RoundUp
Term 1 First Half | 2021-2022
Covid-19 and its ever-changing restrictions have caused many difficulties for society over the last two years and the World Health Organisation’s recent warning that we’re a long way from being out of the woods yet is a sobering thought, particularly as it makes us realise just what we have missed out on during the pandemic. I’m not talking here of the superficial things like being able to go to sports fixtures, eat out regularly or go to the cinema. Instead I’m thinking of all those little things in life that form part of what’s termed ‘life’s rich tapestry’.
We’ve missed out on Christmas plays, sports days, school concerts, face to face parent consultations and more, and the common theme here is interaction with others.
I was reading recently that there is concern for pre-schoolers who will only have seen older children and adults wearing masks. Imagine growing up believing that humans only have features above their noses! I think we should be grateful that the masks don’t have to cover our eyes for, despite not being able to see people’s mouths, we can still see a range of human emotions through looking into the eyes of others. No wonder it’s said that the eyes are the window to the soul. Still, these children are likely to face difficulties in the future in being able to read the emotions which so often play out on our faces.
In school, I’m grateful that we can now have all students attend classes in person but we continue to be restricted in terms of allowing parents to visit school, so still no parental attendance at events, meaning often no events. I do hope that this will change as we approach the Christmas period and we are doing all we can to make this happen.
The entire staff of TLC Private School are understandably proud of all our students and their achievements but also their development into mature, well-informed young adults. I miss the opportunities where they can show, not just their academic achievements, but also their highly developed social and communication skills and I long for occasions such as Speech Day, Open Days or School Fairs where they have the opportunity, as ambassadors for the school, to interact with a wider range of adults and show just what a TLC education can do to give students the confidence as well as the skills to make the most of life’s opportunities.
Ian Wells | Director
This is now the start of my seventh year as Principal of TLC Private School and, as the years have passed I’ve realised just what a privileged position I hold. Within the school that I have responsibility for, young people are developing the foundations that will shape the rest of their lives. Much of the time they don’t realise the importance of learning, doing their best and ever pushing the boundaries of their learning to become the best they can be but eventually, recognise their personal responsibilities.
It’s a well-known fact that it’s not all about grades at TLC and, over the years, the school’s Personal Development Goals have shaped the characters of the students who pass through our gates. From the adoption and exhibition of these important aspects of growing up, the students have become confident individuals with a deep respect for each other and a recognition that they have to play a part in the world around them.
Through the introduction of Global Citizenship and Global Perspectives in our secondary school, many have realised the challenges of living in the 21st century and the need for change, if humanity is to arrest its slide into environmental disaster.
It’s heartening to hear students debating politics, economics and environmental issues and with a depth of knowledge and confidence that shows that maybe we are developing the influencers of the future. By this I don’t mean those people who make a living out of having millions of followers on social media, although not all social media is shallow, but those people who will be bold enough to stand in person and challenge the policies of governments, either through respectful protest, through lobbying or through choosing a career in politics.
As I was growing up, I was often asked what I wanted to be when I was older and rather superficially, chose one of the occupations that everyone chose; doctor, policeman, footballer or astronaut and it’s only as I’ve got older that I see there are careers where the positive impact we can have on society is magnified many times.
As our sixth formers look towards their university years and our younger students are asked the same question I was many years ago, I’d like them all to think ‘How can I change the world for the better?’. There are many, many ways they can do this, including becoming a teacher but they don’t have to wait until they are old enough to be heard. By simply being aware of the problems faced by the world and choosing to do the right thing, even if it’s not the easy path, they will learn the importance of doing what’s right and making the world a better place.
David Lewis | Principal
Climate Action Network (Europe) and Generation Klimact
As students prepare for life beyond TLC, it’s important that we provide them with a broader global awareness to thrive and make informed decisions in a rapidly changing world.
As David mentioned in his introduction, in secondary, we’ve introduced Global Citizenship (Key Stages 3 and 4) and Global Perspectives (Key Stage 5) as compulsory subjects to equip students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to become responsible global citizens.
This half-term, our Sixth Form students have been studying Climate Change, adopting a thematic approach, examining the scientific, environmental, economic, technological and political impact, as well as considering the cultural and ethical implications.
This summer, we experienced an increase in temperature in Cyprus and saw people being displaced as a result of flooding and droughts in other parts of the world. More than 190 world leaders are expected to arrive in Scotland next month to take part in a global climate summit (COP26) to tackle climate change. This week we received a presentation from Terra Cypria, who are working in collaboration with Climate Action Network (Europe) and Generation Klimact to raise awareness amongst the youth and garner their support to demand more action against climate change on our island.
Following the presentation, Konstantinos Perikleous invited students to become Climate Change Ambassadors, who will act as representatives of TLC, liaising with students from other European countries, communicating with politicians and talking with the media. This is a great opportunity and will be offered to all interested students within Key Stages 4 and 5.
Cathy Lewis | Head of Teacher and Learning
What a great start to the new academic year!
It has been wonderful watching our new Year Sevens adapt and mature into Secondary School life. It has been a joy to watch the transition from Primary to Secondary with the support from all staff and students and for them to develop their skills and new routines.
I welcome all newcomers to the school, both staff and students, who have shown that they are an integral part of the TLC team and have, already in this short time, enhanced the family that is TLC.
During this half term, lots of progress has been made in curriculum development, pastoral routines and we were treated to the first assembly of the year by KS5. We all look forward to further form assemblies in the next half term.
This half term ended with a wonderful Greek assembly, meticulously arranged by Miss Marianna and Miss Thekla. It was an inspirational joy in which the students involved made me very proud. We also celebrated the student achievements this term with half termly house points awards to celebrate their success.
I wish you all, a well-deserved, lovely half term break.
Tracey Hewitt | Head of Secondary
It has certainly been an exciting and smooth start to what promises to be a fantastic school year. It’s hard to believe how much we have accomplished in such little time since returning from the summer break. I would like to take the time to sincerely thank the primary team, I am always impressed by the dedication, devotion, energy, and passion shown to our students, their education and activities.
Our students continue to represent us at the highest level and we are certainly proud of their hard work this first half term.
Thank you parents for your continued support and for entrusting your child’s education to our dedicated team at TLC. I wish you a wonderful break.
Miranda Matthee | Head of Primary
It has been a busy start to the year in Early Years. I am delighted to say that we have seen our Early Years grow in numbers and are now almost at full capacity. There are still a few spaces left in KG so if you know of any families wanting to join our school, please urge them to register quickly to secure a place.
The children are now settled into school routines and are very relaxed and happy. It is great to see them coming into school with big smiley faces, keen and eager to start learning!
We have had a lot of new families joining our TLC family this year and we would like to extend a very warm TLC welcome to them all. We hope they will be very happy at our school.
Toni Hayden | Head of Early Years
TLC's Online Concert
Friday 15th October saw the first of our Music department concerts. Due to restrictions still in place we had a well received and attended concert online with the pupils performing in their classes to eager audiences of their peers!
We had pieces from many different genres as well as all year groups – from Imagine Dragons to Mozart – our pupils performed beautifully and should be proud of their efforts and achievements. Please feel free to watch the entire performance or a little snippet of Maria Ignatieva in Y4 performing ‘Cups.’ A big congratulations and thank you from Mrs Outram and Miss Clare for another successful concert and we look forward to the next Christmas themed one later in the term!
Ms Outram and Ms Hurrell
OXI Day Assembly 2021
Along with Greece and the Greek Communities around the world, TLC celebrated 28th October on Friday. Oxi Day represents the day the Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas, rejected an ultimatum given by the Italians during World War II. Our OXI Day assembly journeyed through the days of 1940-1944, sharing the history of the second war as it affected Greece and the Greek’s ‘No!’ to Mussolini and the Italian army.
Ms Marianna and Ms Thekla must be congratulated on all their hard work organising and preparing for this celebratory assembly.
Congratulations also goes to all of our student speakers, who spoke clearly and eloquently in both Greek and English. A special mention and thank you must go to students Alisa Gonzales Moro, Nikolas and Alexander Singh for singing beautifully on the day.
Kindergarten - Magical Me
This term our topic was Magical Me. In class we looked at our faces, expressions and bodies and how we are all different. We also started learning our first phonics sounds, colours and number recognition. Most importantly, we learned about each other and made some great new friends!!
Ms Sara.
Reception Class - My Healthly Body
In Reception class we have been targeting our speaking and listening skills, as well as learning about colours, patterns, numbers and shapes.
We started our topic, ‘My Healthy Body’, focusing on good hygiene, especially important in these current times, and have practised making sure we always wash our hands properly. Our very own Ms. Sara used to be a dental nurse in the UK, so she worked with the children ensuring they know when, how and how much to clean their teeth. We have also looked at the benefits and importance of drinking lots of water.
Ms Toni
Reception + Animal Magic
This term as part of our ‘Animal Magic’ topic, Reception+ have been learning the different classifications of animals and how we know which animal is which type. Here we are sorting the animals into groups and creating a collage of each type for our display. It’s pretty tricky sorting reptiles from our amphibians or fur from feathers, but we have tried really hard and had a lot of fun along the way.
Ms Louise
Year 1 - Animal Magic
This half term our topic has been animals. We have classified animals into mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians, and learned about what they eat – are they carnivores, herbivores or omnivores? We have also learned about dinosaurs and done some some descriptive writing about them.
Ms Emma
Honey, I Shrunk Year 2
At TLC we have introduced the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) alongside the National Curriculum in KS1. IPC is an international curriculum providing a cross-curricular, thematic and creative teaching structure designed to engage primary children of all abilities in today’s world.
This term we introduced the topic ‘Honey, I Shrunk Year 2!’ which was thoroughly enjoyed by all students. We discovered different habitats and microhabitats around our school premises and students were able to identify things that were living, dead or have never been alive. We also learnt about pollination and studied life cycles of different mini beasts. Students used their mapping and geography skills to locate the continents; oceans and had to locate different countries in the world which are famous for their honey and silk production. We then referred to these two ancient industries on a timeline and discussed the importance of them.
We also looked at housing of the past and present and imagined what an eco-house of the future would look like. In art, the children explored the symmetry you can observe when looking at insects and they used all their gained knowledge and creativity to design a micro-habitat diorama of their choice. The dioramas will be displayed in school after half term so all primary students can see the fabulous end result!
Ms Miranda
Year 2 Art with Miss Debbie
Year 2 Art students have been designing and making insects within their Art lessons with Miss Debbie as part of their Science cross-curricular project. They have progressed onto designing and constructing their own dioramas which serve as a habitat for their insects. Materials used recycled shoeboxes, paint, oil pastels, rocks and foliage gathered and foraged. Superbly creative end results! Well done Year 2.
Year 3 - Mapping Our Local Environment
This term, Year 3 have been developing their map reading and map making skills. We have been learning how to create sketch maps using symbols to show significant features. We took a short trip to the church at Agios Georgios to locate some of the natural and man-made features around out school. As we studied the environment, we added symbols to our sketch map to show the different features. We later added a key to explain the meaning of the symbols. Field work is an interactive way to develop geography skills and the children enjoyed learning outside of the classroom.
Year 4 - Art with Miss Debbie
Year 4 Art students have been designing Egyptian gods and goddesses within their Art lessons with Miss Debbie as part of their History of Ancient Egypt cross-curricular project. They have been developing their painting skills in colour paint mixing, gradating tones and carefully applying paint whilst skilfully handling the paintbrush. Well done Year 4.
Year 5 - Europe and North America
This term in Year 5T and 5L we used a cross-curricular approach to our teaching as a way of engaging all students and enhancing their learning in history, geography, science, Maths and English.
The theme this term was Europe and North America. We explored the various geographical features of various countries within Europe and North America and incorporated this learning to create a ‘Travel Brochure’ to further the students writing skills in English. It was an opportunity for the students to use their persuasive writing skills in a creative and interesting way.
We then went on to combine science with the central theme. The students developed an understanding of the different time zones based on the rotation of the earth around the sun and were able to apply this knowledge to different regions in Europe and North America. History was based on the Mayan people and the lessons explored their influence in maths and letter formation.
Ms Wendy and Maria C
Year 6 | Exploring, Events and Light
This academic year feels like it is whizzing past! It is hard to believe that the first part of the autumn term has already come to an end. It is wonderful to be back in the classroom, and seeing students enjoying social interactions with their peers! The Year 6 class has put in great effort and determination during these past six weeks, debating some complex topics and working toward solving challenging tasks.
History
Our class has looked back to one of the most fascinating civilisations in history, exploring Ancient Greece and its many wonders. We have looked at the geographical landscapes of Greece, drawing connections to its advantageous geographical position to the rest of the known world at that time. We also investigated the life of Alexander the Great and drew contrasts between life in Ancient Athens and life in Ancient Sparta, sparking fascinating debates on which would be best to live in depending on your gender and position in the social hierarchy. This theme continues after the mid-term break where we begin project-based learning and research.
Art
Students investigated images from historical sources to identify key events in history, such as the Olympic Games. We constructed our traditional mosaics, drawing inspiration from Greece. Students often grumbled at the time and patience it took to lay each tile and then grout their images, making us appreciate the archaeological sites a little more that remain today!
Year 6 students then investigated how the Ancient Greeks used pottery to tell stories and depict different scenes from their lives. We have just begun moulding a pot in the style of Ancient Greek pottery. The children will then use the existing pots they’ve seen to inspire their design and create a pot in the same style during the latter part of the autumn term.
Science
In this half term, we studied how light travels from a source and cannot pass through opaque materials, forming shadows. We found that light is reflected from surfaces and can be refracted when travelling through different mediums. We also explored how light enters the eye and how the different parts of the eye work in order for us to process the images we see.
Ms Evie
Art Club with Ms Debbie
In Art club with Miss Debbie, students have been making natural bamboo wind chimes for hanging outside. Bamboo was collected from the beaches and students painted the bamboo and decorated the sticks with sequins and glitter on top of the paint. Fishing line was attached to each bamboo and secured onto a horizontal bamboo rod for suspending outside in the wind. Lovely work! Well done to the students.
Year 7 - Design a Stethoscope (STEM)
As part of their STEM practical activity, students built and tested simple stethoscopes. The earliest stethoscopes were simply rolled-up tubes of paper and some types today are very simple, e.g. the Pinhard horn which is used to listen to a baby’s heartbeat during pregnancy. Students worked in groups to design and make two or three different stethoscope designs. Following the safety rules, they tried out their device and decided on the best design based on the ease of use or the one that allowed the heart to be heard the clearest or loudest. Students used a variety of objects and materials, such as paper, newspaper, cardboard tubes, small funnels, large funnels, sticky tape, rubber tubing (e.g. Bunsen hoses) and earpieces.
Ms Elena
Year 7 - Who Am I
Year 7 students have designed amazing posters representing themselves this half term. They used their creative designs to give their classmates insight about who they are. This was a wonderful exercise, perfect for getting to know each other as well as a great exercise in writing a biography, illustrating it to attract and keep the reader’s attention.
Ms Valentina
KS3 History
History for Key Stage 3 has shown insights from students rivalling that of actual historians. Beyond the history of the British and Spanish monarchy, students have engaged in Viking battles, challenges and opposition (to and within) religion, and how the women’s rights movement, along with that of universal suffrage, began. Scandals, conspiracies and cover-ups have been a side discussion in many of the classes over the past few weeks, challenging and developing the critical thinking skills of each of our learners.
Mr Will Wareham
Global Citizenship
A new subject across years 7 to 10, Global Citizenship has seen this past half-term littered with hotpots of debate amongst some of our students, ranging in topics from systemic and institutional racism, addressing poverty, wealth and taxation and the ‘guts’ and varieties of nation states present in our modern world.
Years 7 to 9 have focused on case studies related to real-life experiences of prejudice and inequality too, preparing them well on their journeys to the Year 10 content which gives an in-depth look at current political systems and international relations. Community Action Projects have been touched on, and will start to make impact in the months to come. No matter the topic covered in class, students have engaged Mr Will with zeal and confidence, making them truly 21st Century global citizens.
Mr Will Wareham
Writing and Reading About the Future
This half-term, our students have been working hard in creating and shaping their entries for our Creative Writing Competition. All entries must be based around the theme of the future, and it has been fascinating to see what the future means to each of them. In preparation for the competition; students discussed how they imagine our world will look in the years to come and the advances in technology they expect. They have also each written their own ‘quote’ about the future, to share with the school community.
This topic has been further explored by our Year 8 classes; as this term in English Literature, we are studying the novel ‘The Giver’, by Louis Lowry. This novel is set in a dystopian world and has provided a wonderful opportunity for our students to question and share their perceptions of what an ideal world would look like; the positives and negatives of different societal structures and how human nature, rules and ethics affect the way we live.
The English Department are greatly looking forward to reading each student’s vision of the future, in their short story submissions, which are due on November 1st. We will announce the winners later in the term.
Ms Ally
Year 8 Science - Biology | Healthier Pizza Bases (STEM)
As part of the Unit 8Ac: Balanced Diets practical activity, STEM students used data to create a new, healthier pizza base and designed an advertising packaging for it, making use of powerful words. Students identified ways in which the pizza base could be made healthier: by reducing the sugar, reducing the fat, increasing the fibre and adding more minerals or vitamins.
Students’ advertising boxes included reasons why their product is healthier as follows:
– Less sugar that turns to fat if not used up: Replace the sugar with artificial sweetener, reduce the levels of sugar/glucose.
– Less fat that develops obesity: Replace the oil with a gum, reduce the levels of oil.
– More fibre to help keep the intestines working properly: Replace the bleached white flour with wholemeal/wholegrain flour, combine fibre from another source into the recipe.
Ms Elena
Year 8 | Drawing a 3D Shape
It’s been a great start to the new school year. Term 1 has seen students working well on all of their class activities, showing particular interest in the 3D drawing assignments. Following the mid-term break, we will all be well rested and ready to move onto new and exciting tasks.
Mr Ray
Science Year 8 | Uses of Nutrients | Food Adverts
Students worked in groups of two to produce an A3 poster to advertise a food product of their choice. They were required to use a nutrition information label, artwork, phrases and strong words that add ‘weight’ to the claim that is being made. The children were also challenged to base their advertisements on evidence and to use that evidence in a biased way.
Year 13 - Business Studies
Many laughs have been had in this half-term’s Year 13 Business Studies, starting with students researching the market viability of the strangest products they could find online; bacon-flavoured soda, a microwavable e-notebook, steel trees sharp enough to impale, the destructive ‘rage-room’ experience and a fancy loo made just for our pets were some of the highlights to kick off the year! Although each may at first appear ridiculous, each proved introducible to the Cypriot market.
Taking it a step further, students have run head-first into the complex matrix that is business objectives, strategies and growth, the majority of whom with ease. The mid-term break sees us currently focused on decision making techniques within the corporate world, such as quantitative sales forecasting and investment appraisals – preparing students for a start, after our break, on critical path analyses.
Will Wareham
TLC Secondary Class & Vice Captains
Our congratulations go to students who were elected by their classmates as Class Captains and Vice Class Captains for the 2021-2022 school year.
These are very responsible positions – the incumbents represent the views of their classes in our School Council meetings and were recently instrumental in our Head Student election.
It is with great pleasure that we list the Captains and Vice Captains below:
Class Captain and Vice-Captain
- Year 7 – Madita Ronnenberg (Captain) Ethan Kelleher (Vice Captain)
- Year 8T – Leo Papadopoulos (Captain) Kai Nair (Vice Captain)
- Year 8L – Brandon Bartropp (Captain) Keanu Nair (Vice Captain)
- Year 9T – Arran MacIntyre (Captain) Minjie (Sally) Xia (Vice Captain)
- Year 9L – Stephan Seliuk (Captain) Robin Hammer (Vice Captain)
- Year 10 – Jamil Jawich (Captain) George Jones (Vice Captain)
- Year 11 – Yasmina Kalotheou (Captain) Mika Levy (Vice Captain)
- Year 12 – Jess Evans (Captain) Millie Jones (Vice Captain)
It is also wonderful to see the names of several ne or recent additions to our school family appearing in the list. Well done for making such a strong impact so early in your life at TLC.
TLC Secondary Head Students
Nikoletta Antoniou
Head Student
As a young girl, I always dreamt of one day becoming Head Girl, accomplishing my wish to contribute for the greater good of the school and to always exceed expectations and set examples. This school has recognised every child as a diamond and worked to polish it to shine with excellence. I feel I have benefited enormously from the assiduous management of the school that has moulded me the propensity to reach ever higher pinnacles of success. I’m looking forward to being a leader who challenges the status quo at all times and encourage all to want more from life and challenge themselves in order to explore their individual potential in an environment they feel comfortable in.
As Head Student, I am aware that my actions will leave behind lasting footprints, and I look forward to inspiring others through my actions and, along with the council members, take the school to a new zenith of excellence through the collaboration and commitment of those around me.
A statement I have always believed in is that leaders are created and not born, and so, a message I’d like to leave as a legacy is that with rectitude, discernment, unity and a resilient spirit, you can unleash your hidden talents and abilities, because a bird resting on a tree is never afraid of the branches breaking since its trust is not in the branch but on its own wings!
With the help of Lydia, Issy, the student council and the faculty of TLC, I am sure we will achieve great things this year, ensuring that every single student feels safe and happy at our school, “Where Every Child Matters”.
Lydia Wells
Deputy Head Student
Thank you to both the management members and the Student Council representatives for selecting me for the position of Deputy Head Student and putting your trust in me. The application process which consisted of writing an application letter, writing a speech and speaking publicly at the elections was an incredible experience that I am sure will benefit me in the future. I am excited at the prospects of making this academic year a memorable one, working alongside the student council and being a link between the teachers and students. From our first student council meeting, it is clear that the Class Captains and Vice Captains have many amazing ideas that will greatly benefit TLC and I am really looking forward to working alongside Nikoletta and Issy influencing what’s ahead of us in school.
Isabella Cairns
Prefect
I am highly honoured to have been entrusted with the position of Prefect by the student council and management. Becoming part of the student council and the process of applying for a position within the school was a challenging yet exciting experience. It allowed me to push myself to think outside of the box in order to differ from the other candidates whilst also reflecting on my strengths and areas I want to improve in. It has been extremely enlightening already working in collaboration with the other members of the student council and hearing their ideas in the plans of bettering our school community and ensuring that their peers’ concerns are raised. It is a privilege to work alongside Nikoletta and Lydia as Head Student and Deputy Head Student respectively and I am looking forward to the next year, full of exciting experiences and opportunities as an individual and as part of the school community.
MEDIMUN
17th Annual Mediterranean Model United Nations Debating
Headed by Mr Louis -Alexandre Lobanov, a TLC alumni and experienced MEDIMUN delegate, along with myself, eight of our students will be participating in the 17th Annual Mediterranean Model United Nations Conference, a three-day event to be held at The European University in Nicosia in February of 2022. Students from all over the island are well underway with preparations to represent their assigned countries in one of the four General Assemblies, covering topics such as: Disarmament and International Security; Environmental, Financial and Economic Development; Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Issues and the UN Legal Committee.
Training for our two teams takes place weekly after school in preparation for the debate, with a workshop at The English School in Nicosia mid-November coming up soon. It’s unfortunate that no more than eight students from TLC can participate this year as numbers are limited by the organisers, but we hope that this is only the beginning of our Model United Nations journey and that more students will be able to join next year as MEDIMUN grows and our students gain more experience.
We wish the delegates the best of luck in their preparations and are confident they will stand their ground to do their ‘countries’ proud!
Mr Wareham
KS3 Art - Painted Gourds
To start the school year with some new artwork to go on display, the students in KS3 worked collaboratively to create a number of painted gourds. The students learnt about the traditional uses for the dried gourds known as ‘kolotzia’ in the local Cypriot dialect. They took inspiration from traditional patterns and the work of contemporary Cypriot artist Charalambos Proestos who uses a range of Mediterranean blues for his modern designs before painting gourds of their own and hanging them from the trees in the school grounds.
Ms Zoe
CYDBF (Cyprus Dragon Boat Federation) International Competition
We are pleased to report that one of our school parents, Jenny O’Byrne and teachers Miss Sam Leithead and Miss Clare Hurrell took part in the Women’s 200m Standard boat race representing TLC at this international event and achieved an outstanding result! The team came first and was awarded a gold medal! Many other medals were also awarded to the team in other categories but the gold holds pride of place. We’d like to extend our congratulations to all.