BAROMETER THE
WETHERBY SENIOR SCHOOL WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26th 2018 | WEEK 8
Art and Drama in the Big Apple!
FROM THE HEADMASTER
Dear Parents, This week’s unusual weather has proved to be the main talking point as I have walked around the School and the question I have been asked most over the last four days is ‘will the School be closed tomorrow?’. Given our location and the different transport options, it was not possible for me to do anything but disappoint the boys hoping for a snow day and it has been good, particularly for the Year 11 who move ever closer to their GCSEs to continue their preparation for those examinations. Over the half term, I followed the exploits of the Art & Drama trip to New York on social media. The trip was clearly a great success but I particularly enjoyed hearing about their visit to Wetherby Pembridge School to work with the much younger pupils there. I was particularly pleased to receive an email from the Head, Kate Bailey, describing the impact the visit had. In her words:
“Goodness, your 9 WSS ‘on tour boys’ did you proud and I felt so proud to welcome the WSS crew knowing full well they would outshine themselves – manners, care, appreciation, humour and good company.
To throw them in the deep end, in the concluding moments of a few long and exciting days in New York and then ask them to host a group of 5-7 year olds for an hour workshop was either an opportunity or a ‘massive ask’, depending on how we view these things! Your boys saw the opportunity - phew – it was tremendous and they were such a credit to you.” The sentiments in this email echo those that I have received in unsolicited emails from members of the public who talk of the respect and good manners that the boys have shown them and so it did not come as a surprise to hear that they had been such a big hit with the furthest flung members of the Wetherby family.
It is with some relief that the weather is likely to settle down over the weekend and I hope that we will soon be able to resume the sport and other activities that have been affected this week. Best wishes,
WEEKLY DIARY MONDAY
05.03.18
Artist in Residence Event 16:35-17:20 Games Years 7, 10 & 11 14:00-16:00
TUESDAY
06.03.18 Games Year 8 & 9 14:00-16:00 PE Forum, (APG) 17:00-18:30 Rugby U13 WSS vs North Bridge House (H) 14:30 Duke of Edinburgh Award 15:30-16:30
WEDNESDAY
07.03.18
Games Years 7, 10 & 11 14:00-16:00 Football WSS vs City (A) at City of London 14:30
THURSDAY
08.03.18
FRIDAY
09.03.18
SATURDAY
10.03.17
Games Year 8 & 9 Football U14 WSS A/B vs Hampton (A) 14:30 Agora presents: ‘Who’s Missing from Hollywood’ - Miss Webb 16:30-17:30
HM Assembly at Hinde Street Methodist Church
15:00-15:30
Rehearsal for Middle School Play (lead cast members only) 9:30-18:00
SUNDAY
11.03.17
IMPORTANT NOTICES
The next Agora lecture is taking place on Thursday. Miss Webb is presenting ‘Who’s Missing from Hollywood’ 16:30-17:30.
Miss Kirk has extended the Book Swap deadline and it will now be taking place next Friday. Use next week to bring in a book you enjoyed, so it can be wrapped up and swapped for another one, without judging the books by their covers!
MENU
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Soup: Courgette Soup
Soup: Tomato
Main: Prawn and Vegetable Curry
Main: Spaghetti Bolognese
Meat Free: Macaroni and cheese
Meat Free: Tomato and Basil Pasta Bake
To Go With: Herbed Potato Wedges Steamed Rice Raita Naan Bread Sautéed Spinach Dessert: Vanilla Sponge Cake
Soup: Roasted Pepper And Tomato
WEDNESDAY Soup: Chicken Noodle Main: Fish Fingers Meat Free: Rocket Pesto Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes
To Go With: Aubergine Parmesan Garlic Bread Baby Carrots
To Go With: Sweet Potato Wedges Steamed Garden Peas Traditional Mushy Peas Tartare Sauce
Dessert: Jelly Pots
THURSDAY
Main: Baked Chicken breast and Vegetables
To Go With: Egg fried rice Balsamic Roasted Vine Tomatoes Grilled Yellow Courgette Baby Spinach
Meat Free: Vegetable stir fry with noodles
Dessert: Chocolate brownie
Soup: Mushroom and Tarragon Main: Meat Feast Pitta Bread Pizza Meat Free: Roasted Vegetable and Feta Pitta Bread Pizza
Freshly Made Bread To Go With: Oven Roasted Chips Mixed Garden Vegetables Green Salad Dessert: Chocolate Mousse
Homemade Salads Vegetable Crudités With Hummus Sandwich & Wrap Selection Meat & Cheese Platters Fresh Fruit Yogurt Pots
EVERY DAY
FRIDAY
Dessert: Winter Berry Eton Mess
HALF TERM TRIP TO NEW YORK
Mr Meyer writes: Day1: We arrived into JFK International Airport on Monday afternoon and were greeted by a breathtaking view of the famous Manhattan Skyline. Â Once checked into the hotel, the boys scaled the Empire State building and saw the impressive lights of Times Square.
Day 2: Day 2 saw the boys experience the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Both Miss Twomey and I were proud of the way the boys responded to the gallery, engaging thoughtfully and respectfully throughout. The Graffiti tour allowed boys to experience some striking and large scale pieces of art and take some fine photos along the way.
Day 3: This was a drama focused day that provided the boys with an opportunity to develop an understanding of basic theatre: exploring Broadway’s historical significance as well as the training process of a Broadway actor. The group started with a physical and vocal warm-up, followed by interactive focus/ listening exercise and theatre games. Afterwards, they explored Radio City Hall before finishing with a show at Kinky Boots.
DRAMA WORKSHOP AT WETHERBY PEMBRIDGE The final day saw Wetherby experience the newest school in the group: Wetherby Pembridge New York. This was an excellent morning allowing the senior boys to mix with Year 1 pupils, devising a play in a group of 6 or 7. This was a superb drama workshop, which was fantastically well put together by Miss. Twomey.
Miss Twomey writes... Arriving at Wetherby Pembridge NY was a very exciting day. Firstly, we were greeted by Mr Warner- not our favourite head of History at London Wetherby but the security and doorman at New York Wetherby! We already felt as if it was a home from home. After our coats were safely stored and our photo IDs had been taken, we were in. Meeting Miss Bailey, their Head of School and Wetherby Prep London’s previous Deputy Head, was very exciting and the boys were keen to find out how many of their friends from the Prep School she remembered teaching! As we headed into the main hall to greet our nursery and kindergarten students for the day, we were met with a wash of colour; all of the children had drawn UK and USA flags in their preparation of the two schools coming together.
After capturing the moment, we began our workshop on ‘The Lost Thing’, a story centred around a creature in a busy city who is completely out of place. Our Wetherby Senior boys each took on the role of Team Leaders and helped the four and five year olds create their very first ‘still image’. As all of Miss Twomey’s Drama students know, this is capturing, like a photograph, a key moment in a scene. The children worked very well together and house points (not gold notes this time) were given
out for their excellent facial expressions. It then came to our main performance; each group was tasked with creating their own ‘Lost Thing’. After a very productive brainstorming and rehearsing period, we were allowed to meet these new ‘Things’. As we sat excitedly for the performances, we were able to see creatures appear from lakes and rivers, hear stories of how they loomed above the skyscrapers and informed that these ‘Things’ were both powerful and kind.
DRAMA WORKSHOP AT WETHERBY PEMBRIDGE
These stories were each told by the London and New York students together, displaying fantastic teamwork and true creativity between the different ages. After the workshop, we were pleased to be treated to a tour of the school and really did feel as if we were surrounded by family with each new teacher that we met. As we visited the classrooms, our boys were very keen to help out with the lessons- especially the lessons involving building blocks and knocking down large towers. We even checked out the library and
the Wetherby Senior boys were keen to try out the Prep School’s book selection; they would have made Miss Kirk proud. Once we’d finished a celebratory lunch, it was time to say our final farewells. After apologising that we truly couldn’t (as much as we wanted to) ‘stay and play’ we left to board our plane and return back to our own Wetherby, back in good old London. It really must be said that the most striking thing about the day was is that we really saw in action what it means to be ‘A Wetherby Boy’. The
warmest of welcomes were shared, the students were keen to give support to one another and represent their schools in the most positive of ways. In addition, the staff also had that Wetherby energy; the excitement of establishing a new school rippled through the building and they promoted the same values with their young students as we do with ours. Our boys shone out there and an email from Miss Bailey told us that the young students really had idolised our Wetherby Senior boys. Well done Team Wetherby, on both sides of the Atlantic.
RACHEL BUSCH - VISITING ARTIST Mr. Meyer writes… This term’s Year 9 Art & Design Club has allowed the boys to explore a new unit, ‘Handmade Cardboard Prints’. We had the pleasure of welcoming Rachel Busch to the school, an artist whose prints are hand burnished with a wooden spoon or light hand pressure. This means that all her prints are slightly different and unique.
‘I love portraying trees but have also produced prints of Tube stations, Hammersmith Bridge and The Thames…’ Rachel Busch Clockwise from top: Adam A-M, Marcel B, Cyrus A, Thomas B, Nico S.
YEAR 7 - PORTRAITURE Mr. Meyer writes... During the early stages of the Spring Term, Year 7 looked extensively at portraiture using a range of mediums and techniques, including charcoal, lino printing, monoprinting and dry point printing.
YEAR 8 - CUBISM
Mr. Meyer Writes‌ Year 8 looked at Cubist artist, Georges Braques, throughout the Autumn Term. They took into consideration his techniques and style, creating a collage of their own wood engravings and found images.
Devan S
Jude B
Gabriel T
Ishaan B
Ben W
YEAR 9 - HEPWORTH-INSPIRED SCULPTURE Mr. Meyer Writes.... Ceramics plays a significant role in the Art & Design curriculum and this is seen no more clearly than with Year 9’s Barbara Hepworth Unit; a project that provided the boys with an opportunity to develop not only their knowledge of one of 20th century’s greatest sculptor’s, but also to learn about the fundamental processes of ceramics, from scoring and applying slip, to adding relief sections.
YEAR 10 - NATURAL FORMS Mr. Meyer Writes… Year 10 have come to the end of the first unit, ‘Natural Forms’. This project allowed the boys to explore a wide range of mediums and techniques, providing them with an opportunity to find their niche and see what works best for them.
Clockwise from top: Miron B, Eli A, Miron B, Eli A.
YEAR 11 - HUMAN FORM Mr Meyer writes: Year 11 concluded their mock coursework exam by creating their final pieces. Exploring the theme of the human form, boys created anything from wire sculpture to etchings.
Clockwise from top left: Nelson T, Alan A, Nizami P, Jack H-G, JP C, William B, Lachlan W, Manuel C.
MATHS CHALLENGE RESULTS We were very pleased to receive the results of the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge. We entered 45 boys from the top sets in Years 9-11, plus a couple of extra volunteers from Year 11. Considering that many school only enter their best Year 11 students, the competition is strong; so, the fact that 25 boys received either a Bronze (top 40%), Silver (top 20%) or Gold (top 7% of entries) is impressive. Furthermore, Akshay, Max K, Aryav, Frejvid, Haotong and Manuel scored high enough to be entered into one of the follow-up competitions!
GOLD Akshay B Max K Aryav L Frejvid G Haotong X Manuel C Joshua G
SILVER Alejandro A Tom Z Oliver L Tobi A Kiren T
The boys to be awarded certificates are as follows.
BRONZE Fabien C Yermek A Nicolas S Edouard G Luca L Maxime H Jack C Vadim M Sebastian L Pietro A Gabriel T Louis J
SUPPORT MR SULLIVAN RUNNING FOR CALM! Would you like to see Mr Sullivan in fancy dress running the London Marathon for charity? I’m taking part in the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon for Campaign Against Living Miserably on Sunday 22nd April 2018. Being a volunteer for CALM and helping young adults is a big part of my life. Listening and communicating is the most important factor, but I have also been working to raise awareness and money throughout this year by completing the London Marathon, Spartan Race, Mini Triathlon as well as many half marathons and a memorial rugby match. If you would like to see me jogging around London finest streets in my lovely fancy dress, please donate and come and support me! Please donate and share my page so I can raise as much as possible to help CALM provide a campaign and helpline aimed at preventing male suicide in the UK: https://www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ james-sullivan17 If you would like to find out more about CALM please visit www.thecalmzone.net Thank you! Mr Sullivan Director of Sport
http://www.wetherbysenior.co.uk