HEADMASTER’S LETTER
T0 PARENTS
CHIGWELL SCHOOL SCHOOL CHIGWELL
APRIL 2015
Dear Parents Welcome back after the Easter holiday and to the start of the Trinity term. I hope you have managed to enjoy some of the good weather and some time off together.
Contents Page 1
Careers Convention Summer Ball Blue Calendars Gopal Kambo Emma Cadman & Lauren Keiller ISFA
Page 2
Olympiad Physics Success
Page 3
Choir - Oxford & Canterbury in One Weekend
Page 4
Duke of Edinburgh
Page 5
Trip to Nice
Page 6
Speech Day Staff News School Fixtures
Page 7
And Finally
Careers Convention
Gopal Kambo
As I mentioned in my last letter, we will
Gopal has a conditional offer to study
be holding our careers convention on
modern languages at St John’s College
Thursday 23rd April.
There will be
Cambridge. In addition, we heard just
representatives from a range of careers
before Easter, that he has also been
and we hope that students will take the
offered a choral scholarship. This is a
opportunity to learn as much as possible
marvellous achievement and it is the
about
fourth Oxbridge choral scholarship in
the
potential
opportunities
available to them and how they can best
four years.
make themselves attractive to potential Fifth should attend but those from the
Emma Cadman & Lauren Keiller
Sixth Form and other year groups are
Congratulations to Emma and Lauren
also very welcome. We are grateful to
who have been selected to spend a week
parents, Old Chigwellians and friends
at a university in July as part of the
who have given up their time to make
‘Inspire’ scheme. These courses are
this event possible
heavily oversubscribed and we look
employers. Students from the Upper
forward to hearing about the girls’
Summer Ball
experience when they return.
A ticket order form and details of the Summer Ball to be held on the evening
ISFA
of Saturday 4th July are being been sent
Congratulations to Jake David and
out by e-mail. This is always a very
Tommy Redhead who represented the
popular event and you are urged to
ISFA U14 side and to Alec Osborn who
apply for tickets as soon as possible as
played for the U15 side over Easter, both
they are allocated on a first come first
teams against a Notts County side. As a
served basis.
result of his performance, Alec has been selected to play against Aston Villa and
Blue Calendars
Manchester United later this term.
As usual, the Trinity term calendars are being distributed to pupils who should also bring home a copy.
1
Olympiad Physics Success As I have mentioned before, Bianca Andrei performed very well in her physics Olympiad competition and was one of just fifteen A level physics students from across the country selected for a final assessment in Oxford over Easter. The purpose of that assessment was to select the physics team of just five students which will compete on behalf of the UK at the International Physics Olympiad in Mumbai in early July. Bianca was selected to be part of that team which is an outstanding achievement. She and her four team members will compete against eighty other countries in the event which has been running since 1967.
2
Choir – Oxford & Canterbury in One Weekend The families of many members of the choir
cathedral and the overall ensemble, even in
travelled a considerable distance this
the
weekend. Many went to Oxford where the
comments and reports that followed the
Chapel Choir sang evensong at St Michael
service from clergy, parishioners and
at the North Gate, before an Old
visitors from around the world, exclaimed
Chigwellian gathering at Trinity College.
the brilliance of the choir. They now
Without fail, all those who heard them
prepare this term for their tour of AndalucĂa
commented on the quality of their singing.
in July.
The following day, however, the choir headed south to Canterbury where they had been invited to sing Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral. The performance was possibly the best performance the choir has given in recent years; the boys sounded mature, the girls sang as one flawless line with a full sound that filled the
3
psalm,
was
immaculate.
The
Duke of Edinburgh For five days during the Easter break, seven Upper Fifth students took time out from revision in order to participate in their practice expedition for the Silver Duke of Edinburgh award. They chose canoeing and were trained at the Essex Outdoor Centres. The students were required to canoe several miles each day, taking all their kit, food and tents with them. After a gruelling paddle, they then had to set up camp and cook their own meals. They responded to this with good humour and a sense of fun, and coped extremely well with the physical challenges. They are now looking forward to doing the assessed expedition, which will take place after they have sat their GCSEs. Meanwhile, sixty six Lower Fifth students took part in a two day training expedition for their Bronze award. This training focused on all the basic expedition skills: camp-craft, cooking, equipment, and navigation training. All the staff were impressed with the speed with which the group learnt new skills.
4
Trip to Nice Mrs Leyla ChĂŠry, Mr Paul Fletcher and Mrs Elise Feeney accompanied a group of Senior School pupils to the South of France over the Easter break. The group visited Cannes, Monaco and attended morning classes in the "France Langue" school in the heart of Nice. Some Sixth Formers were on work experience in restaurants and hotels. This was a great opportunity for them to be immersed in French daily life as well as enhancing their language skills. The students also learnt about the history and the culture of the Provence region. They enjoyed learning French in a relaxed atmosphere and lovely sunshine.
5
Speech Day The programme for Speech Day and its related activities will follow the usual format: Friday 3rd July
Saturday 4th July
2.15pm
Pre Prep, Lower I and Upper I Service in St Mary's Church
3.30pm
Pre Prep Garden Party
9.45am
Junior School Service at St Mary's Church
11.30am
Senior School Service at St Mary's Church
2.30pm
Speeches and Prize Giving in the Marquee
The Guest of Honour at Speech Day this year will be Michael Marshall Smith O.C. (1974-1983). Michael studied at King’s College Cambridge and became a writer and performer with the BBC. His first novel, ‘Only Forward’, won the August Derleth Award for best novel and his more recent novel ‘Intruders’ was made into a BBC series. Michael lives in America with his family and we look forward to welcoming him back to Chigwell. The preacher at the services on Saturday morning will be Father Tony Chantry O.C. (General Superior of the Mill Hill Missionaries). The preacher at the service on Friday afternoon is Professor David Hatch of the Woodford Wells Ecumenical Church.
Staff News We are delighted to welcome Mr Andrew
Hannah Spark and Mr Will Tomsett who
Bewick who joins us as Outdoor Pursuits
got married over the Easter break. Miss
Leader.
outdoor
Spark will now be known as Mrs Tomsett
education across the School and some of
but Miss Nairac will keep her maiden
you will have met him already through
name for the time being.
He
will
develop
the Duke of Edinburgh training that he has carried out this holiday. We hope he
School Fixtures
will be very happy here.
During this busy time of year when many
We are also pleased to welcome back
students have important public exams,
Ms Emmy Creber who returns from
we would appreciate your continued
maternity leave this term.
support in encouraging your sons and
Our congratulations go to Miss Charlotte
daughters’ commitment to sporting
Nairac and Mr Jamie Sliwa, and to Miss
fixtures throughout the term.
6
I look forward to seeing you over the coming weeks and thank
you
for
your
continued support of the School and your children.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
Michael Punt
7
Term Dates Half term: Saturday 23rd May to Sunday 31st May (INSET day Monday 1st June) Term ends: Wednesday 8th July 2015 Michaelmas Term First day: Thursday 3rd September Half term: Saturday 17th October to Sunday 1st November Term ends: Wednesday 16th December 2016 Lent Term First day: Thursday January 7th Half term: Saturday Feb 13th to Sunday Feb 21st Term ends: Wednesday March 23rd 2016 Trinity Term First day: Monday April 18th Half term: Saturday May 28th to Monday June 6th Term ends: Wednesday July 13th