boarding - The Regent School

2nd Half - 3rd Term 2012/2013
THE REGENT
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Plot 858, Mabushi District, Abuja.
Tel: +234 (0) 807 229 3293
registrarsec@regentschoolabuja.com
boarding@regentschoolabuja.com
BOARDING NEWSLETTER
Respect Responsibility Resourcefulness
CONTENT
3
Message from the Vice Principal
Boarding
4 Ipi Ntombi; Boarders give 101%
6 A Chat with Etienne Ben-Okagbue
8 Year 11 Send-Forth
10 When the Going Gets Tough...
12 Training for Boarding Captains &
Prefects
Editors
Mrs. Amsa Abdulrazaq
Mr. Olusegun Akinola
Mr. Ian McCutcheon
Graphics & Layout
Mr. Olusegun Akinola
13 Presentation Competition
on the MDGs
14 Visit to Karu Orphanage
15 Preparing for Italy 2013
16 Leavers’ Ball
17 Boarders’ Excel at MOS
National Competition
MESSAGE
FROM THE VICE PRINCIPAL BOARDING
T
his term was very busy in boarding. Perhaps our
greatest achievement was our involvement in The
School Production “Ipi Ntombi”. Boarders played
major roles from Cast to Production Crew. We must also
thank the boarding staff for their commitment during the
preparation and staging of the production. Based on the
success of “Ipi Ntombi”, TRSS has continued to receive
requests for an Encore performance.
This term boarders spent time preparing for the Promotion,
Checkpoint and IGCSE (Year 11) examinations. We
thank all the teachers who gave extra tutoring in getting
the students adequately prepared.
We bid farewell to our Year 11 boarders in an evening
of fun and entertainment; it was sad to see them leave.
Boarders gave very emotional speeches that brought tears
to the eyes of many. We wish them well in their future
endeavours.
We would like to congratulate all the boarders who
were awarded prizes during the Prize-Giving Ceremony.
Peikumo Dickson of Oduduwa Hostel was awarded
Dux Scholar of the class of 2013. We also congratulate
boarders who received School Colours in Academics,
Sports, Performance and Community Service. At the
end of the Prize-Giving Ceremony, students waited with
eagerness for the induction of the new prefects. The
following boarders received prefect badges: Hanifah Salik
Ahmed (Head Girl), Ummi Sani-Omolori (Deputy Head
Girl), Abdulmutallib Sani Mohammed (Deputy Head
Boy), Ogechi Ararume, Nur Baba-Ahmed, Mohammed
Abdulsalam, Imran Marwa, Etienne Ben-Okagbue &
Amina Yahaya.
TRSS is now a member of the Boarding Schools
Association (BSA) of the United Kingdom. This is a
welcome development as we are now able to gain from the
vast resources and training offered by the BSA.
Seven boarders excelled at the recently concluded
Microsoft Office Suite (MOS) National Competition. The
competition was open to all schools in the country and
we are very proud to see TRSS maintain her position as a
leading school in ICT in Nigeria. We thank Mr. Osaigbovo
and Mr. Abdulfatai Bello (ICT teachers) for this feat.
Details of the competition can be found on Page 16 of this
newsletter.
quota to making the world a better place. We thank all
the judges; Mrs. Jawara-N’jai, Mr. Dawson and Mrs. A.
This term as part of our community service, boarders
visited and presented gifts to patients at the General
Hospital and Children of The Karu Orphanage in
Abuja.
We use this medium to thank all Parents and Guardians
who adhered to the exeat procedure at TRSS. In the
past, we had a situation where boarders left boarding
once examinations were concluded. This was not the
case this term as boarders engaged in the end of term
Inter-Hostel and Inter-House competitions and other
fun activities.
We look forward to some exciting events in boarding
next term which will involve parental participation.
We will be having Fathers Vs Sons and Mothers Vs
Daughters Football Matches. Parents are advised to
start getting fit as some of your children are extremely
talented and super fit. We also plan on having a family
picnic. Parents will receive details of these events in due
course.
We are at the final stage of preparations for our Ski
& Educational Trip to Italy. Last year the trip was to
Austria and students had a lot of fun learning outside
the classroom. This year apart from skiing in resort
of Passo Tonale, students will tour the cities of Milan
and Venice visiting Science & Art Museums. They will
also have a feel of the Italian Opera. If you missed the
payment deadline, there is still an opportunity to sign
up for the trip. All payments should reach us by 18th
September 2013. Please note that this trip is open to day
students and boarders.
On behalf of the boarding team, I would like to express
my sincere appreciation to Parents and Boarders for
making this term and session a successful one. We wish
boarders and staff a restful and fun-filled holiday. See
you next session.
Mr. Akinola
Vice Principal Boarding
The 4 hostels took part in a Presentation Competition on
the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) at the end
of this term. Congratulations to Danfodio Hostel who
placed first. Worthy of mention were the duo of Ahmad
Abubakar and Omenuko Ekpere who were outstanding in
their presentation. We continue to ensure that boarders
are aware of their responsibility in contributing their
second half - 3rd term 2012/2013
Page 3
IPI NTOMBI
6
101%
Boarders Give
months ago, on Saturday the 17th of January during breakfast, Mr. Akinola, gave all the boarders
a speech about participation and student involvement in school activities. He then told us about
a South African play titled ’Ipi Ntombi’ which Mrs. A was planning on staging at TRSS. He involved all boarding students in one way or another. At first, choreography of the dances were taught by
3 students Ummi Sani-Omolori, Nkem Onyearu and Leonora Ajoko. They tried really hard but some
of the music and rhythms were difficult for them to master.
The services of professional dance
instructors: Mr. Ben, Mr. Mathew
and Mr. Arome were engaged.
They made everything much easier for everyone- even me.
Mrs. A was always planning and
having meetings with her team:
Mr. Akinola, Mrs. Sanusi, Mrs.
Akinleye and other staff members. Hanifah Ahmed-Salik and
I helped in organizing costumes
and making sure everyone attended rehearsals, tracking the progress and just preparing for the
Production.
Practice sessions were often demanding and towards the staging
of the production, rehearsals were
held from 4-6 p.m. everyday apart
from Tuesdays and Thursdays. The
Choir, Dancers (male and female)
and the logistics team were always
present at rehearsals. Month after
month the final day drew nearer.
Once we got in the Month of May
practice became more serious and
Respect Responsibility Resourcefulness
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intense. The Choir (under the leadership of Mr. Akinola) had learnt all their songs. The dancers had learnt
90% of their steps, the backdrops and props were made by Mr. Olawuyi (our Art teacher), the costumes were
being completed and the show was coming to life. Practice sessions were extended till 7 pm although Mrs. A
rewarded the cast with drinks and snacks almost every other day. This encouraged us and also kept us going
On the final day everyone was so excited. The dressing rooms were filled, the stage was decorated, the crew was
coordinated and finally, everyone was ready. All the tough days, the fights, the laughs, the food and the funny
dances will end over the course of the next two days; 23rd and 24th of May.
The production ran smoothly and beautifully it was great, we brought the Executive Director- Mrs. A. to tears;
She was so impressed. Both days we had a full house, the crowd laughed cheered and had a good time. Thursday after the show the after party was held. Excitement, food, drinks, and gifts filled the air.
Ipi Ntombi was an unforgettable experience. It brought most of us closer together; it was a lot of fun and we will
all miss it. Ipi Ntombi was a great production, one that can’t be beaten! Well-done TRSS!
Aisha Belgore (Year 9)
El-Kanemi Hostel
second half - 3rd term 2012/2013
Page 5
A Chat with
Etienne Ben-Okagbue
Ipi Ntombi Lead
Please introduce yourself .
M
y name is Etienne Ben Okagbue, and I am a Year 11 Prefect of The Regent Secondary School and a boarder in
Obi Hostel.
How did you get into acting?
I have been acting since I started in the Regent school (1999-2000),
as a child I acted in The Billy Goats Gruff as the troll. That’s really
how I started acting. I also enjoyed watching a lot of Disney movies like The Lion King and The Jungle Book which challenged and
inspired me.
What part did you play in Ipi Ntombi and who was the character?
In Ipi Ntombi I started out with the choir, after a while I was told to
be the narrator. I had a lot of lines to learn but it was worth it.
Did you find the role of Narrator challenging in anyway?
The only challenging part about being narrator was the fact that I had to adopt a south African accent. Learning the songs took very little time and the acting came naturally.
What was your favourite part in the Production?
It was the can and boot dance, the dancers did quite well in keeping the
beat and maintaining rhythm.
You also played the role of Fagin in Oliver the 2012 TRSS Production.
Which of the roles did you find more interesting and why?
I would have said the narrator because I had to dance and portray a culture I wasn’t used to, but in Oliver I had to try and act like an old man.
However I think Ipi Ntombi was more interesting because “we always
seemed to be singing and dancing”.
Apart from acting you also had to sing in most of the scenes. When did you
start singing?
Since I was quite young. I used to emulate my dad when he was singing.
He would play his guitar and recite melodies and jingles. That’s really
how I started learning to sing.
Which of the songs did you like the most and why?
I really liked “Hosa Hosa” at the end. The choir did really well and Amina sang amazingly. The dancing made it even better.
Which actor or performer is your role model and why?
I admire performers like John Travolta, Jack Black, Eddie Murphy and
Johnny Depp. But my role model in everything I do is Michael Jackson.
Do you hope to continue with drama when you graduate from TRSS?
Yes, I hope to take it up professionally, as well as singing.
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...I really liked “Hosa Hosa”...
How were you able to combine the preparation for your role in Ipi Ntombi and your academics?
I created a timetable, it wasn’t easy but I had to create time for studying and time for practice.
Do you have other interests apart from drama?
I love football, I’m the captain of the school football team and I play all the time. If I could I would try to balance
performing with football.
Where do you hope to study for your A Levels?
I hope to go to Hurt wood House, it would help me improve my acting skills.
A lot of students now look up to you as a role model and this was evident in your recent election as a Prefect atTRSS.
What is your advice to them?
I would say, don’t allow people to dictate what you can or can’t do, instead do what you are told you can’t and
embrace the things you can.
We wish you good luck as you pursue your passion as an actor and performer.
Thank you and God bless.
second half - 3rd term 2012/2013
Page 7
We’re Checking-Out
Year 11 Boarders’s Send-Forth
...They will surely be missed...
T
he Boarding Student Council organized an event for the outgoing Year 11’s (Class of 2012/2013).
The dinner was formal, and it began at 7 p.m. It was a fun-filled night with dancing, fashion on
display and good food. The Hostel Captains had a tough dance-battle with their successors. There was
a prepared slide show that captured all Year 11 boarders and their farewell messages. The Deputy Head-girl
(Tauhida Baba-Gana), Obi Hostel Captain & Boarding Student Council President (“Mosan” Idris), and the
Former Boarding Student Council President (Halifa Rabiu) gave tearful speeches. They’ll surely be missed!
At the end of the night we all danced and enjoyed our last boarding event with the departing Year 11’s.
Nur Baba Ahmed (Year 11)
Obi Hostel
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second half - 3rd term 2012/2013
Page 9
When the Going gets Tough
Duke Of Edinburgh Wales Expedition
by Nkem Onyearu
W
hen the going gets tough,
have a heated argument with
Tomi Adenaike at the top of a
mountain. Scream up at him about how
we’re supposed to be a team and how you
can’t leave David Bosun behind, then start
walking extremely fast until your rapid
panting becomes a wheeze and Tomi
Adenaike begs you to slow down. When
the going gets tough, curse under your
breath at how you just walked an hour in
the wrong direction because of Kennedy
Uko. Tell everyone how you could have done a better job but you know that you would have done the exact
same thing.
When the going gets tough, have David Bosun carry you over a barbed wire fence during the orientating
activity. Laugh uncontrollably at Tomi Adenaike as he cuts his jogging bottoms right through the middle on the
same fence. Lose yourself in a world of emerald green leaves and moss as you try to find each blue post to mark
your sheet of paper. Catch Nicole Obonyo’s contagious smile when she is the first to complete the challenge and
giggle as David Bosun’s bottom lip makes a guest appearance as he loses.
Screech threats at David in your canoe. “David if I die, I will haunt you!” Cry as everybody laughs, including
the group leader Kevin, until Chris pulls our canoe back to safety. Run away from Chinelo and Nicole as they
splash water around after our canoeing activity. Cackle hysterically as Kennedy shivers and says “Nkem! Nkem!
There’s water in my boxers. Remove my boots!”
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When the going gets tough, and you miss home cooking, stuff yourself with the Krispy Kreme donuts and the
Monster Energy drinks you bought when you stopped to eat. Laugh at Amina Yahaya as she wails about how
she misses Nigeria and refuses to eat. Look at the videos you made in your room and look at the hilarious pictures you took with Opriche Aiyedogbon. Remember how you were always late for breakfast but never as late
as Mohammed Abdullahi. Remember how Tomi Adenaike wore shorts to Wales and how he will never live it
down.
When the going gets tough, have a chocolate digestive or a custard cream after a long day out in the cold. When
your facial expression is as unchanging as stone when you are told that it’s your night to camp outside at -11
degrees. Remember when you wore five long-sleeved shirts, three hoodies and your coat, three pairs of thermals, two pairs of jogging bottoms, over trousers and a scarf. Remember how you slept in three sleeping bags
and didn’t feel a thing.
The Duke of Edinburgh expedition is one that I will never forget. The people and the places will forever be part
of my mind, body and soul. When the going gets tough, remember Wales.
Nkem Onyearu
Oduduwa Hostel
second half - 3rd term 2012/2013
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Training for
T
PREFECTS
he prefect training took place on the 22nd of June. All the prefects and House Captains of the Regent
Secondary School boarding, assembled to be coached by Mr. Akinola on how the TRSS Prefects and
House Captains are expected to behave.
We learnt that as people that serve as the voice of the students and a bridge between the student body and
staff, we have to be able to communicate well with both staff and students, carry out the three R’s (Respect,
Resourcefulness and Responsibility) effectively, be patient with students, be reliable, have a good sense of
humour and so on.
We elaborated on the three different personalities of leaders, which are: assertive, aggressive and subservient.
An assertive leader is a leader that shows a confident personality. This sort of leader carries out his/her duties
constructively in the most effective and appropriate means to get the job done. An aggressive leader is a leader
that carries out his/her duties forcefully and in a rather malicious way. A subservient leader is a leader that
does not have a backbone and is easily swayed by other peoples opinions. He/she is a pushover and does not
effectively carry out his/her duties. After group discussions and presentations, we agreed that the best type of
leader to be is an assertive one.
The last minutes of the training mainly focused on bullying. We learnt that people could be bullied in various
ways not only physically, but also verbally and through the Internet. Mr Akinola played a couple of videos for
us to watch which were based on true-life stories of victims who committed suicide, because they had been
“cyber bullied” (bullied via the internet).
I personally thought it was a great idea to be trained, not only to be leaders of Regent but also to be a worldleader of the future ; for that I would like to thank Mr Akinola for making out time to train us.
Ummi Sani-Omolori (Year 10)
Oduduwa Hostel
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Presentation Competition
Millennium Development Goals
W
e were all nervous at first when Mr Akinola told us about it. The eight goals were assigned to the
4 different hostels: Danfodio, El-Kanemi, Obi and Oduduwa. My hostel (Danfodio) was assigned
with goals 5&6. I worked on goal 6 with Ekpere Omenuko. On the day of the competition, all the
hostels were doing well. The speakers from the various houses were bold and confident although they were also
a little shaky. When it was my turn, I summarized all I knew about goal 6 and said some quotes. It made the
crowd happy.
When the elemination result was announced, I found out that Danfodio hostel won because of Ekpere and I.
We were very happy because there was no likely hood of catch-up for Oduduwa hostel that we beat with a wide
margin of 18 points. The finals were not all that nice but Danfodio hostel still won thanks to: Daniel Kaltungo,
Abdallah Abdallah, Ushie Jedy-Agba, Irungmi Jedy-Agba, Ekpere Omenuko and I, Ahmad Abubakar.
At the end, Mrs A said that she expected more from us and we were to repeat the competition next session. I
enjoyed taking part in the competition and look forward to the one next session.
Ahmad Abubakar (Year 9)
Danfodio Hostel
second half - 3rd term 2012/2013
Page 13
Visit to
M
Karu Orphanage
idway through June, about 35 boarders journeyed to
the Karu orphanage with a bus load of gifts bought
with the money made from the BSC funfair. When
we arrived we off loaded and presented the gifts. The matron in
charge of the orphanage expressed her gratitude in a 2 minute
speech and prayed God bless TRSS students. We then had a tour
of the orphanage where we saw the children in healthy conditions which made me feel a lot better about their plight. I specifically remember playing with the babies and their soft cheeks.
On the journey back to school, I reflected on how lucky my
friends and I are and will forever be for having loving families
and a good education.
Daniel Kaltungo (Year 9)
Danfodio Hostel
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Preparing for
W
ITALY 2013
e are at the final stage of preparations for our Ski & Educational Trip to Italy.
Last year the trip was to Austria and students had a lot of fun learning outside
the classroom. This year apart from skiing in resort of Passo Tonale, students
will tour the cities of Milan and Venice visiting Science & Art Museums. They will also
have a feel of the Italian Opera. If you missed the payment deadline, there is still an
opportunity to sign up for the trip. All payments should reach us by 18th September 2013.
Please note that this trip is open to day students and boarders.
Deborah Arikpo skiing after 3 days of lessons during the
last Ski & Educational Trip to Austria.
2 Nights touring the City of Milan with visits to
Science and Art Museums.
Spaces still available. Book Now!
5 Nights Skiing in Passo Tonale
second half - 3rd term 2012/2013
2 Nights touring the city of Venice
Page 15
Leavers’
Ball
The Leavers’ Ball 2013 was a magical, breathtaking and remarkable night. I arrived just as
the Prom King; Umar Aliyu and Prom Queen:
Amina Hussein were being crowned. It was
amazing watching my classmates looking so
dashing in their formal wear. After the Prom
King and Queen had danced, we had dinner as
certificates were awarded. I got a certificate for
being a “Jack of All Trades” The awards were
classic and hilarious. One of us got “Most Likely To Fall Asleep At Their Wedding”. After the
awards, we had an awesome surprise; “Burna
Boy” was invited to perform. That made my
night. It was such a magnificent performance.
After that, we danced all night in our beautifully decorated hall. It was definitely a night to
remember and I wouldn’t have had it any other
way.
Seralyn Dumbo (Year 11)
Captain, Oduduwa Hostel
It was definitely a night to remember
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Boarder’s Excel at
MICROSOFT OFFICE SUITE
National Competition
T
RSS has maintained her place as a leading school in ICT Nigeria at the recently concluded MOS National
Competition. The competition was opened to all schools in the country. We thank Mr. Tim Osaigbovo
(Congo House Leader) and Mr. Abdulfatai Bello (House Parent Danfodio Hostel) who prepared students
for the competition. The following boarders were amongst TRSS students who excelled at the competition.
1. Abubakar Ahmed (Year 9)
Danfodio Hostel
1st Place Excel Category
2. Baba-Ahmed Nur (Year 10)
Obi Hostel
1st Place PowerPoint Category
3. Imran Marwa (Year 10)
Obi Hostel
1st Place Word Category
1
2
4. Salik Ahmed Hanifah (Year 10)
Oduduwa Hostel
2nd Place Excel Category
5. Fagboyegun Olumide (Year 10)
Danfodio Hostel
3rd Place Word Category
6. Abdulsalam Mohameed (Year 10)
Danfodio Hostel
4th Place PowerPoint Category
3
4
5
6
second half - 3rd term 2012/2013
7. Aiyedogbon Opriche (Year 10)
Oduduwa Hostel
6th Place PowerPoint Category
7
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