of our ethos and philosophy – the backbone of our school. The talents of our students, in so many different disciplines, is what makes our school so special. Whilst in some schools, students are recipients of what is delivered, at TLC, every student matters enough to us that that we recognise individuality, as well as their many and diverse interests and skills that they bring together to create the ‘buzz’ and atmosphere with which parents engage when they first walk around our sites. The Tea and Tunes event made a very strong statement that, even at such a critical time for our students, the staff want to provide opportunities for them to rehearse and contribute their skills, talents and potentials.
To all 19 students (and parents), who gave a performance on 2nd June, a huge CONGRATULATIONS!
Chris Watts, Director & Founder
Home is where the ART is
The students may well be dealing with restrictions and the ‘new normal’, but their creativity has not been contained! Picasso said, ‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’ and the students have been really resourceful focusing on creating from home and possibly escaping from the current situation with Art. Students explored ways of drawing and painting with coffee, using shadows as a starting point for an abstract design or an imagined character. The Coronavirus outbreak caused an unprecedented demand for toilet paper, so the students joined an online art challenge to create an artwork using a cardboard toilet paper tube.
The basics of lighting and composition have been important skills when taking good quality photographs of artwork from home, so as an extension, students used a toilet roll as a circular viewfinder either to take a ‘moon selfie’ or to record scenes from around the house.
Some of the students used foil to line the inside of the cardboard to reflect the colours and light
Ms Zoe.
Home is where the ART is (Primary)
The students in Year 4 made art journals from scrap paper, then creatively transformed discovered objects and their shadows from around the house with their magical drawing powers! Using discovered objects again, the students focused on the different colours and arranged them in order to make a colour wheel. They looked at ways to help nesting birds visiting the island, then built a nest at home either small enough for a bird or big enough for themselves. The students collaborated with ways to solve any architectural problems and the constructing went on late into the afternoon.
Ms Zoe
Coffee Art by SOFIYA MIRCHERVA
Coffee Art by VERA ZAKHAROVA
Ignite
Year 8 learned about informative texts during their Ignite English lessons. They learned how to write formally and how to research facts and still make their text interesting. The students were tasked with making their own PowerPoints on whatever topic they wanted. They had to inform their fellow classmates on things they are passionate about or enjoy. They all worked really hard and presented some amazing pieces. Here are some examples of students’ work.
Miss Valentina
The Dream of Freedom
The dream of freedom has been around since the start of time. For example, when Moses was fighting to free the Israelites from slavery and oppression, wars that were started for the sake of freedom, the suffragettes that fought for the freedom to vote and equality, Martin Luther King that fought for freedom from slavery for his people, the stories are many.
Freedom is everyone’s right, freedom of speech, freedom to be who you want to be, freedom to do what you want to do, freedom to be who you want to be with, freedom to love whoever you want, freedom to worship who you want, freedom to live your life how you want to live it, social and political freedoms to which all people are entitled to, the list is endless. Unfortunately, in some cases freedom has been replaced by power, power that controls and takes away freedom from people. Even now people are fighting for freedom, freedom that has been taken away from them, freedom to be who they want to be without them being oppressed. All anyone wants is to be happy and the secret to happiness is freedom!
For me freedom is important, especially the freedom to be who I am and not what society expects me to be, sometimes it does not work and I find myself trying to be what is expected of me so that I am not laughed at or told I am strange. This upsets me and makes me angry because all I want is to be myself and its hard work trying to be what everyone else wants you to be. My freedom at times was taken away from me but I learnt a lot of lessons in life that way, some stuck, some did not but because of this I learnt more from rejection rather than acceptance. Therefore, what I want to say to society is “I tried being what you see as normal, but I found it boring, therefore I am just going to be my quirky self!” To be myself is the only way I can be free, because deep down everyone is the same.
I relate to a quote by Johnny Weir:
“Love myself I do. Not everything, but I love the good as well as the bad. I love my crazy lifestyle and I love my hard discipline. I love my freedom of speech and the way my eyes get dark when I am tired. I love that I have learned to trust people with my heart, even if it will get broken, I am proud of everything that I am and will become”.
The freedom people want unfortunately they may not get due to powerful people who want to control others and people who take it away, but we can try and fight for freedom with kindness, acceptance, love, diversity, understanding, caring, tolerance, inclusion … I could go on forever. I feel free when society is kind to me “And I will repay your kindness the only way I know how. With Music!”.
by Zak Goodwin in Year 12
Dear World,
I am standing here, in front of you tonight
To talk about the cruel thing which happened
To most of the human race across the whole wide world,
And the majority of us are trying to fight
This horrible monstrosity.
I have come here tonight to tell you
How people struggle.
Our fellow brothers, sisters not by choice,
But by Mother Nature that has created us all
Dear friends,
You know, sometimes I think about
How grateful I am for this world I live in,
Of all the people and the nations God has put together.
It is incredible to take into account
All the people that are living on this planet.
I am, and you are one of those people too.
These funny-looking, clever human beings,
We’re all one species, just a different branch
We, I believe, are the biggest family tree I’ve ever seen.
My fellow people
There has been a big, abominable problem
That some of us are doing things to make it stop for all these years.
It is the most disgraceful thing I’ve ever heard.
It’s… Ah! I can’t even pronounce the word!
Well, here we go: it’s racism.
A misleading belief, that some
Are more respectable than others.
A better human kind, they say.
“We are all equal”, but there are some who believe that they are
Just “better” than others, Why?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We all are just the same!
Some people like white bread, some people wholegrain.
But does that stop us all from eating both?
No. The same should be with people:
We should all have the same rights.
As we are all living creatures and are all equal!
If you don’t like a person, please just keep it to yourself!
Or just ignore them when they pass by.
Think of it: they’ve done nothing wrong.
It’s not their choice if they are black or white or yellow.
Dear humans,
Things are getting violent:
Lee Rigby, Breonna Taylor, Rosa Parks,
PLEASE SAY THEIR NAMES!
No violence should ever be applied to a person of a different colour,
Whether they are yellow, black or white to you.
All humans have the right to live
And no innocent creature should just die.
My message is: Treat everybody equally!
Equality – the key to a happy life.
It is the key to everything, the balance between worlds of wrong and right.
And justice also should take up a lot of space in our hearts.
This will help the world become a better place.
We are all equal.
Justice, justice, justice.
And nothing negative at all.
Full stop.
By Alisa Feizullova,Year 8
Covid-19
As part of the A2 Biology syllabus, students have learnt about Immunity and diseases caused by microorganisms. This allowed them to understand the necessary measurements taken worldwide to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This term students were tasked to prepare a university style thesis on the topic. The process is similar to what they will use at university to complete assignments and their final thesis, regardless of their chosen course. These skills included;
1. Research
2. Identification of valid sources
3. Improving the validity of the data collected
4. Writing an article
5. Correct citation of sources to prevent plagiarism
6. Displaying data as a PowerPoint presentation
7. Delivery of a presentation to their peers
I hope this exercise has enabled them to gain knowledge and will prevent first time nerves of having to address their peers, which I certainly had during my first presentation at University!
Ms Kasouli
Shakespeare
Shakespeare was written to be performed and despite current restrictions, our Year 9 students have done a great job of bringing his final play, ‘The Tempest’ to life during this term.
Students took real ownership over their learning through live readings of the text in independent groups, creating costume designs, debating dating in the Elizabethan era and producing live and recorded performances.
Students often feel intimidated or even worse, bored by Shakespeare, however, by not having the safety net of a teacher in the same room, this online Shakespeare experience has challenged Year 9 to take charge of the play and discover that Shakespeare is not so scary and can actually be great fun.
Miss Ally
Tempest photo Grace Yasmina and Tom
Tempest photo George Jones
Caliban costume design Yasmina Kalotheou
Caliban costume design Olivia Ronnenberg
Tempest photo Olivia and Rowen
