Issue 1
Vol 9
Aug/Sept 2013
It’s That Time Again!
As we see the parks in Antwerp gradually turn from explosive shades of green to the warm colours of autumn we have to admit
that summer is coming to an end. In addition to natural cues, nothing alerts us to the changing season like returning to school!
Da Vinci News has come home to you each month for over eight years to keep
parents, students and graduates up-to-date about what is happening here at
school. Later this school year we will say goodbye to our newsletter in its printed
form! This year we are transforming Da Vinci News into an electronic
publication - a move which not only reflects the changing readership since its
conception but will also help us work towards our goal of a more environmentally
friendly school.
This edition has plenty inform you about, students are already on their way out of
the classroom on field trips and sports days. Not to mention all of the exciting
changes that have come to pass this summer and in the first months of school.
There are several new faces in the school faculty this year and some old favourites
in new roles all of which will be revealed in the following pages.
We have so much to look forward to this school year. From student clubs to
visiting museums, seeing plays to performing monologues, from our international
Upper School trip to exploring our own beautiful city and from new building
projects to studying for Cambridge Exams one thing no one will ever be is bored!
Our own Upper School Student Council is already abuzz with exciting ideas for
improvements and ways to raise funds for enticing activities including a pizza day
in October! Grades 11 and 12 have taken ownership of their own common room
to use for study periods to work quietly and decompress.
As you can see there is loads of excitement in store for the year. A warm welcome
to all of our new families and welcome back to those of you returning. Here’s to a
great year!
Mr Ian Stanley - Headmaster
New Staff and Staff Changes
EcoHuis Field Trip
Sports Day
New ICT Media Lab
Staff News
New Faces and New Roles
You may have noticed some faces you don’t recognise bobbing through the halls
of school. We would like to give a warm welcome to our new teacher of Upper
School History and Middle School History and Geography, Mr Frederik Van der
Linden; our new Middle School Maths teacher, Miss Katrijn Ganne; our new
teacher of Middle School Science, Miss Eva Raeymaeckers and our new PE
teacher, Mr Nico Lansu. Welcome to Da Vinci!
New faces aren’t the only changes to the staff
here at Da Vinci, some familiar faces have taken
on adventurous new roles. Our previous ICT and
Geography teacher, Mr Bramley has moved into
an administrative position, taking charge of all the
preparation for our official examinations as well
as careers advice. Mr Sossi has scooted over to the
role of Middle School English and Drama teacher. Mr Sitarica is taking an larger
role this year, teaching Art and Photography to Middle School and Upper
School students.
A big welcome back to Miss Sarah who has returned to her role of KG1 teacher
after spending her first months of motherhood away from school. Ms Stephanie,
who taught KG1 while Ms Sarah was away last year, has found a permanent role
teaching Dutch to Grades 3 to 8 and lending a hand to Kindergarten whenever
possible.
EcoHuis for Our Future!
Grade 4 students recently visited the EcoHuis in Antwerp. The students got to see solar panels and
were amazed when told that the whole EcoHuis was run on solar energy. Additionally, they got to see
the bee hives, the production of honey, different types of plants and much more. The children had a
blast as they got to participate in quizzes and games.
After a fun-filled day, the
children headed back home
with a mind full of ideas that
could save the world and its
environment.
Manisha Sethia G11
Da Vinci news
Sports-Splash
The Da Vinci Board of Health and Safety paid Kindergarten a visit on
their annual Sports Day. Ms Stephanie, our Da Vinci inspector, came to
discover if all Da Vinci Kindergarten children know how to exercise
safely! She planned many fun activities in order to find out how fit all
our youngest students are. Throughout the day, these ‘athletes’ ‘worked
out’ on bouncy castles, funny bicycles, obstacle courses, and also with
the parachute. Everyone was bounced-out by the day’s end!
Lower school students enjoyed their very own Sports Day at the De Nekker Sports Centre in
Mechelen playing intense sports such as baseball and hockey. After mastering their skills in these two
sports, their day followed with a series of
entertaining courses. Up, down, left, right!
They were everywhere. These little
monkeys, filled with energy, undoubtedly
had an incredible time.
Jhalak Shaw G11
Our Middle School Grade 5 & 6 students
had their very own Sports Day, also at De
Nekker! The students participated in an
obstacle course, practised archery and
finished off with a fun field day!
On 17th September, our fellow students
from Grades 7 to Grade 12 enjoyed themselves on their annual Sports Day. Despite the cold weather
we were lucky enough to have some sun! At the Weyneshof centre in Rijmenam, we went through
several rope courses that required strength, skill and guts. A lot of the obstacles had no ropes to hold
you up so if you let go, you would simply fall into the muddy water covered with algae!
We did several activities that required teamwork. When it was Mr Lorenzo’s turn on a giant wooden
catapult, all the students took revenge on him for all the maths homework by letting go of the
“breaks” allowing it to lose balance, resulting in a pretty bouncy landing! Mr Lorenzo wasn’t the only
one with a rough landing though.
A group of TARZANS swung on
ropes over the swamp and guess
what…. SPLASH…all muddy for
the rest of the day - YUCK. At the
end of the day nobody got hurt
and it was quite a memorable day
for all of us.
Jhalak Shah G11 and Heer Shah G12
Da Vinci news
Welcome Reception
Remember warm weather? Perhaps this photo of one of
Da Vinci’s newest smiling families will remind you. Alyssa and
Keegan McCallum are shown here with their parents and Ms An
at the Welcome Reception on Friday, 6th September. Parents,
students and teachers all had a lovely afternoon sharing a drink in
the sun and getting to know one another a little better.
Staff News
Apple-licious!
A great Da Vinci congratulations are in order too
for a couple of our loveliest teachers!
Kindergarten’s Ms Cynthia was proposed to by
her now-fiancé, Bart this summer! And perhaps
we at Da Vinci should take it as a compliment
that he chose to pop the question as he was
dropping her off for her first day of school!
In other news, our Da Vinci computer lab is now
equipped with 21 brand new iMacs, which are not
only a lot faster, but their extraordinary functions
make them super fun and easy to use! From Grades 1
to 12, we all surely appreciate this change and look
forward to our ICT and Computer Science lessons!
Jhalak Shah G11
Middle and Upper School’s Ms Kitty, on the
other hand, is getting ready to end her
engagement this month, when she marries her
very-soon-to-be-husband, Geert!
Forthcoming Events
Additionally, Mr Thom has made some
household changes. Or more specifically, it’s
growth! The stork is due to bring Jeff his baby
brother or sister any day now and the excitement
is buzzing through the halls. Which member of
staff will win the grand prize bet on the
birthdate!? Only kidding Mr Thom!
Congratulations!
10th October
11th October
17th October
18th October
21st-25th October
25th October
8th Oct-4 Nov
11th November
12th-15th November
18th November
19th November
Da Vinci news
MS and US Cultural Day
First Test Card Issued
Parent-Teacher Meetings
Non-Uniform Day
MS and US School Trips
Halloween
Autumn Half-Term Break
NO SCHOOL
Remembrance Day
NO SCHOOL
Art Week
LS Farm Trip
G3-G6 Trip to Tongeren
More information about these events
will follow closer to the date.