Congratulations to all those students who have achieved outstanding results in the epraise points totals so far this term! Epraise is the system we use for rewarding students across the school for their performance in a variety of areas. The students have their own personal log-in and can track their progress.

We also use epraise for communicating and recording the assignments given to the students for completion in study time or over the holiday periods. Points can be awarded (and sometimes deducted) in each of the following categories:

Students are given certificates when they reach Milestones during the course of the term. These are at 20 points for a Bronze Certificate, 40 points for a Silver Certificate, 60 points for a Gold Certificate and 100 points for the Diamond Award. The top scorers also receive prizes for their exceptional performances. The certificates are awarded periodically and the top students are rewarded at the end of each term. The points scored over the course of the year contribute directly to the academic awards at the end-of-year ceremony, in the presence of the parents and the whole school La Garenne community.  

We are only four weeks into the term and many students have already reached some impressive points totals. In the Cubs and Minis, thirty-one students have already reached the Bronze award. Marharyta (30 points), Beth (31 points), Eliza (32 points), Tony (33 points), Gian (33 points), and Moira (35 points) are all well on their way to the Silver Certificate.

It seems that the points are harder to gain for the Junior students but nineteen students have already reached the Bronze award. The top scorers so far this term are Valeriya (25 points), Maya (25 points), Lucia (25 points), Zoé (27 points), Lorenza (28 points) Aleia (28 points) and Yaroslav (34 points).

Well done to all those who are already at the Bronze Certificate level – now for the Silver!

This term the Junior students have been concentrating on personal projects as well as the group activities. One project was to design a car and there were quite a few interested. We have weekly meetings looking at how they are getting on and the reason for their designs. The next step is to learn how to transfer their ideas onto a plan drawn to scale and then to copy the information onto pieces of balsa wood and to start building a small model of their car. Once done, they will present their cars to the school and one will be chosen for the final building stage, a life size cardboard model or a smaller one they can drive! It is important to allow the students the possibility of investing time in personal projects and this may help them to go on to bigger things in life, everyone has to start somewhere.

At the end of a very long term, we calculate all the boarding points that the students have gained for their good behaviour, attitude within the school and helping out when need be. We were very pleased to go out for dinner with six students who were ranked first for the term. The students had dinner and enjoyed their evening, as did we!

La Garenne officially launched the process of Accreditation by the Council of International Schools (CIS). We have been members of this international organisation for the past two years and we are now ready to move on to the next stage – full accreditation. We are currently preparing a report on all aspects of life at La Garenne, leading up to a Preliminary Visit in May. The thorough report the visitors produce will highlight what we already do well and, at the same time, will provide us with guidance on how we can make things even better. The Self Study that follows next year will allow the whole school community to work together to plan for the continual development and improvement of the school. More on this nearer the time!