King Edward VI School
February Bulletin 14th February, 2014
W
e are currently enjoying a rare burst of sunshine in an otherwise extraordinarily wet winter. The grounds have taken something of a battering but, so far, have stood up well to high winds and the deluge. Our buildings have had a number of leaks as they have struggled with the volume of water. Our bus system has also been under pressure as a result of the weather but we hope that the coming of spring should ease some of these problems. We did lose, for a short period, our school flag but eventually found it stranded on a roof!
Leave of Absence Summer 2014 Summer Term Leave of absence Wednesday 7th May - Fifth Year Leave of Absence begins at 4.00pm Friday 9th May - Lower Sixth Leave of Absence begins at 4.00pm
The first half of term concluded with an excellent production of Anthony Horowitz’s play ‘A Handbag’ directed by Emily Thompson [S2]. This, along with the 24-hour Rowathon, a combination of school trips and activities, musical events and mid-sessional examinations has understandably left many of our students (and staff!) in need of the break that half term provides. The wet weather has inevitably caused many issues but, in spite of some cancellations, we have had some impressive results in both netball and hockey; our footballers have unfortunately been very badly hit by waterlogged pitches but basketball has prospered!
Friday 23rd May - Upper Sixth Leave of Absence begins at 4.00pm Thursday 12th June - Lower Sixth Return to lessons KES PTA LECTURE
The Stormy Blast
Congratulations go to the 12 students who have received offers from Oxford and Cambridge along with the many others who have received good news from other very competitive universities. As ever, there are some disappointments but almost all students who have applied this year for university have a realistic target to aim for over the coming months.
Friday 9th May, 2014 7.30pm for an 8.00pm start in the Dobson Theatre
Peter Jones, a former member of staff at King Edward VI School will be presenting the next KES PTA Lecture on 9th May. His talk will focus on five members of the KES community who died on the Western Front. His recently published book “The Stormy Blast” forms the title of what we are sure will be a fascinating and enlightening evening.
I wish you and your children a good break over half term and hope to see a number of you at parents’ evenings and other events in March. AJ Thould Head Master
Tickets will be available shortly via KESpay and will include refreshments on arrival. Students will have free access but donations would be welcome. All proceeds from the evening will be donated to the speaker’s chosen charity, “Goedgedacht - Paths out of Poverty”.
Fifth Year Book Collection: Thursday 19th June at 8.40am Upper Sixth Book Collection & Leavers’ Assembly: Wednesday 25th June at 8.40am
For more details, please contact: Lorraine Morgan on lmchilcomb@aol.com.
THERE WILL BE NO LATE BUSES ON 28TH MARCH 1
Spring Concert Wednesday 19th March at 7.30pm at Turner Sims, Southampton Featuring Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Big Band and advanced soloists and chamber groups Tickets £8 and may be purchased via KESpay Celebrating Sporting Success
Videos and photos taken by parents at School events should be for personal use only and may only be uploaded onto social media sites with appropriate privacy settings in place.
There are many talented sportsmen and women at KES and Mr Kent our Director of Sport is very keen to keep an up-to-date record of our students sporting achievements.
It is important that images of other pupils are not made publicly available without their consent.
Please email him on dk@kes.hants.sch.uk to let him know of any notable sporting performances by KES students outside the school.
The School’s e-safety policy may be found on the School website or by clicking here.
We are currently recruiting for a HR Development Advisor - Teaching Staff.
Morrisby Feedback Interviews
If you are interested in this post, please click here for further details
Feedback interviews following the recent Fourth Year Morrisby Test will take place between 12th and 26th March.
SCHOOL LUNCH REMINDER
Parents are welcome to attend these interviews and there are a limited number of early morning slots (08:10 – 08:50) available. If you are interested in being allocated an early morning interview please notify the Head of Careers, Mrs Mandley cjm@kes.hants.sch.uk or KJ on kj@kes.hants.sch.uk; these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The deadline for changes to School lunch arrangements for the Summer Term is:
Thursday 13th March
It will not be possible to meet requests that arrive after the deadline Please email dinners@kes.hants.sch.uk giving pupil name, tutor group and the change intended
Remaining interviews will take place during the normal School day and notification of individual times will be sent out in due course.
No action is required if arrangements are to continue as at present
King Edward VI School & Wellington Sports Ground are NO SMOKING SITES
Parents of Fifth, Lower and Upper Sixth pupils should refer to a recent email regarding reduction in lunch charges due to leave of absence
Parents are also reminded that there are NO DOGS ALLOWED on both the School site & Wellington Sports Ground. Exceptions are hearing assistance and guide dogs
Any request using the dinners@kes email address will have their request acknowledged 2
Upper Sixth Starting University in September 2014 - Finance Information
UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS Please click here to access information about the University Open Day visits available for members of the current Lower Sixth. Students need to see Miss Jordan (KJ) in the Student Guidance Office to confirm their attendance for all university visits before booking via KESpay.
If your son/daughter is hoping to start a full-time course at university or college in 2014/15 he/she should apply online for student finance. Applications should be made as soon as possible to make sure the money is in place at the start of the university course. Students don’t have to have a confirmed place – they should use their first choice and change it online at a later date if necessary.
Please note that, whilst we encourage parents to accompany students, in order to ensure we have enough seats available to members of the Lower Sixth, parental places must be restricted to one per student.
The deadline for completed applications is May 2014.
Please be aware that the School does not have any input into this particular aspect of Higher Education. Any queries need to be dealt with directly by going to: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/ UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm
Students will also need to register online with each university for individual lectures.
Staff and Parents’ Prayer Meeting KES Library - Spring Book Sale
Tuesday 4th March from 1.00pm to 2.00pm Commemoration Room
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a Spring Book Sale in the Library offering a variety of withdrawn stock at bargain prices! Where:
Old Edwardians’ Library
When:
Tuesday 4th March 10.50am – 5.00pm Wednesday 5th March 8.15am – 5.00pm Thursday 6th March 8.15am – 2.00pm
Bargain Prices: Books Magazines
All parents are welcome to attend
EVENING DRAMA PERFORMANCES The Drama Department invites you to two evenings of performances in March.
from 20p 10p
Tuesday 4th March 2014 at 6.30pm
Please make sure you bring your money with you as we are unable to reserve items.
Previewing pieces by the AS & A2 Theatre Studies pupils featuring extracts from Far Away by Caryl Churchill and Private Lives by Noel Coward as well as a devised piece of Epic theatre about the MMR scandal.
We look forward to seeing you.
Tuesday 18th March at 6.30pm Will preview GCSE pieces with extracts from a range of plays including Bouncers, Citizenship, Pygmalion, Blue Remembered Hills, The Importance of Being Earnest, to name but a few.
Friday 7th March at 7.30pm in the School Hall for parents and friends Teams of 8 The cost is £12.50 per head with supper included Click Quiz for more information and booking form
Both events are in the Dobson Theatre at 6.30pm and are not ticketed so just turn up on the night. 3
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Fri 14th Feb 17th to 21st Feb Mon 17th Feb Sat 22nd Feb Tues 25th Feb Wed 26th Feb Thurs 27th Feb Mon 3rd March Tues 4th March Thurs 6th March Mon 10th March Wed 12th March Mon 17th March Fri 21st March Thurs 27th March Fri 28th March
Sat 29th March
INSET Day: School closed Half Term Fifth Year trip to Berlin: returns 20th Feb Third Year Charlotte Exchange party arrives: departs 4th March Third Year Parents’ Evening Fourth Year Drugs Talk Sports Team Photographs Information Evening for Prospective First Year 2014 Morocco Information Evening Third Year Mutterstadt Exchange Information Evening Second Year Parents’ Evening Andalucia Information Evening Istanbul Information Evening INSET Day: School closed Non Uniform Day Fourth Year Theatre trip: The Merchant of Venice: Globe Theatre, London Second Year Theatre trip: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: London Term ends Third & Fourth Year Spanish trip: Andalucia: returns 1st April Third & Fourth Year German Mutterstadt Exchange: returns 4th April First XI Boys’ Hockey trip: Bath Festival: returns 30th March Ski trip departs: returns 5th April
The Boy In The Photograph Anti-Bullying Drama Presentation given by Robert Higgs
Please note: A more comprehensive calendar, which is updated and reviewed regularly, is available on our website at http://www.kes.hants.sch.uk/welcome/parents
On 5th March an anti-bullying drama presentation will be given to all Second Year students in the Dobson Theatre. It is a live piece of theatre inspired by the actor Robert Higgs’ own experiences of bullying.
JUNIOR HOUSE This is a special part of life in the Second and Third Year consisting of a series of sporting events that take place after school on a Friday afternoon throughout the year. It aims to foster a spirit of friendly competitiveness amongst the pupils, as each House takes on the other five in a variety of different sports.
The presentation comes in three parts: a live drama performance by Robert, a short questionnaire about bullying completed by the pupils and a session looking at anti-bullying advice and practical tips and strategies for protecting yourself from bullying behaviour both on and offline.
In the Autumn Term, the boys play rugby and the girls play hockey. In the Spring, it is the boys' turn to play hockey, while the girls play netball. Summer Term brings Sports Day heats after school and a mixed rounders competition during lunchtimes. Most events have an A and a B Team to cater for different levels of experience and ability.
Angers Sixth Form Exchange The French group will arrive on Friday 14th March and will depart Friday 21st March The programme for the visit has been sent home via email and students have been handed a copy. Please contact Mrs Jones on jvj@kes.hants.sch.uk if there are any questions.
All Second and Third Year pupils are expected to participate in Junior House and the evenings are also well attended by older pupils, who come along to support. Parents are also welcome to attend these events and watch their children in action.
Normandy Second Year Visit 3rd – 6th July Information Evening 14th May at 7.00pm in the Dobson Theatre. Again, please contact Mrs Jones on the above address if you need further information.
28th 4
Spring dates will be: February, 7th, 14th and 21st March