Headmaster’s Letter to Parents
May 2021
Dear Parents It has been really good to get through to half term and to sense some form of normality, even though we are still mindful of the ongoing implications of the pandemic. As you will see from what follows, pupils have been busy in and out of the classroom, and staff have found ingenious ways of delivering opportunities in spite of the restrictions. We have been very pleased at the diligence shown by Upper Fifth and Middle Sixth pupils towards their assessments which will inform their Teacher Assessed Grades. I hope pupils enjoy their half term break and return invigorated in preparation for an even busier end to the Trinity term. Best wishes Michael Punt
Mr Michael Punt M.A. M.Sc. P.G.C.E. Headmaster mpunt@chigwell-school.org
Contents Page 1
Economics Society Golfing Success
Page 2
Williams Project Racial Inclusion & Awareness Equality Ambassadors
Page 3
Music Staff News
Page 4
3G Pitch Inauguration
Page 5
Drama Wishbone Day 2021
Page 6
Girls’ Sports
Page 7
Earth Day 2021 Friends of Chigwell
Page 8
STEM - Industrial Cadets Sixth Form Induction Day
Page 9
Speech Day Summer Ball
Page 10
Summer Ball
Page 10
Message from the Chaplain
Economics Society
Golfing Success Congratulation to Charlie (Removes) who recently became the Essex Schools’ Golf Association champion. This is an outstanding achievement given that he is four years younger than some of the competitors and is an indication of his dedication and talent. The event was held at Theydon Bois Golf Club and he will now proceed to the South East regional championship to be held at Leighton Buzzard. The best performing players in this event will be selected for English schools’ representation. We are very proud of Charlie.
Since the beginning of the year, students aspiring to study economics at university have been meeting regularly in a newly formed Economics Society to extend the economics they are covering in class. Over the period we have had excellent presentations from Michal on ‘Things they don’t tell you about capitalism’, Teo on ‘The bottom billion’, Jani on ‘Who gets what and why’, Jan on ‘Prisoners of geography’, Ethan on ‘Great economists and how they can help us today’ and Thomas on ‘What money can’t buy’. In addition, we have been able to host, via Teams, leading economists from the City – Richard Turnill (Senior Bursar at Trinity College and former Global Chief Investment Strategist of BlackRock), Timothy Dickson (Invesco Asian and Emerging Market Equities fund manager) and Nicola Anderson (Senior Advisor to the Governor of the Bank of England). If any parent is an economist who would like to talk to the students, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Dr Jonathan Chapman if you are interested (jchapman@chigwell-school.org)
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Williams Project
Racial Awareness & Inclusion
We have been pleased to recently host the following sessions:
Since July 2020, we have been
Mr Desmond Felix – ‘Black, British and
pleased to collaborate with Flair – an
fighting for the flag: Sport and ideas
independent consultancy specialising
of Britishness’
in racial awareness and inclusion.
Read more:
We look forward to sharing more of
http://bit.ly/DesmondFelix
our action plan over the coming months and value the contribution of our school community. To be added to the mailing list, please email jburton@chigwell-school.org
Equality Ambassadors 60+ volunteers from Removes and above are creating student-led change by becoming Equality Ambassadors. The initiative gives students a platform to voice their views, educate others and develop a culture of inclusivity – where everyone is ‘Free to be me’. Mr Richard Maynes, Conspiracy
Read more:
Theories and the Danger of Lazy
http://bit.ly/EqualityAmbassadors
Thinking. View the video: http://bit.ly/richardmaynes
2
Music Choir Additionally, we have begun to rehearse larger groups as COVID restrictions have been lifted. These take place in Chapel and all pupils from these year groups are welcome to attend.
Live@6 We continue to be enthralled by the capacity of our pupils to bring live music to us through our Live@6 recital series. These have been streamed live through the School’s YouTube Channel. The current record for the greatest number of hits is 1,029 views, currently held by the Third Form from their recital. We are hoping that one of the recitals over this half term, from Upper Two, Lower Two, Third Form, Fourth Form, Removes and Lower Fifth will eclipse that record. Watch the recitals at: http://bit.ly/CSYouTube1629
• •
Third Form Choir: Thursday 4.00 - 4.30pm Fourth Form Choir: Tuesday 4.00 - 4.40pm
Staff News We are delighted to welcome Miss Joanna Roberts as Swallow Librarian in the Senior School library and Ms Ellen White as Assistant Librarian. We hope they will both be very happy here.
Instrumental Lessons The significant majority of one-to-one instrumental lessons are now back, live in person in the Music Department. If pupils would be interested in learning an instrument and or continuing with instrumental lessons which had been suspended due to COVID, please contact Mrs Jane Jackson the Music Department Administrator or if new, access the form here
We send our congratulations to Geraldine Brien and David on the arrival of their baby son River Caolan.
3
3G Pitch Inauguration community too. Sir Geoff Hurst will have inspired the pupils who heard him speak at the opening. Their job is now to become an inspiration to others. We thank Sir Geoff and all involved in the creation of the new pitch, which is now being utilised by local teams as well as Chigwell students.
On 22nd April, our new artificial grass 3G pitch was officially opened by Sir Geoff Hurst, MBE. At Chigwell, we believe sport is important to the development of the whole person – learning to work with others as part of a team and to play, win and occasionally lose well. This new facility will have a tremendous impact on what we are able to offer pupils at Chigwell but we are also very keen that it benefits our friends across the
Read more and watch the video of the opening: http://bit.ly/CS3Gpitch
4
Drama This term in drama, we have had the great pleasure of getting back to performing. The Lower Fifth performed three devised pieces to their peers during lessons over the first four weeks of term. Themes ranged from Weddings, Violence in Relationships and Religion. These performance were created by the students using improvisation. Students were able to achieve not only strong performances for acting but also in light, sound, costume and set design. A special thanks to Miss Odette Clark who has done such excellent work stepping into Mrs Janey Foster’s shoes whilst she has been absent. The KS2 play is in full rehearsal and we are looking forward to the performances on 23rd and 24th June at 6.00pm. Tickets will be available soon.
Wishbone Day 2021 Wishbone Day is an international awareness day for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) also known as brittle bone disease and is celebrated on 6th May each year. To mark the day, some staff, including the Headmaster, wore yellow!.
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Girls’ Sports We have waited with bated breath for
Remove and Lower Fifth year groups
competitive grassroots sport to return.
have continued their commitment and
It has been a pleasure to see the girls
excellent work ethic towards their
playing football and tennis fixtures and
termly sports. The Remove girls have
enjoying everything that they entail.
had good numbers to accompany their
There has been a real excitement in
positive attitude towards football and
games lessons and after-school clubs,
are quickly learning from their games
and we have been really impressed with
teachers. The Lower Fifth too have
the girls’ enthusiasm and application
shown a great approach; in their 11-a-
towards their Trinity term sports.
side fixture against Haileybury they demonstrated how astute they are as
Women’s sport, and in particular
sports performers adapting to the full
football, has been one of the fastest
adult game.
growing sports in the UK in the last twenty years. With its rise in popularity
Tennis has always been a sport that we
and its accessibility, married with our
offer in our Trinity term games
excellent football facilities at Chigwell,
programme. Mrs Sheila Bint has been
it made sense for it to become the new
really impressed with the interest in
main summer sport for girls. It has been
both games and extra-curricular clubs
impressive to see how quickly the girls
and really enjoyed the first tennis fixture
have picked up the basics and applied
against Brentwood. With more fixtures
their knowledge and understanding
to come for tennis after half term, there
from other sports to it. In the U10,
will be more to report back.
U11 and U12 age groups many girls are
Next term, weather permitting, we hope
becoming highly competent footballers.
to play the full complement of fixtures
They have performed well in fixtures
and continue the positive start to the
against Braeside, St. Aubyn’s and St.
term.
Edmunds, and we foresee a bright future ahead for them.
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Earth Day 2021 Every year on 22nd April, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement since it began in 1970. To celebrate the event, we hosted a range of activities across the School. Read more: http://bit.ly/CSearthday2021
Friends of Chigwell Pre Loved Uniform
Donations are still very welcome. Please leave unwanted, clean items in good condition, securely bagged, with any of the School’s receptions. Read more about the FOC: http://bit.ly/FriendsOfChigwell
7
STEM - Industrial Cadets Congratulations to our students who have graduated as Industrial Cadets with the EDT, working alongside their mentors from Leonardo. The Fourth Form and Removes teams achieved the bronze-level and the MVI team achieved the gold-level. Pupil, Rhys, shares how the team invented 'MediBot' - A Robotic Nurse, for their award-winning project. Hear about the robot's in-built cooling system for vaccines, and a wireless magnetic charging platform which it can drive onto. The team won second place for the Best Overall Project Award and received a commendation for Best STEM solution. Read more: https://www.chigwellschool.org/news/medibot/ Thank you to Miss Agnes Ochana and all the tutors for supporting and guiding the students throughout the programme.
Sixth Form Induction Day A reminder that a Sixth Form induction day will be on Tuesday 29th June when students will be given a taste of the work that they will be covering in their chosen A level subjects. This is an important day in itself but also the occasion when some A level work is set to be completed over the summer holidays.
8
Speech Day As you know, we are planning to go
attended Warwick and Cambridge
ahead with Speech Day which will
universities and worked as a political
follow the format below, although
commentator for The Independent.
as
you will appreciate, should
Since 2019 he has worked for ITV
Government guidelines change, we
News as a political journalist and
will have to think again.
is co-presenter of the ITV News
Friday 9th July
Politics Podcast. We look forward to
2.15pm Pre Prep, Lower On and Upper One service in the marquee
welcoming Shehab back to Chigwell. The preacher at the service on Saturday morning will be The Revd
3.30pm Pre Prep, Lower One and Upper One Garden Party at the Pre Prep
Charlie Kosla, the new team rector of the Benefice of The Vale of Roding. The preacher at the service on Friday
Saturday 10th July
afternoon will be Revd Gary Scott.
In a change to the usual arrangements,
Summer Ball
there will be a service in the marquee at 9.00am for pupils in Lower Two and above, to which all parents are
A ticket order form and details of the
very warmly invited. This will be
Summer Ball to be held on the
followed by refreshments and an
evening of Saturday 10th July have
opportunity to visit the exhibitions
been sent out by SchoolPost. This is
that are open. We anticipate the
always a very popular event and you
prize giving, which will begin at
are urged to apply for tickets as soon
around 11.30am, will finish by 1.00pm.
as possible as they are allocated on a
The Guest of Honour at Speech Day
first come first served basis. Please contact Mrs Tina Page on 020 8501
this year will be Mr Shehab Khan who
5711 or tpage@chigwell-school.org
left Chigwell in 2012. Shehab
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10
Message from the Chaplain others with no connection to the
We have just finished our first Senior
School who have become regular
School live chapel service since last
members of our ‘virtual congregation’.
year. Having the LVI back face-to-
The Chigwell family continues to grow!
face after so long was an absolute delight and hopefully marks the
Have a lovely half term.
beginning of a more normal routine at
With all blessings
school. All of the year-group bubbles
The Chaplain
now have a timetabled service through the week and with masks optional it feels as if an end to the restrictions is in sight. The next milestone is to have students singing once again which hopefully will start before we break up for the summer. I am pleased that over the months of lockdown and limited movements we have been able to maintain chapel services by YouTube video each week. Students took part either at home or in their bubbles at school and it has been lovely to hear of family members and others in the wider Chigwell Community who also logged in. What has been a surprise is the feedback we have received from
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TERM DATES 2021 Half term: Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June Staff meetings and INSET: Monday 7th June Term ends: Wednesday 14th July Michaelmas Term Staff meetings and INSET: Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd September First day: Monday 6th September Half term: Saturday 16th October to Sunday 31st October Term ends: Wednesday 15th December
