HM Leter to Parents October 2014

Contents Page 1

Open Days

Page 2

Helena Tunks Royal Parks Half Marathon

Page 3

Reading Achievements Modern Foreign Languages Sixth Form Choices Evening

Page 4

National Poetry Day

Page 5

Gala Evening

Page 6

Read to Feed

Page 7

Read to Feed

Page 8

Football

Page 9

Football

Page 10

Football

Page 11

Hockey

Page 12

Hockey

Page 13

Hockey

Page 14

Hockey Pembroke Evensong

Page 15

Smiles with Grace Walk Drama Netball The School Shop

Page 16

Music Harry Samuel

Page 17

Friends of Chigwell

Page 18

Chigwell Choir Staff News And Finally

Page 19

Chapel

Open Days Thank you to all the pupils who have helped with the various open days that have taken place this term. We have had a high degree of interest from prospective families, many of whom have commented on how impressed they were by the pupils they met, who were either working as guides or as helpers in the departments.

1

Helena Tunks We were delighted to hear that Helena

Royal Parks Half Marathon

Tunks in the Middle Sixth has been highly

Congratulations to the forty Chigwell

commended for the essay that she

runners who completed the Royal Parks

submitted for The Edgar Jones Philosophy

half marathon on Sunday. The team was

Essay Competition organised by St Peter's

a mixture of Old Chigwellians, parents,

College, Oxford. The essay was on the

current and former staff, and money

topic: 'Does the fact that our senses can

raised will go to Cancer Research UK. The

deceive mean that we can have no

total has not yet been finalised but is

perceptual knowledge?'. Helena wrote an

likely to be in excess of ÂŁ25k.

excellent critical analysis of Descartes' philosophy

and

the

adjudicators

commented that the standard of entries in this national competition was particularly high this year.

2

Reading Achievements I am pleased to report that there has been a really positive response to our endeavours to promote wider reading. Bookcases in Houses are filling up with peer recommendations and students are enjoying spending protected time within the timetable simply reading for pleasure. I extend a special congratulations to Jimmy Sawdon, Henry Bird, Alice Melvin, Immy Peck and Ayesha Patel in Swallow's Removes who have taken to heart the reading challenge set by their English teacher and have already completed five novels outside of their academic studies. In particular, I should like to draw your attention to a new feature of the website 'Chigwell is Reading', on which you will find brief reviews written by a cross-section of the school community.

This is regularly updated, so if your son/daughter reads something that inspires them over the holidays do encourage them to write a 50 word review of it and send it along to either Miss Charlotte Nairac (cnairac@chigwell-school.org) or Mrs Emma Rea (erea@chigwell-school.org) who will see that it gets posted!

Modern Foreign Languages

Sixth Form Choices Evening

Just after half term, the Third and Fourth Forms are going to watch a visiting French play, Erreur d’identité, in the Drama Centre. In addition to this, the Upper Fifth, Lower Sixth and Middle Sixth modern linguists will be visiting the office of the European Parliament in London in December.

Members of the Upper Fifth will be

You will be pleased to hear that Mandarin Clubs for Lower One and Upper One, and also the Lower Sixth will be starting before Christmas and further details will follow.

evening on Thursday 6th November at

Former AQA Spanish chief examiner Derek Bacon is coming in to deliver exam technique sessions to Lower Sixth and Middle Sixth hispanists on 27th November.

important and very useful evening,

focussing on their GCSE exams but will also be starting to think about A level choices for next September. All pupils will be interviewed about their A level choices later in the term when we will help them consider where those choices might lead, but the A level choices 7pm provides an opportunity for Upper Fifth pupils and parents to discuss A level options and the A levels reforms. I look forward to seeing you there – it is an particularly as the Government is starting to implement changes to A level courses next year.

3

National Poetry Day On 2nd October the School celebrated National Poetry Day. This year, the theme was 'Remembering' and English students spoke in chapel and assembly to complement the lessons that occurred on the theme of Remembering.

Memory, Nariko Gould (REM S):

Piano, Ayesha Patel (REM S):

Memory - it's something we all should treasure:

It stood there solitary -

It brings us grief, it brings us pleasure.

The one instrument we were not allowed to touch.

Remember the time you took your first step?

It was not for the hands of young children; not for

Or the very first day you spent in pre-prep?

Sticky fingers, it was preserved for

Remember the first time you went on a plane?

Pristine hands. The taboo instrument:

Remember waking to snow and not rain?

The piano.

We take for granted what's in our brain:

Watching the extraordinary hands playing,

Every second, every hour it's memories we gain.

Flitting magically, led to my slow discovery:

They stay with us until we finally let go

Ebony and Ivory.

Our memories of the sea or playing in the snow.

Eager eyes wondering what the black notes meant.

So hold on to your memories for they are part of you:

A cloud that came into focus.

They show the success and the struggle you've been through.

I wondered how it was possible.

One hurdle at a time, though. At first, Chopsticks. With two fingers!

Remembering, Immy Peck (REM S):

Later, less clumsy, equally determined,

Laughing, twirling, spinning, whirling;

musically fluent and then

Colours popping, stomach flopping,

ambidextrous.

Lights flashing, music crashing.

The piano player.

Happy day: I fizz inside.

Grey and crying, slowly dying, Letting go, painful slow; Heart aching, composure breaking.

The saddest day: I'm numb inside.

Cosy, warm, outside a storm, Fire blazing, game playing, Dinner roasting, toes toasting.

Family day: I feel settled inside

4

Gala Evening Chigwell students performed on stage in a well-supported gala evening in aid of two local charities. The evening of sketches and musical performances was compered

by Lower Sixth Form students, Will Weightman and Barney Walsh, and organised by Rhea Gupta and Max Albert from the same year. Close to £3,000 was raised which will be shared between Haven House Children’s Hospice and Smiles with Grace, the charity set up by Chigwell pupil Grace Boxall who sadly passed away last year just days before her sixteenth birthday.

5

Read to Feed This October half term we have set

charity which is running the ‘Read to

students throughout the School a reading

Feed’ campaign.

challenge linked to the ‘Send A Cow’

Students have been asked to set themselves a target of how many pages, chapters or books (fiction or non-fiction) they intend to read in the month and to source sponsorship linked to their reading achievements. Students should have received sponsorship forms either in class or via Chigwell post and we sincerely hope that you feel able to support this initiative which combines the promotion of wide and varied reading for pleasure with raising money for an incredibly worthwhile cause.

6

7

Football The football season has been as busy as

afternoon before and also the calibre of

ever with many boys and girls playing

schools who entered the tournament.

plenty of football.

Pre-season football

The 1st XI was disappointed to be

was yet again well attended with 51

knocked out of the ISFA Cup in the 1st

senior boys attending. The 1st XI kicked

round by Trinity as it was a game they

off the season in superb fashion,

could have won. The 1st XI has, however,

finishing as runners up in the ISFA

produced some fine performances and

National Sixes competition, which saw

secured four victories to date, the most

32 teams from across the country

notable was the 5-3 victory over Alleyn’s,

compete in the event which was held at

which was very pleasing considering

Chigwell this year. This was a remarkable

they were 3-0 down after twenty

achievement by the team, considering

minutes. Tim Lovett is currently top goal

they had played Bradfield on the

scorer with five.

8

Football The 2nd XI recorded a fine 3-2 victory over notoriously strong opposition in Bradfield College at the start of the season and have developed a tight knit, successful squad.

The other senior teams have played regularly with lots of boys involved. The U16 team are through to the second round of the ISFA small schools shield after an 82 win over Thorpe House with Liam Farrant and Justin Morse both scoring hattricks. They will face Harrodian in the next round. The U15s have enjoyed much greater success this season and there is a positive attitude towards the sport amongst the group. The U15 team got through to the 2nd round of the ISFA cup after beating Portland Place school 6-0 in the first round, however they lost 3-1 to Highgate in the second. The U14s have continued to play some fine football and have reached the third round of the ESFA U14 small schools cup. They played PACA Academy from Brighton in the second round and won 3-0.

9

Football A large number of Junior School boys

afternoon to enjoy lots of football in

have been involved in matches. The

the sunshine. The U11 festival at the

U13A team were knocked out of the ISFA

start of term was again a great success

cup by Yardley Court, but put in a strong

with 21 teams playing football over the

performance in the IAPS Eastern regional

course of the morning. Chigwell also

tournament which was held at Chigwell

hosted the ISFA U11 Herts & Essex

when they finished 3rd in their group but

regional tournament in October which

narrowly missed out on going through to

saw 20 teams compete. There has been a

the next stage. Nearly all of the Third

lot of football for the Lower Two and

Form boys have represented the School

Upper Two boys and there has been a

at some point this term, with all teams

real improvement throughout these

playing

football.

age groups. Finally, as always, the KS2

Chigwell recently hosted the U12 9v9

football club is well attended every

festival which saw Forest, John Lyon and

week with over 50 boys attending on a

City of London schools come over for the

regular basis.

some

impressive

10

Hockey Congratulations to the U14 girls who

result finished 3-1 to Chigwell, and this

finished 2nd at the Essex Tournament

not only took Chigwell into the Essex

yesterday. The girls won their group with

final but more importantly secured a top

two wins and a draw, and then faced

2 finish which meant they qualified for

Coopers in the semi-final. Despite having

the Regional Finals. The Chigwell girls

the majority of the possession and

faced Felsted in the final, and defended

numerous shots, the Coopers GK played

confidently, but were unlucky to concede

extremely well and the score finished 0-0.

a late goal from a penalty corner, seeing

The match was to be decided by a

Felsted win 1-0. The girls’ performance,

penalty strokes contest. Jasmine Illey

effort and results were outstanding all

stood up big and strong and pulled off

day and we wish them all the best at the

some great saves and Chigwell girls Zoe

regional finals on November 11th where

Wright, Stevie Southall and Venetia

they will be the Essex representative at

Bailey did their job by scoring too. The

the tournament in Bedford.

11

Hockey Chigwell girls have had a very successful half term with their hockey. The U14s are currently undefeated, with performances becoming progressively better with a pinnacle display against Saffron Walden last Saturday. Spectators watching this match saw an excellent performance from the girls with high levels of possession

and

ample

scoring

opportunities created. The final score ended 2-0, with goals from Stevie Southall and Aime Smithers, but it was the team performance that was the real winner. With a squad of 28 girls in the U14s this year, rotation has been key, and there are some U14B fixtures to make sure everyone is getting plenty of pitch time. The U15s have had a good run of results with their last four games seeing them earn a draw against St Edmunds, a win against Forest and losses against very strong Saffron Walden and Brentwood sides.

12

Hockey The 1st XI girls played at the Essex U18

wins, one draw and two losses, but only

tournament at the start of October. A

conceding three goals in these six

sleepy start saw the girls lose 2-0 to

matches.

Felsted, but this proved to be the catalyst for better performances for the rest of the day. They went on to beat King Johns 4-0 (including a fine reverse stick strike from Alice Melvin), and they then faced New Hall in their final pool game knowing that a win would secure them a spot in the semi-finals. The girls went 1-0 down but showed true character to come back and win 2-1, with goals from Emily Goodhew and Kirsty Farquharson.

Chigwell faced Coopers in the semi-final, knowing that a win would earn them a spot at the Regional Finals. The girls had a plan to play at high intensity, which worked until the last thirty seconds.

Megan Wells and Captain Georgia O’Connor worked tirelessly in the midfield with the forwards rotating continually doing sprints across the pitch closing the opposition down, when the Coopers’ centre forward scored with a great strike that flew hard and high into the net. Chigwell were disappointed to have lost, but pleased that they had played so well and could not have worked any harder. The girls finished the day with

their

best

placing

at

this

tournament in many years. In addition to the tournament, the girls have played six matches this half term, picking up three

13

Hockey With an influx of keen and able UV girls

Junior girls’ hockey continues to go from

to the 2nd XI squad, the girls have really

strength to strength, with an extensive

developed this season. With a mix of the

fixture list for the girls with many A, B, C,

experienced Middle Sixth girls showing

D fixtures for all year groups every week.

true grit and the enthusiasm and energy

The U11s have already enjoyed their

of the new UV, the 2nd XI have proven to

involvement at the IAPS tournament last

be a tough side to beat, notching up

week, and the U12s and U13s look

many draws this season.

forward to representing the School when they return after half term.

Pembroke Evensong The Chigwell Chapel Choir returned to lead Evensong at Pembroke College, Cambridge, the college where our founder became Master some four hundred years ago. The choir were surrounded by interested tourists and prospective students during rehearsals in the afternoon, some of whom stayed on for service itself. The Choir sang with appreciable beauty and clarity, as we have come to expect. The vesicles and responses of Rose, were charmingly intoned by Adam Melvin; the colourful lines and rhythms of Kelly’s Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were playfully poised; and the anthem, Haydn’s The Heavens are Telling gave an uplifting end to the service. The Choir’s next evensong will be at Westminster Abbey on Friday 7th November at 5.15pm. The service is open to the general public.

14

Smiles with Grace Walk Some two hundred pupils, parents and friends gathered to walk nine miles in order to remember Grace Boxall. The walkers gathered at Chigwell, made their way along the banks of the River Roding to Woodford Green Prep School where much-needed refreshments were kindly provided. They then made their way back through Epping Forest and the Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve before arriving at Chigwell School for tea.

The walk raised money for Smiles with Grace, the charity which Grace set up herself to raise money for causes which help other children suffering from life threatening diseases. To date the charity has raised nearly £90,000 and currently is sponsoring a project at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Grace was treated, to support children with Spinal Lipoma. Several of the patrons of the charity are Grace’s friends from Chigwell.

Drama

Netball

Following on from the Gala Evening, the

The U16s will be busy during half

Upper Fifth performed their Scripted pieces

term representing the School at the

on Thursday 16th October. This was an

Borough stage of the National Schools’

evening of five plays ranging from

Competition. Good luck girls.

Shakespeare to material written and directed by Miss Janey Foster and Mr Joe

The School Shop

Maingot. Candidates offered light, sound,

During the half term break the School

set design, costume and make up as well as

Shop will be open daily between 10am

acting. Well done to all involved.

and 3pm

15

Music The eagerly anticipated House Music

to experience string playing on violins,

competition as always, lived up to and

violas and celli and finally to compose

in some cases exceeded expectations.

music in one of the School’s computer

Item 1, the acapella part song, My

suite. As well as this, the entire group of

bonny lass she smileth by Thomas

children, directed by Mr Howard Ebden,

Morely was presented with great care

joined together as a united choir,

and attention to detail from all Houses

presenting the songs Let it Go and Ain’t

but Penn’s and Caswalls’ won that item

No Mountain High Enough. The day was

with precise intonation and diction.

a huge success which culminated in a

Item 2 saw some heavy weight

spectacular celebratory concert to

ensemble work with Penn’s winning

family and friends.

outright with their performance of Muse’

States

United

of

Eurasia

arranged and produced by Gopal

Harry Samuel

Kambo. The verve of item three was

We congratulate Harry Samuel in the

no less diminishing, with one of the

Lower Fifth who was part of the Essex U14

most outstanding unison songs and choreographs

ever

seen

performance team that went unbeaten in

with

this year’s county competitions. The side

Lambourne’s The Lion King. Needless

won two trophies – the ECB South of

to say, Swallow’s were crowned House

England division and the ESCA Cricket

Music Champions.

Festival.

The team played fourteen

Saturday 11th October saw some one

matches with 11 wins and 3 draws, and

hundred children from twenty different

Harry opened the bowling for the side all

schools aged 7-11 coming to Chigwell

year and took fifteen wickets. This was a

School for a One Day Music Festival. The

marvellous achievement.

day

offered

the

opportunity

for

instrumentalists to receive professional coaching and instruction; the occasion to be a part of an orchestra of nearly sixty players. Non-orchestral instrumentalists and singers had the chance to work with our resident song writer and voice coach;

16

Friends of Chigwell – A message from Purnima Sen (Chair of FoC) As I write my little piece today, I realise

evening. 21st November is the FoC trip

that half the term has gone by and yet we

to see Memphis at the West End where I

have managed just two FoC events!

understand tickets are already sold out.

However, then I realise very quickly the

28th November will see our Christmas

reality and what this means is that we

Fayre and we have managed to get some

have nine more event days to come and

amazing and affordable Christmas gifts

they all fall in the second half of the

for all ages for the children to buy. On

Michaelmas term! So it’s probably an

4th and 5th December we have agreed to

understatement when I say this is going

serve drinks for the Senior School play

to be a madly busy time for the FoC. I

“The School For Scandal”. 5th December

must admit I was (for the most part)

is also the Annual School Disco with two

expecting to be a fancy PTA mum with

sessions being run for the Pre Prep and

merely answering YES, NO, VERY YES,

the Junior School. Finally, 11th, 12th and

VERY NO, when asked to run events and

13th December has us serving drinks yet

then (in my fanciful mind) relaxing with a

again for the much-awaited musical

cup of

tea and an exotic cupcake

arrangement “Les Miserables”. So, as

assuming that it will all happen by itself.

you can see, we have some very exciting

Boy, was I wrong!! Suddenly, now as I list

things happening in the FoC world and I

what we have coming up in the latter

would not only urge you to get involved

half of this term, I feel like I am juggling a

and get tickets for all of the above as

hundred balls

with my fellow FoC

soon as they go on sale, but I would also

members and all while standing in

request you to volunteer where possible

quicksand at the same time.

to help the FoC make all these events

We have, of course, got the 7th

successful ones. Please do drop an email to anila_shah@hotmail.com

November Fireworks Event where we are

and put

your names down if you can give us a

expecting about 1500 people, so

hand, for however short a time, so the

arrangements for that are in full swing

proverbial juggling balls and quicksand

and I suggest you get your tickets as soon

both look conquerable. Finally, I wish all

as possible. There is going to be a full

parents a restful and much deserved

seventeen minute display by Kimbolton

break this half term

and it will definitely be a fantastic

17

Chigwell Choir

Staff News

The Chigwell Choir will be performing the

We send our congratulations to Tim

following two concerts:

and Michelle Crispin on the arrival of

100 Years Of Poppies - Saturday 15th

Phoebe Grace, and to Kimberley Skipper, who works for Chartwells, on

November at 7.30pm (Chigwell School) Special Autumn Concert by The Chigwell

the arrival of Layla.

Choir to commemorate the outbreak of

We also send our very best wishes to Miss

The Great War featuring Sullivan’s Te

Jenny Meadows who will be marrying

Deum, songs by Mendelssohn and

David over the half term break and will be

Vaughan Williams and WW1 songs. In

known as Mrs Murray on her return.

addition there will be a piece written and performed by Theydon Bois Primary

And Finally

School choir, and a performance of the winning

entry

of

our

Thank you for all your support of your

Composer

sons and daughters and the School over

Competition. The choir will be under the

the last half term. Whilst students in the

direction of Alexander Campkin and

Upper Fifth and Sixth Forms will want to

accompanied by keyboard and brass.

devote some of half term to revision for

Tickets £12 adults, £10 concessions, £5

the November exams, I hope that all

under 16, available on the door, in advance

pupils manage to have some rest as

from Leonie 07958 763213 or online from

well. We wish those students and staff

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/279553

travelling to either Vietnam or to

A Babe Is Born - Wednesday 17th

Benalmádena for the Spanish tuition

December at 8pm (St. Mary’s Church)

homestay exciting but safe trips and we

The Chigwell Choir will present a Family

look forward to hearing about their

Christmas Concert of traditional carols and readings,

conducted

by

adventures on their return.

Alexander

Campkin and accompanied by Chigwell

With best wishes

Brass. There will be a retiring collection in

Yours sincerely

support of our local chosen charity, Vitalise.

Tickets/programme on the door: £8 (under 16s free) including mulled wine and mince pies afterwards in the Church Hall to round off a great evening. www.chigwellchoir.org

Michael Punt

18

Chapel Harvest Festivals grew up in the Nineteenth Century as industrialization separated people from the land. It was a way of reminding people of our dependence upon the God who provides us with the perfect “home” in which we can enjoy health and happiness. Today, we are more divorced from the land than ever and it is possible to live life without growing any food ourselves. We rely totally on others to grow the crops, raise the livestock and prepare the food for our consumption. Mr Graeme Inch has been working hard with students to make Chigwell School a better more environmentally sustainable place where we also produce some of our own food.

We finished the half term with “Green Day”. A non-uniform day raising funds for WWF and local conservation charities.

It is worth

reminding ourselves that God’s primary call on Adam & Eve, in the Garden of Eden, was to “tend the garden”. Remind ourselves that growing plants, especially for food, is a sacred calling. Few of us have the time or resources It was a wonderful sight to see the area around

to do this on anything but a very small scale;

the altar in Chapel overflowing with food

however, it is good to stop and give thanks, to

donated

for

celebrate all that we have and to remember

“Streets2Homes”. It is an apt reminder that in

those who do not have enough. May I thank

the extraordinary world that God has created

you for your kindness and generosity in

there are those who have very little or

supporting our fundraising initiatives towards

nothing. We are also in the process of raising

these ends.

to

our

Harvest

Appeal

money for “Send a Cow” which works with impoverished families in Africa.

Father Simon

19