Insight |
Summer Term 2018 Reflections
Issue 13 | Published September 2018 1
Contents
Page 3 - Welcome Address and Farewell from Dr Coates-Smith Welcome from New Headmistress Ms Roberts Page 4 - School News Page 6 - Examination Results and Awards Page 7 - Colours, Scholarships General Assembly Awards Page 8 - Festival Day Page 10 - You say Hello... Page 11 - ...And I say Goodbye Page 12 - Escape Room Page 14 - Sun Shines on Lenox Page 16 - Prefects MUN News Page 17 - Year 7 Cross-Curricular Study Page 18 - Cobham Hall Visits Ypres Page 20 - SLT...Leading by Example Page 21 - Dancing in the Moonlight Page 22 - #BoardingLife Page 24 - Curriculum Enhancement Week Page 25 - Adventure Page 26 - School Snippets Page 27 - Summer Art Exhibition and Music Concert Page 28 - Sporting Success Page 30 - Elders’ News Page 31 - Unicorn News Page 32 - News from the ILC Page 33 - For the Love of Reading... Page 35 - Stay in Touch Forthcoming Events
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From the Editor...
Welcome to the Summer Term edition of Insight! Another busy Summer Term is now behind us, faded by memories of summer holidays and, for some, preparations for embarking on university courses. However, as a new academic year begins, and a new chapter in Cobham Hall’s history begins, it’s a chance to reflect on the opportunities and successes of the Summer Term; celebrate achievements, offer best wishes to those leaving us, and provide a warm welcome to those joining our community.
start 81 likes 11! #GCSE exams Good luck #Year dwork. har of cobhamhall ult res the , success is today. Remember nmonday oodluck #motivatio #cobhamhall #g
I hope you enjoy reading this edition. As always, I welcome any feedback - reidt@cobhamhall.com. Happy reading! 2
Tracey Reid Marketing Assistant
Welcome
from New Headmistress
Welcome Address and Farewell
Ms Roberts
Dr Coates-Smith
Welcome to this edition of Insight.
In September 2018, we welcome our new Headmistress, Ms Maggie Roberts. After graduating from the University of Birmingham with a BA (Hons) in History and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, Ms Roberts started her teaching career in 1993. She has taught in a number of day and boarding schools both in and outside of the UK. She appreciates the advantages of a single-sex education having been educated in an all girls school herself.
Once again you can read about some of the activities of our students, and be amazed, as I am, about what they get up to. In the 27 years that I have been a teacher here I have seen, again and again, just what girls and young women are capable of achieving when talents are nurtured and encouraged. I can hardly believe that my time as Headmistress is almost at an end. It was in the summer of 1991 that I got the job of Teacher in Charge of Physics. Cobham Hall attracted me for two reasons. Firstly, it was a single sex girls’ school. I had benefitted from a single sex secondary education myself and knew then, as I am even more sure now, that this is the best environment for girls of this age group to flourish. This was somewhere where I could show girls that science was a subject they could enjoy as well as do, and do well. Secondly, the advert mentioned Round Square, which resonated with what I felt a good education should be.
“It is a strange thing with teaching that one is appointed many months before one takes up post. The position of Head is no different and so I have been looking forward with great anticipation and excitement for some time to introduce myself to the Cobham Hall community. For that is very much what Cobham meant to me when I applied for the position. I had known about the School for many years as a result of my involvement in three different Round Square schools, each in a different country! What struck me most about Cobham when I went on Conferences with the girls or attended meetings at the School, was that it was a special place. Small in numbers but big in every other way. I was struck by the spirit of the girls and the way in which the staff interacted with them. They were clearly a part of something special - the girls were confident and the staff were caring. It is a close-knit community where people support and look after one another.
Something that kept me tied to Cobham Hall is the knowledge that our students achieve remarkable things while they are here. Those of you lucky enough to see the Summer Art Exhibition or to attend one of the many concerts and musical events will know the incredible depth of talent that exists here. Furthermore once students leave us and become an ‘Elder’, they frequently carry on doing great things. There have been many changes over the years but Cobham Hall is still the good school I saw in 1991. What has not changed is the need for girls to be given high quality education and to be enabled and encouraged to go out into the world and to make a difference. As a young teacher I did not have any particular ambition to be a Headmistress, but I am grateful for the challenge and opportunity that Cobham has given me to try something new and to test myself. The motto “there’s more in you than you think” applies just as much to us adults as it does to the students.
The role of any responsible and outstanding school is to prepare its young people for the competitive world in which they will journey. I am privileged to lead a school like Cobham Hall, where, true to the ethos of Round Square, we celebrate diversity and embrace challenge. I feel that my experience in a wide range of schools, both national and international, will allow me to serve the community well. Together with a committed and professional staff we will continue to ensure that each and every girl will be able to discover that there is more in them than they think. I want every girl to leave Cobham having enjoyed her learning and feeling that she has taken full advantage of everything that the School provides.
This last year has gone by incredibly quickly, as have the previous 26, but once again the students have made me proud to be member of this community. I want to thank them for enabling me to end my teaching career on such a high. I look forward to continuing to read about the successes of the School, its students and its Elders in the years to come, in the Sciences of course, but also in the Arts, in Music, in journalism, in medicine, in law or wherever they find their talents lead. Thank you and may Cobham Hall continue to prosper.
Dr S Coates-Smith Headmistress 2017-2018
I look forward to meeting you in September when my journey begins.”
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Ms M Roberts Headmistress
School News
Good luck, Mr Wright!
Congratulations, Mrs Shelley! Our Registrar, Mrs Shelley, along with one of her friends, recently took part in Walk the Walk’s Moonwalk for breast cancer awareness. Together, they raised over £1100!
Network Manager Mr Wright had one of his photographs shortlisted for the British Wildlife Photography Awards. The image above, taken in the School’s grounds, is the piece entered into the competition. Good luck, Mr Wright!
Staff Changes In addition to the retirement of Dr Sandra Coates-Smith, our Head of Languages, Mrs Catherine von Bredow, and Teacher of Voice, Drama and Communications, Mrs Patricia Gough are also retiring. We wish them all a long, happy retirement! We also bid farewell to Miss Danielle Deacon, Head of Mathematics, Miss Katharine Lambert, CAS Co-Ordinator and DofE Leader, both of whom are moving on to new challenges, and Housemistress Miss Nicole Shipton, who is taking some time out to go travelling. School Librarian, Mrs Andrea Jakso, is moving to Cambridge to be closer to daughter April, a Cobham Hall Elder who is studying at the city’s prestigious University. We wish each of them every success. A few changes are taking place within School. We welcome back Mrs Rebecca Keys, our Geography teacher, who returns from maternity leave. Voice and Piano Tutor Mr Matthew
Haas will be our new Round Square Representative, following Miss Jessica Caro Quintana’s promotion to Head of Languages. Mr Kevin Eyers also steps into a leadership role, becoming Head of Middle School. Miss Ruth Deacon, Mrs Carmel Gorman and Mrs Victoria Kipling have taken permanent roles as Teacher of EFL, Head of Drama, and Geography Teacher/Examination Officer respectively. Miss Amaka Ukachi-Lois, who joined in the Spring Term as Graduate Housemistress steps up to Assistant Housemistress. As well as welcoming Ms Maggie Roberts as our new Headmistress, we also welcome Mrs Tolulope Afolayan as Head of Mathematics and Mrs Sarah Hawkins as School Secretary. We’re also delighted to introduce several new roles this year. Mrs Jacqueline Hackwell is joining as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and 4
Whole School Photo Fun
The sun was finally shining for our whole school photograph in April, having been postponed from the Spring Term due to poor weather.
Getting all students and staff in place for the photograph is a feat of organisation, but it does mean plenty of time for a quick selfie! Thanks Mr Haas, Miss Caro and the girls behind them! Service Manager; Miss Meghan Frost and Miss Dawn Berry enhance our Student Support Department as a Teaching Assistant and Higher Level Teaching Assistant respectively, and Miss Katie Bowdery joins the School as an Artist-in-Residence. In Boarding, Miss Isabel Rabot joins as a new Graduate Housemistress. Miss Cristina Valera Ballo and Miss Laura Urtet Pech also join the team as Graduate Housemistresses, and have also expressed an interest in helping out in the Languages Department during their year with us. Miss Anna-Lena Fitschen and Miss Judith Weiers complete the team as our Boarding GAP students. Finally, Miss Lea Nurge has joined the School as a Language Assistant.
Another Busy Open Morning “I received an invite on 6th April and could not believe my eyes; honestly I thought it was a belated April Fool’s joke. After investigating, I discovered that the Lord Lieutenant of Rochester had asked Kent charities to nominate employees or volunteers. Meghan and Prince Harry had said they have a special interest in developing younger people and would like this recognised.
Royal Wedding Invitation for School’s SRE Nurse
We were incredibly excited for one member of staff this term. Our Sex and Relationships Education Nurse, Mrs Marshall was invited to attend the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle. Mrs Marshall works for ellenor, a Kent-based charity supporting families facing terminal illness, and featured on television’s ‘The Hospice’. She recounts the moment she received the invitation, and the day itself.
“My work at ellenor involves recruiting people aged 16-19 that are possibly considering a career in care. In a nutshell, finding tomorrow’s Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, in fact any role in the care sector. These courses are free, structured and have proven incredibly useful when students apply for further education. I absolutely love my job and it is very rewarding to see students achieve a high standard of care delivery. “So, back to the wedding, I was invited as part of 200 people from charitable organisations. ‘Blown away’ would be an understatement. I was invited to do many interviews on both TV and radio, as well as being invited onto the Lorraine Kelly show for an amazing makeover. Finally the day arrived, and it was every bit as glorious as you would imagine. I felt so proud and still can’t believe I was actually there.”
The event, held in the Library and Vestibule, was very well attended, with many having the chance to speak with Ms Roberts, as well as mingle with other parents.
As well as having an opportunity to hear from Ms Roberts, our incoming Headmistress, visitors had a chance to win their favourite book in the English Faculty’s competition. The task was to devise a fantasy creature and describe it so well that it came to life! In addition, visitors could test their Geographical knowledge with a QR-code treasure hunt to work out the name of a country and then locate it on a map in the Geography classroom. The Open Morning was preceeded by a Year 5 Taster Afternoon and Sleepover, where girls got to enjoy a murder-mystery based Science lesson before experiencing life as a Boarder at Cobham Hall. Our guides, girls from across the School, were highly praised by families for their knowledge, confidence and friendliness. One such comment praised the guide for being a “wonderful girl who was fun, informative, articulate and enthusiastic – a real credit to the school and her family”.
Future Open Events & Tasters
Drinks Reception to Meet New Headmistress Ms Maggie Roberts Prior to the Moonlight Walk this term, a Drinks Reception was held for Parents and Guardians to meet our new Headmistress, Ms Maggie Roberts.
Early in the term, we welcomed parents and their daughters as they explored the School, discovered the education we offer, and enjoyed a chance to talk with staff and current pupils at our Spring Open Morning.
Open Mornings:
Our Beautiful School
We’ve long believed we’re blessed to have such magnificent surroundings to call ‘home’. However, we were delighted to see Independent School Parent magazine agree, featuring Cobham Hall in their list as one of “The Most Beautiful Schools in the Independent Sector”. 5
Saturday 6th October 2018 Saturday 11th May 2019
Taster Afternoon / Sleepover Friday 5th October 2018 (for September 2019 entry) Friday 10th May 2019 (for September 2020 entry)
To register interest, please contact our Admissions Department on 01474 823371 or enquiries@cobhamhall.com.
Examination Results and Awards Cobham Hall has had another wonderful examination season, with students doing well in academic external examinations as well as in additional qualifications LAMDA (Drama and Communication), ABRSM (Music) and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. International Baccalaureate Once again, the average mean diploma score was above last year’s worldwide average, with girls achieving the highest possible grade (7) in subjects including English, History, and Mathematics. In testament to Cobham Hall’s belief in an all-round education, grades of 5 and above were awarded in subjects including Higher Level Physics, Higher Level Biology, Higher Level German, Higher Level English, Higher Level Psychology, Higher Level Visual Arts, Higher Level Theatre and Higher Level Geography. Fantastically, our bilingual diploma score was 38%, compared to the worldwide average last year of 28%.
ABRSM Results
(The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) ABRSM Examinations were taken in the Spring and Summer Term, in a range of instruments, as well as singing. We’re thrilled to announce a 100% pass rate.
GCSE
(General Certificate of Secondary Education) We are again celebrating wonderful GCSE results. As a non-selective school, we’re delighted to see our girls have achieved top marks in a variety of subjects, including Mathematics, Art and Languages. 91% achieved at least 5 A*-C grades, with a 100% pass rate in Higher Level Mathematics, Higher Level French, Spanish, Music and English as a Second Language. 100% scored 9s in Higher Level German, and in Art 88% gained A* - A. Well done, girls – your hard work paid off! Music Theory Grade 1: Alexandra, Rebekah Grade 2: Tara Grade 5: Lila Piano Grade 1: Ella Grade 5: Lila Grade 6: Keely
Cello Grade 1: Ella
Singing Grade 1: Jessica, Poppy, Isis, Francesca Grade 2: Mwende, Rachel Grade 4: Arwen, Rhiannon, Isabela, Eimear, Alexandra Grade 3: Ruqaiyah, Ibuki Grade 5: Maisy
Clarinet Grade 2: Rebekah
Violin Grade 5: Keely
Alto Saxophone: Grade 1: Harmony
6
LAMDA Results
(London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) We were thrilled to receive the results of LAMDA Examinations this term. Cobham Hall offers lessons in Voice, Drama and Communication, and examinations can be taken in Acting, Verse and Prose, Reading for Performance, Public Speaking and Musical Theatre. We had a 100% pass rate, with 97% of girls passing with either Distinction or Merit. Well done, girls!
LAMDA Certificates Awarded In addition to the eight Bronze and one Silver medal as detailed in the Festival Day awards on Page 9, the following were also awarded: Acting Grade 2: Olivia, Poppy, Jenefa Grade 3: Loantrang, Mwende, Tunmise, Leah, Rosie, Rhiannon, Felicity, Poppy, Elena Grade 4: Samantha, Niu-Niu, Rachel Grade 5: Tiffany, Damilola, Alexandra, Katie, Eimear Musical Theatre Grade 3: Amy-Rose, Tara Grade 5: Katie
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards This year, we had 26 girls complete their Bronze Award, and seven their Silver. Their names are detailed in the Festival Day Awards (see Page 9).
EFL Results
(English as a Foreign Language) EFL students sat Cambridge First Certificate in English or Preliminary English Test examinations this term. We are delighted to announce a 100% pass rate again this year. Well done, girls!
Netball
Junior: Alice, Rhiannon, Felicity, Amber Intermediate: Trinity, Langa, Niu-Niu, Rebecca, Paige
Art
Junior: Agueda, Daisy, Ella, Millie, Georgina Intermediate: Trinity, Poppy, Amelia, Lili
Music
Junior:
Colours Awarded this Academic Year At the end of every Summer Term, girls are awarded ‘Colours’: presented for excellence in, participation in, and dedication to extra-curricular activities. Colours are awarded in Art, Music, Drama and Sport, and are split into three year groupings: Lower School (Red), Middle School (Green), and Sixth Form (Yellow). In order to be awarded Colours, a student must have met the following: • Shown continued participation in an extra-curricular club or activity over a sustained period of time. This will be more than one term. • Shown commitment, responsibility and a positive attitude over a sustained period of time. • Shown a high level of personal performance in the relevant area. • Demonstrated a willingness to serve the best interests of the School when required to do so, for example, representing the School in sports teams.
Enya, Tara, Felicity, Ella, Elena, Rachel, Isabella Intermediate: Katie, Rebekah, Eimear Senior: Harriet, Emily, Britta
Swimming
Junior: Intermediate:
Natasha Rebecca, Rosie
Rounders
Junior: Intermediate:
Rhiannon Rebecca
Tennis Junior:
Tara, Selina
Athletics
Intermediate:
Bo
Drama
Junior: Intermediate:
Omasan Sarah
The following were also awarded: Benesonantes Badge:
Tara, Rhiannon, Elena, Katie, Francesca
Reading Superstars: Year 7: Year 8: Year 9:
Ella Arwen Ruqaiyah
Congratulations to the following students, who have been awarded scholarships for 2018-2019:
Middle School
Lower School
Art: Tiffany, India, Wingzi, Zi Yuan Drama: Sarah, Tami English: Teloni, Alessandra History: Anna Mathematics: Maria Sports: Lilly, Rosie 7
Drama: Flo, Anya General: Hannah Music: Isadora Round Square: Adele, Deborah Art: Alice, Maddie, Betsy
Chauveau Cup for Creative Writing: Alice Uwaifo Cup for Lower School Progress in Chemistry: Joana Horsfield Trophy for Progress in Art: Helena Magenta Trophy for Commitment to Art: Trinity Bodie Cup for Outstanding and Sustained Contribution to Drama: Victoria Languages Shield for Achievement in Lower School: Alice Middle School: Langa Kate Sedgewick Cup for Progress on a Musical Instrument:
Lila
Susan Price Cup for Musical Composition:
Harriet
Josephine Halsall Cup for Contribution and Commitment to Choir: Bonnie Courtesy Cup:
Catherine
Voluntary Service Award: Connie, Catherine and Sabrina McDonald McKinney Cup for Most Improved Swimmer: Jessica Unicorn Cup for Most Improved Tennis Player: Joey Most Improved Netball Player Junior: Agueda Intermediate: Joana
Summer Term House Awards
Scholarships Awarded this Academic Year Drama:
General Assembly Prize-Giving
Rhiannon
House Points Cup: House Points Shield:
Sixth Form
Enya Darnley
Merit Badges Lower School: Middle School: Sixth Form:
Daisy Alexandra, Niu-Niu, Aoife, Lilly Shakira
Celebrating Achievement: Festival Day
The ceremony was opened by Mr Pennell, Chairman of the Board of Governors, who reflected on the year, and gave thanks to Dr Coates-Smith for taking on the role of Headmistress for this academic year. Dr CoatesSmith gave a moving speech about her time here, the importance of all-girls’ education, and reflected on fond memories.
organisation dedicated to rebuilding hope for people impacted by natural disasters all over the world. She closed with some key advice for our current students. This included learning languages, being brave, and using the time over the summer to gain experiences to help discover who they are, and what they want to achieve. Josceline assisted in handing out prizes to students, celebrating achievements in academia, Art, Drama, Music and Sport across the School. Many girls took the opportunity after the ceremony to speak to Josceline in greater detail, inspired by her words and her work.
Our guest speaker this year was Elder Josceline Cluff. Josceline is now Programme Director at All Hands, a volunteer-powered disaster relief
The prize-giving was followed by a speech from outgoing Guardian Lillie, who as well as giving thanks to staff and reflecting on her time here,
The House Points Cup for the girl gaining the most academic House Points this year
House Awards
Chatter and laughter filled the air as our school community gathered in the garden of Rose Cottage, the onsite residence of the Headmistress, for refreshments ahead of the annual Festival Day prize-giving.
Rhiannon
The House Points Shield for the House gaining the most academic House Points this year
Richmond
8
described Cobham Hall as a home, and encouraged girls to continue making memories. The formal part of the day came to a close with a dramatic reading, a performance from the Choir of songs from the Summer Music Concert, and the School song, introduced by Guardian Hannah, who also presented gifts to Dr Coates-Smith and Josceline Cluff. A barbeque lunch was served in Lady Darnley’s Garden, to celebrate and say fond farewells. To those leaving us, good luck in the next chapter of your life, and to those returning, we look forward to seeing you in September for another year of memories!
The Alexis Martin Trophy for the overall winner of Inter-House Sports competitions
Clifton
Year Prizes for Consistently High Examination Results Year 7: Year 8: Year 9: Year 10:
Tara Alice Alexandra Chioma
Year Prizes for Outstanding Attitude Year 7: Year 8: Year 9: Year 10:
Daisy Enya Rebekah Aoife
GCSE Shield for Excellence of Effort
Lilly
Subject Prizes for Outstanding Work in Years 7 – 11
Art: Biology: Chemistry: Computing: Drama: EFL: English: French: Geography: German: History: Mathematics: Music: Physical Education: Physics: Spanish:
Carla Niu-Niu Anna Leena Sarah Jessica Teloni Alexandra Maisy Zahra Anna Siqi Lila Maisy Niu-Niu Langa
Subject Prizes for Outstanding Work in Years 12 and 13
Biology: Chemistry: Computer Science: Economics: English: English B: Film Studies: French: Geography: History: Mathematics: Music: Physics: Psychology: Spanish: Theatre: Visual Arts:
Shakira Jana Emma Shakira Louise Marielle Saskia Jessica Jana Louise Isabela Harriet Marielle Isabel Louise Lillie Emma
Cups for Excellence of Effort or Progress
Cups and Prizes Celebrating Round Square IDEALS
Biology (The Spencer Phillips Cup): Sofia Chemistry (The Wainman Cup): Carla Computer Science: Lilly English (The Clark Cup): Lilly Environmental Systems and Societies: Lana Film Studies: Kathryn French: Catherine Geography: Phoebe German: Trinity History (The Timm Cup): Isabel Mathematics (The Erogbogbo Cup): Helena Music (The Lorna Currie Cup): Keely Physical Education: Niu-Niu Physics (The Wilkinson Cup): Joana Psychology: Vanessa Spanish: Harriet Theatre (The Tennison-Smith Cup): Bonnie Theory of Knowledge: Marielle Visual Arts (The Downing Cup): India English as a Foreign Language (The Tavassoli Cup): Hanna Student Support Department Prize: Rosie
The Balch Trophy for Commitment to Round Square in Lower and Middle School: Anna
Model United Nations (MUN)
Sports Awards
Junior MUN Debating Cup: Maisy Senior MUN Debating (Panton & Grimes Trophy): Britta
The Cawston Cup for Excellence in Swimming: Natasha
LAMDA Medals Bronze:
Maisy, Lucy, Mabel, Alisha, Chiamaka, Oluwatamilore, Budour, Alessandra
Silver:
Harriet 9
The Unicorn Prize for Community Service: Vanessa The Prize for Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Victoria The Husain Cup for Raising Awareness of Environmental Issues: Marielle
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Bronze: Mya, Aoife, Holly, India, Anna, Maia Kimberley, Lucy, Helena, Hannah, Paige, Akuboye, Teshanne, Pragya, Amelia, Lila, Teloni, Chiamaka, Chioma, Temiloluwa, Lauren, Mabel, Maisy, Maria, Alisha, Amrit Silver: Emily, Saskia, Vanessa, Lillie, Victoria, Carla, Rosie
The Morton Cup for Commitment to Sport:
Lilly
Netball Player of the Year Senior: Junior:
Langa Amber
Excellence in Tennis:
Zi Yuan
. . . o l l e H y a s u o Y
Familiarisation Morning Fun
This term, we’ve welcomed pupils to our School for a variety of reasons.
Current Year 7 and Year 8 students welcomed our new Lower School pupils, Year 6 girls who would be joining Cobham Hall in September 2018, for a morning of fun activities and a chance to get to know each other.
Perhaps they’re joining us at the start of the Autumn Term, they’ve taken part in our Netball Tournament, or maybe their School held an event here. Whatever the reason, it’s great to see others enjoying our beautiful building and grounds.
Students worked in groups and took part in ice-breaker games, before enjoying a Round Square Challenge, organised and supported by current pupils. There was a Nature Trail Treasure Hunt, a Rainbow Colour Chase and an International Flag Challenge. New students and their parents had an opportunity to meet current staff and students and there was an Information Session for new parents, led by Lower School Pastoral staff, followed by the Unicorn Picnic in the grounds.
The Granville Regains Title
Our rescheduled Prep and Junior School Netball Tournament took place in April, after being postponed from early March due to the snow, and was again a great success. We were delighted to welcome two new schools, Merton Court and Shorne Primary, and one school cut short it’s Easter holiday break just to attend! A big thank you to all the parents
and visiting staff for bringing their teams, and supporting them throughout the Tournament. Thank you also to our Cobham Hall girls, who worked incredibly hard all morning. The results were:
1st – The Granville 2nd – Merton Court 3rd – St Andrew’s 4th – Bryony 5th – Steephill
Prep Schools Enjoy Cobham Hall’s Inspirational Setting
The Summer Term is, for many schools, a time of reflection and celebration and sees the culmination of lots of hard work. For three local Prep Schools, we happily provide the setting for their end-of-year events. St Andrew’s Principal Mrs SteinmannGilbert said, “For the third year in a row, Cobham Hall have allowed us to host our annual Prize Giving in their beautiful Gilt Hall. This is a special evening for our Year 6 pupils, to mark the end of their journey at St. Andrew’s. We are already looking forward to hosting the event at Cobham Hall next year!” Steephill’s Headteacher, Mrs Birtwell prasied their children for a fantastic production, “Once again Classes 5
and 6 from Steephill Independent School have produced an amazing show. ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat’ was funny and moving. The songs and dances were wonderful. The scenery made by one of the grandparents, and costumes made by a parent, set the whole show off. The setting of Cobham Hall was just what was needed. The staff there couldn’t have been more helpful so the whole ambience made it a pleasurable evening.” Bronte School and Nursery held both their Festival and Sports Days here. Headmistress Mrs Wood said, “Festival Day was a resounding success, with sunshine and smiles in abundance, especially with Bronte 10
Kindergarten and Nursery’s Graduation Ceremony for those children about to start ‘big school’. It was an extremely enjoyable afternoon in the wonderful Lady Darnley’s Garden and we are grateful to Cobham Hall for their help and support. We are already looking forward to next year! “Equally successful was our Sports Day, held in full view of Cobham Hall’s wonderful building. Many parents set up their gazebos for the day and each family enjoyed their picnic lunch in the sunshine. The final event of the afternoon (The Parents’ Tug of War) was as hard fought as usual, and the day finished with the presentation of the Sports Day cup to winning house ‘Nelson’.
...and I s
ay Good
Summer Term always means saying goodbye: Year 13s who’ve come to the end of their school days, girls who were short stay pupils or joined us for our Intensive English Summer Programme, and a few Year 11s not staying with us for Sixth Form. Whether they are girls who have been here seven years, or short stay students who’ve been here seven days, there was plenty of opportunity to celebrate and reflect on their time with us. We wish them all luck in their post-Cobham Hall days!
Year 13 Celebrated their last day at School by wearing their old uniform for the last time! They also dressed to the nines for their Leavers’ Ball, and presented Dr Coates-Smith with a Leavers’ Hoodie of her own!
bye!
Short Stay girls enjoyed their last week at School with excursions to notable cultural sites.
Year 11 Celebrated their last day at School before
Study Leave and Examinations, and at their postexamination Prom. We look forward to welcoming many back to begin their A Level Programmes in September.
11
Case Study: Escape Room
e girls to At Cobham Hall, we encourag m their be imaginative, and draw fro t into own experiences. This was pu mers practice when three Sixth For
School’s created an Escape Room in the er of dungeon, described by a memb ne!” staff as “by far the best I’ve do
Staff Team
ic buildings r 12, used the School’s histor Catherine, Lana and Jana, Yea om’ in the ject, creating an ‘Escape Ro as the setting for a school pro ity around ve been growing in popular dungeon. Escape Rooms ha ingenuity and overall r 11 and been awed by the Yea in e on ted ple com g vin the country, and ha t. it would be an ideal projec experience, Catherine felt
The Organisers
e; from a survey nt months planning the gam spe a Jan d an a Lan e, rin Cathe developing a to gauge opinion, through nts de stu d an ff sta to d aile em ’s daughter by a rder of the Prime Minister mu the – ine ryl sto le ab believ nk statements h as crafting love letters, ba suc ls tai de to – ss bo fia Ma as an office. ng a room in the dungeon ati cor de , ally fin d an ls bil d an
Leadership Team & Head of Science
and Several teams of students
dership Team,
staff, including our Senior Lea
, Keely and Marielle, s three Year 13 girls - Louise wa m tea t tes fas e Th rt. pa booked a slot to take er she completed the ss Lambert commented aft Mi r che Tea . tes nu mi 15 who completed it in the best. I know the e Rooms, and this was by far ap Esc l na sio fes pro ee thr room, “I have done t I’ve seen in the time o it and it’s the best projec int on rati pa pre of s nth mo girls have put ll.”
I have been at Cobham Ha
fulfilled and proud. er every session, we felt so “Aft d, sai ls gir the s, ard erw Reflecting aft and deserving of its the experience worthwhile de ma ly tru ed eiv rec we s The response ne before, and all something we've never do try to us d we allo t jec pro is challenges. Th success. The students we gained contributed to its s rie mo me d an ces en eri the skills, exp r school a unique to give the members of ou ul erf nd wo s wa it d an it and staff loved experience.”
Fastest Team
12
PLOT:
Escape Room: The Planning, the Plot and the Clues
The Prime Minister ’s daughte
r, Vivienne May, has been murdered! She had been see ing Don Piccione for the past year an d we believe he is the culpri t. You will be infiltrating the offi
ce of this notorious mafia bo
is finally time to take him do wn once and for all! No time for a warrant! You
ss. With lots of crimes agains t him, it
and your team will need to
break in, turn the place ov er and gather oid man who keeps everyt hing locked up tight, which is why he has evaded prison this long. Ga ther your evidence and esc ape before he returns or you may end up sleeping with the fishes.... evidence of all of his crime
s. He is an extremely paran
CLUES:
PLANNING: “The theme came from mo
nths and months of planning. We spent at lea st an hour each week putting our heads tog ether over a
paper-submerged table, pla
nning clues and
discussing a believable sto
ry line. Following that we then spent a long tim e designing and making the clues for the room as
well as collecting a huge nu
mber of props from the Drama Departmen t and our own homes. Making the clues an d props was extremely enjoyable, albeit a bit overwhelming! As the students and staff com
solving the clues, we felt no
menced with
thing but excitement to see our month s of work being solved like an intricate puzzle (easily
in some cases!).”
- Catherine, Lana and Jana,
Year 12
13
Sun Shines on Lenox
Track Results 100m
Year 7: Olivia Year 8: Tife Year 9: Eimear Years 10-13: Teshanne
200m
Year 7: Tara Year 8: Amber *Year 9: Bo* Years 10-13: Jess
In stark contrast to the rain of last year, this year’s Sports Day took place on one of the hottest days of the year. We were also kindly welcomed to a fantastic new venue – the Dartford Harriers Athletics Club. The new venue provided the added bonus of being able to see more of the action, with the high jump and shotput being closer to the viewing area. Parents and Guardians were
800m
Year 7: Natasha Year 8: Enya Year 9: Alice *Years 10-13: Maisy*
1500m
Year 7: Natasha *Year 8: Agueda* Year 9: Alice *Years 10-13: Maisy*
Relay
Year 7: Clifton Year 8: Richmond Year 9: Lenox Years 10 - 13: Lenox Staff/Sixth Form: Lenox 14
able to picnic on the grass whilst supporting their daughters/wards and her friends. With moment-perfect music provided by Mr Hillier, on-point commentary from Miss Elliot, and enthusiastic cheering from girls, staff and parents, the year’s final Inter-House Sports Competition was underway. As well as organising their House teams, our SLT added their own unique touch to
the day by bringing along pom-poms – in House colours, of course! By far and away, the most delightful thing about Sports Day again came to the fore, when girls would not only voice their encouragement for all competitors, but also run alongside for the last few metres to the finish line – regardless of House. This is why, coupled with the support of the Catering and Maintenance
teams, teaching staff and parents, Sports Day truly epitomises the community, family feel we have at Cobham Hall. Congratulations to all girls who took part, and to our Victrix Ludorum winners – Bo and Maisy. Finally, with an apt House colour of yellow representing the sunshine, well done also to Lenox House, our victorious Sports Day team!
Field Results Javelin
Year 7: Omasan Year 8: Rhiannon Year 9: Dami Year 10-13: Britta
Shot Put
Year 7: Abadere Year 8: Harmony Year 9: Nifemi Year 10-13: Maia
Long Jump
Year 7: Elena Year 8: Rhiannon Year 9: Katie Year 10-13: Heather
High Jump
Year 7: Amy-Rose Year 8: Harmony *Year 9: Bo* Year 10-13: Holly
Overall Victrix Ludorum Winners Junior: Bo Senior: Maisy
*Denotes new School Record
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Meet the new MUN Secretary General Anna, Year 11, has been appointed by Miss Williams to be our new Model United Nations Secretary General. Here is her response to her new role, why she thinks MUN is so valuable, and her plans for her tenure, as she also enters Sixth Form and embarks on her A Level programme.
Prefects Appointed Congratulations to Sixth Form pupils Catherine, Harriet, Isabela, Jess and Connie for becoming School Prefects. In a return of the role, these girls have been invited by subject leads to take greater responsibilty within School. Prefects are expected to exercise leadership among pupils and work as a team with other Prefects and the Student Leadership Team; use their expertise to encourage those with lower levels of skill; interact with new and younger pupils, so that they feel included in the life of the School in a way that is both secure and challenging; and to be a role model to fellow pupils. Girls will also have specific duties within their subject areas. The girls have accepted to following roles: Catherine – English Harriet - Music Isabela - Languages Jess – Film Connie – Round Square Head of Sixth Form, Mrs Thompson, was delighted to see the return of the role of Prefect. “Each of these girls,” she explained, “have been invited by the appropriate member of staff for the prefect role on merit, skill and enthusiasm for the subject. It’s a fresh start for the role, and it’s so important to the life of the School. The girls can help with such a variety of activities and it provides even more opportunities for girls to show initiative, take on leadership roles and enhance important skills such as teamwork and communication.”
“Throughout my time participating in MUN my confidence has grown massively. My first conference, although seemed daunting, allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and so for this, and many other reasons, I believe MUN is an amazing experience to participate in. “I feel honoured to be chosen as Secretary General for next year at Cobham Hall, and I’m excited to see more people take part in MUN. It can already be seen that there is amazing talent throughout the School for debating, which was also demonstrated at the Lower School General Assembly debate during Curriculum Enhancement Week. The topic of Global Warming was discussed and there were many well thought out arguments, along with almost every girl speaking. “Next year I hope to make MUN meetings more regular and encourage more people to join. In addition, for my Extended Project Qualification, I hope to organise a conference with other schools. “I would encourage everyone to join because MUN builds confidence as well as critical thinking. I hope to have a great year of debating in the next year and hope to see many new faces.”
MUN Firsts this Term
This term, Miss Williams and Mrs Hickmott took 13 students to a conference at Royal Hospital School. It was great fun and there were some fascinating debates including a discussion about the colonisation of Mars. Five Year 7 students took part, and for four of them, it was their first ever Model United Nations conference. They had an enjoyable time learning about how MUN works and debating outside of school for the first time. Lila and Heather, Year 10, sat on Security Council, the most challenging of the committees, and were able to get involved in some of the highest level of debate at the Conference. The second day included a General Assembly and commendations for Jess and Jena, both Year 7, for their contributions to their Committee debates. For our first-timers, it was a fantastic start, and all were positive about the experience and looking forward to future conferences. Later in the Summer Term, at our debate in June, we were pleased to host students from Brentwood School's MUN group for the first time. It was lovely to have guests to challenge us in debate. We hope that we'll be able to continue to collaborate so that by debating together we can sharpen each other's skills as well as making new friends. 16
The Arts Faculty recently completed a cross-curricular project with Year 7 to illustrate the strong links that exists between Art, Music and Dance. The Art Department studied Kandinsky’s painting, Composition VI, and made artworks in response to listening to three different types of music. They were orchestral, string and computer generated. Kandinsky believed that pictures could create mood and feeling as directly as music. His beliefs, and recent research, has shown that most people associate bright colours like
Year 7 Cross-Curricular Studies
yellow with high-pitched sound, for example, the crash of a cymbal, and that most people associate dark colour like blues, purple and black with low-pitched sound, for example, the sound of a bass guitar or the low notes of a piano. Kandinsky said that ‘Colour is the keyboard. The eye is the hammer. The soul is the piano, with its many strings. The artist is the hand that purposefully sets the soul vibrating by means of this or that key’. The Music and PE Departments responded in the form of music and dance to Mondrian’s painting called Broadway Boogie Woogie, one of his best known works. It shows an energy directly inspired by New York City and the musical genre of jazz. The colour and pattern echoes the pace of life in the bustling metropolis. Above are examples of Year 7’s response to wild and explosive orchestral music, full of sharp crashes from the percussion, and the repeated blasts of brass instruments.
Year 7 undertook fieldwork within the School Grounds as part of their Geography lessons. The work enabled girls to understand what the School environment is like through sound mapping, nature’s pallet, environmental profile and the creation of Haikus (three line poems using five and seven syllables; two of which can be found below), as well as carrying out a micro climate investigation. The micro climate investigation involved measuring temperature, rainfall, wind speed, wind direction and sunlight on four different sites: Lady Darnley’s Garden, outside the Activity Centre, outside Bligh House and on North Lawn. It was concluded that the Lady Darnley’s garden was the best site for sunlight and temperature. Daisy said, “It’s a great Buttercu stling ps are b es are ru g taller way to learn about the environment Birds ar r v ig a e h L t e singing growin and flyin around us,” while Natasha Insects a trees are around e g h T re crawli ll agreed that “It was a ng Noises a great way to learn Geography.” 17
Cobham Hall Visits
Ypres A whole school visit to Ypres took place one Saturday in the Summer Term. Attendees represented all aspects of the Cobham Hall community: girls from Lower School, Middle School and Sixth Form, as well as Staff, Parents and Governors. Here, Miss Williams our Head of Humanities who organised the trip, gives a summary of the day, followed by an account by Mrs Moore, parent of Sixth Form pupil Connie.
I really enjoyed the trip; it was very eye-opening. It made me realise that without them, we would not live the lives we do today. I think it made a difference being there with my Mum, because some of the soldiers died aged 14 and 17. It made me really appreciate her, and how much we all take our parents for granted. - Connie 18
Miss Williams
Mrs Moore
We arrived in Belgium mid-morning and went to the Lijssenthoek Cemetery where our guide, Ashley, gave a brief introduction to the war on the Western Front and explained about what we would be seeing during the day. We stopped in front of the grave of Staff Nurse Nellie Spindler who was killed whilst serving in a casualty clearing station near the Front; one of only two British women buried in Belgium’s First World War cemeteries.
Back in 2017 Connie asked if I would like to join her on the trip to Ypres. I was so honoured to be asked that I accepted. Time passed without thinking of the trip until the day before, I had to get up at 4.30 in the morning to go on a school coach trip: What have I done? We arrived at school to board a luxury coach. Along the way we picked up Ashley, our Tour Guide, and had a very comfortable journey into Belgium.
We then visited part of a trench system which has been preserved to allow visitors to understand more about how the fighting took place. We walked through the trenches and Ashley explained a bit about the fighting around Ypres, which continued throughout the war.
We arrived at the first cemetery, and wow, how can a place be so beautiful yet so sad at the same time? Ashley was full of knowledge and enthusiasm about the war: how it started and how the women both back home and abroad played a big part. In all the thousands of gravestones, row after row, stood one women Staff Nurse N Spindler, who died from a shell on 12st August 1917, aged just 26.
We visited one of the German cemeteries at Langemarck, famously visited by Hitler in 1940. It had a very different feel to the British cemeteries as the headstones were black and the land was planted with oak trees which created a shady, solemn environment. The British cemeteries, by contrast, had white headstones and lots of flowers planted amongst the graves. The idea behind this was that every soldier should lie in the shadow of an English rose. Many headstones had no name on them as the bodies within were unidentified and they read simply "A Soldier of the Great War known unto God". This phrase was written by Rudyard Kipling, whose own son Jack died in the war and whose body was never identified.
We boarded the coach and were again taken to more beautiful places. We even went into what was a German trench, at one point we were the only visitors and there was a very eerie feel about the place whilst Ashley was showing us the weapons and bullets that would have been used at the time. I felt I needed to keep looking over my shoulder. The day continued with a quick stop at the town of Ypres for chocolate, but whilst here Ashley again told us the history of the town that was blown to rubble, and how now, at 8.00pm every evening, The Last Post is played and thousands of people flock to listen to it, again very moving.
We went to a museum which housed many artefacts and models of trenches which we were able to walk through. Ashley also produced a full soldier's uniform for Mabel to dress up in and he talked us through the various features and the weapons the soldiers would have had.
Our final stop again was a cemetery, but this time was just as beautiful but more emotional as most of the graves had no name, the dead were only identified by the uniform showing what regiment they were from. The School laid a poppy wreath in memory of all the lives lost, and Ashley told us not to worry about walking across a grave but to put your hand on a headstone and say “Hi”: most of the young men have never had a visitor.
We finished our visit with a trip to Tyne Cot Cemetery, where we laid a wreath on behalf of the School and took a moment to pause in silent reflection in front of one of the graves. It was deeply moving to think of the sacrifice given by these men, some of them still teenagers, and to reflect on the freedoms and privileges we enjoy today because of their service.
After a quick dinner stop, the journey home gave us time to reflect on the day and all the lives lost fighting for our Country. I have to say I had the most wonderful, moving and memorable day that I will never forget.
The trip gave us all a greater appreciation of the terrible cost of war and whilst it was in many ways a sad, solemn day, it was an important experience which got us thinking deeply. It was lovely to have a mix of students, staff and parents on the trip and I think all of us would agree that a trip to the battlefields of the First World War is an experience that everyone should undertake at least once in their life. 19
2018-19 SLT...
...Leading by Example! This term has been full of events, activities and initiatives organised and spearheaded by our new Student Leadership Team.
Darnley House Captain Olivia, along with sister Meghan, a Cobham Hall Elder and Teaching Assistant, arranged a ‘Go Grey’ Tag Day to raise funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, a cause close to their hearts, whilst Clifton House Captain Britta organised a Vegan Bake Sale, to promote Veganism and to raise funds for the WWF, as voted by the girls purchasing treats. The SLT also launched their support for ‘Beauty Banks’ a volunteer group collecting health and beauty products to distribute to those in need in the UK. Donations can still be made at the start of the Autumn Term. Finally, the girls continued the tradition of Spirit Week. There was a bouncy castle, a water fight, a BBQ and ice-creams at lunch time. The week ended in the annual staff vs students rounders match - the staff won! - and the Cultural Drama Festival, which saw girls dress in cultural costume and each House perform several cultural acts, such as poetry, song, or dance, in the sunshine in Lady Darnley’s Garden.
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Dancing in the Moonlight
This term, a number of Cobham Hall girls and their parents said ‘Thank You’ to The Unicorn Association, by taking part in a Sponsored Moonlight Walk. Incredibly, in total the girls completed a staggering 736.5km (or 457.64 miles!) - the equivalent of strolling from Dover to Zurich, Switzerland, or from the School to Scarborough and back! Using funds raised from events such as the Candlelit Ball and the Quiz Night, The Unicorn Association has recently refurbished the School’s Gym and Drama Studio seating, as well as purchasing a climbing wall. As a thank you, the PE Department organised the Moonlight Walk.
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Encouraging the girls to get into the spirit by wearing neon clothing, the event proved to be loud, colourful and highly enjoyable. The girls’ exuberance as they completed lap after lap in the School’s grounds, accompanied by music and with the anticipation of hotdogs and burgers to end the evening, was unfailing. A particularly enthusiastic group sang and danced their way around the circuit. As light faded, glowsticks and lanterns lit the route giving an added ambience to the event and a boost to those whose energy was starting to dip. However, the best was yet to come as sponsorship money came in over subsequent days: the girls had raised an incredible £1175!
#BoardingLife
The Summer Term is always busy for Boarding. This term, as well as examinations, the girls have been baking, toboganning and celebrating!
Awards, the winner of the ‘Boarder of the Year’ award was voted for by the girls. Congratulations to Tiffany and Sarah, Main Hall and Dami and Nerea, Bligh House!
There have been birthdays, balls and even awards ceremonies. They’ve visited Camden Market, Thorpe Park and Covent Garden, and topped it off by inviting Year 7 Day Girls to join them for Boarding Week.
Congratulations also to Vici, Boarder of the Year for Sixth Form, awarded at an earlier ceremony in Brooke House.
In a new development for the Bligh House and Main Hall Boarding
Other awards included ‘Best Newcomer’, ‘Most Cheerful Boarder’, ‘Hardest Worker’, ‘Happiest Laugh’, and ‘Most Organised’.
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Boarding Week saw Year 7 Day Girls staying at School, enjoying activities such as a paint fight, film night, and trip to a nearby trampoline park - a popular regular destination for our Boarders. Of course, Boarders joined in with all of the School’s other events, such as the Moonlight Walk, Year 13’s Leavers’ Ball, Year 11’s Prom, Spirit Week and more. Following a kind invitation, girls also attended the prom of a fellow Boarding School. Where do they find the energy?!
Keep up-to-date with all the adventures on Twitter:
@CobhamBoarding
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Curriculum Enhancement Week The last week of term saw the girls take part in a variety of activities designed to enhance their classroom learning, develop key skills and experience new things. For Year 10, the week was spent gaining valuable work experience, and Year 12 spent the time wisely, working on Extended Essays, Theory of Knowledge Presentations, and Mathematics/Mathematics Studies Internal Assessments. For girls lower down the School, the week was spent either in or out of school. Many girls were out of school on Monday, with Year 7 immersing themselves in languages at the Europa Centre, visited later in the week by Year 8. Year 8 meanwhile were at the Science Centre in Herstmonceux, whilst most of Year 9 were undertaking their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition. Years 7 and 8 spent much of the week together, visiting Lullingstone Villa, hosting a group of Year 5 children for a day of activities, and learning Samba. Lower School also, for the second year running, took part in a mini-MUN. The theme was Climate Change and girls spent an afternoon doing research before a General Assembly debate the next day. It was the inaugural event for our new Secretariat, Secretary General Anna and Deputies Teloni and Langa, who chaired the debate extremely well and ensured that everyone was getting involved. The students taking part were very engaged and some excellent debate took place. Upon completion of their expedition, Year 9 enjoyed an excellent workshop led by Nick Stewart, an artist who specialises in fountain pen inks for creative use. He combines this medium with bleach to achieve
surprising dramatic visual effects. After a series of demonstrations, the girls were making beautiful images. The process is very simple – applying water, then ink, then erasing and creating colour effects with the bleach. Head of Art Mrs Walsh said, “It was magical to see the works emerging and growing before our eyes. I imagine that the girls will use the skills they learnt in their journals, diaries and birthday cards. They have no excuse to create dull imagery and text after this workshop!” Year 9 also went on to develop video games in a Gaming and Technology Workshop, take part in a tennis tournament and learn shooting skills. Head of PE Mrs Hooper encouraged the girls to mimic Olympic Elder Kate French, by running a few metres and then shooting as Kate does in the Modern Pentathlon! Students on our Intensive English Summer Programme didn’t miss out either, with a programme of excursions taking in London, Chartwell, and Rochester. 24
with a very successful Bronze Qualifier Expedition, where all 27 The Duke of participants passed. All 12 students taking the Silver Award also Edinburgh’s Award passed their Qualifier Expedition. A few girls shared their experience.
It was a busy term for our DofE team, Miss Lambert and Mr Wright,
Bronze
Trinity: The DofE Bronze Award was challenging yet unforgettable. My favourite part was having to work with my friends and people I hardly knew to overcome the challenges we faced on the expedition. Even though it felt impossible at times, I can truly say that I enjoyed the whole experience and would recommend it to anyone. Niu Niu: I found myself enjoying the expedition despite getting a bit lost and confused when trying to read the map, but there was a big sense of achievement when we finally reached the end.
Silver
Isabela: The Silver expedition was a really memorable experience that I gained a lot from, but I also found it the most challenging element. Having not done Bronze I had to work on my navigation skills but I improved a lot and had a wonderful time working with the other girls in my group. Jess: Through my DofE experience, I have gained many new skills such as teamwork, perseverance and determination, but most importantly, I felt that the challenges I went through made me appreciate my privileges.
Gold
Kathryn: We did our DofE Gold Award Expedition in the Cairngorms in Scotland. This summer’s heatwave made it more of a challenge, as did the unexpected surprise of an extra person in our group, but we coped well as a group. I really enjoyed the experience. The expedition I felt was similar to Silver, but you felt the camping element a lot more, even though it was only one night more. It was nice to be able to choose a different area too, which made it more challenging as well as it was more hilly.
Lower and Middle School Adventures This term, Lower School experienced camping in the School grounds, organised and supported by Lower School Pastoral Staff.
Students camped in teepees on North Lawn and enjoyed outdoor games, a barbecue in Lady Darnley’s Garden and a campfire with marshmallows and hot chocolate. The girls thoroughly enjoyed the experience, with many positive comments from the girls and their parents.
Middle School pupils spent a Saturday morning supporting the Round Square pillar of Adventure by throwing themselves enthusiastically into learning several completely new skills - including unicycling, and tight-rope walking!
As well as having fun getting to grips with an array of circus activities, the girls developed key skills too - confidence, perserverance, determination, resilience, and teamwork. 25
School Snippets
Early Birthday Celebrations
Year 13 pupils Saskia and Louise were surprised this term, when Tutor Miss Williams arranged a celebration for them, as their birthdays both fell after the girls would have left school, and she didn’t want them to miss out!
Chocolate Roman Roads
Confectionery met construction this term when Year 9 made Roman Roads using a variety of treats - such as digestive biscuits, shortbread, chocolates and marshmallows. The roads were very imaginative, and one even came complete with a gladiator on his chariot!
Sixth Form Field Trip Biology students joined their ESS (Environmental Systems & Societies) peers for a River Study Field Trip to Horton Kirby - the river was deeper than their wellington boots in places, but the girls still had a great time gathering data!
Spanish X-Factor
Year 8 showed off their Spanish skills in an X-Factor style singing competition. Each of the groups gave a fabulous performance!
Theatre Trips
SKW: Sixth Form News Quiz Winners
Congratulations to SKW, winners of the Sixth Form News Quiz trophy. Head of Sixth Form Mrs Thompson said, “It was close, they beat SJW by half a point!”
Year 9 Geography
Year 9 carried out a river study at Horton Kirby as part of their Geography syllabus.
Bring Your Difference Our Lower School Art Club have submitted entries to the Roy McComish Art Competition.
Cupcake Day Bake Sale
Sophie, Year 9, hosted a bake sale to support the Alzheimer’s Society’s ‘Cupcake Day’, held nationally on 14th June. Well done, Sophie!
The competition is open to students at Round Square Schools, and awards for the top three entries will be presented at the Opening Ceremony of the Round Square International Conference in Canada, in October. 26
There were outings to the theatre for different Year Groups this term. The trips not only gave the girls an opportunity to see wonderful productions, but also different styles of theatre, from physical to open air, and ensemble to two-man.
Quiz Français
Year 8 took part in a French Quiz at the end of term to celebrate what they had been learning. French teacher Mrs Russell said, “This year was the first time we organised this quiz and it was very successful, the students prepared well and worked well in their teams. They were even very competitive!” After the quiz, they enjoyed Pains aux Chocolats and refreshments. Well done to Harmony, Amber and Loantrang, who came first with 88%!
Head of Arts Faculty “Bursting with Pride” One of the key evenings of this term was when the Arts Faculty hosted their Summer Art Exhibition followed by a Music Concert.
work in two and three dimensions inspired by natural forms.
GCSE and IB work was also on display. The GCSE artwork showed how the As always, assembled guests were students’ skills and knowledge of the astounded by the artistic and musical formal elements in two and three talents, amazed as to how each year dimensions have improved over the the standard continues to soar. two-year course. Also exhibited Head of Arts Faculty Mrs is their response to the Walsh declared that examination theme of she was ‘bursting ‘Fragments’. The “...young people at with pride’ at the IB work explored Cobham Hall are provided quality of the girls’ personal ideas with ample opportunities work, from Year 7 and themes for personal development to Sixth Form. including culture in the fields of self-expression, and identity. sociability, imagination The Art Exhibition and creativity...” featured stunning After enjoying the pieces from girls across artwork, our guests filed the School. This included into the Gilt Hall, which had Year 7’s exploration of cross-curricular transformed into a twenties-style links between Art, Music & Dance; nightspot for a night of jazz, ballads Year 8’s work on Cubism, Cubist and swing. sculpture and Aboriginal works and research into environmental issues The School Choir performed numbers and aboriginal painting techniques; including ‘Sing, Sing, Sing!’, ‘Ain’t Year 9’s investigation of movement, Misbehavin’’, and ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’, the Futurists, and development of whilst Chamber Choir, Benesonantes, the Visual Elements within wowed the audience with their observational studies including renditions of ‘Fly Right’, ‘Take Five’ Colour and Structure; and Year 10’s and ‘Unforgettable’.
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Interspersed between the Choirs’ performances, our instrumentalists also had the chance to shine, with a piano solo of ‘Cruella de Vil’, an orchestral performance of ‘Pink Panther’, and a flute solo of ‘Smoke gets in your eyes’. The annual Summer Music Concert always takes a theme, and this year’s was embracing the razzmatazz and fun of jazz, ballards and swing. The rich variety of musicianship and artistry on display is testament to the creative encouragement girls have at Cobham Hall. As Mrs Walsh explained, “If we want our creative industries to flourish, we must make sure that an Arts education is valued in schools. “Whilst some secondary school children are being deprived of arts and creative subjects, young people at Cobham Hall are provided with ample opportunities for personal development in the fields of selfexpression, sociability, imagination and creativity, through both the curriculum and extra-curricular activities.”
Sporting Success at Cobham Hall Three Inter-House events, several matches, and individual success stories this term have made it a very busy summer in the PE Department. But what incredible outcomes!
Match Results Rounders Year 7 & 8 Gravesham Tournament vs Mayfield Grammar, St George’s, Meopham School, and Northfleet School for Girls Year 7: Won 4, drew 1 Year 8: Won all 4 matches Cobham Hall win overall tournament *
Year 7 Gravesham Tournament
vs St George’s, Mayfield Grammar and St John’s Won all three matches and the tournament overall Head of PE Mrs Hooper said, “The girls played very well as a team, making quick and accurate decisions. There was also some outstanding batting!” *
Year 9 & 10 Away Match
vs Maidstone Grammar U14s won 9 - 7.5 U15s lost 7.5 - 10
Inter-House Spirit The excitement of the Spring Netball Tournament’s dead heat was echoed this term, with an extremely close Inter-House Swimming Gala, where two Houses tied for the win! Girls from across the School represented their Houses in events including Butterfly, Breaststroke, Backstroke and Freestyle.
allowed them to catch up and finish in joint first position. Richmond House came third, with Lenox taking the final spot.
It was wonderful to see four new school records – Year 7’s Natasha in the 100m Individual Medley, Year 9’s Rebecca breaking both the 50m Junior Freestyle and the 50m Junior Backstroke, and Darnley House setting a new record for the Freestyle Relay. Well done to Darnley House’s team: Natasha (Year 7), Francesca (Year 8), Alice (Year 8), Rebecca (Year 9), Bo (Year 9), Holly (Year 10), Hannah (Year 12), and Isabela (Year 12).
In the latter half of the term, Lenox House stormed to a decisive victory in the Inter-House Rounders Tournament by winning both the Senior and Junior events.
The Freestyle Relay was the final event of the Gala, and worth double points. Clifton House were in the lead until this point, but Darnley’s record-breaking performance
The final Inter-House event of the year was of course Sports Day, which again saw Lenox House take the overall win. full coverage can be found on pages 14 and 15.
Both great matches with fantastic play by all.
Well done to all teams!
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It was an incredibly exciting afternoon and the girls had lots of fun with both competitors and spectators truly embracing House Spirit!
Seniors (Years 10 – 12) played in the morning, and the Juniors (Years 7-9) played after lunch. The matches were incredibly close at times, with Head of PE Mrs Hooper commending the girls’ “phenomenal fielding”.
Maisy: Southern Schools Champion!
It’s been a busy term for Year 10’s Maisy. Term opened with the Kent Schools Intermediate Girls 800m at the Julie Rose Stadium, Ashford. Maisy clocked up a time of 2.18.33, placing her 1st. Maisy went on to compete in the Kent Championships Under 17 Girls 800m category, where despite a slightly faster time of 2.17.06, Maisy came third.
Finally, Maisy competed in the South East Schools’ Inter-County Championships, where teams from Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire all compete. In the Intermediate Girls 800m, Maisy came home in 2.16.00, earning her another 1st place, and crowning her Southern Schools Champion. This is fantastic news for Maisy, who at 14 years old with a birthday in summer often find herself competing against 16 year olds due to the year group classifications. Well done, Maisy!
British National Junior Championships for Emily
Congratulations to Sixth Form student Emily, who over the half term competed in the British National Junior Championships. This
is the biggest equestrian junior individual event in the year. A brilliant ride throughout saw her and horse Lander finish 2nd!
2017/18 Inter-House Sports Events Round-Up
In addition to the opposite events this term, the Summer also saw Sports Day, covered on pages 14 and 15. There have also been a variety of other Inter-House events and the results of these can be seen below. Well done to all girls who represented their House in any of these events!
Clifton
Darnley
Lenox
Richmond
Cross-Country Hockey Netball Badminton Swimming Rounders Athletics
2nd 1st 4th 1st =1st 2nd 4th
1st 3rd 3rd 2nd =1st 4th =2nd
3rd 2nd 1st 4th 4th 1st 1st
4th 4th 2nd 3rd 3rd 3rd =2nd
Overall
1st
3rd
2nd
4th
Congratulations, Clifton! 29
Team GB for Lilly It’s been an exciting few months for Year 11 pupil Lilly. Not only was she taking her GCSE examinations this term, but she was also selected to represent Team Great Britain at the European Championships in Glasgow in August for the Ladies 16-19 Triathlon! She was selected following a fantastic performance at the qualifiers in Nottingham - in the midst of her exams. Shortly afterwards, she competed again at the Thorpe Park Qualifiers and was selected to represent Team GB in 2019 too. Towards the end of term, whilst the rest of the School was taking part in Sports Day, Lilly was competing at Leeds Castle, where she came 1st in her age group, and 3rd overall. Afterwards, she headed straight to Sports Day to join Clifton House’s Relay Team. The Triathlon event in the European Championships took place in Strathclyde Park, Glasgow, where Lilly experienced the thrill of carrying the flag in the parade, and then stormed to a fantastic 7th place finish!
Elders’ News
Cobham Hall’s Elders follow a variety of paths after school, and we always enjoy hearing of their successes. Here are some recent good news stories. An Elder and have news you’d like to share? Please contact Julia Booth via boothj@cobhamhall.com or submit via: www.cobhamhall.com/submit.
Anyone for Tennis? Staff Elder Marcia Ackers, former PE Teacher, who now regularly assists with invigilation for examinations, this year won the British Indoor Singles Tournament, beating the number one seed. In tennis, there are National competitions for all age groups, from under 8s through to Seniors and Super Seniors. Marcia’s latest achievement follows a history of success.
Elder Speaks at Festival Day
Elder Josceline Cluff, Programme Director for volunteer organisation All Hands and Hearts: Smart Response, was invited to speak at Festival Day. Her honest, warm speech explained her motivation, and of the process of providing disaster relief. Josceline also spoke of her belief in Round Square, and the importance of developing compassion and empathy, and of experiencing as many things as possible. After the ceremony, Josceline engaged with many girls who were keen to find out more about her and her work.
Whilst still teaching, Marcia was selected as captain to play for England in the Four Nations Cup. After retiring, she was called to represent Great Britain, and played in each age group for a five year stretch, up to the present day. This has involved her playing in the World Team Championships in Turkey, the US, Australia, Austria and Croatia. She plays in local tournaments, as well as the three National Tournaments - Indoor, Clay and Grass Courts. Marcia has won the National Doubles Tournament 16 times, and says her greatest achievement was winning silver in the World Team Championships in Austria. Her highest world singles ranking is 6th, and Doubles is 12th.
Elders’ Snippets
Cycle Ride in Norman’s Memory
Staff Elder Norman Tovey’s son, Gavin, is taking on the Ride London 100 miler in memory of his father. July is the 30th anniversary of the Cobham Hall bike ride 'UPHILL', which saw Physics teacher Norman, Gavin, a Cobham Hall parent and a group of pupils from Cobham Hall, cycle from Land’s End to John O'Groats to raise money for Cancer Research. Gavin is raising money for the Brain and Spine Foundation, Norman’s favourite charity. Any sponsorship would be gratefully received. https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ GavinTovey1
Kate French, former Deputy Guardian, won gold at the Modern Pentathlon World Cup in Sofia, Bulgaria on 25th May 2018. It’s her second World Cup gold this year.
Congratulations to former Guardian Alex Crawford and the Sky News Team who won the BAFTA for “News Coverage” for their reporting of the Rohingya Crisis.
Kate, fifth at 2016’s Rio Olympics, went on to secure another first place finish in June at the British Modern Pentathlon Championships at her alma mater, Pentathlon GB’s National Training Centre, the University of Bath. She also took Silver at the European Championships in July, in Hungary.
Elder and Chair of the Elders’ Association, Tracey Balch, came in to School this term to introduce the work of the Association to Year 13 and Year 11 Leavers.
Natasha Dunnoos, along with a team of colleagues from digital intelligence firm Digitalis Reputation, came into School to speak to Years 11 and 12 about the risks of social media and how to maintain online reputation. 30
Congratulations to Angelle Siyang-Li, who over the Summer held her wedding here at Cobham Hall in the beautiful July sunshine. Round Square recently invited former Richmond House Captain Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, to speak at the Global Forum on Girls’ Education II in Washington DC. The Conference headlined with a commitment that “the most powerful message a girl can receive is there are no limits to what she can pursue. Regardless of what problems she wants to solve when she grows up, she needs to know nothing stands in her way.”
Unicorn News and Events
Cobham Hall’s Parent-Teacher Association, Unicorn, is dedicated to raising funds and running events for the benefit of all at Cobham Hall. Here are details of their recent activities. To find out more, you can email the Committee: unicorn@cobhamhall.com or visit www.cobhamhall.com/unicorn
Drama Studio Seating Another Unicorn Association Project came to completion this term, when the seating in the Drama Studio was fully reupholstered.
Looking Ahead:
Forthcoming Events
In addition to September’s Quiz Night and November’s Bonfire Night, always great evenings, the Unicorn Association have been busy planning events for the The new seating replaces the worn upholstery with a new whole academic year. These include the annual and plush fabric, perfect for sitting comfortably for the latest ever-popular Candlelit Ball, held in March, and new for performance! 2019, a Summer Festival. You can find out more information about forthcoming events on the website, by Mrs Kybert School Induction morning in June at www.cobhamhall.com/unicorn. where Poppy met her ‘Big Sister’ and We knew that to leave our lovely spent initial time getting to know her Primary School was going to be Never Miss Out future friends. difficult. Poppy has thoroughly enjoyed her first seven years of Head to the Unicorn Assocation education and is so sad to be leaving The sun shone, parents nibbled a section of the website, and you’ll sandwich and enjoyed a glass of her friends and the teachers she find a link to subscribe to their Pimms or two whilst watching their regards as family. Our choice of newsletter. That way, you’ll never daughters run around in the secondary therefore was an grounds. The free social time enabled miss details of the next event! important decision, one that was further opportunity for the girls to made as we were shown around during the Open Morning in October get to know each other and plan possible Summer meet ups, as well as 2017. It was a school as closely choose their favourite picnic desserts. matched to Poppy’s Primary as we Parents shared their their own could have wished; provision of a stories as to why they chose Cobham quality education alongside pastoral Hall, pleasingly matching our own. care that would serve our daughter We smiled at how the current well. popularity of ‘unicorns’ even served as a contributing reason! Mums Our first step into Cobham Hall life smiled with relief as they watched began during the Summer when we daughters play, and Dads even found were invited by the Unicorn opportunity to bond over sport and Association to join a new Year 7 message group, we tentatively posted share World Cup football predictions! our first ‘hello’ to other parents. We Thank you for our lovely welcome, went along to the Unicorn Family Picnic, eager to match names to faces. we look forward to seeing you all in The picnic was planned to follow the September. 31
Family Picnic Bonding
News from the ILC: Award-Winning Author Visits Cobham Hall Girls in Years 7 - 10 enjoyed a visit from award-winning author Ruth Eastham earlier this month. Giving a talk in the morning, Ruth discussed the writing process of several authors and then ran a workshop for Lower School girls in the afternoon. Throughout her talk, Ruth spoke of the writing process, from how to get motivated, to how to gather inspiration. She suggested this could come from anywhere – personal experience, film, or, as she did for ‘Arrowhead’, from a story in the news that grabs your attention and fires that spark of imagination. Giving advice for getting started, she said, “Use that first image, that first idea for a story, and build up around that using the senses to create a detailed scene.” This was developed in the workshop, where girls were encouraged to talk about a special memory. “It really helped me pursue my descriptive writing,” commented Tara, Year 7, afterwards. Sabrina, also Year 7, agreed saying, “It really helped me find ways to improve my creative writing.”
Promoting Literacy
Scholastic Book Fair
Empathy Day Book Exchange
Read for Good
As well as a display of recommended topical books, girls could leave messages on the Empathy Wall. There was also a book exchange enabling girls to swap books they no longer want for another.
Near the start of the Summer Term, the ILC hosted a half-price Scholastic Book Fair. Over £300 worth of books were sold during the week! Formerly known as Readathon, Read for Good culminated on Friday, 20th April. The girls that took part in the sponsored read raised £112, which supports reading for children in hospitals.
Book Club News
Two Book Clubs met this term; the Carnegie Shadowing Group, and the Staff and Sixth Form Book Club. The Carnegie Shadowing group have been reading the books shortlised for the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards. They gathered to watch the Awards Ceremony, eager to see if their favourite book would win. Sadly, it didn’t, but the group enjoyed reading the shortlist! The Staff and Sixth Form Book Club met to discuss ‘The Tenderness of Wolves’ by Stef Penney, and decide on their Summer read: ‘Deja Dead’ by Kathy Reichs. 32
Our ILC joined in on Empathy Day, 12th June, to celebrate the power of books and reading as a powerful tool in developing empathy.
The event was a success, with many girls seizing the opportunity to take home some new reads!
500 Words Final Librarian Mrs Jakso was invited to Hampton Court Palace to see BBC Radio 2’s ‘500 Words’ Competition Final. Mrs Jakso has been a judge for a number of years.
For the Love of Reading... As can be seen on the opposite page, there have been numerous events this term to support and promote literacy. Here, Head of Lower School Mrs Emma Wilkinson champions the benefits and joy of reading. Ever since I can remember, reading has been a true passion of mine. I am, and have always been, an avid reader. I love reading and I love books. I love libraries and I love book shops. Most importantly, I love all of the many and varied benefits and possibilities that reading can offer us, and I am especially interested to explore and promote the impact that reading has on our linguistic acquisition and development, or our language skills, be it reading in our native language, or in a second language. I recently happened across a powerful quotation that is displayed on a notice board in School and that inspired me to think in new and interesting ways about my passion for reading. It read as follows:
“If you can read this quotation, pause for a moment and think of those who can’t, then thank your teachers.” - Anon In the first place, the quotation encouraged me to take the time to be thankful for the fact that I have been lucky enough to receive an education that has not only allowed me to learn and develop the cognitive process of reading, so that I can
understand signs and instructions and can find my way around in a shopping centre or a new place, for example, but that has also inspired in me a true love of reading in its widest sense, and all the many wonderful benefits that, in my opinion, are associated with it, such as learning, understanding, awareness, knowledge, questioning, creativity and enjoyment, to name but a few. I thought about the fact that there are those in our global society for whom reading is neither a pleasure, nor a skill they possess, perhaps because for many different reasons they have not been able to access an education, or perhaps because they have not had the necessary support available to help them develop this important skill. I also thought about the fact that there are some who, although they are able to read,
“The
mor you r e that The m ead, o you w re things i The m ll know. ore t hat you l The m earn, ore you’ll places go.” - Dr Seus s may find it difficult, for a range of different reasons, to access books or other reading material, or to travel independently to a library or a book shop, for example. Projects with which we have been involved as a school community, such as Round Square sponsorship fundraising, and the Read for Good project, are important examples of how individuals can work together to have a positive impact on initiatives designed to make a difference. It is important that, as a society, we continue to be mindful of this, using the benefits that we can gain and enjoy from reading to effect positive change for those who could benefit from it. Secondly, the quotation made me think about the significant and central role that reading plays in our daily lives. Isn’t it interesting to reflect upon all the different types of reading that we do, and the different ways in which we read? Why do you read? For many people there is perhaps more than one answer to this question; we may read for educational purposes, for pleasure, to discover information, to find out more about a certain topic, to practise a language, or to navigate our day to-day needs and requirements.
continued
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‘I opened a book’ A poem by Julia Donaldson Children’s Author and Children’s Laureate, 2011 – 2013 I opened a book and in I strode. Now nobody can find me. What do you read? Books? What is your favourite genre? Perhaps you read articles in newspapers or magazines, perhaps you read online, perhaps you use an e-reader, or perhaps you prefer the more traditional method using a physical book or magazine. When and how do you read? When reading for educational purposes, how do you organise your subject reading and when do you do it? Do you like to read for pleasure? When? At the end of your day, or at weekends, or during holidays? Perhaps you love to read on holiday. Do you read alone? Perhaps you do your subject reading with a study buddy. Perhaps you have joined a Book Club. Do you read to a younger sibling or relative, or do they read to you? Do you read aloud, or silently to yourself? Do you love listening to audio books, or to someone reading to you? Do you love performances of stories read aloud to an audience? Do you like to perform and act the stories yourself? Have you ever read an article, a cartoon, a short story, or even a whole book, in a second language? How did it make you feel to realise that you were able to do that? When we consider the idea of reading, there are so many exciting possibilities of what we could read and how we might read. There are also so many amazing benefits to be gained from reading regularly; enjoyment, creativity, a sense of achievement, a chance to share ideas and opinions about what we have read with others, development of
knowledge, understanding, creativity, ideas and vocabulary, ability to empathise and appreciate or consider a character’s feelings…the list goes on and on.
I’ve left my chair, my house, my road,
In conclusion, I hope this article can inspire you to enjoy and value the process of reading. Don’t take it for granted. Think about how being able to read helps you on a basic level in your daily life, as well as on a more developed level.
I’m wearing the cloak,
Read to challenge yourself. Read around your subjects or interests. Be open to new forms of reading, perhaps incorporating technology into the reading process, for example. Be aware of all the ways you can enrich yourself, your community, and our wider society by the skills you build from reading. Appreciate reading as an activity that enhances your wellbeing. Be a regular and active visitor to the ILC and make the most of all of the wonderful activities and opportunities available there. Join up to and be an active part of your local library. Think about those who are unable to read or those who can read but do not have access to a range of books, for whatever reason. Support projects such as Read for Good. Read with younger family members or friends. Read together. Discuss together. Donate books you have read to charity projects or organise book swaps with your friends. Don’t forget the power of reading and of books to open up new possibilities and horizons.
Most of all, keep reading! 34
My town and my world behind me.
I’ve slipped on the ring, I’ve swallowed the magic potion. I’ve fought with a dragon, dined with a king And dived in a bottomless ocean. I opened a book and made some friends. I shared their tears and laughter And followed their road with its bumps and bends To the happily ever after. I finished my book and out I came. The cloak can no longer hide me. My chair and my house are just the same, But I have a book inside me.
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To keep in touch and up-to-date with Elders’ news and events, visit: www.cobhamhall.com/elders Cobham Hall’s Parent-Teacher Association. To find out about upcoming Unicorn events, visit: www.cobhamhall.com/unicorn
Tasters and Open Mornings
Forthcoming Events
Lower and Middle School Taster Afternoon & Sleepover
Unicorn Quiz Night
Friday 21st September 2018
Friday 5th/Saturday 6th October 2018
Unicorn Big Breakfast
Saturday 13th September 2018
Open Morning
Half-Term
Saturday 6th October 2018
Unicorn Bonfire Evening
Year 5 Taster Afternoon & Sleepover
Friday 19th October - Sunday 4th November 2018 Saturday 10 November 2018 th
(for September 2020 Entry)
Friday 10th/Saturday 11th May 2019
Admiral’s Lecture: David Starkey Thursday 15th November 2018
Open Morning
Elders’ ‘Women of Achievement’ Dinner
Saturday 11th May 2019
Friday 30th November 2018
For information on any of the above events, or to register your interest in attending, please email enquiries@cobhamhall.com 35
Cobham, Kent, DA12 3BL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1474 823371 enquiries@cobhamhall.com www.cobhamhall.com
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