HM Letter To Parents January 2015

HEADMASTER’S LETTER

T0 PARENTS

CHIGWELL SCHOOL

JANUARY 2015

WELCOME BACK Dear Parents I hope you have all had a very happy Christmas and I wish you a prosperous and peaceful New Year.

Contents Page 1

Battlefields

Page 2

Calendars Target 2.0 Social Networking Physics Olympiad Staff News

Page 3

Choir

Page 4

Bad Weather

Battlefields Shortly before Christmas, fifty Remove

remembrance service at the Menin Gate

students travelled to Ypres Salient in

where they laid a wreath on behalf of

Belgium where they had a tour of the

Chigwell School.

battlefields. The tour started with the students watching a recruiting sergeant

The following day the students made a

at work, Serena Cooper being the

more specific pilgrimage as they went to

volunteer who joined up. From there the

the grave of 22 year old Captain Harold

students were given a trench meal which

Frank Barclay Turner OC. Venetia Bailey

consisted of a vegetable broth and a

read out the work that she, Tess Kelly

sausage, before they moved on to the

and Jasvinder Digwa had produced about

trenches.

Later, they went to the

his life at Chigwell School and his career

Passchendaele Museum, where they

in the army, which was left in a frame on

furthered their understanding of what it

his grave for others to read. I understand

may have been like to fight on the

that the students were a credit to

Western Front during the First World

Chigwell School throughout the visit.

War. The group attended the nightly

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Calendars be

extra-curricular activities that are on offer

distributed via Houses and there will be

including, for example, the lectures

spare copies at Reception in case you

through the Williams Project. There are a

need one. Please do encourage your sons

great many opportunities available to

and daughters to participate in the many

pupils at Chigwell and I hope that all feel

As

previously,

calendars

will

fully involved.

Target 2.0

Physics Olympiad

Four Chigwell students, Hugo Blogg, Conor

Congratulations to Bianca Andrei who

Caplan, Quentin Wu, and Margaret Oki

gained a top gold award in the first round

competed in the Bank of England Target

of the Physics Olympiad Competition

2.0 regional finals at the end of last term.

which is designed to stretch and

The team researched, prepared and

challenge the top A level physicists across

delivered an excellent presentation to

the country. Bianca’s result places her in

three Bank of England economists and a

the top fifty of the eighteen hundred

large audience, before facing a barrage of

entrants and she will be invited to

questions from the judges. The team were

participate in the next round of the

praised for delivering a confident and

competition. Ultimately, a small team

professional presentation, and for showing

will be chosen to represent the country in

a sophisticated understanding of the U.K.

the International Physics Olympiad

economy. They were awarded third place.

Competition in Mumbai.

Social Networking

Staff News

Please could all parents continue to

We welcome two new members of staff

remind their children to be aware of the

this term. Miss Jamie Kershberg joins the

dangers if they use social networking

Junior School as a maternity cover

sites. Many parents sensibly befriend or

teacher.

follow their children on these sites so that

Sanjaye Gobin who will be teaching part-

they can be aware of the information that

time in the chemistry department. We

is being shared.

hope they will both be very happy here.

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Also, we welcome back Mr

Choir Shortly after the end of term, the Chapel

this term’s choral concert on Saturday 14th

Choir led an excellent concert at Christ

March. If parents would like to sing in this,

Church, Spitalfields. So far, the event has

they should contact Mr Howard Ebden who

raised some ÂŁ13k for the charities Kids

will provide details.

Inspire and Smiles With Grace. Thank you to all families who supported this occasion

We have recently heard that the choir has

and the pupils and staff who worked so

been selected to perform at the Rotary

hard to make it such a success. Christ

Youth Makes Music Concert in the Royal

Church, Spitalfields, will be the venue for

Festival Hall later this term.

Bad Weather As usual, in the event of heavy snow or

would always be very reluctant to close

ice please consult the school website

the School, but are mindful of the safety

(www.chigwell-school.org) for confirmation

of pupils and staff.

of arrangements for the school day. We As always, the coming weeks are likely

With best wishes

to be very busy and I look forward to

Yours sincerely

seeing you at some of the many events that will be taking place.

Michael Punt

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Term Dates Half term: Saturday 14th February to Sunday 22nd February 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