All our teams performed really well,
reaching the finals in the KAISSO
league at U19 for both genders and
U15 boys. Unfortunately, they were
beaten in the finals, two of which were
by penalty shootouts. Yet resilience
and dedication marked out our teams
despite the delay, by some weeks, of the
finals.
In athletics, numerous personal bests
were achieved by many of our runners
and field athletes, which bodes well for
the season that is to come. Whilst at
the Turi Cross Country, the U19 teams
did extremely well, achieving second.
Special mention should also be given
to the year 9 girls’ netball team who
won the Hillcrest tournament as well as
Team A who won all of their matches.
The staff too were very successful,
winning the GEMS Cambridge School
staff tournament.
Our impact internationally began
with Saga Hernander achieving a
bronze at the International Junior
Science Olympiad (IJSO) held this
year in Bali. The Hillcrest team of
Riana, Saga, Fartun, Shivangi, Safi
and Ariana faced up to three different
types of exams. Saga follows in the
fine Hillcrest tradition of success
in this competition. Mrs Tout and
Mr Greenwell also took the annual
Hillcrest ski trip to Italy in February.
All the students behaved impeccably,
learned some new skills and brought
back some fantastic memories to share
with the school.
We are also renowned as hosts of
the Model United Nations and this
year was no exception. The MUN is
a fantastic opportunity for students
to extend their debating skills, to be
ambassadors for a week and make
speeches from the same podium as
so many important and influential
people. Recalling her experience in
Johannesburg, Momina summed
up the battling required to make a
difference: “I have to fight complacency
in all that I do!” Both she and Max
Gutsche achieved an honourable
mention, whilst Jayson King’ori was
awarded best overall speaker and best
overall delegate.
The professionalism evident in the
performing arts was obvious from
the Christmas concert as well as in
our widely feted Cultural Day, where
many unnatural performers shone.
The ‘We Will Rock You’ rock rhapsody
with its heart pumping rhythms and
harmonies celebrated life, music
and the impressive teamwork of the
Hillcrest community. Another whole
community event was the Year 11
Careers’ Evening whose focus is to
look beyond the here and now to give
added impetus to career paths. Once
again, we are indebted to our parent
community for supporting the school,
being prepared to sacrifice their
time and energies to inspire the next
generation of Hillcrest highfliers.
As well as the Careers’ Evening, Teen
Chat was an inspiring event. I was
impressed by the maturity of all the
participants; their frankness in asking
questions which concerned them
and the willingness of all to discuss
and help each other understand
intergenerational issues. If you
have never participated, join us in
November 2017.
Beyond academics and sport, Hillcrest
has an incredible, inspirational record
in social responsibility which manifests
in very generous giving to empower
others to make a difference, especially
in Kenya. Very significant and vital
amounts of money were raised for
worthwhile causes including the Red
Cross Drought Relief, the Kenya
Institute for the Blind, Tenderfoot
Academy and the Mount Kenya
Environmental Conservation Trust.
SUSO, Interact and Environment Club
also collected food buckets, books
and sports equipment to empower
other young people and families
here in Nairobi. Students and staff at
my previous school in Cyprus were
so impressed with the Tenderfoot
initiative that they too are committed
to raising 3000 Euros to help build a
new classroom at Tenderfoot.
Our Latin motto, Semper Prospice,
‘Always Looking Forward’, emphasises
our constant quest to improve and
grow. In this connection, the new
Sixth Form block is taking shape;
following that new staff housing will
be erected. I have also referred to the
new Management Information System
coming on stream, which
will dramatically alter
communications.
None of these achievements
would be possible without
you. I would therefore like
to thank all the staff and
students as well as parents
for your welcome, your
perseverance and your hard
work over this year. My
hope and prayer is that as
some of our community,
students and staff depart,
they will take with them
and broadcast further the
Hillcrest spirit and its ethos.
By John Eveson
www.hillcrest.ac.ke
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