HM Letter to Parents April 2019

HEADMASTER’S LETTER APRIL 2019

T0 PARENTS

Dear Parents As the size of this letter suggests, a great deal of activity has been packed into the last five and a half weeks and what follows reflects just some of the pupil successes.

We hope pupils take full advantage of the opportunities available in order to enrich their experience and we are very grateful for the contribution that so many make to the wider life of the School.

Contents Page 1

Careers Convention

Page 2

Netball

Page 3

Netball

Page 4

Boys’ Hockey

Page 5

Boys’ Hockey

Page 6

Music Sixth Form Induction Days

Page 7

Drama

Page 8

Old Chigwellian Events BBC Young Reporter

Page 9

Poppy Bradley

Page 10

Vika Barker Middle School Speaking Competition

Page 11

Cricket Course UCAS Evening

Page 12

Ski Trip to Austria

Page 13

Ski Trip to Austria

Page 14

India Trip 2019

Page 15

Trip to the WW1 Battlefields

Page 16

Trip to the WW1 Battlefields

Page 17

Adrianna Wojtyna Julia Lasiota

Page 18

Open Junior Art, Design and Technology Exhibition

Page 19

Public Examinations RSC Chemistry Olympiad Staff News

Page 20

Meet the Future Linguistics Olympiad Jasmine, Em

Page 21

Oxford and Cambridge School Debating Competition And Finally

Careers Convention

Representatives from a wide range of

as well as the skills, qualifications and

institutions met with pupils in the

successful. Representatives were very

interests that might enable them to be

employment areas and higher education

complimentary

Removes and above at the annual careers

about

the

focused

questions that pupils asked and I have

convention. Parents, Old Chigwellians

been pleased to receive highly positive

and friends spent the evening in the Sixth

unsolicited feedback from representatives

Form Centre sharing their experience.

who

They discussed a variety of potential

praised

their

intelligent questions.

careers, why they might appeal to pupils

1

searching

and

Netball

The netball term has continued to thrive

U12 players have had a large number of

large number of girls taking part across all

U13A and U12A squads attending the

matches and tournaments, with both the

and we have been overwhelmed by the

IAPS competition at Felsted. The U12

age groups. At senior level, over fifty girls

squad narrowly missed out on the finals

have been taking part each week and they

finishing in third place overall. The U13A

have represented the School playing

squad went through to the semi –finals,

across the 1st to 4th teams. They have

having performed strongly in their group.

continued to play excellent netball and

Although they unfortunately did not

their versatility and the depth in the

qualify, their court play was superior and

squads has no doubt played a large role in

beyond expectation for such a young

the great results. The U15 squad has

squad. It was a fantastic day and staff

ended the season well with some nail-

were very impressed by the skill and

biting matches, producing draws against

maturity that both teams produced.

Bishop’s Stortford College and Bancroft’s.

They attended the Kelsall Tournament

The youngest groups of netballers in the

and having played some outstanding

School, the U11s and U10s, have again

netball throughout the afternoon in

played many matches and been involved

horrendous weather conditions, they

in a number of tournaments. All six teams

reached the final and finished second by

across these age groups are progressing

just one goal. Many of these young girls

each week and learning by making their

play club netball and we are looking

own decisions in match situations. We are

forward to working with them as seniors

very proud of the netball that has taken

next year.

place this term and how well the sport has

been developing at Chigwell over the last

The U14 squad has consisted of thirty

few years. We wish our senior leavers the

girls, all of whom have been enthusiastic

very best of luck next year both in their

and worked well in their respective teams.

studies and their sport and their

They have shown great improvement and

contribution was celebrated at the recent

it has been a delight to see so many of

sports award dinner.

these players work across all three teams

and play in various positions. The U13 and

2

Netball

3

Boys’ Hockey

It has been a fantastic second half of the

season for boys’ hockey. Post half term,

the fixture schedule shifts a little with additional fixtures for the Junior School pupils, affording them the opportunity to

develop their skills in a competitive environment. The boys have flourished as a consequence, with both the U10A and

U11A remaining unbeaten for the season in their respective fixtures. Furthermore, the U11s competing for the first time at

both the Essex and IAPS tournaments,

progressed from both the county and regional rounds to the national finals. The IAPS national finals took place at Rugby

School and the group rose to the occasion,

narrowly losing out in the quarterfinals of the Cup competition on penalty flicks

finishing in 8th place nationally. In

addition to excellent results on the field, participation numbers in the Junior School continue to grow. A Saturday block fixture

versus Felsted highlighted this with eight

matches taking place (U10A/B – U13AB) and over eighty pupils representing the School that morning.

In the Senior School the 1st XI continue

has been outstanding and with a young

fixtures against The Perse, Bancroft’s and

future. The 2nd XI also performed

squad, the signs are very promising for the

their good run of form with competitive

admirably; at the regional finals of

Haberdashers. The team ethic this season

4

Boys’ Hockey

efforts have been rewarded. In the middle

school, the U15s have worked hard this term, but a lack of availability and injury has at times made it challenging for this

group. Finally, the U14 group has once again excelled. Building on the success of

the first half term, the boys attended the regional finals at Ipswich School. With

England Hockey Tier 4 tournament, the

victories over Ipswich and Framlingham

group narrowly missed out in qualifying

the boys lost their final game against local

for a place at the nationals. The boys

rivals Coopers Coburn and missed out on

largely made up of Middle Sixth students

progressing to the national.

have committed to their hockey and their

5

Music

This half term, there have been many prom

remarkable given such young voices. The

perform on their chosen instruments.

performances at Rotary Youth Makes

concerts giving opportunities to all to

School’s senior Big Band has given charity

These have continued to be a real success in

Music and at the Chairman’s Charity

developing a musical experience and also a sense of togetherness for all involved.

The

Chapel

demonstrate

Choir

their

continues

Concert,

to witness these flagship ensembles on

impressive

Speech Day in July.

The much-anticipated Young Musician of

the whole school services for Ash Easter.

Council,

confidence. There will be an opportunity

to

Services and notably in performances at and

District

exhibiting their growing skill, control and

performance qualities in the Monday Wednesday

Epping

the Year Competition, adjudicated by Mr

Their

Nic Chalmers was a very special day of

presentation, musical skill and timbral

music making from the most experienced

contrast at the Old Chigwellian Evensong

musicians across the School.

recently was inspiring and highly

All

competitors are commended for the professional

presentation

of

their

performances and a packed out New Hall

gave the perfect venue for the evening finale. The winners were Lucas Abrami-Gill

(Senior Winner) with Oliver Jackson (Highly Commended) and Arthur Easey

(Junior Winner) and Mily La (Highly Commended)

Sixth Form Induction Days

A reminder that the Sixth Form induction day will be on Wednesday 19th June when

students will be given a taste of the work that they will be covering in their chosen A level

subjects. This is an important day in itself but also the occasion when a unit of A level work

is set to be completed over the summer holidays

6

Drama

Since half term, the drama department

performed their scripted pieces to a

assessed performances. The Lower Sixth

These were a range of monologues,

has been busy with A Level and GCSE

visiting examiner in the last week of term.

A level drama group performed two

duologues and group pieces from a range

devised pieces created entirely by

of authors including Pinter, Shakespeare,

themselves in the style of Steven Berkoff and

Frantic

relationships,

Assembly.

terminal

Sophocles, Fo and others. This was their

Exploring

final performance of the course and was a

cancer,

truly impressive achievement, many

materialism and other themes, these were

students performing to an A level

outstandingly polished pieces of theatre

standard. Well done to all involved in

and showed an excellent level of technical

drama this term.

skill. The Upper Fifth GCSE drama groups

7

Old Chigwellian Events Once again, there have been a number of

Old Chigwellian events including the 151st Shrove Tuesday Supper which was well attended and a black tie dinner in the

Dining Hall at which there were some one

hundred and fifty OCs and their guests. We have continued to host younger OCs talking about their university and career experience since leaving school through

the Development Office has contact details

that all Middle Sixth leavers will ensure that

the OC network once they have left.

the Meet The Future programme. We hope

so that they can be kept informed about

BBC Young Reporter

This event, previously known as the BBC

School Report, attracted eighteen student

journalists from Years 7 and 8. They have spent the year learning news reporting skills and investigating the stories that

interested them. Reports included drone defence, Article 13, the dark side of the

moon, graffiti art and the dubious sovereign nation of ‘Sealand,’ where you

news day put students on the hot seat for

can become an Earl for only £25. The live

a day filled with pressure, deadlines, thinking, writing, editing and ensuring that the task was finished in time.

8

Poppy Bradley

Congratulations to Poppy who was the runner up in the senior science category of

the Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition 2019.

After

thousands of national entries she was one of 225 finalists and exhibited her project at

the Big Bang Fair at the NEC in Birmingham. The fair is the UK’s largest

celebration of science, technology,

engineering and maths. Poppy's entry was based on the research she carried out

into tracheal stem cells on her Nuffield placement last summer. She commented

that being able to exhibit her work at the

fair was one of the best experiences that

she has ever had and she feels very privileged to have had the opportunity to share her work with so many people.

9

Vika Barker Year 9 pupil Vika Barker was approached to audition for Channel 4’s Child Genius,

hosted by Richard Osman, in which a group

of child prodigies compete in a series of tasks to gain the title of Child Genius. Along with several hundred others, Vika

completed rigorous tests of maths, history, and IQ, and just eighteen were chosen to

take part in the televised rounds of the competition.

Following an impressive

performance, Vika finished 12th out of

some of the brightest children in the UK.

She found it to be a great experience and despite the stress of performing in front of a

live audience and TV cameras, she very much enjoyed the opportunity.

Middle School Speaking Competition The annual Middle School Speaking

Athwal and Trinity Rungasarmy while Izzy

Centre in front of a small but appreciative

with Jyoti Nag-Chaudhury and Ben Punt

Humphreys won the best vote of thanks

Competition took place in the Drama

one point behind. The overall winners were

audience. As usual, the standard was high

Caswalls’ with Lambourne a close second.

and the range of speeches impressive, from the chilling “Female Serial Killers” to “Nothing is Sacred in Comedy”. The

adjudicators, Mrs Juliet Boughton and Ms Niamh Feeney found it difficult to separate some of the speakers, though the clear

winner in the speech section was Molly Moloney from Caswalls’ who spoke about "Privilege and Oppression".

The best

chairpersons were adjudged to be Venaya

10

afternoon sessions from 2pm to 3.45pm.

Participants on the courses should meet at the Dining Hall by 9.45am each morning and it is expected that participants will bring packed lunches. As the programme will involve using outdoor facilities (no indoor facilities will be available for the duration of the course), it is essential that participants bring trainers and a sweater and preferably their own cricket equipment (named) including an initialled tennis ball (full equipment for the School of Excellence and Intermediate groups) although this is not essential.

Cricket Course

The cost of the three day coaching course is £90 and fees must be paid in advance (cash or cheque) and sent with the application and medical forms (available on our website). Attendance can also be daily and the cost is £30 per day. Please indicate on the application form which day/days you are requesting. Cheques should be made payable to “Chigwell Mitre Enterprises Ltd”.

As I said in my last letter, we are running a cricket coaching course for all age groups and abilities during the Easter holiday. The course dates are as follows: Monday 15th, Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th April 2019.

Please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Tina Page for further information on 020 8501 5711 or email tpage@chigwell-school.org

The course will consist of three morning sessions from 10am to 1pm and three

UCAS Evening

There will be a UCAS evening for pupils in the Lower Sixth and their parents on Thursday

2nd May, starting at 6.30pm, in the Drama Centre.

11

Ski Trip to Austria

Thirty-one Year 10 pupils enjoyed a week of skiing in Austria at Wildkogel Mountain in

the Kitzburhel Alps, Bramberg. Some of the

group were experienced skiiers, but for eight pupils, it was their first time on skies.

Snow conditions went from the very best –

sunny with good powder – until the very last day when the weather turned and conditions became challenging with wind and a heavy snowfall. The pupils not only

celebrated a 15th birthday and pizza night, but experienced other winter evening

delights including tobogganing, skating and curling. This was a wonderful trip and the pupils were excellent company.

12

Ski Trip to Austria

13

India Trip 2019

Twenty pupils and parents from Chigwell took part in the School’s annual trip to Tamil Nadu. They stayed in an Ashram about 30km from the city of Tiruchirappalli and joined in with some of the life of the monastic community, including the evening services in the chapel and helping to prepare the food. Near the Ashram is the Tim Pruss Memorial School, developed in memory of a former Chigwell pupil who died in an accident shortly after leaving Chigwell in 2005. The group spent time with Year 6 pupils at the school, hearing them read and encouraging conversation in English. The Tim Pruss School held their prize-giving during the Chigwell visit and the Chigwell pupils participated in the cultural programme by joining in an Indian dance and presenting a dance of their own.

The Ashram supports a number of social projects in the local villages and the Chigwell group visited two nurseries which enabled mothers to gain employment and older siblings to go to school, an old people’s day care centre, an old people’s home and a training centre for locals to learn typing or sewing

14

Trip to the WW1 Battlefields cemetery in Lijssenthoek, which was profoundly different to the German cemetery they visited later in the day at Langemarck. In between these two visits the pupils entered the trench system at Bayernwald in order to see how the Germans held the advantage of the high ground around Ypres. The group ended the first day at the impressive Menin Gate in the town centre, which is dedicated to the British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed and whose graves are unknown. The next day they were on the Somme and visited some captivating places including Ulster Tower and the

A group of Year 9 pupils visited the First World War battlefields in Belgium and France recently. The two-day history trip provided the opportunity to compare the mud and devastation of the Ypres Salient with the wide-open, predominantly rural, Somme battlefields of 1916. It was a

poignant but most valuable trip; one which will live long in the memories of both pupils and staff. Whilst on the Salient the group visited the Commonwealth War Graves

15

Trip to the WW1 Battlefields The pupils were a credit to both themselves and the School as they behaved impeccably and listened attentively (in trying conditions) as their guides brought a real depth of knowledge to their studies of the First World War.

trenches that were left in Thiepval Wood.

They visited the Delville Wood cemetery where Geoffrey Pain, an Old Chigwellian, is laid to rest. He was only sixteen when he was killed in action on the Somme. They listened to a poem written by John Thurlow, another OC victim of the First World War as they observed a minute’s silence by his graveside.

16

Adrianna Wojtyna

Julia Lasiota

received a highly prized offer to study

offered a prestigious place on the Global

Middle Sixth student Adrianna has

Congratulations to Julia who has been

at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of

STEM Alliance 1000 Girls, 1000 Futures at

Technology), one of the top universities in

The New York Academy of Sciences. This

the US, if not globally. While studying

programme matches female STEM-

there, Adrianna will have one year in

interested students with volunteer

which to choose the subjects to major

mentors. Participants receive one-to-one

although her interests centre on electrical,

coaching and coursework designed to

materials and mechanical engineering.

prepare them for university and future leadership.

More broadly, university applicants have been receiving offers from an

impressive range of universities and

for highly desirable courses. The

conditional offer rate is slightly higher than this time last year.

17

Open Junior Art, Design and Technology Exhibition The Chigwell Open Junior Art and Design

special private view was held for all of the

1997. It is an ‘open’ exhibition in every

friends. A wonderful selection of art was

children, their teachers, parents and

Exhibition has been an annual event since

displayed from twenty-seven schools,

sense and primary and prep schools are

ranging from beautiful still life studies, to

invited to submit up to eight pieces of 2D

fishy fabric bags made to be used instead

or 3D work. The exhibition is held in the

of plastic bags, to raise the awareness of

Gallery and presented professionally so

the devastating plastic pollution in our

that the children see their work as though

oceans.

it was in a real London art gallery. This

Over three hundred visitors

enjoyed this private view and they were

year three hundred pieces of work were

amazed at the high standard and variety

mounted and displayed from artists aged

of work on display.

three to twelve. On Saturday 2nd March a

18

Public Examinations

Staff News

Students in the Middle Sixth and Upper

Thank you to Miss Grace Crawford who

finalised summer timetable and place it in

Prep, to Mr Stephen Hirst who has

has covered for maternity leave in the Pre

Fifth are advised to print a copy of their

covered psychology, to Mr Henry Tiller

a prominent position at home, such as on

who has covered economics, and to Ms

the fridge. The exam timetables have

Georgina Pearson who has covered D&T.

been available on both the Pupil and

We are very grateful to them all and we

Parent Portals since the start of the Lent

shall miss them.

Term. This will help them to know exactly

We also say farewell to Miss Felicity Leach

when their exams are taking place and

(Assistant Director of Music) who has

avoid problems. Apart from listening

contributed a huge amount to school

exams, all take place in the Sports Hall.

music and to the life of the School more

Morning exams start at 9am and

generally since her arrival here in 1991.

afternoon exams start at 1.30pm. After

We will miss Felicity, her energy, expertise

the Easter break, any students who have

and enthusiastic care for her pupils. We

an exam clash will be seen on an individual

wish her every future happiness and hope

basis and handed a letter stating the new

that she will return to see us often.

order of examinations.

RSC Chemistry Olympiad Congratulations

to

Adrianna

Wojtyna who achieved a gold award

in the RSC Chemistry Olympiad

placing her in the top 8% of the field

of over 7,000 entrants. Joy Cheung achieved a silver award and Poppy

Bradley and Madeleine McCormack achieved bronze awards.

19

Meet the Future

and a degree in French, Spanish and Italian at Durham is now a foreign exchange salesman with Barclays in Canary Wharf, following a two year graduate training scheme with the bank.

Billy stressed to today’s students why it is so important to have a clear objective throughout school and university, to study subjects at school that you love and excel in, rather than ones you feel you ‘ought’ to take, and the importance of embracing and using your failures positively.

For our latest ‘Meet the future’ talk, we welcomed Billy Wells back to his old school. Billy left in 2011 after taking A levels in French, Spanish and mathematics, and following a gap year

Linguistics Olympiad

Twenty-two students took part in the Linguistics Olympiad this term where they had to work

in groups to try to solve the problems presented to them in different languages such as Welsh, Mongolian and Pitjantjatjara (an Australian Aboriginal language with about 3,000 speakers).

The following students obtained a Bronze Award placing them in the top 35% of entrants

nationally: Amarah Udat, Christopher Collins, Julia Kotlarska, Julie Vytrisalova, Marius Bisset, Adam Sagoo, Cassim Hussein and Julia Lasiota. Well done to all who took part.

Jasmine, Emily and Isabel Iley

Congratulations to Jasmine, Emily and Isabel on their fantastic achievements in the recent English Schools Swimming Association Interdivisional Championships. Emily won 100m backstroke inter with a new national record (unbroken for 89 years); Isabel won 100m backstroke Junior; and Jasmine won bronze in 50m fly (open age) and 200m backstroke (senior). Isabel also won gold in the relay and Emily won bronze. It was the first time that all three girls attended this event and they clearly had a fantastic weekend.

20

Oxford and Cambridge School Debating Competition

As is usual Chigwell School participated in both of these competitions and entered

four teams for each. Eight students travelled up to Cambridge for the

elimination round and had the pleasure and privilege to debate in the Cambridge Union.

After making it through the early London

round, Christopher Collins and Julia Kotlarska gained the chance of taking part

in the Oxford Finals Day. It is a great opportunity to pit one’s wits against the

best in the country and they learnt a lot

from the experience. It was the third time

in five years that a Chigwell team has made it to Finals Day in Oxford.

And Finally I wish all Chigwell families a very happy Easter and I hope you are able to have some time off together. Thank you for all your support once again this term and I look forward to seeing you again on Wednesday 24th April, which will be a week A. With best wishes Yours sincerely

Michael Punt

21

Message from the Chaplain

Thanks to the help of a number of Junior School pupils on Ash Wednesday, the chapel was set up for our annual celebration of Lent and Easter. As part of the ongoing chapel refurbishment, the altar frontals are being cleaned and repaired over the coming months and a set of new altar cloths are now in place.

A work party of fifth formers also spent a busy lunchtime polishing the brasses and silverware to keep them up to scratch.

It is always impressive to hear about the issues our young people consider important and over the last few weeks, a number of students have spoken during chapel services. Zain Raja talked about the shooting at the Mosque in New Zealand and led a minute’s silence for those who died. Our target charities

were highlighted by Abi Whelan who spoke about ‘Diversity Role Models’ and Julie Vytrisalova who gave a presentation about relief work taking place in Venezuela. The Charity Committee has allocated money raised from the non-uniform day at the end of term to these causes and to the Trussell Trust who co-ordinate food banks across the UK.

There is now a definite holiday feel around the School as people look forward to the Easter break. I hope you will all be able to take some time off and enjoy the lighter nights and the arrival of spring.

Have a very happy and blessed Easter.

The Chaplain

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TERM DATES 2019 Trinity Term (Easter Day is 21st April) First day: Wednesday 24rd April Half term: Saturday 25th May to Sunday 2nd June INSET Day Monday 3rd June Term ends: Wednesday 10th July