Termly Review The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
Issue 6 I Michaelmas 2015
www.cvms.co.uk
www.cvms.co.uk
1
Contents Michaelmas 2015 CATHOLIC LIFE
5 6
An Assembly with Archbishop Jeanbart Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo in Syria speaks in a special Assembly to the Lower School.
9
An Assembly with Monsignor Roger Reader Sixth Form Assembly with Monsignor Reader, the Catholic Bishops’ Prisons Advisor and Catholic Chaplain to HM Prison Feltham
inside the classroom
27
12 PSHE & Citizenship - Competition time! Q&A with Dr Batavia plus a special competition to design your own healthy living poster (prizes to be won!)
14
Descriptive writing and Gothic fiction English lessons with best-selling children’s authors Ross Montgomery and Chris Priestley
outside the classroom
8 28
Vaughan Parents Association News from the Race Night , Auction and Christmas Dinner & Dance
10
Teaching School Status Cardinal Vaughan chosen to help train the next generation of teachers
2
www.cvms.co.uk
30
32
6
22
20
17
23
18
4
www.cvms.co.uk
3
catholic life
4
www.cvms.co.uk
Foundation Day Mass The Vaughan gathered once again at Westminster Cathedral on Friday 18 September for the School’s annual Foundation Day Mass. The Mass was celebrated by School Chaplain Father Dominic Allain. Music was provided by the Schola Cantorum who sang Mozart’s ‘Spatzen’ Mass and motets by Sir James MacMillan and Thomas Tallis. As always, this bringing together of the entire school - the only time in the year when it happens - makes for a very special occasion, especially in the Cathedral built by Cardinal Vaughan himself and in the presence of his mortal remains. The Vaughan is deeply grateful to the clergy and staff of the Cathedral for welcoming us all so warmly once again.
Photographs: Weenson Oo
www.cvms.co.uk
5
catholic life
An Assembly with Archbishop Jeanba of Aleppo in Syria ‘I pray that the Lord give us a country where citizens are respected, where citizens are equal, where citizens are free. Where the people of Syria can live in dignity and without fear.’ recent impassioned plea for more and destroying her. That Church meaningful intervention by the was born in the blessed land on the West. day of Pentecost, that grace-filled day from which point on the first ‘What are the great nations waiting faithful, baptized by St Peter and the for before they put a halt to these Apostles, established in their land monstrosities? May all of those the first of the communities of those Aleppo has seen some of the worst who believe in... God and all those who belong to you. fighting in the conflict that erupted with compassion for the innocent in the wake of the 2011 Arab raise their voice with us and call on You gave our Church the great Spring, with forces loyal to Syrian civilized countries to take action to privilege of baptizing at Damascus President Assad and rebel groups bring about peace.’ your chosen one, Paul, Apostle of the battling it out for supremacy and nations. This Church has remained large sections of the city reduced to Archbishop Jeanbart was particularly faithful to you in Syria, land sanctifies rubble. Archbishop Jeanbart has had keen for the boys to appreciate just by countless processions of martyrs the personal misfortune of having how privileged they are to live in a who, sacrificed by the millions in his home bombed ten times, and his city so welcoming of diversity. 2000 years of history, have watered Cathedral bombed six times. the soil with their blood, pure and ‘When I came to London I noticed clear. They preferred to die rather Committed to raising awareness that you are all of different colours, than deny or betray you. of the plight of his people, the different origins and different Archbishop delivered a pressing and religions. Yet every single one of you Lord, the Christians of Syria love deeply moving address to our pupils. has all of the rights. And that nobody you and you know that; they have may contest your rights. And that is remained faithful to you despite all ‘I have to do whatever I can. I have wonderful.’ the sufferings and trials they have to fight. I have to fight so that the undergone for the sake of your love. Church may remain in the land in The Assembly finished with a prayer, Come to their aid; don’t let them lose which she was born, and that we composed by the Archbishop: their faith in you and their courage. may live in the land in which we were Help them continue their Mission born. Please pray for us. Pray for us Lord Jesus, who asked us to believe in this Holy Land where you were to succeed. Pray for us that the Lord in you, we pray you, strengthen born and where your Church began may help us to achieve justice and our faith with your almighty power. to establish your reign in this world freedom.’ You asked us not to be afraid, and which awaits, day after the day, the promised to always remain with coming of your justice. Extremism is one of the most us. Affirm our trust in your mercy. critical issues of our time and this Protect the Church in Syria from Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary Assembly followed the Archbishop’s evil and evildoers bent on uprooting whom you gave us as Mother, remain We were extremely proud and pleased to welcome Archbishop Jean-Clement Jeanbart of Aleppo in Syria to the Vaughan on Friday 16 October when he spoke in a special Assembly to the Lower School.
6
www.cvms.co.uk
art
with us, confirm us in your love and, by her maternal intercession, make us witnesses of your Divine Goodness! Amen.
Clockwise from right: Archbishop Jeanbart marching in Aleppo, speaking at Lower School Assembly, meeting the Head Prefects
‘I have to do whatever I can. I have to fight.’
www.cvms.co.uk
7
catholic life
An Audience with Ann Widdecombe An audience of nearly 150 pupils, parents and Old Vaughanians joined us to hear former MP, Ann Widdecombe, talk on the subject of ‘Christianity under Persecution’ in the final of our 2015 Leadership Lecture series. After a political career spanning over 30 years, in 2011 Miss Widdecombe became Special Envoy to Aid to the Church in Need on Religious Freedom and in 2013 she was a made of Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope Benedict XVI for services to politics and public life.
delighted to welcome Ann to the Vaughan. Her talk was thoughtprovoking and I know that everyone who listened to her would have been impressed by her passion and clearly there is much that has to be done to protect Christian communities in what is after all the cradle of Christianity.’
Miss Widdecombe has also appeared on a number of television shows, including a successful nineweek spell on the popular Strictly Come Dancing. Drawing on these experiences, Miss Widdecombe delivered one of our most engaging lectures to date, encouraging the audience to ‘ask me anything. It can be serious. It can be frivolous. It can be all points in between. But above all, please ask the question that you want to ask.’ The Headmaster said: ‘We were
8
www.cvms.co.uk
The Catholic Universe, Friday 6 November 2015
catholic life
An Assembly with Monsignor Roger Reader After delivering a talk to A-Level Sociology students earlier this year, in November we were delighted to welcome back Monsignor Roger Reader, the Catholic Bishops’ Prisons Advisor and Catholic Chaplain to HM Prison Feltham, to speak with the whole of the Sixth Form. Monsignor Roger Reader was ordained in 1995 and has worked full time in prisons since 1998, first as chaplain at HM Prison Whitemoor and then for 12 years at HM Prison Feltham. In 2013 he was appointed as the new Catholic Bishops’ Prisons Advisor, in which he is not only responsible for the day-to-day provision of Catholic Sacramental and Pastoral care in prisons, but speaks into the national debate on how the Catholic community looks at issues of crime, justice, punishment and mercy.
peer pressure that can cause crime to challenge them with questions over freedom, forgiveness and the ability of faith to redeem. Such candidness was well-received by the Sixth Form, who responded with their own forthright questions: Would you help a prisoner who had committed a crime against someone in your own family? Do you believe prisoners have a right to vote?
Monsignor Reader did not pretend to have an unequivocal answer to these questions but was clear in his belief that everyone should Father Reader has always taken a have hope: ‘I really believe that in direct approach with our pupils, everyone there is that spark of the sharing his experiences and divine.’ understanding of the problems and
Speaking about his appointment as Catholic Bishops’ Prisons Advisor, Fr Reader said: ‘It’s a great privilege to be able to proclaim the Gospel of hope in places which seem without hope… I believe that an important part of this role is to give confidence to those who work in prisons as chaplains, as volunteers, as staff and to give confidence to those who reside in prisons that they are never far from the love of God. In my work with prisoners, I have experienced the real mercy and love of God.’
www.cvms.co.uk
9
TEACHING
Cardinal Vaughan awarded Teaching School Status We are delighted to announce that the Vaughan has been awarded Teaching School status by the Department for Education and is, accordingly, part of a multi-school alliance with Holland Park School and Thomas Jones Primary School.
Teaching Schools take a leading role in recruiting and training new entrants to the profession, identifying leadership potential and providing support for other schools, not least by exemplifying excellent standards of teaching.
In practice, this will mean the members of the alliance working closely together to share best practice and research, as well as supporting other schools across the community.
“This is a wonderful and forward-looking initiative which will bring all sorts of benefits not only to the three schools in question, but also – and more importantly – to the wider educational community.” Mr Stubbings
10 www.cvms.co.uk
How can I train to teach at the Vaughan?
As an accredited National Leader in Education and a lead school in the Royal Borough Teaching School Alliance, the Vaughan is part of a growing number of outstanding schools pioneering new approaches to school-based teacher training. Being a Teaching School provides us with exciting new opportunities to develop new and existing teaching talent and to disseminate tried and tested approaches to teaching and learning. In so doing we secure our future success by ensuring our young people continue to receive the very best education. With this in mind, we are currently offering initial teacher training places starting in September 2016 through the School Direct programme. We have a variety of salaried and unsalaried training places available across a range of subjects. Successful candidates will also have the opportunity to spend time in our partner schools as part of the Royal Borough Teaching School Alliance. Our teacher training is conducted via the DfE School Direct programme and in conjunction with e-Qualitas and St Mary’s College. We also work closely with a variety of primary and secondary schools and universities across London. The School Direct pathway into teaching offers you the opportunity of early hands on experience in the classroom and to be mentored by experienced teaching practitioners from the outset. Candidates are strongly encouraged to attend our planned open evenings where you will have an opportunity to visit the School and meet those who will lead your professional training. Please indicate a week in advance via emailing the CPD team CPDTEAM@CVMS.CO.UK which date you would like to attend. Further details can be found on the school website.
next school direct information evening:
Thursday 14 January 2016, 6.30 pm Please email CPDTEAM@CVMS.CO.UK for further details.
www.cvms.co.uk 11
PSHE & Citizenship
Talking teeth with Dr Hitesh Batavia Dr Hitesh Batavia is the Principal General Dentist and Practice owner of Ravenscourt Dental Practice. Drawing on nearly three decades of dental expertise, on Monday 14 September we were delighted to welcome Dr Batavia to speak with pupils in Lower and Upper School Assembly. How often should we visit the dentist?
2 out of 5 surfaces. Start brushing at gum level, to remove the plaque sitting around the gum line. Then brush the rest of the tooth surface. Plaque is sticky, like peanut butter, so you need to go back and forth about 5-6 times. Repeat on each segment including the biting surface, moving slowly and putting enough pressure so that you really scrub your teeth properly.
If you are under 18 you should visit the dentist at least once a year, unless the dentist specifically recommends twice a year. The benefits are that you will receive advice and help with preventative oral hygiene techniques. This will help you look after your teeth properly in the long term, you will need a lot less dental treatment, Flossing is very important because and probably save yourself a lot of it cleans 40% of your teeth – money. remember the 2 out of 5 surfaces a statistic most people don’t know! What is the best way to brush our When flossing, gently see-saw the floss between your teeth rather teeth? than push and tug. Take it to the Understand your teeth, how they gum edge, and do the same on the are shaped and sit against each opposite side because each space other, so for example try dividing is a V shape. The first few times your mouth into six segments: your gums may feel tender and lower right; left, front and upper bleed a little bit. Over time you will right; left and front; and then divide find that they do firm up and it will time equally when brushing each become far easier. The big bonus is that your mouth will feel noticeably segment. fresher. Visualise each tooth as a box without a bottom, you can brush 3 What are the most common out of 5 surfaces and need to floss problems with teeth, and what
12 www.cvms.co.uk
can be done to avoid them? Tooth decay and tooth wear! Tooth decay is due to how much sugar is in your diet. Most people reduce their sugar consumption after the
‘You only have one set of teeth, they are such an important part of your personality – allowing you to eat, drink, laugh and smile!’ age of 25 and become more health conscious, and the rate of tooth decay falls. If you continue to take sugar or honey in teas and coffees, you are more likely to get decay. We are all keeping our teeth for a lot longer now, and unfortunately some of us grind or clench our teeth, thereby wearing them down. So if you clench or grind your teeth, think about how you can control that in the day, and protect them
during the night with a guard. Gum disease is another common problem resulting in teeth becoming loose and if left untreated you can lose your teeth. With the regular check-ups this can be detected at an earlier stage.
Other than a dentist, what roles and jobs are there in dentistry? There’s a fantastic structure in dentistry offering enormous potential for an individual who wants to pursue a career in dentistry. Every dentist needs a team, this starts with the dental receptionist, practice manager, dental nurses, an oral health educator, to mention a few. Dental nurses can specialise further to
become Dental hygienists, therapist nurses, Orthodontic technicians or nurses, and Implant or Oral surgery nurses, and lastly dental radiography so that they can take x-rays and take models for bases. The sky is the limit!
Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry BDS, and perhaps a Master’s degree as well. Once qualified you will be able to register with the General Dental Council for a license to practice.
Dentistry offers a variety of jobs of varying levels of skills and complexity. You could be part of the support team or practice dentistry itself. Additionally there are specialisations and areas of special expertise e.g. being qualified to sedate patients before treatment.
You only have one set of teeth, they are such an important part of your personality – allowing you to eat, drink, laugh and smile!
Finally, what is the most important piece of information everyone Why should young people consider should know about how to look a career in dentistry? after their teeth?
We’ve already talked about the relationship of your teeth to sugars, cleaning your teeth to gum disease, tooth wear and long term health Since most dentists are self- of your teeth. So my top tip would employed, there is a great deal be avoid eating sugar, brush and of flexibility with the hours and floss thoroughly, see your dentist times you wish to work. Dentistry regularly. I hope you are inspired gives a good deal of scope on after reading this to look after your personal development as well as teeth better, and perhaps even professional development, e.g. become a dentist. Thank you for time management and effective featuring me and Good luck! team management. For some specialists it can become quite Dr Hitesh Batavia, Ravenscourt lucrative, so it depends on how Dental Practice hard you want to work. There’s a lot to be said for a career for dentistry, Read the full interview online at a lot of advances are taking place in www.cvms.co.uk, under ‘Latest the technology used to help deliver News’. treatments. What qualifications do you need to become a dentist?
COMPETITION TIME! I would be delighted if you want to be creative and send me posters featuring healthy foods and the sugar they contain versus various processed foods and how many teaspoons of sugar. Your entries will be featured on our website and our Facebook page, and the best three entries will receive a prize (details online at www.cvms.co.uk). Please hand in your entries to Reception, or email to: mail@cvms.co.uk Good luck! Dr Batavia
Deadline: Monday 1 February 2016 www.cvms.co.uk 13
lessons in the library
Descriptive writing
with Ross Montgomery Ross Montgomery is no ordinary children’s author. Having started writing stories as a teenager, after graduating from University Ross experimented with working as a pig farmer and a postman before settling upon a career as a teacher at a primary school. His debut novel, Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door, was written when he ‘really should have been marking homework’. The book was nominated for the Costa Children’s Book of the Year and the Branford Boase Award, also listed in the Sunday Times ‘Top 100 Modern Children’s Classics’. This was followed by Ross’s second book, The Tornado Chasers, which was published by Faber & Faber in July 2014. Ahead of the publication of Ross’s third book, Perijee & Me, next March, on Tuesday 29 September pupils from the First Form were excited to spend a day of workshops with Ross in the Library, learning how to use similes, metaphors and personification to improve their creative writing skills. ‘As we all walked into the library, everyone had a sense of happiness in their smiles, especially me!’ Eddie Ranyard, 1MO The workshop began with Ross answering the boys’ questions about what it’s like to be author and how to become one. ‘My top two tips to achieve your dream job are: 1. Surround yourself with the best in your field and, 2. Practise your skill as much as you can. To be a writer this means you must: 1. Read lots, and 2. Write lots.’
14 www.cvms.co.uk
Ross then told the boys to close their eyes and imagine an alien, asking them questions to encourage a closer, more precise visualisation. The boys discussed body parts, deciding whether or not their alien was good or bad, and whether the words they were using conjured up the sort of images they intended. ‘After we had completed our two or three sentence description we went over and upleveled our work, using similes, metaphors and personification. I thought that if I did this in my actual work, it would get better and better (which was ironic as Ross Montgomery had to write out his new book seven times). The end result of our descriptions was, and I can safely say this, much better than our first work.’ Oscar Dybowski, 1MO
‘A low ominous growling grew up behind me and I flew round to see a puppy then the puppy exploded… and turned into the most horrific thing… my brother.’ James Outtrim, 1MO
‘The alien had such grotesque and displeasing fingernails it gives me great reluctance to describe it. The nails were long and thin and shaped like an axe with horrifying body parts in between the nail and the finger. They were rotten, rotten to the core.’ Joe Short, 1MO
Perijee & Me by Ross Montgomery, out March 2016
www.cvms.co.uk 15
lessons in the library
Gothic Fiction with Chris Priestley Specialising in gothic, macabre and creepy fiction (‘but not horror as I’m a bit squeamish to be honest’), Chris Priestley is the best-selling author and illustrator of the chilling series Tales of Terror, the haunting The Dead of Winter and the fantastically frightening Mister Creecher, to name but a few. On Wednesday 23 September we were delighted to welcome Chris to the School for a full day of workshops with the Third Form. After first exploring classic gothic tales such as Frankenstein and A Christmas Carol, Chris helped the boys construct their own scenario for a creepy story set in the school grounds. This inspired no shortage of ideas, with boys suggesting everything from mysterious rooms and dead bodies in classrooms, to four-legged kitchen staff and football-playing ghosts of Old Vaughanians. They were then asked to plot their story from 1 – 10, shaping the narrative arc and building up to a satisfying ending for the reader. ‘This is where it’s difficult. There has to be a why. There has to be a point. Coming up with ideas is the easy part.’
16 www.cvms.co.uk
‘My top tip if you want to write is to carry a little notebook with you all the time to write down your ideas in. Once you have written down your first idea, more will follow.’
Funny Girl by Nick Hornby
Better Days Coming by Adam Fairclough
A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin
17 Equations that Changed the World by Ian Stewart
Harry Potter by JK Rowling The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Liti sunt harum aut quiant vendiorem ipsundunt odicto tet faceaquatem fugitat. Blessed by excea George Best Intur? Ihil eosaectectem sed dendaescidi sa demporecae. Me rerio. Nullacc
Christmas Books by Charles Dickens
www.cvms.co.uk 17
design & technology
The EY Exhibition: ‘The World Goes Pop’ Third Form visit to the Tate Modern: 13 October It is always a wonderful opportunity for our pupils to visit exhibitions and 3TE1 thoroughly enjoyed their trip to the Tate Modern. We also took full advantage of the beautiful day to look at the Millennium Bridge which they recognised from their last project. We have been designing contemporary nightlights using the Pop Art theme so this exhibition was perfectly timed to help inspire their work. They did a lot of sketches on the day, and I was impressed by their mature attitude and their understanding of quite controversial pieces. We are looking forward to seeing their own Pop Art masterpieces lit up before Christmas! Miss Hellier
18 www.cvms.co.uk
design & technology
Creating a 3D chess set in DT Club Using software previously only taught to pupils at GCSE and A-Level, this term pupils from the Second Form have been invited to attend weekly sessions in the DT studios where they have learnt how to design, create and manufacture their very own chess set.
a great step forward for the DT their own individual sets. Current Department, as it not only opens ideas include a forest theme, up the software to younger year groups but allows pupils to continue working on their 3D design projects ‘I like to play chess outside of the classroom.
with my dad at weekends so if I could make my own chess set it would be really cool.’ Neo Barrett, 2C
Week one of DT Club saw the pupils learning basic geometry and how SolidWorks is a solid modelling to create a shape using SolidWorks. computer-aided design and They were then allocated an computer-aided engineering individual chess piece to design software programme that runs on themselves and 3D print. Microsoft Windows, and the school has now secured a new licence As the weeks have gone by, the science fiction characters and one that allows pupils to download and boys have come up with some great chess set which will light up using use the software at home. This is ideas and are beginning to design LED’s.
www.cvms.co.uk 19
on the menu
School meals are a requirement for all pupils in the Lower School, with increasing numbers of Sixth Formers also buying a daily ticket for a school lunch. A new menu is provided each term which adheres to the Government’s nutritional standards and healthy eating policy. The menu follows a three-week cycle with a different main meal and vegetarian option each day, together with vegetables and pudding. There is always fresh bread, a self-service salad bar and fresh fruit salad. Everything is freshly made from scratch in the kitchen each morning, including the bread, coleslaw, cakes, custard and puddings. For Head Chef Esther Buckman, the day begins at 7.00 am with the delivery of fresh groceries. All the fruit and vegetables are delivered fresh except for broccoli and sweetcorn which arrive frozen. Some of the produce is organic. Esther is an incredibly popular figure here at the Vaughan and she takes immense care to ensure that the boys relish their lunch. The menu is constantly tweaked based on her assessment of what pupils enjoy eating. For instance, she promptly scrapped the salmon fish cakes owing to lack of take-up while the most popular dishes - lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, black bean and potato burrito and roast dinners – have become permanent fixtures.
MichaelMas TerM lunch Menu POPular Dishes
A year ago, the school also introduced Breakfast Club. Open from 7.45 – 8.10 am every weekday morning, the freshly-made range of hot and cold items (including bacon butties, toast, fruit and blueberry muffins) has proven to be a popular addition to the school day, with a number of pupils regularly queuing up for a hot breakfast before registration. Full Lunch and Breakfast Club Menu available on the VLE and school website.
20 www.cvms.co.uk
Italian beef lasagne with garlic and herb bread
Roast topside of beef with crispy roast potatoes, yorkshire puddings and gravy
MichaelMas TerM lunch Menu 2015 POPular Dishes
u 2015
Italian beef lasagne with garlic and herb bread
Roast topside of beef with crispy roast potatoes, yorkshire puddings and gravy
Macaroni cheese
WhaT’s neW?
Macaroni cheese
Vegetable hotpot
Chicken fajita with salsa, crème fraiche and Mexican Rice
eVerYDaY iTeMs
Fish fingers
www.cvms.co.uk 21
house news
Even though Fisher may have won the House Competition this term, the contribution made by every single pupil has been striking. Nowhere more so than the series of indoor rowing competitions which got the new year underway. Apart from being enjoyable events in themselves, it was wonderful to see everyone participate, and the way in which the boys supported and encouraged each other was wonderful; the atmosphere every week was hugely positive, and it was the perfect example of everything we want the House system to represent. Since then, there has been a series of sporting competitions (rugby, volleyball and crosscountry) and, of course, the Upper School Talent Show which was a great success, featuring some very entertaining and memorable performances. Alongside this, however, the pupils have been busy raising money for Aid to the Church in Need, raising so far this term a hugely impressive ÂŁ1452.87. Well done to everyone involved.
house Competitions Indoor Rowing: 1st. Fisher 2nd. Mayne & More 4th. Campion Rugby: 1st. Campion 2nd. More 3rd. Mayne 4th. Fisher Volleyball: 1st. Fisher 2nd Mayne & Campion 4th More First Form Cross-country: 1st. Campion 2nd Fisher 3rd. Mayne 4th. More
22 www.cvms.co.uk
“This is a wonderful and forward-looking initiative which will bring all sorts of benefits not only to the three schools in question, but also – and more importantly – to the wider educational community.” Mr Cosgrove
2015 Inter-House
Talent Show
And the winner of the 2015 Upper School House Talent Show is ... Alejandro Medioli for Campion House www.cvms.co.uk 23
SPORT
24 www.cvms.co.uk Harrow ESAA Schools Cup, October 2015
CROSS-COUNTRY
In the Lower School, the Under-15s and Under-14s are producing some very talented players with Sam Davies It’s been a successful start to the year for our young and Richard Lee-Monteiro involved in county trials athletes. On Tuesday 6 October the School took part for Surrey and Rowan Hargreaves and Rory Morgan in the London Youth Games Cross Country and Mini involved in country trials for Middlesex. Marathon trials. Not only did Cardinal Vaughan score the most points to win the Boys’ Shield, but ten of Under-12 and Under-13 Rugby is also in rude health. our pupils qualified to represent the Royal Borough of The Under-13s have a squad of over 40 players and the Kensington & Chelsea at the Mini Marathon in April. A-team won 10 out of 13 fixtures this year and were That same week, the first round of the ESAA Schools very unlucky to lose by a single score in the County Cup were held at Harrow. Here our Junior Boys were Cup semi-final. This team is a very balanced young side awarded second place, meaning they qualified for the with ball handling ability throughout the positions and second stage of the competition. Unfortunately, an remarkable finishing skills, as typified by Justin Henry unexpected late start for our Senior Boys meant the with 19 tries to his name this season. team were running on their own, with even Mr Bailey forced to step in as ‘hare’ and run 4300m. Despite Equally the Under-12s have experienced some very these less-than-ideal conditions, the Senior team still impressive victories with the A and C teams winning the majority of their games. In total, 55 boys have been managed a very credible fourth place. involved in Under-12 rugby this year. The vast majority On Thursday 15 October our youngest runners again of them are complete beginners and on more than one brought home a win for the school, winning first occasion we have fielded four teams at this age group. place in the Year 7 & 8 category of the School Cross Country League. Results were also strong for our Sixth It is difficult to pick out individuals but in the A team Form runners who were placed third and fourth in the the experience of Joseph Jones, Terry Gallagher, and Hampton Relays at Hampton School on Wednesday 2 Callum Larkam was telling in many of our victories, as December. On Tuesday 8 December we rounded off the term with the Cardinal’s Cup at Wormwood Scrubs. Competing against teams from the London Oratory and St Benedict’s, Cardinal Vaughan won first place in the First Year race and second in the Second and Third Year race, to be named overall winners of the Cardinal’s Cup with Niall Randall-Carrera and Joshua-Trey Ovie awarded trophies for coming in the top three places in their category. A well-deserved win for the School’s cross-country team, and a wonderful end to the term. Congratulations to all involved. - Mr Bailey
rugby Throughout this twelve-week season, rugby at Cardinal Vaughan has experienced some notable achievements. The First XV have won 9 out of 12 fixtures with two of the losses at the hands of very strong opposition in the National and County Cup. The First XV, captained by Toby O’Toole, reached the fourth round of the Natwest Trophy for the first time since 2011 and recorded some excellent wins against our regular opposition. Both the First and Second XV achieved wins of over 30 points against Latymer Upper School which provides a measure of just how strong these teams have proved to be this year. First XV centre Liam Clark scored 14 tries throughout the season which made him one of the highest individual try scorers in the school.
First XV Rugby Team, Michaelmas 2015
was the impact of complete beginners like Anthony Bautista, Barnaby Stewart and highest try scorer Harry Cunningham. I would like to thank all the members of the staff who have given their time to help coach teams at The Vaughan this season. We are indebted to: Mr Bailey, Mr Brett, Mr Cooney, Mr Kelleher, Mr Lewis, Mr Murphy, Mr Quinn, Mr Secker, Mr Terblanche and Mr Wessels, as well as the many parents who have been willing to give up their free time to help support the pupils’ development. - Mr Leigh
www.cvms.co.uk 25
SPORT
rowing Thanks to the vision and commitment of three Upper Sixth Form Rowers, our Sixth Form Rowing Club has progressed from rowing indoors on a Wednesday morning to rowing on the Thames every Friday at 7.15 am. Hamish Phelan, Edward Joss and Hugo Storey have helped coach our more novice rowers from a concept two rowing machine to the Thames in less than a term, and in 2016 we hope to have a team strong enough to compete in school regattas. - Mr Bailey
FOOTBALL Senior Football is up and running this year following a very competitive friendly against Wembley FC. Training on Tuesday evenings has been very well attended, with both squads in a very strong position moving towards a busy fixture calendar after Christmas. With the addition of new Fifth Form recruits who have settled into the set-up very quickly, as well as the experience in the core of each team, the ambition is high for Senior Football this season. - Mr Murphy
girls football For the first time in six years, the Vaughan now has a keen and committed Girls Football team. Despite losing in their first fixture against St Dominic’s Sixth Form College, the girls played extremely well and are looking forward to getting their revenge after Christmas! Training has been well attended and the
26 www.cvms.co.uk
Girls’ Football Team, Michaelmas 2015
coaching from two First XI players has been excellent. The future looks bright for Girls Football in 2016.
SPORTS CLUBS & aCTIVITIES This has been an extremely busy term and pupils have benefitted from being able to take part in all sorts of sports clubs and activities ranging from Badminton to Table Tennis, Basketball to Netball and Girls Football to Rowing (Indoor and Outdoor) as well as Running Club. As another Rugby season makes way for Football, we are looking forward to give all of our pupils the opportunity to maximise their levels of participation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff who give up their time to ensure that our pupils are given the opportunity to participate. - Mr Terblanche
The Music Department has been busy this term especially in the run up to Christmas.
music
The St Cecilia Concert in November saw around 150 members of the School performing in a varied programme of music, greatly enjoyed by a large and appreciative audience. Works performed included Bach’s Wachet Auf!, Schubert’s Symphony No 8, the finale of Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony and extracts from Carmina Burana. For Carmina Burana we were joined by thirty young singers from Corpus Christi Primary School in Brixton. Two of the performances were conducted by members of the Sixth Form, Filippo Turkheimer and Thomas Fetherstonhaugh. Thomas was also the violin soloist, alongside Jonathan Abrunho on the oboe in a very fine performance of Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe in D minor. We were very pleased that Thomas has been awarded the Organ Scholarship of Merton College, Oxford for 2016. There have been two Early Evening Recitals, one for the strings and piano and the other for the wind and brass, as well as an excellent Junior Concert at the end of term where the standard of the ensemble playing from the younger boys was notably high and encouraging. Many of these boys performed when the School hosted the London Heat of the National Concert Band Festival in December, organised by Miss Wilby: our Concert Band was awarded Gold for their performance. The ever-expanding and successful Sixth Form Choir has had a busy term and as well as performing Wachet Auf! in the St Cecilia Concert also travelled to Cambridge early
in November to sing Evensong at Selwyn College – Mr Jackson’s old college. The Choir also sang for the Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea’s Carol Service at the beginning of December. The younger members of the Schola have been especially busy, singing Carol services and also involved in two operas this term. Boys sang in La Bohemé at English National Opera during October and November and boys are currently performing in Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci at the Royal Opera House. The Royal Opera production was relayed live to cinemas all around the world on December 10. In addition the boys have sung on a
Top: Boys in the famous Studio 2 at Abbey Road Below: The St Cecilia Concert
www.cvms.co.uk 27
music
number of film and tv recordings including a session held in the famous Studio 2 at Abbey Road, formerly the home of the Beatles of course. On 12 December 21 boys sang at the Royal Albert Hall in a performance of the soundtrack of Alice In Wonderland as the film was shown on a giant screen. This concert was given in the presence of the composer (whose most famous creation is perhaps The Simpsons theme tune). The full Schola has just recorded a new CD – a recording of the music of Gabriel Fauré, including the Requiem, which will be available in 2016. The term began with the choir singing in the prestigious London International Acapella Competition in September, which is organised by Peter Phillips, founder of the Tallis Scholars. The choir has sung at Westminster Cathedral several times during the term including the School’s Foundation Day Mass in September. Schola performed the Mozart Requiem in a concert at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square in October and on
28 www.cvms.co.uk
Remembrance Sunday sang a very beautiful service of Evensong in the same church. Perhaps the loveliest occasion came in December however, when the choir made its annual visit to Nazareth House, singing for Mass and then giving a short carol concert to the elderly people who are looked after there. We are now preparing for this week’s Carol Service. The Schola
Clockwise from top left: Performing in La Boheme at ENO, The London International Acapella Competition, Performing Carmina Burana at the St Cecilia Concert
will sing a variety of carols including giving the first performance of a new carol by Mychael Danna, the Hollywood composer who wrote the Oscar-winning score for the film Life of Pi, which featured the voices of the Schola. - Mr Price
THE CARDINAL VAUGHAN MEMORIAL SCHOOL
ANNUAL SERVICE of LESSONS & CAROLS
THE SCHOLA CANTORUM OF THE CARDINAL VAUGHAN MEMORIAL SCHOOL THE VAUGHAN BRASS CONSORT
THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER 2015 7.30PM OUR LADY OF VICTORIES CHURCH KENSINGTON HIGH STREET, LONDON W8 ENTRANCE FREE — RETIRING COLLECTION WWW.SCHOLACANTORUM.CO.UK Harrow ESAA Schools Cup, October 2015
www.cvms.co.uk 29
vaughan parents vpa
Special thanks to Graham Lacdao for the wonderful photographs
30 www.cvms.co.uk
On behalf of all Vaughan Parents, I would first like to extend a warm welcome to all new parents who have joined the School this year. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you at the new parents’ receptions in September and have been heartened by your support at our many recent events. Our Race Night in October was a great success with over 150 people attending, including over 50 new First Form boys and their parents. With the support of Mr Regan and his World Challengers, we raised over £2,500, which will go towards supporting our Sixth Formers annual HCPT Pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2016. A special mention to Eugenio Raez for dressing as a pantomime horse, Paul Bryce for managing the Tote, and to all our budding aeronautical engineers who prepared so enthusiastically for our annual ‘Paper Aeroplane Challenge’. A number of entries managed to better the previously recorded longest flight with Trevor Sayer being adjudged outright winner as his finely engineered jet flew across the hall and over the kitchen servery before landing on a tray of freshly prepared pizza! Our Auction and Curry Night in November saw the much awaited comeback of Elvis tribute artist Sal, who shared top billing with our very own Mr Matt Lorenzo. I would like to thank all those parents who donated Lots, submitted bids online, and those who attended and bid on the night. A magnificent sum of over £ 15,000 was raised and Sal (ably supported by Ted Murphy) brought the evening to a memorable close with a superb rendition of Elvis’s American Trilogy. All monies raised on the night will go to our Pupil Support Fund which provides muchneeded bursaries to some of our boys, enabling them to partake in music tuition and school trips. A big thank you on behalf of these boys to Matt and all those of you who supported in so many ways. Most recently, our Christmas Dinner & Dance on Saturday 12 December brought a great end to our calendar year. I would particularly like to thank the many new First Form and Lower Sixth parents who supported the night. A further special thanks to our Sixth Form HCPT Group who helped with such enthusiasm. With their help, we raised over £2,500 and are now well on the way to raising the £6,000 needed to support their pilgrimage to Lourdes with HCPT in 2016. Thank you again for all your support in 2015. I hope you all have a great Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in 2016. Tony Mars, Vaughan Parents Association.
www.cvms.co.uk 31
in the news
September: The Tablet and Catholic Herald Catholic College’s new partnership agreemen will see the two London Catholic schools work This structured partnership will have mutual be practice and offer reciprocal support in all area
32 www.cvms.co.uk
Popular Tweets We’ve reached 800 followers on Twitter! Thank you to everyone who clicked the button and showed their support. Now let’s make it to 1000! A huge thank you to all of our talented bakers for helping make this year’s #MacmillanCoffeeMorning such a success! Today we launched @The_Big_Draw House Photography Competition. Every picture tells a story - what will be yours?
report on Cardinal Vaughan and Newman nt with the Diocese of Westminster, which king closely together over a two-year period. enefits for both schools who will share good as of teaching and school life.
“Lord give us a country where citizens are respected, equal and free” - Archbishop Jeanbart in Lower School Assembly Many congrats to the Vaughan’s very own @D_O_Brennan whose recording with the @ cantusensemble is currently No3 in the @ ClassicFM charts. This time next week we’ll be gathering @ KensingtonRC for Commemoration Mass - a service held in memory of all deceased Vaughanians. World Challenge are raising funds with a Secret Postcard Sale - and they need your help! http:// bit.ly/1NMTGli Boys pray for the victims of the atrocity in Paris #ChapletofDivineMercy #ParisAttacks
October & November: (Left) The Catholic Herald reports on our Leadership Lecture with Ann Widdecombe which took place on Thursday 22 October. (Above) The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea shares the news of our recently awarded Teaching School status and multischool alliance with Holland Park School and Thomas Jones Primary School. (Far Left) The Catholic Herald feature our multi-school alliance among their ‘Pictures of the week’
Follow us @CardinalVaughan
www.cvms.co.uk 33
in the news
34 www.cvms.co.uk
The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is listed in The Sunday Times Parent Power league table as the fifth highest-performing comprehensive or partially selective school in the country, thereby retaining its title as the top comprehensive school for boys in the country, for the third year running. Congratulations to all staff, pupils and parents who have helped the School to achieve such a magnificent accolade.
Popular Tweets Did you spot us on p54 of today’s @MetroUK? @getintoteaching #teaching First match of the season for our Girls’ Football @cvmssport vs @StDomsSFC, result 7-4 w terrific play by both teams @CardinalVaughan Two of your students sitting in front of Tesco’s & saying Grace over a Tesco sandwich. Well done & God bless. @acn_uk @age_uk Boys @CVMSMusic to sing in this ROH production of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci - broadcast live on December 10 And the winners of the 2015 Upper School House Talent Show are... Want to work with young people and make a difference? Find out what opportunities are available for you @ http://ow.ly/USpWQ Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without our annual Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party. This year’s Carol Service will include the first performance of a new carol written for the Schola by Oscar-winning composer Mychael Danna. A great day @RoyalAlbertHall singing the music of Danny Elfman with @rpoonline and @ MaidaValeSingrs
Follow us @CardinalVaughan
www.cvms.co.uk 35
The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School www.cvms.co.uk 0207 603 8478
36 www.cvms.co.uk