HM Letter December 2018

HEADMASTER’S LETTER DECEMBER 2018

T0 PARENTS

Dear Parents Although they may seem to have passed very quickly, the last two months since my last letter have been very busy and pupils have achieved a great deal. What follows are some of the highlights of the second half of term.

Contents Page 1

Williams Project Library André Micallef University News

Page 2

Choral Concert

Page 3

Choral Concert

Page 4

Family Carol Service

Page 5

Remembrance Meet The Future

Page 6

Friends of Chigwell Fireworks Night Boarders

Page 7

Debating Mock Medical Interview Evening

Page 8

Football Tour to Madrid Vika Barker

Page 9

Trip to Nepal

Page 10

Howard and Mitchell Essay Competitions PSHEE

Page 11

Boys’ Football

Page 12

Boys’ Football

Page 13

Girls’ Hockey

Page 14

Girls’ Hockey

Page 15

Drama

Page 16

Bad Weather O.C. Mitre And Finally

Page 17

Message from the Chaplain

Williams Project

Once again, this half term pupils from

about the implications of neuroscience.

the Williams Project sessions. I was

discussion and the freedom with which

Upper Two and above have attended

He commented on the quality of the

delighted to receive a message from

pupils expressed their views. Please do

Robert Blakey of the University of Oxford

encourage your sons and daughters to

who spoke to a packed Sixth Form Centre

attend the Williams Project.

Library

Despite the work to the roof above, the library has been busy once again this term with

borrowing figures increased by another 20%. Pupils will shortly have access to e-books and further details

will follow, and exciting new books have been added to the stock.

The Accelerated Reader Programme has had a positive response and please do encourage your sons and daughters to keep reading over Christmas.

André Micallef

We were delighted to hear that André Micallef, who is currently in the Fourth Form, represented England in the 10th

WUKF European Karate Championships

during half term. André did very well indeed, coming second in solo kumite

(fighting) in Europe. We send our congratulations

to

André

marvellous achievement.

on

this

University News

Chigwell students have been receiving

sons and daughters to keep tutors and

places and I hope these will continue to

even if the news comes during the

Mr Simon Coppell informed of offers,

some really good offers of university

Christmas period.

come through. Please encourage your

1

Choral Concert

The beautiful 18th century chandeliers of

London’s Christ Church, Spitalfields blazed for the Christmas Choral Concert, with live-feed on screens to highlight

the soloists and choral groups. The concert provided the 2018 Chigwell Young

Musician of the Year winner, Lucas

Abrami-Gill the opportunity to display his

pure baritone voice in three Mozart Concert Arias: ‘Mentre ti lascio, oh figlia’ (K.513), ‘Io ti lascio, oh cara, addio’ KV 245

2

Choral Concert

(KV621A) and ‘Per questa bella mano’ KV 612 which also featured a performance by

Tony Hougham, Principal Double Bass of the Royal Opera House.

This was followed by excerpts of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ (1743) sung by the choir and featuring the accomplished solo voices of Sixth Formers (Lucas, Maria Khokhar,

Anika Jayanth, Oliver Jackson and Rosie

Singha). The Christmas surprise appeared when ‘Unto Us a Child is Born’ was sung by

ten Old Chigwellians: Hannah Edwards,

Sarah Chamberlain, Maddie Lovett, Payam Kapur, Henry Bird, Max Albert, Rachel Maton, Lara Hobbis, Alice Beagley

The charmingly inventive John Rutter

and Yasmin Antoniou.

Christmas carols made up the second half of the evening, sung by the Chapel Choir (who have just released their

album ‘In Excelsis’) along with the

delightful addition of parents, staff and many Junior School children. The evening

was

a

superb

musical

Christmas feast from the start to the

finish – an encore of ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’ orchestrated

by Mr Howard Ebden, swelled

by

the

vast

audience in this prestigious venue,

occasion.

3

completed

the

Family Carol Service

Thank you to all families who joined us for this week’s carol service in which the choir

sang so well. It was lovely to see so many

of you both during the service and for the refreshments afterwards.

4

Remembrance

All Chigwell pupils and staff carried out their annual act of remembrance on the

centenary anniversary of the Armistice Day. The entire school came together to observe the two minutes’ silence with the Last Post played by trumpeter Oliver

Jackson. Two remembrance services were held in St Mary’s Church, supported by the excellent Chapel Choir, and during these the names of all the Old Chigwellians who fell in the two World Wars were read, with a wreath laid by former servicemen.

research), James Harrington and Isabella

Meet The Future

Bird (Civil Service). The aim of these

talks is to encourage current pupils to

consider the future options open to them and to learn from Old Chigwellians who

have recently made university and careers choices.

The programme of talks given by relatively recent leavers has continued.

Speakers have included Rupe Deol (surgeon), Stuart Innes (final year medical student), Alice Beagley (Bank of

England), Jessica Beagley (medical

5

Friends of Chigwell Firework Night The annual Friends of Chigwell firework

night saw over fifteen hundred parents, pupils and friends assembled on Top Field for a fantastic display. Not only

were the audience treated to a stunning

show of fireworks but they were also serenaded by the school big band and a fine array of stalls supplying food and

families together and raise additional

evening was organised by the parent

fortunate indeed to have such a

gadgets was on offer.

The whole

funds for the School.

volunteers of the FoC, which works

committed team of parents who are

magnanimously throughout the year to

prepared to support us in this way and

plan events which bring Chigwell

give of their time so generously.

Boarders

Sixth Formers who make up our boarding

community come from across the world and we have been very pleased at how

well they have immersed themselves in life at Chigwell.

We are very

The final boarding

community event of the term was a James Bond themed Christmas dinner.

6

Debating

Congratulations to Hari Vadher and James MacArthur who took part in the

Epping Forest Schools Parliamentary Debating Competition. They were given

the task of speaking on behalf of the motion ‘This House believes that global warming is a myth’. They both delivered their arguments very persuasively.

Mock Medical Interview Evening

We are very grateful to those parents

who gave up an evening to give a series

of mock interviews to Sixth Formers applying to study medicine. If others

would be interested in helping, we would be delighted to hear from you.

7

Football Tour to Madrid At half term, twenty five senior boys

The squad also visited the main tourist

development tour to Madrid. The base

Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s stadium. The

participated in this year’s football

attractions in the City as well as Santiago

for this year was the Hotel Amura

group was complemented on their

Alcobendas, in the north east region of

behaviour on many occasions during the

Madrid. Whilst there, boys took part in

tour and were great ambassadors for

two training sessions at the Real Madrid

their school both on and off the pitch.

Academy, under the gaze of the

foundation coaches, as well as a training session with La Liga side, Athletico

Madrid. The teams played two matches,

one against a local club side, Paracuellos and Kings College Madrid. The standard

of opposition was very good and both matches were extremely competitive.

Vika Barker Congratulations to Vika who took her Russian Language GCSE earlier this year. She was only twelve

years old making her one of the youngest sitting the exam. The exam consisted of four parts and she achieved the highest possible mark for all components with an overall score of 98%. Vika was invited to the Russian Embassy to receive her certificate.

8

Trip to Nepal Fifteen Senior School pupils and two

down to Base Camp, amid the strings of

trek to Everest Base Camp, Nepal at half term.

the highlight of the expedition. After eight

members of staff undertook a nineteen-day

prayer flags flapping in the wind, was possibly

They set off from Lukla, a tiny settlement

long days of trekking, having braved

sitting at 2,845m in the foothills of the

temperatures ranging from 20°C to -20°C and

Himalayas. The next few days took the group

constantly thinning air, all pupils finally

through the scented blue pine forests of

reached their goal. Everest Base Camp is at

Phakding and Monjo, over the Hillary Bridge

5,340m and all reached it, which was a superb

and up to Namche Bazaar, nestled at 3,440m.

achievement for a group of 14-17 year olds.

From then on, the landscape changed from

The final days of the trip were spent

rich forest to the shrubbery and juniper

recuperating

bushes of Dingboche, at 4,360m. At this

in

the

thriving

hub

of

Kathmandu, and pupils enjoyed visits to the

altitude it is extremely important to

famous Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

acclimatise, and two enjoyable days were

and Durbar Square. The expedition proved to

spent trekking in the Chhukhung region. The

be a valuable, educational and thoroughly

trekkers’ acclimatisation mantra ‘climb high,

enjoyable experience. Pupils immersed

sleep low’ certainly paid off, as by the time the

themselves in the Nepali way of life and

group had departed Dingboche all were fit

embraced the traditions and beliefs. The

and ready to tackle the last leg of the trek to

expedition was most certainly a trip of a

Base Camp. Pupils scrambled over rocks

lifetime and the memories of beautiful

alongside heavily-laden yaks and marvelled at

landscapes,

the ice-blue water of the glacial streams and

stunning

panoramas,

magnificent mountains will not fade.

waterfalls that raced down the mountainside.

After eight long hours of walking, the team

finally made it to Everest Base Camp. Looking

down at the site from the ridge, pupils saw the Khumbu Glacier, the famous Khumbu Icefall

and Base Camp itself, framed by the majestic peaks of Mount Nupste, Mount Lhoste and

Ama Dablam. They also witnessed a distant avalanche to complete the scene. Stepping

9

and

Howard and Mitchell Essay Competition Congratulations to Sixth Formers Charlotte James-Pajwani and Sophia Mouzourides for winning this year’s Howard and Mitchell Essay Prizes.

This prestigious award is in

recognition for a well-researched and written,

externally moderated extended essay on science (Howard) and humanities (Mitchell).

Charlotte’s personal interest fuelled her rigorous research into whether a cure for Type 1 Diabetes might be found through stem cell research. Sophia’s commitment to human

rights led her to look further into the ‘Shades

of Grey within Global Human Rights’ –

including modern slavery, abortion and

enhanced by a tough, logic game and

themselves through answering thoughtful

winner, Zuzanna Borawska, now studying

euthanasia. Both winners distinguished

heartfelt, inspirational words from previous

and challenging questions from the audience

medicine at Oxford, who encouraged younger

of parents, peers and teachers. The dinner that

followed

the

presentations

students to take up this essay challenge for

was

the lasting value it offers.

PSHEE As part of Barclays Life Skills programme, Lower Fifth pupils had a talk on money and work, and Upper Fifth pupils had a session on successful interviews.

10

Boys’ Football It has been a successful season for the 1st XI

this year, captained by Ryan Farrant. They went unbeaten through the first half of the

Michaelmas term and have only lost three games all season. There have been notable results drawing with Corinthian Causals,

beating City of London, Sutton Grammar, Aldenham and Kimbolton. The squad has

included a large number of Upper Fifth boys, which bodes well for the future. The 2nd XI

with three of the boys included in the U16

have again made good progress. Josh Fisher

ISFA team.

has captained the side to some strong performances and victories. The 3rd XI have

The vast majority of the U14 year group have

teams, with a victory over Hampton being the

playing the game in the right way as well as

had the most successful season of all the senior

represented the School this term. They are

highlight of an impressive year. The senior sides look in great shape for the forthcoming

season and we wish the Middle Sixth boys leaving us every success in the future.

The U16s have picked up where they left off last year and remain unbeaten. Having made the final last year, the team remains pretty

much unchanged and with successes against

the Hall School Wimbledon and New

being competitive. The U14B side has made

Rickstones Academy.

strides and also has produced some exceptional performances. Without doubt,

The U15s have made steady progress this year

the U14 group has been the strongest in the

with a notable victory against Harrowdian

School and the future holds high hopes for

School which proved to be a turning point of

this group.

their season. The team continues to progress

11

Boys’ Football Eren saw a closely fought game in which the

Lower Sixth beat the Middle Sixth for only the second time in the history of the cup. The Eren

Pars Trophy was presented by Eren’s mother

and father to the Lower Sixth captain, Joe Williams.

The Staff vs Senior was again played in good spirit; the game eventually finished 5-3 to the Middle Sixth.

The annual Eren Pars football match was played with great passion and spirit. Sadly,

We, again, have individual successes with

in May 2012 when he was just 21. He was a

academies; Evan Perry (Tottenham), Oliver

Chigwell students representing football

Eren who left Chigwell in 2009, passed away

Irow (Tottenham), Blake Plows (Tottenham)

keen footballer and the match is played in his

and Louis Gibbons (Watford). All boys have

memory each year between two Chigwell

thrived in the professional environments and

sixth form teams. This year, the excited

continue to develop and progress well.

crowd of pupils, staff, parents and friends of

12

Girls’ Hockey

The U14 squad has had a great hockey term,

with lots of competition from a twenty five

player squad to play in the A team. The A team lost their first eleven-a-side game to Forest 20, but played really well and could have won

comfortably. From then on, they have won eight games in a row, beating the Essex Champions and runners up. In the Essex Cup,

they lost two games 1-0, and with match time

competitive hockey, running three teams

minimal due to the tournament style, the

Chigwell girls were unfortunate to not score.

The B team has also done well and the whole group and squad have been committed and attended training regularly.

The U15s have shown great resilience over the course of the season. Despite hockey not being everyone’s first love in the squad, this

has not affected the team’s competitive spirit

come fixtures, and regardless of the score line,

their ‘never say die’ attitude has been on show

every match to the final whistle. Notable performances came towards the end of the season against New Hall where the girls

most weeks. The 2nd XI have had their most

showed fantastic character against a very

successful season to note, racking up plenty of

strong opposition, and proved to be a tough

goals and wins! They remain unbeaten this

team to break down and play against. The

year and we have high hopes for this team

following week they went one better and got a

next year with a large amount of Lower Sixth

result against St Edmunds to match their

in the side. The rotation between the 2nd and

performance. Goals and wins have been in

3rd team squads has been fluid and as a result

short supply this term so it was so pleasing to

the 3rd team has had a successful run of

see the girls end the season on a high.

victories too, going the whole term without

At the senior level of the School, we are proud

losing at match. After an impressive first half

to have had more girls than ever playing

of the season, qualifying and playing

13

Girls’ Hockey

regional

With the season now closed, a special mention

a few fixtures cancelled this half term.

been our hockey starlets from Junior School

outstandingly

at

the

East

tournament, the 1st XI frustratingly have had

must go to our Middle Sixth girls who have

However, despite this, momentum has

level, all the way through to the senior teams.

continued and they have racked up some

The example they have set to the rest of the School in terms of participation, performance,

and commitment has been excellent and they have been role models to younger pupils throughout the School.

Their successes

include; U13 IAPS semi-finalists (2013), U14

County runners up (2014), East regional finalists (2014), U16 Indoor Essex champions, U16 East Indoor championship (2016), U18 impressive

victories

over

Forest

Essex Outdoor Champions (2016), U18 Essex

and

Indoor Champions (2016), U18 Regional

Brentwood in recent weeks. The School entered

the

Championships

County

at

the

U18

Finalists

Indoor

beginning

(2016),

U18

East

Indoor

Championship (2016), U18 county runners up

of

(2018), and U18 Regional Finalists (2018).

November; Chigwell faced a strong Forest side

in their first match and narrowly lost, but drew

Venetia Baliey, Jasmine Iley, Charlotte James-

with New Hall and beat Coopers.

Pajwani, Chloe Stack and Zoe Wright have

played in all of the above competitions and have been pinnacle players in the 1st XI for the

past three years. They have left a footprint which will be hard to replicate and they leave

Chigwell with the knowledge that they have been our most successful hockey cohort to

date. In addition to their school success, all of the these outfield players have shone at county and club level and impressed at regional performance centres and beyond.

14

Drama Drama since half term has been dominated by rehearsals and preparations for the Senior School Play, “Our Day Out�

by Willy Russell, directed by Mr Andrew

Lewis. The performances were a first-rate rendition of this modern classic about

underprivileged children from Liverpool who enjoy a day out. The 70s period was effectively recreated with costume from the era and the ensemble cast multi-roled

to produce a tight and ingenious performance using blocks as set to create a coach, a castle, a zoo and a beach. Well

done to all involved and many thanks to staff, students and parents for their strong support as audience.

15

Bad Weather

In the event of heavy snow or ice, please consult the school website (www.chigwellschool.org) for confirmation of arrangements for the school day. We would be very reluctant to close the School but we are mindful of the safety of pupils and staff.

O.C. Mitre

All Old Chigwellians are members of the Old Chigwellian Association which organises events throughout the year. In addition, the O.C. Mitre is published annually and you might be interested to read 2018 edition which is published on line here

And Finally

Pupils in the Lower Fifth will want to use some of the holidays to prepare for the

exams they have at the start of next term and those in public exam years will also

want to spend some of the next few weeks revising. I also hope that they and

all pupils manage to have a break and I

wish all Chigwell families a very happy Christmas. When we return to school on Tuesday 8th January, it will be a week B. With best wishes Yours sincerely

Michael Punt

16

Message from the Chaplain

Christmas always arrives a little early in school and plans are well under way for services, lunches and parties in the last week of term. The Chapel Christmas tree has been suitably decorated by a group of enthusiastic Year 7 pupils and the art department has changed the display of student work on the west wall. I am always tempted to leave these things up after Christmas as it is a shame they are only enjoyed for such a short period of time.

As I write, Charities Week is in full swing and on Chapel Quad I can hear students raising money by throwing sponges at teachers. As always, the fun is in aid of a variety of good causes and through

No doubt you are all preparing for the Christmas holidays and for many of you the next few weeks will be very busy indeed. I hope, whether you celebrate the festival or not, you all have a restful and blessed holiday.

the week activities will range from donut eating to leg waxing and Mr Joe Maingot’s press-up challenge. I am grateful to the Charities Committee who have worked hard to organise the various events and co-ordinate collections. Thanks in particular go to Stella Kearin (Middle Sixth) for presenting a slide show in Chapel each day this week describing our chosen charities: Send a Cow, Smiles with Grace, Alzheimer’s Research, Centrepoint, The Bede Griffiths Charitable Trust, and the Yemen Appeal.

The Chaplain

17

TERM DATES 2019 Lent Term Staff meetings and INSET on Monday 7th January First day: Tuesday 8th January Half term: Saturday 16th February to Sunday 24th February Term ends: Wednesday 3rd April