HM Letter to Parents May 2015

HEADMASTER’S LETTER

T0 PARENTS

CHIGWELL SCHOOL SCHOOL CHIGWELL

MAY 2015

Dear Parents Whilst the world outside Chigwell has had the excitement and uncertainty caused by the election, the first half of term at school has, for many, followed an all-too-familiar pattern: work, lots of extra-curricular activities, and exams. Hopefully, years of internal exams and the associated preparation helps to prepare students for the real thing – public exams.

Nevertheless, we are all-too-aware of the anxiety that exams can cause and we do our very best to provide support, as do parents, but as always, if you have concerns please do contact us.

Contents Page 1

E-Safety Day Digital Leaders

Page 2

Cricket

Page 3

Musician of the Year Competition

Page 4

Drama

Page 5

Drama Cricket and Netball courses Ladies Network Evening

Page 6

IAPS National Swimming Finals UCAS Evening The School Shop

Page 7

Netball Tournament Biology Challenge

Page 8

Hockey - Essex County Success Rebecca Howarth

Page 9

Chemical Reaction Challenge Sixth Form Induction Days

Page 10

Chigwell Election

Page 11

Careers Convention Barracudas

Page 12

Speech Day Charity Summer Ball And Finally

E-Safety Day We encourage pupils to use technology appropriately but we will always want them to spend their time on-line safely.

In light of this, pupils from the Pre Prep, KS2 and KS3 experienced an exciting day of workshops on E-Safety by Mr Paul James from Barabarani Education.

Pupils considered the potential hazards presented by the internet, the risk of approach

by

strangers

and

how

photographs could be misused. They were given the tools to safeguard themselves on-line.

Digital Leaders the

creativity

for

transformative,

lifelong learning in the classroom, across the School and in the community. As part of our development we have invited Fourth Form pupils to undertake ICT training to become the school Digital Leaders. This leadership role will involve supporting other pupils and staff with

DIGITAL LEADER

their ICT development. Our Digital Leaders

will

undertake

technical

training and will trial new educational apps and packages. Twenty form pupils

We aim to place ICT at the core of the

have applied to take part in the training

School’s learning community, providing

to become Digital Leaders and will start

a range of technologies, capabilities and

their training shortly.

1

Cricket Firstly, thank you to all the Chigwell

In the top end of the Junior School the

ground staff for producing the fantastic

U13s have shown lots of promise,

pitches throughout the very wet

winning 90% of their matches and

conditions this season.

producing some very good individual performances with the bat and ball. It

Chigwell have had some very good

was great to see the U12s win their

performances in the senior school this

opening match in the Essex Cup against

term. The highlight of the season was

Barking Abbey without losing a wicket.

our double victory against Bancroft’s,

Chigwell are now waiting to play their

beating them in both the 1st XI and 2nd

second match in the competition,

XI matches. The Chigwell 1st XI scored

against either Helena Romanes or Hall

141 in 25 overs and defended the total

Mead. We were particularly pleased with

with some excellent individual bowling

the enthusiasm of the U11s as a year

performances, winning the game by

group; they have had a great work ethic

sixteen runs. The 2nd XI made easy

and the willingness to learn. Hopefully

work of chasing a large total of 166 in

all their hard work will rub off in their

twenty five overs, to which the Chigwell

Essex Cup Match against St Aubyn’s in

batsman climbed into the Bancroft’s

June. The U10s had a great start to the

bowling attack to score the runs in the

season

penultimate over of the game. We have

by

beating

Bancoft’s,

St

Aubyn’s, and Alleyn Court. Not only

been impressed with the commitment

have they produced 100% record, they

of many of the senior players who have

have also batted and bowled all their

given a hundred percent to their cricket

players in the matches they have

during the exam period. The U14s and

played. The energy the U9s have

U15s had a slow start to the season,

produced this term has been amazing.

although they did manage to recover.

They have worked hard during their

As a developing team the U15s have

games lessons and have also committed

been impressive, setting targets for

to after school training sessions on a

themselves during training sessions, so

Thursday to improve their technique

that they can execute their skills during

and understanding of the game.

match situations.

2

Musician of the Year Competition Thirty-eight Chigwell School musicians took part in this year’s Young Musician of the Year Competition. The competition ran throughout the day and the ten finalists, four junior students and six senior, performed in the finalists’ concert in the evening. The junior section was won by Lucas Abrami-Gill (voice) with Zachary Edwards (piano) highly commended.

The senior section was won by Gopal Kambo (piano) with James Botcher (tenor) highly commended. The adjudicator for the event was Jeffery Wilson who is a composer, performer and teacher; he currently divides his teaching between the Royal Military School of Music, Cambridge University and the Junior Guildhall.

Mr Howard Ebden commented that: “The musicians displayed some sheer brilliance at times, transcending, touching and engaging the listener through a beauty of lyrical lines and technical control. Sitting listening to these young musicians is the best job anyone can have.”

3

Drama

The first drama event of the term was a

Next the Lower Fifth performed a series

fundraising occasion in memory of

of devised, largely improvised, short

Dr Alison Lord’s late sister who was

plays.

hoping to publish a book of children’s

years, the students really rose to the

stories before she died. The funds raised

challenge of producing original work and

As has been found in previous

the five pieces presented covered social issues such as homelessness, psychological

or

mental

diseases

and family tensions. Each presentation

will help to enable this to happen.

This

was a gala performance of a new play called “Rebounding Hail”, a delightful piece performed by East 15 group Disparat Theatre who are taking this show up to the Edinburgh Festival. The

made imaginative use of sound, music

play follows a young girl who finds

and lighting with some imaginative

herself mysteriously surrounded by

costuming and make-up.

unfinished books, in which the characters

Each group

impressed with the obvious teamwork

appear to come alive. The event was well

and individual focus required.

attended and raised nearly £200.

4

Drama

Cricket and Netball Courses

This year’s Middle School Play was a double bill – not one, but two 30-minute

The Andrew Flintoff

adaptations of Shakespearean comedies.

Cricket Academy and

First was “Much Ado About Nothing”, an

International Netball

often paradoxical comedy of conflict and

Roadshow are coming

deceit, that was given a real comic twist

to Chigwell School in

by casting most parts against gender!

May half term. The

This also worked for the second show of

three day coaching courses

the evening, “The Taming of the Shrew”.

children of all abilities and international

Both casts worked extremely well

netball and cricket stars will visit the

together and Mr Ben Wille and Mr Joe

course. For more information visit

Maingot both had a lot of fun working

www.activatesport.co.uk or call their

with them. It was great to see students

office on 01785 711572 for all childcare

having so much fun with Shakespeare.

voucher bookings.

are for

Ladies Networking Evening Once again, an Old Chigwellians networking evening for ladies will be held on Monday 29th June at 7.30pm in the Drama Centre. This is a really useful opportunity for girls from the Lower Fifth, Upper Fifth, Lower Sixth and Middle Sixth to meet with Old Chigwellian women to talk about life beyond school at university and into their careers. If anyone would like to come along please contact Mrs Sheila Bint by 10th June sbint@chigwellschool.org

5

IAPS National Swimming Finals Five pupils qualified for the Independent

Eleanor Ahern, swimming a PB in the

Association of Prep Schools National

U13 50m backstroke heat, was a reserve

Swimming Finals. The children travelled

for her final. Maddie swam PB's in both

to the K2 swimming centre in Crawley

the heats and the final of the U13 50m

for the event and the team performed

breaststroke with a best time of 40.33

to their very best, with each of the five

seconds which gave her a fifth place

pupils recording personal best times

finish in the final. Alex also swam PB's in

either in their heats or finals. Joseph

both the heats and the final of the U12

Ahern swam a new PB of 29.85 seconds

50m freestyle with a best time of 30.30

for the U13 50m free-style, missing out

seconds which gave her second place in

on a place in the final by 0.4 seconds.

the final winning a silver medal. Emily

Emily Iley, Maddie McCormack and Alex

followed this trend and swam a new PB

Bibby all qualified for their finals and

in the heat of the U11 50m backstroke with

a

time

of

33.18

seconds and then tied in a dead heat for first place in the final winning a gold medal and being crowned National Champion. Well done to all of our swimmers for performing so well at such a prestigious national competition.

UCAS Evening

The School Shop

As per the calendar, there will be a UCAS

The School Shop will be open during the

Evening for Lower Sixth students and

half term break from 10am to 3pm

their parents in the Drama Centre at

between Tuesday and Friday.

7.00pm on Tuesday 9th June. As always, this is a very important meeting.

6

Netball Tournament groups will be taking part on the day, with the opportunity to have some fun whilst playing and to also enjoy some refreshments with those involved.

We are running a netball tournament on Sunday 7th June between 10am and 2pm as part of the fundraiser for the Disney Netball Tour taking place in October 2016. Both adult and junior

If you would like to play on the day or help out please contact Miss Sam Dick sdick@chigwell-school.org. This tourna ment is open to everyone, friends and family, and those who are not part of the Chigwell community. It will be a fantastic event that we are all looking forward to and hope that you can attend.

Biology Challenge The Biology Challenge is an online quiz run by the Society of Biology for students in Years 9 and 10. Over 30,000 pupils took part in the competition this year including a team of twenty two from Chigwell. There were some very commendable performances, particularly from Poppy Bradley in the Removes and Ariana Lui in the Lower Fifth who both missed a Gold Medal by just one point. Overall, the team achieved eleven Silver Medals, six Bronze Medals, four Highly Commended and one Commended.

Congratulations to all who took part.

7

Hockey – Essex County Success We send our congratulations to Charlotte James-Pajwani and Zoe Wright who were part of the Old Loughtonians team which won the U14 competition, and to Maisy Howson, Venetia Bailey, Chloe Stack and Stevie Southall on finishing runners up in the U15 competition. A marvellous achievement!

Rebecca Howarth Rebecca Howarth has been selected to join the National Youth Theatre. This is a prestigious youth theatre company which develops young actors within in a professional environment. She was one of 590 actors to be chosen out of the 4,100 who were auditioned and Rebecca is now due to take part in a summer course in Greenwich following which she can put herself forward for various theatre productions put on by the company.

8

Chemical Reaction Challenge Eleven Chigwell School pupils took part

took part from around the UK and all

in the Chemical Reaction Challenge

our pupils performed very well. The top

organised by the Royal Society of

three Chigwell pupils, who were singled

Chemistry.

This on-line challenge

out by the competition organisers,

measured participating pupils’ speed

were Jasmine Iley ranked 127th, Poppy

and accuracy across a range of

Bradley ranked 35th and Justine Voong

chemistry topics. Nearly 4,000 pupils

ranked 10th.

Sixth Form Induction Days There will be two new Lower Sixth induction days as follows: •

Tuesday 30th June – Academic Induction (all day) Assembly, meeting with AS subject teachers and meetings in Houses Please wear uniform

•

Wednesday 2nd Sept – Team Building (all day) This is a non-uniform day

9

Chigwell Election All Chigwell pupils had a taste of

children all thoroughly enjoyed the

democracy on Election Day. Rather than

experience and it created much political

electing a new Government, those in the

debate amongst our young minds! For the record, the Conservatives won our election polling 62% of the vote.

The Senior School conducted a mock general election for the ‘Harsnett’ constituency. Party candidates, drawn from the Middle Sixth, gave speeches in St.

clear victory for Georgia O’Connor,

were a whole day devoted to playing

representing the Conservatives.

games, a day of art and craft activities or

and compelling speeches to the Sixth

woods. Much debating took place at

Form pupils who made up the audience,

home and at school before votes were

significantly enriching pupils’ experience

The promise of making dens,

of the 2015 general election that has

making tiny homes for woodland fairies,

produced historic and seismic shifts in

a woodland fire and marshmallows was

the political landscape.

enough to persuade most children to vote for the woodland day.

In the Junior School pupils held their own mock election. All the pupils were shown video manifestos of all the major parties as well as a short film about operation

parliament.

Each pupil then had the

Each

and every candidate delivered cogent

a day spent outdoors in the school’s

the

voting

The outcome of the contest was a

choose for Activities Week. The options

and

before

Removes to Middle Sixth taking part.

three activity days they wanted to

democracy

Church

commenced in Chapel Quad, with

Pre Prep were determining which of

cast.

Mary’s

of

opportunity to vote for their chosen party using individual ballot papers. The

10

Careers Convention Careers ranged from pilot to police, developer to doctor, trader to teacher, and over fifty Old Chigwellians, parents and friends gave up an evening to represent their area of work at the annual Chigwell Careers Convention.

The event was well attended by pupils who enjoyed finding out about the various careers open to them and some managed to make contacts for further work experience. They also discussed subject choices and the additional skills necessary to be successful in the world beyond school. The evening was felt to be the best convention so far and we are very grateful to those who contributed to making it such a success.

Barracudas Barracudas, the organisation which

receive ÂŁ5 off per week if they quote code

provides multi-activity day camps for

HSCHIG at the time of booking.

children aged 4½ to 16 years will once

The camps run from 27th July to 28th

again be open at Chigwell School this

August 2015 www.barracudas.co.uk or

summer. There will be a huge variety of

call 0845 123 5299.

exciting activities including swimming, fencing, archery, aquaslide, motorsports, trampoline, football, dance and much more! Barracudas is Ofsted registered, there are high staff to child ratios, and parents of Chigwell School pupils will

11

Speech Day As I said in my last letter, the programme for Speech Day and its related activities will follow the usual format: Friday 3rd July

2.15pm Pre Prep, Lower I & Upper I Service in St Mary's Church 3.30pm Pre Prep Garden Party

Saturday 4th July 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. (19741983). 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.

Charity Over the half term break, Mrs Donna

Grace and our trust in India. If anyone

Bregman and Mrs Leonie Martin will be

would like to sponsor this, please leave

travelling up to Newcastle to begin a

donations for Smiles with Grace at

walk of Hadrian’s Wall, a total of

Reception clearly marked for Mrs

84 miles in all. They will be walking the

Bregman’s attention, or go to their Just

route East to West, starting at Wallsend,

Giving page here:

Tyne and Wear and finishing at Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria.

http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/tea

The

m/KagoulLeonieandDonna

charities they have chosen to support are the Stroke Association, Smiles with

12

Summer Ball

And Finally

A ticket order form and details of the Summer Ball to be held on the evening of Saturday 4th July have been sent out by e-mail. This is always a very popular event and tickets are selling fast!

I realise that pupils who are half way through public exams will be revising over half term, as will those with internal exams to come. However, I hope that all families get some time to re-charge their batteries before the frantic last half term of the school year.

Staff News

With best wishes

We send our congratulations to Mrs Stacey Wade and her husband Matthew on the arrival of their daughter Penelope.

Yours sincerely

Unusually, we are saying goodbye to Reverend Michael Bradley midway through the term. Michael has taught music at Chigwell since January 1986.

Throughout his time with us, he has been a valued member of the whole community and he has been particularly involved in the pastoral life of the School including, for many years, boarding.

Some years ago, Michael began training for ordination and recently he has been attached to the parish of St John’s, Loughton. His aim was always to take up a non-stipendiary position in the Church of England and he has recently been approached by the Bishop to take on the parish of St Francis of Assisi, Barkingside, as soon as possible. We will miss Michael and we wish him every success and happiness in his new role, and we hope that he will stay in touch.

Michael Punt

13

14

Chapel The following is a talk given by the Chaplain to

be hounded and reduced to poverty if I voted for

the Senior School following the General

the “wrong” party.

Election:

That is what life was like under Hitler, and, if he

It was great to see so many of you lining up to

had defeated Great Britain during “the Battle of

vote on Thursday. You produced a similar result

Britain”, that is what life would have been like

to the rest of the nation. I went to the voting

for you and me. The cost of my freedom to vote;

station, mine is in St. Mary’s Parish Church Hall

the cost of our freedom to debate, have

next door to the Church. I voted secretly in the

different viewpoints, the cost of our freedom to

voting booth, placed my ballot paper in the

be individuals with our own opinions is marked

metal box with its padlock and then walked

on the walls of the Chapel behind me. Six

home. I knew that my vote would count and that

Chigwellians killed in Sicily and Italy in the

there would be no repercussions, whoever I

desperate fight to liberate Italy from Mussolini

chose to vote for. Just like you did!

backed up by the might of the German Army.

The following day, on Friday, there was

Many more killed in the air war that stopped

celebration. Not of the Conservative win, which

Hitler’s invasion plans. Plans thwarted by the

you may or may not be celebrating - but the 70th

Battle of Britain pilots that stopped Hitler

Anniversary of VE Day. Victory in Europe Day

conquering the British Isles. We have much to

8th May 1945.

thank these brave Chigwellians. Following the D Day landings in June 1944 Kenneth Terry, 23 was

As the election results became clear on Friday

killed in France in August 1944. And Hamish

the Party leaders gathered at the Cenotaph in

Skelton-Smith, just 20 years old, killed in the

London to lay wreaths and remember the

liberation of Germany in April 1945 just weeks

moment when Europe was finally set free from tyranny.

before the end of the war in Europe.

Set free from Nazi tyranny where

during elections you could only vote for one

When you and I voted on Thursday we did

party.

When I went to vote there were no

something wonderful, something magical. We

henchmen threatening me to check that I voted

demonstrated that, however messy our

for the “right” Party, the Nazi Party. There was

democracy is, whatever questions we have

no threat that if I chose to oppose the “right”

about the voting system – we have the freedom

Party I would be beaten up, imprisoned,

to choose and for that many Chigwellians gave

tortured and even killed. When I went to vote

their lives; and I for one am very thankful.

there was no threat that my family would have

15

Chapel On 8th May 1945 King George VIth addressed the nation with these words: “Today we give thanks to Almighty God for a great deliverance.

Speaking from our Empire's oldest capital city, war-battered but never for one moment daunted or dismayed - speaking from London, I ask you to join with me in that act of thanksgiving.

Germany, the enemy who drove all Europe into war, has been finally overcome.

There is great comfort in the thought that the years of darkness and danger, in which the children of our country have grown up, are over and, please God, forever. We shall have failed and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and good will.

To that, then, let us turn our thoughts to this day of just triumph and proud sorrow, and then take up our work again, resolved as a people to do nothing unworthy of those who died for us, and to make the world such a world as they would have desired for their children and for ours.�

To vote is to declare our freedom and our right to choose. It is a precious right that has been won over many generations. It is a right that in recent history individuals have been called upon to defend with their lives. Always treasure this right, use it wisely and remember that many died so that you can exercise this simple but profound act.

Father Simon

16

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