HM Letter to Parents February 2015

HEADMASTER’S LETTER

T0 PARENTS

CHIGWELL SCHOOL

FEBRUARYÂ 2015

Dear Parents Fortunately, we have avoided the worst of the weather in this part of the country and most activities here have gone ahead as planned. I continue to be impressed by how hard many pupils work and how many commitments they juggle, which will serve as good preparation for life beyond school. As always, thank you for your unstinting support for the School and your children.

Contents Page 1

Universities Holidays

Page 2

Investor Challenge Grade Changes Survey

Page 3

Drama

Page 4

Drama

Page 5

Festival of the Spoken Word

Page 6

Festival of the Spoken Word Careers

Page 7

Music Oxford Debating Competition Biology Olympiad Paying School Fee

Page 8

Netball

Page 9

Hockey

Page 10

Hockey

Page 11

Summer 2015 Public Exams Parking Staff News Cricket Course News From Chigwell The School Shop Bad Weather

Page 12

Finally

Page 13

Chaplain

Universities Middle Sixth students have been

Robyn Schaffer (classics, Downing) and

receiving offers of university places from

Gopal Kambo (modern and medieval

a variety of prestigious institutions. Four

languages - French and Spanish, St

of these hope to be taking up their places

John’s).

at Cambridge University later in the year:

studied at Chigwell School for at least

Nathan Edwards (maths at Trinity Hall),

seven years and we will follow their

Helena Tunks (classics, Newnham),

future progress with interest.

Each of these students has

Holidays Could I please remind all families that any

pupils are not withdrawn during term

request to take children out of school

time unless there are very exceptional

during term time should be made in

circumstances. It is important that they

writing and any planned absence does

have maximum attendance in order to

need to be authorised. We do ask that

engage fully with the curriculum.

1

Investor Challenge Four teams of economics students took part in the IFS Student Investor Challenge this year.

This competition has over 100,000 students from 2,500 schools taking part and it involves teams investing ÂŁ100,000 of virtual money in the stock market. Students need to keep portfolios healthy by reading and forecasting market information provided online to identify shares and make judgments about when to buy and sell in order to make a profit.

Congratulations go to Aimee Selling, Tom Parsons, Ethan Rose and Joe Klein who beat the other three Chigwell teams and made ÂŁ7,811 profit in two months. This also put their portfolio in the top 10% of performers nationally. We would like to enter more teams next year and encourage non-economics students to participate; look out for details in September.

Grade Changes Very occasionally, when Heads of

were changed so that the seven students

Department review public examination

achieved two A grades and five Bs.

results, they gain the impression that

Meanwhile, the English department

pupils have not been given the results

picked up some anomalous results in the

that they deserve. This was the case last

marking of iGCSE English Literature. We

summer in art where Middle Sixth

requested some re-marks which resulted

Students all achieved A or A* grades

in grade changes and on appeal, the

whilst Lower Sixth seemed to have AS

examination board agreed to review the

results that were lower than expected.

marking of the whole cohort for one unit.

We reviewed the results carefully and

This led to twelve grade changes so that

followed the examination board appeal

two thirds of the year group achieved at

processes, and ultimately the AS grades

least an A grade in the subject.

Survey I hope you have received a link to the parental survey that we sent out earlier this week.

Please complete this and return by Monday 23rd February. We value your comments.

2

Drama There have been a number of trips to the

The English play was a fabulous success

theatre this term. The Upper Fifth and

with star turns from Jordan Stack,

Lower Sixth went off to the West End to

Lawrence Brooks, Jusden Halabi, Odette

see “The Play That Goes Wrong” and

Clark and Kayden Chahal. The Crucible is a

thoroughly enjoyed this ingenious slap

notoriously difficult play to stage with fast-

stick comedy. The Middle Sixth visited the

paced scenes featuring throughout but the

Lyric Hammersmith to see Frantic

mostly LVI English cohort performed with

Assembly’s highly acclaimed production of

aplomb and real engagement with this A2

Shakespeare’s “Othello”, which was an

English Literature coursework text. It is

innovative performance that provoked

really pleasing to see non drama students

much discussion on the tube home.

take to the stage as well, including Rhea

The Lower Fifth were the first to perform

Gupta, Rajas Chitnis, Meha Valera and Diana Mircea which demonstrates the

this term with their GCSE Scripted

spread of talent and enthusiasm for drama

performances, a suite of five, thirty minute

across the Sixth Form.

shows that were performed after school.

This veritable festival of drama included a range of modern comedies and serious dramas, two of which were written by our very own Miss Janey Foster and Mr Joe Maingot. Candidates offered acting, light, sound, costume and make up for assessment

making

this

a

highly

professional evening.

3

Drama

4

Festival of the Spoken Word Compèred with panache by Harry

Zoe Wright was judged the better

Benjamin, Will Lord and Tim Lovett, the

humorous reading with Spike Milligan’s

2015 Festival was performed to a

“The ABC” while in the original writing

capacity audience. The competition was

section Charlotte James-Pajwani impressed

particularly keen in the areas of serious

with her piece entitled “Shadowless” with

readings and monologues with many

Freddie Cooper-Rendu second with the

fine and impressive performances.

moving “I Cried Real Tears”.

Annabel O’Reilly won the serious

The highly contested monologues left

reading with “Badly Chosen Lover”

the adjudicators, Mrs Evelyn Gibbs and

while the runner up was James

Dr Glen Winfield, with some difficult

Mulholland with “Explaining the Plot of

decisions but Shanaiya Pithiya with

“Blade Runner” to my Mother who has

“Vicious Circles” won the section with

Alzheimer’s”. The title of the poem was

Will Lord’s “Amazing Jesus” second. If

worth an award of its own!

the monologue category was hard to

5

Festival of the Spoken Word

Careers

judge, the ‘more than one’ category

usual

The UV careers aptitude tests run as by

Cambridge

Occupational

Analysts (COA) will take place in the

provided even more problems as each of

second half of term during the exam

the four contributions was excellent in

week beginning 2nd March. Reports will

its own right. How does one differentiate

be prepared during the following weeks

between excellence in broad comedy or

and students will receive these at one-

intense drama? The highly entertaining

to-one interviews with COA advisers to

team effort of “Phobia Workshop” (Harry Benjamin, Sarah Chamberlain,

be held on the last two days of term.

Bethany Hartland, Will Lord and Tim

On Thursday 23rd April,

Lovett) won the section with a very

we have our annual careers

moving scene from “The Crucible” (Will

convention. The aim is that

Weightman and Stacey Cockram), the

pupils in the Upper Fifth

runner-up. Tess Kelly and Venetia Bailey

and Sixth Form have the

were particularly impressive in “Fault”

opportunity to talk with

and “Fat Fighters” from “Little Britain,

representatives of

performed by Janathan Ahilan, Portia

different career areas.

Blogg, Tom Bromwich, Aanya Gujral and

We try to put

Fergal McArdle, raised many laughs with

together as

their characterisation and timing.

broad a

The housefest also provided many

range of

laughs with Penn’s version of Dahl’s

businesses

“Cinderella” winning the section with

and

Swallow’s Removes and their re-creation

evening

showcasing

some

talented

really

possible,

and

to represent their area of work, we

Chigwell, second. Overall a most entertaining

as

therefore if any parent would be willing

of Chemistry and German lessons here at enjoyable,

professions

would be delighted to hear from you.

Please

contact

Mrs

Sue

Lee

(slee@chigwell-school.org)

students.

In addition, if any parent would be willing to offer work experience to older students, please contact me directly.

6

Music The Prom Concert Series continued with the

Oxford Debating Competition

Lower Two year group. Always a special

Two teams took part in the Oxford Inter-

event, this was the first concert in the New

schools Debate last Monday comprising

Space on the Mezzanine level in the Drama

of James Mulholland and Ben Kennedy,

Centre and it provided a modern bright space

and Linda Zhong and Rajas Chitnis.

for our pupils to perform. Marshalled by Miss

Unfortunately, they narrowly failed to

Felicity Leach and assisted by Miss Lucy

qualify amongst the top eight out of the

Potterton, Mrs Sue Spicer–Winand and Mr

sixty four schools in the competition.

Len Sach, there were a staggering 43 pieces

However, the four students will be

demonstrating with certainty, strength in

attending Debate Mate all day Saturday

depth. Pupils gave lively renditions on a wide

which is both a display of debating and a

variety of instruments including voice, piano,

competition.

violin, cello, flute, drum kit and guitar to name a few. Congratulations to all who

Biology Olympiad

played so well.

Nationally, over 6,000 A level students

Earlier in January, the Chapel Choir

take part in the Biology Olympiad Competition. Students from Chigwell

conducted Evensong at St. Paul’s,

performed well with Shucayb Ali

Goodmayes. The programme included the

achieving Highly Commended; Kyle

Preces and Responses by Clucas, Magnificat

Dewer-McKay a Bronze Award; Yasmin

(cantor - Adam Melvin), Nunc Dimitis

Nikookam and Anna Chelchowska both

Collegium Regale by Howells (soloist – Max

gained Silver Awards; and Oliver

Albert), and the anthems Greater love hath

Maclean gained a Gold Award. Many

no man by Ireland (solosists – Sarah

congratulations go to all five students.

Chamberlain and Gopal Kambo), Locus Iste

by Bruckner and Jesu dulcis in memoria by

Paying School Fees

Victoria. Pupils continue their preparations in earnest for the Spring Choral Concert in

I have been advised by the Bursar that we

Christ Church, Spitalfields on Saturday 14th

have received fee payments that have

March for which tickets go on sale after half-

come via a Paying-In Machine. Our advice

term; details to follow. The programme

would be for parents not to use this

includes Mozart’s requiem and Beethoven’s

method of payment as it is not possible to

piano Concert no.3 soloist Katie Marshall.

identify the source of the funds.

7

Netball The netball term has started off on a real

with many more joining local clubs.

high. All teams have made an impressive

Looking forward into the term, the

start and they have continued to

Junior teams will be aiming to reach the

maintain a good standard of netball. The

final of the IAPS competitions, the U15

season started with senior and U14/U15

squad who are now part of the 1st and

pre–season training, involving match

2nd teams looking to win the Kelsall

play with Highgate and tactical practices

tournament again this year, with the

in each squad. The U13s started their

U13, U14 also taking part in this

season

annual

competition. The highlights so far for

tournament at Chigwell and the younger

this term have been the improvement in

junior teams have continued to take part

the netball played by the teams. This has

in a number of fixtures during Games and

developed significantly over the years

after school. There is a large number of

and the squads are reaping the benefits

girls playing in each squad this season,

of their hard work.

off

hosting

their

8

Hockey It has been another successful start to the

stages of the county tournaments after

boys’ hockey season. In KS2 more pupils

losing out to rivals Bancroft’s in a penalty

than ever are attending the extracurricular

flick shootout, whilst the U15s highlight

lunchtime clubs whilst the majority of

has been a hard fought 2-0 victory after an

Lower and Upper Two pupils have

impressive team performance against

represented the School in fixtures against

Forest School. The 2nd XI have led by

either New Hall, St Aubyn’s and

example and have been this season’s

Bancroft’s.

consistent performers, unbeaten to date and with impressive wins away to Harrow

At the top of the Junior School, Third and

and Alleyn’s. Finally the 1st XI, have

Fourth Form pupils have continued their

progressed to the 3rd round of the

positive approach and excellent form from

England Hockey Schools’ Cup competition

last season. Local triangular tournaments

after an excellent hard fought 1-0 victory

held at Old Loughtonians Hockey Club,

away at Gresham’s School.

have given boys an opportunity to participate in competitive fixtures prior to

The 1st XI boys’ hockey team have

the Essex and IAPS tournaments, the

qualified for the fourth round of the

former of which was regrettably cancelled

Hockey Association cup competition

due to the weather.

following their convincing victory away at

The pupils’

enthusiasm was highlighted further, when

Ipswich.

despite a cancelled fixture against Alleyn’s

possession in the first half, the Chigwell

School due to a frozen pitch, the boys took

team’s work rate was impeccable and the

part in a friendly ‘penalty shuffle’

final score was 3-2. We wish the boys the

competition against their opponents. A

best of luck in the next round of the

special mention should also be made of the

tournament where the competition

five Junior School pupils who have been

enters the national stages.

selected to attend the U14/U13 Junior Academy Centres over the coming weeks.

(Nathan Moscow, Joseph Ahern, Oliver Betts, Patrick Duke and Ben Kearin).

In the Senior School, the U14s continue to make good progress and were unfortunate not to qualify to the regional

9

Despite Ipswich’s greater

Hockey

10

Summer 2015 Public Exams

Cricket Course Once again, we will be running a three day cricket course for all age groups and

Would parents of pupils in the Upper

abilities over the Easter break on

Fifth and Sixth Form please check the

Wednesday 15th, Thursday 16th and Friday

current exam timetable and exam

17th April. Information and application

entries for their child on Chigwell

forms are available on the website.

Gateway via the Pupil Profile. Any changes in the spelling of the name or

News From Chigwell

date of birth need to be brought to our attention, as well as any other errors or

The latest edition of News From

omissions. Please do not worry about

Chigwell highlighting some of the

any exam clashes as these will be dealt

stories from the last term and a half is

with at a later date.

now available on line If you would like a paper copy, please

Parking

collect one from Reception.

Once again can I please ask that parents are considerate and patient when parking

The School Shop

on site, and to adhere to any requests

The School Shop will be open on the 17th,

made by staff who try to help manage the

18th, and 19th February between 10am

parking. You will appreciate that we are

and 3pm.

very fortunate to have parking for parents

resume on the 23rd February.

Normal opening times will

on site, unlike many schools, but at certain times of the day, the site does

Bad Weather

become congested. The safety of children

As I said in my last letter, in the event of

is our paramount concern.

heavy snow or ice please consult the school website (www.chigwell-school.org) for

Staff News

confirmation of arrangements for the

We send our congratulations to Ms Andrea

school day. We would always be very

Gehrke and Clive on the arrival of their baby

reluctant to close the School, but are

daughter Alessandra (Lissy).

mindful of the safety of pupils and staff.

11

I hope half term will provide the opportunity for some rest. Three school trips are taking place over half term to our partner school in India, to Hamburg and to Iceland. I am very grateful to the staff who have given up part of their holiday to lead these trips and I look forward to hearing about the expeditions when they return.

With best wishes Yours sincerely

Michael Punt

12

Chaplain

It must have been a wonderful moment

In the rush of our lives what do we fail to

when Mary and Joseph brought the baby

see? Do we rush past without stopping to

Jesus to Temple Mount in Jerusalem in order

marvel at the wonders of life? Is it possible

to make an offering of thankfulness for his

that we miss glorious moments with our

birth. This new structure, built by Herod the

children, glorious moments with our loved

Great, must have created an awe inspiring

ones, glorious moments when our eyes are

experience. Having personally stood on

opened to look at the beauty around us?

Temple Mount at Christmas and gazed towards the Mount of Olives on one side and

In Chapel I have challenged the pupils to

Jerusalem old town on the other it remains

take time to stop and see, time to pray and

an awe inspiring place today.

reflect. We are all so busy, so caught up in the rush of life that each day can become a

In the crowds that Mary and Joseph must

challenge; however, we can learn to be more

have experienced on that day there are just

like Simeon and Anna and take time to pray,

two people who take note of this young

take time to see. Maybe then we will marvel

family and their special child. We are told

again at all that God has given to us.

that Simeon and Anna are both elderly; maybe that is why they have the time to pray, the time to see something special.

Father Simon

13

Term Dates Term ends: Friday 27th March 2015 Trinity Term First day: Monday 20th April Half term: Saturday 23rd May to Sunday 31st May (INSET day Monday 1st June) Term ends: Wednesday 8th July 2015 Michaelmas Term First day: Thursday 3rd September Half term: Saturday 17th October to Sunday 1st November Term ends: Wednesday 16th December