Headmaster’s Letter to Parents
October 2021
Dear Parents Although the pandemic is still with us, we have tried to give pupils as normal an experience as possible this half term and the vast majority have worked very hard and embraced a wide variety of opportunities. It has been good to see parents at the many functions that have taken place and I know many more events are planned for the next half term. I hope the next fortnight provides an opportunity for some relaxation, although those in the Upper Fifth and Lower Sixth in particular will want to revise for their November exams. I hope what follows gives a taste of some of the highlights of the last few weeks. Best wishes Michael Punt
Mr Michael Punt M.A. M.Sc. P.G.C.E. Headmaster mpunt@chigwell-school.org
Contents Page 1
Visit to Cumberland School Staff News
Page 2
Girls’ Games
Page 3
Girls’ Games
Page 4
Boys’ Games HomeRun
Page 5
Music
Page 6
Drama Black History Month 2021
Page 7
Meenakshi wins the Robinson College Prize Fireworks Night
Page 8
European Day of Languages
Page 9
European Day of Languagess
Page 10
EPQ and HPQ Presentation Evening
Page 11
EPQ and HPQ Presentation Evening
Page 12
Charity Runners Law
Page 13
Message from the Chaplain
Visit to Cumberland School Praefects Lewis and Beatrice accompanied some members of staff on a visit to Cumberland School Newham where we spoke to some Year 11 students about the opportunities presented by A levels and university.
Staff News Congratulations to Mr Aaron Thomas, a member of our Grounds staff, and his wife Chelsea on the safe arrival of Coben Jude Thomas.
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Girls’ Games Although netball is not the focus sport for the girls this term, many have represented the School in tournaments at U11, U14 and U16 age groups. The U11s won the Forest Netball Tournament a few weeks ago and both our U14 and U16 squads have gained a place in the Regional Stages of the National School Netball Competition, taking place in Colchester next month. The U19 tournament also takes place next month so we look forward to our senior girls competing in that. Congratulations to Emily (Year 7), and Lauren and Sonam (Year 8) for gaining a place in the U13 Essex Netball Squad.
It’s been superb to get back to a full fixture list and see the girls out playing hockey during Games time, in after school training sessions and in fixtures. We started the season hosting a senior hockey festival in which our girls, led by Mr Will Tomsett, played and developed enormously. At the same time our U13s and U12s travelled to play St Edmund’s and did very well. Tournaments have been coming thick and fast with U11, U14, U16 and U18 all having played in the Essex Cup. Our U11 girls have been to IAPS (reaching the cup stages) and took part in our own U11 festival, our U12s attended a festival at Queenswood and St Edmund’s and our U13s took part in a festival hosted here at Chigwell. We have had every girl in the year group at U10, U11 and U12 representing the School in friendly fixtures and our U13s, U14s and U15s recently took part in the annual, highly competitive House Hockey event. Congratulations to Alannah and Aiofe in the Lower Sixth who have both gained a place in the U17 Essex Hockey Squad. We are looking forward to seeing the squads develop as the season progresses.
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Boys’ Games Football is back with a bang at Chigwell with notable successes. After twentytwo years, Chigwell 1st XI won the ISFA Plate in the traditional and inaugural Independent Schools National Sixes. Notable results included beating Brentwood in the quarter finals, Dulwich College in the semi-finals and Marlborough College in the final on penalties. This was an outstanding effort against the top twenty-four football schools in the country. This success has been carried into the 11-a-side game as Chigwell 1st XI continued their ISFA Boodles Cup run beating Norwich 3-0, Forest School 2-1 and Charterhouse 2 -1 this week. They will face Bradfield College in the last 16 of the competion. Chigwell School U14s and U15s continue to progress in their relative Cup competitions. The U11s have had an unlucky run in both the ISFA and
IAPS competitions being knocked out in both competitions in the quarterfinals. This should not detract from the fact that they drew many plaudits because of the way they played and conducted themselves in both competitions. KS2 football club on a Thursday is as popular as ever with over eighty boys and girls playing every week. Staff have worked hard to improve technical ability and develop the core skills of all involved. We again have individual successes with Chigwell students representing in football academies, Oliver– Tottenham, Blake– Tottenham, George– Watford, Louis– West Ham, and Sonny– Ipswich respectively. All boys have thrived in the professional environments and continue to develop and progress well.
HomeRun We are delighted that so many families have signed up to the HomeRun app, the aim of which is to connect families across the school community so that they can share lifts and therefore reduce traffic. If you have yet to sign up but would still like to do so, please visit: https://bit.ly/CSHomeRun
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Music our first Live@6 Recital Series, given by our Fourth Form. To view click here.
We are delighted that the full programme of daily and weekly rehearsals and clubs has been allowed to recommence. The soul of the department is burning bright again. There is something for all pupils from young to old, beginner through to the experienced. Activities range from Music Tech Club, ukulele and guitar groups, Symphonic Wind Band, symphony orchestras, choirs, Big Band Jazz, Improvisation club, wind, string, brass and percussion ensembles. A full list can be found here. These activities provide opportunities for pupils to develop and nurture their skills, enhance their love and passion for music and most importantly give them a sense for belonging, achievement and friendship across different year groups in the School.
The end of this half-term has been dominated by the long-awaited return of House Music, live-streamed for the first time on our YouTube Channel. Click here to view.
CHIGWELL SCHOOL’S PRODUCTION OF
8th, 9th, 10th & 11th December, 6.30pm Drama Centre $ PXVLFDO EDVHG RQ WKH VWRULHV RI 3 / 7UDYHUV DQG WKH :DOW 'LVQH\ ƓOP Original Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman Book by Julian Fellowes
Rehearsals for our KS3 Winter Theatricals, ‘Mary Poppins’ has gathered pace with a lively cast of over 110. The shows will take place between 8th and 11th December with information regarding ticketing coming out in the first week of November.
New Songs and Additional Music and Lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe Co-Created by Cameron Mackintosh Adapted by iTheatrics under the supervision of Timothy Allen McDonald
We have had our first audience back in school watching the live broadcast of
Director Ciara McCarthy
Producer Howard Ebden
Choreographer Victoria Vickers
Stage Manager Michael Wright
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins JR. is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International, New York, NY 212-541-4684 mtishows.com
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Drama This term in drama, we have been busy training our GCSE and A level make up candidates, thanks to the wonderful experience of Rosemary Swinfield (author of “Stage Make Up” and “Period Make Up for the Stage” and “Goodbye Grease Paint”). Over two days of workshops, students worked on basic induction, aging and special effects, mainly of a very gory nature! Next, the Sixth Form watched a fantastic two hander play performed by visiting theatre company and written and directed by Seb Gardner who trained at East 15 acting school. The show was preceded by a two hour workshop for those in the Middle Sixth taking A level drama and a fascinating
Q& A session with actors, stage manager and director. The Middle Sixth were off to the theatre again the following week to see the British Premiere “Antigone” by Sophocles, an A level set text, in a new translation by Merlynn Tong starring and directed by Dawn Walton. Finally, the GCSE drama classes performed their devised pieces just before half term. This was two twenty minute shows that were created by the students. Offering acting, light, sound and costume and make up, the groups explored themes around trust, family life, travel and sexuality to a good audience who enjoyed the experience of watching live theatre at Chigwell once more.
Black History Month 2021 Chigwell School proudly celebrated Black History Month. Through activities led by the Equality Ambassadors, pupils have been learning the importance of Black cultures across the globe. These have included performances, thematic talks in assemblies, quizzes, chapel services, poetry, story-telling and library collaborations to name but a few. Read more from Dan in the Lower Sixth and the other Equality Ambassadors: https://bit.ly/CSBHM2021
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Meenakshi wins the Robinson College, Cambridge Essay Prize Well done to Chigwell Sixth Former Meenakshi who won the renowned Robinson College, Cambridge Essay Prize! The title of her essay was: '"The translated text must add up to the original. Translation is like a problem in math- using different numbers, the answer must be the same" (Lydia Davis). Discuss.' Meenakshi explored the logistics of translation and assessed what constitutes a 'good' translation, exploring renowned theories, such as Goethe's notion of Weltliteratur, and performed very well indeed. Read more: https://bit.ly/RobinsonCollegePrize2021
Fireworks Night After a two year wait, we are very excited to be able to invite you to the Friends of Chigwell Fireworks Night on Friday 5th November 2021. Please join us for an evening of community, music, food, glow sticks, and of course, fireworks.
Fireworks Night F R I DAY 5 T H N O V E M B E R 6.00pm – 9.00pm Top Field (Outside of New Hall)
More information and online ticket booking at: https://bit.ly/CSFireworks2021
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European Day of Languages To celebrate European Day of Languages, the MFL department held numerous events to showcase European culture. Third and Fourth Form pupils participated in a European themed bake-off competition, whereby over fifty beautiful cakes were displayed and judged. The winner was Ramleen and the runner up was Dilan - both Fourth Form pupils. Pupils in Years 7, 8, 10, 11 and 13 were also taught Italian, Maltese and Portuguese throughout the week. In addition, there were European themed quizzes and activities throughout the week during form periods. Chartwells kindly put together a European lunch to support the event. Read more and view the gallery of cakes: https://bit.ly/CSEuropeanDayOfLanguages2021
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EPQ and HPQ Presentation Evening The evening for Upper Fifth and Middle Sixth students to present their Higher and Extended Project Qualifications took place and was an excellent opportunity to showcase the independent work that has been
carried out. Some students opt to take HPQs and EPQs in addition to their GCSEs and A levels and the topics chosen all relate to their particular areas of interest. Congratulations to all involved.
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Charity Runners For the first time, this year saw two Royal Parks Half Marathons - the 'virtual' event in April, followed by the central London run in October. Congratulations to the team of Chigwell School parents, staff, and Old Chigwellians, who took part to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Read more: https://bit.ly/CSCharityRunners
Law There will be a talk about a career in law for any Lower Sixth students interested after school on 11th November by our former parent Simone Pearlman, who has delivered training at various Law firms and at the University of Law in London in a long and highly successful legal career. 12
Message from the Chaplain Headmaster into his stall at chapel and church services. The Chigwell virge is topped by a Bishop’s mitre as originally it would have been carried in procession in front of Archbishop Harsnett. Our chapel praefect is training a team of virgers from the different school houses and already they are setting a dignified tone to the start of our services.
I have just received an email from the Epping Forest Food Bank, the focus of
It seems incredible that we are half way
our harvest thanksgiving this year.
through the Michaelmas term and
Thanks to the generosity of the Chigwell
thoughts are turning to holidays. I hope
family we have collected over 800 kg of
that you enjoy the break and have a
food which will be given to those in our
peaceful and happy half term.
local community who are struggling to feed themselves and their families. Over the past few years an increasing number
With all blessings
of local people have been using the
The Chaplain
foodbanks and it is heartening that so many from school have joined in the effort to offer practical support. I am delighted to report that the chapel now has a new ‘virge’! This is a polished wooden pole with a brass top and replaces the original which disappeared many years ago. The virge is carried by a student virger whose job is to lead the
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TERM DATES 2021/22 Michaelmas Term Half Term: Saturday 16th October to Sunday 31st October Term ends: Wednesday 15th December Lent Term Staff meetings and INSET on Wednesday 5th January First day: Thursday 6th January Half term: Saturday 12th February to Sunday 20th February Term ends: Tuesday 29th March Trinity Term (Easter Day is 17th April) First day: Tuesday 19th April Half term: Saturday 28th May to Sunday 5th June INSET Day Monday 6th June Term ends: Wednesday 13th July