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
22
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