E X PA N D I N G H O R I Z O N S
THE HORIZON Student Selected for Team GB • In the Work Place • Here & There • • Sunny Sports Days • Class of 2017 • Celebrating our Amazing Alumni • •
“Rossall will be what you make it” We would like to wish our 2017 graduates every success for the future. Floreat Rossallia!
I S S U E 11 - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 17
WELCOME What we lacked in sunshine last term, we certainly made up for in spirit and energy. The Summer Term was jam-packed with opportunities for our students to flourish and display their talents – the embodiment of the final line of our school hymn: Floreat Rosallia! The summer concluded with another excellent set of exam results for our students and it has been a real pleasure to see our leavers heading off to such a broad range of courses at great universities across the UK and around the world. I have no doubt that they will continue to flourish in their new environments. I hope you will enjoy reading this edition of the Horizon, our snapshot of the Summer Term 2017.
ELAINE PURVES Head, Rossall School 01253 774201
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
NEWS NEW SCHOOL CAPTAINS AND MONITORS We are delighted to congratulate Téo Beaumé (Mitre Fleur de Lys) and Amber Brown (Rose) on being elected to their new positons of responsibility as Rossall’s 2017/2018 School Captains. Téo and Amber are taking over from this year’s Captains, Hal Morgan-Short and Lauren Brook, who have done an excellent job and been exemplary in leading the students. Téo and Amber will be supported by Deputy School Captains, Olivia Gregory (Rose) and Matthew Peill (Mitre Fleur De Lys). Congratulations also go to: James Amor (MC), Shannon Dalton (Dn), Ken Gan (MF), Eleanor Garstang (R), David Goma (MC), Narissa Hamdam (Wr), Imogen Hockings (R), Billy Hoggmascall (MF), Harriet Hunt (Dn), Julius Schellhorn (Pe), Emilie Robinson (Wr), Harrison Stott (MC), Lot Swarts (R), Kay van Blerk (Dn), who were all awarded the prestigious role of School Monitor.
STUDENT PICKED FOR TEAM GBR School Leaver and 2016/2017 School Captain, Lauren Brook, has been selected for the GBR Under 20 Triathlon Team. Lauren will be competing in the Sprint Distance Triathlon at the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow. Lauren competed in her first triathlon eight years ago and has been coached for the last two years by Mike Park, Director of Boarding and Teacher of PE at St James’ School, Grimsby. In order to be selected for the team, Lauren had to be within the top 4, or 120% of the winner’s time, at the May 2017 Southport Triathlon, part of the British Triathlon Major Event Programme. Lauren came in third, securing her place in the GBR team. Lauren, who has gained A levels in Geography, Biology and PE, trains six days a week for at least two hours a day. Lauren plans to continue her training, alongside studying for a degree from September,
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News THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
NEWS BLESSINGS OF PETS SERVICE To celebrate the animals that make our lives special, we held the first Blessing of Pets Service in June. We were delighted to welcome pets of all sizes – fish, cats, dogs and even a horse were blessed by the Reverend Etienne van Blerk, after which there were ample treats to be enjoyed by humans and pets.
LANGUAGE FESTIVAL The language department played host to the Rossall Language Festival in June. Pupils from Anchorsholme Academy, Ribby with Wrea Primary School, Rossall Junior School and Poulton St Chad’s Cof E Primary School sampled four different languages: German, Spanish, French and Mandarin, before performing a short piece in a language of their choice.
DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD GOLDEN GIRLS
BRONZE BOYS AND GIRLS
Rossall’s golden girls completed the assessed expedition section
Twenty eight Year 9 students also completed their Bronze
of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
assessed expedition.
We must congratulate Year 12 students, Harriet Hunt, Annabel Counsell, Olivia Gregory, Amber Brown, Emilie Robinson, Vanilla Wang and Kirsty Swarbrick for steadfastly finishing a 65km trek in four days, carrying all the supplies required for the full 96-hour expedition.
The group, blessed with dry weather, walked a total of 24 km over two days, exploring the areas surrounding Silverdale and Arnside.
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Congratulations to Year 10 Jaylen Roberts who has successfully fulfilled all sections of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award which include volunteering, skills, physical and expedition activities.
News THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
POETRY PLEASE
The Morning
Early in the Summer Term, the 8th evening of Poetry Please took place in Big School.
By Year 13, Sam Pitcher
An audience of 120 came to see the English Department’s celebration of the spoken word.
Beep-Beep Beep-Beep Beep-Be-
A wide variety of poems, from comedic to poignant, were performed in groups and as solos, and a number of students read poems they had written. It was both sombre and jolly in equal measure and created a wonderful informal evening of entertainment. The Baker Reading Prizes were awarded to Year 13 Sam Pitcher, Year 12 Billy Hoggmascall and Year 8 Pip Munden. All three winners this year had written their own funny or moving poems.
Morning. This morning I awoke at exactly 7:14am And 59 seconds. At an anticipated, heart-hammering half A second later my alarm went off. My alarm went off, I rolled over and went to sleep. Morning. This morning I woke up at 8am To streaming sunrays piercing my eyes Like a prolonged accidental prick of a safety pin. As a naughty infant stamps its foot, An assiduous chill tingled sharply Along my naked spine, I writhed into askew, crinkled sheets To avoid the glare of a Netflix reminder: “Are you still watching?” Pre-stretch, My body I tangled Before my limbs I un-mangled And Click. Ahhhhh. I am awake.
FARRELL SOCIETY The Farrell Society finished the year with a Pizza and Presentation evening in Mondo’s, where awards were given to the outgoing captains and gifts were presented to departing teachers. Several former members of the Farrell Society travelled back to school for the event from their universities, and one even flew in from Germany! This has been a diverse year for the society, with activities including a trip to the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester to see A Streetcar Named Desire and an inspirational lecture in the Astronomy Centre, delivered by the highly esteemed Dr. Nick Lister. Jean Briggs held her third book launch in the Walkway Gallery, her lecture on researching Charles Dickens for her novel was as witty, educational and entertaining as ever. Film nights and other school based literary events have been held in the library with accompanying refreshments. One of our traditional evenings, the annual ghost walk, was blown away, quite literally, by one of the many autumn storms! It has been a privilege to steer the Farrell Society over the last few years, but to use a famous Rossall phrase, “the tide flows on,” taking myself and Miss Clark with it. I wish future captains, participating members of Common Room, and student members good luck, and happy winter and summer evenings together. Floreat Rossallia!
Mrs Jane Cross Head of English 4
Music THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
MUSIC ROSSALL CHAPEL CHOIR’S TOUR TO ROME Almost as soon as the summer term concluded, twenty eight members of the Rossall School Chapel Choir set off on their annual Choir Tour which saw them travelling to Rome, the eternal city. Their first performance took place in Basilica Papale di S.Paolo Fuori Le Mura (St Paul’s Outside the Walls), a stunning Church building with a vast oblong hall and double colonnades. The students took part in the Celebration of Mass, in what was a jaw-dropping setting. The Choir, situated under the splendid dome of the church, sang beautifully, arousing rapturous applause from the worshippers at the end of the service. The Chapel Choir’s Second Mass was again in spectacular surroundings. The Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the largest Catholic Marian churches in Rome; here under the high altar of the basilica is the Crypt of the Nativity, said to contain wood from the Holy Crib of the nativity of Jesus Christ. Their final performance at St Paul’s within the Walls, an American Church in Rome, was a more relaxed performance for the students where they sang a number of joint songs and solos. The church, although not small, was a great deal smaller than the two basilicas, but the atmosphere and acoustics certainly enhanced the choir’s incredible vocals and song pieces. Between performances, the students had time to relax around the hotel and explore Rome’s wonderful landmarks and attractions including the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Forum. Nineteen year old Sam Pitcher, who is leaving Rossall after six years, was thrilled to be performing in Rome and commented, “I loved the architecture and acoustics at the Basilica Papale di S.Paolo Fuori and the Colosseum and Forum had to be my favourite tourist attraction. This was a fantastic final trip with Rossall for me”. Director of Music, Mrs Margaret Young commented, “The Choir 2017 Tour was a fabulous experience. The pupils excelled themselves not only in their singing but also with their polite manners and behaviour and they were an absolute credit to the School”.
“THE CHOIR TOUR (2017) WAS A FABULOUS EXPERIENCE.” - MRS M YOUNG, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC -
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Music THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
BIG SING FESTIVAL The School welcomed five local primary schools to the annual Big Sing Festival in late June. Pupils from Anchorsholme Academy, Kirkland and Catterall St. Helens C of E Primary School, Norbreck Primary Academy, Weeton Primary School, Stanah Community Primary School and Rossall Junior School performed their own pre-prepared songs, as well as joining together for a group performance of I Am A Small Part Of The World. After a morning of workshops and rehearsals, pupils welcomed family and friends into Rossall’s Chapel for an impressive showcase that included The Circle of Life from Disney’s The Lion King, and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Miss Margaret Young, Director of Music commented: “The level of talent displayed by the pupils was extremely high. We were very impressed by their singing ability and enthusiasm. I would very much like to see this festival growing in size and I am looking forward to welcoming all the schools back to the Big Sing Festival 2018.”
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Drama THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
DRAMA
WHAT A CAST! WHAT A PERFORMANCE!
YEAR 7 AND YEAR 8 PERFORM ALICE IN WONDERLAND REVIEW BY MISS KATE EVANS, HEAD OF DRAGON I spent two evenings of the penultimate week of term in the Museum Theatre watching the highly anticipated Year 7 and Year 8 performance of Lewis Carrroll’s Alice in Wonderland. I was astounded by the level of talent on show and the humour the pupils managed to portray through their roles. Each cast member made their character their own; I will never forget Myles Davies’ and Morgan Wallace’s enthusiastic opening lines as the storytellers, Harry Sutton’s cool caterpillar demeanour or Tweedle Dum (Suzanne Carter) and Tweedle Dee’s (Ellie Qualter) energetic dance routines. Alice was played by Tayla-Daisy Hoyle, who commented to me after the final performance, “I have loved every second”. Harry Platt (The White Rabbit) and Alex Kretov (Mad Hatter) fitted their roles perfectly. They turned them into lovable characters, yet created some of the craziest scenes of the show. Georgia “off with their heads!” Oldham played the role of the Queen of Hearts and demonstrated her fabulous talent throughout the whole performance. Her long-suffering husband (although equally scary), the King of Hearts, was played by Isaac Wiggans. Melissa Pilley and Amy Frankel added hints of sarcasm into their characters and this made for hilarious viewing. Felix Mistry, Morgan Reeves, and Emily Yang played multiple parts and I cannot believe how well they managed the transition between roles! I am in awe of anyone who can stand up in front of an audience to act and perform and I would like to congratulate the cast and crew on two fantastic performances. I would also like to thank Miss Bendelow and the play’s director, Year 12 Drama student, Rebecca Hayes, for all their hard work and direction, the pupils thoroughly enjoyed working with them. I am certainly very excited about the next Dragon performance!
“I AM IN AWE” - MISS K EVANS, HEAD OF DRAGON -
Thank you to Mel Jones for the photographs. They can be purchased via Mel’s website: www.meljones.info 7
Drama THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
HOLES In the Summer Term the Year 10 Drama students are tasked with the challenge of putting on their own play. Whilst this is not an assessed part of the GCSE examination, it does form the basis of their end of year examination. It is a great experience for the cast as they learn how to choose an appropriate script, edit, rehearse and take ownership of the set, costume, props, lights and sound.
LAMDA The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is the oldest Drama school in the UK and the largest Speech and Drama examining body, with a reputation for excellence and recognition throughout the world.
The students, after reviewing a variety of scripts, unanimously decided to perform Holes - a much-loved novel that they studied in their Year 8 English lessons. There was just one problem: Holes has never been adapted into a play.
LAMDA examinations are known to improve communication skills, increase confidence and develop strong social skills and all Junior and Senior School students are given the opportunity to take LAMDA examinations.
This did not deter these spirited GCSE students, who decided to write the script from scratch, using the Disney film version as inspiration. The group used some unusual staging techniques, including the use of flashbacks, multi-roling and characters talking directly to the audience.
Seventy five per cent of the Rossall Junior School children and over thirty pupils from Senior School choose to do LAMDA sessions not only because they are interested in acting but because they wish to improve their oral communication and public presentation skills. It is also an excellent addition to the curriculum for the students for whom English is a second language.
The Head, Ms Purves commented on the production “What an excellent play - this was a completely original adaptation of a popular story. The students creatively portrayed the story of Stanley Yelnats’ misfortune but ultimate fortune, retaining the offbeat charm of the book. Well done to all the cast and crew.”
Over the course of the last three months all of these students have been taking part in LAMDA examinations at various levels and the results have been outstanding, ranging from Pass with Merit, to Pass with Distinction; a high percentage of the students earned 90+ marks out of 100. Congratulations to all our LAMDA students.
“LAMDA improved my confidence. I used to feel really nervous in all aspects of speaking and it has helped me improve in every subject as I feel more confident reading. It has helped me to speak more confidently and it has helped me get used to eye contact with others.”
Andres Hernandez-Maduro, Year 9 (MC) Grade 4, Public Speaking Student
“I feel I have more control of handling my words and my thoughts. Before starting LAMDA I found it difficult to start conversations and now, more than doing that, I can bring and think of various ways of expanding my conversations.”
Simon Holt, Year 8 (Dragon) Grade 3, Public Speaking
THE TEMPEST Year 6 students took to the stage in the Museum Theatre to perform their own interpretation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, thus concluding their study of the play. Shakespeare himself introduced his work before the ‘Rossall Reports’ journalists took over the storytelling. The impressive retelling saw the young reporters interview Tempest characters to find out their thoughts and feelings surrounding the pivotal moments of the play. From the saddened King desperate to find his shipwrecked son, to a tipsy court jester, and the beastly Caliban. All the cast delivered a brilliant performance.
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All for a Good Cause THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
ART & DESIGN SUMMER EXHIBITION
There was a fantastic turnout for our annual Summer Exhibition, showcasing the work of our talented students of Design and Technology, Art and Design, Graphic Communication and Photography.
ABOVE IT ALL! Mitre Fleur de Lys and Year 11 student Vincent Leserer has produced some fantastic aerial images of the School this year, using drone technology. The video and still footage has been used widely on the website, social media and in school literature. We would like to thank Vincent and his drone for producing such fabulous material for us to use within our marketing and promotion.
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All for a Good Cause THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE
JUNIOR DANCEATHON In May the Infants and Juniors held a day long Danceathon in aid of the NSPCC.
BLACKPOOL 10K FUN RUN
The NSPCC ran a series of safe workshops
Early in May, fifty members of the Rossall community took part in the annual 10K Fun Run, in aid of Trinity Hospice and Brian House. For the second year running, Rossall was privileged to be chosen to push Trinity Hospice’s hospital bed – a touching reminder of the reasons behind the race. In fabulous sunshine staff and students ran the race and/or pushed the bed amongst the thousands of other racers. Year 12 students, David Goma (MC) and James Amor (MC) were the first Rossall residents to cross the finish line, in an amazing time of 46 minutes. Just shy of 20 minutes later, the bed appeared on the horizon and the Rossall team were greeted with thunderous applause, as they made their way to the finishing line. Trinity Hospice’s Shirley Morgan said: “Huge thank you to everyone from Rossall who took part. It was an amazing turnout and I really think the team did Rossall proud. Several people I have spoken to since mentioned ‘the bed’ and what an incredible achievement it was. When Radio Wave announced that ‘the bed is here!’ and a big cheer went up from the crowd on the home straight, it made me feel quite emotional!
for our children and parents and the Infant and Junior school were keen to support the charity. Over the course of one day, the children and teachers were sponsored for dancing five minutes at the start of each hour, even in Chapel! The most memorable being the pupils singing and dancing to Y.M.C.A in the Dining Hall - it was a sight to behold. The pupils raised an amazing total of £1865 bringing the total raised over the academic year 2016/2017 by the Junior, Infant and Nursery to £4,438.
To all the staff and all the pupils, please pass on our thanks. It felt like the culmination of an amazing year of fundraising and support from the school – both seniors and juniors – and we really appreciate everything Rossall has done for us”. The Bed Push and a non-uniform day raised a total of £840 for Brian House Childrens’ Hospice.
HARVEY STANSFIELD’S ORGAN RECITAL £270 for Brian House Children’s Hospice
KAMMWAMBA SCHOOL AND MIRACLE ORPHANAGE
CHAPLAIN’S CHALLENGE
The School continues to support with the donation of used school uniform and shoes.
£655.00 for Christian Aid
ROUND SQUARE HUNGER LUNCH £500 for Kammwamba School and Miracle Orphanage
MONDO’S CAKE SALE
£40 for Brian House Children’s Hospice and King’s College Hospital, London.
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Results THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
RESULTS
ANOTHER EXCELLENT YEAR OF A LEVEL RESULTS! Grace will now take up a place at Huddersfield University to study Interior Design.
Ashya also hopes to complete a Masters Degree and become a qualified Sports Psychologist specializing in disabled sport.
We achieved an excellent pass rate, with 100% of students gaining passes in Art, Business Studies, Design Technology, Economics, Graphic Communication, History, PE, Physics and Religious Studies.
School Captain, Hal Morgan Short from Lytham, will be going on to read Law at Manchester University after gaining an A in English Literature and B in History and in Economics.
Ms Purves, Head at Rossall said: “We are delighted with our results; we have seen an increase in the amount of A*-B grades achieved, along with the overall pass rate. The results mean almost all Rossall students have secured their preferred university places, and will be taking up studies at institutions including King’s College London, Edinburgh and Manchester”.
Hal is excited to be going on to study in Manchester and commented that the teaching and level of support he has received at Rossall have definitely made a difference to his results.
Sam Pitcher from Fleetwood gained an A in Graphic Communication and C in both Mathematics and Physics. Speaking of his time at Rossall, Sam said: “The teaching standard is really high and I am grateful for the extra support teachers have put in to help.” Sam is taking a year out to gain further Graphic Design experience and is applying to Drama School in September 2018.
We are celebrating after another year of excellent results!
Deputy School Captain, Oliver Hockings, plans to read History at Manchester University after gaining two A*s and an A. Oliver, who earned top grades in English Literature and History said: “The teaching and support I have received at Rossall has been amazing. I am surprised and happy with my results, and I would like to thank my English teachers for their support and tuition which definitely made the difference between an A and an A*. I shall be celebrating this evening by opening a bottle of Champagne with my friends and family.” Grace McKnight, who has been at Rossall since she was two years old, was awarded an A in Design Technology, and B in Graphic Communication and English Literature! “I am so happy with my results – all my teachers have been so supportive in the classroom and in one-to-one support; they have helped me to achieve the best grades,” said Grace.
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Ashya Colvin, who gained A levels in English Literature, PE and Psychology has been awarded a sports scholarship at Liverpool John Moore University to study Sports Coaching.
The Head, Ms Purves added: “The 2017 A level results honestly reveal the level of commitment from our students and the excellent tuition and one to one academic support provided by our staff. We are proud of all our students’ academic achievements and the choices they have made, and we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our students every success for the future.”
Results THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
UNIVERSITY SUCCESS FOR IB STUDENTS We are delighted that so many of our IB students will be continuing their education at top universities across the UK and beyond. Many of the students are still finalising their places at universities overseas but the following have confirmed places at UK universities: Francesca Adorni Braccesi Chiassi was thrilled to receive her first choice university. She will be studying Architecture at Oxford Brooks after gaining 29 points in her IB Diploma. Xiaoli Wang achieved 33 points and will be studying Finance and Investment Banking at the University of Reading. Thanh Dat Nguyen will be studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham after achieving 32 points in his diploma. We wish all our students the very best in their future endeavours.
A RISE IN GCSE RESULTS! We are once again celebrating after another fantastic year of GCSE results. Despite the national GCSE pass rate falling to its lowest rate in a decade, our grades are on the rise. 90 per cent of our students were awarded A*-C grades and almost 95 per cent achieved 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths – our best results at A*-C since 2010. The Head, Ms Elaine Purves said: “The results are tribute to the tremendous amount of work our students and staff have put in over the last two years. It is wonderful to see their efforts rewarded, and we are looking forward to welcoming them back to continue their studies in the Sixth Form at Rossall.” A number of students achieved 5 or more A* or A grades, including Alfie Ellis who plans to stay at Rossall to study for A levels in English, History and Philosophy, before going on to university to study Law. Alfie Ellis who gained 3 A*s, 4 As, a B and a C grade said: “I feel very relieved that the hard work has finally paid off and I came out with a good set of results. The teachers at Rossall are always willing to help and they offer their full support, no matter what. They are willing to give
up their time to ensure you get the best results possible.” Aimee Barker was thrilled with her results and also paid tribute to her teachers for her success. Aimee, who gained 2 As, 5 Bs and 2 C grades said, “The teaching at Rossall really helped me through my exams. My maths teacher, Miss Coutinho was absolutely incredible. I didn’t think I was going to pass at all and she helped me to get a C grade. I was so relieved!” Max Heywood plans to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps with a career in finance, after gaining 2 A*s, 6 As, a B and a C grade. Max said, “I was really nervous to get my results.” “I was sat at my computer, refreshing my emails for an hour before my results came through. I was really happy to see that I had gained A* grades in English and Geography, as I am going to be studying these at Rossall Sixth Form, along with Economics.” 16 year old Max hopes to repeat his GCSE success in his A levels before going to university to study Finance. “My Grandfather lives in London and works in the stock markets and hopefully that will be me one day.” said Max.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
ABOVE & BEYOND ROSSALL STUDENTS EXCEL AT EPQ The Extended Project Qualification is a free standing qualification which we encourage our Sixth Form A level students to take in Year 12. It is highly regarded by universities as it demonstrates that the students are self-motivated and dynamic – essential skills for students in preparation for university-level of study. The EPQ requires students to complete a project based on a research topic of their choice. The project may be in the form of an essay or report, a piece of art, a musical composition or a dramatic production, and it does not need to be related to the subjects they are studying. The EPQ allows the students to develop their personal interests on a topic they feel genuine passion for and wish to learn more about. Year 12 students, Harvey Stansfield, Billy Hoggmascall and Ken Gan, produced non-dissertation EPQ projects based on their love of music, art and automotive design. Harvey Stansfield chose to plan, organise and promote his own organ recital as part of his EPQ project. In the process Harvey’s wish was to raise money for Brian House Children’s Hospice. Both the recital and the fundraising were a great success, Harvey raised a staggering £270.00. Billy Hoggmascall combined his love of music and art and presented his ‘Theory of Emotion’ exhibition. Billy created six beautiful paintings and composed accompanying pieces of music for each one. Guests to the exhibition, held in the Winkley Room, were provided with ipads and headphones to enjoy his music whilst taking in his stunning artwork. Dissertation topics, from a number of other Year 12 students, ranged from Lydia Bannister-Nunn’s controversial, “Are certain types of athletes more prone to specific mental illness than others?” to Emilie Robinson discussing, “Is the strength of the debate on badger culling justified?”. All the topics chosen by the students were fascinating and hugely relevant. The EPQ is worth a maximum of half an A level (28 UCAS points), so can be used to earn extra UCAS points. The students’ projects are marked on four criteria: management, use of resources, development and realisation, objectives and achievements. In addition, it is valued by universities as it demonstrates a dedication to independent learning and sets them apart from other straight A candidates. The EPQ students have been presented with a bound version of their dissertation and results were received on A level results day. Congratulations to top Year 12 students Lydia Bannister-Nunn (Dn), Billy Hogmascall (MF) and Emilie Robinson (Wr) who gained A*, A and A respectively for their Extended Project Qualification.
WORKING 9-5 After the end of term assessments the Year 10 students had a taste of working life, as they embarked on a week-long work experience placement. Students enjoyed a whole host of different professions, including teaching, retail and even medicine. Some of our students even travelled overseas for their placements! We were delighted to receive the following comment from Nicky from local business, Glazey Days, Fleetwood, who hosted Year 10 student, Vivien Wan: “Vivian has been with us at Glazey Days for her work experience this week and I just wanted to say a huge thank you. Nothing was ever too much trouble and she is an absolute credit to your school.” All the students enjoyed the experience and from the feedback so did their hosts!
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
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Social Events THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
SOCIAL EVENTS
DRAMA DEPARTMENT OSCARS The annual Oscars party is an evening of celebration for the Drama Department. The students were dressed to impress for their red carpet arrival to the 2017 Great Gatsby themed extravaganza. The elite invitation list included students (Years 7-13) who had been involved, both onstage and behind the scenes, in this year’s school productions: Great Expectations, Les Misérables and Alice in Wonderland. Drama Captains, Year 13 Lisa Pavshinskaia, and Year 12 Billy Hoggmascall stylishly hosted the award ceremony, orchestrated by event organiser Year 13 Sam Pitcher. A wonderful evening was had by all who attended.
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50 YEARS AT ROSSALL
YEAR 6 PARTY
Rossall Infant and Junior School hosted a surprise leaving party for Mrs Senior
Our Year 6 pupils had a rootin’ tootin’
and Mrs Tyldesley - between them the pair have worked at Rossall for a
good time at their Wild Western themed
staggering 50 years.
party, celebrating all their years at Rossall
Mrs Tyldesley and Mrs Senior were treated to an Infant and Junior concert which including hits from their recent production, ‘The Lion King’, as well as many solo performances. It was a lovely afternoon and a fantastic send off for such wonderful teachers.
Infant and Junior School. It is now time for the pupils to move from James House to Dragon House for the next chapter of their Rossall life.
Social Events THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
SUMMER SERENADE Thirty-eight very talented musicians and vocalists performed at the 2017 Summer Serenade. This highly anticipated event is the perfect prelude to the prize giving celebrations - nearly 300 guests enjoyed a relaxing evening with picnics, sweet treats and Prosecco whilst being entertained by our confident student performances. It was another magical evening which will become one of the many talked about Rossall traditions.
LEAVERS’ BALL The Leavers’ Ball is a lavish occasion for our Year 13 leavers, their families, friends and staff to celebrate their time spent and achievements attained whilst at Rossall School. Thank you to the amazing catering and housekeeping staff, and the Friends of Rossall for all their hard work in making the ball such a special and memorable event for all who attend.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
INFANT AND JUNIOR SCHOOL PRIZE DAY It was a ‘Hats On’ celebration for Rossall Infant and Junior School Pupils The end of term for the younger pupils of Rossall School came to a close in spectacular fashion. The Alice in Wonderland themed extravaganza was a fitting way to celebrate the pupils’ hard work and achievements over the past year. The Prize Day, held annually on the last day of term, began in Chapel, where this year’s Infant and Junior School Captains gave thanks for their year of responsibility. The choirs and pupils also performed a number of musical pieces and poetry recitals. The Prize Giving Ceremony was a mixture of inspiration and emotion, as Old Rossallian, Josh Landman, who attended Rossall for 11 years, took to the stage and recounted his story of being left paralysed from the neck down, following an accident whilst on holiday. Josh passionately talked about his rehabilitation, learning to walk again and his achievements along the way. Josh’s recent challenges, all for charity, have included a Tough Mudder, the Blackpool 10K and scaling the heights of Snowdon, all in his everyday wheelchair. Josh is now looking towards competing in a triathlon, the London Marathon and hopes to be picked to compete in the Sit-Ski at the Winter Paralympics 2022. His speech received a standing ovation from the audience and the pupils were in awe when they received their prizes from him.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
To conclude the ceremony, Mrs Katie Lee, Headmistress of Junior, Infant and Nursery School announced the new School Captains and left the Year 6 leavers with a fitting message:
“In life, we have gifts and we have choices, cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice. Cherish the gifts you have been given. Choices can be harder - spend time thinking through the possibilities before making your choice. Use and practise the skills we have taught you. Use the gifts you have been given well, and make wise choices. We hope you cherish your time in Junior School, use the skills you have been taught, and continue to grow and flourish. Floreat Rossallia!” The day concluded with an amazing Mad Hatter’s Tea Party themed feast. Rossall’s catering team were dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland, adding that unforgettable touch to the lunch proceedings, whilst families enjoyed an array of sumptuous savouries and sweet treats. The Infant and Junior School pupils, their families and staff had a joyful day, before leaving School for their well-earned holidays.
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
SENIOR SCHOOL PRIZE DAY & Graduation 2017
We were blessed with a beautifully sunny May day for the 2017 Senior School Prize Day and Graduation. The day created memories for many, allowing the Rossall School leavers the opportunity to reflect and celebrate on their time at the School, and their families the chance to celebrate achievements. The poignant reflections by the Rossall School Captains, Hal Morgan Short and Lauren Brook, and the Deputy School Captain Oliver Hockings, combined with the moving Choir performances and uplifting hymns in the School’s Chapel, were the perfect start to the day’s celebrations. The Head and Chair of Governors addressed the guests in the Marquee reporting on all the fantastic school achievements of the 2016/2017 academic year, and were gracefully supported by school leavers, Grace McKnight, Vasilisa Pavshinskaia, Catrina Rooker and James Wraith who focused on sport, the arts and activities. It was then time for the Prize Winners and Graduands to take the limelight as they accepted their well-deserved prizes, trophies and certificates from the guest of honour, Old Rossallian and award-winning actress, Anouk Dutruit. Anouk delivered an enlightening speech which closed the Prize Day Ceremony, allowing guests and families time to circulate and the opportunity to take photographs before heading in to the Dining Hall and Big School for the glorious lunch.
“I have many happy memories of my time here at Rossall and have formed friendships which I absolutely know will last a lifetime. Floreat Rossallia.”
Lauren Brook 2016/2017 School Captain, Rose House
“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom. It was the age of foolishness. And I do feel as though few quotes can better some up my experiences of the last 5 years than that which was voiced by Charles Dickens. But as I reflect, I am fortunate enough to inform you that the better times most surely outweighed the worst. I will conclude by wishing all those graduating the best of luck in your future endeavours.”
Hal Morgan-Short 2016/2107 School Captain, Spread Eagle House
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THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
CONGRATULATIONS to the Old Rossallians who have graduated in 2017
Joe Watson
Timothy Ferrier
Aimee Hindle
1998-2014 - Clifton and Pelican
2011-2014 - Mitre Fleur De Lys
2012-2014 - Wren
Batchelor of Arts with Honours (First Class) in Combined Honours (Music and Geography)
BSc (Hons) Business Studies
BSc Psychology
Lancaster University
University of York.
Timmy begins his Masters in Politics, Philosophy and Economics in Mannheim, Germany in September 2017.
It is brains to babies for Aimee, as she wishes to go on to study midwifery in 2018.
Maggie Ho
Ileri Adeoye
Izobel Marshall
2012-2014 - Dolphin
2012-2014 - Pelican
2008 – 2012 - Rose
BSc Business and Management
Law LLB
BA (Hons) Graphic Design
University of Sussex
University of Nottingham
University of Trent
University of Liverpool Joe has accepted the privileged position of Organ Scholar of Southwell Minster.
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Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
SPORT
Junior Round-Up
ROSSALL ROUNDERS TEAM FINISH SEASON IN STYLE Our final match of the rounders season took us to St Pius X Preparatory School in Preston. The girls were well prepared and had learned a lot from the AJIS tournament the previous week.
ROSSALL JUNIOR SCHOOL HOSTS THE AJIS BIATHLON Rossall Junior School was proud to host the AJIS Biathlon on a beautiful afternoon of sunshine. This involved an 800 metre run and a 50 metre swim for children from Years 5 and 6. There were some fantastic individual performances both on the track and in the pool, with many of the Rossall competitors winning their heats. However, what was very clear from the event was the importance of working hard as a member of a team, as demonstrated by the Year 5 and 6 girls, both collecting team bronze. It was a very successful afternoon and a rewarding experience for all the children and staff involved.
FUN IN THE SUN AT THE JUNIOR AND INFANT SPORTS DAY On a glorious afternoon with the sun beating down, the Juniors and Infants held their annual Sports Day. The Junior School combined events competition required each pupil to complete in a middle distance run, sprint, throw and jump. Parents and spectators were able to follow the pupils around the various events as they competed. In a change to previous years, the Infants competed in a similar combined event, where all pupils have to jump, throw, balance a tennis ball on a racket and sprint. The Nursery stole the show with their run followed by the egg and spoon race. There were plenty of proud parents on the finishing lines taking that all important photograph. In the awards ceremony held outside the Junior School, medals were awarded to the top three winners, a very welcome ice cream for competitors and fruit kebabs for spectators. What a difference a sunny Rossall day makes to this fun athletics event! 21
Rossall won the toss and opted to field first. Due to some excellent bowling from Hailey and brilliant fielding efforts, Rossall made a strong start, seeing over half of the St Pius team caught out. Rossall then went to bat but unfortunately some great catches from St Pius saw some of our strongest batters caught out early on in the innings. Despite this, the team rallied and brought our score almost even to St Pius with the first innings ending 6-5 to the home team. The second innings saw a much more confident fielding effort from Rossall with great fluidity between Hailey Ballantyne, Yasmine Ajiteru and Kerri Lee. Grace Gotto made some important fielding throws and Gracie Sutton on 4th was in great form. A brilliant game and the girls should be proud of how much they have improved over the short season.
Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
U11 CRICKETERS IMPRESS AGAINST MANCHESTER GRAMMAR By Thomas, Daniel and Steffan The Year 5 and 6 cricketers could not wait to take to the field and start their season against Manchester Grammar, and even with a chilly wind, the sun shone all afternoon, which made it feel like summer had arrived.
We played two 8-a-side matches, one using a cricket ball and one with a windball, and there were some fine performances with both bat and ball. Manchester Grammar batted first and they played well, scoring runs quickly. Rossall did not hold back in the field and bowled with impressive accuracy. Steffan van Blerk took two wickets in two balls and Phelix Kowalski and Daniel Eaves also hit the stumps with great bowling. Manchester’s total was 46 and Rossall were pleased with their bowling performance. Rossall’s innings began well with Daniel and Emerson Porter opening. They played some good shots against quick bowling losing just one wicket. Alex Kirkwood and James Ison, then Elijah Wiggins and Joel Baines were our second and third pairing. They attacked the bowling and Joel was delighted to hit his first ever four on his debut.
Finally, it was Steffan and Phelix to bat. They started impressively, hitting boundaries and closing in on the Manchester total. it was an excellent first match played in great spirit. In the wind ball game, there were some outstanding performances from boys playing in their first ever cricket match. Shota Matsunaga, Pavlo Chaikivskyy, Keegan Liggins and Joseph Smith thoroughly enjoyed the experience and showed lots of potential when batting. Oscar Mistry, Thomas Drury and Henry Singleton led by example with fast accurate bowling, and Luke Hitchen was amazing at batting, scoring lots of runs for the team. Well done to all the boys in Year 5 and 6 who represented Rossall superbly.
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Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
SPORT
Senior Round-Up
The Summer Term provided some excellent weather for our cricket, rounders, athletics and golf season.
SPORTS DAY & CELEBRATIONS We were delighted to see the return of the Senior School Sports Day which was held in June on a glorious day. Every single student from Years 7-10 participated in an event and it was great to see so many of our Sixth Form students also joining in. After all the events had finished we calculated that the total distance of 800m run by each student equates to the distance from Fleetwood to Bradford; the total number of lengths swum by each student equates to the distance from Fleetwood to Preston, and the total distance of javelin throws equates to the height of 7 double decker buses! At the end of the Summer Term, the Sports Department hosted a Junior Sports Awards for Year 7-10 - an event which acknowledges the many talented sportsmen and sportswomen at Rossall. As well as awards for Best Player and Best Team, the Sports Department also commended the students who had shown the most improvement in a sport. The final awards of the evening saw Summer Mason (Year 10, Rose) and Richmond Smith (Year 10, MC) picking up the trophies for Role Models of the Year. Well done to all winners, and to all students who support sport at Rossall.
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Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
CRICKET The Rossall 1st cricket team welcomed a few visitors this season, with their annual fixture against Marylebone Cricket Club ending in a draw. They also hosted a friendly match against Australian team, Yarra Valley Grammar School, which saw Rossall clinching the victory after a well fought game from both sides. In June, the Under 13 boys’ cricket team were crowned winners of the U13 Rossall Cricket Invitational Super Sixes – a competition which saw five schools from the North of England competing. Rossall displayed some very good fielding and every player tried to keep the mistakes to a minimum and support the bowlers. Every player had to bowl in the tournament and it was great to see the boys respond well under the pressure - each player took a wicket at some point in the day. Well done to Harry Gordon, Harry McAleer, Tim Woodman, Harry Sutton, Samuel Ayoma and Tom Singleton. The Under 17 boys’ cricket team also took away a trophy in June, winning the Lancashire Twenty Twenty (T20) plate, in a final against Audenshaw School. From the outset, Rossall applied great pressure with tight bowling from opening bowlers James Amor and Scott Whittaker. It did not take too long for the breakthrough to come. Audenshaw began to look better at stages, but kept losing their wickets, as the Rossall boys continued to apply pressure with dominant bowling and superb efforts in the field. When it was their turn to bat, the chase was not as easy as it seemed. However, Rossall finished their innings with some exhibition shots, including a huge six from Amor and they were crowned champions. Well done to James Amor (Captain), Harrison Stott, Alfie Ellis, Charlie Ardron, Joshua Hamnett, Jack Kenmare, Charlie Clark, Lewis Haworth, Edward Robinson, Will Robinson, Scott Whittaker. For our Under 14 boys’ cricket team, unfortunately, no silverware was added to the trophy cabinet this year. However, the boys did get to the semi-finals of the Lancashire County Cricket Cup, after a fantastic season. They defeated Manchester Grammar School in the nail-biting quarter-final, and did not have long to prepare for their bout against a very strong Bolton Grammar team. In the match, the boys gave their all but unfortunately, it was not enough to win. We look forward to following the boys’ progress next season.
GOLF
ROUNDERS
The newly formed Golf team
Our Under 15 girls’ rounders team
continues to impress and
successfully defended their Wyre and
had some excellent results
Fylde Rounders Champions title for a
this season.
fourth consecutive year, after another
In the final of the Independent Schools Golf Association (ISGA) tournament, the Rossall A and B teams finished third and second respectively. At the IAPS Golf Championship, Oscar Gerin came third overall in the boys’ U13 category. Vincent Leserer (Year 11) became the first Marsden Matchplay champion, after he won the final at Fleetwood Golf Club against George Evans (Year 10).
excellent performance on home soil.
ATHLETICS Many of our athletes had a great athletics season, winning some key events at regional competitions. At the Lancashire Schools Athletics Championship, Year 10 students Lex Bilby and Wisazo Chavula, and Year 11 students, Max Loboda and Harry Curwood were awarded third place in their chosen events. Lex for the Senior Boys’ 400m, Wizaso for the Intermediate Boys’ 100m, Max for the Senior Boys’ Shot Put and Harry for the Senior Boys’ 800m. Windson Pereira (Year 11) came a very close 2nd in the intermediate 200m, and Sam Currie (Year 10) was awarded first place in the Pole Vault. In the Junior events, Fraser Hallas (Year 8) was awarded second place in the 300m.
The girls won all but one of their matches in the group stages, before facing off against Baines in the final. Rossall chose to field first, with Baines batting well and scoring a respectable 5 rounders at the end of their run. The tension the spectators were feeling soon faded away when the Rossall girls stepped up to bat and started to rack up the rounders! Rounder after rounder came and the girls found themselves victorious by an incredible 17 rounders to Baines’s 5. What a fantastic finale! Well done to Grace Gordon, Isabelle Woodman, Daisy Newsham, Louisa Rogerson, Shahna-Mae O’Flynn, Tamzin Holden, Summer Mason, Naomi Hall and Bethany Baines.
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Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
GOLF SURPASSING ALL EXPECTATIONS What a season it has been for Golf at Rossall - during the Summer Term Rossall were crowned Lancashire Champions, the Golf Academy continued with its expansion and student membership surpasses all expectations.
GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP The number of Golf Academy members has risen to 30, 33% more than we expected in the academy’s first year. In addition, we are delighted that nearly 30% of the members are female. Golf is very much a mixed sport and one that continues to attract more and more women year on year throughout the UK and the rest of the world. It is wonderful to see that Rossall is leading the way in girls’ golf.
ROSSALL GOLF ACADEMIES INDOOR GOLF CENTRE CONTINUES TO EXPAND The Indoor Golf Lab was completed in May, measuring circa 50 square metres. With chipping stations either side of the green this multi-purpose practice facility is simply stunning and our students have enjoyed working on their putting skills in this truly magnificent facility.
ROSSALL SCHOOL CROWNED LANCASHIRE CHAMPIONS Having won the LSGA (Lancashire Schools Golf Association) North Region Team Championship in March at Clitheroe Golf Club, George Evans (Year 10), Jack Kenmare (Year 10) & Grace Evans (Year 7) represented Rossall at the ESGA (English Schools Golf Association) Team Championship National Finals in July, at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, the home of England Golf. In the absence of Josh Hamnett (Year 10) and Charlie Ardron (Year 10), who helped secure their place in the National Finals, the strong team of three undertook the challenge with great confidence. To play on a world-class course was a wonderful experience for George, Jack and Grace and a super end to a great year of golf. Although the team hoped to finish higher up the leaderboard, they finished above Birkdale High School from Lancashire, resulting in Rossall being crowned Lancashire School Team Champions.
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All for a Good Cause
Sport FOR THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
FRIENDS OF ROSSALL PARENTS’ LUNCH
The Friends of Rossall hosted a Parents Lunch at the Shard Riverside Inn in early May. The pre bank holiday weekend sunshine was an added bonus for this fun and relaxed gathering. Parents from Nursery to Senior School enjoyed a delicious lunch, in a super setting, amongst great friends and superb hosts. The Michaelmas Term Parents’ Lunch will be held at the Beach House Bistro Bar in Blackpool on Friday 29th September 2017.
FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND FAREWELL TO THE MCKNIGHTS The first FOR AGM was held in the Winkley Room at the end of the Summer Term. The new committee was voted in and special thanks were given to James and Susan McKnight for their help and support with the FOR over the last 16 years. The Head, Ms Purves, read the letter Mr and Mrs McKnight sent to Rossall when their daughter Grace was only one week old, stating their wish to send their new-born to Rossall! After expressing her own thanks and the School’s gratitude to them both, Ms Purves presented Susan with gifts including a beautiful bouquet of flowers and an engraved vase.
We are pleased to announce the 2017/2018 FOR committee:
MICHAELMAS TERM 2017 FOR EVENTS
Chairperson – Joint – Nigel Gregory / Amanda Ardron
Friday 8th September, 3.30pm
Vice Chair – Joint - Marie Currie / Amanda Munden
New parents tea in Mondo’s
Secretary – Amanda Holt
Friday 29th September, 12noon
Treasurer – Rebecca Murdoch We look forward to welcoming new parents to events and extend a warm welcome to anyone who would like to get involved wih the commitee, or running events. For more information please contact the Friend of Rossall via: friends@rossall.org.uk
Parents’ Lunch at the Beach House Bistro
Tuesday 19th October, 5.00pm Halloween Quiz / Ghost Hunt, Mondo’s
Friday 10th November, 3.30pm Santa letter writing tea in Mondo’s
Monday 27th November, 4.00pm Christmas Market and Lights Switch-on
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CCF THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
CCF
SENIOR NAVY CADET LEADERSHIP COURSE Marc Klebais travelled to Plymouth for his Navy Senior CLC. The week long course is based in Plymouth at HMS Raleigh. The course provides the cadets with valuable skills and experiences that they can use throughout life. Once Marc has been interviewed he will be awarded the rank of Petty Officer, a rank we have not had for a number of years in the Navy section.
SUMMER CAMP This is an accumulation of all the year’s training put into a demanding and fun camp held this year at Warcop in Cumbria. The camp consisted of: Mountain Biking, Gorge Walking, Canoeing, Training In Built-Up Areas (TIBUA), Close Quarter Battles & Simulation (CQB), Watermanship working with the Royal Engineers, First Aid, Section Attacks, Training In Woods And Forests (TIWAF) finishing with Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE). It was a fantastic camp to finish off the year at Rossall. Best Cadet on Camp was awarded to Max Crellin & the most improved went to Harry Sutton.
CCF FIELD DAYS In late June the Army, Navy and RAF sections of the CCF ventured on their residential field trips. The Army cadets travelled to Warcop, Cumbria with their kit and equipment for a ‘regular soldier’ field day experience. The cadets covered a compact programme which included: Army living conditions, the packing of essential equipment, punctuality, foot drill & turnout, self-discipline, camouflage & concealment and building a basha. In addition to learning other essential skills, the cadets were visited by a regular service forward recce team who showed the cadets the equipment they use on operations. The Navy section went to Waterside Lodge, Southport with the aim of learning basic dinghy sailing skills. However, the wind prevented all but a short time of sailing and out came the double canoes. Aside from canoeing the cadets took part in a number of leadership tasks which involved bridge building and raft building. The RAF cadets had a fabulous two days of activities and team building in Inskip.
CCF ROYAL NAVY TRY-DIVE During the Summer Term cadets, from all sections of Rossall CCF, were introduced to the underwater world of the Navy diver by the Royal Navy diving instructors from the CCF RN training team. The aim of the try-dive sessions is to encourage cadets to attend diving courses and gain internationally recognised qualifications in water sports, all run by the CCF.
ANNUAL INTERSECTION DRILL COMPETITION The Annual Inter Section Drill Competition took place this term, adjudicated by Colour Sergeant Dave Lindsay from Thornton Army Cadet Force. All three sections performed exceptionally well. Final positions given: 1st Place – ARMY 2nd Place – NAVY 3rd Place - RAF Rear row – left to right: Julia Dee van Blerk, Ella-Mae Storm-Eckersley, Xavia Riley-Oakes, Kulahea Tikoisuva, Eleanor Kozakiewicz, Sallie-Anne Storm-Eckersley. Front row – left to right: Samantha Collier, Skyler Bowes, Lily Warwick, Anna Hurel. 27
The winning Army section was led by Corporal Sallie-Anne Storm-Eckersley.
CCF THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
TARGET RIFLE SHOOTING In early August, Rossall cadets were invited to the BAE Target Rifle Shooting Club located at Altcar, Merseyside. Marc Klebais was coached in firing the rifle at 500 yds. Mr Brian Anderson, who has been coaching these rifles for many years, provided Marc with some great advice. Marc is very keen to carry on with this discipline when he leaves Rossall after his A levels next year.
BISLEY CADET TARGET RIFLE SHOOTING For the first time in 20 years Rossall attended Bisley, in Surrey, for the annual Schools meeting for Cadet Target Rifle. This is a five-day residential Competition and it is the main focus of the cadets training. Dozens of schools, both national and international, compete side by side, culminating in the most prestigious event seen at this level: The Ashburton Fours. The team of Yulia Zaikina, Marc Klebais, Konstantin Wartenberg zaand Jay Henderson were outstanding, showing great determination and teamwork. Overall the team came 5th in the Ashburton 4s, and Jay Henderson shot an incredible score at 500 yds in the Spencer - Mellish competition coming 19th overall.
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HERE & There
THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
Sam Livesey, Fleetwood Town Football Club: NCS Presentation Mutty Dad - the International Regional Manager for Lancaster University, talk: Choosing a university Mr John Claughton, former Chief Master of King Edward’s School in Birmingham, talk: Introduction to IB Nadia Mendoza, Self Esteem Team: Talk to Year 10 and Year 12 BAE Apprenticeship Talk CFAV Commemorative Dinner FSMQ Additional Mathematics (Big School) Year 5 Language Festival Yarra Valley Grammar School, Australia AJIS Biathlon OR Weekend IAPS Conference Gin Lab - Gin Tasting Evening NSPCC – Online Safety workshops Old Rossallian, Gillian Austin-King’s talk: Sexism in the workplace Trinity Hospice Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) annual fixture at Rossall Paul’s Kitchen - Tapas Evening Junior Schools Big Sing
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HERE &
Here & There offers a flavour of the trips out and guests in during the Summer Term OUR FUTURE DOCTORS Towards the end of the Summer Term, we welcomed students from across the UK to take part in a one-day preparation course for the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT). The UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT) is a test used in the selection process by a consortium of UK Medical and Dental universities. It is run by the UKCAT Consortium and was first introduced in 2006 as a way to make more informed choices between medical and dental applicants. The course leader, Afra Jiwa, is a current medic at King’s College London and delivers the training course nationwide on behalf of the MedicPortal. This invaluable session gave the students hands on experience ahead of their formal examination later in the year. In addition, the students had the opportunity to ask questions about life as a medical student and gain a real insight into what studying Medicine involves. As well as travelling extensively in order to deliver UKCAT courses, Afra is also the head of student welfare for King’s MEDSOC. Next month Afra will travel to Pakistan to experience the medical implications of conflict and combat. This was an exception experience for the students and a thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all. For students wishing to know more about Rossall MEDSOC, or Old Rossallians/parents with medical experience or contacts, please contact Mrs Forster at: a.forster@rossall.org.uk
Here & There
Here & THERE
THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
THERE ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE! The Summer Term can only mean one thing for the Junior School – Ghyll Head and Winmarleigh!
Manchester United vs Anderlecht OR Golf Day at Fleetwood Golf Club Year 7 Geography Fieldtrip to Ingleton Manchester University – A level Psychology Revision Conference Manchester University - Business Studies Tutor2U Workshop FOR Parents’ Lunch – The Shard Inn Oxford University Open Day Lancaster University – Applying to University workshop Year 8 Geography Fieldtrip to Manchester
As is tradition, the Year 5 and 6 pupils travelled to Ghyll Head for 2 days’ worth of action-packed activities. Some of the highlights included: sailing on Lake Windermere, ghyll scrambling, abseiling in a cave and of course, toasting marshmallows on an open camp fire. It was a fantastic experience for the pupils and the memories of jumping into the lake will last them a lifetime! Elsewhere, the Year 4 pupils were having a wonderful time at Winmarleigh. After weeks of excitement, the pupils arrived raring to go and could not believe that the dreaded Giant Swing was their first activity! However, once they had experience it, they wanted to do it again and again. During the day, the pupils enjoyed a whole host of activities including zip wiring, archery, high ropes and canoeing. In the evening, they all gathered around the campfire to toast marshmallows and laugh at Mr Cannon doing the funky chicken! Just before bedtime, they had a midnight feast before finally going to sleep after an exhausting yet exhilarating day. At the end of their experience the pupils all exclaimed, “We love Winmarleigh!”
Year 9 Geography Fieldtrip to Malham Choir singing at Bleasdale Towers Open Gardens Theatre Studies Trip: The Play That Goes Wrong Year 10 Geography Field Trip to the Lake District Year 7 Isle of Man Residential Choir Concert: St Hilda’s Church, Bilsborrow Lower 6th English Trip: Paul Muldoon, Lancaster University Year 3 and 4 residential to Winmarleigh Year 5 and 6 residential to Ghyll Head AJIS Steering Meeting, Wigan Year 5 trip to Blackpool Zoo AJIS Heads’ Meeting, The King’s School, Chester AJIS Athletics, Stanley Park, Blackpool Year 4 trip to University of Central Lancashire for the Science Festival 30
Floreat Rossallia! THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
FLOREAT ROSSALLIA! BRIAN TAKES POLE POSITION
BACKGAMMON EVENING
Old Rossallian Brian
first ever Backgammon Evening, hosted by OR Guy
Redman (A 50-53), was
Haslam (JS&A 80-91)and his company, Bone Club,
one of four motor racing
which produces backgammon boards.
greats to be inducted
With a complement of novice and experienced players, the evening soon got into full swing and those new players felt like they had learnt a new skill in a very short space of time.
into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame during a star-studded awards ceremony at the Woodcote Park, home of the Royal Automobile Club, in June. More than 20,000 enthusiasts voted for their favourites and the other winners included Nigel Mansell in the ‘Formula 1’ category, Roger Penske in the ‘US Racing’ category and the late Barry Sheene in the ‘Motorcycle’ category.
ORs, students and guests met in Mondo’s to enjoy the
We are hoping to hold a similar event during Michaelmas Term, so watch this space.
GOLDEN GIRLS Old Rossallians Georgina Maycock (R 07-15) and Cassandra Ngu (R 11-15) travelled to St James’s Palace, London to receive their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Certificates, which they received from England Hockey Player and Olympic Gold Medalist, Nicola White. The girls were also congratulated by Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, for completing their award.
The Rossall Foundation Charity raises money to support the development of Rossall School. It does so in a variety of ways:
ROSSALL FOU ND AT ION BURSARY PROGRAMME
CAPITAL PROJECTS 1844 SOCIETY
Annual Appeal
Your Legacy Their Future
The Foundation hopes that all parents and Old Rossallians will consider supporting the School
To find out more about the Rossall Foundation Charity please visit the School website www.rossall.org.uk/foundation
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or contact Henry Shepherd, Development Director Telephone 01253 774284 Email foundation@rossall.org.uk
Amazing Alumni Sport THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
AMAZING ALUMNI Tricia Nguyen Tricia Nguyen studied at Rossall from nine years of age until the age of eighteen, following the completion of her A levels. Tricia is now Artistic Director of The Open House (theopenhouse.vn) and an apprentice dancer with the Ho Chi Minh City’s Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera.
What are your favourite memories of Rossall? I loved all the extra-curricular activities I took part in with my best friends and housemates. I also enjoyed the House competitions and listening to the choir either in the Chapel or the Dining Hall at the end of Michaelmas Term.
What was it like to be a Vietnamese student studying in the UK? It was strange and lonely at first but it was also very exciting and rewarding for me to meet everyone and learn different aspects of various cultures.
What was it like to study in England after growing up in Vietnam? It was a big culture shock. It was much more relaxed than what I had anticipated.
I remember arriving at Rossall at the beginning of the Lent Term in 2001. I began in Year 5 and boarded in Grenville House with Mr and Mrs Eames and Ms Booth. I was in Clifton House in the Junior School and Rose House with Mrs Griffiths and her family when I joined Senior School.
What were your first impressions of the school? It was like nothing I had ever seen. It was so grand, cold and extremely windy coming from a tropical country, it was a bit of a shock.
What difference did coming to Rossall make to your education and your career? It definitely made me a much more open minded person and helped shaped me into the person that I am today.
How did being at the school spark your interest in the Arts?
Mrs Eames, taught me how to be independent and Ms Booth taught me a lot about the culture in England and how to be accepting of others.
I have always loved the Arts. I have grown up around many artists and dancers. It has always been in my blood. But the school helped guide me in the right direction, the teachers helped strengthen my skills, and show me how to follow and achieve my ambitions.
What’s the most important thing Rossall taught you?
What’s the best part of what you do now?
Independence.
To be free and creative in what I do.
What did you study at university?
What would you say to any student considering coming to the UK – and Rossall – to study?
Which teachers most inspired you?
When were you at Rossall?
artworks from artists who are currently dealing with mental issues. The three day event will start in September this year in Ho Chi Minh City.
I studied Fashion and Textile Design for one year at Huddersfield University, after that I went back to Vietnam due to some issues with my visa and I decided to stay.
What is your career now? I’m currently the Artistic Director of The Open House, which curates my father, Nguyen Thanh Binh’s current artworks. I’m also an apprentice as a dancer for the Ho Chi Minh City’s Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera. Additionally, I am working on my own project to raise mental health awareness through contemporary arts in Vietnam, which includes contemporary dance and
Do it! It will be an unforgettable experience and you will learn so much. Try everything, take part in the extra-curricular activities! Certain things that you think you won’t like, might surprise you.
How would you sum up your time at Rossall in one word? Meaningful.
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Fond Farewells THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
Jane Cross
Sue Tyldesley
Jocelyn Merris
Mrs Jane Cross came to Rossall in 2000
Mrs Sue Tyldesley joined Rossall as an
Miss Jocelyn Merris joined Rossall in
along with her sons James and Oliver.
Infant Teacher 20 years ago.
the Spring of 2010 where she made an
Her contribution has been enormous,
Sue began as the Year 2 teacher, moving then to Juniors, where she taught both Year 4 and Year 6, guiding and inspiring the pupils with her very own brand of energy and enthusiasm. Whilst in the Junior School, Sue was charged with leading the Primary Years Programme and she did so through a very successful evaluation. More recently and for her final year, Sue moved back ‘home’ to Year 2.
immediate impact in both the Mathematics
working tirelessly in each and every role she has fulfilled. Head of English, one time Head of Careers, former Chair of Common Room, Head of Middle School, Deputy in Dolphin House and latterly a tutor in several houses, Director and producer of umpteen drama productions, coordinator of numerous theatre trips all over the UK, facilitator of the annual Poetry Please and custodian of the ever popular, fortnightly Farrell Society meetings. Wearing all of these ‘hats’ Jane has been a superb support and an inspiration to many students as well as an outstanding teacher and highly respected colleague. We wish her all the very best for her richly deserved retirement and hope to see her often at OR gatherings.
Sarah Jackson Mrs Sarah Jackson joined Rossall School in 2010, initially to support Chinese students and introduce Mandarin to the Junior School. Sarah helped develop Mandarin in the Senior School when the Language Carousel was introduced two years ago and has been teaching both IB and A level to native speakers. Having obtained a Masters degree in Natural Science from China University in Beijing, Sarah also helped native speakers in the Science department. She is a keen traveller, a great cook, a passionate gardener and has a special interest in cosmetics, experimenting with making handmade soaps with essential oils. Her dedication to her pupils’ progress and her calm approach will be missed and we wish her the best for the future launch of her own cosmetic brand!
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A little known fact is that during this time, she has held many aliases - thanks to the children that she has taught – and there have been many! Some of the names she has answered to are: Mrs Tizwy, Mrs Teaker, Mrs T and from some of the current Nursery children, just T! It takes a truly dedicated and special teacher to be able to recall any pupil, from any class, from any year with a funny anecdote or a fond memory and we hope Sue will treasure and keep sharing those memories as she embarks on her next adventure with her Mr T. The pupils and staff will miss Sue enormously. We wish her much love, luck and happiness.
Val Senior Mrs Valerie Senior joined Rossall in 1987 and has nurtured generations of infants through those first vital terms in school. Over the last 30 years Val has seen many children pass through her classroom and taught music to many of these pupils. As a talented musician and pianist her wonderful skills have been utilised to the full and the children have benefited from her nurturing and patient tuition. The warmth, care and expertise that Val has brought to her role has been highly appreciated as has her input to the musical life of the school. We would like to wish Val every happiness in her retirement and future plans.
Department and the school, with her eager willingness to get involved. Alongside teaching Mathematics, she immediately got involved with the D of E Award. In September 2011 Jocelyn took over the reins of Dolphin House and managed the transition of Dolphin from a day to a boarding house. During her time in Dolphin, she has worked selflessly for the girls, ensuring that the house performs at its best in all areas. More recently, she also took over the running of the IB CAS programme and combined this with her work in both the House and the Department. She moves on to Bloxham School to lead the Mathematics Department, a role into which she will undoubtedly pour her heart and soul.
Danielle Heathcote Mrs Danielle Heathcote joined the Drama Department two years ago and quickly became a much-respected member of the team. As the Senior School’s resident LAMDA teacher, Danielle has coached and guided numerous students through their examinations in Acting, Public Speaking and the Speaking of Verse and Prose. Danielle has also taught Drama lessons to Years 7, 8 and 9 and has been an invaluable support with the choreography and staging of some of Rossall’s most-celebrated school productions - including this year’s Les Misérables. We wish Danielle the best of luck as she and her family relocate back ‘down South’ where she will return to working at Gordon’s School in Surrey, not only as teacher of LAMDA but also as a Deputy Houseparent.
Fond Farewells THE HORIZON | ISSUE 11 | SEPTEMBER 2017
Charlotte Clark
Shiela Blanco Garcia
Cécile Audis
Miss Charlotte Clark leaves the English
Sheila arrived at Rossall in September
Miss Cécile Audis, with her calm and positive
Department after five years at Rossall to
2016 to take up her post as the Spanish
attitude, fitted well into the MFL team.
take up a new post in Cheshire.
Language Assistant and Deputy
She has been an outstanding classroom teacher, a highly effective EPQ Coordinator and has also been very involved as Deputy Houseparent in Wren. We wish her all the very best for the future.
Houseparent in Wren House.
She has been very popular with the pupils and made a big impact with the GCSE group, assisting with pronunciation and offering additional speaking practice. Cécile ran the weekly French club and beyond the classroom Cécile played the violin in the school orchestra and joined the Blackpool Symphony Orchestra. Cécile has been a valued Tutor in Dragon House and the pupils will certainly miss her friendship and care. We wish her every success in her future studies.
Oliver Rogers Mr Oliver Rogers joined us in September 2015, brim-full of ideas and enthusiasm. Ollie has developed a new sport strategy for Rossall, and it is fair to say that Rossall sport has evolved greatly under his leadership, with more community involvement, performance pathways and a good coaching focus. Golf has been re-invigorated and many other initiatives taken. The new kit looks great (even on the Common Room) and parents and visiting coaches can now get a cup of tea over at the astroturf. Rossall is grateful for the foundations for future sporting success which Ollie has put down. Others can now build on those solid footings. We wish Ollie, his partner Sharon and their little boy Dylan all the best and Ollie every success in his new role of Director of Sport at Bradford Grammar School.
Sharon Kennedy Miss Sharon Kennedy came to Rossall to join her partner Mr Oliver Rogers and was quickly recruited to teach part-time in the Computer Science Department. Her knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject was contagious and her introduction of programmable Lego robots for the Year 7 and 8 students proved to be a great hit. We wish Sharon and her family all the very best for their new life in Yorkshire.
She has been a conscientious and caring tutor, developing a good relationship with the girls and spending countless nights dancing and singing Spanish songs in the Wren office. In the language department she has been of invaluable help with all Spanish pupils, encouraging them to speak Spanish with confidence. Sheila will be returning to Spain to continue with her teaching career - our very best wishes go with her.
Lulu Zheng Miss Lulu Zheng has played an active part in Rossall life since she arrived last September. She has assisted in all Mandarin lessons, helped the international students, been a popular Tutor in Anchor and assisted the marketing team with translating literature. Lulu has also used the opportunity to learn more about western culture visiting seven European countries in ten months! We are delighted that Lulu is to be starting a new post in a top international school in Beijing and wish her every success in her teaching career.
Mario Heufes In September 2016 Mr Mario Heufes joined us as German Assistant from our partner school in Rheine. During his time here, he competently supported both the teachers and the students of German and was Deputy Houseparent in SE, seen by the boys as their “big brother”. We wish him every success for the future and his plans to become a teacher!
Hannah Jenkinson Miss Hannah Jenkinson completed her year as Junior Gap Assistant in July. Hannah has been a highly reliable presence and a great help to the children, working with them in lessons, sport and playtime and accompanying them on numerous trips. Taking on such a diverse role is a huge support to the Common Room and we would like to thank Hannah for her hard work and patience over the last ten months.
Hamish Cannon Mr Hamish Cannon has also made a very positive impact during his gap year at Rossall. Hamish has supported the Sports department and the Juniors with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Hamish could also be found regularly playing games with the junior boarding pupils on the sports field at the weekend and on balmy sunny evenings. Hamish has been a tremendous help this year and the children have thoroughly enjoyed his company.
FOND FAREWELLS
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FORTHCOMING EVENTS DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Friday 8th September FOR New Parents’ Tea (Mondo’s) at 3.30pm
Monday 16th October Volunteering Fair (Big School) at 5.00pm
Sunday 12th November CCF to Remembrance Day (Fleetwood) at 9.45am
Monday 27th November FOR Christmas Market and Light Switch On at 4.00pm
Sunday 10th September Heritage Open Day. Tours at: 11.00am, 1.00pm and 3.00pm
Tuesday 17th October FOR Ghost Hunt/Halloween Quiz (Mondo’s) at 5.00pm
Sunday 10th December Family Carol Service (Chapel) at 5.00pm
Tuesday 19th September Year 10 Work Experience Information Evening (Big School) at 5.30pm
Thursday 19th October Year 7 Taster Day at 8.15am
Monday 13th November Art, Graphics and Photography Exhibition (Art Department) at 4.30pm
Saturday 23rd September September Classics (Big School) at 7.30pm Friday 29th September FOR Parents’ Lunch (Beach House Bistro, Blackpool) at 12.00pm Friday 29th September Formal Concert (Big School) at 6.00pm Friday 29th September Choir Formal Meal (Dining Hall) 7.00pm Wednesday 4th October Rossallian Golf Society Day (Blackwell GC) Sunday 7th October Whole School Open Day at 10.00am Friday 13th October Cabaret Ball for Years 11, 12 and 13 (Dining Hall)
Thursday 19th October Year 7 Information Evening for Parents (Museum Theatre) 4.00pm Friday 20th October Half Term Begins at 4.00pm Monday 6th November School resumes at 8.25am following Half Term Wednesday 8th November CCF to Festival of Remembrance (Marine Hall, Fleetwood) at 5.30pm Wednesday 8th November Sixth Form Information Evening (Big School) at 6.00pm Friday 10th November FOR Santa Letter Writing and Tea (Mondo’s) at 3.30pm Saturday 11th November MF Mad Night (Big School) at 7.00pm
SEPTEMBER CLASSICS
Monday 20th November Scholarship Evening for Year 7, 9 and 12 (Museum Theatre) at 6.30pm Tuesday 21st November House Singing Competition (Grand Theatre, Blackpool) at 2.00pm Tuesday 21st November Year 5 Scholarship Information Evening (Museum Theatre) at 6.00pm Thursday 23rd November Guest Lecture by OR Ian Whittle: Genesis of the Jet Engine (Museum Theatre) at 7.00pm Friday 24th November Junior School Christmas Tree Light Switch-On at 3.20pm Sunday 26th November A Play in 48 Hours – Drama Charity Challenge – Performance (Big School) at 7.00pm
Monday 11th December Nursery Nativity (Infant Hall) at 9.30am Monday 11th December Christmas in the Hall (The Hall) at 4.30pm Tuesday 12th December Infant Nativity (Museum Theatre) at 2.30pm Wednesday 13th December Christmas Fair (Infant Hall) at 1.30pm Thursday 14th December Reindeer Run (Junior School) at 10.30am Thursday 14th December Junior Carol Service (Chapel) at 2.00pm Friday 15th December End of Term at 12.30pm Saturday 23rd December OR Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (Chapel) 5.00pm Monday 25th December Christmas Day Service (Chapel) at 10.00am
CHRISTMAS IN THE HALL
Saturday 23rd September 2017 Big School at 7.30pm
Monday 11th December 2017 The Hall (Reception) at 4.30pm
A concert of duets and individual performances by Old Rossallians Jane Wilkinson and Lucy Mair. Accompanied by pianist, Graham Jackson. Jane is an experienced performer and currently sings and teaches in London. Lucy teaches singing in Hove, Brighton and is one quarter of operatic quartet, “Stile Libero”. Tickets cost £10.00 per person (children under 16 free) Light refreshments will be available during the interval.
This annual tradition welcomes families to The Hall, to enjoy the fantastic Rossall Choir performing a host of festive songs. Please do come along and enjoy a mince pie and glass of mulled wine. To book your place, please email: marketing@rossall.org.uk
To book your tickets, please visit: www.rossall.org.uk/september-classics
Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 8JW
Telephone 01253 774201 Email enquiries@rossall.org.uk
www.rossall.org.uk