Headmaster's Letter - December 2023

Head’s Letter to Parents

December 2023

Dear Parents It is a pleasure to write to you at the end of the Michaelmas term and update you on events that have taken place this half term. The festive spirit is high at the school and I write this letter after having attended the many Carol Services, Christmas lunches, and most recently watching the Senior School all sing 12 days of Christmas in a whole school assembly in the Sport and Wellness Centre. In that assembly I reflected on the change that has taken place to the school this term, I thanked the pupils for their willingness to embrace that change and the positive impact that it has had on the school.

I hope you all feel the same way and thank you for your patience too. It has been a busy half term, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Damian King Head dking@chigwell-school.org

Contents Page 1

Opening of the Sport and Wellness Centre to the community

Page 2

Sustainability Material Change Inspection The Pilot

Page 3

Visit to 10 Downing Street

Page 4

EPQ and HPQ Presentation Evening Williams Project

Page 5

Sixth Form UCAS and Universities Update A Christmas Carol’

Page 6

Epping Forest Youth Conference 2023

Page 7

Wasteland

Page 8

Trip to Airbus

Page 9

Sixth Form Networking Event Physics and DT Trip Lower Fifth Careers

Page 10

Drama

Page 11

Music

Page 12

Music

Page 13

Music

Page 14

Measure for Measure Trips Debating

Page 15

Netball

Page 16

Cross Country

Page 17

Girls’ Football

Page 18

Football

Page 19

Football

Page 20

Football Bad Weather Lent Term

Page 21

Girls’ Hockey

Page 22

Girls’ Hockey

Page 23

Girls’ Hockey

Page 24

Christmas Wellbeing

Page 25

A Christmas message from the Chaplain

Page 26

Christmas Present Ideas from the Swallow Library

Opening of the Sport and Wellness Centre to the community The New Year will see the commercial opening of the Sport and Wellness Centre. We look forward to welcoming the school and local community to use the facility outside of school hours. Rest assured, we have controlled access routes in and out of the building and looked to ensuring the opening times to the local community do not clash with school times, thereby ensure the safeguarding of pupils. I will be regularly swimming and looking forward to seeing parents using the facilities too.

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Sustainability This term we launched the sustainability ambassadors. The group meets weekly and includes students from Years 7-13.

The group is a student-led society and has two joint presidents - Anya in Year 7 and Barbara in Year 12. They are always open to new members. Sustainability is currently a very important focus at Chigwell School. The group is working with the consultancy firm Arup until March 2024 to produce a new strategy for the school around decarbonisation and biodiversity – they have called this 'Project Seed'. Alongside their weekly meetings, they have had student workshops as Arup are really keen to

hear student views to help them plan the best strategy along with wider viewpoints from all members of the school community. With this in mind, Arup have put together this survey which they would like as many members of the Chigwell community to fill in as possible.

There are plans for a Green Fortnight in the Spring Term but the sustainability ambassadors will be producing a newsletter with all of our plans and what we have achieved so far in the new year after the Christmas break.

Material Change Inspection

sa

This term the School was visited by an ISI Reporting Inspector to conduct a Material Change Inspection. This inspection was to check that the facilities at the school are sufficient for the number of pupils we have on roll. I am pleased to report that we passed with flying colours and a copy of the final report can be found on our website.

The Pilot will work alongside the High Achievers Programme that was started at the beginning of this academic year. Please follow this link to see the new edition.

We are delighted that The Pilot is back!

This magazine looks to showcase the best of the pupils’ work in the Senior School. It will be published termly and

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Visit to 10 Downing Street Jack (Year 7) went along to 10 Downing Street as part of an event for children of military families. Jack has a keen interest of politics so he was very pleased to accept the invitation and met with the Prime Minister.

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EPQ and HPQ Presentation Evening The EPQ and HPQ qualification success continues offering pupils the opportunity to plan, research, write and present a project on a topic of their own choosing.

projects in a mixture of PowerPoint and market stall style presentations. The evening was very enjoyable and several comments were made regarding the high standard of the presentations. Well done to all the pupils!

In November eight Year 11 pupils presented their HPQ projects on topics ranging from autism diagnosis to labgrown meat. In addition, thirteen Year 13 pupils show-cased their EPQ

Links to photos of pupils and their poster boards can be found at: EPQ photos from Photo Club. 15.11.23

Williams Project This term our students benefited from the presentations given by Prof. Tomas Cvrcek from SEES, UCL, with surprising outcomes from analysing data from dating sites and from Prof. Daniel Cavicchi, historian and psychologist from Rhodes Island University in the USA. He focused his presentation on musical audience; what makes people want to follow one specific individual or a group. Another exceptional presentation was given by our annual guest from Royal Holloway University, Dr Liz Gloyn, who delighted us with the details of how masculinity and femininity was perceived in Roman times and how some of those virtues persisted to our 21st century.

The usual format is a lecture, often interactive, followed by discussion. Occasionally, discussion can become heated as it did with Prof. Cavicchi, when Taylor Swift’s groupees did not want to accept a comparison made between them and extreme religious zealots.

It is an excellent platform for challenging our students’ set views and perceptions of what it means to be ideologically driven, how to accept the difference of opinion and remain polite. If there is anyone who you wish to be invited and who could offer an academically stimulating presentation, please do get in touch.

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Sixth Form UCAS and Universities Update This term the Middle Sixth have been focusing much of their attention on their university applications. Many of our students have already been made offers from a host of universities including Durham, Bristol, Warwick, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester and many, many more. Some have already received offers from all of their choices

at this point. Many of our medicine applicants have had interviews, as of course have students shortlisted for Oxford and Cambridge courses.

Additionally, we have applicants to US colleges this year, and the first few degree apprenticeship applications have been made.

A Christmas Carol The English department welcomed Quantum Theatre to give an abridged version of Dickens' ‘A Christmas Carol’ to our Year 7 students. The three man show not only enriched the students understanding of their gothic set text but was a masterclass in how a highly entertaining and professional show can be set and staged with minimal actors and set.

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Epping Forest Youth Conference 2023 On Friday 17th November, a select number of pupils from the Fourth Form and Removes were given the honour of representing Chigwell School in this year’s Epping Forest Youth Council debate. The day was introduced by the Chairman of Epping Council, Darshan Sunger, who welcomed and presented to the participants the council's ideas and opportunities. Councillor Smruti Patel talked about our well-being and health as a community. Two of the young youth councillors (Natalie and Paarth) introduced the guest speakers, Ed Flack from Wize up, Dan Bryne from Gam Care, Sarah Davidson from Planesaver and Jacob Foreman from Epping Forest Food Bank who collectively enriched the discussion on the rising cost of living.

enlightening and arguments were well presented on both sides of the chamber.

Congratulations to Youth Councillors William, Zahra, Musa, Saiseshaan, Aayan, Jovan and Holly for representing the school so eloquently. They were encouraged to create a school pledge with the cost of living being central.

It read: "We pledge not only to continue contributing to the local charities that have been at the heart of Chigwell for many years, such as Revitalise and the Chigwell Riding Trust, but also to the use of student groups within Chigwell such as the Equality Ambassador and Sustainability Committee to come up with new, interesting and eco-friendly ideas to help contribute to the wider community in the future."

The main motion for the day was “Should youths aged 16 to 25 be allowed free transport?” The debate was exciting and

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‘Wasteland’ ‘Wasteland’ was an immersive production exploring the emotional odyssey of two people confronted with the end of the world. Inspired by famous British theatre company Punchdrunk, audience members were invited to roam freely between four unique rooms built in Chigwell School Drama Centre. Mr Jon Scates, Mrs Kate Brown and Miss Rachel Parkinson created

a bar, a fortune telling den, a bedroom and drawing room in a 1940s/50s style, and within these spaces the audience encountered characters deciding how to live out their final moments.

Taking inspiration from T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’ and entirely devised by the cast from Years 11, 12 and 13, this innovative piece was an evening of new writing, physical theatre and music. We wanted to ask: would you run from an impending disaster, or party as the world ends?

Miss Parkinson would like to thank all of the pupils involved for their commitment and enthusiasm, as well as Mr Scates, Miss Cavicchi, Mrs Brown and Mr Maingot for their assistance and support.

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Trip to Airbus Nineteen A level physics students visited Airbus for a tour of their Stevenage site.

Airbus is the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe and plays a leading role in the ExoMars and Mars Sample Return missions. Students had the opportunity to view satellites being made at various stages of the production line, also learning how Airbus grow their own quartz to ensure sufficient purity, and touring their 3D printing labs which Airbus use to create models of their prototypes and to create bespoke material for their manufacturing process. The highlight of the trip was the opportunity to visit the Airbus Mars Yard; a simulation martian landscape where prototypes of the Mars Rover are tested.

Our tour guide also presented to our students, detailing the current and future work in space exploration completed by Airbus, and explained the key components and considerations required in manufacturing satellites. He was extremely knowledgeable and praised the students for their enthusiasm and insightful questions.

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Sixth Form Networking Event

Lower Fifth Careers

We are planning a careers networking event for sixth formers later next term at a date to be confirmed. If you would like to get involved, please contact the Head of Careers, Miss Roxanne Darkin, at rdarkin@chigwell-school.org.

We are running a morning dedicated to careers for the Lower Fifth on Thursday 11th January, explaining the decisions they will be asked to take over the next few years, with some former students coming back to talk about their own educational and careers experiences.

Physics and DT Trip Year 12 Physics and DT students attended an engineering lecture given

by Professor Tony Purnell (former Head of Technology at British Cycling), exploring how engineering helped Great Britain to top the cycling medal table at the Tokyo Olympics with the design of the “Lotus” bicycle.

was able to reduce drag. For example, their research had shown that the key cause of drag was not the bike itself but the legs of the cyclists. Their bike design was cleverly adapted to reduce this, an innovation that had not been previously considered by any other Olympic team.

This was an interesting talk which gave students a unique insight into the engineering and design considerations at an Olympic level.

His talk included a background to his career in engineering and highlighted some of the ways that their bike design

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Drama Since half term, the drama department has been busy with the Lower Fifth devised pieces and the Senior School Play.

The Lower Fifth Devised Pieces were two 20 minute original pieces created by students from a stimulus. “Living With Lloyd” was a tense psychological drama about grief, work relations and psychosis. This was partly inspired by the film, “A Beautiful Mind” and created a highly polished, slick drama that was both intelligent and moving. The second piece, “Stage 6” was a dark comedy about terminal cancer. This piece mixed pantomime comedy and dark farce to create a truly hilarious impact on its audience reminiscent of Dario Fo’s work.

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Music Chigwell School was honoured to provide the musical entertainment in celebration of the charity Revitalise, who this year celebrate their 60th Anniversary. Revitalise is a local charity providing breaks, holidays and experiences for disabled people and carers. This was the first concert to be held in our new Sport and Wellbeing Centre and it was wonderful to see so many support our pupils and this inspiring charity.

from Harmony Chorus, and our KS2 Winter Theatrical ‘Peter Pan’, previewed songs from the musical to be performed in January. Intermediate Orchestra closed the concert with ‘Themes from the 1812 Overture’ and the audience joined in with ‘We Will Rock You’.

Enormous thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the concert such a wonderful success, and also to all who donated and supported this worthy and vital cause.

The sound of brass filled the building as the concert opened with Wind Band’s lively rendition of ‘Bandology’ followed by ‘Sabre Dance’ and music from ‘Wicked’.

Our delightful String Orchestra, Musici, performed ‘Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’ and ‘Air on the G String’ followed by the rhythmic, rich sounds from Big Band with ‘Run Away Baby’, ‘My Girl’ and the toe-tapping ‘Birdland’. Some of our very youngest choristers took to the stage with Mr McCaffety’s Young Voices of Chigwell, singing David Bowie’s well known ‘Starman’. Our equally youthful string players gave a charming performance of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’. The tempo raised with the energetic South African traditional song ‘Shosholoza’

It was wonderful to see so many parents supporting our annual House Music Competition on Friday 1st December, with proceeds going to Revitalise. The new Sports and Wellbeing Centre again provided the perfect venue for our exciting competition. Item One this year was One Direction’s ‘Story of My Life’, arranged by Mr Howard Ebden and sung in eight-part harmony; no easy task and a marvellous effort and achievement for all those who took part. Lambourne kicked off Item 2 with a masterful rendition of ‘Valerie’ arranged by Rosie Jackson, Caswalls’ gave a moving performance of ‘You’re the Voice’ by John Farnham, incorporating sign language as arranged

by Karolina-Sabah Kuhl and Angelique

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Dawson. Penn’s offered an upbeat rendition of ‘September’ by Earth, Wind and Fire arranged by Elizabeth Ebden and Joe Mathison, and Swallow’s performed a moody ‘Skyfall’ arranged by Kabir Basra. Item 3, the House Unison Song, was an unrestrained, joyful musical feast of colour, dance and voice.

Performances included ‘Wanabe’ from Caswalls’, ‘Best Song Ever’ from Penn’s,

‘You Make My Dreams Come True’ from Swallow’s and ‘We’re All in This Together’ from Lambourne. Huge thanks to our expert comperes; Isabelle Iley and Lucas Goddard and to our fabulous adjudicators; Ms Hannah Edwards OC and Mr Henry Bird OC, who had the difficult task of choosing an overall winner which this year went to Swallow’s.

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Measure for Measure

Trips

A level English Literature students had the opportunity to interrogate their set text, ‘Measure for Measure’, with Dr Jennifer Moss-Waghorn from Birmingham University. The online event, offered in conjunction with The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust was a stimulating experience offering extension to our students and giving them a taste of university style education.

This term has provided a wonderful array of trips and visits including the Boarders to Othona, the English department trip to New York, the Classics trip to Naples, MFL Trip to Berlin and the PE football training camp to Barcelona. The experiences have provided opportunities to extend our pupils’ experience, empathy and learning of history, cultures, and architecture as well as having the opportunity to spend time with their peers. A huge thank you to the departments and staff who took the time to organise and run these trips.

Please see our website and follow us on our social media channels for further reports and photos. https://www.chigwellschool.org/news/

Debating The school was pleased to host the annual Epping Forest Parliamentary Debating Competition. The competition was run by Dame Eleanor Laing who presided over the event and pupils from five local schools debated against one another. Dame Eleanor gave the pupils an authentic feel for how she runs The Chamber in the Houses of Parliament in her role there as Deputy Speaker. The Chigwell team did well and were overall runners up.

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Netball attended with pupils developing their skills and match play. The final Saturday of the year saw the Under 12s have a pre-season netball session. This session took place in the new Sport & Wellness centre with fun games, skills and match play led by our netball specialists. The U13s have also had a preseason session on the last games afternoon of the term. Even though this is not the main term for netball, it has been pleasing to see the interest from across the year groups and we look forward to next term where pupils will take part in a competitive and varied fixture list.

At the start of this half term, the senior netball squad travelled to Felsted to take part in the National Schools County round tournament. The afternoon consisted of competitive match play against Fitzwimarc, Felsted, New Hall, Brentwood, and Billericay. The matches were tough, but the Chigwell squad never gave up and improved as the afternoon went on leaving with some close finishes. Throughout this term, there has been a recreational netball club every Thursday for pupils in the Senior School. This has been well

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Cross Country was a challenging course. Notable performances were by Rory who came 26th, Will who came 46th and Jacob who came 47th out of 200 runners and Sienna who came 91st, Isabella 92nd and Ella 97th out of 186 runners. Finally, in the last week of term we entered pupils from Year 7 through to Year 11 into the District Cross Country Championships. Results from this will be shared next term. It has been really positive to see the enthusiasm for cross country grow.

Cross Country Club, which has been open to pupils from Year 3 through to Year 13, has continued to be a popular activity for pupils to attend both before school and at lunchtime. Thirty-six pupils entered the English Schools Cross Country Competition in October with our Senior Boys’ team qualifying for the Regional Finals. We also took twenty-four runners from Years 7 and 8 to the Knole Run, organised by Sevenoaks School.

All pupils performed well on the day on what

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Girls’ Football This term the U11 girls played their second match of the Essex Cup against Northbury School. This was an extremely tight match with nothing between the two sides at the end of the fifty minutes played, forcing it to extra time. The girls worked extremely hard during the ten minutes added on and forced the game to penalties where we unfortunately lost 3-1.

A special mention for Jess who showed courage and resilience for playing in goal for the team during the match and the

penalties and Lilian , Pheobe and Elizabeth who stepped up to take a penalty. As well as the U11s playing in their cup match, the U15s also faced Brentwood in the U15 ISFA Shield match.

The girls displayed a huge amount of grit and determination and worked really hard during the sixty minute match but Brentwood come out on top. Chigwell are very much looking forward to the summer term where the girls’ football will be at the forefront.

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Football Football has made a roaring comeback this year. We have had over 100 fixtures again this year, spread across eighteen groups of boys. We continue to push forward with prestigious fixtures against Eton College and Forest.

It has been a challenging year for the 1XI this year. Due to success of previous years we have lost strong players to elite and professional environments, a victim of our own success. The 1XI could not replicate their success from previous years and have been knocked out of the Boodles cup and Shield. Eyes now turn to the future and with the U16s who are currently still in the Essex Cup . We would once again like to thank the 1XI MVI for all their efforts this year and wish them every success in the future.

Lower down the school there has been a steady progression. Chigwell School U15s have battled through their season, although the U15s remain unbeaten and with three games to be played could be one of few Chigwell teams that could boast an unbeaten season. The U14s have shown a glimpse of what they are capable of but have struggled with consistency. The U13s show real promise. Their season has been littered with good results. The U12s is a real

transition for a number of reasons, this year’s crop have again battled well and worked hard. The U11s have been hugely successful qualifying for National Finals in both IAPS and ISFA. On Sunday 26th November 2023, the U11 group competed at Millfield Prep School in the Independent Association of Prep Schools National finals. In the company of the top twenty football prep schools in the country, the finals were a group and knock out competition.

Unfortunately Chigwell lost in the quarter finals to Dulwich College Prep 32 on penalties. The final was contested

by Westbrook Hay (Essex Region Winners) and The Beacon School (from the group). Westbrook Hay eventually won the final, so far only boasting one loss all season, and that was to Chigwell in the group games at the regionals. The boys were a credit to the school and continue in pursuit of both ISFA glory and in the Essex cup Semi Finals this season. A talented group with a big future.

The Barcelona Tour 2023 continued to be a notable success. Overly subscribed, it remains the tour to go on at Chigwell School. This year eighty students were offered the opportunity to tour. The tour group were based at

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Futbol Salou, training base of the Catalan FA. The students experienced training sessions with Catalan Federation coaches, training sessions with RCD Espanyol academy coaches at their first team complex. In terms of excursions, the tour was lucky enough to visit the Nou Camp & Estadio Cornellà-El Prat Stadium Tours. The group were complemented on their behaviour on many occasions during the tour and were great ambassadors for their school, both on and off the pitch. Finally a huge thank you to all

staff who gave up their time to support this amazing tour. For more information and pictures of the tour please visit @chigwellschoolfootball on Facebook.

KS2 football club on a Thursday is as popular as ever with over eighty boys playing every week. Mr Mickey Payne, Mr Kevin Farrant, Mr Steve Moore, Mr Luke Keeble and Mr Ashif Mushtaq have worked hard to improve technical ability and develop the core skills of all involved.

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Individually we continue to have real success, Blake (Tottenham) and Maxim (Crystal Palace). All boys have thrived in the professional environments, and continue to develop and progress well.

Congratulations also to Louis, Jordan, Luca and Oscar who have been nominated and trialled for Essex and Herts, Under 13 ISFA representative team.

The extra-curricular programme, with the help of the new 3G pitch, has seen attendance consistently around 70% of total boys in each year group turn out. Utilising the new sports hall, the

football programme has introduced strength and conditioning to the senior 1XI team. Football at Chigwell continues to thrive and be successful across numbers, performances and fixtures. Well done to all staff involved in the football programme.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents, support staff, grounds, officials and the football staff who, after the last couple years, returned football back to Chigwell, and with incredible success.

Bad Weather In the event of heavy snow or ice, please consult the school website (www.chigwell-school.org) and social media for confirmation of arrangements for the school day. We would be very reluctant to close the school but we are mindful of the safety of pupils and staff.

Lent Term The online calendar is in addition to the blue book that will be ready at the start of next term, however the online calendar will be kept up to date with any last minute changes. The calendar is found on our website at the following address: http://calendar.chigwell-school.org

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Girls’ Hockey This season has seen the school field twenty-two girls hockey teams, from Year 5 to 13, and play seventy-six fixtures in total. The participation across year groups has been fantastic to see, with pupils hungry to represent the school in competitive matches. It has been particularly pleasing to field 5 U12 teams, as well as B teams at U14 and 15 level for various fixtures throughout the season.

to see the commitment to training and fixtures despite an incredibly challenging season. The appetite for playing the game is very strong and the spirit developed within these teams is excellent.

The 1st XI have shown huge progress through the season and have been fantastic ambassadors for the school in terms of their approach, work rate and togetherness as a team. They have

Standout performance highlights of the season have been the U11 and U13 teams both qualifying for the Regional Finals of the In2Hockey Championships, and finishing in the top 6. This followed the U11s runners up position at the Essex competition, with the U13s going one better and becoming Essex champions. Both age groups are very talented indeed and we look forward to their progression in the coming years.

The U12A team finished the season with the most successful regular fixture card, recording 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss from their 7 fixtures. This was closely followed by the U13A team who lost just the two fixtures this season.

In the middle school, it has been fantastic

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fought for deserved wins against St Edmund’s College, Brentwood School and Highgate, and played some super periods of hockey throughout the season. They have been led superbly

by Lizzie and fellow Year 13s Isabel, Rosie, Francesca, Danielle, Karolina and Aaisha. We thank them for their fantastic commitment to Chigwell hockey!

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A number of pupils trialed and were selected for Essex teams across the age groups, we wish them well with their ongoing seasons. A special mention to Evie, Year 11, who was selected for the Old Loughtonian’s Talent Academy – the next stage of the England Hockey Pathway.

This year saw the school enter the National Indoor Hockey Championships for the first time in recent years. It was incredibly pleasing to see the U16 and U18 girls’ teams, as well as the U16 boys’ teams, each become Essex Champions and represent the school in the regional finals. With the introduction of the new

Sport & Wellness Centre we expect this to be a regular fixture in the school programme going forward.

Finally, we would like to extend a huge thank you to all those staff, parents and, most importantly, pupils who have made the season such a success.

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Christmas Wellbeing Christmas and New Year can be a wonderful time of celebration and connection with people we love. For some it can also be stressful and trigger difficult feelings.

www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/ www.youngminds.org.uk/youngperson/ www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/

If you are feeling overwhelmed, remember that you are not alone and reach out for support if you need it, whether that means talking to a friend or family member or using one of the websites/ services listed below.

Childline 0800 1111 If you’re under 19 you can confidentially call, chat online or email about any problem big or small The Mix 080 880 84994

The Young Minds website is a useful resource for information about mental health that has helpful support for both young people and parents. The site offers helpful strategies for young people coping with a variety of difficulties and indicates ways in which parents can support their children/child.

Offers online information as well as helpline support to under-25s about anything that’s troubling them.

Telephone helpline available between 4pm - 11pm, seven days a week

Wishing you a relaxing festive period and a Happy New Year.

Additionally, support can be found through the Anna Freud children and adolescents website

Damian King

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A Christmas message from the Chaplain I hope at this Christmas time you may hear again the message of the angels and in your hearts and minds journey to Bethlehem to see the babe lying in the manger. To take time to read and learn the loving purposes of God as revealed by this Holy child and visit a Church to sing carols of praise. I hope you will pray for the needs of the world and ask for peace on earth and ask for goodwill among all the nations. We need, in our giving, to remember the poor and helpless; the sick and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the aged and the little children and all those who are without a home this Christmas time.

We need to take time to remember, before God, those who rejoice with us but on another shore whose light and multitude no one can number and who now see the Word made flesh.

With best wishes Fr David The Chaplain

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Christmas Present Ideas from the Swallow Library If you are looking for book presents for your children or other family members, you might like to consider our suggestions below.

Fiction Impossible Creatures (Winner of Waterstones Book of the Year 2023) – Katherine Rundell (9+) Tyger (British Book Awards Children’s Fiction Book of the Year 2023) – S F Said (9+) The Blue Book of Nebo (Winner of the Yoto Carnegie medal for writing 2023) – Manon Steffan Ros (12+) Cat + Gamer, Volumes 1-3 (Graphic novels) – Wataru Nadatani (11+) I have no secrets – Penny Joelson (author visiting Chigwell in March 2024) (13+) For adults: Demon Copperhead (Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023) – Barbara Kingsolver Lessons In Chemistry – Bonnie Garmus (popular staff choice) The Lincoln Highway – Amor Towles (popular staff choice) Non-fiction The future of geography: how power and politics in space will change our world – Tim Marshall Migrations: a history of where we all come from – DK with forward by David Olusoga Mimar Sinan: The Greatest Ottoman Architect – Husain R. Banna, pupil at Chigwell (10+) Guinness World Records 2024 (always popular with children!)

Buried – an alternative history of the first millennium in Britain – Professor Alice Roberts (author visiting Chigwell in March 2024)

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TERM DATES 2024

2024 Lent Term Staff meetings and INSET on Wednesday 3rd January First day: Thursday 4th January Half term: Saturday 10th February to Sunday 18th February Term ends: Thursday 28th March Trinity Term (Easter Day is 31st March) First day: Wednesday 17th April Half term: Saturday 25th May to Sunday 2nd June INSET Day Monday 3rd June Term ends: Wednesday 10th July

2024 Michaelmas Term Staff meetings and INSET on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd September First day:

Wednesday 4th September

Half term:

Saturday 19th October to Sunday 3rd November

Term ends: Friday 13th December

2025 Lent Term Staff meetings and INSET on Monday 6th January First day:

Tuesday 7th January

Half term:

Saturday 15th February to Sunday 23rd February

Term ends: Friday 28th March