Headmaster's Letter - April 2022

Headmaster’s Letter to Parents

April 2022

Dear Parents I hope you had a happy Easter and were able to enjoy some of the spectacular spring weather. The school grounds are looking beautiful and I look forward to seeing you at the variety of events that will be taking place over the coming weeks. We continue to encourage pupils to involve themselves in the wide variety of opportunities available to them, to develop themselves, their interests and talents, and to create lasting memories of their time at school which passes all too quickly.

Best wishes Michael Punt

Mr Michael Punt M.A. M.Sc. P.G.C.E. Headmaster mpunt@chigwell-school.org

Contents Page 1

Sports Centre Maintenance Oliver

Page 2

Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions

Page 3

Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions

Page 4

Speech Day Staff News

Page 5

PSHEE

Sports Centre Work is continuing apace on the new sports centre development. Over the holiday, there has been a great deal of concrete pouring for the foundations, and the construction of the swimming pool is well underway together with the basement plant room. Thank you for your understanding while the project is taking place; the centre will be a fantastic addition.

Maintenance As always, the holiday provided an opportunity for maintenance work to take place. On this occasion, the focus has been mainly the Junior School where there has been extensive redecoration of the library and ground floor classrooms. All Key Stage 2 rooms have now been fitted with new interactive screens.

Oliver Congratulations to Oliver in the Upper Fifth who received the news over the holiday that he has been selected for the U16 England team playing in the Montaigu Tournament in France. This is a superb achievement.

1

Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions DofE Bronze Award - Over the Easter break, sixty-eight Bronze students completed their training and an overnight camp. On arrival at Skreens Park, the students had their equipment checked and completed a detailed route card, groups were dropped off at different start points and completed an eighteen kilometre walk accompanied by the DofE team.

After their walk, tents were pitched ready to spend a night under the stars.

DofE Silver Canoe Training and

2

Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions Practice expedition - Following the Bronze expedition, twelve Year 10 students went to Fairlop Waters to learn the basics of canoeing and water safety for their Silver award. Having learnt the basics, they put their skills to the test with an 18km paddle on the River Stort.

DofE Silver Foot Training and Practice expedition - During the second week of the Easter break, thirty-five students from the Lower Fifth completed the DofE Silver walking training and practice expedition at Kent scouts activity centre near Maidstone on the edge of the North Downs.

All groups successfully completed their practice expeditions and will now proceed to their qualifying trips this term.

3

Speech Day I hope that as many parents as possible will be able to attend our speech day celebrations, not least because it will be my last one and I would like to thank you for all your support. The programme for Speech Day and its related activities will follow the usual format: Friday 8th July

Saturday 9th July

2.15pm

Pre Prep, Lower I and Upper I Service in St Mary's Church

3.30pm

Pre Prep, Lower 1 and Upper 1 Garden Party

9.45am

Junior School Service at St Mary's Church

11.15am

Senior School Service at St Mary's Church

2.30pm

Speeches and Prize Giving in the Marquee

Parents from all sections of the School are welcome to attend prizegiving in the marquee after which there will be refreshments. Likewise, parents from across the School are very welcome to attend the Ball. Due to the extensive building that is currently taking place on site, this year the event will take place at the Metropolitan Police Sports Club at Chigwell Hall.

This year’s guest of honour is Professor Gurminder Bhogal O.C. Gurminder is the Catherine Mills Davis Chair in music at Wellesley College, Massachusetts which includes Hilary Clinton and Madeleine Albright amongst its alumni. Gurminder said of her time here: ‘Chigwell School helped me to identify my path and then gave me the tools to forge it. I will always be grateful to the School.’ Having benefitted from a bursary herself, Gurminder has lent her support to our campaign to raise funds to provide more bursaries.

Staff News We send our congratulations to Mrs Francesca Hipson and her husband Dan on the arrival of their baby son Sebastian. We also congratulate Mr Amardeep Dewal and his wife Anjuli on the arrival of their baby daughter Nirvana, and Mrs Michaela Chan and her husband Jonny on the arrival of their baby daughter Matilda.

4

PSHEE Across the School, the PSHEE curriculum is designed to equip pupils to manage their lives, to stay healthy and safe, and to make the right choices now and in the future. We believe this is an important aspect of pupils’ education and they may well discuss issues raised with you at home. Below is an outline of this term’s topics and if you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Third Form:

Valuing difference, challenging prejudice, human rights, and team work

Fourth Form:

Parliament, voting and political parties

Removes:

Gambling, payday loans, knife crime, young offenders and human rights

Lower Fifth:

Post 16 choices, equality, and democracy

Upper Fifth:

Democracy, rule of law, and individual liberty

5

TERM DATES 2022 First day:

Tuesday 19th April

Half term:

Saturday 28th May to Sunday 5th June INSET Day Monday 6th June

Term ends: Wednesday 13th July Michaelmas Term 2022 Staff meetings and INSET on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th September First day:

Wednesday 7th September

Half term:

Saturday 22nd October to Sunday 6th November

Term ends: Friday 16th December Lent Term 2023 Staff meetings and INSET on Monday 9th January First day:

Tuesday 10th January

Half term:

Saturday 11th February to Sunday 19th February

Term ends: Wednesday 29th March Trinity Term 2023 (Easter Day is 9th April) First day:

Wednesday 19th April

Half term:

Saturday 27th May to Sunday 4th June INSET Day Monday 5th June

Term ends: Wednesday 12th July