EUROPEAN STUDENT CONVENTION – Mark Golamhossen                            

I volunteer my time each year to be one of the chief adjudicators at ESC. While there I run a team that covers all of the academic events. We make sure that all the events are run properly with an emphasis on the spiritual and character development of the students. ESC is one of the most rewarding experiences I have with great students, teachers and organisers all working together to make Christ known, one child at a time. The evening rallies were inspirational and it was powerful to see past students preaching.

                        WORD ALIVE – Beccy Judson

I went to Word Alive 2015 in Butlins, Prestatyn.  I was there as a steward, part of the team of helpers.  I loved being able to help people in so many ways.  I learned so much and listened to some sound Christian teachings. Two particular highlights, out of so many, were worshiping Him with about 1200 others in the evenings and then the interview with George Verwer, founder of OM, during one of the evening meetings. He told us that even after 60 years of being a Christian, temptations are still there daily and that we need to keep trusting in His forgiveness and love for us. It was wonderful to meet up with old friends, and make new ones, as well as have times wonderful fellowship, food and fun.

SOUTH AFRICA – Anne Kellar                        

I was so excited to return to S. Africa over the Easter holidays. We had lived there previously and cared for disadvantaged children in our home.

What a joy to see our precious boys again! They had all grown, but the bonds were still there, and we were soon talking together about the “Good Old Days.”  Nearly all the boys are doing well – following the Lord Jesus, and are studying or have jobs. They have developed into well rounded and happy individuals. It was humbling to receive gifts from them as they said, “Thank You.”

One of the boys graduated as a doctor while we were there, another is a pastor, and another is working as a journalist on S. African television. I remember them as little boys, and am so proud and amazed at their progress. God has been so faithful.

While we were in Durban some xenophobic attacks broke out. It was a frightening time; we ended up having to shelter two boys from Uganda. Their lives were in danger, and they were traumatized by the events. We read Psalm 91 together and sang, “In the Name of Jesus, We have the Victory.” The fear left and we were filled with the joy and confidence of the Lord. We proved together that God was with us.

Praise God for this school year. We look back and thank him for guiding us and being with us throughout the year.

It has been a year of babies this year. Mr and Mrs Golamhossen were blessed with Theodore’s birth in March and there have been many other babies in families throughout the school. We praise God for all these precious births and rejoice with all the newly growing families.

As usual we have enjoyed seeing the great improvement in students throughout the school. There have been 2 sets of ABCs classes as children graduated from the Preschool, passing the Reading Readiness Test and progressing forwards. The ABCs classes in turn have worked really well and lots of children have passed their Post Test (gaining 100% as they are tested on their ability to read) and joined and swelled the Infants Learning Centre.

As a product of this wonderful growth, the very solid readers have joined the Main Learning Centre, where all of them have settled inl and are working phenomenally well. We are really proud of their work rate and really pleased with their maturity and great reading.

John Lewis is marrying Laura Andrade from Vineyard Christian School (using ACE like us!) in Mallorca in August 2013. Laura is studying art in Bristol and John works for a prize-winning company in Swindon. His job involves trouble shooting for business solutions and computer systems and he was head-hunted by his successful Christian millionaire businessman boss whilst serving God working at Maranatha Christian School in Swindon. He is a cell group leader in his church. John was the guest speaker at the King of Kings School 2013 Summer Banquet. He was inspiring, encouraging and impressive.

Seven of our former students and graduates attended the Summer Banquet and we were delighted to see them and fellowship with them. They included Micah Davidson fresh from his first year at university, reading English at Liverpool.

Karan has departed for Japan for her year abroad studying Japanese. She has gained her preferred place at a prestigious university in Tokyo and has continued her amazing progress by gaining firsts for her second year work.

Octavia Lewis has completed her degree in Music at St. John’s College, Durham University and graduated with a high 2:1 with firsts in several modules. She won college colours in conducting, badminton and football. She has been spending her free time working for Maranatha School in Swindon (as a volunteer) and Christian Education Europe (as an employee). She is applying for a master’s degree in New Zealand to study Korean Music, for ‘tent making’.

We’ve enjoyed some great trips this year including one to York (including the Yorvik Viking Centre), Museum of Science and Industry, Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, and 2 lots of A Honour Roll go-carting. There were also the yearly trips to Crucial Crew and European Student Convention (where our students were successful and earned medals, but more importantly, showed great character.)

We had a really successful and enjoyable Sports Day. We were able to open it up to local Christian homeschoolers. Have a look at the photos on the walls around school!

Student Convention at Millfield, April 2013

The students had a great and successful time at ESC this year. They prepared for many events, including a puppet show, sports of various sorts, singing, draughts, and Bible memory. We were really proud of them for their good presentation and their impeccable behaviour. They were great ambassadors for the school. Mr Golamhossen ran the academic events as usual, but without Mrs Golamhossen this year as the birth of their 3rd child, Theodore, was in March. Mrs Lewis and Miss Judson also attended as judges.

Our students came away with bronze medals in Bible memorization for learning a complete book of the Bible. This year they learned 2 John off by heart. They have grander plans for longer books now they have got the taste for it. One student also won a bronze medal in long jump. We are very pleased with their achievements in this European competition.

Each year the seniors join the staff for a week at the European Student Convention (top medalists are able to compete in the International Student Convention in America). We compete in many events which come under the categories of academics, art, music, platform and sports.

It is an opportunity for them to meet with larger numbers of Christian children, perfect their skills, introduce themselves to new challenges, compete against a wide spectrum of abilities from all over Europe, attend evening rallies and, most importantly, meet with God. We use this opportunity to hone skills and improve confidence and strengthen character.

The King of Kings School have been very successful in various areas of ESC, including winning the European and International title for the PACE Bowl General Knowledge competition. We have also picked up a significant number of other medals in the events we have entered. The school is closed during ESC (Easter holiday).